Venice Honeymoon:
7 Days of Romance, Luxury & Secluded Islands

Day 1

Arrival in Giudecca – Settle Into Secluded Luxury

Where You’ll Stay

Belmond Hotel Cipriani

Set on the secluded Giudecca Island, just a 4-minute private boat ride from St. Mark’s Square, the Cipriani offers what no city-center palace can: space to breathe and front-row views of Venice without the noise. It’s close enough to gaze at Venice’s landmarks across the water, yet far enough to shield you from the hurried footfall of crowds. That delicate balance between access and privacy is exactly what sets the Belmond Cipriani honeymoon experience apart.

Legendary guests, from George Clooney and Sophia Loren to royals and writers, have passed through its vine-draped gardens and sunlit balconies, not just for its status, but for the way it makes you feel. Because here, luxury is not loud. It’s in the stillness of a private terrace at sunrise. The weight of 400-thread-count Italian linens. The way the maître d’ remembers your name after just one meal.

The rooms and suites, some with private plunge pools, others with sweeping lagoon views, are dressed in Fortuny fabrics and hand-blown Murano chandeliers. Everything has been curated with Old World grace and modern indulgence in mind. In a world of uniform hotel chains, Cipriani stands as a singular masterpiece. But what truly defines the Cipriani as the top honeymoon hotel in Venice is what it protects. Time slows here. Privacy is honoured. Service is intuitive without being intrusive. And that’s precisely why honeymooners choose Cipriani; to celebrate love, to cocoon it, preserve it, and let it flourish away from the world’s gaze.

So yes, you can visit Venice like a traveler. Or you can experience it like an insider, an artist, a dreamer in love. The Belmond Hotel Cipriani offers this rare gateway to the feeling of Venice. Romantic. Eternal. Unrivaled.

Midday

Your romantic escape begins the moment you arrive in Venice. From the Venice Marco Polo Airport or Santa Lucia Train Station, a private water taxi transfer that is sleek and utterly cinematic, glides you away from the mainland and into a world reserved for lovers. As the boat carves through the glittering lagoon, the crowds dissolve behind you. In their place: Giudecca Island, a peaceful and authentic slice of Venice, reserved for those in search of refined intimacy. Waiting at the dock is your home for the next seven days; Belmond Hotel Cipriani, one of the world’s most iconic luxury honeymoon hotels in Venice.

You're welcomed into a waterfront suite. There, the atmosphere is airy, light-drenched, with panoramic views over the canals and lush gardens. This is a sanctuary of five-star Italian elegance, where Murano glass chandeliers and silk-draped windows are the norm and every corner whispers amore.

Afternoon

After settling in, allow yourselves a slow afternoon to breathe in the rhythm of Venetian island life. Step outside the hotel gates and take a sun-dappled stroll along Giudecca’s waterfront promenade. Take it all in as local artisans hang laundry above cobbled alleys and the soft hums of the gondolier to himself. Pause at charming viewpoints that frame Venice’s skyline across the water and notice how church domes pierce the clouds and golden light hits terracotta rooftops just so. There’s no rush, take your time to soak in the pleasure of discovering a quieter side of the city that feels yours alone.

Evening

As the sun begins to dip into the Adriatic, return to the hotel’s terrace for aperitivo hour; a Cipriani signature. Perched on the edge of the water, the Cipriani’s terrace offers sweeping, unobstructed views across the Venetian Lagoon. You’re handed a Bellini, the iconic peach-and-prosecco cocktail that was invented at Harry’s Bar by Giuseppe Cipriani in 1948, a namesake legacy still honored in every pour. The cocktail is simple, yet sublime: white peach purée that is velvety, fragrant, and sweet, folded into crisp, cold prosecco.

Dinner tonight is nothing short of unforgettable. Step into Oro Restaurant, the hotel’s Michelin-starred fine dining experience, where each plate is a love letter to Venetian tradition and modern artistry. The moment you enter Oro, named after the Italian word for “gold,” you’re met with interiors that glimmer with quiet opulence. A Murano glass chandelier, custom-designed to mirror the stars above the lagoon, spills a golden radiance across plush velvet seating and reflective mosaic walls.

