An Exciting 3-Day Venice Itinerary For Kids

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A dad and his two young sons stand together on a bridge near Canareggio in Venice with the canal extending into the distance behind them. — Photo Courtesy: Kelli Wein

Prepare for your next Italian adventure with this 3-Day Venice Itinerary For Kids! From the gorgeous Grand Canal to Piazza San Marco, this Italian city is an iconic destination for all ages. Since it’s car-free and extremely walkable, this usually puts Venice at the top of a family bucket list. Whether you want to see the city from a gondola, take a kid-friendly tour, or enjoy some of the best local restaurants, this itinerary includes some of the best things to do in Venice with kids. We’ve even included alternatives in case you want to try different activities in the city or you want to move at a slower or faster pace. Plus, where to stay in Venice with kids and other helpful information. Check out this 3-Day Venice Itinerary For Kids to learn more!

Day 1: St. Mark’s Square & Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Gondola Ride

Two boys look through slats in the stone of St. Mark's Basilica down to San Marco Piazza. — Photo Courtesy: Kelli Wein

Start the first day of your Venice itinerary for kids at the famous Piazza San Marco! Flanked by the Doge’s Palace on one side and the famed St. Mark’s Bell Tower on the other, this famous square is lined with quaint shops, cafes, and pigeons children can feed. Then, stop by St. Mark’s Cathedral. This beautiful Byzantine church has a stunning exterior complete with paintings, elaborate statues, and more cool architecture. It’s also free to tour inside, though you can expect a wait to get in unless you visit very early in the morning.

Combine a visit here with a trip to St. Mark’s Campanile, aka the Bell Tower. (Admission is free for kids under six.) For an additional ticket, families can take a speedy elevator up to the top of the bell tower for stunning views over Venice! Next, kids can learn about the city’s history at The Doge’s Palace. While younger kids may not find every aspect of a visit here interesting, you can make it more fascinating with a family-friendly tour. Viator offers a St Mark’s Square & Doge’s Palace Guided Tour for Kids & Families.

Then, take the kids to see the famous Bridge of Sighs nearby or walk a little further to see the Rialto Bridge. Head to the nearby Rialto Market, for example, and you can haggle for the best deals on souvenirs and fresh food. Or, visit Bar All’Arco, a low-key spot near the Rialto Bridge with a terrace facing the street. Then, you can stop for ice cream at Gelatoteca Suso!

Afternoon Activity: Mask-Making Workshop

Several vibrant Venetian masks hang from a shop. — Photo Courtesy: Andrea Woods

One fun way for kids to experience Venice’s cultural history is by taking a mask-making workshop. Learn more about the origins of Venetian masks, which are equally mysterious and amazing. Viator offers a fantastic Venice Carnival Mask-Making Class for kids, letting them learn the trade from a master artisan. Lasting around two hours, little ones can learn about the centuries-old celebration of Carnival before making their own paper-mâché mask in a production class! GetYourGuide also offers a Create Your Own Carnival Mask Workshop.

Or, fashion lovers can take a Venice Tailor Workshop from Tour Leader Venice, where they can touch authentic Venetian velvet and even make a creation of their own! You can choose between more challenging projects like a dress or easier options, like a small purse. Plus, you can take your hard work home as a souvenir of your Venice itinerary with kids!

Evening Activity: Gondola Ride

A family of five rides down a Venetian canal in a gondola. — Photo Courtesy: Janine Mia Mullins

What better way to see Venice with kids than on a gondola? To avoid most of the tourists and price gouging on your Italy family vacation, we suggest taking one in the evening to get some great views. Some of the best spots to take a gondola ride are Campo San Barnaba, San Polo, and Friari. Approach any one of the local gondoliers by the canal and don’t be afraid to negotiate the price. If you want to check out the source of the boats, you can also visit a Gondola Workshop in the neighborhood of Accademia. It’s not open to the public for a tour, but you can still peer at the workmen inside!

Optional: Gondola Row Lesson

Two young boys ride in a gondola down a canal in Venice, Venetian buildings behind them. A gondola ride is one of the best things to include on a Venice itinerary with kids. — Photo Courtesy: Kelli Wein

If riding a gondola isn’t exciting enough for your family, you can learn how to row one! Explore the Venetian waterways with a Learn to Row in Venice Class through Viator. During your lesson, you’ll learn all about the Venetian gondola tradition, including the special way gondoliers row that isn’t replicated anywhere else. Kids will have so much fun once they get the hang of rowing!

For a special experience, local companies such as Row Venice also offer evening lessons on The Grand Canal after 8 pm when crowds dissipate. Or, on Sundays when there are no large boats.

Day 2: Guggenheim Museum, Da Vinci Museum, Cooking Class

Two kids sit alongside a canal in Venice, while gondolas pass by on a sunny day. — Photo Courtesy: Kritika Storer

On the second day of your Venice itinerary for kids, explore the city’s various museums. Teens or tweens who love modern and contemporary art can visit the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, which has works by Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, and Alexander Calder.

Or, younger kids may prefer the Museo Leonardo da Vinci. Here, they can discover his inventions and artworks throughout the years – 50 in total! Plus, since the museum is interactive, kids can touch some of the works while learning more about the painter’s life. Once you’re done visiting the museum, you can stop for lunch at Trattoria Antiche Carampane, known for its delicious seafood.

Afternoon Activity: Cooking Class

A table with supplies to make pasta, including cutting boards, flour, and small bowls.

