Italy honeymoon -- choosing between two itineraries

I would map some of these travel times--it's two hours from Trieste to Pula for example. Now sometimes that may be worth it, but you've got a lot of travel in these plans. It would be too much for me, both plans, but you have a good start and I would just streamline a little but--all of these places have tons of things to see and do, so don't feel like you have to pack so much moving around in. Congrats!

...we opted to end the the trip in Venice with either three or four nights....

You might want to consider spending the time in Venice at the beginning of the trip as it is a wonderful place to recover from jet lag. And given the stress associated with most weddings, you will want (and probably need) time in a place where you can just relax and explore on foot at your own pace.

Just food for thought. Love long and prosper.

Like valadelphia said, that is a lot of travel time. Not much time to actually be in a place to enjoy it. I understand you want to see as much as you can, but you won't have much time to. Even getting to, and waiting for, trains takes time, as well as getting and returning a rental car.

Have you traveled together before? Do you have the same travel style? You are really on the move a lot with both itineraries. I'm still trying to map out your plans?

Your spending about 5 minutes in Verona and not seeing the amphitheatre on either plan? You have a lot of day tripping.

Be very careful, forcing a spouse to spend hours everyday on trains and buses and driving is grounds for divorce in some places.

Of the two options, I think #2 is better because there is little less moving around. You have a lot of day trips penciled in but you could do less of them (which I would recommend). I would do a day trip to Siena. I also liked Verona a lot and would consider a couple nights there and skipping Cinque Terre. You are already going to Lake Garda. I would also consider moving one night from Florence (when you have a day trip to Bologna ) to Verona. Verona is a lot less crowded than Florence which I think is a lot for five nights.

You have 5 nights Florence, 4 nights Lake Garda, and then Venice.

I am suggesting 3 nights Florence, 2 nights Verona, 4 nights Lake Garda, and then Venice. Verona has a Roman feel to it so very different than other places you plan to visit.

Thank you everyone for the perspective!! I tried my best to map out travel times, but this is my first real trip to Europe and it would appear I've gotten a little overzealous :)

Given these suggestions, new option #1 with only two bases and some time to recuperate in Venice after the flight could be:

9/9: Recuperate in Venice.
9/10: Sightsee in Venice.
9/11: Sightsee in Venice.
9/12: Train and car to Malcesine on Lake Garda.
9/13: Explore Malcesine and Lake Garda. Relax.
9/14: Explore Lake Garda. Relax.
9/15: Possible daytrip by bus to Verona (see the amphitheater! thank you for the reminder on that)
9/16: Explore Lake Garda. Relax.
9/17: Possible daytrip for a hike farther north into the Dolomites.
9/18: Drive to Verona, drop off the car, and do a little sightseeing. Take the train from Verona to Venice.
9/19: Sightsee in Venice.
9/20: Sightsee in Venice.
9/21: Sightsee in Venice.
9/22: Fly back early in the morning.

Or new option #2:

9/9: Train to Verona.
9/10: Sightsee in Verona.
9/11: Sightsee in Verona.
9/12: Train and car to Malcesine on Lake Garda.
9/13: Explore Malcesine and Lake Garda. Relax.
9/14: Explore Lake Garda. Relax.
9/15: Explore Lake Garda. Relax.
9/16: Explore Lake Garda. Relax.
9/17: Possible daytrip for a hike farther north into the Dolomites.
9/18: Drive to Verona, drop off the car, and do a little sightseeing. Take the train from Verona to Venice.
9/19: Sightsee in Venice.
9/20: Sightsee in Venice.
9/21: Sightsee in Venice.
9/22: Fly back early in the morning.

I would choose option 2, and daytrip to Florence. The hardest day would be the daytrip to Cinque Terre. It can be done but that will be a long day. Congratulations and enjoy your Italian honeymoon.

Thanks, Julie! Just so I understand -- your suggestion is to take a day trip to Florence while staying in Bologna?

I would do your new #2. I would not do sightseeing in Verona upon returning your car but rather take the next train to Venice.

I think this is very balanced itinerary. Verona is an easy train ride from Venice, although you do have to take the bus from the airport to the train station. And you have time to relax on Lake Garda and the freedom of a day trip if you feel up to it. Finishing in Venice I think is perfect!

Thank you so much, Beth! I'll consult with my better half :) I also may talk to the B&B I have in Venice and see if we can get there on the 17th instead of the 18th and because now 3.5 days seems too short!

Yes slowtraveler14, you said you were considering staying in Bologna instead of Florence, and that is what I would do. Then you get just as much of Florence as you want, without having to deal with the crowds.

While in Venice, I recommend dinner at Cip's Club at the Hotel Cipriani. Outdoor dining on the water with a view of St. Mark's Square. Sunset is best. With a reservation they will pick you up near the square in a classic wood boat and transport you over to the hotel.

