How busy is Italy in August? Alternatives?

[Indecisivelurcher]

We're planning a trip by rail, Switzerland to Italy. Kids age 9 & 11. We're currently thinking Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken, probably then Zurich to Milan, Florence, Pisa, Rome. We were originally thinking of going to Cinque Terre but have been put off by reading it's a line of people almost queuing up to see. Then we heard Rome is pushing through crowds to see say a fountain. To be honest although the kids say they want to see things like the leaning tower and the colosseum, I'm thinking it sounds a bit mad and perhaps not enjoyable. Is it any better in the winter?! Are there any nice towns we could go to in Italy instead, to have a more chilled experience? We'd like Italian food, gelato, scenery and architecture. Or alternatives to Italy, do-able by train? Or do we do more in Switzerland?

We’ve just done the Amalfi coast and it was extremely busy. To the point where it was difficult to get about. Trains very chaotic, late every time.

We went to Rome in March and it was perfect for the coliseum and sight seeing. I like heat but suspect it would be both too hot and hectic in August. I think that’s a lot of ground to cover with kids that age. What about staying in the Italian mountains? Maybe with one city visit?

In August? Go to the beach. It will be hot and cities will be packed with tourists.

I was in Florence last year in November and it was sunny and 16 degrees. Was busy enough, would not go in summer.

August is the month most Italians go on holiday so it can be busy. Rome will be sweltering and Florence will be rammed. If you can do September it would be a lot less busy.

I would do Zurich to Innsbruck to Bolzano then Lake Garda and Verona and/or Venice.

Everyone said como would be crazy in August, it was busy, but lovely. Totally manageable

We are tied to school holidays but can split the Italian cities away into a different break, maybe May half term another year.

October is still nice if you want to go to Rome, that far south should still be nice and warm

I actually read somewhere online that October is the busiest month in Rome!

We went travelled around by train to different venues in Italy a few Augusts ago. Sorrento was busy but not awful. Venice was also busy but it was still lovely. We then went to Turin which I wasn’t expecting to like as much as I did. Beautiful city and impressive / interesting museums (motor and film) and great food. Mostly Italian tourists - not so busy and felt more laidback. Have been to Rome in August but last went at Easter and much preferred it although still crowded. Trains were all good - on time etc

We’ve just got back from Rome. I love the heat and sun but it was already getting uncomfortable for city site seeing.

We went in November (many years ago) and it was much better city break weather.

It’ll be less sweltering though

Rome in August is not nice at all

DH just sent me a link to look at a mountain lakes train trip through Switzerland and Northern Italy in school summer hols through a company called byway. Not really had a chance to look at it yet though. DS doesn’t like heat and loves trains. DD loves sun and sea. DH loves mountains and lakes (not climbing or skiing or anything). Need to try and find a bit of everything!

I wouldn’t take kids that age to the Cinque Terre as they are pretty but not particularly interesting. Italian cities are heaving and hot in summer so might be worth staying nearby and doing a day trip. I would have though Switzerland could fill your time, perhaps stopping at Lugano and maybe Milan to lake Maggiore.

we did Verona lake Garda and Venice last year in July it was packed and way too hot.
we did Rome in August boiling and busy

@historyrepeatz I've been getting ads for byway!

Check that it's not over the 15th August: spent this weekend in the Italian Lakes and it is a holiday in the RC Church so many restaurants etc. were closed, ended up with pizza in a box in the hotel lobby.
I have not been yet, but have had Treviso recommended as a place with lots of water in the urban area (so possibly not quite as baking), which is within easy reach of Venice by train.

I went with kids to Rome in August. Was boiling but easy to do the sights morning and evening and just have lunch and a sleep in the afternoon ( they slept I sunbathed!) . Worked well actually. Wasn’t overly busy as the Italians head to the beach at the beginning of August.
Be aware few places near the centre have pools due to age of buildings. It was great being in the centre but we had a week on the outskirts doing a pool/ countryside holiday as well.

Coast will be rammed with Italians

Cities will be hot and rammed with foreign tourists

May half term is perfect for Italy IME - bearable for sightseeing but warm enough for a dip if you fit a lake or beach into your plans.

It’s very hot in August and will not be fun for your children particularly in Rome. If you stay close to the mountains or the coast it’ll be cooler and much more enjoyable.

We’ve been to Rome in October half term as a family. It was no busier than when I went in November and in March.

It completely depends where you go, even in Rome. I've said this before, but Rome is full of ancient stuff- it extends far beyond the Colosseum. You don't need to go there, or the Trevi Fountain, or Piazza Navona. (Personally I would grit my teeth and book for the Pantheon though). You could stick to the parks and shady areas, for example going to see the Domus Aurea on the Aventine Hill, going underground at San Clemente or in the Catacombs. It will still be extremely hot though.

Florence could potentially be even hotter- it's in a bowl of the hills, so traps heat. It's more difficult to avoid the crowds as the historic area is smaller, and the Campo di Miracoli in Pisa is even worse!

If you want to do Tuscany, maybe somewhere like Siena, that's on top of a hill so catches the breeze?

Venice is OK as long as you wander the back streets, and stay away from Piazza San Marco. Also easy to build in a beach trip at the Lido, and I would recommend buying a day ticket for the vaporetti (not cheap 🙄) and exploring the islands of the lagoon.

Basically, build an itinerary around places that are either close to water or in the mountains. So, the Lakes, Venice, and I would recommend Liguria. Genova is an unappreciated gem, and instead of the Cinque Terre, why not walk on the Portofino peninsula, which is a national park?

I wouldn’t visit any Italian cities in August, far too hot and busy. In recent years we’ve had winter trips to Venice, Rome, Florence, Pisa and Lucca amongst others and it’s been bliss every time. Blue sunny skies and very few crowds.