Italian Honeymoon Itinerary Help!

You are not likely to have a happy honeymoon if you try to visit all of those places. Most guide books have sample itineraries that you should peruse. Are you planning together, or will one of you take the lead? At the least you should both make a list of your top three and work from there. I would stay no more than three places--it need not be any of the places on your list.

Congratulations, whichever path you choose you'll have a fantastic time.

On your arrival day head to your most distant location wether it be Venice or the Cinque terra. Both are great areas to relax and get over jet lag.

Spend 3 nights @ first location.
Train to Florence 2 nights
Train to Rome 3 nights.

Have a wonderful Honeymoon.

Hi Bailey -
Congrats on your upcoming marriage!

As much as you'd like to see more versus less of Italy, 8 nights realistically only gives you 7.5 days. Plus, you'll kill 1/2 day every time you make a move: packing up, dealing with transport, checking in and unpacking takes more time than you might think. Personally, I'd pick only two locations to maximize your fun time and minimize the moving-around stuff.

You could have have bought a little bit more time if you'd booked flights into one city and out of another - so you didn't have to backtrack - but something this might work:

Day 1: fly into Rome and take a train to Florence
Day 2: Florence
Day 3 Florence/ maybe a day trip to Siena or Lucca
Day 4: train to Rome or stay another night in Florence/do another day trip
Day 5: Rome
Day 6: Rome
Day 7: Rome - maybe a day trip to Orvieto if you move to Rome on Day 4
Day 8: Rome
Day 9: fly home

You'll going to want to be in your city of departure the night before your flight, which is why you should go to your furthest point first. You could substitute Venice for Florence if that one is higher on the wish list? It takes longer to get there (nearly 4 hours versus 90 minutes to Florence) but it's do-able. It all depends on your preference and how much of Day 1 you spend getting from Point A to B? Rome is your largest city and it offers a lot to do so I'd give it at least 3.5 days.

Florence is a good base for some very nice day trips so while those places may not be on your list, they'd still offer you another way to see more of Italy without having to physically pick up and move each time AND they're very pretty!

Make sense?

I would immediately fly Rome to Venice (or get a direct). Venice to Florence to Rome all by train. Maybe stop for a night in orvieto on the way to Rome. I would avoid taking a train to your farthest location when you are already at the airport, just fly.

Best wishes on your upcoming nuptials! Have you been to Europe/Italy before? Have you traveled as a couple before?

How will you be getting around? Are you planning public transportation or will you be renting a car?

There are two basic approaches to visiting Italy. The first is to see as many of the "must see" sights as possible. The other is to take a more relaxed approach and soak in more local ambience and have more local experiences. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. My wife and I have seen Italy using both approaches, but 50 years apart. We were together on a high school trip to Europe where we saw 8 countries in 21 days. 50 years later, we returned to Italy and spent the entire time in one agriturismo in Tuscany.

If you want to see a lot of sights, I think you'll have to choose three cities max. Do Rome, Florence and either CT or Venice. Personally, and realize I'm prejudiced, spend the bulk of your time either in Rome or at an agriturismo near Florence and then spend a few days at the other location. If you use an agriturismo as your home base, you can make day trips to Florence and some of the smaller hill towns nearby. I recommend this only if you rent a car. If you plan to take public transportation, you could stay in Florence and take a wine tour to the Tuscan countryside.

Some folks are high energy and love to cram every minute with a new adventure. Others like to go a little slower and savor the moment. Make plans according to your likes.

Are you arriving in Rome in the morning? If so, you could take the train to Venice (4 hrs) that afternoon. Otherwise, head by train to Florence (1.5 hrs). Let's assume Florence:

Days 1-4 Florence (if you want to take a side trip to a smaller Italian town ~Siena or San Gimignano
Days 5-6 Venice
Days 7-8 Rome

Otherwise:
Days 1-3 Florence

Days 4-5 Venice
Days 6-8 Rome

It's one hour by air Rome to Venice for the same price as that 3 1/2 hour train ride and you are already at the airport.

Best wishes! I agree with others that four many cities will be too much. The Italian way is to relax and stroll. Two cities in 8 days is probably best, but you could squeeze in Florence on the way back from Venice. Venice cannot be beat for romance. Fly to Venice as soon as you arrive in Rome, spend two nights, then take a train to Florence stay just one night then back to Rome. If you want to get out of Rome for a day, go to the beaches 1 hour by train. Jet lag takes a lot out of you and it will be very hot and dry in June already, so you will want to relax. Save Cinque terre for a trip to Northern Italy, like Milan, Genoa or Lake Como or in combination with the Italian Rivera. Italy is a very big country and I am sure that you will want to return and explore it again. Enjoy your honeymoon!