My Italy Honeymoon Itinerary: 11 days of everything from delicious gelato in Venice to local wines in Tuscany

We spent twelve days on our honeymoon in Italy: Venice, Florence, the Tuscan countryside, Verona, Valpolicella, Lake Garda and Milan. It was wonderful. And if I could do it again, I would cut it in half. Three nights at a vineyard near Montepulciano turned out to be the best part of the whole trip — cooking our own dinner, swimming in the afternoon, watching the sun go down over the hills with a glass of local wine. I spent those three days not thinking about the next train, and our best memories from the trip was from those days. Looking back, I wish we’d booked a week. So this is the honest version. Below is our exact Italy honeymoon itinerary, day by day, with every hotel we booked and what each one cost, what an Italy honeymoon actually cost us in total, whether you should buy a package (no, and I’ll explain), and the things I’d do differently if I were planning it again tomorrow.

My Italy Honeymoon Itinerary

My first advice to you will be – do not go on our honeymoon in August. Unless you are planning on spending the entire trip by a pool, lake or the sea. If there is one thing I would’ve changed about my honeymoon, it would’ve been the timing because it was way too hot to enjoy everything properly. Furthermore, it was also only the hotel in Venice and the Tuscan countryside where the air conditioning worked properly… But besides from the heat we had the best time and Italy is just such a lovely destination to see and experience!

I really struggled to decide on an itinerary for our honeymoon in Italy. Although I tried to extensively search online I did not find any other guides or articles that suited the locations and activities we wanted for us. So I started from scratch and wrote down our priorities and what we like to start putting it all together. Eventually a plan took form. Our honeymoon took us from Venice, to Florence, the countryside in Tuscany, Verona, Valpolicella wineries, Lake Garda and finally to Milano. And it was a really lovely trip as we managed to see a lot of things, but still enjoy some relaxation as well as lots of good food and of course also wine.

Itinerary Day by Day

• Day 1 to 3 (two nights): Explore Venice and discover this historic floating city. Try the world famous bellini from Harry’s Bar and enjoy fantastic pasta and gelato whilst gondolas glide past around every corner.
• Day 3 to 5 (two nights): Take the train from Venice to Florence. Discover yet another historic city and all the secrets hiding here. Like the wine windows!
• Day 5 to 8 (three nights): Rent a car from Florence Airport and drive to the Tuscan countryside near Montepulciano. Stay at a vineyard and enjoy days by the pool whilst watching the sun set over the hills with a glass of local wine in hand.
• Day 8 to 12 (four nights): Explore Verona and the wine region of Valpolicella which makes great red wines. Lake Garda and Sirmione is also not far away so this is the perfect base to see a big variety of sights.
• Day 12: Take the train to Milano and fly back from the airport here. But before you go take the opportunity to explore the city and the famous Duomo (church). You can easily extend your stay here by a night or two as one day is not enough to see the city!

Why choose Italy as your honeymooning destination?

I had actually been to Italy a few times before. To locations like Venice or the Alps, as had my husband. Both me and my husband knew we liked Italian food and wine and had several destinations in the country that we both wanted to see. So when we were talking about the honeymoon we naturally gravitated toward Italy. Here below are some of the reasons I think Italy makes for a great honeymoon destination and why we were happy to have picked it.

• Good local food & drink – especially if you like pasta, pizza, gelato, wine and aperol spritz
• Fairly easy to get around by train to a variety of cities and destinations
• Lots of old and fascinating history to discover as you wander around, visit museums and see old buildings and churches
• Beautiful scenery in the countryside (and gorgeous sunsets)
• Usually nice weather (although I will admit it was just a tad too hot for us in August)

Should you book an Italy honeymoon package?

I did consider booking an Italy honeymoon package just to make things easier for myself. But then decided against it. My main reasons for it was that I really wanted our Italy honeymoon to feel our own and incorporate an itinerary route and also experiences that suited the two of us. I think that’s something that is difficult to get from a pre-decided honeymoon package as it has been put together by someone else and their preferences of what to see and do in Italy.

