Many people assume Venice isn’t great for kids, picturing crowded tourist hubs and canals with little space to run free. However, if you step off the beaten track and avoid the usual hotspots, Venice transforms into an enchanting playground of quiet backstreets and open squares.

If you look for them, there are some great fun activities too. From hands-on glass workshops on Murano to peaceful vaporetto rides, the city offers wonderful unique experiences which my kids (10 and 12 at the time), loved.

Our 24 hours in Venice with kids exceeded all expectations, even with the sweltering 36 degree Celsius heat when we were there! Here’s how we made the most of our short time in Venice.

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Staying Overnight in Mestre

We took a train to Venice from the Dolomites (check out my blog post about beautiful Bolzano here) – where we had just completed this 4 day, 3 night hike in the Rosengarten area. The train also passes near Lake Garda, another location easily accessible from both Venice and the Dolomites. You can read about our stay in Lake Ledro (a quieter alternative to Garda, but right next door), here.

The trains were comfortable, reliable, and relaxing and we arrived into Venice Mestre (the less romantic, and much cheaper! part of Venice on the mainland). From here, we could easily walk to the Meininger Hotel – a convenient and budget-friendly option. It’s especially great for families with multiple bedded private rooms, and breakfast included.

👉 Book the Venice Mestre Meininger Hotel here

After a comfortable night and a good breakfast, we set out for the day. On our way back to the station, we purchased 24-hour Venice transport passes from a ticket machine. These cost €25 each (no discount for kids, but free for under 6s). You can find these online, but the website isn’t great. Buying the pass at the machine worked fine.

These passes covered both the train from Venice Mestre to Venice Santa Lucia (the station in the romantic, expensive part of Venice!) and unlimited rides on vaporettos. Vaporettos are the public waterbuses that serve as Venice’s primary mode of transportation, connecting its canals and the surrounding islands in the lagoon.

The unlimited transport pass was key to our enjoyment, as it meant we could explore at our own pace, taking vaporettos all over the place (which was also a lot of fun). We also wanted to avoid having to walk more than necessary, since it was so hot, and Venice is pretty sticky in the heat.

So once our passes were in hand, we hopped on an early train to Santa Lucia station, ready to kick off our Venetian adventure.

Morning: Venice’s Canals and Murano

Arriving at Santa Lucia, we immediately found the left luggage storage on platform 1, where we’d booked in advance to leave our backpacks for the day. We boarded a vaporetto from Santa Lucia and glided down the Grand Canal to the Rialto Bridge, soaking in the city’s iconic scenery and the gondolas plying the canals.

Rather than linger with the crowds, we wandered (in fact we made a quick exit as the main tourist spots were heaving) into Venice’s quieter backstreets, discovering charming alleys and completely empty hidden corners on our way to the Fondamenta Nove vaporetto stop.

  • A scenic view of Venice's Grand Canal with colourful historic buildings lining the waterfront. Boats, including a police boat labelled Carabinieri, are docked near wooden piers. The sky is clear with some clouds.
  • Two children in yellow shirts stand on a stone bridge overlooking a canal in Venice, with old buildings lining the waterway. A small boat is moored by the canal side under a clear blue sky.
  • Striped shirts in red and blue hang on a clothesline outside a building with beige walls and open windows. Shadows of the shirts are visible against the wall under a clear blue sky.
  • A woman and two children sit on a stone ledge outdoors, smiling and eating granita. The children are wearing yellow shirts. Trees and a building are visible in the background under a clear blue sky.

From there, we took a boat to Murano, famed for its glassmaking. At the Ferro Toso workshop, we all created our own murrinas – intricate glass designs made from colourful beads (we booked this a week or so in advance). It was hands-on, creative, and a great way to engage with local craftsmanship.

We watched as the glass was fired, and the cool, shady workshop – along with the kind craftsman guiding us – provided a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of Venice and the Grand Canal.

  • Two children in yellow shirts carefully selecting colorful beads from containers on a table. They are focused on creating a project, with one wearing a blue cap and both having wearable tech on their wrists. A leafy plant is in the background.
  • A child uses tweezers to arrange small blue and purple circular beads inside a round pendant frame placed on a white fabric. A red bead lies nearby on the grey table.
  • A man in a white shirt helps two children wearing yellow shirts and caps in an outdoor setting with lush greenery and a view of the sea. They are gathered around a table with containers of glass beads with folding chairs nearby.
  • A person wearing a glove holds a small circular object with a red, glossy substance (the glass which is red hot) on a white square material, standing on a tiled floor.

After a bit of shopping (the kids wanted to look at the beautiful glass animals in Every. Single. Shop window!) in the shops lining Murano’s main canal, we then explored Murano’s quieter lanes and enjoyed a refreshing granita from a little hole in the wall.

