Hi-
I am in the process of planning my honeymoon for July. We have about 12-14 days to spend in Italy. I was thinking 4-5 days in Rome, 3-4 days in the Amalfi Coast (Positano) or Italian Riviera and the rest of the time in Florence/Sienna. We don't want to rent a car. Is this a good itinerary? Should I definitely see Venice? Is Positano a must see or should I do the lakes or italian riviera instead? Also, we can fly direct into Rome but on the way home we have a layover from any airport so I was thinking about flying out of Florence or Venice (if we decide to go there). How are those airports? Thanks so much for your help!
ARC

With 12-14 days (take 14! ) I'd say you could do 4 places - Rome (4 days), Florence (3 days), Venice (3 days) and Amalfi Coast (3-4 days), not necessarily in that order.

It probably would make sense to do an open jaw ticket - fly into Rome and out of Venice. Less traveling around. The Venice airport is fine - pretty small.

Should you see Venice? It's your honeymoon, and Venice is probably one of the most romantic places in the world - does that answer your question?

I loved the Amalfi coast but haven't been to the lakes region, so I can't answer that part.

Karen

Yes, yes, no, yes, no!
It takes 6 weeks to see Italy. With 2 weeks some compromise is mandatory. Only you can decide the priorities.

As Bob said, only you can decide the priorities but, from my experience, Venice is a must. And you will be much happier if you fly to Rome and return from Venice or from wherever you stop last. It sounds like a wonderful time to visit Italy so enjoy planning and congratulations.

Hi amrach,

For a two-week honeymoon I suggest fly into Venice and out of Rome. 4 days Venice, 5 days Florence and Tuscany, 5 days Rome. (more or less)

You might find these threads helpful.
Ira?s TripReport
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

Helpful Information: Italy http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34443340

More personal opinions. We skipped Rome for our honeymoon this past summer one reason being it's not quite as hot in N/Central Italy as in the South! The CinqueTerre was overcrowded with tourists in July so I'd only hike it (Ligurian coast) but stay in Santa Margherita or Camogli.
I must insist you rethink a car. Visitng the small Tuscan hill towns was the highlight of our honeymoon.
Keep in mind you can't do it all and can always go back. I think you can save Venice for a Swiss/Austria trip some day!
Into Rome 4 days
Into Tuscany for as many days as possible
Florence 2 nights
Ligurian Coast 3 nights
Milan 1 afternoon & night, then home

Or Rome, Siena, Florence, Venice and home.

We enjoyed Venice more than Florence but Florence was closer to those lovely hilltowns! Congrats!

For two weeks, I'd recommend 3 cities or areas--split up by 4/4/4 each. If you're going by train, it'll take you about 4 hours to half day to pack, get to the train station, ride the train, get to your new hotel, and unpack. Don't forget that on the first day (assuming you're traveling from the U.S.), you'll be pretty groggy from jetlag.

Do open jaw and work your way in one direction: north (Positano->Rome->Florence/Tuscany) or south (Venice->Florence/Tuscany->Rome). So an itinerary of Rome->Positano->Florence would waste a lot of travel time since you'd be backtracking through Rome.

In terms of travel time, Venice and Amalfi Coast are the furthest away from each other, so it'll be more of a stretch to do Venice->Rome->Positano or vice versa, but you could do it in two weeks.

We did 4 nights in Florence, 5 nights in Rome, 4 nights in Positano. Positano is a must see, especially for a honeymoon. We loved it.

I recommend you and your fiance spend a few hours at a bookstore looking through Italy guidebooks/picture books and decide together where you want to go. Pictures can help a lot.