Italy - Where to start?

Knottie05481694

Hello!

I think we've finally decided on Italy for our honeymoon. Neither have ever been and have always wanted to go. Now to finalize details. 

A little about us:

I'm 27, he's 22. Been dating for 2 years. Done a few small trips together but nothing like this. Neither of us like to stay in one place too long, we ain't the soak at the beach for a week kinda couple. But we do enjoy our lazy moments so no backpacking for us. We like food, adventure, history, and people watching. Not really into spending a whole day in a massive museum. Budget would like to stay around $5000 including airfare. Would do such things as airbnb to help save money but a few nights in a hotel, maybe to start the vacation, would be nice. 

Questions: 

Where is it cheapest/most convenient place to fly in?

What cities are a must see?

How many cities can we realistically manage in 11 days?

Is my budget unrealistic?

Thanks!

Maggie0829

I think your best bet would be to talk to a travel agent that specializes in Italian vacations.  They would be able to direct you as to where to go, where to stay, etc, etc.

But we do have some well traveled posters that could provide you some insight.  @Jells2dot0 comes to mind.

southernbelle0915

If you have 11 days, I would fly into Rome. Then, I'd do:

4 days in Rome

3 days in Florence (use one of these days to go into the Tuscan countryside)

2 days in Cinque Terre

2 days in Venice

Fly out of Venice. 

You can take the train between all of those cities.

blabla89

I'm not sure which cities are consistently the cheapest, but try searching on kayak to see what the airfares look like. Whether it's realistic in your budget will depend on when you're traveling and what cities you choose. I believe Rome is the most expensive. We did 3 nights in San Gimignano, 5 in Florence, 1 in Milan for around $6000. I think we would have felt rushed if we tried to see any more cities.

We flew into Milan because it was cheap, but then decided to go to San Gimignano and Florence instead. I don't recommend doing it this way - after a long flight, the train rides were grueling. I suggest flying somewhere closer to where you actually want to stay.

San Gimignano is a gorgeous, historic town in Tuscany near Florence and Sienna. It's a little hard to get to but totally worth it. We spent our days there just wandering, eating, and relaxing. We also did a winery tour and saw some of the little surrounding towns. The hotel we stayed in was amazing and such a good deal.

Florence was amazing too. We spent a lot of time in museums and churches (you can easily spend a whole day in the Uffizi Gallery), but also did a lot of just walking around, shopping in the market and people watching. We rented a whole apartment through airbnb and it was definitely the way to go - had the whole place to ourselves and it was much more comfortable (and more affordable) than the hotel. We saved money buying food from the grocery store to make our own breakfast and lunch. We spent our last night at the Sheraton attached to the Milan Airport (surprisingly no plane noise, with a view of the Alps) which was a "splurge" we booked with Amex points.

lildropofsunshine

I think 2 days in Rome is plenty. IMO, Rome is an extremely overrated city and not all that great...I'd much rather go back and spend more time in Venice, Florence, Pisa, Siena and places like that.

JoanE2012

We did an escorted tour of Italy and flew into Venice then went to Florence, Rome and Sorrento.  Along the way, we stopped in Pisa, Assisi, Pompeii and Capri.  Loved it!  We were really nervous and thought we'd hate being with a group....we're pretty independent travelers....but there was enough free time in each of the cities that we really had a good time.  

We were spoiled and loved not having to carry our bags or figure out and arrange transportation in a country where we didn't speak the language.  And when others were lined up for an hour or two at various tourist spots (ie the Sistene Chapel), we passed right by and got right in...no wasting time!  

We still travel mostly independently, but every once in a while we find a place (usually a multi-city destination where we want to see alot in a limited period of time) that we know we'd be more comfortable/see more/appreciate more when we don't have to worry about logistics.

WinstonsGirl

Hit Rome, Florence, Venice for sure.  About 2-3 days each, and you should hit Pisa while in Florence.  Venice is my favourite.  Be prepared to walk lots.  Even Rome only had 2 subway lines when I was there.  