At the helm is Chef Riccardo Canella, one of Italy’s rising culinary stars and a former leader at Noma in Copenhagen. His approach blends artistry with deep-rooted tradition that transforms every plate into a narrative of the lagoon and its bounty. Expect an evolving seasonal menu that reflects both land and sea; from amberjack tartare with wild herbs to Venetian-style risotto with gò (goby fish), sourced fresh from the surrounding waters. This is how you start your luxury Venetian honeymoon.

Overnight: Giudecca

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 2

Ease Into Romance – Giudecca's Slow Charms

Midday

As morning light bathes the Venetian Lagoon in golden hues, your second day begins. Take your time at breakfast on Belmond Hotel Cipriani’s garden terrace where you’re served an à la carte spread: flaky buttery cornetti, fresh seasonal fruit, hand-whisked eggs, and pressed juices (or perhaps a flute of prosecco, just because).

After breakfast, your private guide meets you for a romantic walk along Giudecca’s quiet waterfront. Hand in hand, you stroll toward the Chiesa del Redentore, a Renaissance masterpiece by Andrea Palladio. Inside, the soaring, light-filled nave offers a moment of quiet contemplation that is just perfect for newlyweds soaking in the stillness of this sacred space. Tiziano Vecellio (Titian) altarpieces and precious paintings by Domenico Tintoretto line the chapels like secret stories from another time. Here, in the echoing stillness of Palladio’s perfect geometry, love feels both eternal and entirely yours. Climb to the promenade outside for panoramic views of Venice’s historic skyline with bell towers and domes shimmering across the lagoon. In this moment, love feels both infinite and rooted in place.

​​A few steps from the church, settle in for lunch at I Figli delle Stelle, a chic waterfront bistro frequented by Giudecca’s artful set. Beneath cream parasols, you will dine on modern Venetian seafood; perhaps red tuna tartare with citrus and mint, or saffron risotto with lagoon shrimp. Glasses of cool prosecco catch the sun as gondolas glide by.

Afternoon

After lunch, return to the Cipriani for a blissful afternoon of restoration. You may opt for a couple’s treatment at the Casanova Wellness Centre, named for the city’s most infamous lover. The spa uses local botanicals, essential oils, and expert techniques to ease tension and awaken the senses.

Or, slip into the hotel’s Olympic-sized, heated saltwater pool; the only one of its kind in Venice. Surrounded by lush gardens and private cabanas, this pool is legendary. As you float side by side, sipping herbal iced tea or champagne, the world feels far away, suspended in sunlight and serenity.

Evening

As evening approaches, board a private gondola or water taxi and sail through Venice’s twilight maze. Tonight’s dinner is a true highlight of your luxury honeymoon in Venice. Step into Quadri Restaurant, a Michelin-starred jewel in Piazza San Marco, overlooking the most famous square in the world.

The interiors are nothing short of breathtaking. Restored by designer Philippe Starck with velvet banquettes, Murano chandeliers, and frescoed ceilings. Chef Silvia Trovato reimagines Venetian classics with finesse: think lagoon crab with citrus caviar, or duck tortelli with bitter herbs. The tasting menu is seasonal and utterly refined. Each course is paired with curated Italian wines, served with grace and ceremony. As you dine, the lights of Saint Mark shimmer outside the windows and it’s clear that romance in Venice is truly alive and legendary.

Return by water taxi across the starlit lagoon, hearts full and hands entwined, to your Cipriani suite, where the night ends as tenderly as it began.

Overnight: Giudecca

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3

Pastel Dreams – A Day in Burano & Mazzorbo

Midday

As the morning sun rises over the lagoon, you set off from Giudecca aboard a private vaporetto bound for Burano, a dreamy voyage that glides past quiet canals and sleepy islets. Burano will greet you like a watercolor came to life. Candy-colored houses of sunshine yellow, coral pink, sky blue, line the canals in painterly perfection. Each turn reveals a new palette and a new postcard-worthy moment which makes it one of the most Instagrammable places in Venice. Stroll hand in hand through the cobblestone streets, stopping for photos and pastries from the local forno.

Late morning brings you to the Museo del Merletto, Burano’s Lace Museum, a quiet gem housed in a former lace school. Inside, you’ll discover centuries of craftsmanship where delicate, handmade lace once commissioned by queens and empresses are displayed.

