Where in Italy to go with kids for a first timer?

[Ihaveattached]

Grateful for any advice. We've never been to Italy, but have always wanted to go.
It would be end of August next year as we are bound by school holidays. We already have a holiday booked for May half term, wont have saved up by Easter and have heard October won't be warm enough for the pool.

We have a 13yr old who loves history, food, swimming and a 6yr old who has no interest in Italy but would love swimming in the sea or a pool.

We definitely don't want to do any driving but are happy to have trips out by boat or train.

We thought of Sorrento as you can easily have trips out to Capri etc. We'd need a bed and breakfast and don't want anywhere chintzy. I know it doesn't seem important but I can't settle if I hate the decor in a hotel so the more modern the better.

We like having somewhere to have a stroll on an evening. I heard Naples is a really busy city so I'm not sure our youngest would cope with that as he has sensory issues.

We don't just want a sunbathing holiday. We want to see a bit of Italy.

Any ideas?

[FlyingFlamingo]

Lake Garda

Lots of swimming, you can take boats across the lake to other towns or to the top of the lake and take a cable car up the mountain.

When we went we took a day trip to Verona - there is lots of history there, or depending on where you are based you could go to Venice. We drove to Verona though so I’m not sure what options there are for taking a train.

[Blueuggboots]

I wasn't keen on Sorrento - it's incredibly hilly and a lot of the hotels are way above the town. Naples is HORRIBLE but the amalfi coast is nice.
The nicest place I've stayed in Italy is an Agro-tourism place just outside Florence. It's got a pool and is surrounded by olive groves BUT you'd need a car.
What about lido de jesolo? Near Venice.

[yorkshireteaparty]

Another vote for Lake Garda

[Solittletime]

Tuscany has some good beaches and easy access to Florence for history.

[Cazzovuoi]

Lake Garda is great for kids, you can take them to Gardaland theme park and it’s not far from Milan.

For a sea option I recommend either Sestri Levante on the Med coast or Rimini on the Adriatic. Both great for kids, lots of restaurants and kids entertainment. Sorrento is amazing but is not great for kids. It’s a more mature area.

[Takemetothe90s]

I personally don’t think sorrento is good for children.
Lido do jesolo is nice and close to Venice and Verona. It’s also north as the south of Italy can be extremely hot in august.

[RampantIvy]

And another vote for Lake Garda. Loads to do and stunningly beautiful.

[Marmite27]

We had a lovely time in Florence, but good luck trying to find somewhere not chintzy. Granny chic was pretty much the standard for everywhere we and friends/family stayed. My sister worked there for a while so we visited quite often.

[Ihaveattached]

So glad I asked! My mam loved Sorrento but she went as a couple in their 50s. She did say there wasn't much for kids to do.

I'll look at some of the other options mentioned. Lake Garda sounds great.

We've driven abroad before but we always end up getting lost and arguing and almost having accidents so I'd rather avoid it.

[CountingToThree]

Pisa is easy from a transport point of view, 15 min bus transfer from the airport, then easy train day trips to Viareggio for the sea or Lucca and Florence.

Or Cagliari on Sardinia and Palermo on Sicily are lovely and very friendly.

I'd agree to avoid Naples / Sorrento / Amalfi - really not family areas

[Ihaveattached]

@Marmite27 😬 I literally can't bear chintz.

[RampantIvy]

You don't need a car on Lake Garda. We did all our exploring using the local ferries. It's a brilliant way to appreciate the beautiful surroundings.

[Noeuf]

Malcesine in Lake Garda, weve stayed in Limone several times but Malcesine is more busy and has the cable car. Have several kids.
Avoid Florence , gorgeous but not for a family holiday. Kids hated even the day trip.
If you don’t want to drive avoid Tuscany.
Sorrento super touristy, no easy beach and all the hotels are up hills or in the centre full of tourist shops.
Best family holiday we ever had was Cattolica bit seems to have dropped off the holiday company lists.

[disconnecteddrifter]

We (family of six) went to ischia. Such a beautiful island. We stayed in Naples for pompeii etc

[Solittletime]

You can definitely find nice agriturismo near the sea in Tuscany within a short train ride to Florence but might take som research. If your priority is really nice sea then you can’t go wrong in Sicily, and you get history there as well.

