3 Days in Venice with Kids: A Family-Friendly Itinerary

Planning 3 days in Venice with kids can feel a little uncertain at first, but once you understand how to navigate the canals, crowds, and pacing, it becomes one of the most memorable stops in Italy.

Imagine being in one of the most photo-worthy, historic cities, which is filled with walkways, canals, and boats. Venice is truly one of the most unique cities in the world. You might be wondering if a trip to Venice with kids is safe and if it would be a great location for a family vacation. This city’s family friendly atmosphere, that is free of cars and traffic and low on crime, made us feel safe to roam the streets during our 3 days in Venice with kids.  Your kids, teens, and the adults of the family will be in awe seeing first hand how the city is able to successfully operate using just water transportation and on foot.

From a gondola ride, a beach day swimming in the Adriatic Sea, hopping to the islands of Murano and Burano, taking in the historical sites, and wandering endless alleyways and bridges, our 3 days in Venice with kids was magical and yours can be too!

Italy ended up being one of our favorite trips, so I’ve shared all of it here, so you can browse all of my Italy guides in one place as you plan. If your trip includes both cities, you can also see how we structured our time in our 3 day Rome itinerary.

Day 1 in Venice with Kids : Classic Venice Highlights & Gondola Ride

Some of the photos in this post, like the one above, were taken during a private family photo shoot we booked in Venice. It was such a fun experience and a great way to capture professional family photos in Venice without stress.

Piazza San Marco: The Heart of Venice

We kicked off day 1 in Venice with kids in the beautiful Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark’s Square. In this famous area, dive into Venice’s history, take in the gorgeous view, listen to music, grab a snack at one of the historic cafes, pop in a shop, and absorb the Venetian culture. A pricey, but fun experience for you and the kids is Caffè Florian, which is the oldest continuously run cafe in Europe. Sip on a coffee, hot chocolate, or try the gelato, while taking in the historic charm.  Within the square, we then explored Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs, St. Mark’s Basilica and took in the breathtaking sights at the Campanile.

Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale)  

Doge’s Palace was the home of the Doge, or the elected supreme leader of the Venetian Republic. Within the palace, have your kids see how lavishly the rulers lived by touring Doge’s apartments. 

Your family will be in awe of one of the largest rooms in Europe, the Grand Council Hall, covered in historical paintings, glitter, and gold. This is where the Grand Council, made up of noble Venetians met and made decisions. Tintoretto’s Paradise, one of the largest oil paintings in the world, hanging behind the throne was the highlight of the room.  Almost every former Doge has their portrait on the walls. However; there is a black shrouded space with an inscription. My tween and teen enjoyed finding this spot where the Doge’s portrait was removed and hearing how he was erased from history and executed for committing treason. You can purchase Skip the Line tickets in advance, since lines can get long.

Doge’s Palace Armory, Prison, and the Bridge of Sighs

Next, head to Doge’s Palace Armory to see a massive collection of over 2,000 weapons, suits of armor, and military artifacts dating back to the Middle Ages through the Renaissance. My son especially, was trying to imagine what it must have been like to fight with the huge sword and heavy suit of armor.

Included with your purchase of Doge’s Palace tickets, you will definitely want to check out the Bridge of Sighs. This bridge connects the palace to the old prison across the canal. After the prisoner would be sentenced, they would cross the bridge to the prison. Legend was that they would sign in regret of their decision while looking at the beauty of Venice for the very last time, giving the bridge its name. Once you are across, you can go outside for a photo-worthy shot in front of the famous bridge.

As you are crossing the Bridge of Sighs and into the prison, you will all be sure to notice the stark difference between the beautiful, glowing palace and the dark, dreary prison. Looking for the names and messages scratched into the prison walls was a highlight for my family. This made the history of the prison seem more real. 

My family spent about two hours at Doge’s Palace, but it can take more time, or less depending on your family’s interests, attention, and energy. If you would prefer a guided tour, then the hour and a half Doge’s Palace Secret Itineraries Tour is for you! This tour enables you to see hidden chambers, secret corridors, hidden staircases and infamous prison cells, such as Casanova’s prison cell and hear about his dramatic escape.

