Best Places to Visit in Italy for a Family Vacation

Traveling in Italy with kids is an excellent idea. You couldn’t possibly find a country more immersed in art, architecture, culture and music and of course, nature. It’s an ‘Italy’s got it all’ package, and there are certainly a million reasons to visit Italy. Traveling to Italy as a family, you’ll get to experience the country in a whole new different way. For the best places to visit in Italy for your family trip, look no further! Start your vacation in Rome and proceed to the Umbria, Florence, Perugia, and more, spending a day or two in each place. All it takes is packing up your bags (here’s a list of the best luggage to take to Europe), hopping on a single flight to Rome and then you can use the rail to travel to all of the other best places to visit in Italy.  Any of our recommendations for the best places to visit in Italy will enrich your Italy itinerary, offering the ultimate in Italy tourism, fun travel experiences, and a great education for the kids!

Photo Above: Pedro Szekely

This is a guest post by Priya.  

Best Places to Visit in Italy for a Family Vacation: Italy Tourism Itinerary Guide

Photo Credit: Miwok

Rome

Visiting Italy’s capital is like taking a post-graduate course in art. Giant classical ruins, the magnificent Vatican City, Renaissance palazzos with their lovely Baroque fountains and magnificent stone lions – that’s Rome for you, easily marked as one of the best cities to visit in Italy. Indeed, Rome has so many of our suggestions for what to see in Italy!

Learn how to get discounted tickets to Rome attractions. 

This energetic city has much more to offer in the way of Italy tourism – ancient local traditions, vibrant neighbourhoods, local trattorias, quaint and quirky shops and boutiques and the never-ending mystique of the Rome Opera House can all enhance your Rome itinerary. And don’t go to sleep too early! You’ll want to explore Rome at night as well.

And don’t forget the Colosseum, of course! Before you go, here are 7 things you must know before visiting the Colosseum.

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Photo Credit: Carlo Raso

Umbria

Umbria is the green heart of Italy, where the culture is so old-fashioned and quaint that you’ll simply feel transported into the past. Add a hike in the Woods of Saint Francis of Assisi to your Italy itinerary, and help your kids understand and appreciate nature. For another prime Italy tourism experience, you may also want to visit the famous Basilica, and treat the family to a fabulous Italian dinner at the Hosteria la Tradizione at the Hotel Dei Priori. What a fabulous way to experience Europe with kids!

And since Umbria is one of the best places to visit in Italy for some great food, enjoy some truffle-based pasta with a glass of the famous local Sagrantino wine. Fantastico!

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Photo Credit: Chris Yunker

Perugia

Perugia is a majestic walled city that sits on top of a hill in the Umbria region. Perugia has two well-known universities and is an educated, wealthy city with quaint and trendy boutiques, cafés, and splendid architecture. Why is Perugia one of the best places to visit in Italy? This city’s history goes back to the ninth century BC. Enjoy traipsing along the quaint old cobbled alleyways, arched stairways and stairs and feel you’ve stepped back into the past. Perugia gets into the party mode regularly, with the nightlife set abuzz with café terraces spewing the latest jazz tunes. The world-famous jazz festival, Umbria Jazz is hosted in July every year at Perugia, making this location a top spot for your Italy tourism. Also, Eurochocolate, the international chocolate festival, is also hosted in Perugia each October drawing tourists with sweet teeth from all over the world. Hurry up and apply for your Italy visa so you can add the July jazz festival to your Italy itinerary!

Looking for a stylish travel day bag for your family vacation? We found one that’s perfect for Italy!

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Tuscany

In Tuscany, be sure to add Michelangelo’s David, the Duomo, as well as the much overlooked gem of Pitti Palace to your Italy itinerary. Take your Italy tourism to the next level by dining on some great pasta at The Cibreo, one of the best Tuscan restaurants around.

Visit Pisa to admire the crazy leaning tower – it will be greatly educational for the kids.

But why should Tuscany be considered one of the best places to visit in Italy? Vino! Tuscany is famous for its wines. In fact, one of the top things to do in Italy is to take your family on wine-tasting trips and check out some of the wine-making techniques that have been passed down for centuries.

Find the cheapest flights to Italy: Read our guide for doing a Cheap Flight Search like a pro!

Photo Credit: Quinn Comendant

Pomaia

Pomaia is a lesser-known town but certainly worthy of a spot on your Italy itinerary. This seaside town with blissful beaches and a simple laidback culture is perfect for a restful holiday, and one of the best places to visit in Italy without the crowds. For a perfectly relaxing family vacation, stay at an Italian farm in Pomaia, and enjoy the simple pleasures of farm life.

Planning to visit Italy in the fall? Find out why Italy was selected as one of the Top Autumn Travel Destinations!

Photo Credit: Gential LAMBERT

Liguria

Is your family in need of some quality beach time? Then guide your Italy itinerary towards the Liguria region, famously known as the Italian Riviera. Stay in one of the quaint towns of Cinque Terre such as Monterosso Al Mare. Check out the wonderful beach scene and the seaside vibe of this fabulous place, and you’ll quickly learn why Liguria is one of the best places to visit in Italy.

For more Italy travel activities, go on a few hikes up the hills and explore the small towns you come across. Enjoy local favourites at small cafes you come across, such as pesto pasta (Trofie al pesto), great seafood like Fritto Misto di Mari (mixed seafood, lightly fried in butter), fried zucchini flowers and so on.

