Paris
Venice
Many travelers compare Paris and Venice because both offer absolute icons: the Eiffel Tower rising over the Seine and the canals with gondolas around St.Mark’s.The two cities are linked by about a 1h40 flight and are ~1,100 km apart, but offer very different experiences in terms of budget, pace, and transport.In short, Paris is dense with museums and has an efficient metro (€2.15 per ride), while Venice is explored on foot or by vaporetto (€9.50, 75 min) among alleys and bridges.Average costs vary: 3* hotels in Paris €120-180, in central Venice €110-170 (plus €25/24h for transport).Climate: Paris summers 25°C, winters 5°C; Venice is more humid, July 28-30°C and risk of acqua alta between October-December.In this guide you’ll find verified prices (tickets, taxis, gondolas), real visit times, recommended neighborhoods, restaurants like Bouillon Chartier or Cantine già Schiavi, and tips on how many days to allocate.It ends with a section on how to combine the two cities in 7-9 days by plane or train with precise costs and durations.
Paris vs Venice
| Feature | Paris | Venice |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budget | In Paris a 3* hotel in areas like Bastille or Montparnasse costs €120-180/night (4* €200-320, hostels €35-55 in Le Marais).Meals: breakfast croissant+coffee €4-6, bistro lunch set menu €19-25 (Bouillon Chartier dishes €9-14), midrange dinner €30-45 per person.Transport: metro €2.15 per ride, book of 10 ~€19, CDG–center taxi €55-62 flat fare.Daily budget: backpacker €70-90, mid €140-220, luxury €350+.Major museums (e.g., Louvre €22) add €30-60/day depending on itinerary. | In Venice a 3* in Cannaregio or Dorsoduro costs €110-170/night (4* €180-300, or Mestre €60-100).Meals: cicchetti in bacari €1.50-3 each, “ombra” of wine €2-4; trattoria lunch €18-28, seafood dinner €30-45 (Trattoria Alla Madonna).Transport: vaporetto €9.50 (75 min), 24h pass €25, water taxi airport–center €120-140.Daily budget: backpacker €60-80 (staying in Mestre), mid €120-200, luxury €300+.Main attractions (Doge’s Palace €30) add €15-40/day. |
| Top attractions | Top in Paris: Louvre (€22, 2.5-4h) for the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo; Eiffel Tower elevator to the top €29.40 (1.5-2h with security); Musée d’Orsay €16 (2-3h) for Monet and Van Gogh; Sainte-Chapelle €13 (45-60 min) Gothic stained glass; Catacombs €29 (1-1.5h).Book timed tickets online.Distances: Louvre–d’Orsay 1.1 km (15 min walk), Eiffel–Arc de Triomphe 2.2 km (30 min).Closures: many museums Monday or Tuesday; check calendars.✓ Better | In Venice: Doge’s Palace €30 (2-3h) with Prisons and Bridge of Sighs; St.Mark’s Basilica free (Pala d’Oro €5, 45 min), Campanile €10 (30 min, lagoon view); Peggy Guggenheim €17 (1.5-2h), Gallerie dell’Accademia €12 (2h).Gondola €90/30 min (day), €110 after 19:00.Distances: St.Mark’s–Rialto 700 m (8-10 min), San Zaccaria–Accademia by vaporetto 15-20 min.Buy skip-the-line for the Palace in high season. |
| Food and restaurants | In Paris try croissants, French onion soup, steak frites, and crêpes (Breizh Café €8-14).Recommended bistros: Le Comptoir du Relais (dishes €22-36), Bouillon Chartier (mains €9-14), markets like Marché des Enfants Rouges (dishes €8-12).Espresso €1.50-2.50 at the counter, glass of wine €5-7.Book dinner 19:30-21:00; many kitchens close at 22:30.For gourmets: Septime tasting ~€95 lunch (book well ahead). | In Venice order cicchetti, sarde in saor, black ink risotto, and Venetian-style liver.Top bacari: Cantine del Vino già Schiavi, Osteria Al Squero, Bacareto da Lele (cicchetti €1.50-3, spritz €3-5).Trattorias: Trattoria Alla Madonna (first courses €18-22), Osteria alle Testiere (fish mains €25-40).Gelato at Gelatoteca Suso €3-4.50.Avoid tourist menus near Rialto with inflated prices; look for daily chalkboards and fish from the Rialto Market.✓ Better |
