Rome vs Florence – which is more beautiful & worth your precious time and money? 

If you are asking this question it means that you can either visit one or would like to know which one to choose as your base in Italy.

This comparison is a tough one, after all, we are talking about comparing two of the most popular Italian cities, if not the top two.

To help you decide which one to choose, I will compare over 15 aspects – ranging from overall vibes to how walkable the city is, and share the winner for each one.

While I will try to be as objective as possible, when it comes to aesthetics and vibes, it’s all subjective. So, keep that in mind when reading this article.

Rome Vs Florence: Similarities & Differences

While they are both old cities, located in the center of Italy, and only 261 km apart, Rome and Florence look and feel very different, at least to me. You can compare the way they look from the side by side pictures below.

Rome and Florence are great destinations to admire iconic Italian landmarks, taste the best Italian food, join the Italian Aperitivo culture, take part in the passeggiata – evening stroll, and get your first taste of Italian life, fashion, and culture.

While I don’t suggest you visit either in just a day, Florence is more suitable for a day trip from Rome while Rome not so much, in my opinion.

Weather wise, they are both great cities to visit if you love basking in the sun, but we will look at the differences more closely.

If you are coming to shop, Rome has much more to offer, although people in Florence tend to dress more stylishly. 

Romans and Florentines are both friendly and helpful, however, even here there are key differences which I will highlight later on.

Let’s compare these 15 key aspects for each, to help you get a better idea of which one might be best for you.

1. Overall vibe
2. History
3. Culture
4. Architecture 
5. Weather
6. Things to do
7. Walkable
8. Friendliness of people
9. Food
10. Shopping
11. Prices
12. Safety
13. How many days do you need
14. The best time to visit
15. Day Trip or Home Base

Rome vs Florence Overall vibe

Rome feels like a big city, worthy of its capital status. The streets surrounding the Tevere River feel grand and classic and made me think of Berlin. Yet the streets in the heart of the old city center, like the ones near Fontana di Trevi, the Pantheon, and even in Trastevere, look and feel very old and authentically Roman.

Then there are areas where the two styles coexist harmoniously; one good example is the end of Lungotevere Marzio.

Florence, on the other hand, feels smaller and more charming. Many might also say it’s more romantic. I also think it can feel more elegant and upscale.

Which Is Best For History?

Regarding history, no city in the world compares to Rome. Rome is the city of the Roman Empire, the center of Christianity, and one of the oldest cities in Italy. If you are a history lover the concentration of historic landmarks and ruins in the eternal city will astonish you, particularly this one street – Via dei Fori Imperiali.

Rome vs Florence Culture

Rome is known as the capital of the world – “caput mundi”. That’s due to two main things: the Roman empire that extended to three different continents – Europe, Africa, and Asia; and the Vatican, which is the center of Christianity.

Rome is also the capital of Italy, the birthplace of the Italian Republic, and the seat of the Italian government.

On the other hand, Florence is known as the “culla del Rinascimento”, the cradle of the Renaissance. 

If you are looking to visit the city with the most churches and museums, Rome beats Florence with over 900 churches and 200 museums, compared to around 100 churches and 100 museums in Florence.

Broadly speaking, when it comes to culture, Rome offers you a jump in the past of Italy, from the Roman empire and the establishment of the Italian Republic, and the political and religious aspects of the country.

On the other hand, Florence’s culture is more focused on the Renaissance period, with its arts, and literature key artists and masterpieces.

Architecture in Rome Versus Florence

As I mentioned earlier, Rome has areas that feel very big and contemporary, resembling large European cities like Berlin. Those coexist beautifully alongside the ruins, ancient buildings like the Colosseum and the Pantheon, and historic landmarks like the Fontana di Trevi, Piazza Navona and Piazza di Spagna. 

Connecting all of those you’ll find nicely renovated streets as well as old and charming cobbled narrow alleys with typical orange and yellow buildings and their iconic chocolate brown doors and windows.

On the other hand, Florence is a smaller city and it does feels smaller. Its architecture and streets look old and charming, with no particular areas that feel big and contemporary.

