Venice, known locally as Venezia , is an Italian city known for its romantic restaurants and gondola rides through beautiful canals, which can make it seem like it’s not an ideal destination for families traveling with children.
If you are planning a trip with young people, you may consider visiting Venice for three or four days as a side trip from London or Rome. However, there are a number of great things you can do with your children in Venice, Italy. While getting to and from Venice can be a bit more challenging for younger children, the city is quite welcoming to visit with families.
Before you go, be sure to prepare your children for what to expect in Venice; consider educating them with a great children’s CD: Vivaldi’s “Ring of Mystery,” a musical story set in Venice that will excite children of all ages about the sights and history of the city.
Arriving in Venice and moving
While there are direct flights from the United States to Venice, it may be easier to book a cheap flight from London or take a train from Rome, especially if you are traveling with children. Whether you’re flying or taking a train, you’ll want to pack little, as Venice doesn’t have taxis or cars to take your luggage to your hotel; you will have to rely entirely on the boats, which have weight limits on how much they can hold.
In Venice, you can get around on foot or by some form of boat: from the expensive gondolas to the small ferries (vaporetti) that constantly go up and down the main canals. The three-day passes for the vaporetti are a good deal; Check out the discounts for young children and students.
A word about strollers: in Venice, you are constantly walking up and down the steps of little bridges that span the canals. A 3-year-old can probably get out of his stroller and walk these bridges; If your child can’t, consider wearing a backpack. If you take a stroller, make sure it’s ultralight.
Things to do for kids in Venice
Once you’ve figured out how to get around the city, there are many great attractions geared toward residents and visitors of all ages. From watching street performers in Piazza San Marco to taking a ride on a water bus, there is no shortage of entertainment for children in Venice:
- Piazza San Marco – Known as the heart of Venice, Piazza San Marco is a great place for children to enjoy public art and performance, as well as historical architecture and a bit of nature. Thousands of pigeons visit the square every day, and children often enjoy chasing these feathered creatures through the square. Small orchestras play in outdoor cafes, and parents often enjoy architectural wonders, including the interior of St. Mark’s Basilica.
- Go on ice cream rides: walking in Venice is a joy; the trick is to keep those tired little legs by walking forward. Attract young people with ice cream and sweets. Ice cream parlors are everywhere, and ice cream is fabulous if you get it Artigianale style.
- Ride a water bus – the younger set can enjoy the boat ride while parents gaze at palazzos on the Grand Canal. Take a vaporetto at many stops, running constantly both day and night. You can also take a boat trip to Venice Beach, The Lido, or to the island of Murano, famous for glass blowing.
- Go to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection – Heiress Peggy Guggenheim loved Venice, and now her home is a wonderful museum that is well suited to children. To get there, head to the Accademia Bridge, a 20-minute walk from San Marco Square, or take a ferry; then follow the signs to a fabulous collection of surreal modern art, perhaps the most interesting type of art for young minds, with fantastic creatures and landscapes and animals flying through the sky. Outside is a beautiful sculpture garden, where children can run. There is also a large patio right on the Grand Canal.
Where to eat and drink with children in Venice
With ice cream and pizza on display in almost every way, Venice is a surprisingly kid-friendly city when it comes to eating out. However, children may have a hard time finding drinks they like around town. American children are not used to the taste of Italian milk, which is fresh or heat-treated, and juice and soda can be quite expensive.
Fortunately, bottled water is readily available, and tap water is drinkable. In fact, some environmentalists have been promoting drinking tap water because disposing of endless amounts of empty plastic bottles is even worse, ecologically, in Venice than elsewhere. Still, you should always check the latest information on water quality before your visit to make sure your children are safe to drink.
Where to go to the bathroom
If you’re lucky, your offspring will use the bathrooms in the charming trattoria, where you buy lunch. However, most children only need a bath 10 minutes after one is available. In such cases, you may see certain posted signs directing you to a public “WC.” However, be prepared to pay something from the property to use these facilities throughout the city.
Peculiarities of Venice
Being a wonder of the world has some downsides. For example, local people often don’t go out of their way to accommodate crowds of tourists. In fact, there are very few visitor accommodations in local establishments throughout the city.
Also, you should be aware that pickpockets in Venice are some of the most skilled in the world. When you’re out and about, check your bag for wandering hands, especially when visiting tourist attractions like piazzas or ice cream parlors.
In general, visiting Venice is worth almost any price, even with children. Sometimes it can be difficult to have the hands of young children pulling you when you want to enjoy the beauty and art of the city, but you will still enjoy introducing your children to the culture and history of Venice.
