Venice family vacation: Plan it the smart way!
When people think of traveling to Italy, the enchanting city of Venice often comes to mind. Known as the "City of Water" and "The Floating City," Venice is a unique masterpiece, built on over 120 small islands connected by elegant marble bridges spanning its picturesque canals. The iconic gondolas gliding through these waterways, paired with Venice’s rich history, create an undeniably romantic and timeless charm.
Although I’m based in Tuscany, I’ve had the privilege of visiting Venice countless times over the past 20 years: on tours, as a journalist, and while researching my books about Venice, fo course. Yet, no matter how familiar it has become, Venice never fails to captivate me. Its beauty, atmosphere, and allure remain as magical as ever—a truly unforgettable destination.
Venice family-friendly attractions: Where to Go?
Visiting Venice with children can be a challenge. Navigating the city isn’t always easy, and many attractions may not be ideal for younger visitors. So, if you’re planning a family trip, where should you go, and what activities are best suited for kids?
1. Piazza San Marco, or “The finest drawing room in Europe” according to Napoleon, is a beautiful public square known for its numerous sitting areas and cafés. Shaped more like a trapezoid than a square, Piazza San Marco is the heart and soul of Venice. Aside from flocks of tourists and Venetians, the Piazza features elements of Venice’s social, religious, and political culture in the many notable monuments concentrated here. These monuments include the San Marco Basilica (also known as St. Mark’s Basilica), Campanile (Bell Tower), Duke’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale, the former home of Venice’s rulers), and Museo Correr (Correr Museum). The piazza is incredibly beautiful, and it's impossible not to be impressed with its grand monuments.
2. The San Marco Campanile (Bell Tower), One of the most iconic symbols of Venice dating back to the 8th century, the Campanile Bell Tower was once used as a watch tower and a lighthouse. Between 1489 and 1902, the tower experienced an earthquake, several fires, and ultimately, complete collapse. Nevertheless, the Campanile was rebuilt in 1912 to its original height of 98.6 meters (323 feet) in a corner of the Piazza San Marco. Today, visitors can take an elevator to the top of the tower and enjoy a spectacular 360-degree view of Venice. Unless your kids are afraid of heights, this is a definite must-do activity in Venice. The views are spectacular!
3. Ride a Gondola: Stepping into a gondola may sound touristy or overrated, but it's also one of those "once in a lifetime experiences" that are a bit of a must-do when in Venice. These flat-bottomed row boats are specifically designed for traversing Venice’s waterways. Ypou pay by the boat, not per person, and a gondola can comfortably fit a family of 5. A 30 minute tour will sot about 90 euro (note that seranading isn't included... If you want your gondoliere to sing for you, you'll have to book such a tour specifically). The cozy gondola ride through the waterways of Venice will provide you with some memorable photo opportunities.
4. Tour the Canal Grande, The Canal Grande is the largest and most impressive canal in all of Venice. A source of inspiration for authors, poets and numerous painters, this S-shaped canal stretches 3,800 meters (2.36 miles) long. While private boats and gondolas are available for traveling the Canal, many tourists choose public transportation provided by waterbuses known as vaporetti. Although a vaporetto travels slowly, it offers tourists maximum time to take in the abundant sights located on both sides of the Canal. These sights include over 170 churches and stunning palazzi, some more than 700 years old. You don't need a gondola to tour the Grand Canal! All you have to do is board the famous vaporetto (water bus) and ride it along the canal to see the sites. Choose vaporetto line number 1: it makes more stops, and allows to you take in the views calmly.
P.S: one of the best things to do with kids when you tour the Canal Grande and other corners in venice is to show them what it means to live in a city that is built on the water. Since there are no cars, boats are used for everything. There are ambulance boats (see photo below) and even the garbage trucks are boats!
5. Family friendly restaurants? Sure, but you can also dine like a Venetian: Venice is known for its expensive restaurants; but, you do not have to spend a lot of money to enjoy its authentic cuisine. Seafood dominates Venetian cuisine, yet fruits, vegetables, rice and polenta are also widely used. Overall, food in Venice represents a delicious combination between local traditions and influences from abroad, a reminder that Venice was once a maritime empire and a true cosmopolitan hub.