Just steps from the museum, Trattoria Al Gatto Nero awaits. This is a family-run institution beloved by locals and in-the-know travelers alike. Settle into a waterfront table where the sun warms your shoulders and boats bob gently in the canal beside you. The menu is a celebration of Venetian seafood cuisine: perhaps a silky squid-ink risotto, or a seafood risotto dotted with clams and prawns, with a hint of lemon zest. The wine is crisp, the service warm, and the view of colorful homes reflected in still water? Unforgettable. This is slow travel at its finest, a perfect stop on your luxury honeymoon in Venice.

Afternoon

After lunch, cross the footbridge to Mazzorbo, a peaceful sister island that feels like a Venetian countryside escape. Here, urban noise fades to birdsong and vineyard breezes. Begin with a stroll through Venissa’s walled vineyard, a rare estate where the Dorona grape, once thought extinct, has been lovingly revived. Lush gardens brim with organic produce and heirloom vegetables, and local farmers tend to the orchards like stewards of a sacred rhythm.

Evening

As golden hour bathes Mazzorbo in honeyed light, you arrive for dinner at the Venissa Restaurant, one of the lagoon’s most intimate and sought-after Michelin-starred dining experiences. Dinner here is helmed by Chef Francesco Brutto, a visionary young talent renowned for his minimalist, ingredient-first philosophy. Named Italy’s Best Young Chef by L’Espresso and listed among Forbes' 30 Under 30, Brutto brings a poetic, almost reverent touch to everything that leaves his kitchen.

The 4- or 5-course tasting menu is a quiet masterpiece. You might begin with local lagoon shrimp infused with wild fennel, followed by handmade pasta layered with the umami depth of seaweed and cured fish roe. Mains highlight line-caught fish or heirloom vegetables grown steps from your table. And for dessert? Something floral and deeply rooted in the seasons.

Wines are exclusively from Venissa’s Dorona vineyard, a white grape once thought lost, now revived in this very soil. Their gold-label bottles are among the rarest and most prized in all of Italy, with each vintage reflecting the microclimate of this tiny, enchanted island. A sommelier guides you through thoughtful pairings that elevate and deepen the flavors on your plate. The ambiance is pure romance. Tables are set in a garden courtyard beneath a canopy of climbing vines and glowing lanterns.

Afterward, return to Giudecca by water taxi and watch the distant glow of Venice on the horizon.

Overnight: Giudecca

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4

Ancient Whispers – Torcello & a Private Boat Day

Midday

With the soft breeze of the Venetian Lagoon brushing your faces, your private wooden boat glides silently from Giudecca toward one of the oldest  and most hauntingly beautiful of the lagoon’s islands: Torcello. Long before Venice flourished, this was where civilization began.

As you disembark onto the quiet shores, your guide leads you along leafy stone paths to the majestic Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, a 7th-century masterpiece and one of the best-preserved examples of Byzantine architecture in Venice. Inside, you’re enveloped in a hush, a silence broken only by the crunch of old wood beneath your feet and the collective breath of awe. Look up, and you’ll see them: soaring gold mosaics, their surfaces gleaming with the light of centuries. The Last Judgement scene, in particular, is staggering with its celestial cascade of angels, saints, and the saved and damned, rendered in radiant tesserae. If you're feeling adventurous, climb the bell tower. From its summit, the entire lagoon unfurls like a watercolor; Burano’s colorful rooftops and the green sweep of Mazzorbo’s vineyards.

Afternoon

After your descent, follow the narrow path through Torcello’s inner gardens, past wild fig trees and ivy-clad ruins, toward Parco di Torcello, a secluded green haven just beyond the Devil’s Bridge(“Devil’s Bridge”). Here, the legend says a ghostly pact was made long ago, but today, all that remains is romance, willow-shaded calm, and the sound of birds in the reeds.

A VIP picnic awaits, provided by your Luxury Islands Excursion tour. Spread across a vintage linen blanket, your curated box includes artisanal cheeses, hand-sliced prosciutto Veneto, crusty sourdough, heirloom tomatoes, orchard-fresh figs, and a chilled bottle of Prosecco, all nestled in a woven basket. You toast under the dappled sunlight, surrounded by silence and stone, feeling like you’ve traveled centuries back in time.

If you wish, a private photo session near the cathedral ruins can be arranged for a cinematic moment among crumbling walls and windswept grasses that frames your love against the eternal.

