Somewhere like Rome?

[Hostervine]

DH and I went to Rome last month and it was just blissful - literally every day was like a dream, we didn't have one bad experience and I have huuuuuuge holiday blues now I'm back.

So could someone recommend us somewhere as amazing as Rome?

Things we enjoyed were:
Art, history, culture
So many things to see so each day was structured and finely planned out
Food
People warm and welcoming

I don't think we'll ever find anywhere that matches up! We haven't travelled much in Europe so all suggestions welcome please!

Florence - you can do Sienna one day, and Pisa another day. The only thing worth seeing in Pisa is The Leaning Tower, cathedral and baptistery (on The Field of Miracles iirc); but it’s iconic!

Venice

Prague

Krakow

Berlin

The Romantic Road in Bavaria - Rothenburg, Dinkesbuehl, Neuschwanstein, etc

Florence

I absolutely love Florence, but if you haven't been to Venice, I'd go there first. It is absolutely extraordinary, such an other worldly feeling there.

Can I ask for recommendations in Rome OP? I am planning a trip for DHs birthday next year

We very much liked star hotels michaelangelo, adjacent to the Vatican. It was nice to walk across St Peter's en-route to other sights.

Granada for a shorter city break. Great culture and food.

I thought Dubrovnik was architecturally impressive but had very little actual life in it.

Stay in Florence for a week and get the train to Bologna, Siena, Lucca, Pisa, San Gimignano. Awesome.

I'd be tempted to go back and enjoy more of it. But if you want somewhere new, Seville ticks all your boxes.

Surprised no one has mentioned Naples. We preferred it to Rome!

@SilverGlitterBaubles this thread has some great ideas on www.mumsnet.com/talk/holidays/4594539-rome-first-timer?page=2

Rome is fabulous. Exactly the right size and everywhere you look is stunning/ interesting/ unbelievably old.
I’m not sure many places tick the same boxes.
I agree Lisbon is a pretty good all rounder.
Barcelona is good but very busy. Most of the hotels are nice but make sure you get a good view, a good pool and location and use it to escape the crowds. You’ll need it.

So many great suggestions, thank you everyone!

@SilverGlitterBaubles Oh, you will have an amazing time! Top tips are:

• book important location tickets well in advance, Vatican, etc.
• consider a day trip out to Pompeii, it's amazing and do-able by train
• give yourself time to just wander, you see so many amazing things around every corner
• take lots of spending money, we had around €1000 for 1 week and it was just about enough
• do watch out for pickpockets but don't let it ruin your holiday, just get a cross body bag or similar
• there are so many great Rome threads on here, we learned so much.

It will be blissful, trust me!

Loved Naples too but it is marmite, another thread recently was very divided on it.

Edinburgh

Vienna. So much to do.
Athens.

Malaga

If you have a week, Then another vote for Florence, Lucca and Pisa .

Second the vote for Malaga, gorgeous city.
Sevilla, Lisbon, Venice and Florence were all AMAZING too. Not quite on the history level of Rome, but each interesting in their own way!