Family-friendly Italy itinerary: region by region

Last updated: May 2026.

Italy is one of our favourite country’s to visit as a family. We’d been to Rome pre-R, spent time during my pregnancy in both Sicily and later Naples and the Amalfi Coast, and got married in Tuscany – so when it came to planning trips with R, Italy felt like the obvious place to start.

You may be wondering whether Italy with a baby or toddler is doable, and it is, without question. From the rolling hills of Tuscany to the sun-drenched beaches of Sicily, it’s one of Europe’s most rewarding destinations for families with young children. Italians are famously warm towards babies – you will be stopped in the street, complimented, offered snacks – and of course the food, culture and scenery make it a joy for us parents too.

This guide covers the best regions for families, with practical advice on travelling with young children in each area. We’ve visited most of these with R, and the rest we know well from pre-R trips.

Why Italy is brilliant for families with babies and toddlers

• Italians adore children – you’ll get smiles, attention, and often free snacks for your little one
• The food is baby-friendly – pasta, bread, mild sauces and fresh ingredients make feeding easy
• Compact cities and historic centres are walkable and easy with a pram (mostly)
• Excellent beaches with calm, shallow waters in many regions
• Good flight connections from the UK to multiple airports

Family-friendly Italy itinerary: region by region

1. Rome with kids

Rome is an extraordinary city and one of the world’s great open-air museums, but it can be challenging with prams due to cobbled streets and crowds. That said, the sheer spectacle of it more than makes up for the logistics. While both times we’ve visited have been pre-R, it’s one of those places that will make a fantastic return trip with children and it’s firmly on our list for when R is a bit older.

Where to stay in Rome with kids

The area around Prati (just north of the Vatican) is a good family base with wide streets, supermarkets, and a quieter feel than the historic centre, plus good transport links. Families who want to be closer to the main sights should look at Trastevere for character, or around Termini for convenience and budget options.

For a luxury stay near the Colosseum, Palazzo Manfredi is hard to beat. This 5-star boutique hotel sits at the foot of the Colle Oppio park with rooftop views straight onto the amphitheatre, and offers rooms, suites and apartments – useful if you want a bit more space with young children. The Family Suite has two adjoining king-bed rooms, and the Manfredi Apartments nearby sleep up to five, making it one of the better options in Rome for larger families. The concierge service is excellent and there’s a park and playground within a short walk.

For something more central and mid-range, Palazzo Navona Hotel is a well-positioned 4-star right in the heart of the city, with a panoramic rooftop and easy walking distance to the main sights. A solid base if you want to be in the thick of things without the five-star price tag.

Best things to do in Rome with babies and toddlers

• The Borghese Gallery and Gardens – acres of parkland perfect for a pram stroll, with a boating lake and a children’s cinema
• Piazza Navona – a large pedestrianised square where kids can run while you enjoy a coffee at a café
• The Trevi Fountain – always a hit, especially the coin-throwing tradition
• The Colosseum and Roman Forum – better for toddlers than babies due to the uneven terrain, but there are accessible routes

Pramability: Moderate – the historic centre has cobbles, but wider streets around major sights are manageable. A carrier is useful for tight alleyways.

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2. Tuscany with kids

Tuscany holds a particular place for us as we got married on the Tuscany/Umbria border. I may be biased but I think it’s one of the most beautiful regions in Italy, and arguably one of the best for families who want a slower-paced Italian holiday. It’s an excellent self-catering destination, with plenty of agriturismo options (farmhouse accommodation with pools) that are perfect for families. You can do as much or as little as you like, which is exactly what you want with a baby or toddler. Read my full guide to a family-friendly trip to Tuscany.

Where to stay in Tuscany with kids

For families with young children, an agriturismo (farmhouse accommodation with a pool) is the Tuscany sweet spot as it gives you space, outdoor areas, and a base from which to do day trips to cities like Florence and Siena without being in the thick of it every day. Florence itself works well for a night or two if you want the city. I’ve listed recommended hotel and holiday rental accommodation in my guide to Tuscany.

Best things to do in Tuscany with kids:

• Florence – world-class art and architecture; the Uffizi Gallery has family audio guides, and the city has wide piazzas for little legs to explore
• Siena’s Piazza del Campo – a vast fan-shaped square where children love to run around
• San Gimignano – a well-preserved medieval hilltop town with ice cream so good it’s won international awards
• Farms and agriturismo – many offer activities for children like olive oil pressing, horse riding, and vegetable picking

Pramability: Mixed. Florence city centre can be manageable in places, but many Tuscan hilltop towns have steep streets and steps. A carrier is worth packing.

