Amalfi coast or Sicily

[Daisychain789]

I’m looking to go to the Amalfi coast September next year. It’ll be 2 adults and 5 year old son.

Does anyone have any recommendations of where to stay, things to do, or where to book through.

alternatively looking at Sicily as seems to be coming in slightly cheaper and am hoping may be quieter if anyone has any recommendations?

thank you

Neither with a 5 year old. WAYYY too expensive and the beaches really are not suitable. I personally would save it when it could just be the two of you and head to Portugal which is much cheaper and family friendly

I agree with pp. my sons would have hated Amalfi and Sicily at that age. They went to Portugal and loved it.

Amalfi coast is a very specific location; Sicily is a very large island. Where were you thinking of?

Neither. Too hot, too boring at 5. The lakes would be more fun if it's Italy you want, if it's specifically Sicily and Amalfi I'd wait or go alone.

We did both with very small children and absolutely loved both. I would say Sicily is better for children, particularly Taormina. Beaches on the Amalfi coast are not very accessible and not great for children but there are so many lovely places to go and there are decent beaches for children but you would need a car.

Amalfi is all very steep coastal beech coves, def not child friendly and I think you'd waste the money dragging a 5yr old around.
We've done Sardinia south of the island where it's cheaper with a 3yr old and the beaches were insane! Shallow calm warm water, white sand honestly amazing for children. You prob need to hire a car but to discover lots of amazing beaches and stop off a cute Italian towns it's great

This.
I have been to both Amalfi Coast and Sicily and know the area south of Naples very well. I absolutely love it but children just want a beach. Italian beaches are often hugely crowded and eye wateringly expensive (I avidly avoid them)
Take your child to somewhere that they will be happy and it makes it better for you. Save Sicily or Amalfi for when they can appreciate it.

Surely a 5 year old is happy on any type of beach. Am I missing something?

We're taking our 3 year old to Sicily in a couple of weeks. Looking forward to it. She's happy spending several hours putting rocks in a bucket though.

Amalfi we went on our honeymoon. Very rocky coast but stunning. The small beach we had was busy but fabulous. Seem to remember quite a few kids knocking about.

I love both but the Amalfi coast is particularly wonderful. Go to Capri and Sorrento my favourite places

With a 5 year old I would look at the holiday parks north of Venice. Really geared towards families. It's drivable from the U.K..

I do love Sicily especially Taormina but I'm not sure its child friendly

In what way is it not child friendly ?
Genuinely want to know as we're going soon!

It's a beautiful but tiny spit of land with a bigger ark of beach literally covered in people - or littered with the nasty metal sun loungers that they seem to dump all over every beautiful beach in Italy. Going into the water is rocky and it's all at the bottom of a steep hill from Taormina town. We went to see it one day but wouldn't bother going back, it could be fabulously beautiful but it's just been a bit ruined by over tourism - and make sure you have beach shoes if you want to go in the water. Taormina itself is a really lovely if very touristy town, the ruins are amazing so don't worry you'll have a great time - but probably not the ideal beach for little ones especially if you're staying in town.

OP Amalfi is beautiful, the ferries are great fun for getting around but Amalfi itself is all beach clubs with only teeny tiny areas that you can use without paying. There are wonderful walks to Atrani and Ravello - but not with a 5 year old (Atrani possibly I guess). It's not a great beach holiday for young kids, more aimed at rich adults who want the insta photos. Sorrento is not great for beaches either and Capri is best for a day trip IMO as hideously expensive.

Sicily again is wonderful but not really a beach holiday destination if that's what you're looking for. Agrigento has fabulous ruins, Palermo is interesting and diverse, Taormino is pretty and insta worthy.

With a 5 year old I'd probably consider somewhere like Puerto Pollensa, Mallorca if you haven't been there before. Palma is really lovely to spend a couple of days in as well if you want a bit of history/culture.

Ah right. We're on Cefalu close to Palermo so other side of island.
We shall see !

Thanks for all the feedback. It’s our 30th next year and it’s somewhere we’ve always wanted to go hence why it’s quite specific. Unfortunately no option to leave him with anyone. We’ve booked Greece AI as our main holiday to cater more for our son.

definitely interesting to hear the feedback will have a re-think.