A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Venice vs. Washington for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Nightlife

Should you visit Venice or Washington?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Venice and Washington can help you decide which place is right for you.

Venice

Venice is a cultural, magical, and historic city. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It also has that perfectly quaint feel that is like no other place. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Washington

Washington is a monument-filled, international, and diverse city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the theater, nightlife, and live music.

Venice and Washington: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Venice or Washington?

You'll generally find more things to do in Washington than Venice. Washington is bigger than Venice, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Washington is better known for its theatre productions, food, nightlife, music, hiking, and big city activities, while Venice is more popular for its historical sights, shopping, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Venice is more touristy than Washington and is known for its many canals, famous gondolas, iconic architecture, romantic squares, and beautiful bridges. Washington is well known for its reputation as the capital of the United States, but it's also known for its many monuments, memorials, and museums. Also, Washington is famous for The Washington Monument and the White House.

How is Venice different from Washington?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

You'll find a number of fantastic museums and attractions in both Washington and Venice.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Venice has many famous sights for visitors. The many historic and famous landmarks in town include St. Mark's Basilica, St. Mark's Square, Doge's Palace, and the Rialto Bridge.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Washington that are not to be missed. The city has world class museums that are often free. The Smithsonian Museums are arguably some of the most impressive museums in the United States. The city also has a large collection of monuments that are dedicated to past presidents or historical events. Many are best experienced at night when the sun sets and the lights come on.

Is Venice or Washington Better for Theater?

Washington is great for its shows and theatre. However, Venice is not a theatre destination.

Washington has a number of performance venues where you can see a variety of shows. Theater is popular in the city. From major theaters like the Kennedy Center and Ford's Theater, to lesser known smaller venues, there are options for everyone.

Venice is not a theatre destination.

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

Washington is a world-class destination for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Venice is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Washington has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. This city is among the most diverse in the country, so you can find restaurants from almost any cuisine here. It's worth exploring and stepping out of your comfort zone. There are popular neighborhoods for Ethiopian, Korean, Thai, Japanese, and Chinese food, among many others.

Venice offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. 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.

Is Venice or Washington Better for Nightlife?

Washington is great for its evening party scene. However, Venice is not a good destination for nightlife.

Many people head to Washington for the nightlife scene. Many visitors head straight to the museums and the National Mall, and don't realize what a livable and fun city this is. Some of the best nightlife is found in Dupont Circle, U Street, and even Arlington, VA. The city's young population ensures that there's never a dull moment.

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 Venice or Washington Better for Music?

Washington is very good for its music scene. However, Venice is not a live music destination.

Music lovers will find a few good venues in Washington. Notable live music venues include the 9:30 Club, the Anthem, and Union Stage.

Venice is not a live music destination.

Is Venice or Washington Better for its Old Town?

Venice is a world-class destination for its historic old town. However, Washington does not have a historic old town.

The historic old town of Venice is revered around the world. 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.

Washington does not have a historic old town.

Is Venice or Washington Better for Hiking?

Washington is adequate for hiking. However, Venice is not a hiking destination.

Hiking is a fun activity while in Washington. Just outside of Washington DC you'll find plenty of places to go hiking. There's also an elaborate bike and walking trail system in the city. To enjoy a bit of nature, head to Teddy Roosevelt Island.

Venice is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Venice or Washington?

Venice is a world-class destination for shopping. Also, Washington is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its shopping opportunities.

People travel from around the world to go shopping in Venice. 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.

Washington is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Head to Georgetown and Dupont Circle for some of the city's best local shopping. There are name brand chains mixed in with local boutiques. You'll also find plenty of souvenir shops in the more touristy areas if you're looking to pick up some trinkets.

Is Venice or Washington Better for Christmas?

Washington is a world-class destination for its Christmas holiday experiences. However, Venice does not offer Christmas activities.

With so many activities, Washington is a top place to visit during Christmas. With it's beautiful lights and holiday shows, Christmas is beautiful in the capital of the United States.

Venice does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Venice or Washington Better for Families?

You'll find very good kid-friendly activities in either Venice or Washington.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Venice. 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.

Washington is a very family-friendly place to visit. It is a fun and educational destination where kids can explore world class museums and try unique foods from all around the world. The city has nationally recognized landmarks, monuments, and memorials and it's also home to some of the best (free) museums in the United States including the world class Smithsonian Institutions. Many schools visit Washington DC as a field trip, particularly during the Spring months, so you'll kids groups in colorful t-shirts running around the National Mall.