Don’t forget your camera! Here are the best budget travel cameras for your Italy trip.

Photo Credit: Benson Kua

Florence

Italy’s famous Renaissance centre, Florence is the best place to visit in Italy for art lovers. Don’t miss a visit to each of the outstanding museums that feature fabulous artworks and paintings for an unforgettable Italy itinerary. Check out canvases by Botticelli and Giotto’s frescoes; Michelangelo’s David and Leonardo da Vinci’s great art pieces. Florence’s art scene is awe-inspiring and the architecture is mind blowing, marking a visit to this city as one of the top must-have Italy tourism experiences in the entire country. If you love music, check out the schedule at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale, a world-class classical music and opera venue.

Also your Florence itinerary might include a visit to the exhibition calendar of the Palazzo Strozzi, a dynamic art centre which puts on come great art shows. Don’t forget to add a visit to the Medici palaces and gardens and the vineyards of Chianti to your Italy itinerary.

Check out our essential carry-on packing list to survive the long flight to Italy!

Photo Credit: Pedro Szekely

Venice

The entire city of Venice floats on stilts upon a seawater lagoon. With stunning landmarks such at the Piazza San Marco, the Saint Mark’s Basilica, the Palazzo Ducale and the Rialto Bridge, Venice is certainly one of the best places to visit in Italy. You might even want to visit Venice with kids!

If you’re a culture vulture, you will love adding some of Venice’s many museums, palaces and churches to your Italy itinerary. For some top Italy tourism activities, wander among the canals on a romantic gondola in the evenings with your family to check out the rest of the city. Or you can take a vaporetto (water taxi) for a truly idyllic experience of this floating city.

You might also consider planning travel to the Dolomites from Venice, either by train, car, or guided tour.

Photo Credit: Heinz Bunse

Milan

If you’re a shopping freak and your heart beats for top designer brands, then Milan is one of the best places to visit in Italy for you. Milan is famous for its superlative shopping outlets, cultural attractions and eateries, offering top Italy points of interest for fashion lovers. Milan is also one of the most ancient cities in Europe, with more than 26 centuries of history and heritage under its belt. Don’t forget to check out such impressive Italy tourism spots as the Gothic Duomo cathedral, the Pinacoteca di Brera art gallery and the Scala Opera House.

Will your family trip include some furry little ones? Make sure to check out our guide to International Pet Travel!

Photo Credit: Filippo Bianchi

Naples

Naples is one of Italy’s largest cities, with both old and new attractions to add to your list of the top Italy destinations. Naples, despite modern intrusions, has retained its old character and style adding to its charm, making it one of the best places to visit in Italy. After all, Naples has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, as the city houses some of the finest art and architecture in Europe. Check out the beautiful frescoes and sculptures on Neapolitan streets as you stroll this atmospheric city. Also don’t forget to check out the Piazza del Plebiscito for its lovely sculptures. Be sure to visit some of the city’s historic castles – one of the most famous castles is the ancient Castel Nuovo, also known as Maschio Angioino. This castle was built during the time of Charles I, the first king of Naples. With its mix of old and new, Naples has bountiful options of Italy tourist attractions to enhance your trip!

Find out the TSA Rules You Need to Know for your Italy trip

Verona

Located in Northern Italy, Verona is home to the famous Opera Festival that takes place here every year, making it one of the best cities to visit in Italy. Verona claims the fame of having the house and balcony made famous by that specific scene in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. If you’re looking for where to visit in Italy, don’t forget to check out the admirable castle complex and Verona Arena’s magnificent Roman amphitheatre and the spectacular cathedral. Make sure you also add the colourful street market at Piazza delle Erbe, Verona’s most ancient square that’s filled with historic monuments including the ancient Madonna Verona fountain that was commissioned in 1368. And of course, you can never forget the food! Taste the local cuisine such as peperita (beef cooked in a peppery cheese sauce), paparele (pasta cooked with peas and beans) for an incredible Italy travel experience you’ll always remember.

Check out our Instagram-Worthy Reasons to Visit Italy for some major Italy travel inspiration!

Photo Credit: N i c o l a

Turin

Turin is famous as the place where the shroud that was wrapped around Jesus Christ’s crucified body was found. Thousands of people arrive in Turin every year on pilgrimage to check out the Shroud of Turin at the local cathedral. It’s an elegant city much like Vienna or Paris, with cobbled streets, smart shops, art nouveau cafés, fabulous Baroque architecture and artisan workshops. The art scene here is just as powerful, with galleries, museums and impromptu art exhibitions being among the top Italy points of interest. Looking for where to go in Italy for chocolate lovers? The answer is Turin! It’s believed that the first chocolate was invented in Turin, making it one of the best places to visit in Italy for sweet tooths. Today there are hundreds of beautiful chocolate shops in Turin, selling a range of fabulous chocolates. If you’re looking for the best things to do in Italy, attend the annual chocolate festival (Cioccolatò) in the last week of November when the streets are packed with artisan chocolates and luxury brands.

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Italy is a magical country, where the magic has evolved over centuries into a palpable thing that you can feel the moment you land. Enter Italy and you’re lost to time, to modernity, even though the country is very modern. Italy is best known for is its art, though music, wine and food, and any Italy itinerary including some of these top places to visit in Italy (Rome, Sorrento, and Florence, anyone?) will help you experience each fully. With plentiful Italy points of interest to give you and your loved ones  the vacation of a lifetime, a visit to Italy is the best gift you can give!

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