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Italy family holidays: The best child-friendly Italian escapes
From Emilia-Romagna to Sardinia, here's where to go for an Italian family holiday
A classic destination for families of all shapes and sizes – whether new parents with babies and toddlers, or older travellers looking to take grandkids or grown-up children away – this Mediterranean beauty spot has a child-friendly region for everyone, which is why we've rounded up the best Italy family holidays that guarantee an unforgettable escape.
From brilliant Blue Flag beaches and national parks chock-a-block with thrilling outdoor pursuits to scintillating cities and world-class art galleries, all ages get their share of the fun during a family holiday here. And, of course, there's the fabulous cuisine that plays a huge part in families choosing to travel to Italy time and again.
The best family hotels in Italy come in a grand variety of guises, with an option to suit everyone. Many parents choose serviced apartments or apart-hotels for their flexibility and because, in a country with such wonderful places to eat on every street corner, they often don’t need a traditional hotel with its own restaurant.
Others, meanwhile, might opt for a family-friendly resort such as the Masseria Torre Coccaro Boutique Hotel in Puglia or Stazzo Lu Ciaccaru in Sardinia for a full-scale immersion in the best of Italian hospitality – and a spoiling escape.
From Venice to Vesuvius and Tuscany to the Tremiti Islands of Puglia, we’ve looked at the best things to see and do with kids in Italy, as well as recommending the top family-friendly places to stay.
These are the best Italy family holiday destinations to explore next, whether you're with small kids or big ones.
The Italian Lakes
With 120 beaches, water sports and the country’s largest theme park, Gardaland, Italy’s northern lakes are a fantastic family playground and freshwater alternative to the seaside. It’s not all about the Clooneys and super-glam hotels here – although there are plenty of the latter for those with a taste for the finer things in life.
Part of the Lombardy region, this area of Italy offers outdoorsy fun galore including hiking, swimming, water-skiing, sailing, canoeing, mountain-biking and tree-top adventures at and around lakes that include Garda, Menaggio, Como, Maggiore and Orta. Don’t miss the Borromean Islands, especially Isola Madre with its lovely gardens and puppet theatre.
Where to stay:
A Modernist low-rise that lets the surrounding landscapes take centre stage, Vivere Suites, near Lake Garda, offers a contemporary take on a classic agriturismo in the form of four sleek suites with their own garden and kitchenettes. Three of them sleep four people and offer direct access to the sparkling swimming pool.
Within an old vineyard still producing its own wine, the property organises family excursions including climbing and canyoning, and there’s on-site yoga and bike hire too.
The Dolomites
A UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site embracing one national park and several regional parks, this breathtaking part of north-eastern Italy is a place to challenge yourself as a family, with thrills and spills including vie ferrate (protected paths with iron lines, created in World War I) and long-distance alte vie (‘high paths’) dotted with overnight rifugi (huts) for the ultimate in mountain adventures.
Other adrenaline-spiking activities here in spring, summer and autumn include climbing, base-jumping, hang-gliding and paragliding, while in winter the Dolomites are famous for skiing. Canazei is perhaps its most family-friendly ski resort, and as an added bonus links to the spectacular Sella Ronda circuit.
Where to stay:
As the name suggests, Selva di Val Gardena’s Cycling Hotel Linder welcomes bikers – there’s bike hire, guided rides and a bike room with equipment and storage. But it’s also perfect for hikers, skiers or anyone who wants to take in the mountain air and scenery while enjoying good food in its Steak Stube.
After plenty of exercise, retreat to the Linder’s Sky Spa with its pool with a view. Rooms include cosy family options that sleep four.
Venice
Often seen as the preserve of couples and art students, Venice has lots to intrigue and fascinate kids of different ages: quirky boat travel (gondolas, vaporetti and traghetti), nearby beaches and islands, and a quirky assortment of mask-makers, glass-blowers and lace-creators.
It’s also a road-traffic-free city, which makes for very pleasant (and safe) ambling with a gelato in hand, spotting winged lions (the symbol of Venice) and grotesque carvings on palaces and churches. A particular hit with kids is the Doge's Palace with its giant steps and lion's head with a hole in its mouth (said to bite if you tell a lie).
Where to stay:
Offering brilliant value in a city not known for its bargains, the Charming Palace Corte Del Teatro has a fantastic location two minutes’ stroll from the Rialto and five minutes from San Marco.
