Last Updated on March 24, 2026 by Lauren Belzer Sanford
When Max and I sat down to plan our honeymoon, we were genuinely overwhelmed by the options. Given that our wedding was a destination wedding in Puglia, we knew we’d continue somewhere in Europe directly after — it was just a matter of where and for how long. Neither of us had fully explored Europe together, which is why the decision felt so loaded.
I’d been to Italy in 2019 with my family, and to Spain and Portugal in 2023 with my parents and younger sister. Max had been to Italy with his family in 2019 as well. But neither of us had been anywhere in Europe together — and that felt significant.
After conversations with family, friends, and a beloved former professor who spends part of the year in Umbria, we decided to stay in Italy and do it entirely our way. On our previous family trips, we’d done the history tours, the museums, the guided everything — and this time, we wanted to slow down, eat well, drink better, and actually live in the places we were visiting. La Dolce Vita, start to finish.
This is our full Italy honeymoon itinerary: 12 days, four destinations, and more Spaghetti alle Vongole than I’d care to admit.
At a Glance
- Length: 12 days (11 nights)
- Route: Puglia → Positano → Florence → Rome
- Vibe: Slow, sun-soaked, and deeply Italian
- Why Italy: It’s where we got married — why would we leave?
Puglia – 3 Days
If you’re a destination wedding couple, I could not recommend spending 2-3 more nights in your chosen wedding destination. It was truly a game-changer!
Day 1: Ostuni — Arriving at Masseria Santo Scalone
We spent three more nights in Puglia following our wedding, based in the southern Ostuni area near Carovigno. Everyone who had done a destination wedding before us said the same thing: stay put for a few days afterward. You’ll be exhausted, you’ll be emotional, and you will not want to go anywhere. They were right on all counts — and I’m so glad we listened.
Where we stayed: Masseria Santo Scalone — a beautifully restored fortified masseria and one of the oldest buildings in the Ostuni area. We found it on Instagram and couldn’t believe our luck. The architecture, the stone interiors, the private patio outside our room — it was everything. Read my full stay review here. Or consider one of the best vacation rentals in Ostuni for a more local feel.
Our first day was spent almost entirely on the property. We napped, sat on the patio, watched the afternoon light change over the olive trees, and booked ourselves into a four-course private gourmet dinner with the chef that evening — complete with a bottle of wine. It was the best possible way to begin the honeymoon.
Day 2: Ostuni — A Day at the Pool
We did not leave the masseria on day two, and we have zero regrets about it. Breakfast, pool, lunch at the restaurant (Spaghetti alle Vongole, the first of many), another nap, another evening on the patio. Max found a last-minute reservation at nearby Masseria Valentina for dinner at their restaurant, Nonno Vittorio — prosecco on bean bags in the garden, fried baby octopus, and a perfect pesto pasta. It was one of the most effortlessly wonderful dinners of the entire trip.
If you want to explore the area around Ostuni with a guide, Viator has a wonderful selection of Puglia walking tours and day trips worth looking into before you go.
Day 3: Lecce
We set out to see the “Florence of the South” and its intricate Baroque architecture, and it delivered entirely on charm. It was also extraordinarily hot — the kind of heat where you dart from one patch of shade to the next. We wandered slowly, ducked into a restaurant for Spaghetti alle Vongole and spritzes, marveled at the Baroque facades, and eventually made our way back to Scalone earlier than planned. Even in the heat, Lecce was worth the trip.
Pro tip: Drop off your rental car the evening before you leave Puglia, not the morning of your departure. For first-time drivers in Europe, building in that buffer removes a surprising amount of stress.
For more on the region, my guide to things to do in Puglia and the 5 most beautiful cities in Puglia are worth bookmarking before you go.
Top Experiences in Ostuni
Amalfi Coast – 3 Days
After we checked out, it was time to head to our second stop on the Italian honeymoon tour! We went back and forth on visiting the Amalfi Coast for what felt like forever. But we finally decided to “send it,” as they say.
Day 4: Positano
There are a few different ways to get to the Amalfi Coast from Puglia, but after exploring our options, we decided that an 11:20 AM flight from BRI to NAP was the best option for us. We didn’t want to sit in a car (transfer or rental) or take a bus for 4.5+ hours, and all of the train routes we found (we were late to the game) would take 6.5 hours or more with multiple changes.
And if you’ve been to the Amalfi Coast, you know that driving is not the best time, so we splurged on a private transfer from Amalfi Coast Dream Tours, who took us about a 1.5-hour drive down to Positano to our hotel.
