Venice or Paris

Where do you fly home from? How many are a few days? Answers to those questions might help us with suggestions.

Both cities are fabulous. From Rome to Venice, a direct train takes only 3.5 hours and costs about $110 per person in 2nd class, or less if you book reserved tickets soon at www.trenitalia.com. From Rome to Paris, we recommend flying on Easy Jet of Vueling, likely to be under $100 per person; see also www.skyscanner.com.

Paris, as mid to late October can be rainy on Venice. Can be rainy in Paris too, but there are way more indoor things to do in Paris then Venice.

We are buying our plane tickets today and we are flying into Rome and plan to fly home from whichever city we choose to visit. I have always wanted to see both of these cities, but we only have time for one. We need to purchase the plane tickets today.

Check to see if you can get out of Venice at a decent hour (after 9 am). I'd pick Venice, closer, easier to get too, smaller (Paris takes at least 5 days to do it right). Love 'em both.

Paris - hands down!

Because you're starting in Rome, Venice would have to be given extra weighting in the decision since it's closer to Rome.
If you had a week and weren't starting in Rome, Paris hands down, more to do and see.
You can't go wrong either way.

Venice = charming, unique and easily enjoyed in just a couple of days
I would save Paris for the next trip

Re: Pat's post on rain in Venice in October. We spent the entire month off October in Venice last fall (2013). We had one short thunder shower and two half-days of light mist. The rest was very nice. And the end of October was still nice, with temps in the 70's during the day. I would go back for another month in a heartbeat. (And yes, we have been to Paris, but it doesn't grab me like Venice does. And we speak passable French. But there is something very special about a place like Venice with no cars, such a bizarre infrastructure, but it all works.)

Do you prefer apples or oranges? Apples = Venice. Oranges = Paris.

Unfortunately, there really is no other way to do it. They're both famous for a reason; both are mostly but not universally loved; both have given a lot of pleasure to many people, as well as grief to some others. You will only know how you feel about each one when you go.

In your situation, all you can do is read and watch as much about them as you can, and see which one calls to you the most right now. Rick has several videos on each city, available on Hulu or on this website here: http://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show

Venice. After being in Rome (which I love) you will appreciate the peacefulness of Venice, without traffic. It is the most unique city I've ever been to. Have a great trip! and let us know how it goes.

More to do in Paris, but Venice is unique/magical. In your time frame I'd visit Venice and leave Paris for another vacation. Northern Italy is perfect in October (warm, not hot days with cool, not cold nights).

Hi,

Venice like being in a painting, but without a doubt I choose Paris period.

@lleecann, what did you decide?

I just went to Venice and have been to Paris a number of times. Really depends on your interests but for me Venice was very awe inspiring as it is so unique. Then you can also do some of the islands there. I would do Venice as you are already close to it. The airport is easy to get to also. Paris should be a trip in itself in my opinion. Like Italy, France has a lot to offer but it is spread out. You should really not tag it onto another trip.

I've been to both. I have little desire to see Paris again, while Venice has somehow snuck itself into my upcoming trip this October/November despite planning to "only" see places I haven't been before. Venice is sneaky like that ;-)

For many practical reasons, Venice. You're just a short train ride away, It'll cost less money, you'll have more time to enjoy it, and it's the accompanying pace after a cruise. Yes, it can be rainy so read up on what you'd like to see.
Paris is splendid and I'd save it for another travel.

IIeecann said "buying airline tickets today" on the 25th. I guess we'll never know the decision.

I love both cities, but realistically, I'd save Paris for another trip when you have more time. You can see Venice pretty completely in a few days, but not so with Paris. If you're NEVER going to be able to go to Europe again, do Paris.

One last attempt to see which city was chosen by the OP. So, what was the final decision?

Thanks for all of your feedback. We decided to go to Venice as we only have 2 days. With the flight times we could find, just getting to Paris would take almost an entire day of our time. This is our first trip to Europe and we are very excited and hope to see as much of Italy as possible. Our flight home from Venice has a 5 hour layover in Paris and we are debating whether or not we will have time to at least hop in a cab and go see the Eiffel Tower and back to the airport. I have been told to expect 2 hours to go through customs, 45 minute cab ride each way and 1 hour to get back through the airport for the flight.

Decades of travel to Paris under my belt.

A five hour layover is not enough to leave the airport. Accepted minimum is seven hours, and thats tight.

A lot less experience than Pat, but completely agree that 5-hours is not enough to get out and back.