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3. The Italian Lakes with kids

The lakes region of northern Italy – Lake Como, Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano – are some of the most beautiful parts of the country and exceptionally family-friendly. We recently stayed at Parco San Marco on Lake Lugano, which we’d featured in our European family resorts guide, and it absolutely delivered for our family trip. Read our full Parco San Marco family review for everything you need to know. Lake Garda has also built a strong reputation as a family destination, with theme parks, beaches, and watersports alongside the scenery.

Where to stay at the Italian Lakes with kids

For Lake Garda, Sirmione and Lazise on the southern shore are the most family-friendly bases due to their flat lakeside promenades, good beaches, and easy access to Gardaland. For Lake Como, Varenna or Menaggio on the middle stretch of the lake give you the best ferry connections without the tourist density of Bellagio. Lenno and Tremezzo on the western shore are another excellent option for the same stretch – quieter still, with beautiful lakefront walks and easy ferry access. Parco San Marco on Lake Lugano is well worth checking out for its spectacular kids offering – read our full review here. Lugano offers a mix of activities as it’s half in Italy and half in Switzerland.

For families who want a proper resort experience on Garda, Quellenhof Luxury Resort Lazise is the standout 5-star option. It has a dedicated children’s pool with water slides, a tree house play area, and sits just 6km from Gardaland – making it an easy base for a theme park day. The spa side of things keeps parents happy too.

If you’d rather stay in Bardolino, Hotel Caesius Thermae & Spa Resort is a well-regarded 4-star with thermal pools (dedicated kids’ hours), family rooms for up to four, and one of the better breakfasts on the lake. A relaxed, well-priced base for exploring the southern shore.

Best things to do at the Italian Lakes with kids

• Gardaland – one of Italy’s best theme parks, right on the shores of Lake Garda, with rides for all ages
• Lake Garda beaches – calm, clear water perfect for paddling and swimming with young children
• Sirmione – a fairy-tale peninsula town with a castle and thermal baths (adults only, but the setting is stunning)
• Lake Como ferry rides – a gentle and scenic way to see the lake and its beautiful villas

Pramability: Good around lake promenades and resort towns. Hillside villages can be steep.

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4. The Italian Riviera with kids

The Ligurian coast is one of Italy’s most beautiful stretches of coastline, all colourful fishing villages, turquoise water and dramatic cliff scenery. It’s not the most obvious choice for families with very young children – the famous spots like Portofino and the Cinque Terre villages are tiny, steep, and best saved for day trips rather than a base – but get your location right and it’s a wonderful part of Italy to explore.

Where to stay on the Italian Riviera with kids

For families, Sestri Levante is the pick of the towns to base yourself (and it has a train station). It has two bays (one calmer and more sheltered than the other), a good beach, flat walking along the seafront, and a charming town centre without being overwhelming. On a different trip we stayed in Moneglia, a quieter village a little further along the coast that we absolutely loved – a little more compact, with a lovely beach and a real local feel that you don’t always get in the more visited spots. It also had some fantastic restaurants.

Best things to do on the Italian Riviera with kids

• Sestri Levante beaches – the Baia del Silenzio (Bay of Silence) is sheltered and calm, great for paddling with little ones
• Day trip to the Cinque Terre – the five villages are stunning but very steep and crowded; the train between them is the only sensible option (it takes just a few minutes between each village and runs frequently), and pick one or two rather than trying to do all five in a day with young children
• Day trip to Portofino – a beautiful harbour village, best reached by boat from Santa Margherita Ligure; more of a scenic stop than a place to spend a full day with toddlers
• Moneglia – worth a visit even if you’re not staying; far quieter than its neighbours and a lovely spot for a beach day

Pramability: Patchy. Sestri Levante and Moneglia are manageable along the seafront, but the Cinque Terre villages and Portofino involve a lot of steps and uneven terrain. A carrier is essential for the day trip villages.

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5. The Amalfi Coast with kids

I visited Naples and the Amalfi Coast before R arrived, fairly pregnant at the time, which gave the trip a different kind of weight (mentally and physically!) and I know we’ll be back as a family. The coastline is breathtaking with vertiginous cliffs dropping to turquoise water, pastel-coloured villages stacked up the hillsides, and lemon groves so abundant they perfume the air. Even with narrow cliff edge roads and tourist crowds, there’s nowhere quite like it. Go out of peak summer season as the area gets extremely busy.

