We're taking the kids (10, 13, 14) to Rome for 3 days. After that we'd like to spend 4-5 days in the Naples area or Siena area. We'd like to do day trips from those areas. Which do you think would be better for kids and where do you recommend going? They're city kids, though do love the beach and can tolerate some hiking.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Please include the time of year you will be there and whether you plan to rent a car.
Posted by
OP
Kamakura, Japan
24 posts
Not sure about the car. We thought we would take the train to the major city and then rent a car for a few day trips. We'll be going in the middle of June.
Thanks,
Juil
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
A lot of people knock Naples. I like it. I wander around at all kinds of hours and have never been pick-pocketed or head-bonked. My wife and I have different interests, sometimes we separate for hours, I never worry about her. There's a lot to see and do in Naples -- and even more during day excursions.
Day trips from Siena are essentially day trips to another Siena -- the hill towns fuzz together in your memory after you've been home for a month. My kids would have killed me if I'd tried to put that one over on them.
If you're dead-set on Tuscany/Umbria, consider Perugia. It has a lot more going for it and is within striking distance of the touted hill towns.
Posted by
Singapore
354 posts
For kids that age, the Naples/ Sorrento area might be more enjoyable. You could visit Pompeii or Mt Vesuvius, or head down to Sorrento/ the Amalfi coast. Boat rides and a bit of beach, plus spectacular scenery - cliffs and the sea. There's some walking in the Siena/Tuscany region but it's mainly history, art, beautiful landscapes, wine. If you're in Siena during Palio time (2 July and 15 August) though, that might be interesting for the kids but the town is super crowded then. Someone on this board once suggested including the children in the planning and have them decide what they most want to see. Of course, the problem is that the three of them might want to visit completely different places!
Posted by
Dallas, TX, USA
1170 posts
If you go to Naples, just be sure that they don't venture out alone or at night. It's not as "tourist safe" as other destinations in Italy. That region probably has more variety of places to see and things to do than Siena. A trip to Capri to see the blue grotto and ride the Monte Solaro chairlift might be fun.
Posted by
OP
Kamakura, Japan
24 posts
Thanks. So...are there better places to take kids? We'll be in Paris at the end of the trip, but wanted to get away from huge cities for a few days.
Juli