Gondola prow on the Grand Canal with colourful Venetian palaces lining the waterway in Venice, Italy

🇮🇹Venice & Veneto

Venice and Veneto offer families a truly unique mix of watery streets, world-class history, and incredible food. Here is everything you need to plan your trip.

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Your family guide

Exploring Venice and Veneto with your family

“Venice is one of those places your kids will talk about for years. There is simply nowhere else like it.”

— San & Jo

Imagine stepping off a boat and into a city where there are no cars, no traffic lights, and no ordinary streets. Venice and the broader Veneto region offer your family exactly that kind of wonder. From the golden mosaics of St. Mark's Basilica to the gentle splash of a gondola gliding under a stone bridge, every corner of Venice feels like it was designed to make your jaw drop.

Beyond the famous canals, the Veneto region stretches inland to rolling hills, medieval towns, and the birthplace of tiramisù in Treviso. Whether your family loves history, food, art, or simply wandering somewhere completely unlike home, this region delivers. The maze of narrow alleyways and hidden campi (squares) makes exploring feel like a genuine adventure, especially for curious kids.

Venice rewards families who take it slowly. The city is best experienced early in the morning or in the evening, when the day-trip crowds have gone and the atmosphere turns calm and magical. Plan to linger, get a little lost, and let the city surprise you. That is when the real Venice reveals itself.

Veneto, ItalyNorth-east Italy

Venice and beyondCity, coast, and countryside

April to OctoberBest months to visit

Cities and places in Venice & Veneto

4 places

Padua

Explore Padua with your family: UNESCO frescoes, one of the world's oldest universities, giant piazzas, and rustic Veneto food in a compact, walkable city.

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Venice

Plan your family trip to Venice with practical tips on the best sights, what to eat, and how to make the most of this extraordinary city with children.

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Verona

Explore Verona with kids: a UNESCO city packed with Roman ruins, medieval fortresses, panoramic towers, and a food culture your whole family will love.

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Vicenza

Vicenza is a compact, UNESCO-listed Italian city with world-class Palladian architecture, a lovely animal-filled park, and authentic Northern Italian food.

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What makes it special

Why families love Venice and Veneto

A city built entirely on water

Venice is unlike anywhere else on earth. Your family gets around entirely by boat or on foot, crossing elegant bridges and following narrow waterways. For kids, the novelty never wears off.

History you can actually touch

From the secret passageways inside Doge's Palace to the ancient prison cells behind the Bridge of Sighs, Venice brings history to life in a way that genuinely grips children and adults alike.

Iconic landmarks around every corner

St. Mark's Basilica, the Rialto Bridge, and St. Mark's Campanile are all within easy walking distance of each other. The views from the top of the Campanile alone are worth the trip.

Food that tells a story

Venetian cuisine is rooted in centuries of maritime trade. From cicchetti in tiny bacari bars to creamy black risotto and freshly fried seafood in a paper cone, eating your way through Venice is an adventure in itself.

A region full of variety

Beyond Venice, the Veneto region offers medieval hill towns, the famous white asparagus of Bassano del Grappa, and the rolling Prosecco hills. There is far more to explore than the city alone.

Your kind of holiday

History and culture lovers

Venice is one of the most historically rich cities in the world. Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Basilica, and the Grand Canal palaces offer layers of Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance history that you could spend weeks exploring.

Foodies and curious eaters

From cicchetti and baccalà mantecato to risotto al nero di seppia and lo scartosso at the market, Venice is a dream destination for families who travel with their stomachs. The Veneto inland adds radicchio, Asiago cheese, and the original tiramisù from Treviso.

Art and slow travel

Venice has a contemplative, almost dreamlike quality that suits families who like to slow down. Wander without a plan, discover a quiet campo, watch the light change over the lagoon, and let the city set the pace. Early mornings and evenings are when Venice is at its most beautiful.

Did you know?

Things your kids will love knowing about Venice and Veneto

Tiramisù was invented right here

The world-famous dessert was created in Treviso, a beautiful medieval city in the Veneto region, just a short trip from Venice. Your kids can say they ate it in the place where it all began.

Venice has no roads for cars

The entire city of Venice sits on 118 small islands connected by over 400 bridges. There are zero cars, zero motorbikes, and zero traffic jams. Every single journey is made by boat or on foot.

The Bridge of Sighs got its name from prisoners

The famous enclosed bridge connecting Doge's Palace to the prison got its poetic name because condemned prisoners would sigh as they crossed it, catching their last glimpse of Venice through the small windows.

Taste Venice and Veneto

What to eat with kids in Venice and Veneto

Lo scartosso

A paper cone filled with mixed fried seafood, including squid, shrimp, and small crabs. It is the ultimate Venetian street food and a great way to get kids trying fresh seafood without any fuss.

Kids love it

Cicchetti

Small tapas-style bites served in bacari bars across Venice. Think creamy baccalà on bread, marinated anchovies, and little meatballs. They are perfect for picky eaters because everyone can pick what they like.

Safe choice

Risotto al nero di seppia

Black risotto made with cuttlefish ink, garlic, and white wine. It looks dramatic and tastes deeply savoury and satisfying. A must-try Venetian dish that will make for a great dinner table story.

Must try

Polenta

Served creamy like porridge or grilled into firm slices, polenta is the everyday staple of Venetian and Veneto cooking. It goes with everything from fish to slow-cooked meat and is a reliable choice for younger eaters.

Daily treat

Sarde in saor

Fried sardines marinated in a sweet-sour sauce of vinegar, onions, raisins, and pine nuts. This centuries-old recipe was originally invented to preserve fish on long sea voyages. A genuinely local taste of Venice.

Local favourite