Need input on why we should choose one region over another. We are in our mid sixties. Have visited Rome, Tuscany, Venice, Cinque Terre, Liguria, and Venetto. We travel on our own and organize our itinerary based on info from travel books and Youtube. We only take day tours; are nature lovers, usually walk 15,000-22,000 steps when on vacation. Don’t like art museums. Love history. Chose Lake Garda over Lake Como. Loved Verona and used it as a base to visit Bologna and Bolzano. Travel by plane, train, and bus. Love Liguria, and prefer towns like Porto Venere and Rapallo, instead of the overly crowded towns in the Cinque Terre. What do you recommend for us based on the description above.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
9158 posts
I have only been to Palermo & Cefalu in Sicily, so I can’t give you a true comparison. Although I fully enjoyed my 5 days in Palermo, that’s not a place you’re describing on your wish list.
On the other hand, I do think you will enjoy Puglia if you like a laid-back environment where exploring some days with no specific plans can turn into a wonderful day!
I am the opposite from you; I don’t like day trips & much prefer staying in each little town to experience the ambiance of it at night. But I do just travel by train or the occasional bus.
Thinking of transportation train lines & smaller cities, check Trani, Locorotondo and Monopoli. Matera is very special; I think that deserves an overnight or two. Pick a B&B that has cave rooms! : ). By the way, Bari & Lecce are the easiest train hubs, but neither one of those is what you’re requesting.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
9158 posts
Also, I rented an ebike the day I stayed at Alberobello to ride out in the countryside. I’m planning to ebike again when I return to Locorotondo. There’s a lot of nice bike trails in that region if it interests you.
Posted by
Colorado
2317 posts
I think you’d love Sicily. Especially Scopello, and the Zingaro Nature Reserve. The little island of Favignana, off the coast of Trapani, where you can rent bikes or hike around the island. And the Greek temples at Agrigento and Selinunte. Hiking around Mt Etna. Plenty to do for 10 days without churches or museums.
Posted by
Germany
31 posts
I think if you're not using a car, Sicily might be a bit complicated, although I personally think it would suit you best. For Puglia you can take the train for day trips (like Ostuni, Monopoli etc, here is the site we found the trains). For Sicily, day trips without a car could include taking the ferry (we have found our the info for day trips on ferry hopper here).
Posted by
6375 posts
Where are you flying from? Which gives you the better flights for more time on the ground should be taken into consideration.
Ten days for Sicily requires some very hard decisions of what to leave out. You have to be selective in Puglia too, but I found it easier to make 10ish day itineraries there, and I think it is easier there without a car (though for nature explorations you almost certainly will need one--there are some nice parks).
Posted by
OP
12 posts
In Sicily, I would fly into Palermo and out of Catania. In Puglia fly in and out of Bari.
Posted by
OP
12 posts
Thank you for all your responses and ideas. I think this time we will go to Puglia.