There are few destinations in the world that stir up such romantic feelings as Italy. From the elegant moonlit canals of Venice to the pastoral beauty of rural Tuscany, Italy has some of the most beloved destinations for Indians who are planning their very own dream honeymoon. Italy increasingly is becoming a popular destination for Indians for getting married and also as a honeymoon destination. One of the reasons is because very famous Indians like Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukherjee and Aditya Chopra got married in Italy in recent years.
Italy is a very diverse country which means you can choose a honeymoon that takes in the amazing cultural attractions of the cities or, if you prefer, you can opt for a quiet retreat away from the busy touristy hotspots.
The Best Time To Visit Italy For Your Honeymoon.
Italy is a year-round destination and even though the weather is much warmer during the summer the winters are not cold enough to stop you enjoying yourself.
The summer months in Italy are the high tourist season with millions of Europeans visiting the country on their holidays. This means that during the summer hotel prices and flights are more expensive but you will be guaranteed lovely sunny weather.
On the other hand, if you’d prefer to visit during the low season, then you can benefit from cheaper flights and hotels as well as avoid the main crowds of tourists.
Winter in Italy, especially in the cities, is very romantic. There are Christmas markets to visit and if you’re lucky it might even snow! The weather during the winter is not intolerably cold and so as long as you bring a warm jacket, hat and scarf, you’ll be absolutely fine, especially if you are planning to spend most of your time indoors in the local museums and galleries.
The following are some of the most popular destinations for a honeymoon in Italy. NOTE: You can go to Viator.com and search look for the tours I have mentioned below:
Florence And Tuscany.
Florence is a short distance away from where I live (Volterra). Whenever I am in Florence, I see a lot of tourists from India. Florence is the quintessential Italian Renaissance city and has been the setting for countless blockbuster classics including, to name just a few, Room With A View and the historical drama, La Meglio Gioventù. And it’s no wonder! The spectacular architecture, dominated by the impressive Firenze Duomo, the winding cobblestone streets and the riverside restaurants and bars all make for an amazing backdrop for any movie or, for that matter, honeymoon.
As the capital of Tuscany and the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, Florence is awash with world-famous galleries such as the Uffizi Gallery, where you can see Michelangelo’s statue of David, as well as independent boutique stores, traditional restaurants and fantastic hotels to suit all budgets. There’s plenty to do in Florence during your honeymoon. For instance, you can join a small group tour of the Uffizi Gallery to see some of the city’s most treasured works of art, take a day trip to see Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa and have lunch at Tuscan winery or even join a fun pasta making class.
Of course, you can also explore the city on your own, enjoy a picnic in one of the city’s many parks or spend a day shopping in the trendy San Spirito district of the city. In the evening, you can take a cruise down the River Arno before dinner and when it comes time to eat you’re absolutely spoiled for choice!
All in all, Florence is an ideal city to visit during your honeymoon. Incredibly romantic, full of fascinating art and culture and just a stone’s throw away from the magnificent Tuscan countryside, Florence has everything that any honeymooning couple could ever wish for.
Milan.
Milan and it’s suburbs has the most number of Indians in Italy. Italy by the way has the second largest Indian population in Western Europe, after the United Kingdom. Milan is elegant, chic and stylish and has the well-deserved reputation of being Italy’s fashion capital. This makes Milan the ultimate destination for Indian honeymooners to immerse themselves in high fashion glamor – visiting high-end boutiques and fashion houses such as Gucci, Moschino and Versace among others.
The finest shopping streets are undoubtedly the Via Montenapoleone and the Via della Spiga but Milan also has a number of excellent markets that sell jewelry, clothes, antiques and more. But it’s not just shopping in Milan because the city boasts a fascinating cultural heritage that includes many of Italy’s most iconic achievements.