The honest caveat for families with very young children is that this is one of the more physically demanding Italian destinations. The terrain is steep, the roads are winding, and many of the most beautiful spots involve a significant number of steps. With a baby or toddler, you need to plan carefully and pick your base wisely – and I think there’s better options in Italy for children of this age, so save it for older kids if you can.

Where to base yourself on the Amalfi Coast with young children

This is the most important decision you’ll make for this trip, and it affects everything else. The classic choice is Positano or Amalfi town, and while both are spectacular, neither is particularly practical with a pram in tow as both involve a lot of steps and very limited flat ground. Being pregnant is much like pushing a pram: you need accessibility! We had a couple of nights in Naples but then based ourselves in two places: first in the village of Sant’Agata sui Due Golfi (near Sorrento), and then in the coastal town of Maiori. Both turned out to be brilliant decisions, for different reasons. Read our full guide to the Amalfi Coast with kids for everything you need to know about bases, getting around, and what to do.

Best things to do on the Amalfi Coast with kids

• Pompeii as a day trip from Naples – we did this on our first full day before picking up the hire car, and it’s absolutely worth it. Go early (tickets are timed entry), bring plenty of water and a carrier rather than a pram for the uneven streets, and allow at least three hours.
• Driving the coastal road (SS163) – the road is narrow and occasionally nerve-wracking, but doing a section of it by car gives you a completely different perspective. Our stretch from Maiori towards Amalfi and Positano was one of the most spectacular drives we’ve ever done.
• Boat trips along the coast – taking to the water is by far the easiest way to see the coast with young children, and the views from the sea looking back at the cliffs and villages are even better than the reverse. Short trips to the Grotta dello Smeraldo (Emerald Grotto) are manageable.
• Ravello – the hilltop town above Amalfi, and one of the most beautiful spots on the entire coast. Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone both have extraordinary gardens, many of which are pram-accessible on the main paths. Quieter and more atmospheric than the seafront towns.
• Maiori beach – the longest flat beach on the coast, and one of the few where you can walk along it easily with a buggy. Sun loungers with table service make a long beach day very manageable with small children.
• Naples itself – people warn you off Naples as chaotic and gritty, but we were pleasantly surprised. We enjoyed a food tour and walk around, and would happily go back for a day or night in the future.
• Day trip to Capri – easily reachable by hydrofoil, the island is pretty magical even with young children in tow. The funicular from Marina Grande up to Capri town is a highlight for toddlers, though the village itself is cobbled.

6. Venice with kids

Venice is like nowhere else on earth, and it’s no doubt magical for children with the gondolas, bridges, pigeons in St Mark’s Square, and boats instead of buses. It’s not the easiest destination with a pram due to the many bridge steps, but it’s absolutely doable.

We went to Venice in December and we’d recommend that time of year without hesitation. We stayed on the island (which you absolutely should if budget allows), and made it out to Burano on one of the days, and it was every bit as magical as the photos suggest with the coloured houses looking even better in the wintery sunshine.

Where to stay in Venice with kids

Staying on the island itself is the experience, waking up to no traffic and a canal-side view. The Cannaregio neighbourhood (northern Venice) tends to be quieter and less expensive vs the areas around San Marco. If budget is a factor, Mestre on the mainland is a short train ride away and considerably cheaper, though you lose the Venice-at-night magic.

In Cannaregio, Carnival Palace is the most family-friendly 4-star on the island. It has large rooms and interconnecting options sleeping up to six, a canal-side waterfront terrace, a rare secret garden, and babysitting available on request. Cots and extra beds are provided free of charge. It’s also close to the train station, which makes arrivals and departures with luggage and young children considerably less stressful.

Best things to do in Venice with kids

• Vaporetto (water bus) rides – children love travelling on the water, and it’s the main way to get around
• Burano island – famous for its brightly coloured houses, it’s a short ferry ride away and utterly charming for photos and wandering
• Murano island – home of Venetian glass-blowing; demonstrations are fascinating for older toddlers
• Doge’s Palace – impressive for older children who can grasp the history

Pramability: Challenging. Venice has hundreds of bridges with steps. A lightweight buggy or carrier is essential. Many bridges now have ramps on one side – check maps in advance.

