2 week holiday to Italy, 2020

[TheItalianDream2020]

I have never been to Italy but want to go in 2020. Two adults (mum/daughter will be 60 and 33)

Where should we go? Maybe somewhere "central" as we'll hire a car and like to travel around sightseeing. Want to see the sea (not necessarily go on beaches tho) nowhere hilly as mum has some mobility issues.

What time of year? Don't want it boiling hot but don't want it raining either.

Is it super expensive food wise if we went self catering? Or half board and ate out for lunch?

Lake Garda is fabulous

We stayed in Garda, hired a car and went all around the lake. Also can get to Verona and Venice quite easily from there.

I second Lake Garda and the Veneto. Verona, Vicenza and Venice are all lovely and Lake Garda is just beautiful. Early summer would be a really good time to go - mid/late summer can get a bit hot (and Venice can get a bit smelly).

I third lake Garda, we stayed in Riva and loved it

Garda does look beautiful, but then so do other parts! So hard to decide where to go!

Como looks beautiful too.

I've done most of Italy

I liked lake Garda for the ease of getting to other places and the mountain ranges and other lakes are pretty

The food isn't the best, a lot of it is schnitzel based and you're more likely to get German beers than Italian.

Lake como was lovely, a little busier maybe, excellent place for reaching other places like Milan or san pellegrino.

Portofino and the north coast is beautiful but very expensive

Tuscany, including Siena and the wine regions are amazing. Relaxed, excellent food, excellent wines, so much to explore.
Can easily get to the cost south of Pisa.

Sorrento and the analog coast is stunning.
You could spend all day exploring the cost line towns and hilltop villages like ravello, position etc.
Eat loads of gelato, amazing seafood, amazing mozzarella, the best pizza in the whole of Italy (being close to Naples).
A visit to Pompeii for the amazing history of even a trip up Vesuvius.

Il be back to Italy next year and can't decide as there's so many wondefful places and they all do different things.

I'd quite like to try Sardinia sometime too but I don't know enough about it yet...

Sardinia is amazing. Gorgeous food and scenery.

We love Scotland for the lakes and mountains which is why I'm drawn to Lake Garda. I was thinking Garda before I asked and the first 3 replies were Garda!

Cheeky bump

We did Sardinia last year and for us, as wonderful as it was, it was not a patch on the Lake Garda area.

The variety in the area is stunning. Obviously the lake, “beaches”, Monte Baldo, Sirmione, Verona etc etc.

I’d disagree about the food - it’s amongst the best I’ve had in Italy. (Been to Rome many many times, Venice, Finalborgo area, Amalfi, Naples, Sardinia, and the ski resorts) One especially memorable seafood extravaganza of ten courses plus with free flowing Prosecco was around €40 a head.

Lake Lugano and Lake Como are stunning. Most beautiful place I have ever been. But Rome is my favourite city in world. Florence, sienna and Tuscany also gorgeous. Really want to visit Italian riviera. I just love Italy.