Sardinia or Sicily with small children?

[TuVuoiFaLamericano]

Hi everyone,

It's our 10 year wedding anniversary in 2 years and we're already planning a lovely holiday for it (hopefully to be booked later this year when 2026 prices are released).
We will have our two little ones in tow (6 and 3.5 at the time of travelling).

Just wondering which destination is more enjoyable for the kids? DH and I are fine either way, neither of us have been to either.

Thanks in advance!

What time of year? Do you want a beach holiday or also sightseeing/vulcanoes/culture and towns?
i have been several times to both and with small kids. I would not go in August, it’s too hot (over 40 easily) and packed (all Italians are on holidays in August).

i prefer to Sicily, it’s rawer, has more cultural activities and nice towns but also beautiful beaches. Generally the islands don’t have a lot of AI resort type holidays, a few AI resort but most places have Hotels and obviously lots of airbnbs etc
everywhere in Italy is very child friendly, children are welcome in restaurants etc.but I don’t think one island is more enjoyable for kids than the other.

@HaveYouSeenRain Thanks for your reply! That's very helpful. It would be great to have a mix. Beach but also historic towns nearby. I'd love to see the old towns and cities. (I'm a history buff).

August is our anniversary but we'd likely go late September (no school yet for eldest DC as we live in Germany and he'll likely start at 7 years old), as I also would rather cooler than the 30s.

I would never recommend to anyone w small kids to go in August. We went to a beach town in Sicily in June and the Hotel owner said last August they had up to 45 degrees.
i would go for Sicily if you like history and historic towns, Sardinia is mostly beaches. If you fly to Catania, consider Siracusa area (beaches at Fontane Bianche and Avola), trips to Etna, Taormina, Isola Bella. If Palermo, do a few days Palermo and then Cefalu which I think is the loveliest beach town in Sicily. Plus maybe a day trip to Lipari or Stromboli.

Brilliant thank you. I'm leaning towards Sicily as we'd rather have a mix of things to do, especially as we're looking at 2 weeks there.
No, I'd never go in August. My best friend is from northern Italy and it's even too hot there for me, nevermind the children.
Thank you for the recommendations in Sicily
I will look into those options and chat to DH to see what he would prefer. I think it'll be a tough choice.

It’s a hard decision and depends how much travelling around you want to do. You could also do Palermo-Cefalu-Taormina-Siracusa-return from Catania. But I don’t like driving round and changing Hotels lots w kids.
if you are lucky you could still have nice beach weather in September, so maybe do one week Cefalu (sandy beach, beautiful old town) w a day trip to Stromboli and then a few days city sightseeing in Palermo. You also have a nice beach near Palermo called Mondello.

Sicily.

I found Sardinia a bit limited in term of things to do.

As other people have already said it gets really hot in the summer so avoid August.

June or September would be better.

@HaveYouSeenRain @Startingagainandagain thank you both. Think we're definitely going to go for Sicily!

We don't want to travel around too much because of the kids (I find that a bit stressful). So we're going to do beach somewhere but with a trip to Palermo as well probably :) 2 years away seems so long but I'm excited already 😅

@HaveYouSeenRain Been doing research this morning and going to suggest Cefalu with day trip(s) to Palermo. DH and my eldest love trains (public transport in general) and the train to Palermo is around an hour. They'll very much enjoy the train. Thanks for the tip of Cefalu!

Another vote for Sicily here- there is way more to do than in Sardinia. If your DC are learning about the Romans in school this is a very interesting place to visit: www.etna3340.com/en/visit-sicily/villa-romana-casale#:~:text=Piazza%20Armerina%20owes%20its%20fame,best%20preserved%20of%20their%20kind.

We loved Sicily but did the other side and split the trip between Ortigia and Taormina.

You will love Cefalu, it’s beautiful 🤩 and offers lots for kids. The beach is amazing! And you can stroll around the old town, lots of cafes and restaurants etc.
you could also do a train trip to Capo D’Orlando.

.