Curated itineraries to spend 3 weeks in Italy with kids and make the most of your time. Perfect for first time visitors who want to see Italy’s most famous places and want to pack several destinations in a limited amount of time.
I always say that the best way to enjoy Italy with kids is by taking it slow.
So, when I see my readers asking for suggestions for a longer stay of three weeks, I always get very excited.
Three weeks are a fantastic length of time to explore Italy and allows to hit the perfect balance between doing a lot yet also have time to relax and absorb the wonders you are experiencing.
There are infinite ways to spend three weeks in Italy and the very best ones, in my opinion, would be picking three home bases and devoting one week to each area – which ones depending on personal interest, seasons and logistics.
If you want to approach Italy this way, I recommend you join my Facebook Group Travel Italy with kids – so we can recommend out best finds just around your specific wishes (it’s free! Both the group and the advice 🙂 I am an Italian mama from Rome and this is my group, full of lovely parents with the most amazing ideas and tips to enjoy Italy with kids!
That said, I have been working with visitors to Italy for long enough to know that most want to see Italy’s most famous spots, namely: Rome, Florence, Venice, Amalfi Coast, The Tuscany countryside, Cinque Terre and the lakes. Lately, the Dolomites have also made the list.
And I also know that sometimes your trip to Italy is THE trip to Italy you are taking and you therefore only have this chance to see places you may have dreamed about all your life.
And so, I decided to focus my recommended itineraries on how to see the most famous bits of Italy in three weeks.
For each of these activities I have prioritized:
- Reasonable length of stay for each place, so that you have a chance to actually feel it and enjoy it
- Ease of transport between one location and the next, avoiding backtracking or excessively long journeys
- Access to airports for arrival / departure
- Activities that I believe area meaningful in that specific location: for instance, I have you make gelato in Florence because this is where gelato was born, pizza in Naples or Rome as most typical there, mask making or rowing in Venice.
While you can of course change what you do where, I recommend in that case you do your research on whether it makes cultural sense.
Italian regional cooking for instance is so local, learning to cook a dish form a region in a different area doesn’t make any more sense than learning it back home so you may find you don’t get as much as hoped. Same with specific crafts that are typical from one area but not another.
Good to know: As you will notice, I have not included Sardinia nor Sicily. This is because they are a flight away from almost anywhere in Italy so you van easily add them to any two week Italy itinerary, at any stage.
Please note: itinerary 1 and 2 are very similar; the main difference is that one includes Cinque Terre and one includes the Amalfi Coast. If you are not sure which one may suit you best, have a look at this guide Cinque Terre vs Amalfi Coast, which should help see which ones matches best your taste and travel style.
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Itinerary n1: 3 weeks in Italy to see Rome and Northern Italy (with Lake Garda and Dolomites
Itinerary one focuses on the north of Italy and includes visits to Italy’s most famous cities, a jaunt to the pretty colorful houses and coastal views of Cinque Terre, time in the famous Tuscan countryside with its medieval hilltop hamlets, wineries and rolling hills, a stunning nature immersion in the Dolomites and a fun filled stay in Lake Garda, one of the most kid friendly areas of Italy.
This itinerary relies on trains and cars but you can also do it by train only.
In that case, I recommend you base yourself in Florence, so you have the wisest choice of trains and tours to explore.
At a glance: (click on the links on the left column for exact itinerary and/ or activity ideas in each place).
| Destination | Length of stay/ Transport | Type of activity |
|---|---|---|
| Rome (click for my 4 night itinerary) | 4 days | City sightseeing, food tour, pasta class, mosaic class, gladiator class shopping |
| Train to | ||
| Cinque Terre (click for exact itinerary) | 3 days | Sea swimming, boating, hiking |
| Train and car to | ||
| Florence and Tuscany countryside (click for exact itinerary) | 5 days | Wineries, county views, small towns, farm to table experience, gelato making classes |
| Train to | ||
| Venice | 2 days | City sightseeing, craft classes (masks, glass), rowing class |
| Train or car to | ||
| Dolomites | 4 days | hiking, views, cycling |
| Train or car to | ||
| Lake Garda | 3 days | Town hopping, swimming, cycling, boating |
Recommended airports: arrival to Rome; departure from Venice or Milan. It is also possible to follow this itinerary in reverse.
Easy tweaks: you can easily swap time in Tuscany with time in Umbria, if you prefer a slighly quieter stay. You can easily swap Lake Garda and Lake Como.