Where We Stayed: Hotel Buca di Bacco
The hotel we booked, Hotel Buca di Bacco, is just on top of the main beach in Positano, Spiaggia Grande, also known as Marina Grande. Given I had stayed outside of one of the “main” towns in the Amalfi Coast before, and Max had never been, we decided to stay in Positano for a bit more to maximize our time since we were only going to do three nights.
Hotel Buca di Bacco is lovely. The staff members are so kind. They have their very own bar and restaurant. And the views! It truly did not bother us that they did not have a pool because, 1. It’s right over the beach with easy access to the sea, and 2. We were only there for three nights with a relatively packed itinerary. Had we stayed in the Amalfi Coast longer with more downtime, we might have wanted to bounce to a second hotel along the coast. But for our short, it could not have been better!
Check availability at Hotel Buca di Bacco or browse other Positano hotels on Booking.com →
Day 5: Capri
We ended up booking a boat tour to Capri for just the two of us. It was wonderful, and in my opinion, much better than just taking a ferry over to the island. We wanted the best of both worlds: a boat day and a little bit of time on the Island of Capri, and we got just that!
After doing my research, I was able to find possibly the most affordable option for a private boat tour to Capri in June. Our captain, Giuseppe, showed us around on the water, gave us a restaurant recommendation in Marina Piccola, and let us spend a little bit of time exploring the island before giving us a view of the Faraglioni on the way back to Positano.
Browse Amalfi Coast boat tours on Viator →
We got back with plenty of time to get ready and walk up the mountain to our dinner reservation at Da Vincenzo, a staple since 1958 and known to have one of the best Vongole dishes in Positano. It was lovely!
Top Experiences in Capri
Day 6: Positano
Our final day in Positano was met with dark skies, raindrops, and the sound of rolling thunder as our alarm clock. We were a bit nervous that it wouldn’t clear up, given we had booked two front-row beach loungers at L’Incanto Beach Club. Luckily, the storm cleared and we were able to enjoy the afternoon at the beach, complete with lunch from their restaurant.
Originally, we were considering booking a beach experience at La Scogliera Positano or L’Incanto’s premium beach experience, Zighy Beach. They are quite expensive, so we ultimately decided against it, given that we opted for the private boat the day before. This was honestly the best decision for us on this trip, though we’d definitely like to give a more elevated Amalfi Coast Beach club a go down the line.
For the final evening of our quick stop in Positano, we met up with our friends Cole & Becca, who headed over to the Tyrrhenian coast following our wedding. It was such a fun, simple night! We ordered takeaway pizza from Saraceno d’Oro way up on the hill, stopped at a wine shop to grab some Prosecco and red wine, and ate our pizzas along the water until it was time to go our separate ways!
Top Experiences in Positano
Florence – 4 Days
After the stunning Amalfi Coast, it was time to head to our next destination. Firenze! Despite having a 12:15 train, we still had our Amalfi Coast Dream Tours return driver pick us up in Positano around 9:00 AM in case of traffic, so we could get to Napoli Centrale early. We took a high-speed train booked via Italo from Napoli Centrale to Firenze Santa Maria Novella (appx. 2.5 hours), and then walked a short distance to our hotel!
Day 7: Florence
We arrived in Florence from Naples around 3:15 PM. This was honestly perfect timing so that we could get to our hotel, check in, freshen up, and head out to explore my favorite city and catch the beginning of the sunset on the Arno before walking over to the best dinner we had in Florence at Ristorante Buca Mario. Their lasagna might be the best I’ve ever had!
Where We Stayed: Stella d’Italia
Our chosen hotel in Florence was Stella d’Italia, a 16th-century palazzo right in the heart of the city, located on the famed Via Tornabuoni. Although Florence overall is a very walkable city, the location of Stella d’Italia was so perfectly central that we could get to any of Florence’s main attractions in no time!
The rooms here were so full of character, and it was a very comfortable stay. The breakfast was a simple buffet (with the option to purchase additional items like eggs, etc.), the staff was lovely, and it was the perfect place to retreat to after long days of exploring in Italian summer heat!
Search boutique hotels in Florence on Booking.com →
Day 8: Florence
Our first full day in Florence was absolutely packed. Looking back on it, we did so much! We got going on our sightseeing and exploring relatively early because it was extremely toasty and only getting hotter.