Is Venice or Washington Better for Couples?

Venice is a world-class destination for romance. Also, Washington is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its romantic activities.

For those traveling as a couple, Venice has plenty to offer. 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.

Washington is a very popular place to visit for couples. The city lights up at night, so couples will enjoy wandering by the monuments in the evening or taking in a dinner and show. During the Spring months you'll find couples wandering through the Cherry Blossoms or along the waterfront.

Is Venice or Washington Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Venice is great for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Washington is not a good destination for backpackers.

Venice is very popular with the backpacker crowd. 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.

Washington is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it is an international travel destination, the city often isn't at the top of most backpacker's lists. There are some affordable accommodation options available though if you know where to look.

Is Venice or Washington Better for Students?

For students, both Venice and Washington are fantastic places to visit.

Students come from all over the world to visit Venice. 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.

Washington is a great destination for students. International students come from around the world to study, learn, intern, and work in the capital of the United States. There are many internships available through the federal government as well as NGOs and nonprofits.

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

Venice and Washington both offer fantastic public transit to get you around.

With a huge network, the transit system in Venice can get you around easily. There is a comprehensive boat and ferry system that includes aporettos, alilagunas, private water taxis, gondolas, and traghettos.

Visitors in Washington can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. The metro system and the bus system are reliable and efficient ways to explore the city.

Is Venice or Washington a more walkable city?

Venice and Washington are fantastic when it comes to walkability.

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.

It is easy to get around Washington on foot. Many neighborhoods around the city are easy to explore on foot. Most tourists spend a lot of time in the Mall area, which is very pedestrian friendly.

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

Should I spend more time in Washington or Venice?

How long in Venice or Washington?

Both Venice and Washington have a number of activities to choose from. In our opinion, Washington has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Washington than Venice. In general, 2-7 days is a good amount of time for Venice, and 3-7 days is enough time in Washington.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Venice than Washington 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 Venice.

One day in Venice or Washington?

With museums and food around the magical city of Venice, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Washington is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Venice or Washington?

With food and shopping around the destination of Venice, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Washington is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Venice or Washington?

Venice, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Visiting the old town is also a must. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

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

A week in Venice or Washington?

Venice is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this city makes for a great vacation. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Washington is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Italy, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Venice and Washington, we can see that Venice is more expensive. And not only is Washington much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Venice is in Europe and Washington is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Washington would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Washington 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 Washington.

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

Which is Bigger, Venice or Washington?

Washington has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Venice. When comparing the sizes of Venice and Washington, 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 Venice or Washington?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Venice or Washington in the Summer?

Both Washington and Venice are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Venice because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Washington this time of year.

In the summer, Venice is cooler than Washington. Typically, the summer temperatures in Venice in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Washington averages at about 79°F (26°C).

It's quite sunny in Washington. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Venice. Venice usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Washington during summer. Venice gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Washington receives 278 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Venice usually receives less rain than Washington. Venice gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Washington receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Venice or Washington in the Autumn?

Both Washington and Venice during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Venice this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Washington for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Venice is generally around the same temperature as Washington. Daily temperatures in Venice average around 14°C (57°F), and Washington fluctuates around 60°F (15°C).

In the autumn, Venice often gets less sunshine than Washington. Venice gets 134 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Washington receives 197 hours of full sun.

Venice usually gets less rain in October than Washington. Venice gets 67 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Washington receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Venice or Washington in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Venice and Washington. Many travelers come to Venice for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Washington in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

Washington can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Venice. Venice is much warmer than Washington in the winter. The daily temperature in Venice averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Washington fluctuates around 35°F (1°C).

Venice usually receives less sunshine than Washington during winter. Venice gets 88 hours of sunny skies, while Washington receives 139 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Venice usually receives less rain than Washington. Venice gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Washington receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Venice or Washington in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Venice as well as Washington. Many visitors come to Venice in the spring for the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Washington for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Venice is around the same temperature as Washington. Typically, the spring temperatures in Venice in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Washington averages at about 56°F (14°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Washington. In the spring, Venice often gets less sunshine than Washington. Venice gets 154 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Washington receives 228 hours of full sun.

Venice usually gets less rain in April than Washington. Venice gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Washington receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Washington and Venice