Rome vs Florence – Which City is Right for You?

It’s the eternal question travelers have been asking for centuries: Rome vs Florence? Which city should you visit? It might depend on your tastes, expectations, or travel style. But let us break it down for you, helping to add some clarity to your decision-making process. 

In comparing Rome vs Florence, here are a few facts about each city: 

• Rome was legendarily founded in 753 BC. Florence was founded in 59 BC. 
• Florence has over 100 churches. Rome has more than 900. 
• Rome has about 2.8 million inhabitants. Florence has 380,000 denizens. 
• In 2025, Florence had 16 million visitors. That same year, Rome saw nearly 23 million. 

Are you starting to see a pattern here? Rome is a big, bustling ancient metropolis and Florence is just a bit smaller. 

No matter which time of day you visit, the Colosseum is incredible.

Rome Vs Florence

Whatever the case, both cities are true wonders of the world. If you had to choose to visit Rome vs Florence, which city would you hop on a train for? After all, you can opt to take small-group guided tours of both Rome and Florence, thus deepening your knowledge and appreciation of both. Besides that, in both locations you’ll get invaluable skip-the-line access at attractions in both Rome and Florence. Whatever the case, here’s some information about both to help you decide. 

The sun setting over the beautiful skyline of Florence.

Rome: Big, Bustling, Breathtaking

Rome, as historians like to often point out, is a palimpsest: a word that comes from the Greek, meaning something that has diverse layers or aspects apparent beneath the surface. And this isn’t just an onion-sized metaphor.

The Eternal City is literally layered with the remnants and minutiae of 27 centuries of history, each generation adding their stamp until it gets buried by the next and the next and the next. So much so, that when the city is building a new metro/subway line, as they are now with Line C that goes right through the historical center, workers regularly find ancient remains and then the archaeologists are called in to gently brush away the dirt to reveal the treasures of antiquity that have just been unearthed. You could say that building a new subway line in Rome puts the “eternal” in the Eternal City.  

Early in the day may be the best time for you to visit the Fontana di Trevi. Photo credit: Chait Goli

The Italian capital is home to a very large handful of iconic sites. Here is  brief breakdown of you can expect to discover in Rome: 

• The Colosseum: One of the most recognizable structures on the planet, this nearly 1,950-year-old arena could accommodate more than 50,000 spectators who crammed into the space to watch gladiators fight to the death. , 

• The Pantheon: The Temple of All Gods was built by Emperor Hadrian around 125 A.D. and is the best preserved building from antiquity in Rome. 

• The Trevi Fountain: Rome’s most famous fountain is a Baroque masterpiece made even more famous by the films “Roman Holiday,” “Three Coins in a Fountain,” and “La Dolce Vita,” all of which were made in the middle of the 20th century. 

• Piazza Navona: This oblong-shaped public space owes its shape to the fact that it was a stadium in ancient Roman times. Today, there are three lovely fountains crowning the square, the majority of which were designed by Bernini. 

The Pantheon, with striking stonework and columns, is even more impressive on the inside.

If you do choose to visit Rome, the best way to tackle this bustling metropolis would be to take our Rome in a Day Tour, where you’ll not only see many of these iconic spots, but you’ll have a local expert showing you around, giving the backstory on each palace and regaling you with intriguing historical anecdotes. Rome may not have been built in a day but you can see a lot of it in one day! And did we mention you get skip-the-line access, so no waiting around like the rest of the tourists in Rome? 

Who Should Visit Rome? 

For a first-time visitor to Italy, arriving in Rome is like cannon-balling into the swimming pool that is the Italian capital. It’s the fast track to getting your bearings, where you’ll be overwhelmed by the beauty, the historical depth, and the sheer chaos of this remarkable metropolis. For this reason, make sure you have a comfortable hotel room for when you need to reach some solitude away from the city’s wild atmosphere. 

A walking tour is one of the best ways to explore a city, you can focus on the sights, not on the map!

Florence: Stylish, Serene, Stunning

While Rome is big, bustling, and potentially overwhelming to some visitors, Florence might be the Goldilocks of Italian cities: just right. Rome is walkable, Florence is infinitely more walkable, as it is smaller in size, and visitors can cover more of the historical city in a shorter amount of time. It’s also cleaner, less chaotic, and perhaps a bit more ready for prime-time tourism than its crazier big brother, Rome, ever will be. 

Rome may get more tourists per year, but Florence also sees a hefty amount of visitors, particularly for its size. In other words, Rome had 8.2 visitors for every one inhabitant and Florence had 42 visitors for every one denizen in this Tuscan city. And while Florence may have more visitors per capita, it’s still a more tranquil city and much easier to navigate than Rome. 

