A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Amsterdam vs. Venice for Attractions, Nightlife, Old Town, and Couples

Should you visit Amsterdam or Venice?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Amsterdam or Venice, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a historic, canal-lined, and party-oriented city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. Many visitors also come to Amsterdam because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and live music. See Amsterdam travel costs.

Venice

Venice is a magical, historic, and beautiful city. The famous beauty of Venice is one of the main draws. It also has a unique and quaint vibe that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food. See Venice travel costs.

Amsterdam and Venice: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Amsterdam or Venice?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Amsterdam than Venice, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Amsterdam is more popular for its nightlife, music, and big city activities, while Venice is known for its museums and attractions, food, historical sights, shopping, and quaint atmosphere. Amsterdam is popular for its scenic canals, huge biking culture, and its wild nightlife scene. It is also home to The Rijksmuseum. Venice is popular for its many canals, famous gondolas, iconic architecture, romantic squares, and beautiful bridges.

How is Amsterdam different from Venice?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Venice and Amsterdam. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Amsterdam or Venice?

Venice is an unbeatable place for its museums and landmarks. Also, Amsterdam is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Venice are among the most recognizable in the world. The many historic and famous landmarks in town include St. Mark's Basilica, St. Mark's Square, Doge's Palace, and the Rialto Bridge.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Amsterdam. The city has a number of sights and museums including the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Royal Palace. The world renowned Rijksmuseum is a must see for any art enthusiast. There are also many smaller, lesser known museums that are well worth a visit.

Is the Food Better in Amsterdam or Venice? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Venice is well known for its restaurant scene. However, Amsterdam is not particularly known for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Venice. For the best dining experience, you should try to avoid the touristy restaurants that serve the typical pizza and pasta. Instead, find a local eatery that specializes in the region's traditional flavors like fish and vegetables. Many of the restaurants are excellent, but head into the local neighborhoods for the best options.

Amsterdam may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Food is expensive in this city, particularly in the touristy areas. There are some markets that sell great local items and the dessert cafes are awesome!

Is Amsterdam or Venice Better for Nightlife?

Amsterdam is a world-class destination for its evening party scene. However, Venice is not a good destination for nightlife.

People head to Amsterdam just to party. The city has some of the best nightlife in Europe. There are plenty of bars, dance clubs, and other activities that you can enjoy throughout the night.

Most people don't head to Venice specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. If you want to party, your best option is to head to the Lido area where you'll find night clubs and bars. A better alternative for enjoying your evening is to order a late night meal and a glass of wine at a local restaurant in Venice.

Is Amsterdam or Venice Better for Music?

Amsterdam is a world-class destination for its music scene. However, Venice is not a live music destination.

Amsterdam has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. The city attracts its share of world renowned DJs and musicians. Popular music venues include Paradiso, De Melkweg, and Chicago Social Club.

Venice is not a live music destination.

Is Amsterdam or Venice Better for its Old Town?

Venice is an unbeatable place for its old town. Also, Amsterdam is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historic old town charm.

With a famous historical old-town, Venice offers plenty to see. The city's historic area is unlike anywhere else in the world. The canals, colorful buildings, are world-renowned architecture, make this among the most recognized historic settings in the world.

Amsterdam is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The old city center is one of the best preserved in Europe. It's enclosed by canals and has many historic churches, plazas, and buildings.

Is the Shopping Better in Amsterdam or Venice?

Venice is an unbeatable place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Amsterdam is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Venice make it a world-class shopping destination. There are many unique items that people purchase in town. Some of the most popular include Murano glass, Burano lace, Venetian masks, and local fabrics.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Amsterdam. For the best shopping in town, head to the Nine Streets area in the historic district and the two main shopping streets of The Kalverstraat and Leidsestraat.

Is Amsterdam or Venice More Beautiful?

Amsterdam and Venice are somewhat similar when it comes to the terrific scenery.

The famous beauty of Amsterdam is one of the main draws. With its beautiful canals, historic churches, and relaxing parks, this is a beautiful city.

Many visitors also come to Venice because of it's amazing beauty. The city's beautiful canals, architecture, and gondolas make it among the most stunning and unique places to visit in the world.

Is Amsterdam or Venice Better for Families?

Venice is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, Amsterdam is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Venice is a very kid-friendly city. Even for kids, visiting this city is all about soaking up the atmosphere and sense of place. It is unlike anywhere else in the world. The canals, historic buildings, gondolas, and plazas offer a special environment, even for kids who may be burned out from exploring cities. Attractions that appeal to kids include visiting the prisons at Doge's Palace, shopping for masks, and taking a ride on a gondola.

For families, Amsterdam is not always the best place to visit. The city does it's share of partying, and there are some areas, like the red light district, that aren't exactly kid-friendly, but there are some nice parks, playgrounds, and the impressive NEMO Science Museum that you can explore.

Is Amsterdam or Venice Better for Couples?

