Italy in August

[DownRightAmazing]

Despite being relatively well travelled neither DH nor I have ever been to Italy and this year we want to give it a go!

I haven't a clue where to go though we want to go in mid-late August for around a week. We'd prefer to be based in one place not moving around but can hire a car and visit from our 'base'. We have two DC ages 6 and 3; they are pretty easy going. We'd like a nice hotel with a pool but intend to eat out at local restaurants so don't need a meal plan or anything. We don't have any specific places that we want to visit. Any tips or ideas?

It’s not a great time to visit- it can be blindingly hot, the beaches are completely rammed full, and (apart from resort areas) a lot of museums etc close down for ferragosto.

We went to the coast area just north of Genoa when dc were little. Beaches with promenades which came alive in the evenings with little carousels and play areas. Lake Garda is also good with kids but hectic in August and can be hot/stormy.

I would recommend Lake Maggiore, we stayed last August for a week with our then 4 and 7 year olds and had a super time. The hotel had a pool on the lake, 5 minutes from many restaurants. The Lake and surrounding area are beautiful, and there’s lots to do with a car. We flew in to Milan and stayed here: www.hlapalma.it/en/ there are also many camp sites around the lake and airbnb’s. Stresa was lovely, the kids enjoyed the food and ate well. A junior suite in the hotel was the perfect size.

Thanks all especially @Mixingitall for that hotel link - the junior suite looks great. Did you find it outrageously busy and hot in August? I mean more so that the rest of the med?

This hotel is near to Lake Garda, so one of the cooler areas (although still nice and toasty in the summer!) www.letorridelgarda.com/en/family-holiday
There are several places to explore nearby www.letorridelgarda.com/en/lake-garda/theme-parks-excursions
It’s within walking distance of a couple of good pizza restaurants.

August in Stresa wasn’t too hot, it was a good temperature, around 28/29 and not busy at all, it was perfect. We did Bed and breakfast in the hotel and found lots of places to eat, all around a square a few streets back from the lake.

I would stay a bit more north as Rome and Florence are very hot. Hard to find pools in Rome due to everything being thousands of years old.
I would go in flash. However we did Rome in August and would just go back and stay in the arpartment between 11am and 3pm eating gelato, topping up the tan on the terrace etc. Everything is open late so you can wander round the amazing sites very easily late afternoon.
Italy is fantastically beautiful.