Italy advice please!

[islandmummy]

Hello good people of mumsnet! Please could I ask for your wisdom to help me plan a trouble free holiday for us (me, DH, DS(8) and DD(6))? We are visiting Pisa, Florence and Rome this summer - but only for 2 nights each as we are passing through. Other than the leaning tower and Coliseum, what else are "must-dos" or "avoids" do you think, bearing in mind kids' ages? I read someone it's best to book attractions to avoid queuing - does anyone know more about this please? THANK YOU!!

I think it is too much. You really need more than 2 nights each in Florence and Rome. I haven't been to Pisa, but basically there isn't much else to see other than the tower. I would avoid the Vatican with a 6 year old and 8 year old. We had pre-booked tickets to avoid the queues, but it is so crowded inside that all you can do is shuffle through the galleries, and I think they would find it very boring.

Pre-book the Colisseum to avoid queues, but you will be fine for Palatine Hill and the Forum. The Pantheon is worth visiting as well.

We went to Florence in 1990, and while the sights are still the same I believe it is even more crowded these days. Above all, it will be very very hot in both cities.

Went to Pisa and Florence last summer, Pisa is a bit meh but Lucca nearby is fab for wondering through. Florence is wonderful...do a bus tour because it is pretty big! You can go to the Duomo, it is beautiful and very old. Be careful if you're driving to be very careful what roads you go down in Florence...you may end up with a fine 6 months later (like we did) because you went down a road that non residents can't go down. Ponte Vechio is cool. There's a lot to see in Florence. Haven't been to Rome.

Thank you! Yes I think we might give the Vatican a miss. There's lots more to do if we ever get to come back just adults!

Don't try and pack too much in - it's going to be hot and crowded. You will need breaks.

To be honest, I much prefer Lucca and Siena to Florence. I find Florence a bit too much, especially around the Duomo - it's a bit claustrophobic for me in the crowds. Lucca is an ideal size for wandering around and the walls are a lovely place.

If you are determined to do Florence, I love the Boboli Gardens. It's nice to have some space and greenery! I've never been in summer though, so don't know how busy it will be. The Uffizi is amazing but crowded, especially around the most famous works. I think it will test the stamina of a small child - it tested me (I wasn't very well that day). However the Museo Dell'Opera del Duomo (behind the Duomo) is, if I recall correctly, much smaller and therefore less challenging for a child, but also has some amazing pieces. There's a Pieta by Michelangelo that is unfinished but still amazingly powerful. And Donatello's Mary Magdalene, which is equally affecting.

We booked a Colisseum tour that meant less queues and allowed you in to other, less crowded parts e.g. underneath. If you do want to see the Vatican, one way to reduce queues is to go just before last entry. It's still very busy inside though, and you have to shuffle through all of it.

Pisa is easy enough to turn up to the sights and plan it then. Lucca is nice and you can get a train there easily enough, but as you are doing so much travelling already, I don't think I'd bother. There are other things like some gardens (don't remember exactly) where you could have a more chilled day.

There isn't much to see in Pisa beyond the Piazza dei Miracoli. A half day there would be plenty. You could then visit lucca or spend more time in Florence - the queues at the latter make a short visit difficult. I can't advise on Rome as I haven't made it there yet!

Yes Pisa can be done in half a day and Lucca has a city wall which you can stroll or bike around. Largely traffic free and nice and shady.

Florence pick either the Academia or Uffizzi and book ahead so you don't queue. Cross the Rialto bridge and there is the Pitti palace with various exhibitions and Boboli gardens from where you get a great view over the city.

Rome take in the Forum and Palatine hill next to the Colosseum - the ticket includes both. There are also gardens over by Nero's Golden Palace/Trajanic bath ruins to break away from crowds. Much can be gained just by strolling up side streets with eyes open , there is just so much to take in. St Peter's Square is worth it and the cathedral isn't usually too crowded and cool.

You will find kids get free entry, take copies of their passports, and each city has hop on, hop off bus tours so you can cover more ground. Have fun!

Thank you SO much. I'm always amazed and warmed by how complete strangers take time out of their lives to help others by giving advice. It's so appreciated! Thank you all x

With kids those ages I would:

• spend half a day in Pisa - no more. Pisa isn't that nice tbh and the only thing a 6 and 8-year-old will care about is the leaning tower and a nice ice cream! There are four things to see in the Campi dei Miracoli - cathedral, baptistry, leaning tower and Campo Santo. The latter is nice and peaceful. The DC really won't be interested in the first two.

• I used to be a tour guide in Florence and it's very hot, crowded and humid in the summer. The streets are utterly blocked with people. Your kids (unless they are very cultured!) won't give a flying you-know-what about the Uffizi, Accademia, Duomo etc.

Personally, I'd do a walking tour of the centre with stops for cool drinks and ice creams - even better do this in the evening. Don't bother with the museums unless you and your DH are desperate to see Botticelli's Venus or Michelangelo's David (and there are two copies of the latter - one in the Piazza della Signoria and one in the Piazzale Michelangelo). If you are then get a timed ticket and plan on hitting the highlights only and being in and out within an hour.

With kids my top tips would be Boboli Gardens, Vivoli gelateria (the best ice cream in Florence), if you want to visit a church then Santa Croce (nearby to Vivoli), a lovely pizza somewhere, and an evening stroll through the centre to see the Ponte Vecchio, Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. The view from Piazzale Michelangelo over the city is lovely and is worth walking up to. You could do all that in one day. Then spend a day somewhere less hot and crowded (I love Siena, but during the day it's also hot and crowded - nice if you stay the night though for a wander once all the day trippers have pissed off!). Lucca would be a good choice.

• As for Rome we just visited in Feb with our 6 and 9 year olds. They were disappointed with the Colosseum, but liked the Forum, because they could clamber around. They also didn't mind walking through the centre to see the Trevi fountain (crowded, but they liked throwing coins in), and we had drinks and crisps in a bar by the Pantheon. We actually did walks focusing on finding fountains with particular things on them - they liked doing that.

We had plenty of Fanta and beer/Aperol stops wherever we went. They also like the zoo (Bioparco). They thought St Peter's was dull (and you have to queue for ages), and we didn't bother with the Vatican museums (DH and I had been before). There is a nice playground round the back of Castel Sant'Angelo, which they enjoyed.

The cathedral had a 2 hour queue to get in when we went. No-one I know who has been to Rome has been into St Peter's basilica because of the hours long queue.

Really? We went just after Easter last year and aside from the security bag checks (it was shortly after a terror alert) walked straight in just after lunchtime.

We went in October half term. All my friends who have been went in summer. The queue put us all off.