Sleeping four or five, its airy apartments are a blend of original features including exposed beams with contemporary furnishings, moody modern hues and contemporary kitchens. Some come with a balcony and a canal view.
Emilia-Romagna
A northern region with both medieval cities and lively seaside resorts (on the stylish Riviera Romagnola), Emilia-Romagna is often overlooked in favour of splashier destinations. Yet it boasts a fascinating capital, Bologna, with a rich Etruscan history and the distinction of being where Bolognese sauce originated (though here it's referred to as ragù).
Meanwhile, nearby Modena is famous for its balsamic vinegar but also delights petrol-heads of all ages with its Enzo Ferrari Museum – part of the region’s ‘Motor Valley’ with its famous racetracks and luxury car manufacturers.
Where to stay:
Perfect for urban explorers who want to make the most of Bologna’s fabulous dining spots, the six apartments of Residence Le Porte are in the heart of the action just steps from Piazza Maggiore and the Nettuno fountain.
Most have views of the city’s famous Two Towers (both leaning), and the largest, which sleep up to five, also have private terraces.
Rome
One of the world's greatest cities, the Italian capital is a place where the past comes to vivid life in iconic sights including the Colosseum, the Forum, the Pantheon, Vatican and the Trevi Fountain.
It can all get a bit hot and hectic, though – in which case beat a retreat to green spaces such as the Farnese Gardens, Borghese Gardens and Janiculum (Gianicolo Hill) with its carriage rides and puppet shows. And don’t miss a stroll in the neighbourhoods of San Lorenzo and Trastevere – fantastic places for local cooking at very reasonable prices.
Where to stay:
The oldest hotel in Rome, the 9Hotel Cesàri first opened its doors in 1787. Today it’s a welcoming boutique property with charming modern decor, family rooms, panoramic views over the city from its rooftop (which is perfect for breakfasts including delicious cheese platers) and a late-opening cocktail bar.
Tuscany
It’s hard to know where to start with this bewitching region, but Florence is a must for its art, architecture and museums, its boat trips on the Arno and its Boboli Gardens with their grottoes, statues and fountains. Siena, Pisa and Lucca are also must-sees for their unique sights, while the Apuan Alps running parallel to the coast are great for hiking, caving, horse-riding and other activities, and there’s island-hopping to be done to Elba and other gems.
Tuscany is also about its food, which is child-friendly to the max, whether you’re stopping off for gelato while sightseeing or sitting down to a feast in one of the countless trattorias or pizzerias that dot the cities and countryside.
Where to stay:
In Florence, Residence Hilda near the iconic Duomo and Michelangelo’s David has suites with kitchens for up to three, featuring Starck chairs, artisan furnishings and teak flooring. The best has Juliet windows with three balconies and a side view of the Cathedral.
Restaurant bookings and art exhibition tickets can be taken care of for you, along with grocery deliveries, babysitting and bike hire.
Naples and Campania
The birthplace of pizza is a brilliant place to visit with older kids and teens, who tend to love its chaotic, rough-around-the-edges vibe and break-neck pace of life. Naples’ sights are truly epic: think ancient catacombs, the crater of Vesuvius and the nearby archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum. And of course, this is another outstanding foodie destination too.
When you’ve explored the city, you can simply hop aboard a ferry from the harbour to one of the islands in the Bay of Naples for a fabulous two-centre holiday – perhaps Procida or Ischia with their quiet beaches.
Where to stay:
Welcoming children aged 12+, the Palazzo d’Auria Aparthotel sits in the heart of the city surrounded by the best museums and pizzerias.
Occupying a gorgeous 1500s building, it has seven light-flooded suites with well-equipped kitchens and and a concierge organising museum discounts, boat-trips, restaurant reservations and more.
Puglia
Puglia, or Apulia, the region making up the heel of Italy’s ‘boot’ and the coastline north of it (Italy’s longest), offers up the white-sand beaches of the Salentina peninsula, vineyards and beauty spots including the Alimini lakes, Porto Selvaggio, Otranto harbour and Alberobello with its UNESCO-listed trulli – dry stone huts with conical roofs (some turned into B&Bs or rental cottages).
