The best Italian cities to visit with children

Planning a trip to Italy with children is the perfect way to spend quality time as a family. It’s important to choose a destination that will keep everyone happy, perhaps offering child-friendly activities, expansive parks to explore and attractions that will leave everyone in awe. If you’re looking to discover the most beautiful and child-friendly Italian cities, you’re in the right place. We’ve prepared a family guide featuring three destinations that combine culture, fun, nature and relaxation.

Turin with children: museums and parks for families

What are the most beautiful Italian cities to visit with children? Turin is undoubtedly a must-visit destination for families. This city has something for everyone, from adults to children. With its museums, landmarks, and curiosities, the Piedmontese capital offers treasures for all ages, turning a weekend getaway into a true family adventure.

National Cinema Museum

Located in the iconic Mole Antonelliana, Turin’s Cinema Museum is the perfect starting point for a family outing and one of the city’s most famous attractions. Open from Wednesday to Monday, 9 am to 7 pm, it’s packed with curiosities and immersive exhibits. Don’t miss the famous panoramic elevator, which offers breathtaking views of the city.

Puppet Museum

The Puppet and Marionette Museum is a recent addition to Turin’s cultural scene. Opened in 2024 at Casa Gianduja, it’s a place where magic comes to life. Hundreds of puppets, marionettes, and stage designs tell the story of two centuries of Italian puppet theatre, with interactive installations that engage visitors of all ages. The collection features many fine pieces belonging to Piedmontese and Italian families and to companies from all over the world.

Egyptian Museum

The Egyptian Museum is one of Italy’s most famous and beloved museums, ideal for a family outing filled with curiosity and culture. Beyond its vast collection of archaeological artifacts—making it the second most important museum of its kind after Cairo—you’ll find dedicated tours, special events, and temporary exhibits that will amaze young and old explorers alike.

The Egyptian Museum of Turin is located in Via Accademia delle Scienze 6, and is open every day: Mondays from 9 am to 2 pm, and  Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 6.30 pm. You can buy your ticket online, but you can also book visits and specific experiences by sending an email to info@museitorino.it or by calling 011 4406903.

Parco del Valentino

Valentino Park is an ideal spot not only for outdoor strolls but also for exploring nature and local history. It’s home to various bird species like grey herons, mallards, and moorhens, as well as exotic plants, elms, sequoias and centuries-old oaks, amongst other species.

Valentino Park holds many surprises such as the Botanical Garden, one of Italy’s most important research centres, featuring plants and flowers from around the world, a library with fine volumes on the subject and a beekeeping project. And don’t miss the Castello del Valentino: originally a riverside villa and transformed into a country retreat by Cristina, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hotel in Turin: where to stay with the little ones

The Principi di Piemonte | UNA Esperienze is located in the heart of Turin: making it easy to reach all the attractions we’ve mentioned. Among the many services of this 5-star hotel, are the spa and wellness centre, where you can relax and regain physical fitness (also open to children) and the Casa Savoia restaurant, where you can savour the best of local tradition and Italian cuisine.

Exploring Bologna with children: family-friendly activities

For those travelling with children, Bologna offers numerous family-friendly activities. The city is famous all over the world for its great food and wine, cultural heritage and tourist attractions: if you are looking for a destination for a family holiday, Bologna may be the perfect choice.

Museum of Industrial Heritage

Located on Via della Beverara, the Museum of Industrial Heritage focuses on Bologna’s economic and industrial history. Perfect for curious kids, the museum features designs, models, machinery, scientific instruments and practical demonstrations. Keep an eye on the calendar because there is no shortage of events, from children's workshops to dramatised tours.

The SMA (University Museum System)

The Museum System of the University of Bologna offers many fascinating attractions: for example, the Zoology Collection in Via Selmi 3 is one of the most important of its kind in Italy. Also don’t miss the Giovanni Capellini Museums Geology Collection in Via Zamboni 63, whose dinosaur model—the longest in Europe—makes it an unmissable stop for your family tour. Finally, we suggest the Botanical Garden and Herbarium at Via Irnerio 42, one of the oldest in Italy after Pisa, Padua and Florence.

Parco Giardini Margherita

Why not take a trip to the Margherita Gardens, Bologna’s green lung? Here you’ll find a pond with fish, ducks and turtles, mini go-karts, a caterpillar-shaped train for the little ones and a well-equipped playground. You can also challenge your little ones to a treasure hunt to find the park's Villanovan hut, a reproduction of the ancient straw and wood huts of Etruscan Bologna.

Family-friendly hotel in Bologna

If you are looking for a hotel with easy access to the city’s highlights close to the historic centre, we suggest UNA HOTELS San Vitale Bologna. Its renowned restaurant and prime location are just a few of the features that will make you fall in love with this property. Enjoy a rich breakfast and get ready to explore the wonders of Bologna.

What to do in Naples with the little ones

Naples is a family-friendly city and will amaze your children with its mix of colours, flavours and attractions: visiting this city with children means diving into history, tradition, great food, and plenty of nature.

Città della Scienza

Via Coroglio is home to the City of Science, a must for families visiting the capital of Campania. Here you can have fun learning together thanks to innumerable attractions, such as the 3D digital planetarium revealing the mysteries of the universe or Corporea, an exhibit dedicated to the human body. Every weekend, there are animations, workshops and activities for children designed to introduce the younger generations to science in an engaging and dynamic way.

Naples aquarium

Did you know that Naples is home to the first public aquarium in Italy, the oldest still in operation? Inaugurated in 1874, it was created to study the wonders of the Mediterranean Sea. Here you’ll encounter various marine environments, from seagrass meadows to coral reefs. Recent renovations have added new features, like the tropical coral reef tanks, while preserving the historic charm of the original structure, such as the canal that directly connects the Aquarium and the sea.

Parco Virgiliano

We conclude this overview of child-friendly Naples with a trip to the Virgiliano Park, located in the Posillipo district. Also known as the Park of Remembrance, it is famous above all for its breathtaking view of the Gulf of Naples. It also features a play area and plenty of space for enjoying a picnic, along with a series of paths that are also accessible for buggies and pushchairs.

Hotel for families in Naples

A few steps from the Central Station, UNA HOTELS Naples is ready to welcome you and your family with the best of Italian hospitality. Its prime location allows easy access to the main attractions of the city centre, while the Vesuvio Roof Bar & Restaurant will delight you with the finest Neapolitan cuisine and more besides.