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Italy in November
We are planning to travel to Italy in November for our honeymoon. Our original plan was Venice first, then Florence, then Rome. We want to stay between 10-13 days.
We don't want to do a tour, and were wondering if getting around (with not knowing the italian language) will be easy. Also, is November a nice time to go to Italy? Is our itinerary good? Length of stay? Where to stay? Any advice from experienced travelers would really help! |
Let's just start with a classic schedule:
- open jaw ticket, fly into Venice, fly out of Rome, - 4 nights in Venice, - 3 nights in Florence, - 5 nights in Rome. (Or the other way round) What kind of tour would you want to do? Seeing what? On a coach? With other tourists? Alone?What are your interests? Can you give some more info please? |
Hi Y,
Mid-Sept to mid-Oct is the best time for Italy, but Nov won't be unpleasant. Weather will be changeable. Bring a sweater and an umbrella. 13 days for Venice, Florenc and Rome is very good. Learn a little Italian: Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, etc. For where to stay enter <City Name And Hotel> under "search this forum". Also see Helpful Information: Italy 2 http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34568596 Have a nice visit ((I)) |
Thanks for the advice so far. Many people I keep talking to say that Venice is not worth traveling to when we only have 10-13 days. I am just afraid that if we don't go to Venice, I will regret it. My interests are historical sight seeing and art. My husband-to-be likes to sight-see (not so keen on the art) and wants it to be a relaxing, romantic vacation.
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I went to Rome and Florence in mid-November for 10 days or so a few years ago. The weather was generally somewhat overcast but fairly mild, with highs probably in the sixties most often. There was one day of heavy rain and one day of dazzling sunshine with temperatures in the high 70s. Florence was especially beautiful in a misty autumnal way when we were there. I would have liked more sunny days, but it was still quite possible to hang out at outdoor cafes, stroll around comfortably, etc. And there is definitely something to be said for traveling off-peak. Hotel rooms, especially in Rome, will be a lot cheaper than if you were there just a month earlier. Crowds will be much smaller. There was no wait at all at the Uffizi when we went, for instance, and the descriptions of Rome being crowded and chaotic don't resonate with me, I suspect in large part because of the time of year I was there. Finally, we don't speak Italian other than a few basic politeness words, and this was not a big issue. Bring a dictionary or menu translator to help you figure out what to order in restaurants and you should be fine.
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Particularly if your husband-to-be likes to just sightsee and wants a relaxing, romantic vacation, you should not even think of omitting Venice. There is so much there to enjoy by just walking around. And there is enough art to keep you happy as well.
The schedule suggested by Baldrick 4 nights in Venice 3 nights in Florence 5 nights in Rome seems very reasonable to me. Florence is the city with the greatest emphasis on art, so three days should be enough for your husband-to-be. (And you should reserve for the Accademia (David) and the Uffizi; the phone number to call is given in the Italy - Helpful Hints thread.) Rome is also a great place to just stroll around and take in the ambience, sit in cafes, etc. |
Venice not worth traveling to!!! What sort of barbaric thugs do you hang out with?????
But seriously, Venice is the most unique city in Europe. It is a one-of-a-kind world treasure. |
I'm on my way to Italy for the frist time next month. I will be staying three nights in each city. From what I hear Venince is not to be missed... don't skip it...
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We visited Rome, Florence, the Cinque Terre, and Venice on our honeymoon in June 2004. We had a few more days than you. I definitely would NOT omit Venice. I had visited twice before but it was DH's first trip to Italy. Venice is a great honeymoon spot :-)
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I;ve been in early Nov. and the weather was wonderful. Cool mornings and evenings with wonderful afternoons..low 70's. Do searches here for hotels etc and possible itineraries. Buy good guidebooks for the cities you decide on to help you make a list of must-sees.
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I went to Rome this past Thanksgiving week.
Managed to miss the rain during the days but once or twice, it rained over night. Was cold but I was fine with just jeans and an overcoat over long-sleeve shirts. I would say highs were around 50 during the day but was able to walk around early in the morning or late at night without any discomfort. It was still very crowded. If you got to the Vatican museums after 9 AM, the line was around the block. The subway trains were packed full as were many buses. I never was able to sit down, only on the train from the Largo Argentina down to the Travestere. Doesn't Venice sometimes flood in the winter? |
Flying into Venice and out of Rome is generally better than the other way around, for two reasons: Flights out of Venice tend to be really early, and getting to the airport isn't always easy that early. It's easier to catch an early flight in Rome.