For example, no visit to Milan would be complete without visiting Leonard Da Vinci’s The Last Supper painting, a true masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance. If you’d like to learn more about the art and scientific inventions of Da Vinci you can spend a morning wandering around the Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia Leonardo Da Vinci which houses the most extensive exhibits of the great artist’s work.
Milan is also well known for its Gothic Cathedral which has more than 130 spires! You can join a guided tour of the Milan Cathedral to learn more about the history of the cathedral which actually took more than 600 years to build! For a more pastoral day trip, you can join a tour of Lake Como and Bellagio which includes a private boat cruise on the lake.
Milan has superb city-center hotels and apartments that make the ideal accommodation for honeymooning Indians with great access to local attractions and easy links to the airport. Exciting, glamorous and the home of high fashion, Milan is a great destination for Indian newlyweds who are looking for a unique place to celebrate their honeymoon together.
Rome.
Rome, also known as the Eternal City, is an incomparable honeymoon destination for Indian couples who want to discover the depth and diversity of Italy’s ancient past. Staying in the city’s historic center can feel as though you’re walking around an open-air museum with an abundance of important monuments, ruins and museums, all within a short distance of one another.
During your Roman honeymoon, you can join a tour of the Colosseum and take a twilight food tour of Trastevere, the city’s most popular Bohemian district that is full of unique restaurants, taverns, bars and boutique eateries. Naturally, while you’re honeymooning in Rome you should make time to take a guided tour of the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel, perhaps the city’s most famous monuments and the very heart of world Catholicism, the main religion of Italy.
Rome has a plethora of hotels, hostels and apartments which you can stay in during your honeymoon that range from ultra-luxury to modest budget alternatives. However, when selecting your accommodation it’s worth staying as close to the historic center as you can because then you can easily walk from the hotel to see many of Rome’s top sites without needing to use public transport or taxis.
Sorrento.
Located in Southwestern Italy, in Campania, Sorrento is a lovely coastal town that is situated on high cliffs with spectacular views of the Gulf of Naples and Mount Vesuvius. With cafe-lined piazzas, historic alleys and attractions including the 14th Century Chiesa di San Francesco, Sorrento is one of Italy’s most exclusive honeymoon destinations.
While you’re in Sorrento you should certainly set aside plenty of time to relax beside the pool in your hotel and take in the marvelous sea views but there’s also a lot to explore in the surrounding areas. For example, you can take a full day trip to visit the ruins of Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius, take a boat tour to see Capri and the famous Blue Grotto or join a guided tour along the Amalfi coast, stopping off at Positano, Amalfi and Ravello.
Sorrento is well known for its fresh seafood and luxury resort atmosphere so it makes a wonderful choice for an unforgettable honeymoon. Accommodation can be a little on the expensive side but if you visit on the shoulders of the high season you can get some great deals and avoid the main summer crowds while still enjoying warm, sunny weather.
Positano.
This coastal village on the Amalfi Coast is just a short ferry ride from Sorrento and has a picturesque pebble beach and steep cobblestone streets that lead up to the village. Positano is ideal if you’d like to get away from the hustle and bustle of the cities and enjoy some quiet time together on your Italian honeymoon.
There’s lots to do in and around Positano, including hiking along the coastal trails, relaxing on the beach, sampling the local cuisine or visiting the area’s attractions. If you’d like to go hiking you can head up to the nearby Walk of the Gods trail, known locally as the Sentiero Degli Dei. The trail is about 5 miles and takes you up along the cliffs of the Tyrrhenian coastline. You don’t need to be incredibly fit to complete the trail and if you want to stop along the way then it’s well worth bringing along a picnic! For a more leisurely excursion, you can visit the Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta in Positano, a stunning 12 Century medieval church and underground crypt.
Positano has a surprisingly wide range of local restaurants considering the town’s size and mainly specializes in seafood and Mediterranean cuisine. There’s also a great choice of hotels in and around Positano and plenty of stunning beaches to explore. So if you’re looking for a quiet, relaxing and tranquil destination for your Italian honeymoon then look no further than Positano.