To sum it up, I’d say that Rome feels more like a European city worthy of its capital status. In contrast, Florence is a charming and elegant Italian city with a large town vibe.

Which Has the Best Weather?

It depends on what you like. While they are both generally sunny cities, Rome tends to be warmer and Florence slightly rainier.

Below is a comparison table of average monthly rainfall and temperatures for Florence and Rome.

Things To Do in Rome vs Florence

Both cities offer an infinite list of attractions, neighborhoods to explore, food to try, and views to admire.

However, because Rome is larger, and it also happens to be the capital city, the center of the Roman empire, and the location of the Vatican there’s much more to see. 

Just think about what I shared earlier – you can find over 900 churches and 200 museums in Rome vs 100 churches and museums in Florence. This will give you a good idea of how much there’s to see in one vs the other.

Top Attractions to visit in Rome:

1. Colosseum
2. Vatican City (including St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel)
3. Trevi Fountain
4. Pantheon
5. Roman Forum, Palatine Hill & the whole Via dei Fori Imperiali
6. Piazza Navona
7. Spanish Steps and Via Condotti
8. Villa Borghese Gardens
9. Castel Sant’Angelo
10. Trastevere

Top Attractions to visit in Florence:

1. Florence Cathedral (Duomo di Firenze)
2. Ponte Vecchio
3. Uffizi Gallery
4. Accademia Gallery (home to Michelangelo’s David)
5. Piazza della Signoria
6. Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens
7. Basilica di Santa Croce
8. Palazzo Vecchio
9. Bargello Museum
10. Piazzale Michelangelo

Which City Is the Most Walkable?

From what I already shared you might have guessed that Florence is the most walkable. 

Another thing to note is that the old center of Rome is huge in comparison to Florence’s – 14 versus 5km.

To give you a further idea of how much walking you will need to do in one vs the other, let’s look at the overall waking distance for visiting all 10 top attractions in both cities.

In Rome, you will need to walk 2.5 hours to see the attractions above; they are listed in the order of proximity.

In Florence, you will need just over an hour to reach all the 10 top destinations above, all listed in order of proximity.

How Are People in Rome vs Florence?

Wherever you go throughout Italy there’s something that never changes, Italians’ friendliness and passion for life.

With that in mind, I can confirm that Romans and the Florentines are equally friendly and helpful. They speak English, especially in central locations like museums, shops, and restaurants. 

However, there’s one key difference – Romans tend to be simpler in the way they speak; in some cases, you might confuse their expressions, tone, and gestures for rudeness but it’s not. I actually noticed this more evidently in the Trastevere area.

On the other hand, Italians in Florence are more elegant, speak fancier Italian, and might come across as more polite and good-mannered. Equally, some might confuse their ways with being haughty. 

In my opinion, these are just exhibits of different geographical, cultural, and social backgrounds. I personally enjoy chatting with both at restaurants and cafes, although I do admit that Romans can come across as more approachable.

Rome vs Florence Food

Like one’s preference for architectural style, how you perceive food can also be very subjective, so I will start by telling you my preferences.

Overall, I think I enjoyed the food in Florence just a touch more, and I will explain why.

Breakfast

I feel like Florence had more local breakfast delicacies to choose from, such as the Schiacciata alla Fiorentina, the Schiacciata con l’uva, Scendiletto cake, and the wide selection of local biscuits – cantucci, ricciarelli, cavallucci, and brutti buoni.

In Rome, the main traditional local breakfast food is the maritozzo bun stuffed with fresh cream. There’s also the Ciavattone, a puff pastry filled with either custard, jam, or chocolate. I couldn’t find these latter anywhere, and I looked in over 15 cafes in person and at least double that online.

Of course, you can find a wide variety of croissants, sfogliatelle, ciambelle di zucchero (sugar donuts), treccie (plated shaped pastries), brioche both plain and with fillings, biscuits, cakes, and small confectionery pieces like cannoli, and bignè. 

