Hi all, we are looking to visit the French Riviera or Italy in the first week of September this year for 8 nights. My wife is very interested in both places but she has never been to Italy (I have been to Rome, Florence, Venice) but has been to Paris/Alsace. We are interested in culture, scenic towns, great nature/views and probably some time for swimming, etc. I've calculated that the French Riviera will wind up around $1,500 cheaper than Italy since we can get the flight and hotels for cheaper so that does come into account. We are able to fly into Italy at Rome, Naples or Venice and out from Rome, Venice or Milan.
We basically have 3 sample itineraries right now (North Italy, Rome/Amalfi Coast, French Riviera). Looking for suggestions/critiques as we attempt to pick between these 3 options!
French Riviera (Staying in Nice all 8 nights as an example):
- Day 0: Arrive in Nice, relax at beach, walk around promenade
- Day 1: Explore Nice
- Day 2: Menton and Sanremo
- Day 3: Eze and Villefranche-Sur-Mer (Maybe also enough time for Saint Jean-Cap-Ferrat?)
- Day 4: Verdon Gorge (Need to rent a car for this one, not sure if we should rent a car for the whole trip anyway)
- Day 5: Antibes and Cannes
- Day 6: Cassis/Calenques
- Day 7: Monaco in the morning, relax in Nice the rest of the day
- Day 8: Flight home from Nice
Rome/Amalfi:
- Sorrento (5 nights), flying into Naples
- Rome (3 nights)
- Day 0: Fly into Naples, transfer to Sorrento, relax/dinner
- Day 1: Sorrento
- Day 2: Amalfi Coast
- Day 3: Capri
- Day 4: Ischia
- Day 5: Sorrento -> Rome (Stop in Pompeii on the way, just dinner/relax at night in Rome)
- Day 6-7: Rome
- Day 8: Flight home from Rome
North Italy:
- Venice (3 nights), flying into Venice
- Verona (2 nights)
- Como (3 nights), flying out of Milan
Feels like the French Riviera and Rome/Amalfi will satisfy most of what we're looking for. North Italy should still be romantic but more cities and no beaches.