Venice.
Truly the city of love, Venice is one of Italy’s most romantic destinations for honeymooning Indians. With iconic Gondolas floating through the canals, astounding Byzantine architectural masterpieces such as Saint Mark’s Basilica and magnificent galleries such as the Guggenheim Gallery, Venice is a genuine cultural treasure trove.
Venice has a great deal to offer newlyweds who want to explore the city’s diverse heritage. For example, if you’d like to see some of the top attractions in a single day you can jump on board the Venice in a Day tour that includes stops at Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Doges Palace before finishing the trip with a Gondola ride down the Grand Canal. Alternatively, you can visit the beautiful islands of Murano and Burano on a private boat tour or join a walking food tour to discover the best of Venetian cuisine.
Quiet Gondola rides with your partner, amazing seafood and hotels nestled amongst the picture-perfect scenery – Venice should be right at the top of your list for potential honeymoon destinations! Venice has excellent transport links to the rest of Italy which makes it easy to get there from India and with such a wealth of art, cuisine and beauty to explore you can be sure of a honeymoon to remember.
Perfect Itinerary For Indians Taking A Honeymoon In Italy.
If you’d like to visit more than one place during your honeymoon then there are a million different ways that you can plan your itinerary! However, to help get you started we’ve laid a brief overview of one potential itinerary for Indians honeymooning in Italy.
Italy has top quality domestic transport links so getting around the country is not only easy but very enjoyable, particularly if you take the intercity trains on which you can have a bite to eat while watching the scenery race by. On the other hand, if you want to save time, all the major cities are connected by airlines and allow you to hop from one city to another in a few short hours.
Fly into Milan – It’s a good idea to start your honeymoon in Milan. Flights to Milan are cheaper than to Rome or other major cities and you’ll be well-positioned for your onward travels. Spend a few days in Milan to check out the shopping districts, visit the Duomo and see The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci.
Travel Onwards To Florence – After Milan, you can travel onwards to Florence by jumping on a high speed Frecciarossa train that will cover the distance in about 2 hours. Stay in central Florence and discover the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, have dinner in a traditional restaurant beside the River Arno and visit the world-famous Uffizi Gallery to see Michelangelo’s statue of David.
Take A Train To Rome – The next stop on your itinerary is Rome, Italy’s ancient capital city. It’s best to catch a train from Florence to Rome since it only takes around 1 hour 30 minutes and drops you off right in the center of town. It’s worth allowing at least a few days in Rome to give yourself time to see the main attractions without feeling rushed off your feet.
Visit Sorrento – Once you’ve seen Rome, you can continue your dream honeymoon by traveling onwards to Sorrento. You’ll need to catch a train from Rome Termini, the city’s main train station, to Naples before changing to a regional train for the last leg of the 2 hours 30-minute journey. As you leave Rome you’ll be astounded by the beautiful scenery which only gets better as you get closer to the coastal town of Sorrento.
Catch A Ferry To Positano – While you’re in Sorrento you simply must visit the nearby town of Positano. You can take a ferry ride along the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento directly to Positano. The ferry takes less than an hour to reach Positano but you’ll have plenty of photo opportunities to capture the spectacular coastal scenery along the way.
Finish Your Honeymoon In Venice – Lastly, to complete the Italian honeymoon you can take a train from Sorrento to Venice. The ride takes just over 5 hours and takes you through some of the nicest scenery in the country. As you approach Venice your heart will be racing as you see the city of love come into view.
Italy Is The Perfect Destination For Indian Honeymooners.
Italy is one of the most romantic countries in the world and has a massive range of towns and cities to explore. You can either stay in one place or create an itinerary that takes you to multiple stops, depending on the pace you want to set for your visit to Italy. There’s amazing cuisine and fantastic wines to try wherever you stay and innumerable cultural attractions for newlywed Indians to discover in Italy.