If you are traveling with teenagers, don't miss the All-Venetian experience of cicheti! Venetians have added their own twist to the Italian concept of Italian aperitivo, or cocktail hour before dinner, and have turned it into a true local tradition. During the aperitivo you can buy a glass of wine or spritz (the local coktail), the kids can get a soft drink, and everyone can enjoy fried cheese balls, mini ham sandwiches, olives, hard boiled eggs, or small servings of full courses with your drink for 1.50 to 2.50 euros each. In Venice, these snacks are called cicchetti and provide a great, inexpensive way to sample the cuisine. Cicheti aside, there are several easy-going restaurants in Venice that are suitable for families, too. Try Oniga, near the Da Vinci museum, or 1000 gourmet for excellent pizza. Both are great.
For a full list of recommendations, check out the Venice chapter in our popular guidebook, Venice, Verona, Lake Garda & the Dolomites with Kids 2025 (sold on Amazon).
6. Visit the stunning Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari or the Doge's Palace: If your time in Venice is limited, you may only have the chance to visit one museum and one church. For the ultimate experience, prioritize the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale in Italian) and the Frari Church, two of the city's most remarkable landmarks. If you only have time for one site, opt for the Doge's Palace. This breathtaking masterpiece is a true feast for the senses, offering an unforgettable experience. Plus, they provide guided tours for families, making it an excellent choice for visitors of all ages.
If you have time for more, visit the Frari basilica, too. Built in the Italian Gothic style, the Frari’s exterior is plain, but its interior features a legendary collection of Renaissance art as well as tombs and monuments for prominent Italians from history. Some examples of art include: The Risen Christ by Alessandro Vittoria, Madonna and Child with Ss.by Giovanni Bellini, St. John the Baptist by Donatello, and Assumption by Titian. The i Frari also contains the heart of the sculptor, Antonio Canova, the remains of the painter, Titian, and many others.
There are at least 10 other churches and museums in Venice that are worth exploring with kids. find out more about the best things to do in Venice with kids with our popular guide book, Venice, Verona, Lake Garda & the Dolomites with Kids 2025 (sold on Amazon).
7. Tour the colorful alleys of Burano: the island of Burano is Considered one of the top ten most colorful cities in the world, Burano Island lies about one hour from mainland Venice. Tourists do love Burano and rush here for its colorful, square-shaped homes that line narrow streets and reflect into the water of nearby channels creating picture-perfect scenery suitable for a postcard! Now in spite of the crowds, there are corners and alleys you can escape into to experience some of Burano’s calmness from fisherman hanging their fish to women lacemaking. The only disadvantage to Burano is that it will take you a long time to reach. The boat ride to get there (from Venice's main island) takes nearly an hour.
8. Visit the famous glass island of Murano: Murano IslandJust 15 minutes from mainland Venice, Murano Island is well-known for its rich tradition of glass making. For centuries, Murano has produced many different types of glass such as art glass, glass jewelry, chandeliers, and even wine stoppers. Therefore, China and other manufacturers attempt to imitate these quality pieces, but there is just no comparison. Today, you can visit a glass making shop and observe Murano’s masters at work as they create glass with the same techniques employed by their forefathers. Booking a guided visit to see the masters blow the glass right in front of your eyes is a highly recommended activity for families. Murano and burano (see previous recommendatino can easily be combined for a half-day excusrion). You can reach both on your own, using the public vaporetto system, or you can book a guided tour if you are short on time and don't want to rely on the vaporetto's schedule.
9. Shop at Rialto Market: Any trip to Europe is incomplete without shopping! So, you should definitely set aside some time to visit the endless maze of shops in the Rialto Market. The Rialto serves as the financial and commercial center of Venice and contains the Rialto Bridge, which runs across the Canal Grande. Here you can find both retail and wholesale shops selling luxury goods, keepsakes, souvenirs, and much more. There's no need to spend $$$ on your souvenirs. Even with a modest budget, you can pick up something charming, like a little Venetian mask.
10. Get lost in Venice: This last tip may sound strange, yet it truly adds to your experience. Venice has many hidden treasures known only to locals, but they are worth discovering. Navigating Venice can be challenging, so getting lost is often inevitable. But that's not a bad thing. When you get lost you can finally see the hidden corners of the city, and that's where so much of its charm lies. Once you stumble upon little known bridges, narrow canals, colorful churches, and hidden campi (the local term for piazza. Venetians have their own dialect), you will be in no rush to find your way again!
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