The Duomo of Florence is an architectural wonder with many parts to explore.

It also has some attractions that can rival those of Rome:  

• The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (aka the Duomo): One of the most iconic churches in the world, the Duomo boasts the largest masonry dome ever constructed. , 

• The Uffizi Gallery: first opened to the public in 1769, the Uffizi has the greatest collection of Renaissance art on the planet, including works by Michelangelo, Raphael, Da Vince, Botticelli, and Caravaggio. 

• The Ponte Vecchio: Florence’s iconic Gothic bridge, the only span to survive World War II, boasts jewellery shops and art dealers. 

• The Galleria dell’Accademia: most people come here to see  Michelangelo’s world-famous “David” sculpture. 

The Uffizi Gallery is home to amazing artworks including “The Birth of Venus” by Botticelli.

It’s possible to see everything that Florence has to offer during one trip. But want to know a secret? If you want to get the most out of your time in Florence, take our Best of Florence small-group guided walking tour. You’ll see all the sites above, get skip-the-line access, plus have a local expert to guide you around, giving you insider information on each place—info that would be hard to learn by doing it on your own. 

Who Should Visit Florence? 

If you don’t want to be overwhelmed by buzzing scooters, restaurant barkers, chaotic car drivers, and big city buzz, Florence is the antidote to Rome’s crazy atmosphere. It’s quieter, softer, and a bit more tranquil. There’s a certain refinement to Florence that you won’t find in Italy’s other big cities. 

The breathtaking view of Florence’s terracotta rooftops and surrounding hills from the Duomo summit.

So, Rome vs Florence, what’s it going to be? 

Bustling Rome with its 2,000-year-old ruins sitting around or more tranquil and stylish Florence with its larger-than-life Cathedral?  Rome vs Florence. Both cities could be ideal for first-time visitors to Italy. Both cities are crammed with iconic art, Renaissance palaces, plus-sized churches, charismatic locals, and incredible restaurants overflowing with red wine and pasta. 

Do we have to choose? Actually, you don’t. There is regular train service between Rome and Florence, each train leaving every 30 to 45 minutes, taking only 90 minutes of travel. That’s right, in the time it takes you to eat lunch at a trattoria in Tuscany or Lazio, you could go from Rome to Florence (or the other way around). 

So, in the eternal debate of Rome vs Florence, you don’t have to debate. You can take our Rome in a Day tour and our Best of Florence tour. Why have only one when you can have both? 

Toast to the amazing cities of Rome, or Florence, (or both!), with a delicious glass of local wine.

FAQs – Rome vs Florence

Why should you take a tour? 

Small-group, guided walking tours are the smart travelers’ secret weapon. Why? Because they pair with a local, someone who has been traversing that city for years and years, knows all the right people and places, and has invaluable insider’s knowledge you’ll never get from a guidebook nor AI. Plus, on both tours, you’ll have invaluable skip-the-line access, breezing right past those long lines and strutting in like a VIP. 

What time do the tours start and how long do they last? 

The Best of Florence tour starts at 9 am and lasts three hours. Just in time for you to relax a bit and then head to a trattoria for lunch (which our guide can happily offer some local recommendations). 

If you’re in the Eternal City, the Rome in a Day begins at 10:15 am and goes until 5:45 pm—that’s 7.5 hours of insider info on Rome. 

When is the best time to go to Rome and/or Florence? 

The better question is: when is it a bad time to go? We say there’s never a bad time. That said, going there June through August, you’re going to see a lot more tourist traffic and it’s going to be quite warm. November to March is less crowded with more affordable hotel prices, but expect it to be colder. The shoulder seasons, April and May or September and October are just right, a nice balance between fewer crowds and good weather. 

You will learn a lot on a guided tour with our local experts!

Want to experience the best of Rome and/or Florence without the stress of planning it all yourself? 

Whether you choose to visit Rome or Florence, you can hop on our Rome in a Day tour or our Best of Florence tour and you’ll get to see the artistic glories of one of these amazing cities in the most relaxed and comfortable way. Skip the line at popular attractions, get expertly curated information from your local guide, and then go home with a much greater appreciation of Italy.

Or, if you cant decide between Rome vs Florence then let us help you visit both.

Head to Rome and spend a few days enjoying the Eternal city, and then take advantage of our Rome to Florence & Tuscany 2 day Tour. Including high speed return train, a 4-star hotel and an expert guide who will take you for a fabulous first day in Florence and a splendid second day exploring Siena, San Gimignano, and Chianti in the Tuscan countryside.