{"id":716,"date":"2025-07-06T06:09:45","date_gmt":"2025-07-05T22:09:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php\/2025\/03\/07\/11-of-the-best-things-to-do-with-kids-in-italy\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T09:56:03","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T01:56:03","slug":"11-of-the-best-things-to-do-with-kids-in-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/?p=716","title":{"rendered":"11 of the best things to do with kids in Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Looking for a glorious country to explore with kids? Italy might be just what you need.<\/p>\n

People are patient and accommodating and there\u2019s no shortage of things to do, from treasure-hunting in Roman ruins to castle-building on sandy beaches. Add brilliant food to the mix and you\u2019ve got the perfect recipe for an unforgettable family trip.<\/p>\n

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With pizza, pasta and gelato, Italy has plenty of food options that tend to appeal to young visitors \u00a9 Johner Images \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What makes Italy good for kids?<\/h2>\n

There are relatively few child-specific sights in Italy but museums and visitor attractions generally provide free or discounted admission for children. Many also cater to young minds with smartphone apps, touchscreen gadgets, audio guides and dedicated tours.<\/p>\n

Eating out is a breeze too. Children are welcome in most restaurants and with pizza, pasta and gelato on the menu, good times are guaranteed. Kids\u2019 menus are rare but it\u2019s fine to ask for a mezza porzione <\/em>(half portion).<\/p>\n

Getting around can be hard work in cities where you\u2019ll have to contend with steps, cobbled streets and darting scooters \u2013 not ideal if you\u2019re pushing a stroller.<\/p>\n

Where is best in Italy for kids?<\/h2>\n

Italy\u2019s historic cities all have plenty to offer, from epic ruins in Rome to gondolas in Venice and heavenly climbs in Florence. Out in the wilds, you can cruise around Alpine lakes and have family adventures in the Dolomites. Puglia, Calabria and Sardinia harbor spectacular beaches at every turn while Sicily thrills with its volcanic fireworks.<\/p>\n

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Italy’s city squares are perfect for toddlers to explore \u00a9 LeoPatrizi \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Best things to do in Italy with babies and toddlers<\/h2>\n

Hang out in parks, piazzas and playgrounds<\/h3>\n

Among the museums and masterpieces in Italy\u2019s great art cities you\u2019ll come across many parks, piazzas and playgrounds. Places like Villa Borghese in Rome, Florence\u2019s Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza San Marco in Venice are prime spots for letting your tots off the leash.<\/p>\n

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For older kids, there are several theme parks dotted around the country, including the ever-popular Gardaland near Lago di Garda.<\/p>\n

Head to the beach<\/h3>\n

Do what the locals do and hit the beach in summer \u2013 though not in August if you want to avoid the worst crowds. Once on the sand, bathing clubs rent out umbrellas and sun-loungers as well as providing toilets and bar facilities. You\u2019ll find beaches throughout the country but many of the best are in Sardinia and the southern regions of Calabria and Puglia.<\/p>\n

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Kids are likely to engage with history at Italy’s major sites \u00a9 ASphotowed \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Best things to do in Italy with young children<\/h2>\n

Poke around ancient relics<\/h3>\n

Children and ancient ruins don\u2019t always make for holiday bliss. But even the most hard-to-please kids will be impressed by Rome\u2019s Colosseum or the ghostly remains of Pompeii. Needless to say, these sites get very busy so consider visiting in the afternoon when temperatures have cooled and the throngs thinned. For somewhere less crowded, try the southern city of Matera where your kids can nose around ancient cave dwellings known as Sassi.<\/p>\n

Go wildlife watching<\/h3>\n

As well as Rome\u2019s zoo and Genoa\u2019s aquarium, Italy provides plenty of scope for wildlife encounters. Dolphins ply the waters of Taranto and can be seen \u2013 if you\u2019re lucky \u2013 on boat tours. Further north, Marsican brown bears, wolves and chamois roam Abruzzo\u2019s remote national parks. You\u2019re unlikely to see one but it\u2019s fun to know you might.<\/p>\n

Get hands-on in Italy’s family-friendly museums<\/h3>\n

Museums are a good choice for rainy days. Child-friendly options include Explora, a colorful play-museum in Rome for under-12s, and the Gelato Museum Carpigiani near Bologna. Elsewhere you can meet a mummy in Turin\u2019s Museo Egizio or go goggle-eyed at Milan\u2019s Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia, Italy\u2019s largest science museum.<\/p>\n

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Make the most of Italy’s coastline, lakes and waterways \u00a9 AleksandarNakic \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mess about on water<\/h3>\n

From sliding around Venice on a gondola to cruising Lago di Garda or touring Capri\u2019s coastline, Italy\u2019s waters provide thrills and spills. Older kids with a taste for adventure could try their hand at sea-kayaking in the Aeolian Islands or white water rafting in Calabria\u2019s Raganello Canyon.<\/p>\n

Do some sport in the mountains<\/h3>\n

The Dolomites in Veneto and Trentino Alto-Adige are a prime spot for year-round sport, boasting stunning scenery and activities for all ages and abilities. Places like Cortina d\u2019Ampezzo, Val Gardena and Val Badia offer excellent family-friendly facilities such as skiing, sledding and snow-boarding in the winter and hiking and biking in the summer months.<\/p>\n

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Climb monuments for iconic views<\/h3>\n

Young explorers can summit monuments and towers across the country. Pisa\u2019s Leaning Tower is one for the family album while the Campanile on Venice\u2019s Piazza San Marco offers 360-degree views of the canal city. For more heavenly panoramas, climb the dome of St Peter\u2019s Basilica in Rome or Brunelleschi\u2019s landmark cupola in Florence.<\/p>\n

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Keep the tweens and teens active with a hike up one of Italy’s volcanos \u00a9 Imgorthand \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Best things to do in Italy with tweens and teenagers<\/h2>\n

Venture up a volcano<\/h3>\n

Italy is one of only a handful of countries where you can scrabble around a volcano. Sure-footed teens will have no problems scaling Mt Vesuvius, mainland Europe\u2019s only active volcano. Offshore, Mt Etna and Stromboli put on frequent fireworks displays in Sicily. But when they\u2019re quiet, they can be visited on guided tours.<\/p>\n

Explore underground<\/h3>\n

Italy\u2019s underworld provides rich pickings for subterranean adventures. In Rome and Naples, you can plunge into creepy catacombs to see where the early Christians buried their dead. For stalagmites and stalactites, there are several spectacular cave networks, including the Grotte di Frasassi in Le Marche, Tuscany\u2019s Grotta del Vento, and the Grotte di Castellana in Puglia.<\/p>\n

Become a football fan<\/h3>\n

Seeing one of Italy\u2019s top football (soccer) teams in action can be a thrilling experience. To cheer on Juventus, head to the Allianz Stadium in Turin. Fans of Milan\u2019s two teams (AC Milan and Inter) should make for the San Siro Stadium while supporters of Roma and arch-rival Lazio can catch their team at Rome\u2019s Stadio Olimpico. Check the clubs\u2019 websites for match details. If you can\u2019t make a game, all three stadiums can be visited on guided tours.<\/p>\n

Planning tips<\/h2>\n

Family-friendly accommodation is plentiful in Italy. Good options include self-catering apartments and farm stays (agriturismi<\/em>) which provide space and sometimes even animals to pet. Seaside resort hotels are also well set up for families with many offering babysitting services and private beach access.<\/p>\n

Italy has an efficient train network which makes traveling between cities fairly straightforward. Connections to popular seaside resorts are also pretty good, either by train or bus. For more remote rural areas, you\u2019ll really need a car.<\/p>\n