Italy Honeymoon...?

Question

We are going to be honeymooning in Italy mid Sept. We will be visiting Venice, Florence, and Rome. We want to make the most of our trip so if anyone has any advice on what sites to see, where to eat etc..that would be great. We've heard a lot of things are in walking distance but some people have told us to buy bus passes also. Is that necessary? Also do we need to book every attraction ahead of time? Not sure if Sept. is a busy month or not. Any advice, tips, or info on Italy would be greatly appeciated!! Thank you!

Answer 1

It depends on how conveniently your hotel is located. Walking around in an historical center is just part of the fun (and by no means the least), not merely a way to relocate from attraction to attraction. Florence historical center is very compact, in Venice not much so but everything is worth seeing,  walking is almost the only option and getting lost is the best way to move around (may be you can take some vaporetto ride when you're tired), in Rome you could consider buying bus/metro tickets to go to some specific places rather than a day pass. Taxis are expensive and hard to find. September is still quite busy, booking in advance is always recommended

Answer 2

What a great honeymoon!

If you haven't got a package deal, I would book hotels ahead of time, it's easy to do on the internet (for Italy, I like venere.com).  This allows you to budget, figure out exactly where you will be, and really plan ahead.

I would not think booking attractions ahead of time is critical for September, but you should check ahead on the internet for when they are open.  Things that everyone wants to see (for example, the Sistine Chapel in Rome) may only be open at limited times, and you need to plan ahead to see them.  Go with the web site recommendation.  If they suggest you must book ahead, it would be a good idea to do it.

We usually drive, so I can't tell you a lot about bus passes.  I would not worry about it in Venice -- take the boats and walk there, you can see anything you need to.

In Rome and Florence, you won't be able to walk to everywhere you might want to go (especially in Rome).  Of course, it depends on where you are staying.

My suggestion would be to splurge on a couple of taxi rides to the "hub" of the most interesting part, and then walk.  If budgeting is a big deal, you don't have to see all the stuff that's further away -- save that for your 25th anniverary!

We like to eat in small local restaurants (trattorias and such), and stay away from tourist places.  If you want to have one really nice dinner out, ask at your hotel, and make it clear both what your price range is, and whether you want a traditional place or some place with an international clientele.

About September being a busy month:  it is not as touristy as months when kids are out of school, but it is a really lovely month weather-wise, so it can be crowded.

You should get a good city map and a good English guide book (the map may be in the guide book) for each of the three cities.  You should be able to do this at a Borders or Barnes and Noble book store.  It may be a bit late to do it on the internet.  All three cities have a lot of stuff to see, and which things you'll chose is pretty personal.  I love St. Mark's square in Venice, and all the sights there, but I also like to just walk around in regular neighborhoods.  In Florence, there is lots of great art, but if the main sites are crowded with tourists, there are other places to go.  Having a good guide book allows you to plan day by day.