Visiting Venice, Italy With Toddlers: A Family Travel Guide
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Discover the best things to do, tips and tricks for enjoying a beautiful visit to Venice with toddlers.
Venice – Italy’s city of canals has no shortage of nicknames and titles that it has rightfully earned over the course of history. You may know it as the most romantic place on Earth, a world wonder, an impressive engineering and architectural marvel, or simply “The Floating City.”
With such an utmost reputation, most people probably don’t associate Venice as a popular destination to visit with toddlers or young kids.
While it’s not blatantly apparent, Venice can actually turn out to be a lovely experience for the entire family. And here’s how!
In this guide, we’ve included the best places to visit and things to know about visiting Venice with a toddler.
Quick List: Things to Do in Venice With Toddlers
- Ride the Ferry
- Tour Doge’s Palace
- Run Around and Listen to Music in Piazza San Marco
- Pick Out a Book from Libreria Acqua Alta
- Eat a Ton of Gelato
- Play at the Gardens and Playgrounds
- Visit Burano
- Paint a Venetian Mask
- Book a Family Friendly Sightseeing Tour
The Essentials: A Venice Trip With Toddlers or Babies
👣 Leave the stroller behind. Venice is packed with small staircases, so opt for a carrier-style solution instead or prepare to have your toddler walk.
💸 Looking for the best value while visiting Venice with a toddler? Purchase The Venice Pass for discounted access to all of Venice’s top sights.
🛌 Book a place to stay that’s near a ferry station. This cuts down on needless travel time when you’re trying to get started on a day of exploring or returning after a long day.
🎒 Select a guided tour and sightseeing excursion that’s focused on families with kids. These tours still include Venice’s top sights for the parents, but with an added twist of entertainment for the children.
🛥 Avoid booking a private water taxi or gondola ride if you’re on a budget. They’re significantly more expensive than just hopping onto the Vaporetto water ferry if you want to experience travelling the canals.
🦺 The canals that run through Venice can be a potential hazard to toddlers if unsupervised. Some parents may choose to put on a life vest while just walking around Venice in case an unthinkable accident does occur.
Wonderful Things to Do in Venice With Toddlers
1. Ride the Ferry
For toddlers and young children, taking any sort of public transportation like the train, metro, and ferry can be as thrilling as an amusement park ride. Take advantage of the low-effort fun while visiting Venice and ride the ferry with your toddler.
The ferry, also known as the Vaporetto, is the primary form of transportation throughout the main canal of Venice and is efficient when looking to cover a lot of ground.
Furthermore, it’s likely the most scenic and beautiful form of public transportation you’ll ever experience. Parents get the chance to soak in all the classic scenes and iconic landmarks from the point of view of being out on the water.
Comparatively, the Vaporetto isn’t the cheapest ferry service and costs around €25 for a 24-hour pass. Luckily, kids under 6 years old can ride for free. Purchase the Vaporetto Pass online and ahead of time so you don’t have to waste time in line.
2. Tour Doge’s Palace
It’s a bit tricky to find a Venice museum that will intrigue your toddler, but Doge’s Palace is one of the few. The reason is that it allows their imagination to run freely. Doge’s Palace is, after all, the closest thing in Venice to a fairytale-like castle once filled with royals.
If your toddler has watched any animated movie about a princess or a story of a kingdom far, far away, it’s pretty easy to get them excited about visiting the many incredible exhibitions of Doge’s Palace.
A tour of the palace includes a glimpse into luxurious apartments, grand halls, dreamy courtyards, and even dungeon prisons.
A standard museum ticket to the Doge’s Palace costs about €20 for adults but children under 5 are free.
3. Listen to Music in Piazza San Marco
Piazza San Marco is undoubtedly among the most breathtaking town squares in Italy. It is romantic, cinematic, historic, and simply legendary. Although toddlers may not appreciate any of this, they are likely to enjoy the live music that fills the square in the evenings.
The perimeter of St. Mark’s Square is dotted with various restaurants, many of which have a band playing outdoors. Whether it’s classical or jazz music, the sounds bring the atmosphere of the entire piazza to life.