| Climate and best time to visit | Paris: winter average 5°C (January min 2°C, max 7°C), spring 12-18°C (April-May), summer highs 25-27°C (July), autumn 10-15°C (October).Rain spread through the year (~50 mm/month).Best time: April-June and September-October for more manageable lines.August is hot and some restaurants close.Nights: bring a light jacket; occasional heatwaves above 32°C.Daylight: June ~16 h, December ~8.5 h.✓ Better | Venice: cold-humid winter 3-7°C (January), spring 12-20°C (April-May), summer 28-30°C with high humidity (July), autumn 10-16°C.Heavier rains in November and risk of acqua alta between October-December (sirens and walkways).Best time: April-June and September for mild temperatures and fewer crowds than August.For beach at the Lido: June-July with sea 22-25°C.Bring non-slip shoes for wet bridges. |
| Transport and how to get there | Airports: CDG and ORY.From CDG to center: RER B €11.45 (35-40 min), RoissyBus €16.60 (60 min to Opéra), taxi flat fare €55 right bank / €62 left bank.From ORY: OrlyBus €11.20 (30-35 min to Denfert), taxi €36-44.In the city: metro €2.15, integrated bus/tram, Uber similar to taxis.From Gare du Nord to Montmartre 2 stops (10 min).Car rental not recommended in the center due to traffic and parking €30-40/day.✓ Better | Airport VCE Marco Polo.Transfers: Alilaguna €15 (60-75 min to St.Mark’s), ATVO/ACTV bus €10 (20-25 min to Piazzale Roma), water taxi €120-140 (25-35 min).In the city: vaporetto €9.50 (75 min), 24h pass €25, People Mover €1.50 between Tronchetto and Piazzale Roma.All pedestrian: from Rialto to St.Mark’s 8-10 min.No cars: parking at Tronchetto or Piazzale Roma €23-35/day.Avoid heavy luggage due to bridge steps. |
| Nightlife | In Paris bars in Oberkampf, Bastille, Le Marais, and Pigalle.Beer €6-8, cocktails €10-14, club entries €10-20.Rooftops like Le Perchoir (sunset drinks), clubs like Rex Club (techno) and La Machine du Moulin Rouge.Hours: bars until 02:00, clubs until 06:00 on weekends.Metro until ~00:45 (Fri-Sat ~01:45), then Noctilien night buses.Book tables after 21:00 in popular spots.✓ Better | In Venice the scene is softer: spritz at Campo Santa Margherita and Fondamenta della Misericordia (Cannaregio).Spritz €3-5, beer €5-7, many bars close 23:00-01:00.For music: Venice Jazz Club €20 with a drink included; for views, hotel cocktail bars near St.Mark’s.Move on foot or by vaporetto (reduced service after 00:00).For intense nightlife, better in Mestre or return by the last vaporetto. |
| For families with children | Paris is stroller-friendly: Jardin du Luxembourg (play areas), Jardin d’Acclimatation entry €7 (+ rides €3), Cité des Sciences €13 adults (€10 children).Distances: Tuileries–Louvre 5-10 min.Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée: RER A ~40 min, ticket ~€5-6, admission €62-105.Many metro stations have limited elevators; prefer lines 1 and 14 for accessibility.Book skip-the-line at museums to save 30-60 min.✓ Better | In Venice everything is close: Lido for the beach (15 min from San Zaccaria), Natural History Museum €10 (dinosaurs), trip to Murano and Burano (45-75 min by vaporetto).Watch out for bridges with steps: opt for a light stroller.Distances: Rialto–Accademia 20-25 min on foot.Gelato at Suso as a reward (€3-4.50).Avoid crowded alleys between 11:00-16:00 with small kids; plan breaks in shaded campi (squares). |
| Beaches and nature | Paris has no sea, but large parks: Bois de Boulogne 845 ha (at 6 km from the Arc), Bois de Vincennes 995 ha (at 7 km from Bastille), Buttes-Chaumont with views of Montmartre.In summer Paris-Plages along the Seine (free deckchairs).Real beaches: Deauville at 200 km, train from Saint-Lazare 2h10 (€15-35 round-trip if booked in advance).Activities: Seine cruises €15-18 (1h) departing with Vedettes or Bateaux Mouches. | Venice offers the Lido: an 11 km long beach, from San Zaccaria 15 min by vaporetto; lounger+umbrella €20-30/day (in season).Nature in the lagoon: Torcello Island (green areas), Sant’Erasmo (market gardens), dunes of Alberoni (reserve).Lagoon boat tours €25-50 (2-3h).Sunset on the Zattere with views of Giudecca.Windy climate in spring, bring a light jacket.✓ Better |
