Italy is about 25% smaller than California and would sit somewhere between New Mexico and Arizona in terms if US state size. It has a population of about 60 million people and generally needs a few visits in order to explore the country properly.
Why is Italy a great destination for families with kids?
Italy is probably the most popular European country for families to visit with kids for the simple reason that ‘Italians love kids‘! Not only is the country filled with such a diverse landscape, incredible ancient sites, rich in history, fabulous wine, beautiful people, unbeatable food but it has the best ice cream in the world! You really can’t go wrong vacationing in Italy. There is so much to do and whether you are visiting the most popular sites in Rome, hanging out on the beaches of Amalfi or cruising the countryside and vineyards of Tuscany there is something for everyone.
Must-see places in Italy
The list of places to see in Italy is too long but on anyone’s bucket list there should be:
a. Rome – Vatican, Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, Pantheon, Spanish steps, Trevi Fountain
b. Venice – St Marks Square, Bridge of Sighs, Rialto Bridge, Dodge’s Palace, Murano & Burano
c. Florence – Uffizi, Il Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Accademia, Palazzo Pitti
d. Cinque Terre – at least Vernazzo, Manarola, Corniglia
e. Amalfi Coast – Amalfi, Positano, the island of Capri (and the Blue Grotto)
f. Lake Como – Bellagio, Menaggio, Tremezzo, Como
g. Sicily – Greek-Roman theater in Taormina, Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Mount Etna
h. Puglia – the Trulli, the caves of Matera
Vacations in Italy can take on many forms – are you looking for romance in the canals of Venice, history in the ruins of Rome, art in Florence, the views in Cinque Terre or Amalfi, wine in Tuscany, pizza in Naples, the beaches of the Italian Riviera or the diverse food and cultures found in Sicily and Sardinia?
Italy is the mother of the Slow Movement so nothing is rushed here and that applies to vacations. It’s not to say that you want see a lot in your time here but Italy is best enjoyed slooowly, over a number of trips.
How long would you vacation in Italy?
In an ideal world 10 days would be a good amount of time to visit three locations in Italy. Any more and it becomes unpleasant for the kids and you end up need a vacation when you get back home. Any less and you feel like you just ticked boxes of the top things to see and do, and really that you didn’t get the chance to relax and enjoy the slowness of the Italian way of life, to be Italian for a few days. Immersion is the best part of holidaying in Italy! If you only have 5 or 7 days we would suggest 2 locations in Italy and with 14 days we would add a 4th location like Tuscany and spend more time in the middle of your vacation in the Tuscan countryside.
Vacations in Italy can take on many forms – are you looking for romance in the canals of Venice, history in the ruins of Rome, art in Florence, the views in Cinque Terre or Amalfi, wine in Tuscany, pizza in Naples, the beaches of the Italian Riviera or the diverse food and cultures found in Sicily and Sardinia?
Italy is the mother of the Slow Movement so nothing is rushed here and that applies to vacations. It’s not to say that you want see a lot in your time here but Italy is best enjoyed slooowly, over a number of trips.
Our top 10 reasons to visit Italy
- Food
- Scenery
- The ‘beauty’ of the people
- Hospitality
- Style
- Fashion
- Art
- History
- Architecture
- Climate
10.1 Coffee
10.2. Gelato
Top 10 things to do in Italy with kids
Our top 10 things to do in Italy with kids are in no particular order and presume that you are visiting the whole of Italy. For us these have been super fun personally and we have got fantastic feedback from our clients and friends after partaking in these.
- Take a Golf Cart Private tour of Rome
- Enjoy a Pizza and Gelato making class in Florence
- Private Street Food tour in Palermo (Bologna would be next then Rome, then Venice, then Florence)
- Take a Private Early Morning Vatican Tour before the crowds
- Take a guided walk with a local (and a Private Gondola ride) in Venice
- Take a Cinque Terre Sunset Boat tour, then
- Take a Private Sunset Boat Tour along the Amalfi coast, just for comparison
- Visit Pompeii (and Mount Vesuvius) if you are feeling energetic
- Take a boat out to the Island of Capri (and visit the Blue Grotto)
- Take a Tuscan Day trip with lunch at a Chianti vineyard – Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa
How can we help?
While we live in Italy we believe we are in the best position to speak about it, to advise you and help you to plan a memorable vacation. Let us help you by taking advantage of our vacation consulting or itinerary development services. Working to your budget we’ll discuss the best locations, present you with the best family accommodations, family focused tours/excursion/activities and work out the logistics for you.
So if you are planning a vacation to Italy and you need some help then just drop us a line and we’ll set up a time to call you and let you know how we might help. Alternatively if you are unsure of what is the best location in Italy to start with then click on one of the great cities below and explore!
Rome
Florence
Venice
Amalfi Coast
Cinque Terre
Lake Como
Bologna
Sicily
Puglia
And if you still can’t decide then here are some recent posts about different parts of Italy and things to do in Italy that might help…
Best Restaurants in Palermo
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How to plan a trip to Italy….(what travel advisors do)
When planning a trip to Italy there are a number of steps that we follow with our clients. So, whether you are planning on working with us or trying to plan on your own, these are some of the most important questions that need answering, that will ultimately make the planning process more simplistic and take …
What to do and where to eat in Bologna?
Stanley Tucci’s recent Searching for Italy series on CNN is certainly generating a lot of interest and love for Italy. After the most recent episode featuring Bologna which is aptly nicknamed La Grassa (the Fat One – due to its hospitality and incredible food) we have been asked if we could incorporate some of the …
What to do in Puglia with kids
Puglia is a particular popular vacation spot for those who have already traversed the well beaten track of Rome, Florence, Venice and want something a little more authentic, more immersive, more relaxed with minimal crowds. This is not to say that there is less to do in fact there is lots to do in Puglia …
What to do in Sicily with kids
If you are contemplating planning a trip to Sicily and are unsure if there is anything for kids to do then don’t worry as Sicily is an incredibly diverse island with lots to do for many age groups. In the Italian culture family plays a very important part in an Italians day-to-day life and so …