[gogohm]

We stayed on a camp site north of Venice (drove from U.K. visiting Bavaria on the way) highly recommend. Several pools, kids activities, sports, accommodation on site ranged from a hotel to yurts with everything in between (we had a mobile home). Site was a mix of British, German, Belgians and Dutch and most the kids spoke good English at the kids club and the staff were multi lingual. Had a teen programme too of water sports etc. Dad trip to Venice was hot! (August) but good, we drove part way and took a train

[Ricekrispie22]

We found Peschiera Del Garda to be the best place to stay in lake garda without a car due to the fact you can use public transport and ferries to get around.
As well as exploringPeschiera Del Garda, you could go to Lazise, Garda, Sirmione or even Desenzano del Garda, all of which are really pretty to walk around and spend a couple of hours at. These are the towns we visited but there are plenty of other picturesque towns and villages aroundPeschiera Del Garda that you could get to by public transport. We did a day trip on the train to Verona (15 minutes away) and another to Venice (1.5 hours away). Gardaland is only 5km away and has rides for all ages ranges.

[gogohm]

Ps we used the built in sat nav so didn't get lost at all. Drove 2500 miles that trip

[Geamhradh]

Sorrento and the whole coast down there is very touristy and full of familes, especially in August, many of whom are Italians. It's pretty expensive compared to the Italian cities for tourists if that's an issue. From there you can easily do Pompeii and if you really want to, Rome (long day though!) Capri obviously is also just a half hour boat away. Naples is a magnificent city- it's also loud, filthy, and terrifying Lots of history and interesting things to see and do. Our kids (I'm in Puglia) go for school trips. It's pretty unique in its atmosphere but I'd not in all honesty advise anyone to go strolling round there.

From Garda you can easily get to Verona and Venice. And obviously Gardaland if the kids like that kind of thing. Lots of the resorts around the lakes have swimming areas.

[AdriannaP]

Another vote for Lake Garda. Close to Verona (airport) and Milan, kids can do days out at Caneva water park and Gardaland. There is tons to see in the area for your kid into history: Verona, Sirmione, Venice.
I liked Peschiera: it’s on the lake, you can stroll around in the evenings, lovely restaurants and bars.

The south (Sicily, Puglia) will be VERY hot in August. I love Sicily but would avoid in August. Sardinia will be hot too and it’s very expensive in August.
Jesolo is fun too with kids, it’s very crowded though. You are much closer to Venice for sightseeing. Another option is Liguria (area around Turin), some nice beaches there too.

[JetRocket]

Lake Garda!!!

It’s got so many options of towns and each has their own character all easy to get to via boat or car. Lovely swimming, nice food, gelato galore, lots of other children.

Would recommend somewhere like desenzano. It’s easy to get to, lots of family friendly
accommodation and not badly priced for food/drink certainly nowhere near as bad as places like Florence/Venice. We were shocked at paying €7 for a massive pizza in restaurants after paying easily €15 most other places. It makes a big difference when you’re eating out most days.

[minnimiss]

Malcesine Lake Garda would be perfect. We went a couple of times when our kids were young. It's a beautiful place.

[Mermaid2007]

Lido di Jesolo is lovely and very easy to get to Venice from there. Short transfer from the airport too.

[AdriannaP]

@Ricekrispie22

We found Peschiera Del Garda to be the best place to stay in lake garda without a car due to the fact you can use public transport and ferries to get around.
As well as exploringPeschiera Del Garda, you could go to Lazise, Garda, Sirmione or even Desenzano del Garda, all of which are really pretty to walk around and spend a couple of hours at. These are the towns we visited but there are plenty of other picturesque towns and villages aroundPeschiera Del Garda that you could get to by public transport. We did a day trip on the train to Verona (15 minutes away) and another to Venice (1.5 hours away). Gardaland is only 5km away and has rides for all ages ranges.

Crosspost on Peschiera!
Loved staying there with kids.
We stayed in Hotel Marco, on the lake and very close to beach and restaurants but the pool is on the small side. Was ok for my 5 year old, might be boring for your teenager. www.hotelsanmarcopeschiera.it/en/

[Geamhradh]

@Noeuf

Malcesine in Lake Garda, weve stayed in Limone several times but Malcesine is more busy and has the cable car. Have several kids.
Avoid Florence , gorgeous but not for a family holiday. Kids hated even the day trip.
If you don’t want to drive avoid Tuscany.
Sorrento super touristy, no easy beach and all the hotels are up hills or in the centre full of tourist shops.
Best family holiday we ever had was Cattolica bit seems to have dropped off the holiday company lists.

Cattolica, Jesolo, Rimini and all that coast is awful now. It's basically Benidorm and Blackpool but for Italian yoof. Older teens and young adults go for booze (and other) filled weekends. Full of tawdry nightclubs.
Such a shame as the coast/beaches are amazing.
My grandmother (born in 1903) often came on a coach trip to Jesolo and Cattolica in the 60s and 70s. Used to be the height of sophistication.