10 of the Top Kid-Friendly Adventures in Italy

Even kids too young to have studied Roman history are wowed by the massive ancient Colosseum and Forum in Rome, but these sprawling sites can be a lot to take on for tots. On this family-friendly tour, you’ll join a small group to explore ancient history via treasure hunts, games, and other interactive activities to keep everyone entertained.

Young travelers experience the glory of ancient Rome first-hand with this training workshop at the city’s gladiator school. Kids can dress up in a traditional tunic and helmet, then learn about battle techniques and (replica) weapons from master instructors. It’s an ideal way to break up a day of touring and bring ancient Rome to life.

The Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica house blockbuster paintings and sculptures, but few kids have the patience for their long lines and endless treasures. This kid-focused tour gets your family in and out quickly with skip-the-line entry and an engaging guide who focuses on the highlights to cover the museum before your family gets bored.

The bustle and heat of Rome can be overwhelming, especially for kids. Escape the city to marvel at the ruins of Pompeii and get lost among the colorful houses in Positano with this stress-free day trip for tots and teens. Travel in a comfortable minivan, visit the ancient site with a child-friendly guide, and explore Positano at your family’s pace.

As impressive as Michelangelo’s towering David may be, no artistic masterpiece is worth hours in line with impatient kids. This skip-the-line tour gets you inside Florence’s Accademia Gallery quickly, and your guide’s roster of interactive games and activities teaches everyone about the Renaissance and its premier artist in a fun and unique way.

The enormous collection at the premier museum in Florence can be daunting even for grown-ups. Cut the galleries down to size on this tour that uses kid-friendly commentary, games, and activities to make visiting the Uffizi an entertaining (and educational) romp. Fast-track tickets get your family inside quickly and an expert guide navigates you to the must-see artwork without a lull.

The most recognized landmark in Italy is a surefire hit with kids, but they’re not going to want to wait in line to get the view from the top. Optimize your time in Pisa on this guided family tour that lets you breeze past the crowd to climb the Leaning Tower and take in the other top sights in the Piazza dei Miracoli.

There’s no activity in the kitchen more fun than making pizza, and no better place to learn the tricks of the trade than Naples, where pizza napolitana was born. With this interactive class, kids can create their own pies from scratch—rolling out the dough, piling on the toppings, and baking it in a wood-burning oven—before feasting on their handiwork.

Milan’s Gothic cathedral is the most famous sight in the city, and kids love to check out its carved gargoyles and other creatures up close. This family-focused tour takes you on a top-to-bottom adventure so kids can learn about its curiosities, plus climb to the rooftop to take in the view.

With no motor traffic and an endless labyrinth of tiny lanes, quiet canals, and kid-sized footbridges, Venice is a family destination extraordinaire. Delve into the history of the Floating City on this walking tour led by a local guide who knows how to captivate the youngest members of your group with legends, stories, and even a few Venice-focused activities.