In this article, let us take you to Venice in Italy. And to make your adventure unforgettable, we have prepared some useful tips on traveling to Venice with a baby, things to do in Venice with kids, where to stay in Venice with kids, and much more. Let’s get started!
Venice is the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, one of the most beautiful towns in Italy and, of course, one of the most famous towns in the world. It is built on more than one hundred small islands in the Adriatic Sea; therefore, Venice has no roads, just canals which makes it so unique.
How many days should I spend in Venice?
Venice is a must to visit. It is quite small, so three days are more than enough if you include short trips to the Murano and Burano islands. There are also nice workshops you can do that would take some of your time (more about them below). This is why we spent a weekend in Venice with a baby. We took the early flight on Friday and had more than half of a day to explore the town. Our flight back was on Sunday evening at 8 pm, so it worked perfectly well with our schedule.
It is worth staying more days enjoying the views and wandering around, but I believe it relates to the number of tourists you can find in Venice.
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When is the best time to visit Venice with kids?
If we are talking about the weather, the best time to visit Venice is April to May and September to October. These months are the beginning and the end of the seasons. The weather is pleasant and crowds are not there yet or already gone. The first half of May is highly recommended for sightseeing in Venice with kids.
Peak seasons are June to August. This is the time when you will be crowded with people.
However, we visited Venice with a baby in the middle of November, and it was an amazing experience. Firstly, because the weather was still nice, and secondly, due to the off-peak, there was a healthy amount of tourists on the streets which is quite important for us, especially when we travel with a baby.
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Does Venice flood?
Indeed, Venice floods. Built on the water this is something expectable in this part of Italy. Floods usually happen between November and March. The first flood happened just one week before we visited Venice with a baby. Floods come and go quickly. The best thing about it is good deals on flights, accommodation, lower prices, and fewer tourists.
What should I know about public transport?
We have booked a place near Venice’s downtown area, so we had to take a bus to cross the bridge. It took us only 15 minutes to get to the center and worked perfectly well for us. In any kiosks or tour centers, you can get a bus ticket, but also you have got an opportunity to get a one or two-day pass for the transport which is mainly a boat.
There are two options: one is to get the local transport that goes through the town along the whole canal. It is called Vaporetto, the so-called water bus. Or you can take the boat that is operated by some individual companies and takes you around the canal avoiding crossing the town itself.
The price difference is not huge, but the second option is more expensive. The first option is slower because it has many stops in between, however, individual companies’ boats have schedules and leave once an hour or even longer. This was our problem as we were not aware of the schedule. By the time we arrived, we have missed our first boat and had to wait for an hour and a half for another one. This resulted in rushing and not visiting some sights we really wanted to see.
The other problem is that they do not operate on a short distance, so we ended up buying a few single tickets for Vaporetto to get quickly from one side of Venice to another.
At the end of the day, I suggest you get a pass for local transport for a few reasons:
- It appears every 15 minutes.
- It is cheaper.
- It is not much slower than the other option, in fact, we didn’t notice any difference in time.
- You have an opportunity to cross the town and explore gorgeous places right from the boat.
- You will be able to take rides within the town and go to other islands, such as Murano, Burano, and many others.
Things to do in Venice with kids
In regards to what to do in Venice with kids, I would say this city is mainly about walking and exploring. It relaxes you instantly that you can spend half of a day just eating at a restaurant with outdoor seating.
I also suggest trying out some workshops, such as making your own mask – something that Venice is so famous for.
Visiting Murano and Burano will take you a day too, so there is definitely plenty to see and enjoy. Let’s look at it in more detail.
Major sights in the center of Venice
Rialto Bridge
Rialto bridge is one of the most popular city attractions in Venice and also the oldest bridge out of all four bridges spanning the Grand Canal. Rialto Bridge is quite small and has been rebuilt several times since its construction in the 12th century.
There is a nice range of cafeterias nearby, and it is definitely a good option for the breakfast. This bridge is full of crowds, so my only suggestion is to come early to avoid crowds and actually be able to cross it.
