15 day honeymoon in Italy (May) - itinerary recommendations

hey hey lilypeng1
happy honeymoon travels. you have a lot planned with short stays. check-ins 3-4pm check-outs 10-11am. do you have all your accomodations booked? you are traveling during high high season and places you're going will be very crowded, it will probably take longer traveling/driving than you think it will.
are you just spending night in verona, train to venice (?) for late afternoon, day trip to burano/murano then train to florence. spending more time traveling instead of relaxing and seeing/enjoying the city, it's your trip just be prepared for crowds, restaurants packed and will need reservations.
make sure you obtain an IDP aaa.com/IDP before leaving USA, it's mandatory for all drivers. if not a big $$$ fine. read all about laws, rules, ZTL's, is there parking, street parking is slim to none, cost of gas, using the hiway machines to receive the "voucher" and use for next stop (cash or card). where will you return car and if picking up one place and returning to another is there a drop off fee?
good luck and have a great time
aloha

Hello lilypeng1, and welcome to the forum,

I have to agree that you are moving around way too much to enjoy your trip. Keep in mind that two nights in one location is only one full day sandwiched by two days of packing checking out travel checking in and unpacking. And staying one night somewhere does not even give you one full uninterrupted day.

For that reason most people here on the forum count nights and not days somewhere, it also allows you to track where and when you need to book accommodations. Then note what the travel logistics are between those locations so you have a realistic idea of how long you’re going to spend an actual transit.

For two weeks, I would recommend four or five locations tops. Maybe look for locations where you can stay put but do short day trips to experience other areas or nearby small towns.

It’s hard when there are so many things you want to do, but it is important, especially on a honeymoon to have time to relax and enjoy what you came to see. If you try to do too much you’re more likely to remember the ins and outs of Italian, trains and transit rather than The charming towns and cities.

Have a great trip,
Tod

Ditto, just need to streamline a bit more and it’ll be fantastic. I know it’s hard to grasp that seeing “less” will mean actually seeing more, but take all these repeat visitors’ words for it, and congrats!
Btw, when you return and want some beach action, the sea warms at the very end of May, so early June is a good time, or skip to September. I have swam in late May a few times, but it’s rare. I do know of a nice beach area if you want to leave out Elba and stay in the mainland: Monte Argentario. That may make it more efficient because you can get more sightseeing in but also have the coastal scenery.
Make sure your rental is approved for ferry travel, but I’d strongly consider adding more time to Elba if you go, to make it worth the effort of getting there, Your tolerance for cold water may end up helping you decide if you’re keep it, or put those days toward Tuscany and Venice (those are the two places I see as needing more time in your plan).

With the stress that comes with most weddings, you will probably want (or maybe need) to slow down, decompress, and not rush, rush, rush -- especially since you plan to return in 2028.

Suggest you consider changing from eight locations to only four. Every time you relocate you will lose at least 3/4 of a day. That's almost a third of you time. You want to have memories of good sights, good food, relaxation, and just "being". With the schedule you've set up, you might just have memories of train rides and hotel reception desks.

Don't mean to rain on your parade, just offering food for thought. Love long and prosper.

Too much travel. Cut some places. Why Elba?

Venice deserved more than one day.

While in the Milan—Verona region, something special for a honeymoon trip might be a visit to San Pelligreno Terme.

Congratulations!

I agree with all the above- it’s a bit too much, lots of time spent on trains, transiting and not enough time actually being there.

Where on Lake Como are you staying?
With arrival at 6:30p- add at least an hour to get thru passport control, collect luggage, etc- then it’s about an hour to Milano Centrale and another hour or more to Lake Como- but we need to know where you are staying. If not on the train line will you be able to get to your lodgings? (Ferries don’t run at night)
Flights can be delayed so it could be quite late by the time you get to Como. Will you be able to check in late?

You could hire a driver ($$$) from the airport or consider staying in Milan first night.

Train to Verona will take at least 3.5 hours so you won’t have much time there. We enjoyed Verona very much but you haven’t given it more than an afternoon/evening.
Either add time to Verona or drop it.

Venice- you have 2 nights- really just 1.5 days and one day you want to visit Murano/Burano. When will you enjoy Venice?
Venice deserves at least 3 nights

Florence/Tuscany looks fine.
Be sure to do your homework on driving in Italy. All drivers must have an IDP- required by law. Have a designated driver if you plan to wine taste.

Elba and CT- pick one and give it the time it deserves. Both require time and hassle to get there- with only 2 nights, that’s barely a day and a half.
CT will be very crowded, Elba probably not. Not sure if water is warm enough for swimming.

You’ve chosen all wonderful places- just a few too many to be enjoyable.

