Take the Family holiday rating
| Flying Time | 2.00 hours  |
|---|---|
| Carbon Footprint | 1.05 tonnes CO2 |
| Timezone | GMT +1 |
| Local Currency | Euro |
Although Venice is not an obvious choice for children, don't be discouraged, it is surprisingly easy to navigate and children love the boat travel. Why miss the most romantic city in Europe? Food and people are child friendly and you can combine beaches with art and churches with masks. Most of the important sights are outside and the best way to see the treasures of Venice is to wander aimlessly, stopping for ice creams and cappuccinos. The lack of traffic means that children can play about in the squares or meander in the streets without fear. However, none of the canals are properly fenced so beware with very small children. And there are many canals since Venice is actually 116 islands connected by 409 bridges.
The best time of all is late September, but as Venice is not usually considered to be a family location, prices do not rise much in school holidays. Any time betwen September and March is low season, April is beautiful. It can be pretty cold from November to February, but the light is stunning on the canals at that time of year and nothing closes for winter. Gondola trips can be taken wrapped in (fake) furs. High summer is not a good time to visit Venice - the heat can be stifling and the Canals start to smell. Acqua Alta (high water) can come any time around November - but the City creates elevated walkways for pedestrians - good fun for kids to race around on. Carnevale is in February and the hotels book up very early. The streets are crowded but full of masked party goers and there are plenty of street entertainers. On 6 January the Regatta of the Befana takes place - witches in boats!
take the plane
There are frequent flights from several UK airports to conveniently located Marco Polo airport. You can save money by flying with Ryanair to Treviso, but the additional transfer time and hassle can take enjoyment away from a short break.
from the airport
Marco Polo airport is located 8 miles from Venice by land and 6 miles by water. There are regular buses, waterboats and water taxis from the airport.
If you are arriving instead at Venice Treviso, you will then need to spend close to an hour on a bus transfer, before taking a boat onward to your hotel or apartment. This can be a grind with small children.
There are a number of hotel and apartment options both within Venice and on the nearby Lido. Many Venice hotels offer a babysitting service as well. If not, you won't miss out on the night life as there isn't really any! The Lido is a good option in summer when it can get very hot and your family will welcome the beach.
Wander and wonder. You will need a good guidebook – Venice for Kids by Elizabetta Pasqualin is widely available in Venice and good for the over 8’s. Venice for Pleasure by J G Links is a fantastic guide to wandering in Venice available from Amazon. Buggies are fine but bumpy as most streets are cobbled and bridges tend to have steps built into them. Adults can revel in the churches and palaces while the kids can spot Lions or grotesque faces which are everywhere. Avoid the pigeons in St Marks Square, but do stop at Florians cafe on the right hand side for an (expensive) hot chocolate served in painted splendour. The gold mosaics in the basilica are lit from 11.30 – 12.30 and this is the only time to visit.
The Doges’ palace is the next place to go – Children love the Giant’s steps and the Lions head with a hole in its mouth – it bites if you tell a lie. The best ice cream is on the Zattere – the northern side of the Guidecca canal. Mask shops are everywhere and some are worth visiting to watch the craftsmen and women at work. Water travel of all sorts is a highlight. The Vaporetto no. 82 or no. 1 goes the length of the grand canal. Gondolas are very pricey indeed, but you can take the traghetto (which is a sort of public gondola) across the grand canal for a few pence. Boats leave the riva (bank) beyond St Marks for the Islands. Torcello has an ancient church and lots of outdoor space, Murano is the glass blowing Island with good sea food and the chance to watch glass blowers making tiny tacky animals and Burano is the lace makers island where the houses are painted in rainbow colours. If the weather is warm enough, take a boat to the Lido (Byron swam there from the Grand Canal) and have a day’s beach fun before coming home.
There are hundreds of reasonable restaurants but avoid the very cheap looking. You can always find pasta pizza and rice based dishes and ice cream which should keep the fussiest child happy. Venetian specialities require a more sophisticated palate – salt cod or liver and onions (bacala or fegato alla veneziana if you want to avoid it). If you are staying in an apartment, you will find delicatessens and fruit and vegetable shops provide good quality provisions. If you have early risers, take them to the market on the left side of the Rialto Bridge for amazing fish and vegetables. Prosecco is the champagne of northern Italy and it is almost always good and reasonably priced. A glass or two goes very well with lunch or dinner or at any other time.
Flights with Ryanair start at around £30 if you book far enough in advance. Otherwise expect to pay up to £120 per person. Nothing is really cheap in Venice so be prepared to spend some money on food, drink and souvenirs. Hotels and rooms range in price hugely according to standards.
by D. Garwood et al
Buy from Amazon.co.uk - Save 30%
Covers all cities and regions in Italy in Lonely Planet’s typically down to earth style.
by Barbara Pape
Buy from Amazon.co.uk - Save 9%
A great resource for parents travelling to Rome and other Italian cities.
by J. G. Links
Buy from Amazon.co.uk - Save 30%
"The best guide-book to any city ever written." according to the Times. The long walks are unsuitable for young children.
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