Also, due to the many bridges in Venice, if you travel with a baby or toddler, it is always good to think about the carrier. Alternatively, buggies can work, but they should be quite light for you to be able to lift them on a constant basis.
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Grand Canal
The Grand Canal is a channel in Venice. It crosses the town and is considered to be the main local transport for locals. As discussed previously, purchasing the pass for the water bus that is called Vaporetto is a good idea and, indeed, a huge money saver.
St. Mark’s Square
At St. Mark’s Square, you will find the St. Mark’s Campanile and St. Mark’s Basilica which is worth visiting. The entrance is free, but you should leave all your bags in the storage which is quite confusing to find. From the entrance you should go around the basilica and right across you will find the storage. There are no signs or anything, but people are the ones who help.
We reached St. Mark’s Square on our last day, and honestly, this was the least exciting tour for us. Mainly because there were lots of people (although we visited Venice in mid-November), but also because we found wandering around and disappearing in all those numerous narrow streets in town was just more fun. Although Venice is tiny, you can easily spend a day just walking without knowing where you are going. It led us to many hidden gems and absolutely gorgeous bridges, buildings, and places that we didn’t expect to see. Also, it is definitely one of the best things to do in Venice with a toddler.
Saint Mark’s Basilica is one gorgeous church. It is quite small, so you won’t spend a lot of time there/ The main attraction for adults and children is to climb the stairs and join the horses on the Portico of St. Mark’s. These horses are made of gold and look quite massive.
It is a very nice walk along the river. You can find lots of restaurants and outdoor activities. There is one of the most luxurious hotels in the whole of Italy, called Hotel Danieli that is worth visiting even if you are not staying there. It is a five-star hotel with a rooftop dining terrace and superb views that have preserved the luxury 14th-century vibe. If you get a chance to go inside, I recommend taking the authentic elevator too.
On the other side, you will find the park Fermata S. Marco which is quite beautiful too.
Important! Be very careful with the stairs leading to the river and just do not try them out. They are full of water plants and are quite slippery. One of those silly things my husband did aiming for another great shot. Luckily, he was able to save all that priceless gear, but his pants, socks, and shoes must have been replaced immediately, so shopping was our next destination.
Doge’s Palace
Near St. Mark’s Square and Hotel Danieli, you will find the famous Doge’s Palace with quite spooky prisons. You can explore low cells, and wells and understand the medieval justice system better.
Bridge of Sighs
The Bridge of Sighs is the bridge that connects the New Prison to the interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace. It is quite small and made out of white limestone. Its windows are covered with stone bars.
Ca’D’Oro
The Ca’D’Oro, also called Palazzo Santa Sofia is a palace on the Grand Canal. If you are passing by the boat, it looks incredibly gorgeous. Ca’D’Oro is one of the oldest palaces in the city and it carries the name “Golden House”.
Gondola ride
Despite all the talks about how expensive the gondola is and how pretentious it is to do; you will find out that it still remains one of the main attractions in Venice with kids. And, of course, you have got a chance to ride in the most secret places across the town.
If a gondola ride seems to be slightly off your budget, the best thing to do is to try out so-called “Traghetti” gondolas. These are special gondolas for locals that shuttle passengers back and forth for 1-2 EUR. You won’t find cushioned seats or possibly a bench, but you will be guaranteed to have an amazing experience on the gondola for as less as a couple of euros.
To find these gondolas, you should search for the signs that say “Traghetti”, ask tourist offices, or search on a city map.
Workshops
There are a series of workshops that you can try out in Venice with a baby. My favorite is to create your own carnival mask workshop. Venice is all about carnival masks, and so you will find masks and similar souvenirs on each and every street.
Usually, there are time slots for the workshops. You can either get one on spot or if you know you have only a few days, it is always better to book the workshop in advance, otherwise, you might not get one due to a huge number of tourists. These workshops are also one of the most suitable things to do in Venice with kids and might be an amazing experience for the whole family.
