In a nutshell
- Is Venice worth visiting with children? Absolutely — especially with pre-school and school-age kids. With toddlers, it depends a bit. We’ll show you the best things to do in Venice with kids and what to keep in mind.
- For overnight stays, we recommend the Corte dei Santi or the Casa del Melograno — both have their own garden with a playground.
- Water bus tickets are free for children under 6. Most top sights also offer free admission for young kids. But for gondola rides, children aged 2 and up usually pay full fare.
- If you’re visiting Venice with a stroller, be aware that you’ll need to carry it over the bridges, as most have steps. Otherwise, getting around with a stroller is pretty manageable.
Is Venice a Good Place to Visit With Kids?
Whether Venice is a good idea with kids really depends on their age and personality.
We’d only recommend visiting with children who don’t have a constant need to run around and who don’t dart off unpredictably.
That usually means kids aged 4–5 or older, or school-age children. With them, Venice can be a fantastic experience.
There’s just so much to discover in the narrow streets and canals — instead of ambulances, there are ambulance boats, and instead of police cars, you’ll spot police boats. With flashing blue lights!
There are also water buses, gondolas, and plenty of bridges to cross — great things to do in Venice with kids.
Venice with small kids
Venice can be challenging with small children — but it doesn’t have to be.
Many canals have no railings, and there’s just a small step between the sidewalk and the deep water. Parks and playgrounds are also quite limited.
But if your toddler is calm, enjoys being in a stroller, and doesn’t get too close to the water, Venice can still be a great choice.
If not, it might be better to wait a few years. A more relaxed option in northern Italy could be Lake Garda.
Getting Around With Kids in Venice
Venice is easy to explore on foot — the city isn’t that big.
You can walk across the entire historic center in about 40 minutes.
That said, kids’ legs get tired quickly, so it’s a good idea to have water bus tickets ready. If you book online, you can skip the ticket machine lines.
Children under 6 ride for free, otherwise a single ticket costs 9.50 euros.
If you plan to take the water bus several times, a 24-hour pass for 25 euros is worth it.
Book tickets for the water bus in Venice
Venice in One Day With Children
Is a day trip to Venice with kids worth it? Definitely, just like a weekend or longer stay.
If you’re arriving by car, you can park on the artificial island of Tronchetto and take the People Mover cable car into the city. It’s electric and driverless, very cool!
Kids only need to pay the Venice visitor fee from the age of 14. But you still need to register them and get a QR code.
Venice With a Baby Carriage
Taking a baby carriage through Venice comes with some challenges. The city is flat and has smooth paths, but most bridges have steps.
And you’ll be crossing a lot of them. But if you have a light travel stroller that’s easy to carry, it’s manageable.
The water buses, on the other hand, are fully accessible, and you can roll right on with a stroller.
Please note: strollers aren’t allowed inside the Doge’s Palace or St. Mark’s Basilica, and there’s nowhere to leave them. If you plan to visit these sights, it’s best to leave the stroller at your hotel. Strollers also aren’t allowed on gondolas.
Where to Stay Venice With Kids
There aren’t any classic family hotels in Venice — meaning places with kids’ menus, childcare, and such.
Still, we’ve found a few places that are great for families, whether it’s because they have a garden (which is rare in Venice) or offer family rooms.
Here are our top picks for where to stay in Venice with kids:
Corte dei Santi: right in the center, with apartments and a shared garden and play area. Two-night minimum stay.
Casa del Melograno: features a courtyard garden and a small playground.
Hotel Tiziano: offers family rooms and great value in the low season — ideal for families with older kids.
Our tip: If you’re visiting Venice with kids in spring or summer, consider staying on the beach island of Lido. It’s just a 15-minute water bus ride to the center and offers beaches and playgrounds.
Best Things to Do in Venice With Kids
Venice isn’t just churches and dusty museums. Here are the best things to do in Venice, Italy with kids that are guaranteed fun.
Take a Gondola Ride
A gondola ride is one of the top experiences in Venice — and not just for kids!
Drifting slowly through the canals is incredibly relaxing, and you’ll see the city’s palaces from a whole new angle. Kids love cruising under bridges and spotting crabs and fish in the water.
A gondola fits up to five people and rides last around 35 minutes.
It’s definitely a splurge at around 140 euros, but we recommend booking a private gondola ride if you’re a group of four or more with kids over two. Children over two pay full price, so you’ll spend roughly the same as a shared ride — but have the gondola all to yourselves.
Shared rides cost around 35 euros per person, and you’ll sit with strangers. In some cases, you might even end up in separate boats. But don’t worry — each child sits with an adult.
Our tip: If your kids aren’t likely to sit still for 35 minutes, try the Traghetto instead. It’s a larger gondola used for crossing the Grand Canal quickly. It costs 2 euros and only takes a few minutes. You’ll find Traghetto stops at Dogana, Santa Maria del Giglio, San Tomà, Riva del Vin, Riva del Carbon, and Santa Sofia.