A decent honeymoon package in Italy can cost anywhere between £3500 to £12,500+ per person. And it’s worth keeping in mind that you are paying a premium for someone else’s services and booking time. Of course, if you want to save yourself the energy and time perhaps an Italy honeymoon package might be the way to go for you, it certainly can be convenient and also offer an itinerary with activities and travel routes that most people want to see and do. I have listed what our honeymoon cost further down and planning it yourself can definitely save you money. The cost of a honeymoon in Italy is only as expensive as you make it. Not to mention that you are also loosing out on the things that can make your honeymoon so memorable and special. All those things that make the trip yours.

Planning your own honeymoon doesn’t have to be difficult

There are so many services nowadays that planning doesn’t have to be difficult either. To make my planning life easier I booked all our trains through Trainline, hotels and car hire via booking.com and the tours and experiences through Viator. That way everything was organised and saved in these sites already. So tickets and reservation numbers were easy to find when I needed them.

As a Type A person who absolutely loves planning, there way no way I would miss out on such a golden opportunity as planning my own custom honeymoon! And I’m so glad I did. Because the memories we have from that trip I will think of so fondly for the rest of my life.

What an Italy honeymoon actually costs

Our budget for the honeymoon was £5000 for planning all the travel and accommodation. With our spending of food and drinks in Italy, our total ended up just above it. It definitely felt a little like girl-mathing it as we booked and paid for most things fairly far in advance to get better rates. So when the honeymoon came around we had kind of forgotten about how much it all costs and only had the spending budget for the actual time we spent in Italy in mind. For us it was important to stay somewhere convenient that we could also go back to and enjoy a little glass of wine at. So we prioritised rooms with balconies or terraces in good locations near train stations as that was our main way of getting around.

• Hotels (12 nights): £2970
• Flights: £893
• Car hire (4 days): £126
• Trains: £138
• Experiences: £450
• Food & Wine: £650
• What we splurged on: A nicer hotel in Venice and a lunch at a Michelin star restaurant
• What we cut: Additional experiences as we wanted time to just walk around and enjoy the surroundings

What we would changed: I’m actually really happy with how we spent our money as we planned it in a way to suit the both of us and what we wanted to do.

Venice: the first stop on our honeymoon in Italy

The first two nights of our honeymoon in Italy were spent in Venice. I had been to the city before, but my husband hadn’t so I really wanted him to experience it. Although we did have a little bit of a rough start to the honeymoon as our luggage did not arrive with us for the first two days. However, it did show up before we were leaving for our next destination and it did not stop us from appreciating our time in Venice. Looking back now, I’m pretty happy that this was the major issue we had during the trip, as it definitely could’ve been way worse.

Why include Venice on your Italy honeymoon itinerary?

Venice is often described as a romantic city and many people imagine enjoying a gondola ride down one of the canals with your partner. For me I like Venice because it’s such a unique destination that is unlike anything I’ve seen anywhere else. There is so much history and its one of those places that is so fascinating to see in person. It’s also quite a fun way to arrive at your first honeymoon destination by taking the boat from the airport into the city. With everything said, it’s fairly small place so personally I think one or two days is enough here.

How to get to Venice from the Airport

From the Marco Polo Venice Airport to the hotel in Venice by boat

• We went for the Alilaguna water bus as the route went right past our hotel so it was really straightforward and felt like arriving to Venice in a very Venetian way. There are two different routes so check which ones is best suited for where you are going. Or you can book your water taxi to your hotel or nearest accessible point.

Where to stay in Venice

• Ca’ Bonfadini Historic Experience our pick for our honeymoon since it was easy to get to by boat from the airport, was a luxurious and elegant hotel and was walking distance from the city centre sights but located in a quieter part of Venice – from £310 per night
• Stay in a former convent in the eastern part of the city at Hotel Indigo Venice Sant ‘Elena – from £101 per night
• For a boutique hotel vibe check out Numa Venice Forcola – from £117 per night
• For ultimate Venetian luxury you can’t go wrong with the iconic The Gritti Palace – from £1000 per night
• Stay at an Italian palace at Palazzo Venart – from £534 per night

What not to miss in Venice

One of the must not miss things in Venice, is something that is impossible to miss: seeing the canals and quirkiness of the city. It’s literally around every corner so just wandering around can be so interesting as you feel like you discover something new over and over again. It is easy to get a bit lost though so do keep an eye out on where you end up.