Have you booked air flights yet? Can you fly into Venice and out of Florence? You will be able to see more if you don’t back track. If this is possible, I would suggest Venice, Lake Como, CT, and finish in Florence/Tuscany. If you are committed to flying in and out of Milan, I would skip Elba for this trip. That seems to be a shared concern on this post! You won’t regret simplifying your trip and slowing down to savor the pulse of Italy. Congratulations!

Day 2 - Milan to Lake Como (land Milan at 6:30pm)

How are you planning to get to "Lake Como". ?

Depending on where on Lake Como you are going some public transportation ( e,g,. trains) may not be running as late as you would be leaving the airport to go to your destination.

I will join the "skip Elba" chorus. Venice could use more time.

Happy travels

hey hey lilypeng1
as others mentioned your arrival time in milan at 6:30pm or later if flight delay, time to get through immigration/passport, baggage claim (i've waited an hour to get bags just saying), how many other flights landing same time, getting transportation from airport MXP to milan train station "an hour+) then to lake como when you are "foggy, new place, do you read & speak italian, jet lag is REAL!!"
spend the night in milan or pay BIG BUCKS for private driver to hotel on lake.
skip a couple places, spend more time in venice. since you're so beach oriented, lots of beach all around italy, not just sicily.
venice-guide.info
look for lido di venezia. took a vaporetto across canal to thlido, walked down santa maria elisabetta to end for the beach. it was nice but we were there earlier than may. buy a ticket or 3 day pass, bvring your suit/towel rent a cabana and enjoy. back down the avenue we stopped for glass of wine with salami/cheese then back to venice.
where in tuscany are you staying? be careful with drinking and tasting wine, no tolerance there. enjoy
aloha

Wow!!! Thank you everyone for the lovely replies and advices!!!! I'm not sure how to reply to each one of you directly so I'll reply together here

• Nope haven't booked anything other than flights (which can't be changed at all) - wish I consulted this forum beforehand!
• I picked Elba because I want to spend time on the beaches, but yeah I'll skip it given it's too much work and ppl recommend Venice over it. Gonna free up more time for the Verona and Venice leg
• I'll prob switch to stay in Milan first before going to Como so it's not too rushed for arrival, I wanted to go to Como right away so I don't waste my morning getting there and not keen on going out in Milan the day I land. I'm planning on staying at Varenna and get to Como via train, but will look into private driver options
• For Tuscany I'm planning to stay at one of the farms, which I did in Provence and loved it! I won't drink much I just really love farms, lush green views and farm animals!
• Good call on the IDP!
• thank you for the recommendations on lido di venezia, San Pelligreno Terme and Monte Argentario

Also, any other non touristy cities that are worth going to in the region or along my routes?

I'm planning on staying at Varenna and get to Como via train, but will look into private driver options

From MXP to Varenna via car service will run around $350-$400. Just a 'heads up' to give you an idea of the cost.

The farmhouse style experience you’re looking for in Tuscany is called an Agriturismo stay and there are many and many sites for various ones.

A car is generally necessary for both an agriturismo stay and to properly explore rural Tuscany.

The need for an IDP has already been mentioned but also read up on ZTLs and be sure to add at least 25% to Google map driving times when you plan.

Have a great trip,
Tod

Varenna is small and doesn't have tons of lodging options. Check immediately on what's available. You're starting the search rather late.

...other non touristy cities...along my routes?

While going from Verona to Venice, Vicenza is right along the train route. Google it and see if it holds any interest for you.

For the night you land, (and before your departure flight), Hotel Berna by Milan Centrale is a great moderately-priced hotel to use. The Staff are great, along with the breakfast and happy hour. Also, the hotel is part of many rewards programs, if you have points/miles.
The next morning, the regional train to Varenna is about an hour, but it could be very crowded, SRO, but the fare is very cheap.
As stated above, it's late to be booking lodging in Lake Como. Look at booking.com, then book directly. You may find more options in Menaggio .
Minimum of three nights in each location, or you'll be too worn out to enjoy. You want to actually BE in a destination.
Wishing you a great trip!

hey hey lilypeng1
hoping things are coming along. since you're in northern italy there are other lakes to look at if lake como is fully booked or $$$
lake maggiore
discovernorthernitaly.com (10 most beautiful towns on the lake) many mention stresa here on the forum
lake garda
rossiwrites.com (20 best towns to visit around lake garda) several years ago we stayed in bardolino for their annual wine festival "festa dell'uva. it was fabulous and fun, eat drink & be merry
lake iseo visitlakeiseo.info
how ever long you stay in venice, the small town of treviso is a 30 minute train ride from venice. home to tiramisu, radicchio, and "smaller venice with many canals) not so much tourist oriented. close to prosecco road and vineyards, it gorgeous. we did a private taxi tour. (justgoplacesblog.com 7 amazing things to do in treviso)
whatever happens go for it, with lemons make lemoncello!!. keep asking here to help with good bad and ugly.
aloha