We have two weeks in Italy. We will definitely do some of the time in Sicily. We have a 9 year old and a 5 year old . Thinking about 2 days in Rome, 2 days in Sorrento/Pompei and then rest of time in Sicily.
Would it be better to just do the 2 days in Rome and then all rest of the time in Sicily? Or, just do the whole time in Sicily?
Want combo of food, beaches, nature, history.
Thoughts?
I teach 'em, I don't have 'em but I am wondering if Sicily might answer your questions. If you have a car you could do the archaeological sites and beaches along the way, maybe.
Sicily is well worth the two full weeks. Rome is worth at least 5 nights on a first visit and Pompeii/Naples a logntransfer for only two nights. You cannot do justice to all by dividing your time. Go to Sicily and enjoy two full weeks there. You will need a car.
I am going to buck the trend and ask who is interested in Pompeii? If it was a wish of one of the children, maybe include it to keep the peace. Put it at the end and fly home from Naples. If not on their radar, then keep to Sicily.
I’ve been convinced of not doing any of Sorrento/Pompei, but still not sure about missing out on Rome, even if for just two or so days. I’ve never been and am not sure if I’ll make it back anytime soon/if ever.
Will be seeing other archeological ruins in Sicily, so for me, Rome would really be for Colosseum and Vatican Museums. How bad would I feel for missing out on those?
Vatican Museum is vast. With a 5 year old, I would wait for a repeat trip. This does not have to be the only trip to Italy, but if you will regret Rome then arrive there and stay 3 nights before heading to Sicily....or do it at the end with 2 nights if you can arrive there from Sicily mid dayish. Colosseum that afternoon,Vstican muesum next day, flight home final day.
Rome would really be for Colosseum and Vatican Museums. How bad would I feel for missing out on those?
Sounds to me like you will feel bad for missing out on those!
Wait a few years for the Vatican Museums. They are huge and usually very crowded which sounds like misery for little ones, and there's no quick way to see them (except perhaps an off-hours private tour),
I think since they are so young that two days in Rome is enough
The golf Cart Tour would be great for them
If you are coming from the US, the logistics of flights to Sicily are more complicated than you would expect. So, you'll probably find it easier to have at least one night in Rome on your way back. Voila - just add a night or two to this "mandatory" night, and there's your Rome time.
Seriously, do investigate flights now, before getting attached to any plan.
If you don't mind a long read, here's my Sicily trip report. If you don't want to read it all right away, do read about how I handled my flights (near the top), to give you some ideas: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/sicily-palermo-caltanisetta-siracusa-taormina
Thanks all. We already have our Transatlantic flight booked, and will actually be coming to Italy from Barcelona, and then departing Italy for Paris where will be a few days and see a Women's World Cup game.
I have two boys (13 and 11) and just did 2.5 days in Rome before heading on the 11 day RS tour of Sicily. None of us had ever been to Rome and even though it is easy to spend more time there we are so glad we went! We hiked to the top of St. Peter’s Basillica (loved the view and the boys enjoyed the activity) and did a self tour of the Basillica but did not do the museum. We did a 2 hour tour of the Colosseum that included the underground and it was awesome. We also enjoyed the Pantheon.. My younger son loved the cat sanctuary at Largo Argentina. We were allowed to go inside with the volunteers and pet the cats that were blind and therefore not wandering around the ruins. Those ruins btw include the theatre of Pompey where Julius Caesar’s was assainated so that’s pretty neat. So if you have a few key sites you really want to see and recognize you can’t see everything, even a couple of days in Rome is still pretty great. We loved Sicily! The boys loved all the fresh markets and trying the street food. There are some beautiful coves with rocky beaches and blue water that we didn’t spend a lot of time at because it was February but both my kids still put their feet in the water. The historical sights are varied and the layers of empires make it a unique place to visit. I say go for it.
The Roman Forum is the only place whose artistic influence on Western Culture could be compared to Pompeii’s influence. But hot stone roads and no shade are a problem for little people.
Note that Amalfi Coast beaches are pebbles, and the water is cold. Sorrento’s only beach is sand but tiny and smells of the two adjacent marinas.
Regardless of destination, you need considerable time to get to these airports.
You said that you have your flights booked, but I missed the Italian arrival/departure airports.
If this were me - traveling with those ages - I'd plan at least 2/3 days in the arrival and/or departure city, if only to say we were there and rest from rushing about to other airports. When I was traveling with that age group, it often helped manage long trips to break them into doable chunks. [We're driving to HERE. Then we'll stop and have a snack. Then we're doing THIS. And then we'll...you get the idea.]
YMMV, of course, but that worked well for me when coordinating long trips to unfamiliar places. Break it into stages.