Not to mention, Piazza San Marco is a well-closed off area and ideal for a safe space in Venice to let your toddler burn some energy.
4. Pick Out a Book From Libreria Acqua Alta
This famous bookstore is more than just an Instagram hotspot. It’s surprisingly a really pleasant, charming, and well-stocked bookstore that also happens to be the perfect place to buy a non-kitschy souvenir.
Toddlers will love sifting through the various Italian children’s books filled with characters and stories that are new to them. Or, make it a family activity and pick out a handmade postcard or small painting to bring back home.
Despite Libreria Acqua Alta’s massive popularity, it still remains a regular old bookstore which is free to enter. It is most known for its creative displays of books that have been imminently destroyed by flooding, which occurs regularly in Venice.
5. Eat a Lot of Gelato
While visiting Venice with a toddler, embrace the routine habit of eating gelato (maybe even for breakfast). For toddlers, they might as well see Venice as “gelato land” because there’s an opportunity to get a scoop on every corner.
Parents, there’s no need to feel guilty for letting your toddler indulge because gelato tends to have less sugar content and is made with whole milk rather than cream.
When choosing where to go for gelato in Venice, be aware of tourist traps.
Remember – gelato should not be brightly colored and should not look like large high mounds of whipped cream. These characteristics are implemented to catch your eye but are not indicative of genuinely good gelato.
The best gelato in Venice:
Gelato di Natura – San Giacomo dell’Orio
6. Enjoy the Gardens and Playgrounds
While the number of historic landmarks, grand palaces, and luxury hotels surpasses the number of green spaces in Venice, there is still a good number of parks and gardens dotted throughout the city.
If you’re traveling with a toddler while visiting Venice, you understand the significance of conveniently stumbling upon a playground.
Many parks in Venice can be a bit elusive to reach because they are often located within a courtyard. Enjoying a public space of greenery then becomes an adventure to find. If it’s a public park, there will be no sign indicating that it’s private (look out for the word privato).
Giardini Papadopoli, located near the Santa Lucia train station, is hands down the best park with a playground for toddlers in Venice. Giardini Reali is another piece of landscaped paradise located near Piazza San Marco.
7. Spend the Day in Burano
Located in the Venetian Lagoon, the petite island of Burano is an incredible place to visit from Venice, whether it’s for a few hours or the entire day. Burano is particularly a huge breath of fresh air if you’re visiting with a toddler because it’s far less crowded without the chaotic foot traffic of Venice.
Burano’s most admired characteristics are its colorfully painted waterfront homes and the art of needle lace products, an artisanal craft from the 18th century.
To reach Burano from Venice, take the ferry that departs from Fondamenta Nove. You can also take a B-line ferry towards Lido Santa Maria Elisabetta and then hop on a ferry to Burano from there.
8. Paint a Venetian Mask
The Venetian mask is world-famous and a pillar feature of Venice’s Carnival tradition. Painting and creating your very own mask combines an arts and crafts activity with embracing an iconic token of historic Venetian culture.
Even if you are not visiting Venice during the time of Carnival, a hand-painted mask is the most distinct souvenir for your family to bring home from Venice. Plus – what toddler wouldn’t be thrilled to paint their own mask?
Venice is filled with boutiques that sell Venetian masks in addition to mask-making workshops, but make sure you choose a child-friendly one if you’re planning to take a toddler along.
9. Book a Family Friendly Sightseeing Tour
You can throw a rock in any direction to find a walking tour of Venice. But, these are usually meant for groups of adults or at least folks with a solid attention span to get through a sightseeing tour.
Luckily, there are a few guided tours of Venice that are specifically created for families traveling with children.
What does this mean? Tours are more engaging with kid-friendly commentary, interactive games, and even hidden gem sites that make the tour feel like a real adventure.
For parents who don’t want to miss out on Venice’s top attractions but also don’t want to worry about keeping a toddler entertained throughout a 3-hour walking tour, it’s 100% worth your time to seek out a family-friendly group (or private) tour.