Top Tip! If flying out of Venice, try avoid a very early flight as transport to the airport it not the easiest after hours and you may end up having to pay over the odds for private transport across the water.
Itinerary n2: 3 weeks in Italy with kids to see Rome, Amalfi Coast and the north
This second itinerary covers goes from Southern Italy to the north and touches on Italy’s art cities, the lemon grove dotted, coastal beauty of Amalfi Coast, the tranquil shored of Lake Como and the stunning Dolomites.
To be fully honest with you, I feel this itinerary has too much and I would recommend to reallocate the time in one of the destinations to stay longer and get rest in others. But here it comes!
Recommended airports: Land in Naples/ Salerno and departure from Venice
At a glance
| Destination | Duration/ Transport | Type of Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Amalfi Coast | 3 days | Sea swimming, boating, hiking, pizza making |
| Train to | ||
| Rome | 4 days | City sightseeing, kids’ tours, kid friendly classes (mosaic, cooking, gladiator school), shopping |
| Train and car to | ||
| Florence and Tuscany Countryside | 5 days | Kid-friendly farms, Wineries, county views, small towns, farms, cooking classes, gelato class |
| Train to | ||
| Venice | 2 days | city sightseeing, kids tours, craft classes (mask making, glass making), rowing class |
| Train or Car to | ||
| Dolomites | 4 days | hiking, views, outdoor playgrounds |
| Train or car to | ||
| Lake Garda (departure from Venice) OR Lake Como (departure from Milan) | 3 nights | town hopping, swimming, cycling, boating |
Easy tweaks: you can easily swap time in Tuscany with time in Umbria, or Lake Garda and Lake Como.
Top Tip! If flying out of Venice, try avoid a very early flight as transport to the airport it not the easiest after hours and you may end up having to pay over the odds for private transport across the water.
Itinerary n3: 3 weeks in Italy with kids to see Italy north to south
Itinerary 3 swaps the Dolomites and the Lakes with a region of Italy that is stunning, busy but not yes as overrun by overseas tourism as others and super kid friendly: Puglia.
Puglia is a longish train ride from Rome but to compensate for it, I have planned several days at your destination so you can take it easy once there.
You can do this itinerary in either direction: do consider that Puglia and Amalfi Coast are better in good weather, when you can enjoy the beaches and see (spring to autumn)
| Destination | Lenght of Stay/ Transport | Type of activities |
|---|---|---|
| Venice | 3 days | city sightseeing, kids tours, craft classes (mask making, glass working), rowing class |
| Train and car to | ||
| Florence and Tuscany Countryside | 5 days | Wineries, county views, small towns, farm to table, gelato class |
| Car and/ or Train to | ||
| Rome | 4 days | City sightseeing, food tour, pasta class, gladiator class, mosaic class, shopping |
| Train and car to | ||
| Puglia | 1 week | small towns, beaches |
| Car to | ||
| Amalfi Coast | 3 days | Sea swimming, boating, pizza class, food tour |
Recommended airports: Venice (in), Naples (out)
The best family tours kid friendly things to do in Italy with kids in 3 weeks
As I mentioned above, each place in Italy is famous for specific things and the best way to enjoy each is to get a taste of what each places does best.
These are my top recommendations in each:
Top activities in Rome for kids:
🛺 Golf cart tour to see city highlights >>> A super fun way to see the city without having to walk much and get the lay of the land, so you can then explore your favorite parts in your own time. They can provide car seats for kids and adapt it to all ages: this is a private group and the guides are so good with kids – we had Brando and highly recommend him!
🛺 Golf Cart alternative (Budget friendlier option)
🛵 Rome vespa side car tour Aff Link CLICK HERE Fantastic especially for teens!
🕵️♀️ Rome Scavenger hunt for kids – a super way to get to know the city while having fun! You can do this by taking a tour such as this one or you can do it in your own time with the scavenger hunts that I made: i am from Rome and have printable scavenger hunts you can use to keep the kids busy while exploring, they are here
🕵️♀️ Colosseum tours for kids with Mariaclaudia and her team (primary school and teens). Book direct on Facebook @Mariaclaudiatours or even better email: mariaclaudiatours@gmail.com Tell her Marta from MamaLovesItaly sent you!
🕵️♀️ Colosseum and Roman Forum tour for kids by LivTour with scavenger hunt (primary school and teens). Aff link >>
🕵️♀️ Colosseum express tour with arena access (it means you enter the actual stage where the gladiator fights took place!). Tell them you have kids so they make the tour for them!
