Are you planning a family vacation to Italy? Trying to decide which cities in Italy to visit with your kids? As a mom, I understand the importance of finding the perfect vacation destination that everyone in the family will love. And Italy is definitely a family-friendly place to visit! I’ve been to Italy many times- with and without kids so I feel like I can easily give advice on the best cities in Italy to visit with kids
Top 5 Cities to Visit in Italy
Venice
Venice is one of my favorite cities in Italy. It’s a city where instead of streets there are canals and instead of cars, there are boats and gondolas. My kids can spend hours watching the boats and gondolas! We love strolling around the narrow, winding alleys (just be careful, it’s so easy to get lost in the alleyways of Venice! There are a lot of dead ends!) Whenever we’re in Venice, we always go on a gondola ride. If you are on a budget, take a water taxi, it’s usually cheaper than a gondola ride. It’s a lot of fun! And my son loves running after the pigeons in the Piazza San Marco (it’s the main plaza in Venice, you can’t miss it!)
Lake Como
Lake Como is another favorite city in Northern Italy. If you are visiting Milan, Lake Como is an easy day trip from Milan. Lake Como is a stunning lake, surrounded by mountains and charming villages- really beautiful and breathtaking. Definitely take the kids on a boat tour around Lake Como. My kids love it. Whenever I’m on a Lake Como boat tour, I am always hoping to catch a glimpse of George Clooney and Amal Clooney! I heard they summer at Lake Como!
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Central Italy famous for its rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves, and charming villages. A fun activity for kids is to take a guided tour of a local farm and learn how cheese, olive oil, and wine are made. When I went with my kids and we took a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese tour- they learned the cheese-making process and at the end, we got to try the cheese! If you have older kids, go on a Bike tour in Tuscany. My kids are not old enough for it yet but my sister went with her boyfriend and they said biking around Tuscany is definitely a must-try!
Capri
Capri is a beautiful island known for its stunning coastline, vibrant nightlife, and high-end boutiques. We love going to the Blue Grotto in Capri. My son enjoyed riding the rowboat to get into the caverns of the Blue Grotto. Just know that it can get crowded and there may be a line of row boats trying to enter the Blue Grotto. Another fun activity for kids is to ride the famous chairlift up to Monte Solaro for panoramic views of the island and the sea. If you are afraid of heights, don’t go on the chairlift up Monte Solaro, the chairlift can be scary because it is literally an open chairlift similar to the chairlifts at ski resorts!
Sorrento
Sorrento is a charming seaside town located on the Amalfi Coast. Sorrento is a great home base for visiting Capri and Pompeii. Pompeii is a 45-minute drive from Sorrento and Capri is a little further, a 3-hour drive from Sorrento but you can easily take a boat ride from Sorrento to Capri. When visiting Sorrento with kids, definitely go on boat tours. You can also visit the lemon groves and learn about the production of limoncello (their traditional lemon liqueur).
Here is a short video of the best cities to visit in Italy with kids
What are the Best Cities to Visit in Northern Italy with Family?
If you are flying into Milan, the best cities to visit in Northern Italy with your family are Venice and Lake Como. Lake Como is a day trip from Milan. Venice is 2 hours and 45 minutes from Milan. You should probably spend a few nights in Venice, don’t make it a day trip there is so much to see in Venice!
What are the Best Cities to Visit in Southern Italy with Family?
Sorrento and Capri are the best cities to visit in Southern Italy with family. I suggest staying in a hotel in Sorrento and making Sorrento your home base and then going to Capri and Pompeii as day trips. The closest international airport to Sorrento is Naples.
What are the Best Cities to Visit in Central Italy with Family?
Tuscany and Florence are the best places to visit in Central Italy with family. They are near each other. Oh, and you can add Pisa to your list of places to visit in Central Italy- Pisa is very near Florence. You don’t need to spend a lot of time in Pisa, a few hours is enough just to see the leaning tower of Pisa.
Are you going to Greece? Check out my recommendations on the best Greek Islands to visit with family.
