My husband and I are leaving on our honeymoon to Italy on the 10th. We've been so busy with the wedding and the holidays that we really haven't planned much at all. A co-worker of mine suggested I check out this forum and see what kind of advice you all might be able to offer us.

We have a place in Rome booked for our first couple nights. We get in the morning on the 12th and leave the morning of the 27th. I realize that this is very short notice, but any advice on must-go places on a 2 week trip to Italy, advice on places to stay or eat, best way to get around Italy, etc - all would greatly, greatly appreciated!! Thank you all in advance!!!

Christy

A couple of nights is not enough for Rome.

What are your interests? Are you flying in and out of Rome? Hotel price range?

Another quick question - can anyone comment on traveling to Cinque Terre in January? I have heard many people comment on how nice the walk is through the towns, but I read in a guidebook that a lot of places close down in December and January... is it possible to find places that are open still? Is it worth going during the winter? Or is it something that really needs to be experienced when the weather is warmer/nicer??

Thanks again!

We are flying into and out of Rome. We both really like old architecture. I really enjoy photography. I like walking a lot. I definitely want to go to Pompeii/Herculaneum, as I was an anthropology major in college.

I don't think you would enjoy Cinque Terre in winter. Many hotels close in resort areas and so do the restaurants especially in January and February. I think the Amalfi coast would have more things open, but they will also have their shrae of closed hotels/restaurants. Many owners use this time to travel or do repairs on their properties. I was in Tuscany the second half of September and things were started to wind down there for the winter. I was surprised some of the hilltowns were so deserted.

For trains between cities, use www.trenitalia.com.

Thanks, kybourbon! That is good to know!!

You have 15 nights in Italy.

Since you depart from Rome you will need to be back in Rome at least the night before to be sure you'll make your flight. I also think you need more time in Rome. Since you need to return there anyway, you might add on a few more days in Rome.

There are sights outside Rome that might interest you, like Ostia Antica and Hadrian's Villa.

For a seaside spot, the Amalfi Coast might be a better option for this time of year than Cinque Terre--there's more to do if the weather is bad. I'd sggest staying in Sorrento, since much will still be open at this time of year, but you will have easy access to the beautiful towns like Positano and Amalfi as well as Pompeii. You might choose to stay in Positano since it will be busier than some of the smaller towns. There are hiking trails in the area at you could enjoy as well.

Then I think you would enjoy a touch of Tuscany, perhaps based Florence or Siena or split between the two,and visiting other smaller hill towns from there.

It begins to look like this:

12 Rome
13 Rome
14 Sorrento
15 Sorrento
16 Sorrento
17 Sorrento
18 Florence/Siena
19 Florence/Siena
20 Florence/Siena
21 Florence/Siena
22 Florence/Siena
23 Rome
24 Rome
25 Rome
26 Rome

since it's your honeymoon - Venice! It's a place that must be seen to be fully appreciated and very romantic! I love Bologna - great food, not as touristy as Florence, and makes a great base for day trips since most of the train routes pass through Bologna. Also really enjoy wine tours through Chianti!

oh... and I disagree with a few other... unless you are really into tours a couple of days in Rome is fine... for me I think the Vatican was one of the highlights (paid for a tour)...

I don't quite understand racegirl's comment about tours and Rome. I've been to Rome multiple times (my most recent trip included five days in Rome)and my list of things I didn't have time to do is still very long. The only tour I did last time was the Scavi tour under St. Peter's. I love Rome and never have enough time there!

For hotels in Europe, you will find www.venere.com helpful (especially if you plan to wing it).

For the Vatican, www.vatican.va

Some places are best reached by train, while others have better bus service. It just depends on your final itinerary.

Thank you all very much for your time and help in posting! I really, really appreciate it! Very helpful information! Now I just need to share it with my husband.

I also don't understand the comment about not needing more time in Rome if you don't like tours. I have spent 45 days in Rome and have only taken 2 tours (the Scavi and another to Hadrian's Villa/Villa d'Este) in the entire time! You definitely need more time for Rome.

My preference would have been to continue on to Sorrento immediately upon arrival and save all the Rome time for the end (to eliminate a hotel change), but it's maybe too late for you to do that.

Since Pompeii is important to you, I think ellenem has a good plan, but it depends on whether you really want to see Venice.

OK, I just remembered that during my first time in Rome, I did take 2 other tours, one for the Colosseum/Forum/Palantine and the other for the Vatican/St. Peter's. But that's still not many tours considering the amount of time I've spent there.

If it's your first time to Italy and you have 14 days I would suggest the following. I can't emphasize enough that although the tendency is to cram as much as you possibly can into this trip...DON'T !!

Day 1,2: Rome

Day 3: Train to Venice

Day 4,5: Explore Venice

Day 6: Train to Florence

Day 7,8,9,10: Explore Florence and take a day trip to Siena or San Gimignano.

Day 11: Train to Rome

Day 12,13,14: Explore Rome

when I said "tours" I did not necessarily mean guided (although if you have a limited time it's a nice way to avoid long lines that can form at places like the Vatican and Colosseum)... either way you look at it a few days in Rome was enough for me! Of all the cities I've been to in Italy (several in Sicily, Naples, Capri, Venice, Bologna, Greve/Chianti, Florence and of course Rome)Rome was my least favorite (not to say I didn't like it but it would be low on my list of places to return if time was an issue)...

Here is a wonderful hotel www.lacalcina.com I have stayed at in Venice. Get a reservation there asap (it's a popular place), nice breakfast included in the room price.

Since you need an easy plan & sounds like you have to return to Rome for your flight home (is that correct?)... my plan would be simply:
Rome - 5 days
Venice - 5 days
Florence - 3 days
Rome - 1 day
traveling by train on point-to-point tickets you can just buy at the train station as needed between the cities.

Mostly because it is winter but also partly because the planning is a bit more complicated, I'd skip hiking the Cinque Terra idea myself.

They left on the 10th.

Thanks anna_roz, I didn't realize (obviously) that this was an older post brought to the top for some reason!

I do it all the time. Get carried away in the moment..