WhereToGoForMyHoliday.com
The best destination comparison site!
WhereToGoForMyHoliday.com
The best destination comparison site!
Both Barcelona and Florence are fantastic cities, but which is better for your city-break or holiday?
We understand your dilemma. There is a wealth of information about both cities, but little stating which is the better destination and more suited for your trip.
This article will provide our unbiased opinions, and hopefully help you to choose the best city to visit.
The article is divided into the following sections, and can be jumped to using the links:
• Introduction to the cities
• Scores and ratings
• Which one should I, friends, or family visit?
• When to visit and weather
• Who is the city suited for?
• The perfect 48hours (with map)
• Tourism details (where to stay? airport details?)
Barcelona is the vibrant heart of the Catalonia region, with its strong and proud identity.
This is a modern, young and stylish, city with attention-grabbing tourist attractions, and a focus on contemporary and it’s future more than its history.
Being hemmed in by the sea and mountains, creates a bustling and energetic atmosphere within the city. Thankfully it is easy to escape to glorious beaches or refeshing scenary of the mountains.
Barcelona is one of the greatest cities of Europe, so long as you are happy to compromise with excessive tourism and indifferent service that this instils.
Florence comes at you in a flurry of priceless art, pastel-painted jewellers, romantic piazzas, marble-gilded basilicas, and saffron-scented risotto. Nestled into the rolling Arezzo hills in the northern part of Tuscany, this is the very birthplace of the European Renaissance.
Florence flows in its 15th-century brilliance; there’s the Uffizi Gallery - home to works by Michelangelo and Sandro Botticelli - and the handsome Ponte Vecchio bridge.
Delve beneath the famed sights and Florence is a lived-in Italian metropolis. Locals devour lampredotto sarnies while glugging Chianti reds in hidden trattoria.
Florence’s allure is as classical as the city itself, but be warned you will be sharing the experience with many others, as there will be crowds!
Every street in Florence is characterful
The Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter) is one of the most atmospheric areas of Barcelona
Summary
Which city would I go to?
Flornce
Which one would I recommend to my parents?
Flornce
Which location for my 19-year-old cousin?
Barcelona
Which for my food obsessed friend?
Flornce
Note: The above comparison does not consider the weather, and assumes travel at the best time of year - which is detailed later in this article.
The following sections compare the two cities and considers; how long to spend in them, when to visit, and provides suggested 48hours in each city (along with an interactive map).
The final section is tourism practicalities and includes which airport to fly into, what district to be based in and how best to explore the city.
We hope that you find all of this information useful, in planning your next exciting trip!
Destination details
Barcelona can be fully seen with two intense days of sightseeing, but if you include the beaches, the mountain viewpoints and a more leisurely pace, this leads to the conventional four-day visit.
A trip could be extended by visiting the picturesque Montserrat Monastery and mountains or the attractive coastal town of Sitges. Barcelona is much more suited for a short city break than a longer holiday, and does lack the diversity of day trips as with other destinations.
Florence demands at least two days. Lovers of this enchanting town will surely scoff at that. They wax lyrical about how Florence seduces folk who pass its way into staying weeks, months, years, and even whole lifetimes. Still, we think it's possible to check off the main sights, try the top dishes, and explore the historic center with around 48-72 hours total.
In the peak season there are extremely long queues for the galleries and Duomo cathedral; to avoid wasting precious time, it is advisable to pre-purchase tickets and start the day sightseeing very early (before 8am).
There are many good day trips from Florence, which are easily accessible by train, and include Siena, Lucca, and Arezzo. Florence may be a smaller city, but a fabulous one-week holiday could be had based here.
The flamboyant Park Guell, colourful mosaics and whimsical buildings all designed by Barcelona great designer Antoni Gaudí
Tuscany is a beautiful region to discover
You've got to remember that Florence is up there with the most famous in Italy, and the vast majority of the 15.4 million visitors that come annually turn up in the summer months! That sends hotel rates skywards between June and August and means you'll need to jostle for space in front of Giotto's Bell Tower and the Duomo.