To know more about my breakfast experience in Florence, read my Best Breakfast in Florence article. You’ll understand why I prefer breakfast in the charming city.

If you are going to Rome, here’s my article on Rome Breakfast, the best spots, what I liked and didn’t.

Aperitivo

Both cities offer many great aperitivo options, so none of them will disappoint. In my opinion, there are 2 key differences. 

Firstly, aperitivo in Florence can feel more upscale and also cost a little more, especially if you have it at the Rinascente Rooftop bar or at Gilli Cafe, which are my favorite spots. On the other hand, aperitivo in Rome is more casual, like the overall city vibes.

Secondly, aperitivo in Rome can easily turn into a picky style dinner, especially if you choose to have supplì, crocchette, sfoglia potato chips, a ham and cheese platter, some local artichokes, a mix of fried vegetables and fish, and then end it with a Pinsa pizza to share. I share 3 great Rome Aperitivo Spots here.

Lunch/Dinner

I am putting lunch and dinner together because most of us usually have one large meal when on holiday, and it’s usually in the evening. 

Lunch and dinner food is equally delicious and worth trying in both cities. Each have different but equally scrumptious delicacies. 

My favorite food in Florence was the Crostini al Pate di Fegatini di Pollo and Tortelli di patate al Ragu Toscano (you can see here where I had these) for dinner and the Schiacciata with pecorino cream and grilled zucchini for lunch at l’Antico Vinaio. 

Of course, we can’t forget the Bistecca alla Fiorentina and all the other delicious meat dishes.

Rome is in my opinion better when it comes to everyday pasta dishes since it has so many classics – from the Carbonara to Cacio e Pepe, Amatriciana, alla Gricia, alla Zozzona, and the Gnocchi.

The saltimbocca alla Romana, the lamb Abbacchio, the baccala, and the artichokes sides are equally very tasty.

Pizza in Rome vs Florence

They both offer great options, although Rome has its own styles of pizza – Roman pizza, Pizza al Taglio, or by the meter, and the recent Pinsa Romana style.

I ate more pizza in Florence than in Rome, but my husband ate the same number of pizzas in both. They both offer delicious options, so there’s no evident winner here.

Which has the Best Gelato?

In my opinion, Florence offers the best gelato but I must admit I didn’t try as many in Rome as I did in the other city. My favorite gelato in Florence was at Gelateria della Passera.

In Rome, we tried Otaleg’s ice cream in Trastevere, and while it was very tasty, it didn’t compare to della Passera.

Which has the Best Tiramisu?

I think it’s Rome, and that’s why the eternal city is so famous for this Italian delicacy it didn’t create.

Tiramisu originated in Treviso but it’s widely available in Rome, with 3 famous spots to enjoy it. I tried all of them and I am sharing my opinions and which one I think is the best here – Best Tiramisu in Rome.

I didn’t try it in Florence because it’s not as popular there.

Which City Is Best For Shopping?

When it comes to shopping, Italy’s capital wins. In Rome, there are many more options for all budget levels. You can find the big designer brands, smaller lesser-known boutiques, and all the well-known High Street Brands.

The number of shopping streets is equally never-ending. I explored most of them and shared them all in this Rome Shopping article.

Which Is the Most Expensive?

Overall, Rome is more expensive when it comes to touristy expenses. If you are thinking about buying a house in either of these cities, then Florence’s real estate is higher priced.

A 40-minute taxi from Rome Fiumicino airport to just outside the center costs €60, vs €25 for a 20-minute ride from Florence airport to Piazza Duomo.

Breakfast in the oldest coffee shop in Rome costs €60 (with just 3 regular-sized pastries and 2 drinks) vs €30 in Florence with 5 pastries and 2 drinks.

Coffee is slightly cheaper in Rome, just under a euro in the capital, and just over a euro on average in Firenze.

An Aperol spritz usually costs €10 in Florence but you can find it for €6 in many Trastevere restaurants and other neighborhoods. 