Climbing up the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
The Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is tucked away down a quiet alley that most tourists miss.
That means it’s usually peaceful here — no lines, and you can walk right in with the kids.
Tickets are 9 euros, but children under 12 go free.
The highlight is the spiral staircase leading to the roof. Inside the palace, there’s an exhibition of modern Venetian art.
Even young kids can manage the wide steps. Fun fact: the staircase was built wide enough for the original owner to ride his horse all the way up. Pretty wild, right?
Book tickets for the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
Explore the Secret Passages and Prisons in the Doge's Palace
The Doge’s Palace is one of Venice’s must-see attractions. It was once the seat of power for the Venetian Republic, where the Doge ruled over the city.
That might not sound too exciting for kids — until you mention the secret tunnels, prison cells, weapons, and treasures on display.
The ticket also includes a walk across the famous Bridge of Sighs, which most people only see from outside.
Kids under 6 get in free. From age 6, tickets are 15 euros. Adults pay 30 euros.
Book tickets for the Doge’s Palace with fast track entry
Note: Online tickets let you skip the line. You can also get a family ticket at the counter where everyone pays 15 euros — but you’ll have to wait in line to get it.
Climb the Markus Tower
In a city full of art and history, the Natural History Museum is a refreshing change. And it’s a real hit with kids!
Expect dinosaur skeletons, interactive exhibits, and even a massive stuffed great white shark caught in the Adriatic. You can easily spend 1–2 hours here.
The displays are modern and fun, with impressive light and sound effects.
Bonus: the museum opens at 9 a.m., earlier than most others in Venice. Perfect if your kids are early risers!
Children under 6 enter free; students and pupils get a discounted rate.
To the ticket for the Natural History Museum
By the way: The Natural History Museum is also part of the Venice Museum Pass. We explain it in our full comparison of the best passes.
Try out Leonardo da Vinci's Inventions
The Leonardo da Vinci Interactive Museum is especially fun for tech-loving kids. You’ll find working replicas of Leonardo’s machines that you can actually test yourself.
The ground floor focuses on Leonardo’s life; upstairs is hands-on with catapults, flying machines, and gadgets. There’s also a spot for building and puzzles.
The same museum exists in Florence and Rome, and we highly recommend it. Plan to spend 1 to 2 hours here.
Book tickets for the Leonardo da Vinci Interactive Museum
Glass blowing on Murano
Do your kids know how glass is made? If not, take them to Murano! It’s just a 20-minute water bus ride from central Venice.
This is where the world-famous Murano glass has been handmade for centuries. Many workshops are open to the public.
Murano is a charming island and makes a great day trip.
We recommend visiting the Gino Mazzuccato glass factory — they offer real demos, and you can even blow your own glass.
Book tickets for the glass blowing demonstration
Playing on the Beach on the Island of Lido
If you’re visiting Venice in spring or summer, it’s worth spending some time on the beach island of Lido di Venezia. It’s just a 15-minute ride on the water bus from central Venice.
You can also reach Lido by car ferry, since there are regular roads and vehicles on the island.
Lido has 11 kilometers of beach, lined with lidos that are great for families. You’ll find playgrounds, pools, sun loungers, and beachside restaurants.
Forgot to pack towels for Venice? No problem — you can rent them at the lido. All you need to bring is your swimwear.
We recommend the Blue Moon lido — it’s the closest to the Lido water bus stop.
Playgrounds in Venice
There aren’t many playgrounds in Venice, and the ones that do exist are mostly on the city’s edges.
In the south-east of Venice, the Giardini della Biennale park has a lovely, shaded playground. The whole park is beautiful — with wide paths, benches, and kiosks — right by the water.
It’s about a 20-minute walk from St. Mark’s Square, or you can take water bus lines 4.1 or 4.2. Get off at the Giardini Biennale stop.
In the Cannaregio district near the train station, there’s also a small playground in Parco Savorgnan. It’s simple and better suited to younger kids.
FAQ
Can we buy baby food in Venice?
Yes, you can get baby food in every supermarket. It is usually not a whole meal, but rather a pureed ingredient. For example, pureed beef or pureed vegetables. Italian mothers then mix this into the porridge, which is prepared separately.
Do kids have to pay for the water bus?
Children only pay from the age of 6, but then the full ticket price.
Do kids also pay admission in Venice?
The day ticket for Venice is only valid from the age of 14. However, make sure you bring your child’s ID with you so that their age can be checked. Please note: Even if children do not pay admission, they must be registered. You can do this directly when booking the adults.
These were our tips for Venice with kids
Have you been to Venice with kids before? How was it? Feel free to leave us a comment!