The other reason: After a long flight, Venice is a nicer place to relax and recuperate. You have to walk walk walk to stay awake, and that's what Venice is best for anyway, exploration on foot, with the occasional water bus if you've gone too far in one direction and need to circle back. Yes, beginning in late November there is a chance of experiencing aqua alta, high water, where certain piazzas and alleys get flooded for a few hours. The locals deal with it, by erecting wooden walkways, hotels lend you high boots if it gets bad, you hear the warning horn (like a distant fog horn) - it's an experience that enhances your trip and allows for great photos. It can get chilly in November, and rainy, of course, it's not beach weather, so have that extra layer and a good long rain coat (or your legs will be soaked if the coat doesn't come down to the ankles). WK |
Italy in November is o.k. bring jacket, umbrella. The trip depends on what you really want to do. For me, I agree with the idea of omitting Venice. I was there fall 2002. Sure, there are some cool interesting hings to see, but for the time neede to get there, I would spend the time instead going up into N. Italy.
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Italy -- and especially Venice -- in November is often far better than summer, because the crowds thin out dramatically and the weather isn't hot.
Don't worry about not speaking Italian. There is little reason to go to Florence if you don't want to see art, so you might consider making a day trip to Pisa from Florence, or Siena if your husband would be more taken with a medieval walled city. I think Rome is at its best (and more romantic) if you don't spend a lot of time in museums. The Vatican can be exhausting -- you can get numb trying to take it all of it, so don't feel obliged to push it. Many people are disappointed in the Sistine Chapel, which requires a long wait on line and then being herded into a tiny room -- and if you are not a big fan of Michaelangelo's paintings, skip it without guilt! Touring the forum, the Pantheon, the Porta d'Ottavia in the Jewish quarter (where you can eat those delicious fried artichokes) is often a better way to feel the profound, ancient character of Rome than waiting on line with other tourists. Some of the "lesser" churches have fabulous mosaics or Berninis. So don't be afraid to wander off the track. Stay up late and enjoy the nightlife. In Rome, the Albergo del Senato is a great choice if it fits your budget. In Venice, I enjoyed the Ca'Pisani in the Dorsoduro. You should not have a hard time finding a place in November. |
PS: In Firenze, instead of L'Uffizi, your husband might enjoy far better a trip to the Museo San Marco, which is actually a deconsecrated monastery where Fra Angelico painted glorious frescoes in each of the monk's cells. Likewise, I think a very romantic afternoon on the other side of Arno to take in the view of Florence from the Piazzale Michangelo, maybe a peek into very, very old church of San Miniato, then head for lunch in tiny trattoria, then take a look at the Cappella Brancacci.
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Just wanted to chime in again to urge you not to discount Florence--I think Florence tends to get a lukewarm reaction on Fodors, and I'm really not sure why. I have only spent a few days there, but loved it and felt that I didn't have nearly enough time.
I went to the Uffizi and to the Duomo museum, but I think there are a lot of non-art things to do. The Duomo itself, the Campanile, Santa Croce, lots of other beautiful churches that we didn't get to, the Ponte Vecchio, strolling and shopping in the Oltrarno. We did the walk in the Eyewitness Guide from the Oltrarno up a hill to a church overlooking Florence, which was beautiful, and a peaceful somewhat rustic stroll. (Sorry I can't remember details about where exactly I am talking about off the top of my head.) And the food was so, so amazing--do go to Cibreo and to Za Za, though even our simpler lunches were memorable and delicious. I loved the feel of Florence and don't agree think it's only for people who are passionate about art, though it is especially wonderful for artlovers (which the OP apparently is, by the way). |
I agree with the above poster and certainly don't to discount Firenze. I actually prefer it Venice because it has so much more Italian life and commerce. But I spent all my time there tracking down art works I had heard about all my life, and because it was January and rainy, there really wasn't a lot of opportunity to stroll in gardens or sit outdoors.
So reading yousimurask's post about her husband's interests, I was trying to point toward things other than museum and church going that had more of historical flavor. And I will confess that while I am very high on Firenze, I do tend to discourage people from going to L'Uffize unless they feel they must, because I think it is one of the most difficult museums I've been to in Italy, in terms of crowds and poor presentation of the art work. It's the Accademia in Venice I think shouldn't be missed, and I also think the cathedral is Pisa in fantastic. |
Italy in November is wonderful!!