If you spend 3 days in Venice, take 1 and grab a bus (boat) to the islands of Murano and Burano.  Murano has the glass blowing factories and Burano is very colourful and they make lace there.  It was a nice day trip.  

Your budget might be tight, but depending on your airfare and where you want to stay, you might be able to do it.  Italy is not cheap

CMGragain

There are no cheap cities in Italy.  None.  Be prepared to spend money.
The train system is modern and will get you places quickly and safely.  Buy a copy of the current Rick Steves Italy guide.  He has lots of good suggestions for budget travelers.
You need at least three days in Rome.  The airport is an international one, but it is not near the city, and you will need to take the train into Rome.  Easy to do.  There is a direct connection between Rome and Florence (Firenze) and you can also take the train to Venice.  If you are thinking about driving in any of these cities, forget about it!  Not worth the terror!  Take public transportation, like the locals do.  In Florence, everything you want to see is close together and you can walk.

Rome - The Vatican, the forum and Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain are musts.  The Vatican alone will take you an entire day.
Florence - ART!!  Renaissance history!  The Duomo!
Venice - Extremely expensive!  I would skip this if budget is an issue.  Very touristy.  I enjoyed it, but OMG it is expensive.  A gondola ride will cost you at least $100.

Read the Rick Steves book.  He has wonderful advice.

climbingsingle

My H and I went to Italy for our HM last year. I'm not sure where you're flying out of - we flew out of JFK and got a really good deal. 

We rented a studio apartment in Florence through Airbnb. For 10 days, it was under $1,000. IMO, that's the way to go. We had a full kitchen, so we were able to make meals there when we didn't want to eat out. Our place was adorable. We had a spot to park a car, and we rented a Fiat. We we within walking distance to a few restaurants and a grocery store. The center of Florence was a 10 minute bus ride. The bus stop was just a 5 minute walk away. 

We drove to Pisa for a day trip, and then drove to Cinque Terre for an overnight. We booked a hotel when we arrived there. We also took the train to Venice for an overnight. 

I personally didn't find Venice very expensive. Our gondola ride was not $100. We got a good deal on a hotel too - I booked it the day before. 

Prices in Florence were very comparable to what I'm used to paying in NY. Again, I didn't find it expensive. I think the dollar is strong in Europe right now, so that will work to your advantage. 

Knottie05481694

Thanks ladies!

I like the idea of an open jaw flight plan, but they seem to be so much more expensive then a basic round trip. We are flying from Seattle, so everything is expensive though, ha. 

No one mentioned Naples or Sorrento, is it not worth the train down and back?

CMGragain

I didn't enjoy Naples.  Most people go there so they can visit the ruined town of Pompeii, which was fascinating, but I thought the city of Naples was a disappointment.

We fly open-jaw all the time.  If you add up the fuss and bother and expense of returning to Fiumicino Airport in Rome, it is worth an extra $100 or two.

thisismynickname2

I just want to throw in there that if you choose to go up around Milan or Venice, hit Lake Como too. I agree with CMG to check out the Rick Steves book-- and his Italy television episodes. There's so much to see in Italy and it's fabulous!

I didn't think it was that expensive though. With the Euro's conversion rate right now, I think Italy is one of the less expensive European countries. We stayed in Lake Como and thought the meals and wine were very cost-effective. There are a lot of historic villas and gardens, and we lazed around by the pool and on the lakefront. It's gorgeous. 

geemonkee

I loved Naples but it's not for everyone. Rick Steves describes it well. Wine tasting and a cooking class were my favorite things to do in Florence (booked with guides before I left). Both were day long and a blast (if that's your thing). The wine tasting covered some areas we would not have been able to hit due to time constraints. Happy to recommend the booking agencies. Rome was most expensive for lodging.  If you go, buy your Vatican and Colosseum tickets before you go or you will spend the whole day in line.  Sicily was cheapest. We used AirBnB for 2 of 4 cities and had our own kitchen so we could make breakfast. We ate a lot of pizza. You will love it.  Oh, and wish I could have made it to Sorrento. Next time