kangahop

Hello fellow travelers!

My finance and I are planning our one month honeymoon in Europe following our early May wedding. I am starting medical school in the fall and my future husband will be starting a new job! We have both done a bit of traveling in Europe (France, London), but definitely need some help.

We want the trip to be as relaxing as possible, while still seeing as many wonderful locations as possible. I personally prefer visiting smaller, less tourist-scentric towns and so called "hidden gems" than large, bustling cities.

At the moment, we were thinking about traveling around Italy, Venice--Milan--Florence/Tuscany--Rome--Amalfi Coast.

We were also considering maybe going South to North, starting in Naples and going up to Prague via Vienna. Or, alternatively, visiting Monaco, the southern coast of France and flying out of Paris.

I would love any thoughts or suggestions!! I was an art history major in college and my guy and I both adore food and wine!! I also have a terrible phobia of group tours and tight schedules.

We plan to travel primarily by train!! Thanks oodles in advance!!

bilboburgler

Train or car?

Monaco, worthless, but Nice might be good.

I guess only you can balance see as much as possible with relaxing....

Let's grab the 30 days and plan for say 4 days in each place. That gives you 7 places (with a bit of extra to play with). Assuming fly into Naples

1) Naples
2) Rome
3) Florence
4) Venice
5) Vienna
6) Prague
7) Berlin (fly back from here)

or

1) Naples
2) Rome
3) Florence/Siena or CT
4) Nice or Avignon/Nimes
5) Lyon
6) Auxerre
7) Paris

not many little gems but there are little places near these cities that could be of interest

Sassafrass

After a wedding, with that much time, I would spend the first five days on the Amalfi Coast or in Venice.

As an art major, do not miss Teatro Olympico (and other Palladian architecture) in Vicenza. It is simply perfection. It is a very easy day trip from Venice by train. It is a beautiful little city, not on most tourists' lists. Check opening times carefully.

You might also want to see the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, another very easy day trip, but you do need reservations.

If you start in Venice and go South, you could fly from Naples to any other place.

If you have not been to Paris, that would be great, but also Provence for the impressionists' landscapes.

Another option that might interest you as an art major would be Barcelona or Madrid with day trips. If you want less of a city, you could stay in Toledo. Amsterdam? (thinking of great museums, and not too overwhelming as a city).

Do you want any places with beaches or beach time/swimming weather?

kangahop

Thank you guys so much for the responses! I have spent quite a bit of time in the south of France and absolutely loved it!

I think we definitely want to go to beaches if the weather is nice? Would the southern part of Italy be warm enough in late May/early June?

Would you recommend picking a few cities in central locations and then taking day trips? I am thinking about the inconvenience of hauling around luggage!

michele_d

We flew into Rome on May 18, 2012. It was quite warm actually at that time. I would suggest starting in the South and heading North. There is more than enough to keep you busy in Italy for a month. Rent a small villa/apt in Tuscany in the middle of your trip for a week, rent a car and rest and relax while visiting the small villages.

kangahop

Thanks michele_d! I've used VRBO to find places in the US, but never in Europe! Do you have any recommendations of sites/travel agencies? I've heard mixed things about airbnb and would hate to be stuck with a less than ideal abode for a week!

michele_d

We stayed here in the La Fonte apt for a week. The building is a large villa that is now divided into separate apartments. It is just outside Pienza, so a car is needed. The breakfasts are absolutely incredible. Practically don't need to eat the rest of the day. We found it to be a great location for exploring the Tuscany region.

http://www.fontebertusi.it/en/