Hello,
My wife and I are traveling to Italy for our honeymoon (after Barcelona & Nice). It's our first time in Italy. below is our tentative schedule. Please provide any recommended adjustments to our schedule (i.e. "skip this stop or add that stop," or "spend one less day here and one more day there.")
Venice, Italy - 2.5 days (Train to Cinque Terre)
Cinque Terre, Italy - 2.5 days (Train to Siena)
Siena, Italy - 2 days (Train to Rome)
Rome, Italy - 2.5 days (Fly home)
Thanks!
Grant
It looks like a good itinerary to me, except you need more time in Rome... About 3-5 full days. I don't know where you'd take it from.
As mentioned in your other post, it is best to think in nights, not days. Consider the time it takes to get from one place to the next. Not just how long the train or plane takes, but how long it takes to pack up, check out, get to to train station/airport (how much time before a flight for the airport?), finding your track/gate, transportation time to the next place, getting from the train station/airport to your next place, check in... It will take approximately a half day for a short trip and longer for longer trips. Personally I like to plan enough time to enjoy being somewhere and not spend all my time in transit.
Just some things to consider.
Thanks Andrea,
To clarify, here is my itinerary in nights:
Barcelona - 2 nights
Nice - 3 nights
Venice - 3 nights
Cinque Terre - 3 nights
Siena - 2 nights
Rome - 3 nights
Based on all the feedback so far it sounds like we should cut out one stop to really soak up the others. I'm considering cutting out Cinque Terre and possibly adding those nights to Barcelona, Siena, and Rome. Any thoughts?????
Some will tell you it is too rushed, but I like the schedule. I did something similar with 2 days in each city last year and I would do it again. I like to see as much as I can and go to different cities. I do agree with so much in Rome if you can add 1 more day there it would be worth it. I would maybe do 2 nights in Venice and add that one to Rome. I also don't know much about Nice if 3 nights there is good. I'm looking at Nice and Southern France for 2015.
Don't skip the Cinque Terra. It is beautiful. I was never there until this past trip to Italy and loved it. It's now my 2nd favorite after Siena.
I think it sounds great! Are you 100% sold on Venice? I found Florence to be much, much more charming and had a lot more to do, plus it's less out of the way than Venice, especially if you'll be arriving by train from Barca/Nice..
But other than that, honestly it sounds perfect! I can recommend a really fun activity in Nice, if you're adventurous - it's called "canyoning", and a guide will take you and your wife from Nice up to the mountains, where you use rock-climbing equipment to climb down waterfalls. It's stunning, SO much fun (FYI - you wear wet suits, so the water isn't too cold!), and a great adventure for a honeymoon. I've never been rock climbing before but I found it really cool.
Grant, Your itinerary looks great.... I almost did the same itinerary a couple years back. My suggestions would be to NOT skip the CT. It's so beautiful but we only stayed 2 nights which gave us one full day to hike. We saw all 5 towns and enjoyed a couple great dinners before leaving for Florence. We also only stayed 2 nights in Venice which seemed like plenty of time so you could add a day to Rome. While we were in Florence we day tripped to Siena which by bus only took 1 hour. You could stay in Florence longer and take day trips from there. Bologna is only 30 minutes by train from Florence. And I've heard Lucca is a great day trip too. Check out this blog which I used to plan my 2 weeks in Italy.
http://www.italylogue.com/planning-a-trip/italy-itinerary-the-perfect-two-weeks.html.
Happy travels!
"Barcelona - 2 nights
Nice - 3 nights
Venice - 3 nights
Cinque Terre - 3 nights
Siena - 2 nights
Rome - 3 nights"
This is your honeymoon, not a race. You essentially have 1 day in Barcelona, 2 in Nice, 2 in Venice, 2 in Cinque Terre, 1 in Siena and 2 in Rome. You will be seeing more airports and train stations, plus the ground below you or in passing on a train, than you will have to really enjoy where you are. Don't you want your honeymoon memories to be of the time you spent experiencing Europe, not racing through it? Think quality of time, not just checking off places to say you've been there.
Grant, I think it's fine if both of you like a fast pace. It's your honeymoon - you've wisely chosen some very romantic places, and I'm sure you'll experience moments of time standing still in each of them.
Sixteen nights and six cities. Arriving from a Transatlantic flight. First day doesn't count due to jetlag.
We all have our travel styles, and yours seems to be pretty fast paced, and that's OK! However, I can't help but notice that
you will probably be having at least one or two changes in location that require air travel, and that will eat up most of a day.
Barcelona - Nice (by air?) Nice-Venice (by air?)
I did this on my first trip to Europe 15 years ago, and while it looked "good on paper" I felt really rushed, and got fed up re-packing every two days, and rushing to the next train station, airport, etc., checking in, unpacking, etc. I haven't done it since.
While the train trip or air trip may only take an hour, you will almost always lose a half day because of a change in location. So, just ask yourself if you really want to spend that much time on a train/plane/taxi, or if you wouldn't rather eliminate a destination or two so that you really have adequate time on the ground. You lose six half days (at least) with this itinerary.
My advice is to either skip Barcelona or Nice and maybe just concentrate on Italy with 16 nights. Definitely need more time in Rome..
Europe is like a big box of chocolates, and it's really hard to pick just one since they all look so tasty... But too much will make you sick.