I wanted Max to be able to see the views of Florence from the Piazzale Michelangelo before the peak heat of the day, so we set off right away. We saw the famous Duomo every day, because how could you not! We walked by it a few times on the way to other spots, stopped by just to marvel at it a couple of times, and we saw it from various elevated viewpoints. It truly is a sight to be seen!
For lunch, we decided on a Florentine staple: a panino (sandwich)! There are a few different options throughout the city, but our choice was Schiacciateria De’ Neri 18r. They were insanely delicious – quite easily the best sandwich I’ve ever had!
We also got gelato just across the way at Gelateria dei Neri to cool off. The passion fruit and melon flavors were our favorites (we also ended up going back here another time, too)!
After exploring the Florentine streets a bit, we decided it was time to cool off and enjoy a mid-afternoon cocktail. As a boutique hotel enthusiast, I really wanted to see The Place Firenze. Lucky for us, their bar was open to enjoy some lovely cocktails and a snack in some air conditioning. The hotel is immaculate and perfectly positioned by the Piazza Santa Maria Novella. The staff was incredibly nice, too!
After our pit stop at The Place, we meandered around the city, got a quick shot of espresso to keep us going at the counter at Caffè Gilli, and then moved on to our next stop on our impromptu drinking tour of Florence. I had done some research on wine bars and enotecas I wanted to visit, and Enoteca Bellini was not too far away from our hotel. It’s very small, so not knowing how busy it could get, we showed up right when they opened.
For dinner, I had made an advanced reservation at one of Florence’s hottest restaurants: La Giostra. It is so cozy, and the food is wonderful. Yes, it’s become “trendy” on TikTok and Instagram, but for good reason. Pro Tip: Get the pear ravioli!
Day 9: Tuscany
No trip to Florence would be complete without at least heading out of the city and into the rolling hills for a Tuscan wine tasting! Any trip I take has to include some form of wine enjoyment, whether it’s at a cozy wine bar or exploring a new winery! We booked a 10:30 AM tour and tasting experience at Poggio Torselli, roughly a 20-30 minute taxi ride just southwest of Florence in San Casciano in Val di Pesa. They are known for their small-production Chianti Classico, and it is wonderful!
It was the perfect late morning, and left us with enough time to go back to Schiacciateria De’ Neri 18r and Gelateria dei Neri for another late lunch panino and gelato before freshening up for the evening back at Stella d’Italia. But, before we headed back to the hotel, we did some fun but extra touristy things: stood in a long line for affogato at Vivoli and scouted out some wine windows for post-dinner (and the next day).
After a quick aperitivo at the rooftop bar at IL Tornabuoni Hotel (a few doors over from Stella d’Italia), we walked to our dinner location at Trattoria Marione al Trebbio, a spot my family and I visited back in 2019. We even had a little bit of time beforehand to grab a crisp glass of white wine at their very own enoteca, Enoteca Marione. We then finished the night with a stroll to a couple of Florence’s famous wine windows, where we got a glass of wine to top off the evening! It was very much a drinking and eating type of day, the best way to experience Florence (and Tuscany), in my opinion!
Top Experiences in Florence
Day 10: Florence
Our last full day was spent walking around the city: no plans or reservations, and making lots of split-second decisions! We walked around Piazza della Signoria a bit more, stopping in for a quick espresso at Gucci Giardino’s caffé. Then we spent the rest of the day walking around, getting lost down shaded city streets, and stopping at any wine window we could find. Our favorite was ironically one of the closest wine windows to our hotel: Cafe Odeon. When it was time for lunch, we walked into Trattoria 13 Gobbi – they are known for their Rigatoni, and it was delicious.
It quickly turned into another day of drinking and snacking our way through Florence, stopping at Giacosa 1815 – a stylish place that specializes in Negronis (Max’s favorite) – for a drink. From there, we took a stroll across the Ponte Vecchio to a wine bar that had been on my list for a long time: Il Santino. It was so small and quaint, the wine options were wonderful, the crostinis were amazing, and the staff was so nice! Truly a highlight of our time in Florence!
We then ended the night with one last sunset spritz along the Arno, and Max’s final restaurant find, Osteria delle Tre Panche, a rooftop spot that gave us the prettiest farewell view of the Duomo lit up in the night sky. It’s always so special to visit somewhere you love so much, with a little bit of familiarity rushing back in. But it was extra special to see this city through Max’s eyes since it was his first time!
For everything we ate in Florence — with a little more detail on each spot and what to order — it’s all in my Florence restaurant guide.
