We're so excited about this trip, but don't want it to be a "drive by." We have 12 days (maybe 13)starting 10/1. Here's what we were thinking:

Fly into Rome and stay for 2 nights
Drive to Cinque Terre for 2 -3 nights
Drive through Tuscany (stay a night or 2)
Arrive in Venice (2 nights)
Take train to Milan
Fly home to Boston

Does this sequence make sense? Are we being too ambitious? How long of a ride is it from Rome to Cinque Terre? CT to Venice?

Any other ideas?

Thanks for your help.

To me that would qualify as a "drive by!" I would not like that pace, especially on a honeymoon. For one thing, you will have only one real day in Rome since you will be tired from the flight on the first day after arriving. As much as I love Rome and Venice, I would choose only one for this trip.

Will this be your first trip to Italy? To Europe?

I'm afraid I have to agree with ekscrunchy - for me, it would also be a drive-by. I'd stick with 3 destinations, perhaps Rome/Cinque Terre/Venice or Rome/Tuscany/Venice or Rome/Tuscany/Milan...

Would it be possible for you to fly home from Venice rather than Milan?

In my humble opinion (and knowing Italy very well), this is far too much to try. I would suggest staying in Rome longer (have you ever been there? There is so so much to see!) and then staying in Tuscany, visiting Florence, Siena, and some of the delightful hill towns.

When are you planning to go to Italy? After reading the wealth of info on this site, the first trip seems to be the starting trip. I am also flying out of Boston in October (still trying to put it all together) and with all there is to see and do in Italy, my husband and I are trying to fly into Rome 4days, off to Tuscany and the surrounding areas for 5 days and then to Venice area for 3-4 days. This an anniversary and we don't want to rush but at the same time see as much as we can.

Agree with previous posters. Fly into Rome - do Tuscany and head to Venice. Skip the CT - not honeymoon material unless you are an avid hiker. Consider Rome down to the Amalfi coast.

I agree. I would fly into Rome, then drive through Tuscany, drop off the car in Venice and spend some time there. There's plenty to see and it's much less hectic. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful honeymoon! (And don't forget to let the Italians know that you're on your honeymoon!)

Last time I went to Italy I rented an apartment in Florence for 1 week and took daytrips to Venice, Cinque Terre, and Rome. However, my choice of transportation was the train system. My daytrip to Rome was not a good idea and I should have spent two days instead but the other destinations worked out really well. It

sorry, I hit "enter" by accident. Anyway it all depends on what you expect to accomplish in each city. Hope that helps.

Agree with most that it's very ambitious. My only comment is I wouldn't necessarily extend Rome. While it's great and there's a lot of history, Tuscany would be much more romantic for a honeymoon (all about touring and eating/drinking and less about monuments). Also, I think your order may need adjusting as Cinque Terre is closer to Milan where you're leaving from.

An easy trip would be Rome 3 nights, Florence/Tuscany 5 nights, Venice 2 nights. While Cinque Terre sounds amazing, we've never made it in our four trips to Italy as we like to take it leisurely and it's out of the way. Enjoy

I agree that this is a drive by itinerary and involves far too much walking around for my taste.

I would split the stay between Rome or Florence, or, ideally for my taste, I wold spend the entire time in Florence and do day trips. IMO, it is a very romantic place espeically in October during harvest.

I prefer savoring to blitzing