Why not pick ONE country to visit since you really don't have the time to do justice to all three? If you choose Italy, those extra nights can be spent in the lakes or along the Amalfi coast, and Rome won't just be a few exhausting days trying to see everything before you leave for the airport. Or do France, spend some time in Paris, in Provence, and lots of time to soak up sun along the Cote d'azure. A honeymoon should be spent with the person you love and enjoying the time together, not trying to see the countryside zoom by at 200 miles an hour from the train.
grant,
Your itinerary seems a bit "ambitious" for such a short time frame, although it's certainly feasible. Visiting six locations in 16 days is an average of 2.6 days in each location, with no allowances for travel times. You'll have to decide whether you're both willing to do a "blitz" itinerary with all the travel, checking in & out of hotels, etc. and not really having time to see much in each of the places you're visiting. Don't underestimate the effect of travel days, as in some cases you'll need the better part of full day for getting from one location to another.
Using your latest Itinerary, changing the order slightly would be more efficient....
Of all the locations, Barcelona seems like the "outlier" in this case so dropping it would make the rest of the trip a bit more relaxed. As the guru often says "assume you will return". Starting in Nice shouldn't be a huge problem, as you can use a connecting flight from whichever European gateway you use.
Your home location wasn't listed in your Profile, so I assume you're travelling from North America? If that's the case, you'll generally arrive in Europe the day after you leave, and the last day will be required for the flight home.
One final point to mention is that if you haven't travelled by train in Italy, there are some potentially expensive caveats to be aware of. If you need more information on those, post another note.
There are lots of possible ways or arranging your Itinerary, and this is only one suggestion.
Congratulations to both of you and happy travels!
All great cities. You will get a variety of responses about what to cut and what to keep. What are you looking forward to most? Do you love to hike? Are you really looking forward to seeing the Vatican? Lying on a beach? Is it more appealing to you to be constantly on the go or would you rather have some meandering time?
If you decide you want to cut a city out, I agree with Ken-Barcelona is pretty far away from everything else.
Grant, you've researched the train schedules. Count how many daylight hours of your honeymoon you will be spending on a train, getting from one place to another, and see if it's worth it to you.
I don't think there are direct trains between Siena and Rome. You will have to change somewhere, possibly with a longish wait time. Ask on the Transportation Forum. I believe there is pretty good bus service that will save time and hassles.
Do look at train schedules. I think you will find that some of your transfers will use up a great deal of your time.You have to allow time to get from hotel pick up luggage) to hotel (drop off luggage) before you can begin sightseeing. Just the train from Venice to La Spezia is around 5 hours, with 1 or 2 train changes. Then you need the local train to whichever town you're staying in. You will need to allow plenty of time to get from your hotel in Venice to the train station - transportation there is very slow. I think around 7 hours door-to-door. It's 2-2.5 hours by train from La Spezia to Florence, then an hour by bus to Siena, but you may have to wait 1/2 - 1 hour for the bus. Allow plenty of time to get from your town by regional train to La Spezia and the best part of another day is gone.
Congratulations Grant. As for the itinerary, I tend to agree with the other posters here. I think the allotment of days looks good too. Although you could spend more in Rome if you have time, you could see most of the top sites in the time you will be there.
Siena-Rome trains take under 3.5 hours, usually with one connection at either Florence or Chiusi. If you go via Florence, you can also take the bus for that first leg and walk from the bus station to train station.
Hi Grant,
I have been to Italy 2 times (including 25th wedding anniversary trip ) and heading back there again in May/June so will give you my personal opinion given everyone's style of travel and speed is different.
Based on my experiience and travels (and realizing it is your honeymoon) I would reduce it by one city if at all possible to allow you and your wifef to savour the moment a bit more when you are there and reduce the travel time between (albeit traveling italian countryside is very beautiful).
I have been to all the places your have suggested other than Cinque Terre but it is on my bucket list and have know many who have gone there and loved it. For me, I am in love with the Amalifi coast and it is a wonderfully, romantic spot to celebrate your new life together and given it is your honeymoon, I would put Amalfi in place of Cinque Terre. Both have great hiking and incredible scenery and sitting beside the beautiful sea. I have been to Amalfi 2x and heading back again in June - don't be discouraged by others telling you it is touristy and to avoid - while it is a bit touristy it only takes a minute to get 'off the beaten track' and get to know the people and the real Amalfi and other towns along the coast. it also has great access for day boat trips. Shoud you consider going there, check out hotel 'Santa Caterina' - it is expensive but the ultimate in location and beauty, however, there are many lovely, inexpensive B&B that would be beautiful as well (check out Priano - simply lovely, charming & not as busy).
The Tuscan countryside is also very beautiful but you have already included that as you are visitng Sienna, which has a beautiful Duomo and piaza - we also really enjoyed it.
For romance, I would replace Rome and go to Florence and stay at the The Davinzanti Hotel (run by a great Italian family and there are 3 generations still working there, at least in 2010). It is very beautiful, well priced for Florence and they have a great happy hour where you can meet and get tips from other fellow travelers, and if you let them know it is your honeymoon they will treat you right for sure as they did my husband and I back in 2010.
Hope the above helps and congratulations! You will simply love Italy - La Dolce Vita!
I do like the cities you have chosen, but any chance you could do the itinerary in reverse if you do choose to keep it all? Arrive in Venice, then to Siena (or Florence if the suggestion below grabs you), Rome, CT, Nice, and then Barcelona. Or if you do keep your start point the same, go to CT from Nice, to Rome from CT, and then move on to Siena/Florence and Venice. I am always weary of ending a trip in Venice though because of transportation options to the airport, so consider the time of your flight (early morning is bad!) if you are considering Venice as an end point.
As for any additional suggestions, would you be willing to replace Siena with Florence, and then do a day trip via the previously mentioned bus to Siena. I just think this would make your transportation options easier. If this is an option you would consider, then drop a night from Venice and add to Florence to make it feasible (Siena is lovely, and yet I found Florence to be a little more charming and romantic).
I think if you reroute your itinerary, you could pull it all off (although fast!).
Have fun.