The ideal time to visit Florence is from April to June or September and October. They have good weather, fewer people, and cheaper prices, not to mention food festivals and wine harvest events. Winters are cooler and possibly wet but have the lowest number of tourists.
Barcelona is almost a year-round destination, and the best time of year to visit is either early spring or later autumn as this is outside of the peak season, but the weather is still pleasant.
The peak tourist season is July and August, and we suggest Barcelona is best avoided, as it is just too hectic and crowded. The weather is suitable for spending time on the beaches from May until October. The winter months are cooler and possibly wet but there is a less hectic pace around the city.
Barcelona is flashy, energetic and modern. The city has vibrant tourist attractions, without the stuffy atmosphere of many other historic destinations. It generally appeals more to the younger visitor with its heady mix of nightlife, beaches and Instagram ready tourist attractions.
It should be noted that Barcelona is not a cheap city, being the most expensive city in Spain. Barcelona is great for a short stay or a one-day visit, such as from a cruise ship.
Culture and art are the pillars of Florence. Lovers of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance will feel right at home between the Accademia Gallery and the Uffizi. Within their halls are iconic sculptures like Michelangelo's David, The Birth of Venus by Botticelli, and Caravaggio's haunting Medusa. And that's only scratching the surface!
Adding to the mix are the intriguing collections of the Museo Galileo for science buffs, the Ponte Vecchio for architecture aficionados, and tasty Tuscan farm foods for gourmands. Downsides include high visitor numbers, so it's best to steer clear if you're not a fan of crowds, particularly in the summer.
Florence is not an overly expensive destination, is relatively safe and has a small city atmosphere.
The cathedral of Barcelona is dedicated to Saint Eulalia, and in the adjoining cloister are the 13 white geese commemorating her young martyr death at 13
The Duomo has a gothic design, but the façade is covered in red green and white marble
Barcelona
Barcelona is a tremendous destination for a 48-hours, and excels as a short-stay destination. Below is an interactive map for 48 hours in Barcelona; day 1 is highlighted in green and day 2 in yellow, with optional sights marked grey.
The first morning would start on the La Rambla the authentic shopping street, which is so popular with tourists and locals alike. For the middle of the day explore the Gothic Quarter, which contains the cathedral and Picasso museum.
For the final part of the head towards the harbour and the lively Barceloneta district, that lies the beaches. For the evening both Gothic Quarter or Barceloneta boasts restaurants, atmosphere and entertainment.
The cable car up to Montjuïc Castle provides wonderful views over Barcelona
For the second day begin by visiting the awe-inspiring Sagrada Familia basilica, with is whimsical towers, intricate carvings and masterpiece of Antoni Gaudí. The theme of Gaudí continues with the next sight, the Parc Guell, which was designed by him and includes delightful mosaic-covered buildings and wonderful views of the city.
The final area to discover is Montjuï, where you can ride the cable car to a stunning or visit the MNAC museum housed in the grand Palau Nacional.
The finale for your time in Barcelona is the inspiring Magic Fountain light show, held at the fountain near the MNAC museum (Wed-Sun peak season).
Did we mention Barcelona has beaches, and that they are amazing!
48 hours in Florence
Early morningstarts are key in Florence, to hit the galleries and basilicas before the crowds. Don't worry, though, this two-day itinerary has time to rest with beautiful views in Renaissance gardens come the afternoon…
Day 1: Make for the Piazza del Duomo for the break of dawn – seriously, the earlier you can get there the better. That way, you can snap shots of the great cathedral and adjacent Giotto's Bell Tower without plumes of visitors getting in the way!
Look to the green-white marble inlays and the striking Gothic Revivalism of the whole building and think about hitting the 87-meter high lookouts of the belfry for some sweeping views across the city and the Apennines.
