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Italy with Children: Where to Stay?
Researching and booking a hotel or vacation rental can be a daunting task for every traveller, but the stakes are especially high when travelling abroad with children. We hope these carefully selected suggestions for lodging help you to find the perfect situation for your family holiday in Italy. Meanwhile, I'm dreaming of spending Christmas in Rome at the Residenza di Ripetta, a spacious and chic design hotel with remarkably reasonable rates for its distinguished location on Via di Ripetta just down from Piazza del Popolo. Family-friendly perks include comfortable suites with kitchenettes, kids menu, family movies and popcorn, and tickets to Rome's Explora Children's Museum.

Family-friendly hotels & holiday rentals in other regions:

Rome and Lazio   Florence and Tuscany   Milan and Lombardy  Turin and Piedmont
Genoa and Liguria   Perugia and Umbria   Naples and Campania  Venice and Veneto         

Featured Sponsor

Arte al Sole: An Italian Cultural Adventure for International Children is a seasonal day camp with programs offered in Rome; Panicale, Umbria; and Lucca, Tuscany,  offering children an opportunity to explore the art, science, history and culture of these regions through a fun, engaging curriculum in English. New for this year, the Rome city center program will be offered 17-21 December 2012.


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Family-friendly Riva del Garda
By Christy Rounds

When my husband asked a well-traveled European friend where our family should spend a month in Europe, his emphatic reply was Riva del Garda, Italy. With three young children, ages 6, 4 and 3, we needed a place that provided lots of activity to keep the little ones entertained. Lake Garda delivered in style!

One thing to note... Riva del Garda is primarily a European vacation destination. Don’t be surprised if English is not spoken as often as other tourist regions. German will get you much farther than English in this part of the country.

Riva del Garda is located on the north side of Lake Garda in a little valley surrounded by mountains. At the top of the valley, Arco Castle is nestled into the southern edge of the Italian Alps, providing a spectacular view of Lake Garda and the surrounding mountainside. A 30-45 minute hike up the mountainside brings you to the castle, which is open to the public. The flat, grassy castle grounds provide space to run, awe-inspiring views, and the perfect spot for a picnic lunch. Read more...

Lake Garda with the Family

Lake Maggiore with Kids
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The Old Port of Genoa: An Exciting Seafaring Destination for Kids
By Anna Merulla of Beautiful Liguria


Genoa is the birthplace of 15th-century explorer Christopher Columbus, whose voyages of discovery led to European settlement of the New World. When Columbus was a young boy he lived in Genoa and used to frequent the Old Port, where, from a very young age, his exposure to the shipping trade and experiences with navigation led to his own career as a mariner.

Today the Old Port (Porto Antico) is still an exciting place to visit for the whole family, offering many inspiring kid-friendly activities that involve kids in a combination of knowledge, curiosity, fun, and games at the same time.

Families can start with a visit to the largest Aquarium in Europe, walking in between the tanks which house many different types of fish and reptiles in exhibits that recreate the natural and original environments of the individual species. Furthermore, once a month kids can experience "a night with sharks" in the Aquarium. The only things that they have to take with them in this adventure are their sleeping bag, pajamas and toothbrush. During the "night with sharks" kids visit the Aquarium tanks to discover unknown behavior of the marine environment at night and end the evening in front of the shark tank.

From the Old Port, there are family-friendly boat excursions to view  whales and dolphins in the Ligurian Sea. This fascinating experience teaches kids the importance of protecting the environmental habitat of these majestic creatures.

Families can explore the depths of the sea even further with a "Full-immersion" voyage in the Nazario Sauro submarine, a real submarine in which children over 4 years old can enjoy a unique experience. Inside the Nazario, kids learn about underwater exploration in a fun engaging way that combines information about the complex operations of a submarine with entertainment and play. Read more...

Cinque Terre with Kids

Family-friendly Liguria Hotels and Other Lodging

Liguria Parks and Playgrounds

Liguria Restaurants with Kids

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Top Five Budget Hotels and Lodges for Families in Italy

Thank you to Leah Prendergast of Anytrip.com for these family-friendly budget hotel recommendations in Italy

From city breaks to rural escapes, Italy’s got plenty of budget places to stay for families. Take a look at our top five cheap family hotels in Italy below for ideas and inspiration…

Locanda Barbarigo
You might’ve thought cheap Venice hotels for families would start and finish with resort-style complexes far from the city centre, but Locanda Barbarigo is a five-minute walk from St. Mark’s Square. This bed and breakfast-style accommodation offers large, four-bed family rooms as well as babysitting, cots and extra beds on request. Canal views and décor of the gilt-and-chandeliers variety add to its charm.
Four-bed ensuite: EUR 142prpn

Farm Holiday Al Marnich
Family-run working farm Al Marnich offers rustic charm in spades: located half-way up a mountain from Lake Como, there are spectacular views of the valley as well as the chance for nature walks and rural exploring with the kids. Four-bed ensuite family rooms are available, and the home-cooked food served is organic and home-grown.
Four-bed ensuite EUR 80prpn

Hotel Giubileo
Housed in a 16th-century convent, Hotel Giubileo is a five-minute walk from the Colosseum and Fori Imperiali. Baby-sitting and family rooms are available (some with private terraces and a Junior Suite with its own kitchenette), and there’s a veranda and private garden for relaxing – no bad thing in the middle of the notoriously busy city-centre!
Private triple ensuite: EUR 180

Hotel Poggio del Sole
A lovely seaside hotel for families with young kids or teenagers, Hotel Poggio del Sole on the island of Ischia sits at the foot of Mt. Epomeo and has stunning views of the Mediterranean. Four-bed family rooms and babysitting is available, and the hotel has a swimming pool, garden, private vineyard and parking. Family-run, the restaurant serves meals made with local produce from the owner’s farm.
Four-bed ensuite: EUR 180prpn

Garden Florence B&B
A small and intimate B&B of just three rooms, Garden Florence B&B is five minutes’ walk from Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station. A triple room is suitable for families, and babysitting is available. Guests can park close by for a reduced rate, and there is a peaceful garden at the back of the house and traditional Italian breakfasts served every morning (included).
Private triple: EUR 81prpn