St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco)

Also located in Piazza San Marco, is one Venice’s most iconic churches, St. Mark’s Basilica. Known as the “Church of Gold” because over 2 acres of mosaics cover the walls, ceilings, and domes making it shine! Inside have your kids look up at detailed mosaics on the domes that tell the bible stories. The main one shows Christ ascending to heaven. 

It is important to note that like many churches throughout Europe, you will be required to have your shoulders and thighs covered. In warm weather keep this in mind, or bring a scarf that you can tie around you. Our family spent about 40 minutes here. It can get really crowded, so skip the line timed entry tickets are an option. Also, if your family would like a more in depth look, book a St. Mark’s Basilica guided kid-friendly tour. To save time with kids, we recommend booking skip-the-line tickets for Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica in advance, especially during peak travel months.

St. Mark’s Campanile (Bell Tower)

My family loves seeing panoramic views of new cities that we visit, so riding the elevator up to the bell tower, which is the highest building in the city, for a  Venice skyline view was a must for us. There is a charge, but its best views in Venice and seeing the canals from that vantage point really puts it in perspective of how Venice was built. On a clear day, you can sometimes even see the Dolomites! There are five bells in the tower. What interested my kids was learning about how each bell was used for a different purpose. I recommend going near sunset for a gorgeous picture opportunity.

Take a Gondola Ride

Your 3 days in Venice with kids wouldn’t be complete without taking a gondola ride. After all, when most people think of Venice, this iconic experience is one of the first things that comes to most people’s minds. These handmade, carved boats travel through the Grand Canal, which is more scenic, or through the quiet smaller canals. We loved that our gondola was a mix of the two.  Since the price of the boat is a fixed rate for all gondolas in Venice, make your decision based on which area interests you most. The gondola holds up to five people at that price so this works out well for many families. Some gondoliers sang, ours explained some of the historical structures that we passed by. This over 1,000 year old tradition is one that you won’t want to miss!

Day 2 in Venice with Kids: Murano and Burano

Families who prefer a structured plan can book a Murano and Burano island-hopping tour with transportation included.

Murano: The Island of Glass

On day two, we spent a few hours on the island of Murano, which is 1.5 miles north of the island of Venice, making it an easy trip. In order to get there, you will need to take the vaporetto, or water bus. Depending which station you hop on at, it is only a 10-20 minute ride. You will most likely take lines 4.1, 4.2, or 12 based on your station. Our family enjoyed being out on the deck of the ship to take in the great view. 

Murano is often referred to as the “Island of Glass” due to its centuries old glassblowing tradition. The island offers many free glassblowing demonstrations. After watching these master glassblowers creating their artwork, you are sure to gain an appreciation for the beautiful hand-blown glass pieces that you will see lined in the shop windows as you roam the streets of Murano. 

Between the vaporetto rides, bridges, heat, and nonstop walking, there were definitely a few things we were really glad we packed for Italy, which I share more about in what to pack for Italy with tweens and teens.

Burano – The Island of Color

When you are ready to leave for Burano, head to the vaporetto station, Murano Faro (this is the main stop on Murano). It will most likely be line 12 that runs between the two islands every thirty minutes. The water bus ride is about thirty minutes, but again it is a scenic ride as you pass smaller islands on the way there. 

This island is known for its bright rainbow-colored houses and is one of the most photographed places in Italy. The legend is that fishermen first painted their homes in vivid shades so they could spot them from afar while out at sea. Interestingly, today the local government regulates the colors of each of the houses. The homeowners are required to submit a request and each has a designated range of approved color hues. This is what makes Burano so unique, distinct, and photoworthy! You will want to take a lot of photos here!

Burano is also known for its handmade lace tradition. At the Museo del Merletto, you can learn about this delicate tradition. This tiny fishing island is a great place to grab some lunch, especially if you are a seafood lover. It has a long tradition of simple, fresh seafood. Some local specialities are Risotto di Gò (Gobies Risotto), Spaghetti al Nero di Seppia (Squid Ink Pasta), and Fritto Misto (Fried Seafood Mix). For dessert, try Burano’s signature golden-yellow, ring-shaped cookie, a Bussolà Buranello!