With kids, make a beeline for the Parco Nazionale del Gargano, where you can sign up for guided walks or Jeep, quad-bike or mountain-bike tours. The park includes the Isole Tremiti, ringed by almost shockingly clear Adriatic waters. The seaside resorts of Vieste and Peschici are also charming.
Where to stay:
A divine spot for a splurge, the family-run Masseria Torre Coccaro Boutique Hotel in a 16th-century fortified farmhouse mixes adult indulgences including an Aveda spa with family amenities.
There are two beach clubs (one with a kids’ club), a water park, nature-centred activities including bike tours to cheese farms and a fish market, and a cookery school. Many of the rooms, suites and villas have private pools.
Sardinia
With some of the Med’s best stretches of sand and a largely unbuilt-up coastline, this island lures families with laidback its beach life and its water sports, including sailing and snorkelling in crystalline waters. But there are other big draws, including the spectacular Trenino Verde (Little Green Train) through mountains and meadows.
Other highlights include the ancient tombs of the Anghelu Ruju Necropolis, the celeb-magnet ancient harbour of Porto Cervo, and Neptune's Grotto, accessible only via the Escala del Cabirol – 656 'goat steps' carved into the cliffside – or boat.
Where to stay:
Stazzo Lu Ciaccaru in its own 32 hectares of hills and gardens full of ancient olive grove and fruit trees is a country estate just 10 minutes from the beaches of Capriccioli, Romazzino and Pevero.
Some of its stylish rooms have their own pool; there are also three resort pools, a massage gazebo and local excursions and activities. The kitchen serves up dishes both from the island and Tuscany.
Basilicata
With buildings built into and above cliffs, the town of Matera in the Basilicata region of Italy is an extraordinary sight and one of the world's oldest cities. Between adventures through the white city and seeing the intriguing sassi cave dwellings, you can still incorporate all the family favourites (stopping for pizza in piazzas and ordering rainbow gelato flavours, for starters) but you'll also feel like you've revealed something a little bit different to them about Italy's history, too.
Beyond Matera, day trips to the seaside are entirely possible in the Basilicata region. The beaches are typically volcanic sand, lapped by the Tyrrhenian Sea, and it'll take around an hour to reach the coast if you base yourself in or around Matera.
Where to stay:
It seems a shame to visit this part of Italy and not stay in one of the cave hotels the region is known for. Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel is in an ancient city district, and some of the 35 rooms are carved out of the tuff stone.
Liguria
Aah, the Italian Riviera. In Italy's Liguria region, you've got the likes of the chic Portofino and the five beautiful villages of Cinque Terre wooing visitors with their beautifully colourful buildings.
This particular pocket of Italy might remind you and your children of some favourite Disney movies. The settings of Luca and Cars 2 are both said to be inspired by parts of Liguria, set in in the fictional towns of Portorossa and Porto Corso, respectively. The real deal is equally captivating and they'll love exploring the narrow alleyways of the Cinque Terra villages, linked by short train rides.
Where to stay:
If you stay in Rapallo, hire a car and take the coastal road trip to visit Cinque Terre — it'll take a couple of hours. Head the other way on a wiggly coast road for around 20 minutes to find yourself rubbing shoulders with the glamourous folk of Portofino.
In Rapallo, choose somewhere to stay where the kids can burn off some energy in an outdoor pool, such as Hotel Cenobio Dei Dogi. This waterfront hotel also has a private beach and its outdoor terraces mean you can start and finish your days with family meals overlooking the sea. Words Anna Hann
Sicily
Another glorious Italian island to discover, Sicily is centred on Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe. You can catch a cable-car to the top for breathtaking views, of better still, enjoy a 4X4 ride over its volcanic landscape.
Also unmissable is the Sicilian capital of Palermo, awash in Greek, Roman and Byzantine ruins and catacombs, as well as wonderful places to indulge in the island’s delicious, healthy, and superb-value cuisine.
Where to Stay:
There are suites sleeping up to four at Villa Boscarino, including one with an intricate loggia balcony and one with original frescoed ceilings and a circular Jacuzzi.
A place to really get away from it all, this boutique hotel is nestled in a delightful Mediterranean garden with a lovely pool in the high-summer months.
More Italian holiday ideas:
- A guide to the Italian Lakes
Villa Carlotta is a haven to visit in Lake Como
The most amazing ways to experience Italy
Lake Orta is the hidden gem of the Italian Lakes
This humble Puglian town is Italy's prettiest