👍 You May Like: Best Things to Do in Naples, Italy With Kids
What to Skip With Young Children in Venice
While an adult can spend an entire month visiting the various museums in Venice, we don’t recommend including them on an itinerary when traveling with young kids. Of course, this is a generic statement and will largely depend on your own toddler.
But, it’s safe to say that most of them may not appreciate Tintoretto’s Crucifixion oil painting and could very well be time wasted.
Museums in Venice hold some of the country’s most valuable masterpieces — which is not exactly the environment in which you want your curious toddler rummaging around.
Another “bucket list” item to skip while visiting Venice with toddlers is a performance at the Venice Opera House. This activity may be best to save until your child is older.
FAQs: Visiting Venice, Italy With a Toddler
Is Venice Safe to Visit With Toddlers and Babies?
In terms of general safety surrounding petty theft, scams, or unpleasant interactions, Venice is no better or worse than any other major European city. It’s recommended to remain vigilant for occurrences such as pickpocketing as you would in any crowded destination.
But, there is nothing in particular that would deem Venice unsafe or unfit for a traveling family with toddlers or babies.
With that being said, Venice offers one big upside as well as one downside when it comes to safety for toddlers. The upside is, there are no motorized vehicles allowed on the streets of Venice.
You do not have to worry about car traffic when your child begins to run around town squares and through the alleyways.
Unfortunately, you will however have to keep an extra eye on your toddler when it comes to keeping them out of the canals. Often times, there are no guard rails or fences around the canals which means a toddler can potentially fall into the water if left unattended.
What Is the Best Age to Bring Kids to Venice?
There really isn’t a bad age for bringing a child to Venice because there will always be something for them to enjoy at any age. Instead, it boils down to the level of effort that a parent must put in while visiting Venice with a kid.
Based on this, there’s a sweet spot of 6 – 10 years old where children are more independent, still get excited about gelato and interesting statues, but are more careful when it comes to not falling into a canal.
Compared to touring Venice with a toddler, children between 6 and 10 are easier to include in activities like Venetian mask-making classes, Murano glass-blowing tours, and even certain museums.
Travelling around Venice with a baby who isn’t yet walking is also enjoyable. It allows you to zip through an itinerary on your own schedule.
Is Venice Stroller Friendly?
If you can help it, do not lug around a stroller when visiting Venice with a toddler. The city is not stroller-friendly in the traditional sense. Since Venice consists of a vast network of canals, the streets are connected by more than 400 bridges.
While the larger bridges have ramps constructed alongside them, nearly all of the inner bridges consist of stairs. They’re not long stairways, but they’re consistent which means the process gets annoying really quickly.
In addition to the never-ending collection of staircases you’d need to haul a stroller up and down, there are many bulky cobblestone paths that are guaranteed to provide a very bumpy ride.
Lastly, the pedestrian streets can be quite narrow at times, particularly when navigating alleyways within the historic center. It’s challenging to pass by another human being, let alone squeeze through with a stroller.
When visiting Venice with a toddler or baby, it’s time to 100% opt for a carrier-type product instead of a stroller.
What Is the Best Way to Get around Venice With Toddlers?
If your toddler or young child is anything like ours, a boat or train ride is always a guaranteed way to entertain them. Luckily, there are many boat trips to be had while visiting Venice.
To get around as a family, the most affordable and efficient way to tour Venice is by taking the Vaporetto.
The Vaporetto is Venice’s version of public transportation in the form of a ferry which travels through the Grand Canal, to the train station, and around the main island. It does not make stops in the small canals, so this means you must rely on some degree of walking if opting for the Vaporetto.
The best part about visiting Venice with a toddler is that the Vaporetto is free for kids under six years old.
Although tickets for the Vaporetto aren’t exactly cheap, it’s still insanely less expensive than booking a private taxi transfer.
How Long Do You Need in Venice When Travelling With Kids?
As many parents may know, some things simply take longer when traveling (or just leaving the house) with young children. When planning a trip to Venice, allow for some grace if you’re interested in experiencing most of the city’s top sites.