Evening

As the golden light softens over the water, return to Giudecca in time for a gentle refresh before dinner. Tonight, the evening unfolds on the waterfront terrace of Cip’s Club, a more intimate and relaxed yet utterly elegant dining experience at Belmond Hotel Cipriani.

Here, dinner is a quiet celebration of flavor and place. Begin with hand-cut beef carpaccio or a delicate scallop tartare, followed by Cipriani’s signature tagliolini with scampi or grilled Adriatic sea bass accompanied by vegetables from the hotel’s private garden. The sommelier will gladly guide you through a curated list of fine Italian wines or pour a chilled glass of Franciacorta to toast the night.

Overnight: Giudecca

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5

Venetian Craft & Culinary Love Story

Midday

By now, Venice has likely begun to feel like your own private dream. But today, you’ll step deeper into the city’s artistic soul. Begin your morning in Dorsoduro, the creative heart of the city, where centuries-old art traditions are still lovingly passed down. Here, you’ll visit Ca’ Macana, one of Venice’s most esteemed mask ateliers. Inside its fragrant, paint-splattered workshop, time seems to bend. Shelves brim with handcrafted Carnevale masks, and artisans move with meditative grace, applying layers of gesso, gold leaf, and delicate feathers to papier-mâché forms.

Under expert guidance, you’ll learn the historical significance of each style; from the long-nosed Plague Doctor to the mysterious Volto, before selecting your own blank mask. Then, brush in hand, you’ll paint and decorate your keepsake, infusing it with your unique story. By the end of the session, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind creation to bring home, a tangible symbol of your luxury honeymoon in Venice and a piece of the city’s living cultural heritage.

A short walk from the atelier brings you to Osteria Enoteca Ai Artisti, a quiet gem nestled along a peaceful canal in Dorsoduro. With only a handful of tables and a reputation whispered between travelers in-the-know, this romantic Venetian osteria offers a curated experience of the city’s cuisine. Start with freshly caught lagoon shrimp cradled in citrus and fennel, or a silky pumpkin flan drizzled in aged balsamic. The pasta here is made daily so try the tagliatelle with duck ragù or gnocchi with baby squid and herbs. Each dish arrives paired with thoughtful wine suggestions, mostly from small Veneto producers. The atmosphere is hushed and intimate; just right for couples who savor slow luxury travel and the joy of discovering culinary secrets off the beaten path.

Afternoon

From the quiet elegance of Dorsoduro, make your way toward the vibrant energy of Rialto Market, where your next experience begins: a private pasta-making class in Venice, offered by the beloved Atelier Cuisine Venice.

This immersive activity starts with a stroll through the historic Rialto Market, where your host, a local chef with deep roots in Venetian cuisine, will guide you through stalls of glistening seafood, vibrant heirloom tomatoes, fragrant basil, and handmade cheeses. You’ll touch, smell, learn, and select your ingredients just like a Venetian would.

Then, you’ll step into a restored 16th-century Venetian home turned culinary workshop. In its cozy stone kitchen, the magic begins: kneading dough for bigoli or ravioli, learning folding techniques passed through generations, and of course, sipping wine as you roll pasta by hand. It’s a deeply personal, utterly authentic encounter with the culinary soul of the city; one that many couples remember as a honeymoon highlight in Venice.

Evening

As twilight settles, your evening becomes a flavorful journey through the hidden taverns of Castello, Venice’s most lived-in, story-soaked district. You’ll join a small-group cicchetti and wine tour, led by a local guide who weaves legends of masked lovers and secret revolts into your route through the bacari (Venice’s traditional wine bars).

At each stop, you’ll savor cicchetti. Cicchetti (pronounced chee-KEH-tee) are small plates or snacks, often compared to Spanish tapas, though they’re unmistakably Venetian. These humble yet flavorful bites might include sarde in saor (sweet-and-sour sardines with onions and raisins), baccalà mantecato (creamed salt cod), grilled polenta topped with wild mushrooms, or crostini layered with gorgonzola and pear. Some are hot, others are cold; all are designed to be enjoyed with a glass of local wine or an ombra; a “shadow” of wine named after the small pours once served in the shade of St. Mark’s bell tower.

