Please critique our 2-week Italy-Spain June itinerary!

This itinerary is way too rushed; I doubt you will enjoy anything. I suggest choosing between Spain or Italy and taking time to appreciate things.

Personally, I like seeing how people have different approaches to what they do/how they travel. It's your honeymoon - I sense you just want to be in beautiful settings as a backdrop for gazing into each others' eyes - perfect theme for a honeymoon trip!

I might try and cut something out.... I assume Florence is just because you have a flight out of there?

I would aim for more 3 nights if you can.... I think 2 sprinkled in here and there is ok, but then you also have some 1s. And honeymoons need some resting time after the big wedding!

I have not been to Spain, other than 1 night in Barcelona. But you may consider just focusing on Italy? That would cut out a lot of travel hassle and you could just take trains.

Or base in Seville - are you saying Cordoba is a day trip? That could work, but I would probably cut Granada. Maybe just split Seville/Madrid?

Venice is beyond beautiful, I would definitely choose to add a night to that one!

I think it's too ambitious, especially remembering how I felt after our wedding! If you cut down some places and spend longer you will be happier. Or cut Lake Como, add to Venice and Florence?

You can save the rest for your next trip!

There is so much to see and do in Italy that you could spend several months and still have things left on your "must see" list. Forget about Spain this trip and really enjoy a relaxed trip in Italy. No more than 4 different locations in 2 weeks! Maybe rent a car and stay a couple days in an agritourismo in Tuscany, checking out wineries and cute little hill towns.

I think it's rushed, but that's from my perspective of wanting to see "sights" as well as get the local feeling (which seems to be your major concern). Basically, you have less than 1 day in Florence. Sure, you can walk around, but IMO you can't get a good feel, let alone see any sights, in that time. I can't imagine going to Florence and not at least seeing Michelangelo's David, but that's your call. Ditto for Granada without Alhambra. That's crazy to me, but again, it's your trip. I'd skip Seville Alcazar in favor of the Alhambra if you only want 1. Also, I think Seville is a better choice than Granada for flamenco. Both have it, but Seville is kind of the heartland of flamenco.

Besides it feeling rushed in general, I have one observation: To be in Granada, Spain and not visit the Albaicin (the Gypsy quarter) and stroll the Alhambra would be unforgivable. Make time for that.

Thank you all very much for your critiques and suggestions! Husband and I have reconsidered a few things and want to a) increase the days per place and/or b) focus on just one country to try not to overwhelm ourselves with too much traveling or too much lounging.

What do you think of the below two updated itineraries? Or any additions or edits that you may make?

ITINERARY A: ITALY - SPAIN (cut out Lake Como and Cordoba)

5/29-5/30 Travel to Venice (Arrive late evening 5/30)
-arrive in the evening, walk around canals at night
5/31-6/1 Venice
-wander the canals and side streets, maybe take boat to nearby islands
6/2 Travel to Cinque Terre (5-6 hr train to Cinque Terre)
-get settled in Vernazza as our base village
6/3-6/4 Cinque Terre
-hiking to each of the villages, relaxing, taking local trains when tired
6/5 Travel to Florence (2.5 hr train)
-walk around to get a sense of the place, dinner at a Florentine steakhouse
6/6-6/7 Florence
6/7 Travel to Seville (2 hr 40m flight)
-get settled, have late night excursion with tapas
6/8-6/9 Seville
-street markets, Alcazar of Seville, flamenco (thank you for letting me know this is the birthplace/heart of flamenco!)
6/10-6/12 Granada
-walk the small winding streets, silk market, Gypsy Quarter and Alhambra
6/13-6/14 Travel back to US (flight to Madrid + flight back to USA)

ITINERARY B (ITALY ONLY - Add more days to Florence and add Siena)

5/29-5/30 Travel to Venice (Arrive late evening 5/30)
-arrive in the evening, walk around canals at night
5/31-6/1 Venice
-wander the canals and side streets, maybe take boat to nearby islands
6/2 Travel to Cinque Terre (5-6 hr train to Cinque Terre)
-get settled in Vernazza as our base village
6/3-6/4 Cinque Terre
-hiking to each of the villages, relaxing, taking local trains when tired
6/5 Travel to Florence (2.5 hr train)
-walk around to get a sense of the place, dinner at a Florentine steakhouse
6/6-6/10 Florence
-wine tastings, olive oil tastings, travel around in Tuscany country, maybe museum or two
6/11 Travel to Siena (1 hr bus)
6/12 Siena
6/13-6/14 Travel back to US (bus/train to Pisa Intl Airport, fly home)

Thanks again!

Revised itinerary (imho) is still too rushed. Better to do a couple of places well than a bunch in a blur. Reconsider your short time in Venice. Do not skimp on the time spent in one of the most unique and romantic cities anywhere. I'd suggest confining the trip to Venice, the CT, and Florence. TC

I think the revised is much better. It's still rushed by a lot of people's standards (and I personally agree), but if you're aware that you'll only scratch the surface, great. Basically, you're making a trade off of depth of experience in favor of variety of experience, and as long as that's a trade you're OK with, go for it.

As far as Italy only vs Italy/Spain, that depends on your preference. I love Spain, so I'd make sure to keep it, but Italy is great too, so really just determine where your main interests lie. What places really get your heart going? If it's Cinque Terre and Seville, great, don't worry about limiting to one country. If your favorites are all in Italy, then there's your answer.

I like plan A better - I like visiting more than one country. It is a still a bit fast paced, but you pretty much have 2 full days in each place, so it's ok. Not too taxing on the travel... I don't think you will have much time for relaxing though, so if that is an aim you might edit even a bit further. :)

but looks much better!

A much more efficient path for both A & B...

Venice>Florence Train 2H05m.

Florence>Siena Bus 1H05m

Siena>CT Train 3H

CT>Pisa Train 50 min

Vueling air flies from Pisa to Seville 3 1/2 hrs.

Or fly home from Pisa.

Either itinerary should work, think B may be more romantic.

Have a wonderful Honeymoon!

Thank you everyone! We read your comments have realized that it is a very aggressive itinerary and will be keeping it to Italy so that we can get immersed properly. We're thinking about flying into Venice > Florence / Tuscany > CT > fly out from Pisa/Milan - we will be researching airline ticket prices in order to finalize everything. I kind of feel less nervous about it all too! Thanks, and if we have any more followup questions we will definitely reach out. This has been very helpful.