Two cities, two temperaments: Venice floats like a dream of marble and water, while Florence stands like a Renaissance manifesto in stone. In a week, you’ll drift past palazzos by gondola, sip spritzes in tiny bàcari, stare up at Michelangelo’s David, and taste Sangiovese among Tuscan vines.

Both cities reward slow wandering and early reservations. Venice’s golden St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace recall a maritime empire that traded spices and silk, while Florence’s Duomo, Uffizi, and Ponte Vecchio anchor one of the world’s great art capitals. Plan ahead for museum tickets, and expect crowds to thin at sunrise and after dusk.

Practical notes: spring and fall are temperate; July–August is hot and busy; Venice can see acqua alta (high water) in fall/winter—watch local forecasts. Trains between cities are fast and frequent. Eat cicchetti with a spritz in Venice; in Florence, try bistecca alla fiorentina and hearty ribollita, then reward yourself with gelato.

Venice

The “Serenissima” is a tapestry of 118 islands stitched together by bridges and stories. Rialto’s market perfumes the air with the sea; artisans in Cannaregio and Dorsoduro keep old crafts alive; and at sunset, the Grand Canal blushes like a Titian canvas.

Top sights span St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace to quiet campi where locals chat over ombra (a small glass of wine). Don’t miss the lagoon islands—Murano’s glass furnaces, Burano’s rainbow houses and lace ateliers—plus intimate churches filled with Tiepolo and Bellini.

Eat like a Venetian: graze on cicchetti at Cantina Do Spade or All’Arco, feast on seafood at Antiche Carampane or Al Covo, and hunt down the city’s best frittura mista. For coffee and pastry, Torrefazione Cannaregio and Pasticceria Tonolo are beloved staples.

Where to stay (Venice)

• Iconic and refined: The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel (gilt salons, Grand Canal views).
• Boutique by the water: Hotel Antiche Figure (superb service opposite Santa Lucia station).
• Resort-style comforts: Hilton Molino Stucky Venice (skyline rooftop bar on Giudecca).
• Across the lagoon: Belmond Hotel Cipriani (legendary gardens, pool, and privacy).
• Palazzo fantasy: Aman Venice (dramatic frescoed rooms on the Grand Canal).
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com – Venice | VRBO – Venice apartments on the canals

How to arrive and get around

• Fly into Venice (VCE) and book a private boat to your hotel: Venice Marco Polo Airport Private Arrival Transfer via Motorboat.
• For flights within/to Europe, check Omio – flights in Europe. In Venice, ride vaporetti (water buses) or walk.

Day 1: Arrival, Rialto Markets, and Cicchetti Crawl

Morning: In transit to Venice. If landing at VCE, glide in with a pre-booked boat: Private Arrival Transfer via Motorboat for a stress-free entry to the lagoon.

Afternoon: Check in, then espresso at Torrefazione Cannaregio (small-batch roaster). Walk to the Rialto Market to see lagoon clams, soft-shell moeche (in season), and pyramids of artichokes. Snack on cicchetti at Cantina Do Spade—try baccalà mantecato (whipped salt cod) and sarde in saor (sweet-and-sour sardines).

Evening: Blue-hour stroll to St. Mark’s Square for live music and the basilica’s shimmering mosaics. Dinner options: Antiche Carampane (no-frills, top seafood; book ahead) or Al Covo (family-run, seasonal Venetian plates). Nightcap canalside at the Hilton Molino Stucky’s Skyline Bar (if you’re staying or visiting Giudecca) with citywide views.

Day 2: Icons of Venice—St. Mark’s, Doge’s Palace, Rialto, and a Gondola

Make the most of your time with a comprehensive guided day, including skip-the-line entries and a gondola glide.

Venice In a Day: St Mark's, Doges Palace Gondola Ride & City Tour

Expect St. Mark’s Basilica’s glittering gold interior, the Doge’s Palace with its Bridge of Sighs, Rialto Bridge history, hidden lanes, and a shared gondola ride on quiet canals. For lunch, grab a quick tramezzino near Campo San Bartolomeo, then finish with pistachio gelato at Gelatoteca Suso.

Dinner in Cannaregio: Anice Stellato for octopus with chickpeas and creative Venetian plates, or Al Timon for grilled meats and a lively canal-side spritz scene.

Day 3: Murano Glass, Burano Lace, and a Local Food Tour

Morning–Afternoon (Islands): Cruise the lagoon by private boat to meet the artisans and explore colorful villages.

Murano & Burano Islands Guided Small-Group Tour by Private Boat

Watch master glassblowers shape molten glass in Murano; in Burano, admire lacework and photo-ready façades. Lunch picks on Burano: Trattoria Al Gatto Nero da Ruggero (risotto di gò) or Da Romano (famed risotto), both classic and worth reserving.

Evening (Back in Venice): Eat your way through backstreets on a guided tasting stroll—cicchetti, regional wines, and sweet bites included.

Eat Like a Local: 3-hour Venice Small-Group Food Tasting Walking Tour

Afterward, stroll Zattere’s waterfront for a sunset view and a late-night sweet at Gelateria Nico (classic gianduiotto).

Florence

Florence is the workshop of the Renaissance—where Brunelleschi lifted a dome into the sky and Medici patrons filled palaces with genius. The city center is compact; every stroll passes a masterpiece.

Top sights include the Duomo and Baptistery, the Uffizi’s Botticelli and Caravaggio rooms, the Accademia’s David, and Oltrarno’s artisan studios. Evenings hum with wine bars and plates of pappardelle al cinghiale.

