Venice with Kids Travel Guide
The perfect family Hotel in Venice
If you’re travelling to Venice with children, finding the right base can make all the difference—and Palazzo Dei Guardiani offers a rare combination of space, comfort, and convenience that’s perfectly suited to family life.
Unlike many traditional Venetian hotels, this beautifully restored property offers modern, apartment-style living, giving families the room they truly need. Spacious layouts include multiple bedrooms, separate living areas, and fully equipped kitchens—ideal for everything from relaxed breakfasts to easy evenings in after a busy day exploring. These apartments are so well-equipped and spotlessly clean, with thoughtful touches like air conditioning, laundry facilities, and even dishwashers making longer stays effortless.
One of the standout features for families is the sense of space, something that’s hard to come by in Venice. With room for everyone to spread out, plus family-friendly amenities like washing machines and kitchenettes, it’s a practical and comfortable choice whether you’re travelling with toddlers or older children.
Location-wise, Palazzo Dei Guardiani strikes the perfect balance. Situated in a quieter, more authentic part of Venice, it allows families to escape the busiest tourist crowds while still being within walking distance of major sights like the Grand Canal, St Mark’s Basilica and square, Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs and transport hubs. This makes getting around with children far more manageable—especially after long sightseeing days.
The property also offers a peaceful garden and outdoor space, giving families somewhere to unwind—an added bonus in a city where open space is limited. Combined with a safe, residential feel and nearby shops and restaurants, it creates a relaxed environment that’s ideal for travelling with kids.
Ultimately, Palazzo Dei Guardiani offers the best of both worlds: the charm of Venice with the comfort of home. For families looking for space, convenience, and a more relaxed way to experience this iconic city, it’s an exceptional choice.
👉 Check availability here (affiliate): Search for the best price for these family apartments on Skyscanner—these go FAST for August!
Family Activities in Venice
Private Water Taxi Venice Airport Transfer
Did you know you can get a water taxi direct from the airport to your hotel in Venice. This is the perfect bucket-list arrival and removes any hassle when travelling as a family. The hotel above (Palazzo Dei Guardini) has a jetty right at the hotel.
👉 Book your private water taxi airport transfer (affiliate) here
Venice: Waterbus and Mainland Bus Pass- buy your tickets here (Aff link)
One of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to explore Venice is using the Vaporetto (Waterbus). Rather than try to navigate the complex ticket machines and translations, you can buy your tickets here (Aff link). There are 24hr, 36hr or 72hr options to suit the duration of your trip.
Venice: Private Gondola Ride
Expensive, but a must do when in Venice- a gondola ride! We booked this private gondola ride for our family of 5. The 30 minute ride was the perfect duration to experience the Venice canals without little ones getting bored.
👉 Book your skip-the-line gondola: Lock in your time slot before you travel - book here (affiliate)
A Perfect Day in Venice with Kids Itinerary✨
Venice is one of those places that feels almost too magical to be real… but if you’re travelling with kids, you might be wondering how to actually do Venice without the overwhelm.
Good news: it’s absolutely doable—and even better, it can be one of the most memorable days of your trip.
Here’s exactly how we spent one perfect, family-friendly day in Venice, complete with an easy-to-follow route, plenty of snack stops (essential!), and just the right balance of sightseeing and slowing down.
☀️ Start Early (Trust Me on This)
We kicked off our day at 7am, and honestly, this is the secret to enjoying Venice with kids.
The streets are quiet, the light is beautiful, and you’ll beat both the crowds and the heat.
Our first stop? Breakfast, of course.
🥐 We grabbed pastries from Majer Santa Margherita Bakery (which opens nice and early), then began our gentle wander through Venice’s quieter streets.
🚶♀️ Part 1: Morning Magic Before the Crowds
Walking route: https://maps.app.goo.gl/yApYCEG73C3CRP8D7
From Campo Santa Margherita, we strolled towards Campo San Barnaba (yes, the Indiana Jones spot—fun for kids to recognise!).
We continued towards the iconic Accademia Bridge, and this is where Venice really delivers that wow moment. The view over the Grand Canal here is something special.
From there, it’s a short walk to the heart of Venice…
📍 Piazza San Marco at 8am
Arriving early meant we could actually enjoy it.
We soaked up the beauty of:
St Mark’s Campanile
Basilica di San Marco
Without the usual crowds, it felt calm, spacious, and surprisingly child-friendly.
We then wandered over to Doge’s Palace and crossed the nearby bridge for a glimpse of the famous Bridge of Sighs—a quick but worthwhile stop.
🚤 Part 2: See Venice from the Water (Effortlessly)
At around 8:30am, we made our way to the Vaporetto (water bus).
Instead of more walking (tired legs = meltdown territory), this was the perfect way to keep things fun.
Route:
From S. Marco-San Zaccaria “E” → Rialto Mercato
Top tip: pre-book your tickets to avoid queues. Buy your tickets here (Aff link)
This ride along the Grand Canal is basically a budget-friendly sightseeing cruise. You’ll glide past historic buildings and even pass under the iconic Rialto Bridge—kids loved this part.
🍕 Part 3: Rialto, Snacks & Getting Lost (The Fun Kind)
By 9am, we arrived at Rialto.
Walking route: https://maps.app.goo.gl/AtjDM3m7yZoskdYV8
We explored the Rialto Market, then wandered back toward the bridge.
This is your moment to slow things down:
☕ Stop for a drink
🍕 Grab a pizza slice
👀 People-watch by the canal
Afterwards, we let ourselves wander aimlessly through the tiny streets and canals—because honestly, getting lost in Venice is half the experience.
🍦 Mandatory Gelato Stop
No family day in Italy is complete without gelato.
We headed to Gelateria Gallonetto (opens at 10am), which was the perfect mid-morning reward and energy boost.
Happy kids = happy day.
🛍️ Late Morning Wandering
By around 10:15am, the shops had opened, so we crossed back over the Rialto Bridge and browsed a little.
From there, we slowly made our way toward Basilica Santa Maria dei Frari, before heading back to our apartment.
🕛 We arrived back around midday for a well-earned siesta—and I can’t recommend this enough if you’re travelling with children.
🚣♀️ Afternoon Highlight: Gondola Ride
We pre-booked a 3pm gondola ride, and this was such a good decision.
No queues, no stress—just a smooth, peaceful ride through some of Venice’s quieter canals.
It felt relaxed, special, and totally worth it with kids in tow.
👉 Top tip: Always pre-book your gondola to avoid long waits and inflated prices.
👉 Book your skip-the-line gondola: Lock in your time slot before you travel - book here (affiliate)
🌆 Evening: The Perfect Wind Down
After our gondola ride, we headed to Campo Santa Margherita for dinner.
This square has such a lovely, local feel—plenty of space for kids, lots of restaurants, and perfect for a bit of people-watching.
It was the ideal way to end the day.
💛 Final Thoughts
Did we see everything Venice has to offer?
No.
But that wasn’t the goal.
We had a relaxed, well-paced, joy-filled day—with just the right mix of sightseeing, snacks, and downtime.
And most importantly? Everyone stayed happy.
✨ Venice with kids doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With an early start, a flexible plan, and plenty of gelato stops, it can be truly magical.
And honestly… we’re already dreaming about going back.
Save this itinerary for your next family trip to Venice—and thank yourself later!