Rome – 2 Days
I wish we had more time, but we decided not to stay through the next weekend since we had been in Italy since the beginning of the month. Regardless, we were still able to have a fun and memorable final two nights of the honeymoon in Rome!
Day 11: Rome
Saying goodbye to Florence is never easy, but we hopped on our final train and arrived at Roma Termini station midday. We probably should have taxied, but we opted to walk in the scorching Roman heat to our hotel in the Monti neighborhood. Luckily, it was mostly downhill!
Where We Stayed: Casa Monti Roma
On our first (separate) trips to Rome, Max and I stayed in different areas, and neither of us was in the Monti neighborhood. I actually came across Casa Monti, a five-star boutique hotel that opened in 2024, on Instagram, because I follow their two French sister properties. I loved the eclectic, artsy vibe of the hotel – and we wanted to end our honeymoon with a little piece of luxury!
Browse boutique hotels in Rome’s Monti neighborhood and beyond on Booking.com →
We ended up walking around the corner and down the street to see the Colosseum, then kept walking all the way to the Trastevere neighborhood, where we explored a bit, then enjoyed dinner back at Casa Monti to end our half-day in the Eternal City.
Top Experiences in Rome
Day 12: Rome
On our final day in Rome, we decided to hit as many monuments as we could, together. We saw the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, the Spanish Steps…we saw all the hot spots!
After our sightseeing ended in Piazza Navona, we strolled not too far for a delicious and refreshing passionfruit spritz at Mimì e Cocò before we wandered right down the same street for a light lunch of cold cuts & cheese and a lovely Apulian rosé at Enoteca Cul de Sac. The perfect final nod to the region that brought us to Italy in the first place!
Departure
We headed to the airport in a private transfer that Casa Monti helped us arrange for our departure day morning, for our mid-day flight back home to LAX. We left Italy, hearts (and camera rolls) full of the best memories we will ever make just the two of us. But the best is yet to come!
What I Packed for Our Honeymoon
Since we were in Italy for a total of 23 days, 8 ahead of our 3-day destination wedding, and then a 12-day honeymoon, I had to get really strategic with how to pack. I found a couple of staple pieces like simple shirts, pants, and accessories to rewear and mix and match. I had a little fun with some dresses, too! Rewearing was truly the name of the game on this trip – thank God for travel-sized fabric spray!
Here’s a quick look at some of what I packed for the trip →
Final Thoughts on Our Italy Honeymoon Itinerary
I loved our honeymoon, but no trip (from planning to being there) is without its imperfections! Here are a few things Max & I agreed that we would do differently if we had to plan it again:
Stay Longer – You Only Get One Honeymoon!
I know this sounds insane because we were already in Italy for 3.5 weeks, but we wish we had just stayed through that final weekend to have 3-4 more days of Italian magic. And we wish we had added those extra days to Puglia. Yes, we were there for 11 days total, but we truly could not get enough of this amazing region. I was beyond sad when we had to leave.
Start Planning Early
Destination brides (and grooms), if there is any piece of advice I could give you, it’s to plot out some time early on to plan out your honeymoon.
In our defense, working full-time jobs while planning a destination wedding and honeymoon, and trying to have a social life at the same time, is not an easy feat. We left a lot of honeymoon planning until about 2.5 months before, maybe even later.
In hindsight, had we planned earlier, we might have been able to find better deals on hotels, etc., or more optionality, but we like to think everything happens for a reason, and that our honeymoon was meant to be exactly this way! Destination brides (and grooms), if there is any piece of advice I could give you, it’s to plot out some time early on to plan out your honeymoon. As an anxiety-ridden individual, it probably would have relieved a lot of stress, though, to have had our honeymoon plans locked and loaded much, much earlier.
Plan Your Own Italy Honeymoon Itinerary
- Book Italy Hotels: Search available stays by city on Booking.com → Puglia | Positano | Florence | Rome
- Experiences: Top-rated Italy tours on Viator → Amalfi Coast boat tours | Florence food & wine tours | Rome Vatican skip-the-line tours
- Flights to Italy: Search flights to Rome (FCO), Florence (FLR), or Bari (BRI)
- What to Pack: Check out my Italy honeymoon packing list →
Want help planning yours? I offer Italy honeymoon itinerary planning to select clients. Inquire here →
Overall, our Italy honeymoon itinerary took us exactly where we needed to be. We still have places on our list that we’d like to check off, so we can’t wait to return and explore new spots someday soon! This is a trip that we will remember forever!