| Shopping | In Paris: Champs-Élysées and the Golden Triangle for luxury, Le Marais for independent boutiques, Galeries Lafayette and Le Bon Marché for department stores.Souvenirs: Fragonard perfumes €28-60, Ladurée macarons €2.10-2.90.Vintage at the Saint-Ouen Flea Market (Sat-Mon), prices €10-200.Tax free over €100.01 in one day (refund ~12%).Store hours: 10:00-20:00, selective Sunday openings.✓ Better | In Venice: Murano glass (vases €50-300), Burano lace (€30-200), artisan masks €15-80.Areas: Mercerie between Rialto and St.Mark’s, Strada Nova and Fondaco dei Tedeschi (free terrace view with booking).Avoid “fake” Murano workshops: ask for a certificate of origin.Hours 10:00-19:00; many shops open late in high season.Card payments accepted, but bacari prefer cash. |
| Safety and practical tips | In Paris beware of pickpockets on RER B, the steps of Montmartre, and around Châtelet.Common bracelet scams at Sacré-Cœur and fake petitions in the gardens.Avoid the Stalingrad/La Chapelle area at night.Emergency number 112; ER at Hôtel-Dieu (Île de la Cité).Wear backpacks front-facing, guard phones on café tables, and buy metro tickets only from official machines. | In Venice risk of pickpockets in Rialto and St.Mark’s between 11:00-16:00.With acqua alta use walkways and waterproof shoes; alarm sirens announce levels.Water taxis: agree on the price before boarding; prefer Alilaguna/ACTV.Emergencies 112, hospital SS.Giovanni e Paolo; ambulance by 118 motorboat.At night some alleys are dim: use main routes or the vaporetto. |
| How many days you need | For Paris at least 3 days (Louvre, Eiffel, d’Orsay, Île de la Cité) and ideally 5-6 days including Montmartre, Le Marais, Versailles (RER C 35-40 min, ticket €3.65 from zones 1-4) or Disneyland (RER A 40 min).Pace: 2-3 big museums take ~6-7 h total.Expect 12-15 km walking days.Extra day for Canal Saint-Martin or a Seine cruise.✓ Better | For Venice at least 2 days (St.Mark’s, Doge’s Palace, Rialto, gondola ride), ideally 3-4 days including Murano, Burano, Torcello, and an afternoon at the Lido.Timing: Doge’s Palace 2-3 h, Guggenheim 1.5-2 h, vaporetto transfers 15-45 min each way.Walking routes 8-12 km/day.One extra day for Dorsoduro and sunset on the Zattere. |
| How to combine the two cities | Paris ⇄ Venice: flight 1h40 (CDG/ORY–VCE), fares €35-120 with easyJet, Transavia, or Air France (extra bag €20-40).Airport transfers: RER B €11.45 or OrlyBus €11.20; in Venice Alilaguna €15.By daytime train: Paris Gare de Lyon–Milan 6h45 (€29-120), then Frecciarossa to Venice 2h25-2h45 (€19-60), total ~9-10h.Direct night train not operating as of 2024. | Suggested itinerary: start in Venice (2-3 nights), then fly to Paris (4-5 nights).You avoid weekend crowds at St.Mark’s and take advantage of alternating Monday/Tuesday museum openings in Paris.Total transfer budget €80-180 per person (flight+local).Slow alternative: FlixBus 13-15h €35-70 overnight.Best seasons: May-June or September for 22-25°C and less rain.Book 6-8 weeks in advance. |
The Verdict
Choose Paris
Choose Paris if you love museums, architecture, and lively neighborhoods.Ideal time: April-June or September (temperature 18-24°C).Mid-range budget: €160-220/day (3* hotel €140, meals €40-60, transport €8-12, museums €20-40).4-day itinerary: Day 1 Louvre (3h), Sainte-Chapelle (1h), Seine cruise (1h); Day 2 Eiffel Tower (2h), Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe (45 min); Day 3 d’Orsay (2h), Le Marais, Centre Pompidou (1.5h); Day 4 Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur, sunset at Trocadéro.Transport: metro €2.15/ride, CDG taxi €55-62 flat.
Choose Venice
Choose Venice if you’re after romance, art, and a slower pace.Ideal time: September or May (temperature 20-24°C, less humidity).Mid-range budget: €140-200/day (3* hotel €120-160, meals €40-60, transport €10-25, museums €15-30).3-day itinerary: Day 1 St.Mark’s, Doge’s Palace (2-3h), Campanile (30 min); Day 2 Rialto, Guggenheim (2h), sunset on the Zattere; Day 3 Murano and Burano (half day), afternoon at the Lido.Experiences: gondola €90/30 min by day; ACTV 24h pass €25 if you use the vaporetto often.