Honeymoon Italy trip (help!)

No need for a car in Ortisei. You can do this whole trip by train. Ortisei....Val Gardena is well connected by bus..you will get a free pass from your hotel. There will still be a few lifts, the hiking is fantastic.
Brad

Since you’re spending four nights in Florence take a day trip to Siena by direct bus (1h 15m). Also, buy tickets for the Uffizi Gallery two months before going.

You really only need one night in Venice.

Strongly disagree with above post

Venice needs more than 2 nights and in your case you really only have one full day plus a jet lag day

If you can add any nights at all, add to Venice.

I agree completely with Christine H’s comment. Venice is my husband & my favorite city in Italy & probably Europe - been there multiple times for several nights.

Enjoy your honeymoon!

I agree, Venice is worth at least two nights, giving you a full day to sightsee there. Of course more would be better but you don't have enough time overall.

In Venice, be sure to sleep in the city itself, not on the mainland. Venice is best early and late in the day. Try to avoid the central area (Rialto/San Marco) when it's most crowded in the middle of the day. Spend part of your arrival day on the vaporettos getting acquainted with the city from the water, and walking as your energy allows.

I would add a night to Venice. Your first day doesn’t really count due to jet lag. Two nights would only give you one day for sightseeing before packing up to go to Ortesei. Three nights gives you two full days.

In Venice, we like to stay on Giudecca, the island across from St. Mark’s. A quick vaporetto ride away from the crowds and quick ride from the train station.

Venice to Ortisei can be done with a train to Bolzano (change in Verona) then bus to Ortisei. Strongly agree that you need more time in Venice.

You really only need one night in Venice.

I doubt there is another person on the planet who would agree with that statement.

I would be inclined to do 3 nights Florence, 4 nights Rome

Whoever thinks a night is sufficient for Venice is either joking or is a troll.
Two nights is the very bare minimum.

I also disagree about the need of a car in the Val Gardena (Ortisei). Although one can reach Ortisei from Venice without one, however considering your tight schedule a car is far far far more efficient. Also a car will give you a chance to drive through some beautiful scenic roads to get there and away which would not be possible by train. For example you could go from Venice to Cortina to Ortisei driving through some roads that will leave you stunned.

Add to Venice, subtract from Florence. You must visit the islands of Murano and Burano while in Venice. In Florence, beyond the Accademia and Uffizi there is not much else that is a must, so I would agree with the person that recommended a day trip to Siena. Add a day to Rome and take a day trip to Pompeii. Enjoy and congrats on the wedding!

Thank you so much — really helpful. Would you take a night away from somewhere else to add to Venice (Florence for example?) We’re hoping we’ll be there before noon day one (but jet lag) so I hear you all on it’s only one full day.

And yes super helpful to know that we could do train/bus to Ortisei. I was looking forward to driving around the passes and stopping at pull-offs but rental cars are expensive so nice to have an alternative. Really appreciate the responses — such a great community of travel lovers!

Add a day to Rome and take a day trip to Pompeii.

I would advise against this idea and suggest going to Ostia Antica instead, if you want the 'ancient Roman city' experience.

Much easier to get to.

For Florence, wanted to mention smaller museums and other sites to see that don’t require reservations, unlike the Uffizi and Academia. The Museo San Marco is catty corner from the Academia, is a former monastery, and features the work of Fra Angelico, who lived there. He painted frescoes in many of the cells upstairs. There’s also his wonderful ‘Annunciation’ at the top of the stairs. The Bargello is a former prison, now a sculpture museum. It has Donatello’s ‘David’, very different from Michaelangelo’s. The Brancacci Chapel is very worth seeing for its frescoes. It does actually require a reservation, but more as a formality - you shouldn’t have any trouble getting in.