The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Honeymoon in Italy

Last Updated on 26th June 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

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With its rich dramatic landscapes ranging from pastel hued coastal towns to snowcapped peaks, Italy is a dream destination. Indeed, it’s hardly a surprise that so many couples opt to venture to the boot-shaped country for their post wedding getaway. Here’s everything you need to know about planning a honeymoon in Italy!

Nothing like a nice, relaxing trip with your sweeter half once the stress of planning a wedding is gone and you’re both happily married. But to truly enjoy such a trip, some advanced planning ahead is still needed.

Since you will probably be already busy worrying about a million things that need to go right on your wedding day, maybe the time left to organise the perfect honeymoon is not enough. 

This guide is the right tool to plan a fantastic honeymoon in one of Europe’s most beautiful and romantic countries: Italy!

Reasons to Spend a Honeymoon in Italy

A country that seems specially designed for couples and romance, Italy can be the ultimate honeymoon destination. Offering a variety of diverse landscapes and activities to pair with them, you might find inspiration in dreaming of a romantic gondola ride in Venice. 

Or you might love the idea of sharing quality time exploring the vineyards of Tuscany or even strolling ancient cities hand in hand. For the adventurers out there, mountain climbing in the Alps or even skiing in the winter are all distinct possibilities.

Whatever activities you plan during your honeymoon, you’re bound to find the most picturesque sunsets, the most inspiring landscapes, and an utterly relaxing vibe, if that’s what you’re in search of.

And last but not least, let’s not forget the amazing foodie scene. From authentic trattorias to indulging in Aperitivo time, there’s no shortage of mouthwatering culinary experiences to be had in Italy.

Places to see on a honeymoon in Italy

Some special cities in the country perfectly suit a romantic escape and seem to have been made just for couples. Let’s take a look at them and let’s see why these destinations are perfect Italian honeymoon ideas.

Honeymoon in Rome

How long do you need? You’ll want to stay in Rome for 3-5 days. If you’re looking to see a number of museums and attractions, and leave yourself time to rest, as well as take a day trip or two, then you should plan to spend a minimum of 72 hours in the Italian capital. For more ideas on things to do, check out how to spend one day in Rome.

Capital of the country and home to an exciting and mysterious past, Rome can be the perfect Italian destination for your honeymoon. The city is filled with iconic sights ideal for an unforgettable couple’s photo session, for instance. Book your photo shoot here.

Enough to imagine a snapshot of you both at sunset by the Colosseum to get the picture clear. No pun intended! Rome’s quaint cobblestoned alleys, dozens of fountains, and charmingly chaotic vibe come with a fair share of romantic things to do. 

One of the most romantic things to do in Rome is simply having fun together. Learning how to cook a meal like in this class could easily be the first meal you make once you’re back home ready to start life as a married couple! For more inspiration, check out all of the top Rome cooking classes.

You could decide to spend your whole honeymoon in Rome and then fly to another European capital, like romantic Paris or mysterious medieval Prague, or you could decide to just travel to Italy and tour different cities during your stay.

Honeymoon in Venice

How long do you need? You’ll want to stay in Venice for at least a long weekend. If you’re looking to see a number of museums and attractions, and leave yourself time to rest, then you should plan to spend a minimum of 3 days in the area. If you’re shorter on time, then here’s our guide to the perfect one day in Venice.

Who hasn’t imagined a gondola trip under the starry sky of Venice with its better half? I bet you have! In fact, Venice is one of the most popular places in the country for a couple’s holiday, therefore the ideal honeymoon destination in Italy.

The city’s charming canals, endless bridges, and unique architecture offer the perfect background for a relaxing romantic trip. In Venice, you could spend a day exploring the gorgeous island of Murano where you could even learn how to shape a small heart made of Murano glass during a glass blowing demonstration like this one!

Venice is perfect to sit opposite the waterfront by the Grand Canal, indulging in delicious sweets and pastries or just having a cappuccino. Traveling by train to Venice from Milan or Florence can also be quite inspiring. 

You will both adore the landscape you’ll catch through the train window when traveling from the mainland to Venezia Santa Lucia station. Venice also makes for a great base to explore the wider region. Check out some of the best day trips from Venice.

Honeymoon on an Island

How long do you need? Depending on which island you visit will reflect on how long you should opt for your trip to be. While Capri or Ischia can easily be seen over the course of a short few days, Sardinia and Sicily both require a longer trip of around a week in order to truly be savoured.

Capri, Sicily, Sardinia, and even the more off the beaten path island of Ischia… they are all incredibly beautiful destinations if you think about a summer honeymoon by the sea. 

Capri, on the Amalfi coast, is a Mediterranean jewel with marine scenarios that you can enjoy taking an inspiring boat ride, like this visit to the spectacular Blue Grotto, which is famed around the world for its sheer beauty.