Venice is an unbeatable place for its romantic activities. Also, Amsterdam is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Venice has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. With its many truly unique romantic experiences, this city makes for a truly memorable honeymoon or romantic getaway. Ride a gondola, get lost in the city, and enjoy pasta and music around town to make the experience unlike any other.

Amsterdam is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. For many, a visit to this city is all about the party, but for couples who enjoy history, architecture, or boat rides along the scenic canals, the city also makes a great getaway. It's also fun to stay in a houseboat and have a unique experience.

Is Amsterdam or Venice Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Amsterdam is a world-class destination for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Venice is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

A large number of backpackers visit Amsterdam, as it is a very popular city for budget travelers. With it's party-hard personality and countless low price hostels, this city attracts its share of backpackers. Do note that many of the hostels aren't focused on quality, so make sure you understand what you're paying for. It may be worth booking a slightly more expensive room in a hotel.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Venice. Many backpackers stay just out of town to save a bit of money, but, even though it's not cheap, this city is well-established on the backpacker trail.

Is Amsterdam or Venice Better for Students?

Venice is an unbeatable place for students. However, Amsterdam is not popular with students.

Venice is a great destination for students. Because of its well-established reputation, this city attracts many international students for both semester and full length programs. There are many programs to choose between, and many students focus on the region's art, architecture, history, and language.

Amsterdam is not popular with students.

Is Amsterdam or Venice Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Amsterdam and Venice.

Visitors in Amsterdam can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. The city has metros, trams, buses, and ferries that help you get around. Since this is the Netherlands, getting around by bike is very popular.

Venice has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. There is a comprehensive boat and ferry system that includes aporettos, alilagunas, private water taxis, gondolas, and traghettos.

Is Amsterdam or Venice a more walkable city?

Amsterdam and Venice both are terrific when exploring on foot.

Getting around Amsterdam on foot is easy. The historic parts of the city are very walkable and much of the city is best explored on foot.

Venice is a very easy city to get around on foot. Because it is small, it's easy to walk to all of the major tourist attractions.

For even more information, also check out Is Amsterdam Worth Visiting? and Is Venice Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Venice or Amsterdam?

How long in Amsterdam or Venice?

Both Amsterdam and Venice have a number of activities to choose from. In our opinion, Venice has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Venice than Amsterdam. However, 2-7 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Venice than Amsterdam. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Venice, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Venice than Amsterdam. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Venice that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Amsterdam than Venice if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Amsterdam.

One day in Amsterdam or Venice?

Amsterdam is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find shopping and museums around the quaint city of Venice. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Amsterdam or Venice?

Amsterdam is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find museums and food around the magical destination of Venice. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Amsterdam or Venice?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Amsterdam. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find food and shopping around the cultural city of Venice. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

A week in Amsterdam or Venice?

Amsterdam is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Venice is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Venice, one week is sufficent for most. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Italy, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amsterdam and Venice, we can see that Venice is more expensive. And not only is Amsterdam much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Amsterdam would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Amsterdam and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Venice would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Venice than you might in Amsterdam.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amsterdam Expensive? and Is Venice Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Amsterdam or Venice?

Amsterdam has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Venice. When comparing the sizes of Amsterdam and Venice, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Amsterdam or Venice?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Amsterdam or Venice in the Summer?

Both Venice and Amsterdam during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Amsterdam for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Venice because of the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Amsterdam is cooler than Venice. Typically, the summer temperatures in Amsterdam in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Venice averages at about 23°C (73°F).

In Venice, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Amsterdam. In the summer, Amsterdam often gets less sunshine than Venice. Amsterdam gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Venice receives 287 hours of full sun.

Amsterdam usually gets more rain in July than Venice. Amsterdam gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Venice receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Amsterdam or Venice in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Amsterdam and Venice. The autumn months attract visitors to Amsterdam because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Venice this time of year.

In October, Amsterdam is generally cooler than Venice. Daily temperatures in Amsterdam average around 11°C (51°F), and Venice fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

Amsterdam usually receives less sunshine than Venice during autumn. Amsterdam gets 99 hours of sunny skies, while Venice receives 134 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Amsterdam usually receives around the same amount of rain as Venice. Amsterdam gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Venice receives 67 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Amsterdam or Venice in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Amsterdam as well as Venice. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Amsterdam this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Venice for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Venice. It's quite cold in Amsterdam in the winter. Amsterdam is cooler than Venice in the winter. The daily temperature in Amsterdam averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Venice fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In the winter, Amsterdam often gets less sunshine than Venice. Amsterdam gets 46 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Venice receives 88 hours of full sun.

Amsterdam usually gets more rain in January than Venice. Amsterdam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Venice receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Amsterdam or Venice in the Spring?

Both Venice and Amsterdam are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Amsterdam for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Venice in the spring for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Amsterdam is much colder than Venice. Typically, the spring temperatures in Amsterdam in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Venice averages at about 13°C (55°F).

Amsterdam usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Venice during spring. Amsterdam gets 166 hours of sunny skies, while Venice receives 154 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Amsterdam usually receives less rain than Venice. Amsterdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Venice receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Venice and Amsterdam