Tuscany or Amalfi Coast

I have been to Tuscany twice and then to the Amalfi Coast once.

In Tuscany the first time we used Volterra (probably my favorite Tuscan town) as our home base and the second time San Gimignano. I found there to be a lot to do in the area. There are so many towns to explore, great food, amazing wineries, etc. There really is nothing quite like Tuscany. In August, it'll probably be a bit crowded and hot but that is what comes along with being in Europe in August. In Tuscany, of course, you won't get the chance to be near the water but you will get breathtaking rolling hills and scenery.

When I was in the Amalfi Coast, I found it to be very similar to the Cinque Terre except a tiny bit less busy, but still busy. Since a lot of the towns are cliff-side, I found transportation and finding places with convenient parking to be a bit trickier. This is another place where your views will be absolutely spectacular. You can even take a dip in the water if it gets a bit too hot! If you choose the Amalfi Coast and are able, I highly recommend a hike called the Path of Gods.

I don't think you could go wrong either way. Both are places that are stunning and quite relaxing. I personally liked Tuscany better and have put it on my list of places I would love to return again and again.

I suspect everything's going to be crowded in late August. It's easier to get to Tuscany and easier to visit places there. The main problem with the AC is that it is served mostly by a single narrow 2-lane road that hugs the cliffsides so moving around is very slow and buses are very crowded. In Tuscany, you have comparatively much better, less congested roads for bus travel and you also have train options if you choose the right base.