If anyone in your family eats gluten-free, I share what that actually looked like for us in our gluten free experience in Rome and Venice.

Once you are ready to return to Venice, take the Vaporetto line 12 (the same route you arrived on back.) The vaporetto runs this route about every thirty minutes and it is about a 45 minute boat ride.

Day 3 in Venice with Kids: Lido Beach Venice  with Kids & Relaxed Exploring

If you are looking for a less traditional touring day during your 3 days in Venice with kids that is relaxed and fun, head on over to Venice’s beach island, Lido. Our family absolutely loves the beach, so my kids thought it was exciting to get the chance to swim in the Adriatic Sea! When we were there in August, the Adriatic Sea was warm, slightly pebbly, pretty shallow, with gentle waves.

To get to Lido, you will need to take the vaporetto again. From the San Zaccaria stop, you will most likely need to take line 1 or 5.1 to Lido Santa Maria Elisabetta. The ride is about twenty minutes and again we enjoyed being out on the deck for the beautiful view.  Once there, it’s about a ten minute walk down Gran Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta to the main beach area. This street has many cafes, gelato, and shops. 

You have your choice of one of the private beach clubs, or the public beaches. Blue Moon Beach is a popular choice. We were planning on going to a public free beach area, but once we were there we decided to try out one of the beach clubs. With the entrance fee there were bathrooms, changing rooms, showers, lifeguards, beach loungers, umbrellas, an outdoor restaurant, areas for kids to play. 

The beach set up is definitely different than we were used to since most of our beach vacations are on the east coast, or the Caribbean. Here you are assigned a specific beach umbrella and loungers,. Some of the upgraded ones having their own private wooden hut, called capanne. The capannas typically include a shaded seating area with chairs and loungers, a changing area, and sometimes a table, and clothes rack. Interestingly, some of the local families have been renting the same capannas for generations. It has become part of their family tradition each summer.

Try to get there early, since they only sell a specific number of beach spots per day. We got a late start that day and got there around noon.  By that time the capannes were sold out. Luckily we were able to purchase the last group of beach loungers that were available. We spent about 40 euros for our family’s admission. We felt that it was worth it for the conveniences, especially being able to change before taking the vaporetto back to Venice. 

Some other activities that your family might enjoy while on Lido are renting bikes, e-bikes, kayaks, or paddleboards. Stroll the main street of the island and grab a gelato, and spend some time checking out the shops. Lastly, you could visit the Alberoni Nature Reserve and take a walk through the dunes, while looking for herons in their habitat. 

One of my favorite moments of our family day trip to Lido was watching my kids make friends with local Italian children on the beach. My kids don’t speak Italian and the other children only spoke a little bit of English, but all they needed was a ball to make the connection. Moments like this remind me that travel isn’t just about exploring new places, but it’s also about connecting across cultures. For us this was an experience we will remember!

Our day in Lido was the perfect balance of relaxation and exposure to Venetian culture for our family!

Final Thoughts on our 3 Days in Venice with Kids

For us, family trips are about making memories together and expanding our knowledge of the world. If you’re dreaming of planning your own family trip, you won’t be disappointed. Your 3 days in Venice with kids is sure to be a memory-maker because there is no place like it in the world!

After exploring Venice’s canals and famous landmarks, you’ll want to know how to make your stay as smooth as possible. From hotels, restaurants, and easy ways to get around, check out our Visiting Venice with Kids Travel Tips: Where to Stay, Eat, and Get Around to help plan every detail of your trip.

If you’re debating taking kids out of school for an international trip, here’s my teacher + mom breakdown of when it’s okay.

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Our family and attraction photos were captured during our adventures in Venice, highlighting top family experiences, local culture, and iconic sights. Select scenic and landmark images courtesy of trusted stock sources and tourism archives.

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