Need suggestions - where to go (Europe)

[Pantofolaio]

We have two DSs 20 & 18 who are still willing to go on hols with us…We go on one holiday a year, and I’m trying to please everyone. We have always booked independently, no interest in resort-type holiday.

I’m hoping to get suggestions of maybe less obvious places that might meet the wish list below.

Warm: We are not afraid of hot weather. DH in particular wants it to be sunny - not a summer holiday otherwise in his mind.

Don’t need to hire car: have hired a car plenty of times but don’t want the stress this year.

Interesting things to visit - places, museums, shops. Love history, architecture, art but also quirky shops etc.

In an ideal world I’d like somewhere like Venice, pedestrianised, self-contained, but with lots to see, and trips to islands etc. Beaches not important. Nightlife not important.

So I’ve been looking at Spain, Portugal, Italy mainly. Flights to Greece and Croatia are too expensive from my airport. We’ve been to lots of Western/South-Western France before as well as Austria/Germany/Poland.

I’ve been looking at places like Ischia/Naples, Lucca, Seville, Valencia, Porto, but would welcome comments on them but also suggestions of other cities/towns etc that others have been to that might not be obvious. Thanks for reading!

Dubrovnik? Lake Garda?

Take a look at Málaga.

Lisbon is excellent, loads to do and see in and around the city.

Lisbon
Lake Garda, Lake Como

Bologna, Ferrara, Ravenna, Modena - you can stay in Bologna and visit the other cities by train, it’s cheap and convenient, I had an amazing experience as there’s so much to see in all 4 cities.

Thanks for the suggestions. Flights are too pricy for the Italian lakes and Croatia at the moment. Oh and I deleted a line in my original post, I meant to say we have been to Spain before (spent time in Madrid & Toledo, but only spent a day in Malaga and a day in Barcelona) and Italy (mainly Rome and Venice, but also Turin and Calabria). Also Obidos in Portugal.
I will investigate Lisbon and the suggestion of Bologna and the other Italian cities. Thanks again.

Barcelona comes to mind on your description and if you’ve only done a day there is definitely more to see

From Lisbon it’s easy to get to Sintra (for history/palaces) and Cascais (beach) by train.

Malaga. It's got everything you mentioned and more. I'm talking about the city not the resorts nearby. And it is so easy to get to also.

Beach in the city, lots of pedestrianised steeets, museums, architecture, a fab new marina area, shopping on Calle Larios and surrounding streets, tapas and so many restaurants around the Cathedral area. Really it's my go to for a break anytime I can, yet there is so much I haven't even seen yet!

You can stay in Malaga and do a day trip by train to Granada. There are free walking tours (tip the guide), and the Alhambra is amazing.

Another day trip to Córdoba. This is a real gem with great history and of course the Mosque/Cathedral (Mesquita), and fab pedestrianised cobbled streets in the Jewish quarter. Charming.

If you lot are fit and adventurous you can take the train from Malaga to El Chorro and do the Caminito del Rey - not for the faint hearted, have a look online.

I don't want to take up the whole thread, but check Malaga out and see if it might fit some or most of your wish list.

Seville is one of my very favourite cities.
Loved Malaga too.
Off to Valencia in two weeks.
San Sebastián next on the hit list, although it's beachy.

Ischia/Naples - there is loads to do in the Naples area: museums, churches, catacombs, Vesuvius, not just Ischia, but Procida and Capri, the Amalfi coast, Pompeii, Herculaneum, and much more and it's all accessible by public transport. This would be a great option for you.

Lucca is lovely, but tiny. A nice base, but to see the best of Tuscany you really need a car.

Seville is a great city - lots to do and you can take the train to Jerez, Cadiz, Cordoba, Granada.

Valencia is great for a long weekend and the City of the Sciences is fabulous. If you're not interested in the beach though I'm not sure there's enough to sustain you for a longer trip.

Porto is fine for a couple of days, but there isn't a huge amount to do there.

Lisbon is great, if you fancy Portugal. Lots to do, lovely historic areas to wander in, great restaurants, good shops, museums, day trips to Estoril, Cascais and Sintra.

I'm with your husband - if it's not hot it's not a holiday 🙌

I've just booked Tirana. Google the Albanian riviera it's unspoiled cheap and stunning!

Great information, thanks all. More googling ahead…. Tirana was definitely not in my list before now!

Ischia is lovely - look at Ischia Blu resort which right near the port. 45 minutes on the hydrofoil from Naples. We did a day trip to Procida last time, or you can go to the mainland, or Capri. For boats and pedestrianised town - Stresa - Lake Maggiore - with a direct transfer from Milan Malpensa. Hotel la Palma has a lakefront pool, plus one in the Sky Bar on the roof with stunning views over the lake and islands.

San Sebastian in northern Spain? Could fly to Santander. Day trip to Bilbao.
Or fly to Zadar or Pula in Croatia. Would need a hire car though to properly explore.

Lisbon definitely fits the bill & lots of cooler stuff for the DS to explore like the Time Out food market & LX Factory.

I think we got Ubers & city mapper works there too

The city stopper bus was great to hop on & hop off at different attractions

Me neither till about 2 weeks ago. Not sure where you are but I'm in south east and they fly 3 times a day from stansted. Cheap flights and just stunning there! I've booked to go late April

Second Bologna - utterly fantastic food, fully walkable, ticks all your Italian holiday requirements but as someone said above it's a great base to daytrip to other places - Modena, Florence (trains very comfortable and straightforward). There's an annual film festival in the summer that involves classic Italian cinema (subtitled!) broadcast from a huge screen in the main plaza in the very balmy evenings which itself makes you feel like you're in a classic italian film...

Barcelona? Interesting architecture, lovely food, and beaches for a relaxing time too

Prague is hot in summer, we went in the summer for a silver wedding anniversary and spent some time in Czesky Krumlov up in the mountains, still hot.

+1 for Naples and coast, inc. Pompeii/Paestum, etc., as well as popping over to Capri.

Bologna is indeed a fantastic base: Florence 35 mins. on fast train, Venice 70 mins.

How about Nice? Everything you ask for, plus cheap reliable trains to Monaco, Cannes, Grasse, Èze, etc.
Chagall museum is stunning, as is the old town & local food.
Ubers are also v cheap there, even to neighbouring towns.

Thanks all, great suggestions - I think Italy might win. If the flight prices are ok, the accommodation is expensive and vice-versa. Usual issue! I’ll wait and price again in a month or so.

Could you manage Athens from your airport ? It's fabulous, not particularly expensive and a just wonderful city. It has everything, wonderful food scene, pavement bars and cafes, more history than you could ever see, lovely riviera, islands within a short ferry ride, bustling busy scene and very friendly locals. Porto is also really nice but not quite as fab as Athens. It's quite compact but also has a decent metro

We did a Mediterranean cruise with our boys when they were a similar age. Highly recommended! Much to enjoy on and off the ship for all ages and together. X

Sorrento - great base for seeing Capri, Almalfi coast, Vesuvius and Pompeii
Lake Garda - fits your criteria best, consider cost of flights against other savings such eating out/entertainment
Barcelona - choose las ramblas as your base.