👩👧 Private Vatican Tour for Kids with LivTours a wonderful tour that covers the Sistine Chapel but also the parts of the museum that are the most fun and interesting for kids such as the super impressive Egyptian wing
💒 Vatican early morning express tour of the Sistine Chapel by LivTours This is a private tour that they customize around your family. Shorter than others, it focuses on the Sistine Chapel and is ideal for those who most dearly want to visit this part of the museum.
💒 Vatican tour for kids with Mariaclaudia and her team (Primary school kids up to age 11 especially). Book direct by email: mariaclaudiatours@gmail.com Tell her Marta from MamaLovesItaly sent you!
🍝 Pasta Making Class with Lucilla. Book Direct on Instagram @Lucillacookingclass Tell her Marta from MamaLovesItaly sent you! Lucilla is a mom and is the sweetest person and most wonderful cook. I highly recommend going to her to learn to make pasta with basil and tomato sauce, traditional Rome staples such as amatriciana and stuffed pasta like ravioli.
🍝 Pasta and Tiramisu Class (alterntive if Lucilla is busy)
🍕 Pizza Making class for kids with LivTours – Pizza is specifically from Naples and Rome, two different styles!
🏺 Mosaic making in Trastevere, fantastic for older kids especially, in a real artisan workshop (this is not a gimmicky thing for kids, it’s a real, fantastic art they teach you!)
🤼 Gladiator Class with Gruppo Storico Romano. Book via Viator or GetYourGuide A super fun way yo learn about the Roman army, gladiators and try your hand at being one! It si done by a historical re-enactment groups so while it is great for kids, it is also very informative and well made.
Lots more ideas (also free, such as playgrounds etc) and tips on MamaLovesRome, start here >>> https://mamalovesrome.com/visiting-rome-with-kids-family-guide/ 💛
Best kid-friendly tours and activities in Florence
🖼 Uffizi tour for kids with scavenger hunt by LivTours. A great tour to make the Uffizi more manageable and enjouyable for kids (like the Vatican, it is not the easiest museum to handle for kids, it is so big and busy)
🕵️♀️ Scavenger hunt around the city center: you can do it in your own time with my hunts, if you wish, you can find them as part of my guide ‘Best of Florence with kids‘ on amazon
🍨 Gelato Class with Vetulio Bondi. Absolutely spectacular! Gelato was born in Florence and Vetulio is amazing at telling you its story, as well as at making absolutely delicious gelato. Contact him on Facebook.
🍝 Pasta Making in Florence with Pastamania
🏡 Tuscany countryside experience for families (no car required!): A day in the country with vineyard / olive grove walk, cooking class, lunch and pool. Contact Isabella at info@tenutachiudendone.com Tell her Marta from MamaLovesItaly sent you! A TOP TOP TOP experience! You can read our full day with them here
Top Tours and activities for kids in Venice
The full guide to Venice with kids is available on the website, where you also find best hotels, rentals, transport tips and more 😀 >>> https://mamalovesitaly.com/visiting-venice-with-kids/
🕵️♀️ Scavenger hunt tour for kids with Lucia (city overview and highlights / Doge’s Palace / specific neighborhoods). Tell her Marta from MamaLovesItaly sent you!
🕵️♀️ Family tour of Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s with scavenger hunt by LivTours. Comes with the option to add a mask making workshop!
🚤 Boat tour of the Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands with Matteo >>> book direct with him and mention MamaLovesItaly for a special family price! Find him on Instagram @boat_venicetour (experience description on: https://www.airbnb.it/experiences/3597145) or contact him on whattsapp +39 3779914936
🚣♀️ Rowing class with Row Venice. Super fun activity to experience the canals of Venice in an active and hands on way Book Direct >> https://rowvenice.org
🎭 Mask Making with Venice 596 >>> A great activity to learn of the most traditional crafts from Venice.
Best tours and activities for kids in the Amalfi Coast
You can find here >>> my guide to Amalfi Coast with kids with lots of tips also for free things to see and non- guide led things you can enjoy here
Kid friendly cooking class and vegetable picking in Amalfi
🛥️ Boat tours – these are all valid providers: Blue Star Positano ; 🛥️ Capitan Ago tour of the Amalfi Coast; 🛥️ Capitano Ago Capri Island Day; 🛥️ LivTours (luxury) Amalfi Coast boat tour
🏺 Pompeii Tours that are great for families:🏺 LivTours >> Private Tour of Pompeii for kids, option of booking transport; 🏺 Alex Tours Pompeii
🍕 Pizza Making in Naples https://getyourguide.tp.st/WhksUEQl
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