Family-Friendly Venice Guide: Top Activities for Families

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Venice, Italy, is enchanting, marvelous and one of the most uniquely beautiful places on earth. It’s also crowded, frustrating and overwhelming, especially if you’re a little kid and your view of the city is mostly of the torsos of tourists crowded around you. But Venice can be genuinely magical for families if you know how to work it.

Highlights

Private Island Retreats: How sleeping off the main island keeps family trips stress-free
Kid-Friendly Crafting: Live glassblowing and mask-making workshops that engage young travelers
Quiet Neighborhoods: Escaping tourist bottlenecks in Cannaregio for open spaces and local flavor
Local Culinary Treats: Easy dining with traditional bite-sized cicchetti at Venetian wine bars
Lagoon Escapes: Unwinding on the colorful streets of Burano and beaches of Lido

Editor’s note: The writer was hosted by JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa.

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Stay on a Private Island: JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa

The water entrance to the JW Marriott Venice, pictured from an arriving boat. — Our water taxi pulling up to the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa. Photo credit: Elizabeth Heath

Property: JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa | Address: Isola delle Rose, Laguna di San Marco, 30133 Venice, Italy | Phone: +39 041 852 1300 | Rates: Starting from~$900/night

Here’s one of my secret weapons for a successful family trip to Venice: don’t actually sleep in Venice. The JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa sits on Isola delle Rose, a private island in the lagoon, just minutes from St. Mark’s Square via a complimentary water shuttle. It offers 40 acres of lush gardens where children can run around. When everyone’s feet hurt and patience has expired, the shuttle home feels like a very civilized solution.

The Magic: A private 40-acre island retreat just minutes away from central Venice.
What We Loved Best: Complimentary shuttle boats that turn travel into a relaxing lagoon ride.
Must-Try Recommendation: Reserve a family pizza and pasta session at the resort cooking academy.
Kids Club Highlights: Daily activities including mask decorating, Italian lessons and LEGO STEM workshops.
Resort Amenities: Onsite luxury spa that ranks as one of the best in Venice and multiple swimming pools ideal for unwinding.

SheBuysTravel Tip: The resort’s cooking academy offers pizza- and pasta-making classes designed for families — book it for a rainy afternoon or any evening you’d rather not navigate the city with tired kids in tow.

Watch the Glass Blowers on Murano

An industrial warehouse with a glass-blowing furnace, colored glass rods, and an artisan demonstrating glassblowing. — Glass-blowing demonstration at Colleoni Studios. Photo credit: Elizabeth Heath

The island of Murano is Venice’s glassblowing center, and a demonstration is pure theater for kids — fire, molten glass and a craftsman shaping something beautiful in front of their eyes, usually in under five minutes. The furnaces have been burning here since 1291, when the Republic of Venice relocated them from the city center to reduce fire risk — a detail that tends to land well with kids. You can opt for a simple demonstration or go for a glassmaking workshop, such as that offered at Colleoni Studios, where everyone makes their own souvenir.

The Magic: Live furnace demonstrations transforming fiery glass into intricate art in under five minutes.
What We Loved Best: The historical intrigue of island furnaces operating continuously since 1291 to reduce city fire risks.
Must-Try Recommendation: Book a hands-on glassmaking workshop at Colleoni Studios where everyone crafts custom souvenirs.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Go early — morning demos run before the cruise ship crowds descend, and the island feels like a completely different Venice.

Get Lost in Cannaregio

An old corner building in Venice with red paint and green shutters, surrounded on two sides by dark green canals. — A quiet canal in Cannaregio, Venice’s more lived-in district. Photo credit: Elizabeth Heath

Leaving the crowded San Marco tourist triangle for Cannaregio brings immediate relief. Venice’s largest residential neighborhood features wide canal walkways, authentic local rhythms and open space where kids can actually run. It offers a sanity-saving atmosphere alongside historic sites like the original Jewish Ghetto.

The Magic: Uncrowded walkways and authentic residential charm away from tourist bottlenecks.
What We Loved Best: Plentiful open space allowing young children to walk and explore freely.
Must-Try Recommendation: Stop at neighborhood bacari along quiet side canals for lunch.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Dine at bacari off the main thoroughfares where food quality rises and prices drop.

Eat Cicchetti Like a Local

A little girl with a missing front tooth and a satisfied look on her face eats a plate of meatballs. — Our then-7-year-old daughter at a bacaro bar. Photo credit: Elizabeth Heath

Venetian tapas, known as cicchetti, are bite-sized snacks served counter-side at local bacari. Perfect for picky eaters, kids can simply point at meatballs, crostini or fried delicacies. Order a fresh blood orange juice for them and a spritz for yourself while enjoying lunch canalside.

The Magic: Casual, flexible dining that makes trying new Italian flavors fun for children.
What We Loved Best: Sitting canalside while sampling inexpensive small plates together.
Must-Try Recommendation: Visit historic spots like Cantina Do Mori, operating since 1462.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Choose Bacaro Jazz near Rialto if your family prefers sit-down table options.

Visit the Doge’s Palace

A little girl stands in the interior of an ancient building with her hands on the bars of a prison cell. — Visiting the “new” prisons at the Doge’s Palace. Photo credit: Elizabeth Heath

The sheer scale, gilded ceilings and prison cells of Doge’s Palace captivate children fascinated by history. Crossing the famous Bridge of Sighs provides immediate drama. Older kids and teens will love the Secret Itineraries tour, which explores hidden staircases, attic prisons and Casanova’s escape route.

