My husband and I are celebrating our 25th Anniversary in July. We'd like to do a 10-14 day trip to Europe for some sight-seeing and relaxing on the beach/water. I realize most places we are interested in will be crowded and hot, but wondering thoughts (pros/cons) on:
Portugal
Greece
Sicily
Puglia - if Puglia area, would you do as stand-alone, or could we add in Sicily? We've been to Rome, Florence, Venice and Amalfi.

Thank you

I cannot comment on Greece or Portugal but know that there are many trip reports for you to peruse for ideas.

For Sicily, as I am researching it myself, I'd want 14 days minimum for the island, so, personally I would not do both Puglia and Sicily in one trip if you want to do mostly a relaxed pace. I'd do either Sicily OR Puglia but not both in that time period.

I just got back from Southern Italy where my first half of my trip was Puglia and I barely scratched the surface. I'm working on my TR now and know there are many others.

YMMV, but if you want to have a relaxed pace with sightseeing, I'd choose only 2 bases, 3 max, for the time you have no matter where you decide to go.

I agree, both Puglia and Sicily in that amount of time would be too much, especially since you want a relaxed trip. I spent 17 nights in Puglia in June. If you click on my name and scroll down to Trip Reports, you can read what I wrote if you like.
It would also be easy to spend that amount of time solely in Greece. I spent two weeks there and only put a dent in all there is to see.

Firstly, don't go to Greece in July, your wedding anniversary notwithstanding, because it's too crowded with tourists and too hot.

I cannot speak for Italy or Portugal, but Greece is best in late May, early June. It was 37 degrees Celsius, on June 6th, (by the car thermometer) on my last trip.

Fly into Athens, rent a car from Kosmos (downtown in Athens), after spending the night at the Royal Olympic Hotel (with best roof top breakfast), it's just around the corner, and drive 3 1/2 hours to Kyllini, where you can take the ferry to Poros, Kefalonia, and then drive to the capital - Argostoli.

There's horseback-riding to enjoy, green sea turtles to admire, several grottos to explore, lots of fine cuisine, great unpopulated beaches to dip your feet in (and warm, clear water), and almost no tourists.

Use Terra Mare (125 bed resort, with Olympic. size pool, set in an orchard in Lixouri - 15-minute ferry ride from the capital, Argostoli) as your base of operations.

Just sayin'....

July will be hot. If was to do this I might visit the Portuguese coast to the north, the Spanish Atlantic coast or French Atlantic. Even then it depends when in July. Go for early bookings.

I've visited the countries you mention and July is busy and hot.

You might like The Isle de Re or the Cote dOr with easy access to Bordeaux. Fly into Paris, train across. The Isle is basically enjoyable without a car, mainly bicycles, walking, horses, fine food, a little light sailing.

Yes, I should have mentioned the heat in all those places. In Puglia in June, temperatures ranged from 85 to 109! When I was in Greece, it was September, and it was in the mid to high 80's.

Portugal is also likely to be quite hot in July other than the northern part of the country.

For good weather / climate data, consult weatherspark.com

I don't see how any of us can comment on "pros and cons" of the places you mention. For example, Portugal and Greece are large countries with a diverse range of options. I do agree that Sicily would require all your time -- actually, I think 18 days the minimum to see Sicily (though you could, of course, see just a part of it).

My advice: Do some more research. Get guidebooks or consult them at your local library.

Best wishes!

July may be warm (28 - 35 degrees centigrade) in all the Mediterranean.

Greek Cycladic Islands are usually very windy and will therefore not feel really hot.
If you avoid Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Corfu, Zakynthos, Skiathos, Thassos, the Iraklio area in Crete and the Rhodos - Faliraki area in Rhodos and some holiday ghettos popular withr Northern Europeans, nothing will be crowded.
The beautiful sandy beaches of Psara Island, for example, will probably be rather empty in the first half of July whereas at the famous Tsambika Beach at Rhodos, about every 10th sunbed will be occupied.

In Spain, you will find crowded beaches along the Costa Brava, at Mallorca, Ibiza, in certain areas of Formentera and almost empty beaches in the Ebro Delta or around the Parador El Saler (South of Valencia).

In Sicily, places like Taormina, Siracusa, Sciaccamare, etc. are always rather crowdwd whereas yoiu may be almost alone South of Lido di Noto or in Western Sicily.

The Atlantic seawater in Portugal would be too cold for me.

I can only comment on Portugal, but I have done research on the other destinations, and my wife has been to a couple.

We LOVE Portugal. I think the entire Iberian Peninsula appeals to us actually. The streets and sidewalks are beautiful, the food is amazing and inexpensive, plenty of fun adult drinks to be found, and of course there is a lot of history and natural beauty to be found as well.