Ultimate One-Week Italy Itinerary for Families: Unforgettable Adventures from Venice to Rome

Explore Italy with Kids: The Best Family-Friendly Travel Guide for a One-Week Trip: Venice, Florence, Rome and More

Planning a family trip to Italy? Imagine your children’s excitement as they watch glass being blown into colorful creations in Murano, climb inside the dome of Florence’s cathedral, or driving a Ferrari Formula One simulator at the Ferrari museum. Italy isn’t just a feast for adults—it’s an adventure playground for kids, filled with hands-on history, dazzling art, and plenty of gelato breaks along the way.

This carefully designed one-week itinerary highlights the best family-friendly activities in Venice, Florence, and Rome, plus unique stops in between. With kid-approved adventures, cultural treasures, and a sprinkle of fun surprises, this guide will help you create unforgettable memories together.

Day 1: Discover Venice – Water and Wonder

Your journey begins in Venice, where streets are canals and boats replace cars.

Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square): Enter Saint Mark’s Basilica with the impressive golden mosaics, and climb to the top of the Campanile tower for sweeping views on the and the city and lagoon.

Gondola ride or vaporetto (water bus): Kids will love the busy boat traffic of Canal Grande or gliding on the gondola under low bridges.

Spot-the-Boat Challenge: In Venice, even emergency and service vehicles are boats! Keep an eye out for the police boat, ambulance boat, fire engine boat, and even UPS-style delivery boats—it’s like a floating Lego version of city life.

Mask-Making Workshop: Step into a traditional artisan’s shop and learn how Venetian masks are crafted. Kids can paint their own mask to take home—a creative souvenir tied to the city’s famous Carnival

Lido Beach: Need space to run? Take a short boat ride to sandy shores where kids can play and parents can relax. Perfect to cool down in hot summer days.

Family Tip: Venice gets crowded. Start early, pack snacks, and opt for takeaway treats (gelato or pastries) to avoid pricey sit-down cafés.

mother and young girl laughing on a gondola in venice italy

Day 2: Islands Adventure in the Venice Lagoon

Make today an island-hopping adventure across the Venetian Lagoon.

Murano Glass: Watch artisans shape molten glass into colorful art. Kids will be fascinated watching skilled artisans blow glass into delicate shapes and sculptures in front of their eyes. They learn how heat and skilled hands combine to create beautiful glass art, sparking their curiosity about craftsmanship and the chemistry behind it.

Burano: Wander among rainbow-colored houses that look like they belong in a storybook. For a healthy snack make them try the bussolai, the typical cookies of Burano.

Boating Adventure: rent a boat and discover the islands of the lagoon at your own pace. Stop in lesser-known islands like Torcello, a place that is like a time travel to the 16^th Century.

Family Tip: Bring a camera or let kids use a phone to capture their favorite house colors—it’s a fun way to keep them engaged.

Day 3: Ferrari Experience on the way to Florence

On the way to Florence, add a pit stop that excites kids and adults alike: discover the Italian Motor Valley

Ferrari Museum (Maranello or Modena): See classic and Formula 1 cars up close, learn about the history of Enzo Ferrari, the legendary founder of these iconic cars, and how Italian design and engineering revolutionized motorsports.

Racetrack Experience: Kids can sit in a Formula One drive simulator, while adults (18+) might even test-drive a Ferrari racecar on a racetrack. Younger kids can join as passengers with a pro driver— an adrenaline rush that will make any videogame feel like boring stuff

Lamborghini Factory: have a guided tour inside the Lamborghini production plant and see how these amazing cars are actually made. A fun and educational experience for the entire family (and surprisingly enough, even for moms!)

Arrive in Florence: Settle in, stroll through cobbled streets, and enjoy your first Tuscan dinner.

red ferrari formula one cars in the ferrari museum of maranello italy

Day 4: Florence – Art, Architecture & History

Welcome to the cradle of the Renaissance: step into the world of art, science, and architecture that changed history.

Guided walking tour: Stroll through Florence’s historic center. A guide can turn history into kid-friendly stories about artists, inventors, and rivalries. Let the children learn about topics that they will soon study in their history and art classes.

Duomo climb: Ascend Brunelleschi’s dome and climb to the top of Brunelleschi’s masterpiece—a massive dome that revolutionized engineering techniques. Enjoy an exciting ascent through narrow passages, and from the top, enjoy spectacular panoramic views of Florence, while children learn how Renaissance innovators pushed the boundaries of architecture and engineering

Model Railway Museum: stop at the HZERO Museum, featuring one of Europe's largest model railways, a 280-square-meter miniature world where over 70 trains run through meticulously detailed, immersive landscapes

Boboli Gardens: Let kids run free among fountains, sculptures, and shaded paths. A great place to escape the heat of summer days.

Cooking Class: take a pasta or pizza making class, learn first-hand how to cook delicious Italian food, fun for the entire family.

Family Tip: The Duomo climb isn’t stroller-friendly. Consider splitting into two groups if you have toddlers..

mother with two children looking at panorama of florence italy during family vacation

Day 5: Medieval Marvels on the Way to Rome

Travel toward Rome with enriching stops en route.

Orvieto: Explore the Medieval center and the impressive Gothic cathedral. Discover how ancient engineers built intricate water systems like the Well of San Patrizio—an fascinating structure with a spiraling staircase that supplied water during sieges. Exploring these underground passages gives children a sense of medieval ingenuity and the importance of engineering in shaping history.