Good job adjusting to fewer bases--it is so much easier to wake up and be able to decide what you want to do on any given day rather than have to move on. You'll be glad! (And save the places you cut for your anniversary trip.)

I would chose option # 1. Mainly because I love Venice, and it is a great place to start and end a honeymoon. If you do dinner at Cips, it will be a splurge. Very pricy, but it is your honeymoon, so if the budget allows, go for it.

Thanks for the recommendation and heads up with Cip’s! Unless I’m missing something they only have lunch reservations available between now and the end of the season but maybe we’ll do that! A nice splurge. I need to poke around at other posts, but if anyone has other restaurant, hotel, or activity recommendations for Venice, Lake Garda, and Verona I’m all ears. I’m excited to look into Verona more and see what hotels are still available.

hey hey slowtravel14
congrats on wedding & honeymoon. i like your change to #2 in last post. like you said being "overzealous" is so common here with people wanting to see and do too much on first trip.
besides places you want to see and go to, give yourself extra time for travel. never know what the roads will be like. go to aaa.com/IDP, a mandatory permit in italy, a translation of your driver's license. rental car desk may or may not ask but if stopped for any reason on the road "cops" will ask & if none a big fine ($400-$500). always read up about laws, rules, road signage, stay out of ZTL's zone. safety about keeping luggage in car during your stops, leave your expensive jewelry at home. wherever you stay/accomodations has parking available & how close it is and the cost if any.
september is still a busy time, harvests & festivals. the cities and towns you want to see and always in posts every day, others you haven't mention more so than others. day trip to cinque terre will be an extra long day and busy. cruise ships are still sailing and stopping at genoa & la spezia ports that adds thousands more visitors a day.
are you staying in malcesine while on lake garda? several years ago we stayed at bardolino for their annual wine festival and loved it. it's a beautiful lake with many small towns/villages to see, things to see & do, ferry & boat rides, many restaurants, markets, transportation hub at bottom of lake. sirmione is a town mentioned a lot and it has become so crowded and touristy (yes we are tourists) but other towns to see.
another thing to think about is staying in venice night before flight. your flight is early morning, look at transportation available to you since you'll be leaving in the dark and couple hours ahead to be at airport. (europeforvisitors.com)
just keep asking questions, people here to help and give different opinions good bad and ugly, then it's your decision what suits your fancy. it's great to be prepared when it get there, it helps. you haven't mentioned what you guys are planning or wanting to do, activities, food/wine tour, cooking classes, walking tours, etc. enjoy, enjoy, happy holiday & honeymoon
aloha

Check out Hotel Torcolo in Verona. Very good location and not too expensiv.e.

Re eating in Venice: Near the Rialto Bridge, consider Trattoria Da Marco Valla Fava on Calle Stagneri. Some tourist know about it, but it is mainly a local upscale place. It is a bit pricy (but nothing like Cips) so you might want to do lunch there rather than dinner. Some of the best sea food ever!! Try to eat inside rather than outside. The place has been around at least 50 years so they must be doing it right. Also in the Rialto area (on the other side of the Grand Canal) when walking to Piazzale Roma is an out of the way place named Pane Vino e San Daniele on Calle Dei Boteri. Definitely a local "hole in the wall" place, good food, good house wine, and not expensive at all. We generally avoid canal side places to eat as they are usually overpriced and under quality. Especially in the Rialto Bridge and San Marco areas. There is an exception. You might want to try Trattoria Da Giorgia ai Greci. It is very close to San Marco and an easy walk to get away from all the crowds. Can't remember the address, but a google search should give you the location, as well as info on the other places.

slowtraveler, glad to so your slowing down. I like your new option 2.

Need we tell you to have a drink at Caffe Florian in Venice in San Marco square one evening? Expensive, yes. Dreamy for a honeymoon? Absolutely.

My daughter and her husband skipped the drinks but danced on the square to the orchestra. Great fun.

Oh my goodness, thank you everyone for the wonderful recommendations!! I’ve always been a big fan of Rick Steves but I never knew his website would have such a supportive community :)

Regarding questions from princess pupule (thank you for the tips btw), we haven’t booked anything yet in Malcesine but were considering a couple options. Open to different things — Bardolino seems very nice so we’ll look around at what’s still available there. I’ve also heard good things about Limone.

Regarding what we like to do, we’re a bit all over the map. History, museums, theater/opera, and walking tours, but also biking and hiking. We’re open to food and wine tours but I’ve seen mixed reviews (especially through things like with locals), so I’d only do that if it came personally recommended. Otherwise our plan is to explore and plan out going to some good bars and restaurants. I have a list going but want to leave room for some spontaneity as well.

I’m also realizing that there are some very quaint agriturismo spots in the hills north of the city. Does anyone have any experience with something like that?