• Enjoy gelato at Gelato di Natura which focuses on high quality ingredients
• Try a bellini at Harry’s, in the very place it was invented
• Take a little trip across to Murano and admire the glass maestros work
• Admire the San Marco Piazza and learn more about the history of Venice
• Enjoy an aperol spritz on the rooftop terrace at Hotel Gabrielli
• Go shopping for a carnival mask to brought home as a souvenir. My recommendation is the Ca’ Macana shops which is an authentic mask making workshop.

Florence

Neither me or my husband had been to Florence before, but had it recommended too many times. So it was one of the cities we knew we definitely wanted to include on the itinerary – especially as it also seems like a classic destination for a honeymoon in Italy. As we had also planned to visit a winery in the Tuscan countryside Florence also worked perfectly as a stop on the way there. This was also where we picked up our rental car. Although we decided to do so from the airport so I wouldn’t have to drive through the madness of traffic in Florence.

Why include Florence on your Italy honeymoon itinerary?

Florence is a historic city full of interesting sights and museums. It is also the capital of Tuscany and was an excellent stop on the way to wineries in the countryside. The landscape around the city is far from flat so it’s also easy to get up on a hill to admire the landscape around the city with the iconic duomo as an eye catcher in the heart of it all. In the city you can follow the footsteps of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci who were both born here.

How to get to Florence from Venice

Taking the train from Venice to Florence

There is a direct train from Venice to Florence which takes just over two hours. I booked all our train tickets in Italy on the Trainline app which I find to be very convenient and that way I have the tickets on my phone as well.

Where to stay in Florence

• Hotel Principe which was our pick for our honeymoon since it had a gorgeous balcony overlooking the Arno river and it was near the train station – from £303 per night
• Experience stylish luxury at W Florence – from £322 per night
• The ever-stylish Hoxton hotels continue their legacy with The Hoxton Florence – from £166 per night
• Is this the most iconic rooftop pool in Florence at The Social Hub Florence Lavagnini? I think it might be! – from £81 per night
• Floren Hotel is a charming boutique hotel in a great location near both the sights and the train station – from £278 per night
• Stay outside the city centre at the luxurious Collegio alla Querce – from £780 per night

♥ Want to read more about our favorite hotels in Florence? See our full guide to the 5-star luxury hotels in Florence — seventeen of them, including the two we recommend specifically for honeymoons.

What not to miss in Florence

Florence is a lovely city to just walk around and explore. There are plenty of museums and we could’ve easily added another day on to our time here.

• Try Bistecca alla Fiorentina at Trattoria Dall’Oste
• Order a glass of local Tuscan wine from a wine window
• See the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens
• Admire the fashion creations at Gucci Garden
• Walk across the famous Ponte Vecchio – the most well known bridge in Florence
• See the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore which is one of the largest churches in the world.
• Do a wine tasting at Enoteca Alessi which was recommended to us by a friend and we loved it
• Admire the view from Piazzale Michelangelo
• Find your holiday scent at Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, which dates back to 1221

♥ My fellow writer Jessika has written a guide to her favourite things to see, eat and experience in Florence which you can find here.

Tuscany and the countryside – and why I wish I would’ve stayed here longer

I love visiting vineyards when I’m travelling. Especially since I started working in the drinks industry as I love how wine has been something people have gathered around throughout history in so many different cultures. Italy of course is such a fantastic wine country, that it would almost be a shame not to try some when visiting for our honeymoon – and I’m so glad I included this on the itinerary. Since we had a few cities planned for the trip already I was really keen on the idea to spend a couple of days just relaxing somewhere.

I had read quite a lot about Tuscany as a destination for weddings and honeymoons so it was at the top of my list. I did a lot of research and eventually found Terra Antica which suited us perfectly. We wanted somewhere we could cook our own food, have access to a swimming pool and a nice view as well as do a wine tasting at a winery. And here we got it all! It ended up being our favourite stop on the honeymoon and Tuscany really is so incredibly beautiful.

