The first idea for a trip is to sample the big three cities of Venice, Florence and Rome. This gives you a sample of the delights of northern Italy. These three cities are all connected by train on the high-speed AV network. This makes travelling between them quick, easy and enjoyable. This trip is also a potential one for a honeymoon. Depending on the stops chosen you could be visiting three of the most romantic cities in the world. Sampling Venice, Florence and Rome will certainly not be short of romance. There is also the option of extending the vacation at the seaside near Rome. The basic journey provides an excellent trip or honeymoon for all. There are always some additional possibilities. Below are also a few suggestions to include Bologna, the Tuscan countryside or the seaside.
Landing at Venice airport is a great way to start a holiday or a honeymoon. It is one of those cities that most people want to tick off their bucket list. You could spend a month in Venice and still be finding something new to see each day. However, a few days in Venice will get you around the main sights. You will obviously make your own list but these are some of the key sights. St Mark’s Basilica, St Mark’s Square, Palazzo Ducale, Doge’s Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, Rialto Bridge and the Grand Canal.
Although a little expensive a gondola ride is an important part of the experience for many. They are not very quick so don’t use them as a taxi service. The cost of gondola rides are fixed and start at €80 for a 30 minute ride during the day (2024). If you are travelling on a budget I would put that money towards the cost of a nice evening meal. But if you can afford it then it is worth the experience.
After your stay in Venice you can easily take a quick train, about 1 hour 30 minutes, to Bologna. The will easily find main train station in Venice, it is called Venezia Santa Lucia. Once in Bologna you may only want to spend one night there, or bypass it and go straight to Florence. If you do visit Bologna the train station is in the centre of the city, it is called Bologna Centrale. Look for a hotel near the train station, there are plenty around the area. This will make getting to the hotel less stressful and will save you time. Stopping off in Bologna is a great way to see a little more of Italy. Here you can see Piazza Maggiore, the leaning towers of Bologna and San Petronio. If you decide to skip Bologna and travel straight to Florence from Venice it will be an extra 35-40 minutes.
The 35-40 minutes between Bologna to Florence on the high-speed train will allow you to see the Tuscan countryside. Choosing to travel direct from Venice to Florence will be a journey time of around 2 hours 15 minutes. Either way you will arrive in the centre of Florence. The train station in Florence is called Firenze Santa Maria Novella. A few days in Florence will give you enough time to make sure that you see the major attractions. As a world famous historic city there is no shortage of art and architecture on offer. Attractions include the Florence Duomo complex, Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio. You will also sample some excellent local cuisine in the local restaurants, tavernas and trattorias.
You could decide to end your trip in Florence and this would still make a great holiday. If you are not intending to travel to Rome you could take some leisure time in the Tuscan countryside. This would be relaxing after travelling around Venice, Bologna and Florence. If you decide to end your trip in Florence then there is the local airport that you can depart from.
If traveling onto Rome, again on the high-speed AV network, it will take just over 1 hour 30 minutes. The train will arrive in the centre of Rome at Roma Termini. Due to the size of Rome you could be some way from your hotel. There are many hotels near the train station though. Choosing one of these will save time and taxi money. You may however want to stay in a particular area. For example, close to the Vatican. This would be useful if you intend to spend more time in one area of Rome. In the eternal city you will be spoilt for choice of things to see. St Peter’s Basilica, The Vatican Museums, the Colesseum, Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain are among the most popular attractions. The list is simply endless. I have been to Rome many times and there are still things I have left on my list.
After Rome you can take a trip to the seaside. The nearby resort of Anzio is about an hour away by train. This is not served by the AV network so it won’t be as quick or comfortable getting there. After you have finished in Rome, or Anzio, there are two major airports servicing Rome. These are Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci) and Ciampino where you can find many international flight options.
It is possible to complete this trip without the need to take a taxi. You will need to choose the location of your hotels close to the train stations. Especially in Venice and Rome given their size and the location of the train stations. It would also help if you are travelling light for this option. Doing this will obviously save some money so is useful if you are travelling on a budget.
If you are travelling in the summer months I would recommend taking an early morning train. It will be slightly cooler for travelling this way. You can then sit back and enjoy the scenic routes that the train journeys offer. Most hotels will allow you to drop off your bags if you arrive in the city before the check-in time. If you email the hotel in advance before booking they will let you know if this is an option.
My advice on the number of nights would be as follows. 2-3 nights in Venice, 1 night in Bologna, 2 nights in Florence and 2-3 nights in Rome. Add to this a few days by the sea in Anzio for some rest and fine seafood. After this you will have had a great 2 week break. In doing so you will have sampled some of the best Italy has to offer. A great thing with this trip is that it’s possible in under 6 hours of train time. This includes going to and from Anzio. If you don’t intend to go to the beach it’s around 3 hours 45 minutes on the train.