Rome vs. Florence: Which City Should YOU Visit?
Rome and Florence are two of the most visited – and best-loved – tourist destinations in Italy. Both cities offer fascinating historical sites, memorable cultural activities and the fantastic food and drink that Italy is famous for.
However, if you’re wondering where to stay in Italy and only have the time and budget to visit either Florence or Rome, it’s a difficult decision to make unless you know a little about each city.
To help you, we’ve compared everything you need to know about Rome and Florence to help you make an informed decision so you can choose the best city to stay in for your upcoming trip to Italy.
Is It Better To Stay In Rome Or Florence?
If you’re trying to decide between where to stay in Florence or where to stay in Rome, your decision depends on what you are interested in seeing and doing when you travel and how you like to travel.
Florence (Firenze) is the capital of Tuscany and is a small walkable city packed with art and amazing architecture. It has a captivating historic centre where all the major attractions can easily be visited on foot. It is a city made for wandering and is justifiably one of the world’s top destinations for a romantic getaway.
The Renaissance city doesn’t have a metro but its tram system is an easy and delightful method of exploring the city. Florence is an ideal choice for art and culture lovers who want a more laid-back Italian destination.
In contrast, the Italian capital of Rome (Roma) is packed with world-famous archaeological and religious sites. The ancient city is spread out so you’ll need to use public transport (tram, bus or metro) to see everything Rome has to offer.
Rome attracts visitors from all over the world all year round. It is a busier location than Florence and, as such, commands higher prices. Rome is an ideal choice for any travellers interested in ancient history. The capital of Italy is also the perfect place to visit for all first-time travellers to Italy.
Rome Vs Florence: Cost
If you’re deciding whether to visit Rome or Florence it’s important to do your research to make sure your budget is appropriate for the city you wish to visit.
In general, Florence is a little bit cheaper than Rome, and the sections below will give more details about different travel expenditures for Roma and Florence.
Accommodation
Generally speaking, accommodation in Florence is a little cheaper than accommodation in Rome.
For example, the average 5 star hotel in Rome will cost between €700 – €800 per night, though some 5 star Rome hotels charge over €1000 per night. At the other end of the scale, a 1 star hotel in Rome averages between €150 – €200 a night.
In Florence, an average 5 star hotel will cost between €500 – €700 a night, though some luxury Florence hotels charge up to €900 a night. At the budget end of the accommodation range in Florence, a 1 star hotel averages between €100 – €150 per night.
The cost difference between Rome and Florence may not seem much per night, but the difference will quickly mount up if you’re staying in Rome for more than a few days.
Both cities offer hotels with special features such as a central location, scenic views, historic character, rooftop terraces and spa’s. There’s also a good selection of hotels with pools in Florence and Rome which are perfect for cooling down after long sightseeing days in summer.
As the capital city and a popular tourist destination, Rome will always see higher prices than Florence all year round but, especially in peak season. Prices will also soar around religious festivals such as Christmas and Easter.
So, if you’re on a tight budget, you’ll find your money goes a little further in Florence than in Rome.
Food
The cost of food and drink in Florence and Rome are similar. However, despite their close proximity, both cities offer visitors some speciality dishes which might tempt you to choose one city over the other.
Rome is a meat lover’s paradise. We recommend trying the delicious local specialty saltimbocca alla Romana, which is thin slices of veal topped with prosciutto and sage cooked in white wine and butter. Another tasty choice is Carciofi alla Romana which is locally grown artichokes cooked with garlic, mint, and white wine.
Spaghetti Carbonara originated in Rome so you’ll find it served in most restaurants. Our favourite version is served with eggs, Pecorino Romano cheese, and cured pork cheek.
Tuscan cuisine is known for its simple style and locally sourced, fresh ingredients. Specialities to look out for in Florence include coccoli (deep-fried bread dough) and bistecca alla Fiorentina, a rare, seasoned steak grilled over roasted chestnuts.
Our must-eat when we visit Florence is Schiacciata Fiorentina. It’s a sweet, small sponge cake covered in powdered sugar and decorated on top with cocoa powder on top. Don’t miss the chance to eat it, it’s delicious!