Insider treats: lampredotto sandwiches at the Mercato Centrale, sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo, and a gelato crawl between Gelateria dei Neri and La Carraia. Book museums in advance, and note many are closed on Mondays.

Where to stay (Florence)

• Urban resort: Four Seasons Hotel Firenze (botanical gardens and standout spa).
• Historic heart: Hotel Brunelleschi (steps from the Duomo, with a private museum).
• Design by the piazza: Grand Hotel Minerva (rooftop pool over Santa Maria Novella).
• Classic elegance: The St. Regis Florence (Arno riverfront, refined service).
• Great value and warmth: Hotel Davanzati | Budget charmer: Hotel Dali | Central pick: Hotel Della Signoria | Cozy: Hotel Santa Croce
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com – Florence | VRBO – Florence apartments

Getting from Venice to Florence

• Take a morning high-speed train (Frecciarossa or Italo) from Venezia S. Lucia to Firenze S. M. Novella via Omio – trains in Europe. Duration ~2:05, departing every 30–60 minutes; typical fares ~$30–$65 depending on how early you book.

Day 4: Venice to Florence, Mercato Centrale, and Michelangelo’s David

Morning: Depart Venice after breakfast; aim for a 9–10 a.m. train via Omio. Check in and grab coffee at Ditta Artigianale (Via dei Neri) or flat whites at La Ménagère’s café space.

Afternoon: Lunch at Mercato Centrale—try Da Nerbone’s lampredotto (Florentine tripe) with green salsa or fresh pasta stalls upstairs. Then meet a guide to skip lines at the Accademia and meet the world’s most famous statue.

Florence Accademia Gallery Tour with Entrance Ticket Included

Evening: Golden-hour walk over Ponte Vecchio, then dinner: Trattoria Cammillo (old-school Tuscan classics), Buca Lapi (historic cellar; bistecca), or Il Santo Bevitore (seasonal, modern Tuscan). Gelato at Gelateria dei Neri—try salted pistachio and ricotta-fig.

Day 5: Uffizi Masterpieces, Duomo, and a Florentine Food & Wine Evening

Morning: Explore the Uffizi with an expert guide—Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, Leonardo’s Annunciation, and Caravaggio’s Medusa are highlights.

Uffizi Gallery Small Group Tour with Guide

Afternoon: Duomo complex: take an express guided visit of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Baptistery. If you’re up for it, book a dome climb time slot separately for panoramas over terracotta rooftops.

Florence Duomo Express Tour with Optional Dome Climb Upgrade

Evening: Ease into Florentine flavors with a storytelling progressive dinner—wine windows, artisan salumi, and neighborhood trattorie.

Winner 2025 Florence Sunset Food & Wine Tour by Eating Europe

Day 6: Full-Day Tuscany—Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, and Winery Lunch

Trade city streets for cypress-lined hills, medieval skylines, and a farmhouse lunch with Chianti.

Tuscany Day Trip from Florence: Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa and Lunch at a Winery

Expect a guided stroll in Siena, free time in San Gimignano for Vernaccia and towers, a countryside lunch with wine pairing, and a finale at Pisa’s Field of Miracles. Back in Florence, keep dinner simple: a pizza at Santarpia or Neapolitan-style pies at Giovanni Santarpia, or trattoria comfort at Trattoria La Casalinga.

Day 7: Oltrarno Artisans, Boboli Gardens, and Departure

Morning: Coffee and a flaky cornetto at S. Forno, then wander Oltrarno’s workshops along Via Maggio and around Santo Spirito—bookbinders, leather craftsmen, and gilders at work. Stroll the Boboli Gardens for Renaissance landscaping and views over Florence.

Afternoon (Departure): Early lunch at Trattoria Mario (lunch-only; steak or ribollita; arrive before opening) or panini at I’ Girone De’ Ghiotti. Head to the airport or onward trains: Firenze Airport (FLR) is ~20–30 minutes by taxi or ~20 minutes on Tram T2; Pisa (PSA) is ~1 hour by regional train via Omio. For onward European flights, compare options on Omio – flights.

Dining Shortlist You’ll Love

• Venice (casual): Bacareto da Lele (tiny glasses of wine and sandwiches), All’Arco (cicchetti), Cantina Do Mori (historic bacaro).
• Venice (sit-down): Antiche Carampane (seafood), Al Covo (seasonal Venetian), Anice Stellato (creative Venetian), Trattoria da Jonny (solid lagoon classics).
• Florence (casual): Mercato Centrale stalls, All’Antico Vinaio (huge schiacciata sandwiches), Ditta Artigianale (coffee), La Carraia or Gelateria dei Neri (gelato).
• Florence (trattoria): Buca Lapi (steak), Trattoria Cammillo (Florentine staples), Il Santo Bevitore (modern Tuscan), Trattoria La Casalinga (home-style, Oltrarno).

Useful Booking Links (recap)

• Trains in Europe: Omio – trains
• Flights in Europe: Omio – flights
• Venice hotels: Hotels.com | VRBO
• Florence hotels: Hotels.com | VRBO

Final Tips: Book museum entries and special restaurants 2–4 weeks out (more in peak season). Carry a reusable water bottle—fountains in both cities are potable. In Venice, pack comfortable, non-slip shoes for stone lanes and bridges; in Florence, light layers and sun protection are smart from May–September.

Seven days between Venice and Florence will give you timeless art, lagoon light, and Tuscan table pleasures. You’ll leave with a camera full of gilded ceilings and terracotta horizons, and a new definition of “la dolce vita.”