Traditional Tuscan design oozes from the lovely Palazzo Vecchio on Piazza della Signoria – this is the town hall, dating from way back in the 1400s. Grab an on-the-go pizza slice and make north to Galleria dell'Accademia after that.
A quick in and out there should be enough to appreciate the wonderful David statue by Michelangelo, before hopping back to the riverside and crossing the Ponte alle Grazie (have the camera ready).
For sunset, a climb to the Piazzale Michelangelo is a must. The panoramas include the Tuscan hills and the pastel-painted tops of the city, which look stunning as the light dips low.
For dinner try the regional meal of Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine steak).
The shops along the Ponte Vecchio traditionally sold jewellery
Day 2: It's a museum morning in the famous Uffizi Gallery on day two. For art lovers, the journey here is a rite of passage. The collections span several wings of a great palace in the heart of central Florence and can take hours on end to appreciate fully.
Highlights that simply can't be missed include The Birth of Venus (Botticelli), Laocoön and his Sons (Bandinelli), Raphael's portrait of Pope Leo X, and Caravaggio's unforgettable Medusa. Back outside, the Ponte Vecchio bridge isn't far. It was once a butcher's market but is now famous for its jewellery boutiques.
On the hills beyond are the handsome Boboli Gardens, all brimming with babbling fountains and carved statues. Further up again is Forte di Belvedere, where even more breathtaking views of Florence are on offer come the evening.
The Uffizi Gallery exhibits the greatest collection of Renaissance art
The statue of David is regarded Michelangelo finest work
If you can find decent accommodation, then Barcelona is enjoyable for a city break. The main airport of Barcelona is 17km from the city centre and connected by train, but the low-cost airlines may use the very distant Barcelona-Reus (110km south) or Barcelona-Girona (90km north). Neither airport is good for a short city-break, as so much time will be waste travelling.
Accommodation for Barcelona is always in high demand, and you will typically end up paying much more than you originally planned before making any reservations. The summer months can be a real challenge to find good accommodation – book well in advance.
The Sagrada Família is the standout attraction of Barcelona
Once in Barcelona all of the main sights are close and can be easily walked. The standard of food and service at restaurants in the tourist areas varies dramatically, it’s always advisable to check reviews first.
Florence
The best place to touchdown on a flight is surely Amerigo Vespucci International Airport. A mere 15 minutes' drive (7km) in a taxi, or 30 minutes in a train, can link you from the downtown to the terminals there.
Unfortunately, the bulk of Europe's budget carriers will jet into Pisa. That's still close – around 1-1.5 hours (83km) in the bus to the west.
Avoid flying into Bologna, as this is even further away (115km), and bus transfer 1.5-2 hours.
You definitely won't have to worry about finding somewhere to stay. From slick boutique hotels to simple hostels, Florence has all sorts. The town's primary industry is tourism, after all. Just expect prices to soar in the middle of the summer, before dropping again around the start of September.
The Piazza della Signoria
In terms of neighborhoods, you'll want to focus on bedding down within the SS67 ring road. More specifically, the districts of San Giovanni (the historic core) and Santa Croce are perhaps the most central, even if the latter retains a lived-in Italian feel. San Marco is a whisker to the north, hosting the bulk of the low-cost hotels and guest houses. Oltrarno boasts buzzy nightlife venues and hip coffee shops.
Related articles: Where to stay in Florence?
You probably won't need any forms of transport in Florence other than your own two feet. The town is eminently walkable. Be sure to bring comfy shoes that are suited to long days, however, especially if you're keen to scale to the lookout points around Piazzale Michelangelo.
For exploring the surrounding region, a rental car is a must. These tend to be cheap in Italy and are best organised from the airport to avoid driving through the centre of town.
Aside from the infamous Stendhal syndrome – a condition supposedly caused by exposure to too much beautiful Florentine art – there are no standout risks to visiting this city. The centre is generally safe and well maintained, crime rates are relatively low, and the locals are often happy to help out.
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