We stopped for lunch at La Perla ai Bisatei, a fantastic local restaurant in a shady square serving delicious Venetian fare. With full bellies and happy smiles, we treated ourselves to gelato before heading back to Venice by vaporetto.

Afternoon: Hidden Gems and Spectacular Views

Back in Venice, we wandered through the peaceful backstreets to the city’s Ospedale Civile (hospital). This stunning building is a blend of Venetian Gothic and Renaissance architecture, with an incredible façade overlooking a quiet canal – a hidden gem most visitors miss.

Next, we made our way to San Marco – we didn’t spend long here at all as the crowds were a bit overwhelming – and hopped on a boat to San Giorgio Maggiore.

Here, we had a break for a cold drink in the air conditioned café, and then headed into the church and up the Campanile (bell tower) – a serene alternative to the busy Campanile at St. Mark’s (we did not have to book in advance). The tower offered breath taking, panoramic views of Venice and the lagoon, with no crowds to contend with at all.

  • Two children in yellow shirts walk inside a grand hall with tall columns and a patterned floor. A red and gold banner hangs from the ceiling. Several other people are visible in the background. A large lantern hangs overhead.
  • A family of four gathers around a public water fountain in a sunny, paved street lined with colorful buildings. A child in a yellow shirt drinks from the fountain, while another child in a white dress watches. An adult holds a backpack.
  • A child in a yellow shirt and sunglasses sits on a boat, smiling. The boat is on water with a view of a distant shoreline featuring a bell tower and domed buildings under a partly cloudy sky.
  • A view from above of a historic domed building in Venice, Italy, with a cloudy sky and a body of water in the background. Other buildings and a distant shoreline are visible across the water.

Evening: Sunset, Gelato, and Goodbyes

As the sun dipped, we took a vaporetto to Zattere and treated ourselves to a scoop (or two!) at Gelateria Nico, a local favourite. A leisurely walk led us to the Grand Canal, where we hopped on a boat for a scenic ride all the way back up the Grand Canal, passing all the quintessential Venetian sights.

For dinner, we followed a local recommendation to Trattoria Pizzeria All’ Anfora, just a short walk from the train station. It was the perfect spot—relaxed, welcoming, and serving some of the best pizza we’ve ever had.

Night: All Aboard the Nightjet

After dinner, we retrieved our luggage from the left luggage facility at the train station and boarded our overnight Nightjet train to Austria. It was an exciting way to end our 24 hours in Venice – falling asleep as the train whisked us away to our next adventure.

👉Book your Nightjet train on Rail Europe here

Read more here about train travel and why we love it!

  • A gondolier in a striped shirt navigates a gondola through a canal in Venice, lined with historic buildings. The sky is overcast, adding a serene atmosphere to the scene.
  • Girl in a yellow shirt smiles while holding a spoon over a dish of tiramisu on a table. A brown pizza box is in the background.
  • A scenic view of a canal in Venice during sunset, featuring colorful buildings on the left with a green-domed church. Small boats are docked along the waterfront, while a few boats navigate the canal. The sky is a blend of warm hues.
  • Two children in yellow shirts and backpacks stand smiling in front of a blue night train with "schlafwagen" written on the side. It is night time, and the train is visible in the background.

Why Venice with Kids?

This family-friendly itinerary proved that Venice can be magical and manageable with children. The mix of hands-on activities, quiet explorations, and iconic sights kept everyone engaged and happy.

The main tourist sights were very busy and to be honest, unenjoyable, but in just a 3 minute walk away from there, we really felt like we had Venice all to ourselves.

My Favourite Guide Books to help you Explore Venice with Kids

If you have Kindle Unlimited, check whether the kindle editions are free – often they are!

Venice After the Dolomites

Adding a visit to Venice after (or before!) exploring the Italian Dolomites or the Italian Lakes is a straightforward and rewarding plan. Begin by taking a regional train or driving from your base in the Dolomites to Venice Mestre or Venice Santa Lucia, the city’s main train stations. The journey typically takes 2-4 hours, depending on your location in the mountains.

Venice pairs beautifully with the Dolomites as a cultural contrast and a final touch of Italian magic!

Where to next? More info for your adventures:

Bea Searle is the creator of Wild Bee Outdoors. Having lived in Austria as a kid, she fell in love with the mountains early on. Passionate about sustainable train travel and outdoor adventures with her family, Bea shares local insights, detailed routes, and plenty of tips for hut to hut hiking and multi-day cycling trips in the European Alps and beyond; along with ideas for worthwhile detours to make every journey unforgettable. Her goal? To inspire you to embrace the mountains, dodge the tourist traps, and explore with confidence.

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