These bites were historically a way for Venetian workers and traders to refuel between tasks without sitting for a full meal. Over time, the ritual evolved into something more social; a beloved pastime called andar per bacari (literally, “going around the wine bars”), where locals hop from one bacaro to the next, sampling cicchetti and wines while trading stories across counters.For honeymooners, a cicchetti crawl offers something rare; a glimpse into the living, breathing Venice that lies beyond the postcards.

Though technically a tour, the experience unfolds like an insider’s night out that is spontaneous and filled with laughter. And with so many generous bites along the way, there’s no need for a formal dinner afterward. Just a final toast to the day, and a moonlit ride back to Giudecca, hearts and stomachs full.

Overnight: Giudecca

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6

Secret Island Escape – Sant’Erasmo by Bike

Midday

Rise early and board the private water taxi or Vaporetto bound for Sant’Erasmo, Venice’s serene agricultural island; just long enough to feel like stepping into another world. The island’s fields greet you with artichoke blossoms and sky that stretches wider than in the city. This is what a Venice honeymoon itinerary dreams of.

There. You will meet your guide from Detourist Venice at the island dock. After collecting bikes (custom-padded for comfort), you will begin your vineyard and honey-tasting bike tour. Wind through ancient Dorona grapevines and taste golden honey still warm from the hive.  This bike tour is unhurried; designed for leisure, not speed. Over the course of an easy hour, you’ll cycle gently through Sant’Erasmo’s patchwork of vineyards and artichoke fields. The air carries scents of wild fennel and seawater, and the roads are quiet save for the occasional passing heron or farmer's cart.

Afternoon

Eventually, the trail opens up to Spiaggia del Bacan, a locals’ beach far from the bustle of the Grand Canal. Here, a shaded picnic spot has already been prepared for you on the sand where it is private and bathed in golden light. Provided by Osti in Orto, a beloved farm cooperative on the island, your artisanal lunch includes:

• Hand-pulled focaccia, grilled over rosemary embers
• Violet artichokes marinated with lemon and sea salt
• A curated selection of regional cheeses and cured meats
• Orchard-fresh fruits and Venetian pastries
• Chilled sparkling water, fruit juices, and if you like, local Prosecco (optional upgrade)

Lay back on linen blankets under the open sky, toes in the sand, waves lapping softly nearby. This is a break from the city and a pause in time. A place to breathe and savor each other’s company in one of Venice’s most authentic hidden escapes.

Evening

As golden hour stretches over the lagoon, you return to Venice by boat; sun-kissed and serene, the day’s stillness lingering like a secret. Tonight’s dinner is a quiet affair at Al Covo, a family-run gem tucked away in Castello. Known for its slow philosophy and deep reverence for Venetian ingredients, the restaurant invites you to settle into its intimate, softly lit dining room where every detail feels personal.

Seasonal seafood, hand-rolled pastas, and tender vegetables from the lagoon are transformed into plates that speak of both land and sea. Wines are poured thoughtfully. Conversations drift. And in that moment, surrounded by candlelight and the gentle hush of a quieter side of Venice, it becomes clear that luxury isn’t always about extravagance. Sometimes, it’s simply the luxury of time well spent.

Overnight: Giudecca

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7

Last Slow Moments – Love Letters to Venice

Midday

Your final morning begins slowly. Perhaps with a long breakfast overlooking the lagoon, the still water mirroring the soft light of a new day. There’s no rush. Savor the quiet clinking of cutlery and the subtle hum of the city awakening around you.

If time allows, wander through the Rialto Market, where fishmongers and fruit sellers carry out age-old rituals under striped awnings. Pick out a keepsake like a Murano glass kissed by fire or a piece of Burano lace woven with centuries of skill, to carry the memory of Venice home with you.

Afternoon

By early afternoon, your water taxi awaits. It slips through the canals one last time, past sunlit palazzi and beneath low stone bridges, returning you to Venice’s main transport hub.

For couples wishing to linger just a little longer, there are optional indulgences to seal the journey: a golden-hour gondola ride into the city’s quiet canals, a private photoshoot in pastel-hued Burano, a spa ritual to soothe travel-tired limbs, or even front-row seats at a VIP concert beneath the dome of San Giorgio Maggiore.

You can also explore some of our carefully curated Italy vacation packages and let us know which one speaks to you the most.

Meals included: Breakfast