I only wish we would have booked a week here in Tuscany for the honeymoon, as three nights went too quickly and I loved just relaxing by the pool without any worries or concerns about where to catch the next train. This was the kind of place I certainly want to visit again. At the same time I’m also so happy we got to see and experience so much on our trip. It would be perfect to return to Terra Antica for a future anniversary trip – or with friends as the villa had several apartments that could be hired all together for exclusive use.

Why include a winery in Tuscany on your Italy honeymoon itinerary?

This was the most romantic itinerary stop on our honeymoon as it was just the two of us in Tuscany’s countryside, relaxing by the pool, eating lovely produce from this area of Italy and trying wines whilst watching the sunset. If you don’t want to travel around during your honeymoon I would definitely recommend just staying somewhere like this for a week or two. It’s also something so special about trying wine in the very place where it was made and the grapes were grown. Of course we also bought both wine, olive oil and balsamico from the winery as a little souvenir. If I could only recommend one honeymoon location, based on our experience, the countryside in Tuscany would be it!

How to get to Tuscany’s countryside from Florence

Renting a car from Florence Airport and driving to Montepulciano

We took the T2 tram from the Florence city centre to the airport which was very straightforward. At the airport we got the shuttle out to the car hire area and picked up our pre-booked car that we were hiring from Sixt. Since I am from Sweden and my husband is from the UK we have a deal that I drive on the right hand side of the road and he drives on the left. So it was my turn to drive us to the countryside, but all went really well.

Where to stay in Tuscany

• Terra Antica Tuscany Living was our pick for our honeymoon since we wanted to stay somewhere a bit more quiet but still have pool access, be able to cook ourselves and also visit the vineyard – from £270 per night
• You can also stay at the main house and Terra Antica resort where the winery is – from £324 per night
• Enjoy a relaxing stay at La Posta Hotel & Thermal Spa – from £277 per night
• Stay at a historic brick villa at this wine resort Villa Svetoni – from £345 per night
• Experience a tuscan castle stay at Castello di Velona Resort, Thermal Spa & Winery – from £423 per night
• Precise Tale Poggio Alla Sala does not just have one swimming pool overlooking the hills in the countryside, but four! – from £579 per night

What not to miss in Tuscany

• Terra Antica winery tour and tasting of their wines made here in Tuscany (come hungry as there is a big plate of pasta included!) and pick up a bottle as a honeymoon souvenir
• Pick up local delicacies from the shops in Montepulciano and arrange a picnic with a view. Or you can book a picnic to be delivered to you from the Terra Antica team.
• Admire the sunsets
• Read a book by the pool
• Pasta and tiramisu cooking class
• Avoid sunstroke and stay hydrated (don’t make the same mistakes I did)
• Just relax and enjoy your time
• Wine tasting at one of the many other wineries near Montepulciano

Verona, Lake Garda and the wine region Valpolicella

Neither me or my husband had been to Verona before. We started looking at visiting the city when we realised that it was in close proximity to both Valpolicella wineries and Lake Garda. Although Tuscany was our main stop on the itinerary on the honeymoon for wine, we were both curious to also visit another wine region in Italy so Valpolicella suited us well. I had always wanted to see one of the big lakes in Italy so Lake Garda was really tempting as well. Instead of making it more complicated and trying to also find accommodation in these locations, we decided to base ourselves for a couple of nights in Verona to have enough time to do day trips which include transport. I’m so glad we chose this as it made everything so easy for us.

We also got really lucky with our timings as there was a Four Seasons Vivaldi concert at the Verona Arena at the same time as we had booked our stay, so we quickly booked tickets so we could see it. What a fantastic venue to see such talented musicians!

Why include Verona and the surrounding area on your Italy honeymoon itinerary?

