Photo: Raimond Spekking · CC BY-SA 4.04 Days in Florence and Venice: Art, Canals, and Slow Evenings
Two days in Florence's Renaissance heart, two in Venice's canals, linked by high-speed train: the Duomo and the Uffizi, a sunset on the Ponte Vecchio, St Mark's and the Doge's Palace, a gondola at dusk. Answer a few questions about how you travel and the plan re-plans itself around you - your pace, your budget, your stops.
Pick a style, a budget and a pace — the route and days below re-plan themselves.
8 stops · 8 meals · 2 hotels · 1 transferThis is the editor’s pick.
4 days, 2 cities
From Florence to Venice, with 1 move between cities. The map shows the whole route — pick a day to zoom in.
Florence
Centro Storico · Santa Croce
- Day 1Centro Storico: The Ponte Vecchio & the Duomo
- Day 2Santa Croce: Piazzale Michelangelo & the Rose Garden
- Train to Venice · 3h 14m
Venice
San Marco · San Polo
- Day 3San Marco: A gondola ride & St Mark's Basilica
- Day 4San Polo: The Rialto Bridge & the Grand Canal
A stretch
Historic 1827 restaurant near Piazza della Signoria with frescoed rooms and classic Tuscan cooking - famous for bistecca.
- Est. 1827, one of Florence's oldest restaurants; famous for bistecca alla fiorentina.
Florence starts here. Step inside for free, then decide whether the 463-step dome climb is worth your morning - it needs a reserved time slot.
- The dome climb is 463 stairs with no elevator - book a reserved time slot ahead.
Cross it slowly at sunset, when the goldsmith shops catch the light. A short walk from the Uffizi.
A stretchWorth the trip
Florence's legendary three-Michelin-star dining room in a Renaissance palazzo, with a world-famous wine cellar. The splurge of the trip.
- A three-Michelin-star room, listed among the World's 50 Best discoveries in Florence.
Closer: Ristorante del Fagioli, 3 min out of your way
Cozy wine bar across from Palazzo Pitti pouring small-production Italian wines by the glass, with Tuscan charcuterie.
Simple, friendly hotel near the Arno in San Niccolo with a rooftop terrace looking toward the center.
Counter-style Tuscan bistro in the old city wall at the foot of Piazzale Michelangelo - seasonal blackboard pasta.
- Listed in the Michelin Guide; no reservations taken at lunchtime.
A free terraced garden on the way down from the piazzale - 350 rose varieties and sculptures, with the view for free.
- Walk down from the piazzale through the Rose Garden to Zeb in San Niccolo for dinner.
Florence's classic sunset terrace. Go an hour before dusk and stay as the Duomo lights come on.
- Take the garden path down from the terrace - 350 rose varieties and sculptures on the way.
Old-school trattoria near Santa Croce: ribollita, trippa, humble Florentine classics done right.
Stay put: 6 min walk back from Piazzale Michelangelo tonight, 4 min walk to the Rose Garden in the morning.
Florence to Venice
204 km, rated for speed and cost. For a romantic trip on a comfortable budget at a relaxed pace, take the Trenitalia Frecciarossa high-speed. It's the quickest way across, 3h 14m door to door.
Family-run trattoria near Campo Santa Maria Formosa - bigoli in salsa, fegato alla veneziana, at honest prices.
The classic Venice experience: a serenaded glide through quiet back canals and onto the Grand Canal.
- Venice applies official fixed rates by time of day - agree the route before boarding.
A stretch
Italy's oldest cafe, open since 1720 under the Procuratie - frescoed rooms, house orchestra, the definitive (pricey) San Marco coffee ritual.
The Byzantine great church famed for gold-ground mosaics. Book timed entry to skip the lines.
- The Pala d'Oro and Treasury need separate tickets beyond basilica entry.
- Coffee under the Procuratie between the basilica and the palace - Italy's oldest cafe.
A stretch
Michelin-starred Castello restaurant pairing creative Venetian seafood tasting menus with a candlelit room. The splurge dinner.
Closer: Osteria al Mascaron, 8 min out of your way
Legendary luxury hotel in a 14th-century waterfront palazzo, steps from Piazza San Marco. The grand address.
A stretch
Upmarket romantic gastrosteria between Rialto and San Marco - modern Venetian cuisine, extensive natural wine list.
The iconic Grand Canal crossing, lined with shops. Go early morning for photos without the crowds.
- Early morning visits avoid the worst crowds for photos.
Wine bar in the 16th-century Banco Giro building at the foot of the Rialto Bridge - cicchetti with a Grand Canal view.
- Wine and cicchetti at the foot of the bridge, in a 16th-century building with a Grand Canal view.
The city's great waterway lined with palaces. Ride vaporetto Line 1 end-to-end - the cheapest grand tour.
- Riding vaporetto Line 1 end-to-end is the cheapest grand tour of the canal.
A stretch
Elegant trattoria tucked behind the Rialto - refined Venetian seafood: cuttlefish-ink risotto, moeche, lagoon fish.