Instead of creating your mask, you can choose the form you like and paint it in whatever way you like. In this case, I suggest you take the Paint Your Own Carnival Mask Workshop.
Another cool option is to create your glass artwork. Murano island is well-known for its long tradition of glassmaking. If you want to make your first glass work, there is no better place than this.
Another good solution for a family holiday is Arte al Sole. You can book the tours with them that will be filled with games, treasure hunting, and various art projects. Absolute fun in Venice with kids is guaranteed!
Murano
Murano is an amazing place near Venice. It is also the nearest island and one of the most famous for its glass-making. This is why lots of tourists visit Murano. Similar to Venice filled with masks, Murano is filled with little shops filled with miraculous glassware.
There are lots of glass workshops that attract tourists to visit their classes free of charge or with a good promotion. Some of the tickets or water bus passes offer a free workshop. It is quite an interesting 30-minute show where glassblowers create stunning pieces of art and explain the process. Also, you can participate in the workshop and make your own glass artwork.
The island is quite small and can be explored in a couple of hours. There are lots of nice narrow alleys and colorful buildings. The main square has a range of cafes and an amazing view of the bridge opposite the square.
Another must-visit sight is Museo del Vetro (Glass Museum) which is usually packed with visitors. It tells the story of glass through the centuries.
If you take one of the water buses from St. Mark’s square or nearby, it will take 30-40 minutes to get to the island. On the ride, you will be busy taking photos and admiring stunning views.
Burano
The most colorful island in Italy, Burano, is much bigger and farther than Murano. It takes about half an hour to get there. If you would like to visit all islands including Torcello, I suggest taking the earliest ferry possible and starting from Burano, then making a short stop in Torcello and getting to Murano by midday. You will need to plan it wisely and check on the water buses’ schedules to see what time is the last one.
Burano is well-known for lace-making. The Museo del Merletto tells the story of lace making. The island itself looks stunning, mainly for its brightly colored fishermen’s houses. I highly recommend trying their seafood from the lagoon too.
Torcello
Torcello island is quite small and has few residents. It is very green and can offer views of Burano, Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta and the bridge with no parapets.
It is only a 15-minute ride from Burano and is worth visiting if you have no time restrictions.
Where to stay in Venice with kids
There are all kinds of options in Venice, including camping with outdoor swimming pools or boat hotels. Below we suggest a few incredibly beautiful places that will make your family stay unforgettably comfortable:
1. Riva Palace Apartments
I believe this is the number one place for family holidays – an apartment right in the center of Venice with a patio, city, and river view altogether. It is incredibly bright with lots of light and literally everything you need, including a fully-equipped kitchen and a private bathroom. One thing you instantly don’t want to do is to leave the premises, this is how comfy it is.
2. Most Convenient Apartment in Venice
This apartment apparently speaks for itself. This family-friendly apartment has all you need and is located only a 20-minute walk away from the famous Rialto Bridge. Offering a city view, a spacious bathroom, and even a coffee machine, it is rated 10 out of 10 for a family holiday. I would say it has the best value for money considering its location.
3. Zaguri B&B
Zaguri B&B with breakfast included, in my opinion, is the best value for money. Not only it is family-friendly, but it is also situated just 5 minutes away from St. Mark’s Square. Breakfast is very filly including eggs, salami, prosciutto, baguette, and coffee. Plus, you have got a private bathroom. An alternative option is Ca’ Riza with a private bathroom, coffee machine, and inner courtyard view, but the only downside it is 20 minutes away from St. Mark’s square. The place is incredibly inviting though.
4. Corte Barozzi Venice Suites
This is a real vacation! Rooms look luxuriously stunning with huge bathtubs and air conditioning. It is situated only 5 minutes away from St. Mark’s Square. Everything is designed in perfect Italian style, not to mention soundproofing rooms.
5. Akos
For extreme lovers, Akos is a very memorable stay on a boat that is docked on the south side of Guidecca away from the crowds and absolutely gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. Every room is equipped with a private bathroom.
We wish you the best journey in Venice with a baby!
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