Although Romeo & Juliet is a tragedy taking place in Verona, the city still makes for a beautiful backdrop for your own love story. It’s small enough to walk everywhere and the city looks really old and charming. Taking the cable car up and admiring the views across the city and the river was just so lovely. I’m so glad we booked Re Teodorico for dinner, as the views from the restaurant were just incredible. A thunder cloud passed in the distance as we had our dinner and looked incredibly dramatic but thankfully we had no rain and could stay at our table.

As I’ve already mentioned Verona is also a great place to stay whilst exploring Lake Garda or Valpolicella on a day trip or as a stop on the way there if you want to stay longer in either of those locations.

How to get to Verona from Tuscany’s countryside

Taking the train from Florence to Verona

• We dropped off the car at the airport and got the tram back into the city centre. Before our train departed from Florence to Verona we also picked up some food on the way. From Verona’s train station you can then get a bus or taxi into the city centre.

Where to stay in Verona

We stayed at an airbnb but I wouldn’t recommend the one we booked since the air conditioner did not work properly and we had issues with the fuses when using the kitchen. Instead these are the hotels below that I wish I would’ve considered.

• Hotel Indigo Verona Grand Hotel Des Arts – from £122 per night
• NH Collection Palazzo Verona – from £177 per night
• Palazzo Monga Boutique Guesthouse – from £252 per night
• Relais Balcone di Giulietta – from £229 per night
• Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amistà – from £313 per night

What not to miss in Verona

• Book a half day or full day tour of Valpolicella wineries
• Do a day trip to Lake Garda and Sirmione with a cruise book the tour here
• Tour or concert at Verona Arena
• See Juliet’s Balcony
• Lunch at Michelin Star Ristorante Il Desco
• Dinner with a view at Re Teodorico

Milan: the last stop of my honeymoon in Italy

So Milan wasn’t initially on our itinerary. However we quickly realised that flying back from Milan was very financially beneficial for us with the timings of our trip. Taking the train from Verona to Milan was super easy as well so we decided to leave our bags at a luggage storage point by the train station and take the opportunity to see the city!

Why include Milan on your Italy honeymoon itinerary?

Italy’s fashion capital is an excellent stop for a stylish city stay, well suited to those wanting to explore some shopping as well as historic landmarks. Milan is also a nice contrast to see in comparison to romantic cities like Florence and Venice, as the city feels a bit more authentic and not just tailored to tourists. Milan has a great food scene and several restaurants with Michelin stars so its also a great spot to treat yourselves to outstanding lunches or dinners.

How to get to Milan from Verona

Taking the train from Verona to Milan (and then from Milan to the airport)

We took the bus back to Verona’s train station and the train to Milan. Since we were only here for the day, we left our bags with a luggage storing company near the airport. Later that day we then also got the express airport train when it was time to head to the airport.

Where to stay in Milan

We ended up just doing a day trip to Milan as we flew back from the Milan Airport in the evening, but it was definitely not enough time to see everything here. So below I have listed the hotels I will consider the next time I come back!

• Stay right by the Duomo at Matilde Boutique Hotel – from £398 per night
• Enjoy boutique charm at Aethos Hotel Milan – from £253 per night
• Stay in style and enjoy a gorgeous rooftop swimming pool at Casa Brera, a Luxury Collection Hotel – from £714 per night
• For traditional luxury you can’t go wrong with the Rocco Forte The Carlton – from £1500 per night

What not to miss in Milano

• See the Duomo and climb the stairs to see the view from the terraces
• Is it sacrilege to mention visiting the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in a country where espresso is nearly holy? It’s like a Disneyland for Starbucks and was actually quite fun to see!
• Admire world famous artworks like Leonardo’s the Last Supper
• Go on a day trip to Lake Como

FAQ – Italy Honeymoon Itinerary

Want to find more inspiration for your trip to Italy?

• Florence in 2 days: best things to see, eat & do on foot
• South Tyrol Travel Guide: 4 Days in Italy’s Alpine paradise
• Aeolian Islands: Italy’s Secret Archipelago of Volcanoes, Wine & Slow Island Living
• The Ultimate 12-Day Road Trip Guide to Lago di Garda
• Castelfalfi Tuscany: a luxury hotel experience & slow living stay