naveensingal

Hi Folks!


I m visiting Italy on 16th Dec to 27th Dec for my Honeymoon. Here is my trip plan.

16th to 19th Dec in Venice.
19th to 23rd Dec in Florence.
23rd Dec to 27th Dec in Rome.
27th Dec to 1st Jan in Paris.

I would love to know abt things I should cover during my trip in all cities? Any day trip should I take from either city? Please give me as much suggestion/ recommendation as much possible.


Cheers

tarquin

I would be researching restaurants which are open for Christmas in Rome and New Year's in Paris (and making reservations) if I were you.

You don't have time for daytrips, especially with limited daylight hours. Just absorb as much as you can of each city, your list is nicely varied.

Buona luna di miele!

J62

It's too bad you think they have no time for daytrips. Pisa and/or Lucca would make a nice daytrip from Florence.

Lexma90

I would say, rather, that with the amount of days you have in each wonderful city, along with limited daytime hours, there are no other places that I'd say that you "should" mae daytrips to. If you wanted to take a day trip, Lucca or Pisa are easy choices; I personally like Lucca better, because it's less touristy.

TDudette

Time and weather permitting, the following are possible day or 1/2-day trips:

Venice--Murano, Burano, Padua

Florence--Pisa, Fiesole, Lucca

Rome--Tivoli Gardens, Ostia Antica

Paris--Versaille, Giverny

I do agree with others who think you might not have much extra time but just in case. Also, do search in "Search the Forums" above for restaurants open on Christmas and get going on a reservation asap. Congrats and have a lovely trip.

mamcalice

I agree that there is so much to do in each city that you won't need day trips to fill your time. Those suggested by TDudette are good ideas. Note that Giverny isn't open in December but one of our favorite day trips from Paris is Chartres.

For things to do in each of the cities, refer to the "Destinations" tab at the top of the Fodors online guide for each of the cities you will visit. Each of us has our own favorites. In Venice, I love the Rialto Market early in the morning and St. Marks Cathedral; in Florence we love all of the museums, the Duomo, Santa Croce and nearby Fiesole; in Rome, St. Peters and the Vatican, the Pantheon and the Borghese Museum and Gardens and, in Paris, Musee D'Orsay, Ste. Chapelle, a Seine River Cruise, Luxembourg Gardens and the Tuilleries, the Orangerie and the Rodin Museum and gardens.

Be sure to get guidebooks for each of your destinations to help you choose your "must sees". Happy honeymoon.

TDudette

Thanks, mamcalice, for the correction to Giverny. Yes, Chartres is a good trip also-wonderful church and nice market.

annhig

I m visiting Italy on 16th Dec to 27th Dec for my Honeymoon. >>

are you going by yourself? what does your fiance want to do?

J62

to answer that we need cold...

annhig

it will be cold in December, J62!

ssander

More like a half-day trip, since it is about 20-30 minutes by Metro from the city center, but I think St-Denis basilica is one of the best churches in Paris rivaling Notre Dame...IF you like French history...otherwise not.

Burial place of many kings going back to the 6th century, and, since it was one the first gothic cathedrals, is not overdone with oramentation -- very airy, mystical feel to it.

It makes a nice trip of 3 hours or so with lunch.

SS

ssander

Siena is an easy day-trip from Florence.

But for the other cities, I'd stay in town -- more than enough to keep you really busy for visits of your length.

SS

suze

Because of the length of the stay in each city, I also would forget about day trips, unless you have something really specific that interests. There is so much to see and do, you won't scratch the surface with 3-5 days each place.

nytraveler

You really don;t have nearly as much time as you think - since you are counting many of the days 3 times. For instance - you are counting the 19th as a day in Venice, as the day to go from Venice to Florence and as a day in Florence.

In fact - you have 2.5 days (at most) in Venice - less if you arrive late in the day. In Florence you have 3 days. I fyou want to take a day trip to one or more hill towns - that's fine - but be aware that daylight hours are very short and opening hours of sights can b reduced - sometims from 10 am to 1 or 2 in the afternoon.

Suggest you list your itinerary by nights - not days - this will prevent you from multi-counting the days.

charnees

You definitely need to check out the destinations guides here. Or buy one guidebook for Italy and one for Paris. That will list the most popular sites to visit.

annhig

but I think St-Denis basilica is one of the best churches in Paris rivaling Notre Dame...IF you like French history...otherwise not.

Burial place of many kings going back to the 6th century, and, since it was one the first gothic cathedrals, is not overdone with oramentation -- very airy, mystical feel to it.

It makes a nice trip of 3 hours or so with lunch.>>

any specific lunch recommendations, ssander?

tavoleromane

A selection of restaurants in Rome that are open for Christmas Eve/Day is available in our blog:
http://www.tavoleromane.it/foodtours/en/?p=537

We are a little group of Roman bloggers, hope it helps.
Better if you reserve a table as soon as possible.

Enjoy your Italian honeymoon!

ssander

annhih...

Sorry, I really can't recommend a lunch place. Last time we ate there we walked around the block (we decided to avoid the touristy restaurants in front of the basilica which seemed overpriced) and found a hole-in-the-wall grill where they just cooked a pile of chicken-in-some-sauce (choice of only two sauces) with a big pile of frites for about 6 Euro. We really enjoyed it, because it was local, but it wasn't a real restaurant with food that most folks would choose...but you might like it.

It was on the back side of the block with the restaurants that are in the sqaure facing the basilica...it may not even be there now...that was in 2007 You can probably find something to your liking within a few blocks.

SS

Steve

annhig

thanks, ssander. normally we're your sort of folks too, though i tend to like a sit down at lunchtime when i'm travelling so as to get up my energy for the afternoon.

I'll have a wander round the net and see what I can find!

ssander

annig...it was a sit-down place...just pretty basic...drinks were cans/bottles from a fridge case, etc...bus your own table afterward.

SS