Depending on where you eat, main course dishes can be more expensive in Florence. I suggest the Trastevere area in Rome for good prices and great food. Read my Trastevere Restaurants Guide here.

Museum prices are fairly priced in both, in my opinion. You need to book your tickets in advance for both cities, especially when it comes to the Colosseum and Vatican Museums in Rome and the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries in Florence.

Public transport is more convenient in Rome, with the same ticket costing just €1.50 for 100 minutes, and you can ride all buses, trams, and metro within the Rome area. In Florence, the price is €1.70 for 90 minutes.

I have seen lovely shoes in different boutiques for €50-70 in Rome, whereas Florence tends to have more expensive designer shops and boutiques.

Which Is Safer?

Although they both felt safe to me, in Rome one must pay attention to certain areas.

I share the areas to avoid and the best ones to stay in this Where To Stay in Rome Guide.

We walked in both cities late in the evening in different neighborhoods and they felt equally safe. Both tend to be busy with other people, but even when they weren’t we felt fine.

As always, I suggest you be cautious and try not to linger outside in the dark longer than needed, especially if you are in an area that feels deserted. We never stayed out past 10 pm, so that is something you might want to keep in mind.

How many Days In Rome vs Florence?

You can spend a week in both and have plenty to do, see, and eat without getting bored or repetitive. However, if you did that it’s likely you’ll want to venture out of Florence and explore Tuscany because you’ll have more time left after visiting the main attractions.

With Rome, if you plan to explore most neighborhoods in the center, see the main attractions, do some shopping, and visit the Vatican, you’ll need nearly the entire week.

We stayed 7 nights in Rome and only took one day trip, and stayed 6 nights in Florence and took 2 day trips. We didn’t see all the attractions during those stays.

Overall I think that 5 days in Rome are essential while you can get away with 2 full days in Florence.

Best Time To Visit Rome vs Florence

I last visited Rome in April and Florence in October. I wouldn’t change the time of the year, and I think those seasons suit the cities perfectly. I would also consider visiting Florence in Spring and Rome in early Fall. However, be aware that the end of Fall and the beginning of Winter can be very rainy in Rome.

I plan to visit both soon for Christmas, as they are both spectacular with decorations, Christmas markets, Christmas shopping, and seasonal food.

I suggest you avoid both cities in Summer, especially from July to mid-September, as they can be unbearably hot and humid, and that weather is not conducive to sightseeing.

Which Is Best For A Day Trip?

All Italian cities, especially the Regions’ capitals, deserve more than one day. This is even more so if we are referring to the big and popular cities like Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Bologna, and Naples. 

However, when comparing the two cities, you can see more of Florence in one day than you would in Rome.

If you were to walk from Attraction 1 to Attraction 10 below, you could do it in just under 2 hours with plenty of time to walk slowly and take pictures. That will leave you with enough time for breakfast, lunch, or early dinner and a gelato. And you might even be able to squeeze in a visit to a museum. 

If you’re thinking of taking a day trip to Rome, read this: How To Do Rome In One Day.

Which Should You Choose?

If you can only choose one, I suggest you choose Rome, especially if you haven’t visited either of these cities. If you have visited one, then by all means choose the other, so you can experience both at least once.

Choose Rome if you:

1. Like big European cities like Berlin and Vienna
2. Want to see the political buildings like the Parliament, Senato and Quirinale
3. Want to visit the Vatican

Choose Florence if you:

1. Prefer smaller charming cities
2. Love the Renaissance periods, the arts and literature
3. Only have a few days or a weekend

Other Things To Know

If you have chosen Florence or you need more help deciding, explore all the resources on Florence, including hidden restaurants, a guide to the best day trips, Florence streets, and Florence’s history. You can find all of those and more there.

To learn more about Rome, browse all the article I wrote about the city and my time in Rome here.

Florence or Rome? You Don’t Have To Choose One! Visit Both

If you can’t decide which one to visit for the first or second time, why not combine both in one trip to Italy?

Of course, you could stay in Rome and take a day trip to Florence, but I suggest a better plan in this article – Rome and Florence Itinerary.