Things to do in Rome vs. Florence
Both Rome and Florence offer a diverse range of free sights and activities so if you’re visiting Italy on a budget, you can prioritise free things to do first. For example, St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is free, as is Il Duomo di Firenze, Florence’s principal cathedral.
Other free things to do in Rome include The Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese and the Trevi Fountain. Free things to do in Florence include Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence and Piazza della Signoria.
Whichever city you choose to visit, we highly recommend just wandering around soaking up the incredible architecture and pretty plazas.
Paid activities and tourist sites in Rome and Florence cost a similar amount. For example, entry to the famous Colosseum in Rome costs €16 per adult and the Vatican Museum costs €20.
In Florence, the popular Uffizi Gallery costs €25 per adult in peak season, whilst a tour of Boboli Gardens costs €10.
If you want to see the top sites in either Florence or Rome, you’ll need to allocate a portion of your trip budget to sightseeing.
Another aspect to consider is the day trips you can take from Rome or Florence.
Easy day trips from Rome include exploring the wider Lazio region, the ancient ruins of Ostia Antica, the UNESCO-listed Etruscan city of Cerveteri, the beautiful town of Tivoli or even Pompeii. Foodies should visit Naples or Castelli Romani.
Day trips from Florence include the stunning mediaeval town of Siena, the hilltop town San Gimignano, the beautiful walled city of Lucca or the famous leaning tower of Pisa. It’s also possible to take a trip from Florence to the iconic Cinque Terre and the Italian coast.
Rome vs Florence: Nightlife
If you want a limitless choice of bars and all-night clubs boasting the latest trends, Rome is the city for you. It also offers a wide range of jazz bars, comedy clubs and live music events. There’s something for everyone in Roma.
Florence also has lots of bars, clubs and late-night restaurants but Florence isn’t as frenetic as Rome nor does it offer the same number of nightlife hotspots. Florence has a predominantly wine bar culture and bar hopping in Florence is very popular.
Overall Atmosphere In Rome and Florence
Both Rome and Florence have a vibrant, non-stop buzz, fuelled by the students and international visitors that flock to the city to travel, live and work.
However, in our experience, Florence is a little quieter than Rome and it’s easier to get off the beaten track and lose yourself in quiet, residential side streets and locally frequented cafes and bars.
If you want a more authentic Italian experience, we recommend choosing Florence.
How To Get To Rome Or Florence
Rome has two international airports you can fly into – Fiumicino (FCO) and Ciampino (CIA). Ciampino is the closest airport geographically to the city but Fiumicino has good rail links directly into the city centre.
Florence International Airport, Firenze Peretola (FLR), is just 6 km from the centre of Florence. However, many visitors fly into Pisa’s Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA), which is around 80 km from Florence.
From Pisa, you’ll need to drive, take a bus or a local train to reach the centre of Florence.
If you’re travelling to Rome or Florence from another location in Italy, the cities are served by good bus and rail links.
How About Visiting Both Rome And Florence?
We recommend visiting both Rome and Florence if possible; the cities are contrasting but each one has so much to offer.
Staying in Rome doesn’t mean you cannot visit Florence or vice versa. The two cities are close together, so if you’re short on time, we recommend visiting one city from the other on a quick but affordable day trip.
A high-speed train from Florence to Rome (and vice versa) only takes 1 hour 36 minutes with one-way tickets starting from as little as €22 ($24).
If this option appeals to you, we recommend staying in Rome and daytripping to Florence.
Florence’s main attractions are in a geographically compact area so you’ll be able to cover a lot of sites in one long day trip. This would be harder and more time consuming to do in Rome unless you only visit one part of the capital.
Conclusion: Is Rome Or Florence Best For You?
As we’ve previously mentioned, choosing whether to stay in Rome or Florence depends on what your interests are. If you love architecture, art and culture, choose Florence. You’ll love it as much as we do.
If you want to visit world renowned historic and religious sites choose Rome. It’s a city like no other; there’s a reason why Rome is called the ‘Eternal City’.
If you’re travelling on a tight budget, your money will go further in Florence, but if you’re a night owl, Rome is the best choice for you.
As you can see, both cities would be a great choice for your trip – which one you choose, depends on what you want to get out of your vacation.
However, we think you won’t be disappointed with whichever fabulous Italian city you choose. Either Rome or Florence will provide you with an unforgettable trip to Italy.