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7. Verona with kids

Often overlooked in favour of its more famous neighbours, Verona is a compact and very walkable city that punches well above its weight for families. My trip to Verona was part of a longer train trip through northern Italy (me and my mum did Verona, Bologna, Florence and Sestri Levante on the Ligurian coast, which is a brilliant way to see the region if you’re happy travelling by rail). Verona itself was a highlight: compact, walkable, and with the Arena (a remarkably well-preserved Roman amphitheatre) sitting right in the middle of the city. It’s regularly overlooked in favour of Venice and Lake Garda but deserves a night or two of its own. And with easy train connections to Venice and Lake Garda, it makes an excellent addition to a northern Italy itinerary.

Where to stay in Verona with kids

Verona’s historic centre is compact enough that almost anywhere within it works well. The area around Piazza Bra (next to the Arena) puts you within easy walking distance of everything. Verona also works well as a base for day trips to both Lake Garda (30 minutes by car) and Venice (70 minutes by train), which makes it a useful hub if you’re doing a northern Italy circuit.

Best things to do in Verona with kids

• Arena di Verona — a remarkably well-preserved Roman amphitheatre right in the city centre; walk the exterior for free or pay to go inside. The scale of it is impressive for children and adults alike
• Piazza delle Erbe — the lively main market square, surrounded by frescoed medieval palaces; good for a morning coffee and a wander
• Piazza Bra — the wide, spacious square surrounding the Arena, with plenty of room for small children to run and good café terraces to sit at

Pramability: Good – the main streets are wide and relatively flat, and the piazzas are spacious.

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8. Sicily with kids

Sicily is Italy’s largest island and one of its most dramatic destinations. It’s certainly wilder than the Amalfi Coast and the Ancient Greek temples, baroque towns, volcanic landscapes, and beautiful beaches make it a fascinating place for all ages. The pace of life is slower here, locals are extraordinarily welcoming to children, and the food is outstanding.

Where to stay in Sicily with kids

Sicily’s size means your base determines your itinerary. For beaches and a relaxed pace, Cefalù is the most family-friendly town on the north coast as it’s small, safe, with sandy beaches, and easy to navigate with a buggy. We stayed near Syracuse on the east coast, combining a beautiful baroque old town on a small island (Ortigia) with good beaches nearby. Taormina is stunning but very steep and I’m not sure it’s worth the hype post-The White Lotus blow up. We also stayed for a couple of nights in Agrigento as part of a road trip.

Just outside Cefalù, Grand Palladium Sicilia Resort & Spa is the go-to for families who want a proper resort with everything in one place. There are four pools including a children’s pool, a baby club from 1 year, a kids club up to 16, and complimentary babysitting sessions for parents of younger babies. It’s about 15 minutes from Cefalù itself, so you get the resort facilities without being too far from the town.

If you’d rather be in Cefalù proper, Hotel Kalura is the most consistently recommended hotel in the town itself – a 4-star property with a private beach, panoramic views of Caldura Bay and the Rocca, and direct access to the sea. It has a loyal following among families and comes up on every forum thread about Cefalù with kids.

Best things to do in Sicily with kids

• Valley of the Temples, Agrigento – among the best-preserved Greek ruins outside Greece
• Etna – Europe’s largest active volcano; cable cars and jeep tours make it accessible for families
• Cefalù – a beautiful beach town with a Norman cathedral; calm, clear water perfect for young swimmers
• Noto – a stunning baroque town in south-eastern Sicily, all golden stone and elaborate church facades

Pramability: Variable. Palermo and Catania have wide pavements in places but traffic can be chaotic. Smaller towns like Noto have cobbled streets. A carrier is useful.

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Practical tips for Italy with a baby or toddler

• Nappy changing: Not as common as the UK in public spaces, but cafes and restaurants will generally help if you ask
• Eating out: Italians eat late; family-friendly trattorias typically open at 7pm. Lunch is often the better option with young children
• Sun protection: Italy gets very hot in July and August, especially in the south. Pack high SPF, hats, and plan sightseeing around the cooler morning and early evening hours
• Pram vs carrier: Bring both if you can. A carrier is invaluable for historic centres and hilly towns; a lightweight pram or stroller is useful for flatter areas and longer days
• Pharmacies (farmacia): Italy has excellent pharmacies on almost every high street, and staff are very knowledgeable about baby and children’s health products

Italy rewards patient, flexible travellers – and travelling with a baby or toddler teaches you both of those things very quickly! Whichever region you choose, you’re in for an incredible trip.
Allie, Jack & R x

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Italy with kids: frequently asked questions