Sicily, instead, is ideal for those looking for a more authentic piece of Italy, searching for enchanting villages that give you the feeling of traveling back in time. 

If you and your partner enjoy old traditions and the most authentic village lifestyle, then picking a small settlement in the Sicilian countryside for your honeymoon will be a truly different experience!

Are pristine beaches and endless turquoise seas part of the honeymoon you dream about? Head to Sardinia! Known for hosting some of the most spectacular beaches in the Mediterranean, a romantic escape to Sardinia will be all about swimming, sunbathing, and indulging in delicious, fresh fish every evening.

Finally, Ischia is a magical island that is situated within the Bay of Naples and misses out on much of the press it deserves in favour of its more famous neighbour, that of Capri.

But thanks to more affordable prices, lush green scenery, quaint beach towns, and lovely crystal clear waters, it should not be missed on any trip to southern Italy.

Honeymoon in Florence

How long do you need? You’ll want to stay in Florence for at least a long weekend. If you’re looking to see a number of museums and attractions, and leave yourself time to rest, then you should plan to spend a minimum of 3 days in Firenze and up to a week if you want to truly explore Tuscany.

Two are the best reasons to spend a holiday in Florence: you love to learn about art together or you just adore walking. Florence, the capital of the Renaissance, can be a super inspiring honeymoon destination, full of churches and art museums to explore. 

Besides, Florence is extremely pedestrian-friendly, which makes the city perfect to explore on foot, discovering inspiring hidden sights just around every corner.

Besides, Florence is the birthplace of delicious Italian gelato (depending on who you ask!), as well as the capital of the Tuscany region… combine a short stay in town with a weekend spent on a wine-making farm on the rolling fields of Chianti. Find out how to take a Chianti tour here.

You can learn about the grape harvest, the wine-making methods in Chianti, and the bottling process while sipping a delicious glass of Brunello di Montalcino… don’t doubt it, your honeymoon will be much more than unforgettable! For more inspiration, check out how to spend one day in Florence and also the best day trips from Florence.

Honeymoon in the Cinque Terre

How long do you need? You’ll want to stay in Cinque Terre for 3 or 4 days. If you want to truly see each individual town and village, and leave yourself time to rest, then you should plan to spend a minimum of 3 days in the area.

Liguria is a small, verdant, and hilly region overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, on the eastern coast of Italy.  With terraced vineyards, delicious gastronomy, and endless possibilities for adventure, a hike through the five lands of the Cinque Terre can be extremely fun and utterly romantic. 

Especially when the sunset time arrives and you find sitting together holding hands by the sea in this picture-perfect area of Italy. Those in search of more suggested activities can check out our guide to 2 days in Cinque Terre.

For a more romantic view of the mesmerising coastline and the pastel-coloured houses that dot the hills, why not sail through the Gulf of the Poets admiring the magnificent village of Porto Venere and the island of Palmaria? Discover tour details here.

Honeymoon in Verona

How long do you need? You’ll want to stay in Verona for at least two days. If you’re looking to see a number of museums and attractions, and leave yourself time to rest, then you should plan to spend a minimum of 48 hours in the City of Love. Those short on time can check out our suggested itinerary for one day in Verona.

Not as touristic as Venice, Verona can be a more affordable honeymoon destination and even more romantic than the city of gondolas. This is especially the case if you opt to go outside of Verona’s peak season, which is at a different time of the year to most of the rest of Italy.

You see, the city is particularly popular around Valentine’s Day! Verona has been known for centuries as the city of Romeo and Juliet, and even when we are not even certain that Shakespeare really ever existed, the city is marketed as the city of love… la città dell’amore! 

So you can pretend that both Juliet and Romeo did exist and tour the places related to the story, including the arguably secret place where they would meet every night, Juliet’s balcony. But leaving Shakespeare’s tragedy aside, Verona is a romantic place in its own right. 

Its medieval landscape made of stone bridges and an imposing Arena, its picturesque herbs market, and the alleys lined by endless rows of trees are enough to make you dream of being in the most romantic city on earth. 

Don’t believe me? Take a walking tour like this one down the streets of Verona to see it yourself!

Honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast

How long do you need? You’ll want to stay in the Amalfi Coast for four or five days. If you’re looking to see a number of towns along the stretch of coastline, and leave yourself time to rest, then you should plan to spend a minimum of 4 days in the area. I recommend renting a car if you’re looking to truly discover some of the more hidden gems.

Facing the spectacular Gulf of Sorrento, the small fishing villages scattered along the Amalfi Coast are one more dreamy backdrop. Lemon trees adorn the winding alleys that climb up the hills of these gorgeous settlements. 

You can plan a whole itinerary visiting every village, or pick just the most iconic three of them, Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello for a beautiful time in southern Italy. If you want an extra luxurious time, then you might consider booking a semi-private boat tour of the Amalfi Coastline like this one.

