In general, Italy is quite a child-friendly country and you will find that children are welcome almost anywhere.
Rome with children
Rome is one of the most popular cities in Italy to visit. With ancient ruins, parks, spooky locations, and even a children’s museum, Rome is a good family destination. When visiting Rome with children, consider taking one of these unique guided tours of Rome.
Umbria Hill Villages
Several people have told me that the Umbrian hill towns were their children’s favorites when they traveled in Italy. Umbrian hill towns are generally small enough not to be intimidating and children enjoy exploring the stone arches and alleys and the medieval atmosphere. The Umbrian region also has a large lake, a waterfall, and an unusual collection of mummies that older children may find fascinating.
Guard Lake
Lake Garda in northern Italy is a good lake for family vacations. The southern part of the lake has good sandy and pebble beaches and the clear water of the lake is nice for swimming and boating. Ferries are a fun way to explore the lake, where you’ll also find small villages, medieval castles, and walking trails. And if your kids just have to go to one amusement park, there are several nearby, including Gardaland, probably the best amusement park in Italy.
Bomarzo monster park
Bomarzo Monster Park, an unusual park with statues in the form of mythological creatures, is a delight for children. The park is north of Rome, in northern Lazio (see map), near the border of the Umbria region. You will need a car to get there.
Castles to explore
Visiting a castle can be a lot of fun for children as they can imagine themselves in the role of knight, princess or even king. Castles often have interesting medieval towns around them as well, but remember that they are usually on a hill so it may require a bit of climbing.
Guided tours and activities for families
Adding a half- or full-day guided tour or activity designed with kids in mind can be a nice addition to Italy’s major cities. Here are city tours, pizza making classes, rowing, mask making, and more in Rome, Venice, and Florence.
Amazing Family Tours
Select Italy’s Amazing Family Tours is an easy way to tour Italy’s three most popular cities with activities designed especially for families. On these tours, you’ll travel by train to visit Venice, Florence, and Rome, spending two nights in each city in a special family room or suite. Walking tours and sightseeing are designed to appeal to children, and special family activities include mask-making in Venice, shopping and cooking in Florence, and pizza-making in Rome.
Florence with children
While Florence might not have many attractions that attract children, there are places that children will enjoy. Here are five suggestions on where to take the kids in Florence.
Things to do in Sardinia with children
The island of Sardinia has many attractions that are suitable for children, from animal attractions and quality beaches for children to nuraghe, the unique stone towers of the island.
Stay on a farm
Especially if your family is from the city, staying on a farm in Italy can be a unique experience. Rural accommodation ranges from rustic to luxurious and can be a room in a country house (bed and breakfast) or self-catering apartments – a good idea when traveling with young children and you don’t want to eat in restaurants all the time. Many farms have animals and if they don’t, there is usually at least one dog or cat and many vacation farms have a pool or playground. Tuscany and Umbria are good places to look for an agritourism, while in Puglia you will look for a farmhouse.
Spooky places in Italy
When your older children get bored of museums and monuments, think about a visit to one of Italy’s mummy museums, catacombs, or other spooky places (not recommended for younger children).