The Magic: Crossing the famous Bridge of Sighs into historic prison cells.
What We Loved Best: Intricate gilded ceilings and massive historical courtrooms.
Must-Try Recommendation: Reserve Secret Itineraries tickets to explore Casanova’s prison cell.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Enter right at opening time to beat midday museum lines.

Take a Day Trip to Burano (and Maybe Torcello)

A row of brightly colored houses with a canal and boats in front of them — Burano’s famously colorful houses. Photo credit: Elizabeth Heath

Burano’s candy-colored houses instantly re-energize children after museum visits. The 45-minute vaporetto ride across the lagoon offers great views, while the island itself features intricate lacemaking shops and quiet streets. Energetic families can continue to Torcello to explore ancient cathedrals and serene surroundings.

The Magic: Saturated, colorful streetscapes that feel like walking through a fairytale.
What We Loved Best: The scenic 45-minute boat journey through the Venetian lagoon.
Must-Try Recommendation: Pair your trip with a stop at quiet, historic Torcello.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Purchase a vaporetto day pass to cover all lagoon island connections seamlessly.

Take the Ferry to the Lido

A woman and child with another child in a wagon walk on a deserted beach with the ocean in the background. — Take a beach break on Venice’s Lido. Photo credit: Photo by Michael Kroul on Unsplash

A 15-minute vaporetto ride brings families to the Lido’s spacious Adriatic beaches. When sightseeing fatigue sets in, kids can kick off their shoes, dig in the sand or ride rented bicycles along flat roads. Promenade cafes, arcades and pizzerias offer a relaxing coastal break.

The Magic: Expansive sandy beaches just minutes away from the historic center.
What We Loved Best: Flat, low-traffic streets ideal for family bicycle rentals.
Must-Try Recommendation: Rent bikes near the ferry dock to explore the island promenade.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Access free public beach sectors if you want to skip paying for private loungers.

Take a Gondola Ride — or Splurge on a Water Taxi

A family of two adults and a teenage girl stand in the back of a water taxi on a canal in Venice. — Our family on a water taxi in Venice. Photo credit: Elizabeth Heath

A gondola ride is a classic splurge that children adore. Board at quiet side stations away from St. Mark’s Square to experience tranquil, narrow waterways. For larger families or toddlers, private water taxis provide a secure, romantic ride with stunning views from the open stern.

The Magic: Gliding silently through peaceful, narrow back canals.
What We Loved Best: Seeing historic palaces directly from the water level.
Must-Try Recommendation: Request smaller side canals from your gondolier before pushing off.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Confirm your route and fare duration before boarding any gondola.

Make a Venetian Mask

Close-up of a display of gold and colored Venetian carnival masks. — Several historic mask-makers offer classes for kids. Photo credit: Photo by Stephen McFadden on Unsplash

Creating authentic Venetian Carnival masks offers a tactile craft experience for creative kids. Master artisans guide children through decorating techniques using paint, feathers and metallic accents. Studios like Ca’ Macana in Dorsoduro let kids craft meaningful handmade souvenirs to take home.

The Magic: Hands-on crafting inside authentic artisan mask-making studios.
What We Loved Best: Bringing home a personalized, handcrafted Venetian souvenir.
Must-Try Recommendation: Book an artisan workshop at Ca’ Macana in Dorsoduro.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Reserve studio sessions at least 24 hours in advance to guarantee spots.

Visit Piazza San Marco After Dark

A night time photo of St. Mark's Square and St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, an ornate Byzantine-style church. — Piazza San Marco is one of the Europe’s grandest city squares. Photo credit: Elizabeth Heath

Piazza San Marco transforms completely after evening day-trippers depart. Lit-up basilicas, open pavement and live orchestral music from historic cafes create a magical setting. Children can run freely across the vast square while parents soak in the cinematic atmosphere.

The Magic: Atmospheric evening lighting and live cafe music filling the square.
What We Loved Best: Uncrowded open pavement allowing kids space to move around freely.
Must-Try Recommendation: Grab gelato to enjoy while listening to outdoor cafe orchestras.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Stand near the center of the square to enjoy music from competing cafe orchestras.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of taking a gondola ride in Venice with a family?

Standard gondola rides cost €90 for 30 minutes during the day and €110 after dark for up to six passengers. Private water taxis start around €120 depending on route and duration, offering a more secure alternative for active young kids or larger family groups.

Is Venice suitable for families traveling with toddlers or strollers?

Venice is safe due to zero car traffic, but unfenced canal edges require alert parents. Hundreds of stepped bridges make strollers difficult, making baby carriers a smarter choice. Open spaces like Lido beaches or Burano offer toddlers room to roam freely.

How do we navigate transit between Venice and surrounding lagoon islands?

Vaporetto water buses run regularly between key locations, such as Line 12 to Burano or Line 4.1 to Murano. Buying a 24-hour transit pass provides unlimited lagoon travel, while private resort options like JW Marriott run complimentary guest shuttles directly to San Marco.

What insider timing rules help families avoid massive crowds at major sights?

Head to Murano early for morning glassblowing demonstrations before cruise crowds descend. Visit Doge’s Palace first thing at opening time, and save Piazza San Marco for after dark when day-trippers have departed and kids have room to run.

Should families stay in central Venice or on outer lagoon islands?

Staying centrally keeps major sights close but brings crowded streets. Resorts like JW Marriott on Isola delle Rose offer 40 acres of lush gardens, swimming pools and kids clubs, balancing daily sightseeing with room to breathe away from central tourist crush.

SheBuysTravel writers have been where you’re going. We share our ground-truth experience to save you time, money and energy, making your trips easier. Been There. Bought That. Since 2006.