During the trip, you can make daily excursions to Naples to try a mouthwatering Margherita pizza, or even learn how to cook it. Find details about pizza making classes in Naples here.

As an alternative, you could visit the islands on the Gulf of Naples, such as Ischia and Capri, or spend a morning exploring the ruins of Pompeii. Even adrenaline-infused couples can have the time of their lives climbing Mount Vesuvius!

Honeymoon in Milan

How long do you need? You’ll want to stay in Milan for at least two days. If you’re looking to see a number of museums and attractions, and leave yourself time to rest, then you should plan to spend a minimum of 48 hours in Milano.

It might not be the most romantic city in Italy nor the most obvious choice as a honeymoon destination, however, Milan is a modern town where you can pick ideas for your new home! After all, this is the fashion capital of the boot-shaped country.

In fact, Milan is not just the most important fashion city in the country, but also the capital of industrial design, furniture production, and avant-garde ideas. In Milan, you could pick some unique decorative pieces for your new home, and sometimes even have them shipped to your home country for further ease of travel. 

Unique pieces for your kitchen, cutting-edge appliances, or a cute vintage coffee maker are just some of the unique things you can purchase in Milan as a honeymoon souvenir. Other highlights of Milan including seeking out hidden gems and enjoying sunset from the Duomo rooftop terrace.

However, that is not the only reason to choose Milan for a honeymoon. The city is home to an impressive train hub, Milano Centrale, with connections to many important European capitals. Therefore, a weekend in Paris, Berlin, or Bruxelles can be easy to plan while honeymooning in Milan.

Honeymoon in the Alps

How long do you need? How long you should spend in the Alps will depend entirely on the kind of vacation you want to have. If you’re looking to cosy up in a quaint mountain village, then you’ll only need a weekend. And if you want to plan a number of hiking days? Well, the time you’ll need to spend is completely up to you!

Head to the northern portion of the country for a romantic mountain honeymoon. Pick a quaint village at the foothills of the Alps to enjoy the beauty of South Tyrol and the Dolomites. 

Crystal clear lakes, majestic snow-capped peaks, but also delicious Alpine wines, cheeses, and Tyrol-style cakes are some of the ingredients of a honeymoon in the Italian Alps. 

In the end, is there anything more romantic than spending time together in a wooden hut next to the fireplace? As a plus, you could go skiing or snowboarding during winter, or simply enjoy relaxing hikes during spring, when the fields are blossomed and fragrant.

Honeymoon in Lake Como

How long do you need? You’ll want to stay in Lake Como for at least a long weekend. If you’re looking to see a number of towns and soak up the scenery, as well as leave yourself time to rest, then you should plan to spend a minimum of 3 days in the area.

Renting a villa by the Lake could be another great idea for your honeymoon in Italy. Settlements like the enchanting Varenna or the luxurious Bellagio are just a few of the towns you will find while touring the area. 

Considered among the most exclusive resorts in the country, the small city of Como and the several villages around the Lake are perfect to disconnect from the pre-wedding stress and spend time resting and recharging.

Not only the local gastronomy is delicious, but dozens of aristocratic villas with charming English gardens are the most inspiring setting for a honeymoon in Italy.

And if you’re in the mood to move a bit more, there are daily excursions to Lugano like this one, in Switzerland where you can indulge in all the chocolate and cheese that you want!

Best Time to Honeymoon in Italy

The country is great during any time of the year, it all depends on your budget and the activities you both enjoy doing together the most. While cities can be visited all year round, you might want to avoid them during the months of August or July, when the temperatures can be very high. 

During those months, you can choose a coastal town, spend time island hopping in the Mediterranean, or discover the villages on the Amalfi Coast or the Cinque Terre. Alternatively, the lakes of Northern Italy remain cooler all year ’round and are a great place to explore during the summer.

If you prefer to challenge your better half at winter sports or if a honeymoon in a mountain hut tickles your curiosity, anytime from November to February is perfect to be sure that there will be enough snow to hit the ski runs. 

If hiking and trekking are your favorite sports, then the early fall and the beginning of spring promise inspiring scenarios and exciting mountain holidays. The country is varied and diverse thus guaranteeing rich cultural experiences, gastronomic explorations, and exhilarating natural scenarios. 

But, and most of all, Italy is one of the most romantic destinations in the world where you and your partner can make incredible memories to treasure for many years to come.

For even more Italy inspiration, be sure to check out these top quotes about Italy, the best hidden gems of Italy, and the best Italy travel tips.

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Gabi Ancarola is a journalist and travel writer who has lived over 20 years in Italy, and has been living in Crete for the last five years. She hosts culinary tours, translates and writes for her Crete travel blog The Tiny Book. She’s written for Greek Reporter and published several travel guides about Greece.