Children's Activities in Italy

Famous Sites

• You may be shocked to find that your child is excited about some of the historic sites on your itinerary. Many of the more famous sites of Italy, such as the Colosseum, Pompeii, and the Greek temples, are going to be familiar to your children. Chances are they have learned about these things in school and will be eager to see them up close.
  If your children are younger, or have not yet studied this historical period, consider purchasing age-appropriate books about Greek mythology and Roman history to try and spark an interest before your trip.

Rome

• One of the fortunate things about traveling with the family in Rome is that this capital city is full of parks and playgrounds. Don't forget to take breaks from your sightseeing to let the kids be kids. You will probably find that these stops are a well needed break for yourself as well.
  If you are looking for more than a little break from sightseeing, you may want to head to Villa Borghese, where you will find train and pony rides, as well as bicycles for rent.
  In terms of famous sites, the Roman Forum and the port city of Ostia Antica are normally big hits with the kids.

Venice and Florence

• While Venice may seem like a child's nightmare with so much art all around, there are a few attractions that they will love.
  First and foremost, take them to see the canal. Many kids will be thrilled just to sit and watch all the boats drift past them, but for a real treat take them for a gondola ride. If a gondola ride will drain your vacation fund, consider simply letting them cross the canal on a traghetto.
  Another must for children in Venice is a trip to the beach. In the summer months, it is best to avoid the weekends at the beach altogether. You may find yourself sitting in traffic longer than playing in the sand.
  In Florence, older kids may enjoy some of the sightseeing on your itinerary. Try the Museo Stibbert, famed for its collection of armor and featuring life-sized images of horses and their uniformed soldier riders.
  For the smaller ones there is a large city park, Parco delle Cascine, where they can run out some of their pent-up energy after a day of museums.