Closer: Ristorante Da Raffaele, 10 min out of your way
Stay put: 11 min walk back from the Grand Canal tonight, 11 min walk to the Rialto Bridge in the morning.
Where to stay in Florence & Venice
Ranked for romantic travelers on a comfortable budget. The places this plan sleeps in come first.
Florence
Hotel Silla
Simple, friendly hotel near the Arno in San Niccolo with a rooftop terrace looking toward the center.
Plaza Hotel Lucchesi
Four-star Arno-side hotel with rooftop dining and panoramic views, a short walk from Santa Croce.
Hotel Balestri
Riverfront boutique hotel on the Arno with classic Florentine style, near Santa Croce.
Venice
Danieli, A Four Seasons Hotel
Legendary luxury hotel in a 14th-century waterfront palazzo, steps from Piazza San Marco. The grand address.
Hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente
Boutique hotel with an oriental-inspired courtyard in quiet Cannaregio - suites that work well for families.
The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel
15th-century Grand Canal palazzo - Venice's grandest address for old-world luxury.
Flights to Florence & Venice
Fly into Florence Airport (FLR)
Flight results via Travelpayouts — we may earn a commission on bookings.
Getting around Florence & Venice
How to actually move around each city — transit, rideshare, bikes, and taxis.
Florence
Public transit
Autolinee Toscane runs the city buses; tram lines T1 and T2 reach the airport and Scandicci. Buy in the AT Bus app, tap contactless aboard, or validate paper tickets — and honestly, you'll walk most of the historic center.
- Autolinee Toscane buses & Tramvia
Florence's bus operator plus the T1/T2 tram lines. The T2 tram runs straight to the airport.
Tip: The center is compact — transit is for the airport, Piazzale Michelangelo's hill, and day trips.
Rideshare
Uber runs Uber Black (licensed cars) in Florence — pricier than a taxi. For a regular metered taxi, use the apps below.
Bikes
Free-flow e-bikes for zipping across the flat center.
- Movi e-bikes
Free-flow e-bike sharing via the Movi by Mobike app — unlock by QR code, park in dedicated spaces or bike racks.
Tip: The center is a ZTL (limited traffic zone) — bikes dodge the worst of it.
Taxis
Don't try to hail on the street — go to a stand or call. The two dispatch co-ops cover the city 24/7.
- TaxiMove app
Florence's taxi app — instant quote, real-time tracking, online payment; also serves Siena and Pisa.
Tip: Handy at night or from the station with luggage.
- Radio taxi 055-4242 / 055-4390
The two main dispatch co-ops (055-4242 Cotafi, 055-4390 Socota) — call or book online; English-speaking operators available.
Venice
Public transit
The vaporetto water-bus network IS the public transit system — Lines 1 and 2 run the Grand Canal, with routes to Murano, Burano, the Lido, and a night line. Alilaguna runs separate airport boats.
- ACTV vaporetto (water bus)
Venice's water buses: Lines 1 and 2 along the Grand Canal, plus island routes and a night line. 1/2/3/7-day travelcards beat single tickets fast.
Tip: Buy at ACTV machines or ticket desks before boarding — onboard purchases cost more.
Rideshare
No Uber or Lyft on the water — the private-boat equivalent is a water taxi (see Taxis).
Bikes
Leave bikes out of the historic center — riding (even walking one through) is banned, with fines up to €100. Rental bikes and e-bikes are a Lido thing, a short vaporetto ride away.
Taxis
Private water taxis run about €70 for up to four people — book by phone (e.g. Consorzio Motoscafi, 041 5222303), through your hotel, or at the main docks. Gondolas are sightseeing, not transport.
Keep exploring
More itineraries for this trip.
- Photo: Raimond Spekking · CC BY-SA 4.02 days
2 Days in Florence: The Art Lover's Itinerary
The Renaissance in 48 hours: the Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, Michelangelo's David and Ponte Vecchio sunsets. Designed for art lovers on a first trip, with where to stay, eat, and how to skip the lines.
Read the itinerary → 
Photo: Jebulon · CC05 days5 Days in Rome and Florence by Train: The First-Timer's Itinerary
Ancient Rome to Renaissance Florence by high-speed train: 3 days of Colosseum, Vatican and Trastevere evenings, then 2 days of Duomo, Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio sunsets. Designed for first-time couples, with where to stay and how to travel between cities.
Read the itinerary →- Photo: Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.02 days
2 Days in Venice: The Romantic First-Timer's Itinerary
Venice's greatest hits in 48 hours: St Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, gondola rides and cicchetti crawls. Designed for first-time couples who want romance without the crowds, with where to stay and how to get around.
Read the itinerary → - Photo: Jebulon · CC07 days
7 Days in Rome, Florence and Venice: The Classic Italy Itinerary
The classic Italy trilogy by high-speed train: 3 days in Rome's ancient wonders, 2 days in Florence's Renaissance art, and 2 days in Venice's canals. Designed for couples on a first trip, with romantic evenings, where to stay, and how to travel between cities.
Read the itinerary →