Countryside winery: While adults enjoy tasting local wines in ancient cellars, children learn about Italy’s agricultural history and the art of winemaking through stories and hands-on activities. This combines a taste of Italy’s natural beauty with a fascinating look at how humans have worked with nature for centuries

Family Tip: This is a great day to enjoy slower pacing—let the kids stretch, snack, and explore outdoors before big-city Rome..

Day 6: Discover Rome – Ancient Ruins & the Vatican

Rome is an open-air history book—today you step right into it.

Colosseum: Grandiose and impressive for children and grown-ups. Walk where gladiators once battled. Imagine the roaring crowds and fierce fights with lions and tigers.

Roman Forum & Palatine Hill: Picture senators debating, markets teeming with vendors, and grand temples reaching to the sky. It’s history right in front of you—an open-air history book!

Pantheon: Step inside this incredible temple with its gigantic dome and oculus, where sunlight streams in like a spotlight on the ancient marble. Kids will be awestruck imagining the ancient engineers who built such a masterpiece over 2,000 years ago and will be fascinated learning how rain pours down inside the church.

Piazza Navona & Trevi Fountain: make your way to Piazza Navona, a lively square full of street performers, artists, and fountains. It’s the perfect place to soak in lively Roman life and grab an authentic Italian gelato. Then, pay a quick visit to the Trevi Fountain and don’t forget to toss a coin for good luck!

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel: end your day at the Vatican Museums, where you’ll walk into a treasure chest of art. Be dazzled by Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling. Discover the marvels of Saint Peteer’s Basilica, the greatest of all Catholic churches. Climb on top of Saint Peter’s dome for amazing views of the city.

Family Tip: Rome is unique and fascinating but it can be complicated and sometimes overwhelming: to ensure a more enjoyable and stress-free experience book a tour with a private guide—kids (and parents) will thank you.

young girl looking inside the colosseum in rome during italy family vacation

Day 7: Ancient Roads, Christian Catacombs & Roman Baths

Discover hidden layers of the Eternal City.

Appian Way: Walk, bike, or even rent e-bikes along one of the oldest Roman roads, lined with ruins of aqueducts and tombs.

Catacombs: In the underground Catacombs of San Sebastiano or San Callisto, children can walk through tunnels filled with early Christian tombs, learning about the secretive practices of early believers.

Caracalla Baths: Visit the Caracalla Thermal Baths, where Roman citizens used to relax and socialize. Wander through enormous ruins of bath complexes, with pools, arches, and massage rooms. These impressive ruins are vast enough for kids to roam and explore.

Family Tip: Bring a flashlight for catacomb tours—kids love feeling like explorers.

Day 8: Arrivederci Italy

Enjoy your final morning in Rome with a slow breakfast or a last-stroll around the city. Pick up some souvenirs or enjoy a final slice of pizza or gelato before heading to the airport.

With your hearts and phones full of memories, it’s time to say arrivederci to Italy. Fly back home from Rome, cherishing the incredible experiences and lifelong memories made on this wonderful family adventure.

Final Tips for an Optimal Italian Family Vacation

Fly In Venice - Fly Out Rome

To make the most of your family trip, consider flying into Venice and departing from Rome. There are convenient direct flights available from the US, Canada, and many other countries straight into Venice, making your travel easier and more efficient. Flying home from Rome saves you from having to backtrack, giving you more time to enjoy Italy’s incredible sights and experiences. Flights from North America generally leave in the afternoon or night, arriving in Italy the morning after, so you may leave home on Friday night. Going back, flights are generally in the morning, early afternoon and they arrive to North America in the afternoon of the same day thanks to the time zone, so leaving Italy Saturday or Sunday will allow you to start your regular week on Monday

Hire a Private Guide

For your time in Italy, hiring a private local guide is a game-changer. Not only will this make your sightseeing more interesting and engaging—especially for children—but it also provides expert insights into Italy’s art, history, and culture. A private guide makes your trip more relaxed, taking away the stress of navigating busy streets, finding the right sights, or wasting time in long lines. They can customize the visit to your family’s pace and interests, turning sightseeing into an enjoyable and educational adventure.

Take High-speed Trains or a Private Driver

When traveling between cities like Venice, Florence, and Rome, high-speed trains from Trenitalia and Italo offer excellent, comfortable service—fast, clean, and reliable. If you want to enjoy the scenic stops along the way, like in our itinerary at Ferrari’s museum in Maranello or Orvieto, renting a car or hiring a private driver is a great option. A private driver can take you at your own pace, stop where you want, and turn the journey into a memorable part of your trip—perfect for families wanting a bit more flexibility and comfort. Renting a car is less expensive but driving in Italy might reveal difficult and streesful.

By planning your flights strategically and investing in a private guide or driver, you’ll ensure a smooth, stress-free, and incredibly enriching Italian vacation—leaving you with beautiful memories and a deeper understanding of Italy’s remarkable art, history, and culture.

Before You Go: Prep the Kids with Movies

Get the whole family excited for Italy with a fun movie countdown before your trip! Watch Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Spider-Man: Far From Home to spot Venice’s real canals and famous bridges. For Florence, A Room with a View offers beautiful glimpses of the city’s timeless charm. And when preparing for Rome, enjoy the adventure and history brought to life in Angels & Demons, the classic sightseeing fun of Roman Holiday, and the pop-star wish-fulfillment journey of The Lizzie McGuire Movie. Kids will love recognizing places they’ve seen on screen — and it turns each day of sightseeing into a real-life movie moment!

Planning a trip?

KissFromItaly can create tailor-made family experiences—customized tours, hands-on activities, and stress-free logistics—so you can simply enjoy the adventure together. Get in touch to discover more.