Florence to Venice to Sorrento in short time - feasible?

I vote for the latter and stay in CT because I am not a big fan of one night stands. You spend a lot of time and money in proportion to what you are actually seeing. While the actual travel time is short you still have to spend time getting to and from the transportation, finding hotels, checking in/out, packing unpacking. Save Venice for the next trip when you can enjoy it.

Frank, the one night stand thing is funny. Noting that they are getting married hopefully for life a couple of days earlier, the double entendre is most cute. It's a bit ambitious but I'd go for the Venice/Sorrento trip. These are special days that you will never forget so go for what you want. Frank's great but I'll go the opposite way here. Here are some thoughts. First, Florence to Venice. If you book now and are willing to lock in your specific train with a non-refundable, non-exchangable ticket, you can get fares of 19E or 29E for September if you want to leave early. Pay 18Euro each for the 12-hour vaporetto travelcard and jump on the No 2 vaporetto going to your left down the canal and around the islands of Venice. About 2hrs to go around. Find your hotel and check-in. Have dinner in a neighborhood restaurant with the Venetians and spend you evening in St. Mark's plaza. On Wed morning, keep using your 12-hour travelcard and get to the Piazzale Roma and take the ACTV or ATVO bus to the airport. For flying to Naples, I see fares as low as 34.99Euro in September on EasyJet (www.easyjet.com). Read the travel conditions very carefully to avoid extra charges. From Naples airport, you can either take the bus to the Naples train station to buy tickets on the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento or you can take a taxi to the ferry docks and take the hydrofoil to Sorrento. I think that they are still running in September. When you are ready for Rome, it's abut 4hrs away from Sorrento.

Too much travel. CT.

I got tired just reading your proposed itinerary - I can't imagine actually doing it. All that time you're going to spend going from one place to another could be spent enjoying where you are. It might help to know what sort of things interest you. Are you "wander around the charming streets soaking it all in" kind of people, or do you want to be sure to see specific major works of art or architecture? I'm suspecting you're more the former, in which case I'd suggest Venice and the CT. Venice is unique and if you go see more than just St. Mark's and the Rialto, you may just fall in love with it. Plus, I think it's one of the most romantic cities on the planet. The CT will give you a nice change of pace from Venice and Florence. Sorrento is enough like the CT that I don't think you should do both. Go with the CT and enjoy it. And perhaps you can fly out of Milan to your honeymoon, unless you already have the tickets.

Thanks for all the replies! I'm definitely a "wander and explore" kinda gal. I won't be going back to Italy for some time (a few years) so I would love to see Venice and the Amalfi. If I knew I was going back, I would just stick with CT, since it looks beautiful as well. I welcome more opinions, I haven't made a final decision yet!

Not the CT or the mad dash travel, just spend all your time in Venice. If you can change your flight, fly out of Venice. If not then budget flight from Venice Marco Polo to FCO on departure day or train the night before.

Sorrento is a pleasant town but it is not truly the Amalfi coast - you need to be in Positano and Amalfi itself for that. For a few days to relax after a wedding, I would chose Venice - it may not be your official honeymoon but it is, after all, the most romantic city in the world. You can wander as you wish, visit the outer islands, the Lido (beaches will be empty in September) and even do day trip up to Verona or Padua by train. The CT is also pleasant but personally I found one full day there was all I needed to do a bit of hiking, see some of the villages etc. My vote is for Venice as you say you both want to go there. Or fly from Florence to Naples and head south to Positano for a look at the Amalfi coast - you can take boats to Capri, Naples etc and buses to Amalfi and Ravello.

I know the usual expression is "Oh, well, it's your funeral", but in this case I would change it to "Oh, well, it's your wedding." :-) It's a good thing that you're asking for advice from people who've already been to those places. Whether you decide to take it is of course up to you. Happy travels and Best Wishes.

First, where are you going on your honeymoon? Beach, adventure, outdoors, Europe, city, etc? Plan your 4 days/nights doing something different than your honeymoon. If you are going to a beach or place near the ocean, then go to Venice, it's very romantic and like a movie set. PM if you'd like the name of the place we celebrated our 25th last fall. If you are doing an adventure/outdoors, city for your honeymoon, go to CT or AC and enjoy relaxing on the Mediterranean.
Either way, I'd pick 1 or 2 places that aren't opposite directions.

