Our next visit to Italy. North or South

I love Sicily, but it could be quite hot at either of those times. In addition, 4 or 5 nights would be a frustratingly short period of time to spend there, and it's not like it's easy to reach. I'd hold off on Sicily until you can spend at least two weeks there.

Coming from where? What month?
With 4-5 nights, wherever maximizes your time!

Interestingly, we're kind of in the same dilemma, for April 2025. This will be our 4th trip to Europe, and we want it to be a combination of favorite destinations from past trips and new stuff. 14-17 days, either itinerary ending with a week of chilling out in Rome. And...we love the trains! Would love feedback.

Northern--fly Boston/Zurich, a snappy 7 hr, 15 min nonstop. Train 75 minutes to Chur, stay 2 nights, overcome jet lag and investigate Switzerland's oldest village. Chur is also the stepping-off point of the Bernina Express, the famed 4-hour-plus winding train ride through the mountains & valleys of the Alps to Tirano, Italy, and we'll switch and another 90 minutes to Varenna on the east coast on Lake Como--new for us. There's Hotel Olivedo right on the banks of the lake that looks fetching indeed. 2-3 nights there, then by train switching at Milan to Florence for 3-4 nights, then to Rome for our week. A self-imposed rule is all lodging must be within easy walking distance of the train station. In northern Europe, that's doable. Fly home Rome/Boston.

Southern--fly Boston/Rome Fiumicino/Catania, Sicily. Including the transfer to ITA for the flight to Catania, we're looking at 11 hrs start to finish. Transfer up to Taormina, 4 nights there. We've visited before and we realize that this little resort town for the rich in the past is definitely not indicative of Sicily in general. But it was gorgeous, we haven't seen it in 15 years, and we don't have nearly enough time to explore the rest of the island anyway. Then...and this is new...we want to take the train to Messina, then on the train/ferry (apparently the last in Europe) across the Strait of Messina to Calabria, and northward. Stay either in Maratea (new) or in Salerno, which is charming in and of itself and a great jumping off point for the Amalfi Coast or Pompei. 2-3 nights there, then onto our week in Rome.

I would definitely do this southern route if I could guarantee warm weather in Sicily in April, which is possible but not a for sure thing. And we did Switzerland in March before, where the weather was 30s/40s, snow in the mountains, crisp mountain air, and we loved it. Lucerne was a dream. Looking forward to one or the other, with the caveat that we know this is a lot of trains, so we would pack lighter than ever before & be prepared.

Jay you should probably make a fresh post, but I like #1 a lot better. In #2, you skip so much and have an excess of travel.

I lived in Germany for four years and had teens then, we did much of northern Italy, but nothing south of the Naples, Capri, Sorrento area. Never found a great beach in Italy compared to what you find in California, Florida or the Caribbean.

Do you really have to go to the beach with all the history, art and culture in Italy?

I would argue that beach can be part of culture. And when many people say "beach" they mean that they want to be at the seaside, which is certainly culture. I grew up near beautiful beaches, but they were nothing like the Mediterranean rocky scrub lands that I love so.

We will be flying from London. 1st week of June. Now staying for 7 nights.

And yes, when I say beach, I mean by the sea.
We want the history and the culture but we also would like to go out to bars and restaurants with good atmospheres, places that have locals in too.

Thanks