You will love these fun things to do in Venice Italy with kids. These 5 popular Venice attractions should definitely be on your to-do list!
Fun and exciting Venice attractions
Taking your family to Venice can be one of the most amazing experiences of your life. For most people, it’s hard to imagine the amount of history and culture a city like Venice can offer.
Some of the top things to do in Venice
If you have the opportunity to take your whole family to Venice, your kids will likely benefit from being exposed to other cultures and seeing some of history’s great works of art, buildings, and just from the experience of traveling.
Many children that have the chance to travel early in life get to see things they might have otherwise missed until adulthood. You will find pizza and gelato and fun things to see that kids enjoy throughout the island. If you’re wondering what to do in Venice with your family, we have some wonderful ideas.
5 Popular Things to Do in Venice, Italy with Kids
Venice with kids can be a lot of fun if you know what to do when you get there. Plan your next trip with these things to see in Venice that are great for the kids!
1. Piazza San Marco is a big tourist attraction
Once referred to as the ‘drawing room of Europe’ by Napoléon Bonaparte, the Piazza San Marco connects three amazing places, all with historical impact and interest in Venice. The three places are the Basilica di San Marco, or St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, a historical political hub, and Toree dell’Orologia, a clock tower that took over 10 years to build and is still one of the area’s main attractions.
Today, this area is bustling, and nearly everybody who comes to Venice stops to see it. When you’re in Venice Italy with kids, it is a great idea to stop here and marvel at the architecture and history.
2. Take a Gondola Ride in Venice
When you think about Venice, you probably think about the canals that people once used to navigate the city. While those canals are still used, it’s not exactly like it used to be. Just know that when you visit Venice Italy, taking a gondola ride is a must!
Today, you can hire a gondola for a set period of time to take you around and show you the sights. The gondola may not be a standard mode of transportation for Venice residents today, but it’s a part of the history of the city that can be a whole lot of fun for the whole family. When you’re in Venice Italy with kids, this is a popular Venice attraction!
A gondola ride can also provide a quick romantic moment for parents traveling with kids since they usually only last between 40 minutes and one hour. If there’s time during your romantic getaway, try to find a local restaurant or bar that serves Venetian wine and stop in for a glass or two.
If you end up taking the kids on your gondola ride, a scoop of gelato is the next best thing.
3. Tour the Venice Grand Canal
If you’re in Venice, you’re going to want to take a tour of the Grand Canal. It’s just something that you need to do if it’s your first trip.
Guided tours of the Grand Canal are offered multiple times each day, and most tours only cost a few Euros per person. You can also buy multiple-day tickets that will allow you to board different boats and see different parts of Venice via the Grand Canal on separate occasions.
Smart travelers who are spending more than a few days in Venice will also find that many of the Grand Canal boats are a great way to get around the city while seeing the sights.
4. Check out the Rialto Bridge
The Rialto Bridge is the oldest bridge on the Grand Canal, one of the most popular Venice attractions, and is enjoyed by both kids and adults! Cross the bridge at St. Mark’s Square on foot for spectacular views of the river and its gondolas and other boats from both sides.
As you make your way to the middle of the bridge, you’ll see shops and souvenirs along the way. Don’t forget to take photos at the top of the bridge! As you make it to the other side, you’ll find restaurants and more shops, and the Rialto Market, full of fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, and other grocery items and it is a must-visit!
5. Take a Vaporetto ride
The Vaporetto is like a water bus that serves as public transportation to take people around the city of Venice. It makes stops like a city bus does, so you can hop off and hop on at different stops.
If you and your family like to explore Venice on your own, this is a great way to do so. Plus, the Vaporetto is much more affordable than a gondola ride and the kids love riding in boats along the Grand Canal!
Bouns tip – learn a little Italian!
Venice is certainly a welcoming city to travel to, and you’ll likely feel very comfortable while you’re there however, you do need to remember that people speak Italian in Venice, and while some people may speak a bit of English, not everybody does.
The locals greatly appreciate it if you make an effort to speak Italian, so make some time to either learn a good base or learn keywords that will help you get around the city. Your whole experience in Venice Italy with kids will be much richer if you do.
Enjoy Venice Italy with kids!
More European travel articles…
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Best place to stay in Venice, Italy – Ca Gottardi
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That looks amazing! I have never been to Europe. We have traveled all over SE Asia because we currently live in Singapore. I’ve heard Italy is such a great place from friends who have visited
Thanks for the tips on traveling to Venice with the family! I love opening my kids’ eyes up to the world around them through travel, though we haven’t been to Italy yet. It’s on our long range plan though – perhaps next summer – and Venice is definitely on the list.