Whether you want to learn how to make handmade pasta or tiramisu, there are a ton of cooking classes to add to your Venice itinerary for kids, including half-day and full-day options. Book your excursion with local companies such as Mama Isa or Cook In Venice. Each offers beginner-friendly courses and more unique options like cooking classes in costume! Cooking Vacations also give families a chance to pick their own fruit, produce, and meat from the Rialto Market before starting a class.

For a flexible cancellation policy, companies such as Viator offer a Yummy Cooking Class In Venice With A Professional Chef. GetYourGuide also offers a Venice Small-Group Pasta and Tiramisu Class.

Evening Activity: Ghost Tour

The entrance to NH Collection Venezia Grand Hotel Palazzo dei Dogi along a canal at night. — Photo Courtesy: NH Collection Venezia Grand Hotel Palazzo dei Dogi

Visiting Venice with tweens or teens? If your kids are up for it, join a family-friendly ghost tour. With companies like Avventure Bellissime, which offer Venice Ghost and Legends Walking Tours, you can watch Venice’s intriguing history come to life in the quiet canals and narrow alleys after dark. The tour lasts around an hour and a half, passing through famous spots like the Rialto Bridge as you learn facts about people like Biasio, a murderous butcher.

Day 3: Murano

A vaporetto moves through a canal in Venice. — Photo Courtesy: Henri Picot

Murano is a must for any families visiting Venice on their Italy itinerary with kids! A tiny island south of Venice, it’s easily accessible via a short Vaporetto (water taxi) ride. When you arrive in the morning, you’ll be surrounded by charming houses and experts trained in the art of glassblowing, lining the Grand Canal like street performers.

Afternoon Activity: Venice Glass Museum or Glassblowing Class

A store selling handmade glass in Murano, Venice, one of the best places to visit on an Venice itinerary with kids.

Families who want to learn more about the Venetian tradition of glassblowing can also visit the Venice Glass Museum to see the world’s largest collection of glass. Or, let kids get hands-on experience at the Murano Glass Factory, which offers a variety of lessons spanning from 20-minute introductions to more complicated two-hour lessons on how to make glass cups.

Viator also offers a Glassblowing beginners class in Murano, a 2-and-a-half-hour small-group class where kids can learn about shaping molten glass from an expert. Afterward, browse the stores along the Grand Canal to buy souvenirs, grab dessert from a local cafe, and people-watch while you wait for your taxi back to Venice. If you want to eat lunch in Murano, Trattoria Busa alla Torre offers outdoor seating overlooking the canals and great seafood dishes.

Optional Activity: Visit Another Island

Want to see more of Venice’s surrounding islands during your Venice itinerary with kids? Check out these options for your next Italy family vacation!

Burano

If you have extra time or want to explore other islands near Venice, consider Burano, also accessible via a Vaporetto (water taxi ride).

Kids will be wowed by the multi-colored houses that dot the island, originally designed to guide fishermen home on foggy nights. Though Burano has fewer things to do than Murano, it’s still a great place to visit, since the island is very scenic and makes for a fantastic picture backdrop. There are some glass shops you can browse as well, but not as many as Murano. Instead, Burano artisans specialize in lace-making, which you’ll see throughout various stores on the island. Visit the Venice Lace Museum to learn more about this lost art!

Lido

On a warm day, families can also visit Lido! This narrow, sandy island welcomes visitors to enjoy a tranquil afternoon in the sun. Once you get off the ferry, you can either take a bus to the northern portion of the island, where you’ll find most of the beaches.

Or, you can walk or rent a bike to appreciate the Art Deco architecture! Since the island is super narrow, the walk from the ferry stop to the popular beaches such as Spiaggia San Nicholas or Spiaggia Blue Moon is less than a mile. Another secluded beach, Alberoni Beach, is located in the southern part of Lido. Either way, families can make use of complimentary sunbeds and calm waves that are ideal for young kids.

Optional Activity: Acqua Alta Bookshop

A woman leans against an outdoor display of books at the iconic Acqua Alta Bookshop, one of the best places to include on a Venice itinerary with kids. — Photo Courtesy: Courtney Meyer

In the afternoon, take kids to the Acqua Alta Bookshop. Located just a short walk from the Rialto Bridge, Piazza San Marco, and other famous attractions, this hidden gem is packed to the brim with all kinds of books. Plus, toys, souvenirs, and more fun for kids to browse, most of which are in English. Books are stored in gondolas, wheelbarrows, bathtubs, and other whacky structures, some even coming together to form a huge wall made entirely of encyclopedias!

For more, click this list of 16+ Best Sights and Activities in Venice For Kids (And Parents Too)!

Where To Stay In Venice With Kids

The exterior of The St. Regis Venice along a canal. — Photo Courtesy: The St. Regis Venice

Looking for the best places to stay in Venice with kids? To stay just a few minutes from St. Mark’s Square, check out Splendid Venice – Starhotels Collezione, a beautiful kid-friendly hotel right in the heart of the city. JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa offers kids’ clubs and a family pool. Another great option is Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort, one of the best family hotels in Venice for families, and plenty of others for your Venice itinerary with kids.

Happy Travels!

A family of four stands together with a Venetian canal and gondola behind them. — Photo Courtesy: Kelli Wein

We hope you liked this 3-Day Venice Itinerary For Kids! From Piazza San Marco to Murano, Burano, and beyond, Venice is a top kid-friendly destination in Italy for a good reason. Enjoy your next Italian family vacation!

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