Spending three (two days minimum) full days in Venice is a solid amount of time for a trip to not feel too chaotic.
It is not just about seeing the attractions themselves, but taking into account the travel time of just getting around with a toddler.
Can You Find Baby and Toddler Essentials in Venice?
Once we reached the toddler stage with our child, we undoubtedly began to care a bit less about the exact brands of certain child products we needed. We simply utilized what we did find in local grocery stores or pharmacies while traveling.
Fortunately, yes, real kids do live in Venice, so of course there are essentials readily available even for visitors.
Supermarkets in Venice will absolutely carry essential products for babies and toddlers like diapers, wipes, fruit pouches, crackers, formula and so on. You may not always see a brand you’re aware of, but big household names like Johnson & Johnson, Huggies, and Pampers do exist in Italy.
If you absolutely need to continue using the same products you’re used to at home while traveling, make sure you pack them before reaching Venice.
The biggest difference that parents will need to be aware of when shopping for child essentials in Venice (and Italy in general) is that most healthcare-related products are only sold at pharmacies.
You will not find cough medicine or even eye drops on the shelves of supermarkets in Venice.
Can Babies and Toddlers Go on Gondolas in Venice?
Anyone can go on a gondola ride in Venice, including babies and toddlers. There is no minimum age limit, and gondolas aren’t exactly referred to as a dangerous activity.
However, if you do choose to book a gondola ride for the family, keep in mind the temperature if you’re visiting in the summer.
Gondolas are often not equipped with any form of shade or canopy, but some do offer a handheld umbrella. It’s important to be mindful of this before you bring a baby or toddler onboard under the hot sun in June – August.
Where to Stay in Venice With Kids
When choosing where to stay with young children while visiting Venice, there are a couple of things to keep in mind (regardless of budget).
First, prioritize accommodation located near public transportation, or a ferry stop on the Vaporetto in this case. Not having to trek far distances with your baby or toddler in order to just get to the boats will save you a lot of time during your trip.
Finding a place to stay in Venice that’s located near a campo is a big bonus for parents with toddlers.
A campo is similar to a piazza, which is essentially a closed-in town square. It provides a safer place for your young child to run around and play without having to worry about an accident in the canal.
Top Rated Places to Stay in Venice With Kids:
Carnival Palace – Best Luxury Stay Suitable For Families
Ca’ Dei Dogi – Best Location Near Doge’s Palace and Piazza San Marco
Privacy in Venice – Best Two-Bedroom Apartment
Ca’ Della Carita’ – Best Budget Apartment
Collegio AMDG – Best Location for Boat Transport
Corte Nova – Best Spacious Three-Bedroom Apartment
Foresteria Levi – Best Grand Canal Location
Where to Eat in Venice With Kids
Many restaurants in Venice tend to give off a pretentious vibe. If you’re a couple or group of adults, this likely isn’t an issue, but parents know that “fancy” and “toddler” aren’t necessarily a match made in heaven.
Of course, every child is different, and Italy is insanely kid-friendly, so realistically, eating in Venice with kids is possible anywhere if you’re up for it.
On the other hand, Venice has begun to lean into its casual side, and more and more relaxed eateries seem to be popping up. If you’re visiting Venice with a toddler and want to make your life as easy as possible, choose a self-service place to eat instead.
The best casual places to eat in Venice with kids:
- Bar Alla Toletta
- Dal Moro’s
- Bacaro Pane e Vin
- L’ Bacaro de’ Bischeri
- Pizza al Volo
- Atled Meat Lab
- Panini e Vini da Babbo
Travel Resources
☔️ TRAVEL INSURANCE: EKTA or VisitorsCoverage
✈️ FLIGHTS: Skyscanner, CheapOair or Kiwi.com
🚙 CAR RENTALS: Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com
🚊 TRAINS & BUSES: Busbud, Trainline or Omio
🛳 FERRIES: Direct Ferries
🛌 ACCOMMODATION: Booking.com, Agoda or Trivago
☎️ ESIM / CELL PHONE DATA: Airalo
📸 TOURS & ACTIVITIES: GetYourGuide or Viator