Hi. I have been to the CT, Venice & Sorrento. . Would suggest a day trip to CT from Florence. Unless you are going to hike, not much besides eating, relaxing & shopping to do. Great people. Favorite town is Vernazza. They have made major strides since flooding Oct. 2011. Florence to Venice short train trip. Venice has charm, food, history, art, etc. It's a city like no other!! I'd spend my time there. Sorrento is beautiful, once again, not much to do. It is so far away from Venice. I'd suggest saving for your next trip. Congrats on your pending wedding.

kristy, First of all, congratulations! My suggestion would be to spend the time in Venice and/or the Cinque Terre. Travel to Sorrento and the Amalfi coast is simply going to use too much of your very limited time, and you won't really be able to see much. The flight from Venice to Naples and trip to Sorrento will take at least 4-6 hours and maybe more, when all is considered (basically a full travel day). The trip from Sorrento to Rome will also realistically be about 4 hours. Although you don't plan to be back in Italy for awhile, plan to visit the Amalfi coast on your next visit (whenever that is), when you'll have the time to enjoy it. You could easily spend three days in between Venice, Florence and the C.T. While in Florence, you could take a day trip by Bus to Siena (one of the most beautiful parts of Tuscany). Happy travels!

Five days (including Florence)? 1) all in Florence 2) 2/3 in Florence, 3/2 in Venice 3) 2 in Florence, 3 in Rome
4) etc. If you're considering a flight from Venice to Naples that will get you to Sorrento at noon, that'll be some early flight! If you're not going to Pompeii, etc., then don't stop in Sorrento; go on to Positano, etc. Must you fly from Rome? Tickets already purchased? Then option #3. A key point - you just can't "fit it all in". Not gonna happen. So, you'll have to make some very tough choices.

I agree we can't necessarily fit it all in. I've been to Italy before and have been to Florence, the countryside, Rome, etc. So I'm not concerned about staying in those areas. We are honeymooning in Morocco - pretty excited! Sounds like the consensus here is "either, or". So can I ask - if given the choice, would you travel to cinque terre or the amalfi coast, if you had 3 full days in either place? Thanks!

kristy, Given the travel times involved, my recommendation would absolutely be the Cinque Terre. Keep in mind that you don't have to spend the entire three days in the five towns. It's also a great area to use as a "home base" and make day trips or hikes. For example: > Santa Margherita Ligure and the "posh" resort town of Portofino > Levanto > Sestri Levante > Portovenere (take a boat cruise between the five towns) > Pisa and La Famosa Torre > Carrera & Marble Quarries > Lay on the beach in Monterosso (Lounge Chairs with Umbrellas available for a small cost - some parts of the beach are free) > In addition to the famous Sentiero Azzuro trails, you could hike some of the longer trails (ie: Monterosso to Levanto, others further up into the hills). > Enjoy sampling fresh Pesto in the area where it was invented, along with great seafood You should have NO trouble at all finding things to do for three days in that area. That will also ensure that travel to following locations is relatively easy. Cheers!

LOL! And I would choose the Amalfi Coast (actually north of there, probably) 'cause I'm a history nut! But if you know that isn't a requirement for you, then the CT would be great. Most importantly - to get to Morocco, where does one need to fly from?!? If the best routes and/or prices are from Florence, then it's the CT or elsewhere in Northern Italy. If you really need to fly from Rome or Naples, then see the Amalfi Coast!

Lake Como is very beautiful ;)

it's doable. The Sorrento part is a lot of travel for minimal reward IMO. How will you travel? You really don't want a car in Venice, but I'm thinking you will have a ton of luggage from the wedding? Hi-speed train to Venice from Florence is 86 euros for 2 people 1-way. Train leaves about hourly, 10 past the hour I think, and was packed last week when we took it. Takes 2 hours to Venice. I'd skip Sorrento, maybe do Siena (an hour bus ride from Florence) or spend more time in Rome (Hi speed train from Florence, maybe 90 minutes?) instead. Julia

Thank you everyone for your replies - they really are giving me some insight! I won't be spending time in Florence/Tuscany/Rome. Done all of those things in the past, and while they are fantastic, I'd like to see at least 1 new thing while I'm there. Still a hard choice. Overall, I'm not a beach person...but I love the ocean. Seems like the Amalfi would be better for that. LOL. Flying out of Rome to Morocco and want to meet my brothers for dinner before I leave (in Rome). Technically I don't need to be in Rome until Saturday. And we won't have a car at all. So many factors. I'm sure I'll figure it out. Really, this has been so helpful. Thank you all!