Venice, Italy attracts millions of visitors every year. It is unique in how it is built around a system of islands and canals. Considered one of the most romantic cities in the world, visitors flock to Venice to see its beautiful architecture and soak up its atmosphere. While Venice is a great destination for couples, there is also lots to see and do for families. Here are our recommendations for the 10 best things for families to do in Venice, Italy.
1. Take a water taxi ride
If you are flying into Venice, then you will land at Marco Polo Airport. Located 8 km/5 miles north of Venice, transfers can be made to the city by land, but it’s more efficient – and more fun – to do so by water. Making the trip by water taxi will leave you feeling like a movie star as you make your grand entrance. Water taxis can be booked in advance through an operator like Venice Water Taxi, or you can pick one up as you exit the airport. The boats fit up to ten passengers but don’t forget to leave space for your luggage. Also keep in mind that, depending on where you are staying, the water taxi may not be able to provide service right to your hotel’s front door. Rates vary with the number of passengers and the amount of luggage you have. Expect to pay €120 and up.
If you’d rather save more of your vacation budget for activities once you’ve reached Venice, there is a less expensive option. Venice has a system of water buses, called vaporettos, that connect Marco Polo Airport to Piazza San Marco. Tickets are €15 per person and children under 5 ride for free with a paying adult. Each ticket includes fare for the passenger, one large piece of luggage, and one piece of hand luggage. Taking a vaporetto is slightly less convenient than taking a water taxi but will still give you the thrill of arriving in Venice by water. Vaporetto tickets can be booked online through the Alilaguna website.
2. Get lost
Venice is all about its canals, the bridges that cross those canals, and the boats that ply the waterways underneath. And the single best thing there is to do in Venice is to get lost in its tiny narrow streets, exploring those streets and the nearly 400 bridges that connect them. Venice is a small city and it’s impossible to be lost for long. You’ll come across bustling squares and deserted alleys, adorable shops, and pizzerias and gelaterias you’ll mentally bookmark to come back to later. Have fun being an explorer.
3. Ride a gondola
Gondolas are unique to Venice, and it would be heresy not to go for a ride while you visit. You can board a gondola at any of the official gondola stations scattered along the city’s canals. You might also find gondoliers plying for business on bridges in the more touristy parts of town. Rates are fixed at €80 for a standard 40-minute ride during the day or €120 after 7 p.m. We wrote an extensive guide on How much is a gondola ride in Venice? – everything you need to know to take a ride to give you all the details.
4. Visit Venice’s most iconic viewpoints
No matter where you look in Venice, you will see a beautiful view. But certain locations around the city are more iconic than most. Yes, there are the major recognizable landmarks. But there are also incredibly picturesque scenes in the most random places. Stop by these spots to snap an Instagram-worthy street scene or selfie:
- The Grand Canal from Ponte dell’Accademia
- The bridge near Osteria Calle 21 with its view toward the Bridge of Sighs and the Venetian lagoon
- The Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge
5. Sample Venetian cuisine
Italy is well-known for its amazing food. The pizza, pasta, and gelato on every street corner make Italy a particularly kid-friendly destination. But Venice has a unique regional cuisine, too. The city is so intertwined with the water surrounding it that it’s no wonder that seafood features prominently. For kid-friendly options, try visiting Fried Land, located at Cannaregio Calle Fiori, 2287. This takeaway shop serves up paper cones stuffed with fried calamari, shrimp, and sardines. Another popular takeaway restaurant is Dal Moro’s Fresh Pasta, located at Calle De La Casseleria, 5324. The menu here features a variety of fresh pasta and sauces served in to-go cartons. Their version of Venice’s famous squid ink pasta is delightfully off-putting with its stain-your-teeth-black colour, and it’s tasty, too. As a bonus, both options are very economical, with seafood cones and pasta cartons each costing less than €10.
6. Visit the Scala Contarini del Bovolo
Pisa may have the more famous tower, but Venice’s version is an architectural marvel, too. The Scala Contarini del Bovolo is a beautiful spiral staircase that looks like it belongs in a fairytale. Though it’s not quite tall enough to give a panoramic view of the city, you can still climb up its six floors to get a birds-eye view over the surrounding area. Admission is €8, discounted to €6 for those ages 12-26 and 65+, and free for children under 12. Located at Campo Manin, 4303. Open from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
7. Visit a rooftop terrace (for free!)
If you still have your heart set on a panoramic view over the city, head to the Fondaco Dei Tedeschi department store. Located next to the Rialto Bridge, the store features a rooftop terrace with beautiful views over the Grand Canal. And it’s free to visit! You do, however, have to book your time slot in advance. A limited number of guests are allowed to visit at one time, and reservations do fill up, especially around sunset. Visits are limited to 15 minutes duration and the terrace may be closed altogether in poor weather.
8. Visit the Libreria Acqua Alta
This place is the antithesis of a hidden gem, but it’s easy to see why. The bookshop, named after Venice’s floodwaters, protects its wares by piling them into waterproof vessels including bathtubs and, yes, gondolas. Books are stacked from floor to ceiling everywhere you look, and several resident cats roam the shop. It’s a bibliophile’s dream come true. Instagrammable nooks and crannies abound; there’s even a gondola set up for photo ops. Come early or come late to avoid the worst of the crowds and be able to soak it all in. Located at Calle Longa Santa Maria Formosa, 5176. Open from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
9. See Piazza San Marco/St. Mark’s Square
Again, this recommendation will come as a surprise to nobody – it’s probably Venice’s busiest location. But for good reason. Dominated at the east end by St. Mark’s Basilica, this square is home to several attractions and is always buzzing with energy. In addition to visiting the Basilica to admire the architecture, you can listen to the Bells of San Marco that ring from its tower; visit the Doge’s Palace, from where Venice was once ruled; sip a drink at an outdoor café; or simply mingle with the square’s famous pigeons – but don’t feed them, or risk being fined.
10. See a Banksy original
It’s funny – before we went to Italy, I thought the first major piece of artwork we would see would be a centuries-old Caravaggio or a Michelangelo. Instead, it was a much more modern Banksy. We didn’t even know that Banksy had painted a street mural in Venice until we stumbled upon it and recognized their inimitable style. Located at the bridge leading to Campo San Pantalon in Dorsoduro, the mural features a migrant child holding a flare aloft. Judging from its location, Banksy painted the mural from the water, which seems befitting of the city of Venice.
Of course, Venice has much more to see and do than just what’s listed here. But if you have two days to spend in Venice, as we did, this list will provide more than enough entertainment to fill those 48 hours. What do you think – are these the best things for families to do in Venice, Italy, or did we miss the mark? Let us know in the comments below.
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