Naples & Campania (Amalfi, Pompeii)

Naples & Campania delivers a high-energy, sensory experience that captivates older children and teenagers, though it can be chaotic for those with toddlers. The region is dominated by Mount Vesuvius, the active volcano that buried Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 AD. Visiting Pompeii is a bucket-list history lesson; the site is vast, so families should focus on highlights like the amphitheater and the stepping stones in the streets. Herculaneum is smaller, better preserved, and often easier to manage with younger kids.

Naples itself is intense, loud, and vibrant. Traffic rules are loosely followed, so hold hands tight when crossing streets. However, the city is incredibly welcoming to children. You can explore Napoli Sotterranea (Naples Underground) to see ancient aqueducts and air raid shelters hidden beneath the city. And, of course, there is the food: Pizza Margherita was invented here, and pizzerias are noisy, family-friendly places where it’s okay for kids to be kids.

South of Naples lies the Sorrentine Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast. While the scenery is world-class, the vertical landscape of towns like Positano involves hundreds of stairs, making strollers nearly useless. Sorrento is a better base for families, offering a flatter town center and easy train access to Pompeii (via the Circumvesuviana line) and ferries to Capri. On Capri, the chairlift up Monte Solaro and the boat trips to the Blue Grotto are magical adventures.

Summer heat here is intense, and the crowds in July and August can be overwhelming. The best times for families are Easter or October. Be prepared for a slower pace of service and logistics that don't always run on time—patience is key, but the warmth of the locals makes up for the chaos.