italy with a 6 year old in july
 

Hello,

We are a couple from India planning a trip to Italy this july with our 6 year old daughter for 2 weeks. would love some suggestions. we are not very big on museums and history and architecture. of course, being in Italy, we want to look at a bit of that too, but we would like to concentrate more on being in scenic places and having a good time, with things to do with our daughter. The tentative plan is :

arrive into rome-2 nights

amalfi coast-3-4 nights. we want to base ourselves in a place from where we can travel to capri/ana capri, positano and other beaches-our daughter loves beaches.which is the ideal base? also, how do we get there from rome? train into naples?

we then want to go to tuscany and base ourselves in one place for 3-4 nights. we are not wine drinkers, but would like to stay in a beautiful and scenic place with a nice pool and then do day trips around the region. we arent too keen on pompeii or naples-histiry again. so should head to florence by train from naples and then hire a car?

we were thinking then to make a quick stop in venice-maybe spend a night? (or do we need 2) before heading to the lake como region for 3 nights and then flying back to india from milan. where should we base ourselves from in the lake region so we have easy access to day trips to the pretty towns? and how do we get from tuscant to venice and onwars to the lakes?

should we spend a day in milan on our way out? or a night?

would appreciate any suggestions. thank you!

You can connect all these places with trains.
For the Amalfi Coast, bear in mind most beaches are stony rather than sandy.
As you suggested, for your visit around Tuscany you might prefer to rent a car since smaller Tuscan towns have bus service that serves the school day rather than the tourist. From Florence (Firenze Santa Maria Novella) there are frequent trains to Venice (Venezia Santa Lucia).
Many people visiting Lake Como prefer to stay in the very scenic mid-lake region, where frequent ferries connect Bellagio, Varenna, or Menaggio and other ferries travel north and south along the lake. From Venice, take a train to MIlano Centrale and then swtch a train to Varenna Esino. Train service from Milan also stops in Como at the southern less-scenic part of the lake. from there you could catch a bus or ferry to mid lake.

Trains - book early for serious discounted fares for family - www.seat61.com has loads of didactic advice on doing just that and a wealth of general info - other informative sites- www.ricksteves.com and BETS-European Rail Experts.

Many folks suggest traking train from Rome to Chiusi and then renting car at station and heading north via a string of iconic hill towns and returning car in say Siena and taking bus to Florence - negating driving into Florence - or return at Florence Airport- may want to drive to Leaning Tower area in Pisa is that intrigues you - easily done as it's on outskirts of Pisa.

thank you for your responses.

i am still unsure of where to base ourselves in the amalfi coast so as to have access to ferries to visit the other towns?

and where in tuscany should we base ourselves? florence is not very high on our priority list. we would rather be in a scenic place with a pool so as to have access to the tuscan countryside.

how can we travel to venice from here and then onwards to the lakes? and which is the best place to base ourselves in the lakes so as to have easy access to ferries to travel around the lakes.

thanks!

Positano, Amalfi are two towns with ferries to other towns and Capri - would make great bases and take buses perhaps too - like up to Ravello perhced high above Amalfi.

Look at agritourismo site for staying in rural areas - often with a pool:

https://www.tuscanyaccommodation.com...waAgiHEALw_wcB

is one site - Google Agritourismo for more links.

Yes a car would be imperative for any rural stay - like said above many go to Chiusi from Rome by train and rent there at station - Montepulciano, one of most popular hilltowns is close by. The Siena area would make a good base with car for other hill towns and even Pisa if Leaning Tower grabs your interest.

To get to Venice return car in Siena and take bus to Florence for fast trains to Venice in about 2 hours. Then train back to Milan to reach Lake Como by train - yes boats are great way to get around - no need of a car. You may want to go from Milan to Varenna-Esino by regional train (just buy tickets at any train station - no discounts available - buy in Venice but book Venice-Milan as early as possible for discounted fares at Acquista il biglietto con le nostre offerte - Trenitalia or www.italotreno.com.

Varenna is a nice lakeside town itself and has ferries to nearby Bellagio - a favorite base for many.

Milan is a great city and a day and night visiting its cathedral (Duomo) area would be great and then take Malpensa Express to airport.

Some people also like to stay in Sorrento, which is close to the Amalfi Coast but not actually on it. From there you can catch a bus or boat along the coast to Positano and other places, as well as ferries to Capri/Anacapri.

thank you all of your responses. i am trying to book a hotel or apartmemt in positano/amalfi but all seems to be sold out. maybe i will have to look at the option of sorrento. since i need easy access to ferries to go around the coast.is praiano or atrani easily connected to the ferries. we want to visit capri/ana capri, ravello, positano and maybe vietra sul mare if possible. also, what is the best way to get to sorrento or my choses town of stay from rome?

i have kept aside 3 nights for the lakes and milan. is varenna a better option to stay in or stresa/baveno on lago maggiore? and should we spend 2 nights in the lakes and 1 in milan before we fly out? or are 3 nights needed in the lakes?
i am also wondering if we should switch from the lakes to doing cinque terre instead? i was relectant because of my 6 year old..not sure if she can walk along the CT...and we are already doing the amalfi coast, so should we rather do the lakes?!

sorry, am still planning the trip. thanks again!

WARNING: You can't climb the Tower of Pisa until you are 8 years old. A friend of mine's grandson had a major meltdown because it was a focus of his trip.

For the Lakes, consider staying in Varenna (Albergo Milano or air-conditioned 4 star one on lake)

thank you so much for all your responses. i will connect again with more requests once i have booked some places to stay.

hello-am trying to book something in the lake region. since swimming is not recommended in either lake como or lake maggiore, which do you think is prettier and more charming? we would stay either in stresa or varenna. probably take a train from venice to milan and then change to go to either places, and back to the milan airport. so am asking if its better to visit varenna or stresa in mid july. which is nicer, with things to do around for our family. thoughts much appreciated.

thank you

I have swum in Lago Maggiore many times, and will again if given the opportunity. I don't know Varenna very well, but I prefer Stresa, which is an easy train ride from Milano. They will both be crowded in July.

Yes I would spend the last night in Milan. Only because I think that is the safest thing to do, get yourself back to the city you are flying out of before the day of travel.

Yes I would make Venice two nights, not only one.

Lakes Como and Maggiore are not peas in pods but each IME very enjoyable - I especially like Stresa after basing there once for several days - train station near everything - maybe not as crowded as Lake Como - not sure but Como seems to get most the play here.

Stresa could be nice last night stop before airport - just as close about as Milan itself I believe -I'd day trip into Milan - one less relocation, saving tons of time and hassle. You can also take boats on Lake Maggiore to Locarno, Switzerland for a taste of that country.

But you can't go wrong with either lake.

thank you for your response. yes, como gets a lot more play! which is why i am wondering whether to stay in varenna and explore como or stay in stresa and explore lake mennaagio. we plan to be there in mid july.

Both will be fairly crowded but Como with Bellagio as a draw may be more so.