{"id":857,"date":"2024-10-01T18:53:25","date_gmt":"2024-10-01T10:53:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php\/2025\/03\/07\/why-italy-really-is-the-mother-of-all-family-travel-destinations\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T09:56:03","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T01:56:03","slug":"why-italy-really-is-the-mother-of-all-family-travel-destinations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/?p=857","title":{"rendered":"Why Italy really is the mother of all family-travel destinations"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ask any avid family traveller, ‘Where\u2019s the best place that you’ve visited with your children?’ and we bet the answer will be somewhere in Italy.<\/p>\n

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With so many amazing places to see in Italy, it should be on the top of your family’s bucket list \u00a9 Mike Tauber \/ Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s no secret that Italy is an incredibly (and deservedly so) popular destination for holiday-makers of all stripes. Yes it can be crazily busy, unbearably hot and super expensive \u2013 all factors most families don\u2019t often put on the top of their wishlist for a trip.<\/p>\n

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The beauty of Italy is that there are many amazing places to explore. With a bit of planning, your family can easily leave the crowds behind to find somewhere with temperatures you can handle and prices that won\u2019t break the family bank. But what exactly is the magic ingredient that makes the Bel Paeseso<\/em> so enduringly popular with families?<\/p>\n

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Kids are celebrated and encouraged to just be kids in Italy \u00a9 Westend61 \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Italians say \u2018child-friendly\u2019 they really mean it<\/strong><\/p>\n

As any parent or carer knows, travelling with kids can be stressful. Little people are often noisier, less patient and find it harder to control their emotions than grown-ups. Whereas some cultures frown upon children expressing themselves, in Italy they are positively encouraged to do so.<\/p>\n

This means kids are welcome to run around ancient sites, are greeted with true warmth when they enter restaurants, cafes and shops and are actively encouraged to make the most of all of Italy\u2019s attractions whether that\u2019s a world-famous museum, a hill to climb or a beach to frolic on.<\/p>\n

For the accompanying adult, this approach works wonders for your own experiences \u2013 in Italy you can truly relax and enjoy both being a parent and the buzz of exploring somewhere new.<\/p>\n

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Learning about the interesting historical sights is a fun and interactive way to explore the country for the whole family \u00a9 Ascent \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s a hands-on history lesson<\/strong><\/h2>\n

From the temples of Sicily and the ruins of Pompeii to the industrial cities of the north, via a capital which needs no introduction, a trip to Italy is one enormous lesson about the past. And the best bit is that you can now explore these fascinating sites using a range of fun-focussed activities \u2013 including everything from high-tech gadgets to old-fashioned, self-guided tours \u2013 to help your young people in understanding life as it once was.<\/p>\n

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Become gladiators for the day in the Colosseum, take a family tour round Milan\u2019s Castello Sforzesco and learn about frescoes through augmented-reality glasses in San Gimignano\u2019s Palazzo Communale, and that\u2019s just for starters.<\/p>\n

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All the ice cream, pizza and pasta a little one can eat makes dining through Italy a breeze for a lot of kids \u00a9 Oscar Bjarnason \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s easy for kids to eat, drink and the whole family be merry<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Speaking of starters, food is such an important component of any family trip, and feeding children in Italy really is a dream. If your kids love pizza, pasta and ice cream you are golden and can make the most of finding restaurants where you can be adventurous while the kids are happily sated.<\/p>\n

Even if they don\u2019t like or can\u2019t eat these child-friendly staples, you can easily find menus with a wide variety of options. Visiting local markets to create your own meals that everyone will tuck into is also a joy.<\/p>\n

Go a step further and book one of the many family cooking courses available throughout Italy. There\u2019s nothing like learning skills together to cement the family bond, and recreating your culinary masterpieces at home is a lovely way to keep the holiday alive.<\/p>\n

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There are outdoor adventures galore to satisfy the most active of families \u00a9 Westend61 \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are activities for all ages<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Wherever you are in Italy there are easy ways to get your family active. Base yourself in the Dolomites or Alps for your adrenalin-addicted teens, where they can go mountain-biking, canyoning, skiing and many more vaguely terrifying activities.<\/p>\n

Build sandcastles on the beach and learn the joys of passiegata<\/em> with a toddler in the coastal towns of Sicily and Sardinia. Hire bikes, rent a canoe or simply enjoy frollicking in the water with younger children in the Italian Lakes.<\/p>\n

Italy\u2019s natural landscape is so varied that with a little bit of research you can easily find somewhere that will suit all your family\u2019s needs \u2013 and that includes the grandparents wanting gentle hiking options if you are going for a multi-generational trip.<\/p>\n

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The trains run well, making Italy easy to explore \u00a9 Imorgthand \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s affordable and easy to get around <\/strong><\/h2>\n

While you can pay eye-watering prices if you want to (especially in the cities and some of the much-hyped coastal areas such as the Amalfi Coast), the fact that Italy is so popular with tourists means that there are a huge number of options for places to stay and eat, which often brings prices down.<\/p>\n

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In the countryside, families make the most of agriturismi<\/em> (rural farmstays), which often have fun activities for kids on site as well as the chance to learn all about local farming practices. Cities are usually more expensive but there are plenty of self-catering options to help keep costs down.<\/p>\n

As long as you don\u2019t set yourself the challenge of travelling from Sicily all the way to Switzerland in one go, moving between places is relatively straight-forward with an extensive train network and roads that are better than their international reputation would have you believe.<\/p>\n

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From the beach to the mountains and all the cities in between, its easy to create a trip to satisfy lots of interests \u00a9 Carol Yepes \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You can keep the whole family happy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

By their nature, families are groups of people with varying and different needs, so finding a holiday destination that works for all can be a challenge \u2013 especially if you have a large age range to cater for.<\/p>\n

Italy often fits the bill for families with disparate interests because you can easily combine different elements. For example, you can take a culturally immersive city break, and then spend some time in a villa with a pool in the countryside (basing yourself in regions like Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio are good for this). Or you can get active with a hike one day and then hang out on the beach the next (try Sardinia, the Lakes, Campania if this is how your family functions).<\/p>\n

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Budding writers and artists will find all the inspiration they need \u00a9 Frank and Helena \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There\u2019s plenty of inspiration for budding creatives <\/strong><\/h2>\n

If your child loves to paint, draw, sculpt or create art in any form then chances are you\u2019ve already thought about a trip to one of the great artistic centres of Florence, Rome or Venice. The major museums and galleries can get super busy so booking online, going early and where possible joining a family tour can be a good way to help avoid fatiguing the little ones.<\/p>\n

Most places in Italy reward bringing sketch pads, but for children who prefer to write stories there are some fantastic places to explore for ideas. The ruins of Pompeii, Pisa\u2019s famous tower, the catacombs of Palermo and the volcanoes of Sicily all feature riveting stories for kids to scribble into their journals.<\/p>\n

If you are now ready to book your next trip to Italy, we have more advice and specific recommendations on our comprehensive page on travelling with children in Italy as well as ways to explore Rome with your kids.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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