I love Rome & Florence....but I adore Venice! Please don't neglect seeing Venice. I've gone to Venice in November for the last 4 years....staying 2 weeks.....somehow I've manged to avoid aqua alta. ps...Don't worry about your lack of Italian....the Italians are very kind...they usually apologize for not speaking better english!! |
We did the same exact trip April 8th- April 18th last year. We loved every second of it. We are getting married this October and if we hadn't been there so recently it would be our hands down honeymoon trip. Opting for Budapest, Prague and Vienna. We didn't do an organized tour. We used Fodors, Virtual Tourist and Eyewitness Travel Guidebooks to plan the trip. Very easy and a hell of a lot of fun doing the research. We took a Rome walking tour with Scala Reale Tours and it was worth it. We also did a wine tour of Montalcino.
We spent two nights in Venice (not enough) and dream about going back. Four nights in Florence and three nights in Rome. Day trip to Montalcino and a day trip to Siena. We traveled by train (Rail Europe) to our destinations. Venice to Florence (3hrs.), Florence to Siena daytrip (90 min.), Florence to Rome ( 1 hour and 37 min.) Made all reservations online. Just a note: you purchase your reservation and also your seat. We helped out a couple of friends because they thought they were paying twice. Not the case. We also made advance reservations for the Uffizi Gallery and the Academia in Florence. That's enough for now. Can go on all night but its time to go out to eat. My birthday dinner at Babbo. Never been, can't wait. More postings tomorrow. A parting shot.... when you walk into St. Mark's Square for the first time.....MAGICAL....what a way to start your honeymoon. |
Great, thanks for all the advice so far.
Another question...I hear that pick pocketers are a real problem there (especially at train stations). Just wondering if anyone experienced this, and what we could do to reduce our risk. Thanks! |
Never personally encountered pickpockets in Italy, but it is a problem in crowded tourist areas. There's even a citizen's group in Venice that goes about nabbing pickpockets.
The only problem we had was in Florence where a companion's necklace was torn from her neck. Fortunately it was cheap costume jewelry and didn't have a strong clasp. |
I think the big three are a good intro to Italy and I would do Rome 5 days, Florence 4 days and Venice 3 days. Do a day trip to Siena from Florence and possibly a day trip car ride into the hill towns or a day trip to Pisa/Lucca. November is a good time for Italy as the crowds are gone and your costs much lower as it is off season. Weather can be cool/rainy and the acqua alta in Venice can be an issue but if you layer the weather tends to be quite reasonable. Mid September to October would be better for weather but with higher costs and more tourists. I do not think it matters much whether you do Rome to Venice open jaw or the reverse. I have a small preference to doing Rome first as I tend to relax the first day in Europe and just wander around and I like to do the high energy stuff early in my vacation when I am fresh. Also Venice is a nice place (in the off season) to relax after a long trip and actually it is easier to get to the airport in Venice than in Rome as you do not have to worry about traffic and the trip is shorter. The flights back to the US from Venice or Rome leave early but you can just take a water taxi that you arrange the night before with your hotel.
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Does anyone know any information about getting blessed by the pope in Vatican City for our new marriage?
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We've been to Italy in early November and twice in late November. Early November is GREAT, late November is much colder, but OK. I agree September or October is much preferred, but possible savings for EARLY November is worth this time period. Late November is a little too cold especially north of Rome, Florence, Siena, etc., and not worth the savings. to me.
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Ok so Venice is in.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best hotels in Venice, Florence, and Rome? I would like to overlook the Grand Canal in Venice, and be close to Vatican City in Rome. Price is very flexible. We've been saving for awhile and are willing to splurge! |
Any particular reason you want to be near the Vatican? Also I might add that a splurge for the "best" hotels in these cities might be in the $800/night range.
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A very nice hotel with very affordable rates a stone's throw from the Vatican is the Le Rovere. The top floors have terraces and views of the Tiber and they are 200 euro per night.
From there, it is actually only about a 25 minute walk to Piazza Navona, 20 minutes to the Jewish Quarter, and 15 minutes to the heart of Trastevere. I quite enjoyed staying there -- although there are fewer neighborhood restaurants (typical of the Vatican area) if that's important to you. |
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Al Ponte Antico is a beautiful hotel on the grand canal near the Realto Bridge. Try this web site: www.alponteantico.com also you can find more pictures on veniceby.com. Tell it you want mid to high prices. For a room with a view 250 euro or a room without a view 180 euro.
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