1 Day in Venice with Kids: Family Itinerary + Budget Tips

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We’re all about cheap family travel, so here’s my 1 day itinerary and guide for how to explore Venice on a budget with kids. So, is Venice cheap or expensive? Venice is a really unique place to spend a day with the kids – full of history, culture and canals – and it’s actually a surprisingly easy place to visit without over-spending. I’ve put together a 1 day Venice itinerary (the best bits!) – including tips, costs (to help you plan your budget) and useful information when travelling with kids.

How to spend 1 day in Venice on a budget with kids:

Venice can be absolutely be done in 1 day – in fact it’s probably the best amount of time for a visit with kids and plenty of time to cover your itinerary highlights. Venice is much more compact and walkable than lots of other Italian cities but, if you’d prefer a slower pace, a second visit for the Murano and Burano Islands could be useful. Bring a picnic with you to keep costs down, and take advantage of Venice’s free water fountains where you can refill water bottles throughout the city. (I never go anywhere without our cool bag rucksack and refillable water bottles!) Remember that there are lots of narrow cobblestone streets and bridges in Venice – so comfortable shoes and lightweight strollers are essential. Here are the 5 main things you’ll want to see and do in Venice with the kids:

1. Wander the Venetian streets

My 1 day itinerary begins with the most simple of activities – the best way to experience Venice with the kids is simply by wandering its narrow streets and crossing its countless bridges. The lack of cars makes it a safe and stress-free adventure for families. Let the kids lead the way as you explore hidden corners, stumble upon charming squares and marvel at the intricate canals. A stroll along the Grand Canal is an enchanting way to take in Venice’s unique charm. Venice is one of those places that you’ll find yourself happily wandering around aimlessly, enjoying gelato, the shops, the general vibe and the quaint little streets.

2. Cross the Grand Canal on a Traghetto

Next, take to the water – but in true Frugal Mum style we’re keeping things budget-friendly. Skip the expensive gondola rides and instead take a Traghetto ride – these are simple gondola ferries that cost just a couple of euros per person for a few minutes on the canal. It’s a quick ride but still good fun for the kids – the main gondola rides are really expensive so this is a cheaper alternative. There’s a Traghetto stop near the Rialto Bridge, one of Venice’s most famous landmarks, so make sure you wander along there whilst you’re nearby. If you’ve got some money in the kitty, you can of course add a proper gondola ride to your itinerary – it typically costs around £100 for a family of four.

3. Explore St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)

Your 1 day itinerary wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the iconic Piazza San Marco – a must-visit for an adventure in Venice with the kids. It’s quite a trek to Piazza / Basilica di San Marco from the train station (about a 40 minute walk) but if you have little ones there’s a water bus station nearby. The kids will love spotting the pigeons, admiring the ornate St. Mark’s Basilica and gazing at the grandeur of the Doge’s Palace. For those keen to step inside St. Mark’s Basilica, entry is free for the main area (though there are small fees for optional extras like the museum) – so it’s a budget-friendly activity.

Avoid peak times to dodge queues – they can be long so if you’re visiting in peak season, or at a weekend, a ‘skip the line’ ticket can be worth pre-buying online. There are steep stairs to climb to the viewing area over St Mark’s Square, so that’s something to be aware of if you have young children. And, make sure that you wear appropriate clothing – nothing too revealing (no short-shorts) and no exposed shoulders – it’s a religious building so respectful clothing is required.

4. Relax with a picnic lunch

Head away from the main tourist areas to find a quieter spot to enjoy a picnic lunch – we love to sit by the canals to watch the boats pass. There’s also a park called the Giardini della Biennale which is another great option if the kids need somewhere to let off some steam and a break from the crowds – bring a picnic blanket and enjoy some downtime. Venice’s parks are few and far between, so this green space is a real treat for families. And, no trip to Venice would be complete without gelato – you can try some delicious flavours for just a few euros per scoop at many of the ice-creams parlours across the city.

5. Island hop to Murano and Burano

If you’re going to spend money on anything in Venice, take the kids to the gorgeous islands of Murano and Burano – it’s a lot to fit into 1 day but start early and it’ll be the perfect end to your itinerary. It’s one of our favourite parts of visiting Venice – they’re really gorgeous islands. Murano is famous for its glass blowing, and you can watch it being made when you visit. Some boat tours include entry to this, but otherwise it’s around a fiver for adults and children are free. You’ll see beautiful Murano glass ornaments being sold all over Venice. You can reach the islands from the boating area near St Mark’s Square and purchase ‘hop on and off’ tickets for the boat services. Alternatively, a Venice Pass includes fast-track entrance tickets to the main attractions and the Murano / Burano visit.

How do I get to Venice?

By plane: If you’re arriving by plane, the Venice Marco Polo airport is the closest to the city centre and you can be there in just 20 minutes.
By train: If you’re travelling to Venice by train, you’ll want a route that takes you to the Venezia S Lucia central train station – from there you can explore on foot or use the water taxis.
By boat: If you’re staying in the Venetian Riviera then you can boat into Venice from Punta Sabbioni in around 30 minutes.
By car: For our last two visits we’ve visited Venice by car – by driving to Mestre train station. From there, the train tickets from Mestre into Central Venice (Venezia S Lucia) cost just under €6 for a family of four (€1.45pp) so it can be a really cheap way to get into the city.
By transfer: There are plenty of places within easy reach for a day trip to Venice – so check out the available tours to Venice for a stress free city visit.

When’s the best time to visit Venice?

If you want to visit Venice without the crowds then avoid the peak summer season – even in the shoulder seasons it can be insanely busy. If you’re visiting at peak times, or on a weekend, use fast-track tickets to lessen queueing and head to the main attractions either first thing in the morning or late afternoon. To give you an idea of what the weather might be like, here are the average daily highs and lows for Venice across the year. In the peak summer months, Venice can feel particularly hot and humid, with temperatures often climbing into the mid 30s.

January: High 7°C, Low 0°C
February: High 9°C, Low 1°C
March: High 13°C, Low 5°C
April: High 17°C, Low 9°C
May: High 22°C, Low 13°C
June: High 26°C, Low 17°C
July: High 29°C, Low 19°C
August: High 29°C, Low 19°C
September: High 25°C, Low 15°C
October: High 19°C, Low 11°C
November: High 12°C, Low 6°C
December: High 8°C, Low 2°C

How many days do you need in Venice?

Venice doesn’t come with a jam packed itinerary, like you may have for somewhere larger like Rome, so it’s totally doable with kids in 1 day. However, for a more leisurely trip to the islands of Murano and Burano, you could easily fill a second day. Doge’s Palace is a popular place to visit as well – and its location means it pairs nicely with a trip to St. Mark’s Basilica.

Where to go after Venice

If you’re visiting Venice as part of a wider Italy trip, it’s really easy to continue on to some of the country’s most popular destinations. We love a road trip, but Italy’s trains are excellent, often faster than driving and usually very affordable. Just bear in mind that if you’re driving tolls can add up quickly. Here’s roughly how long it takes to travel from Venice to other key cities:

Venice to Florence: 3 hour drive / 2 hour train ride
Venice to Rome: 5.5 hour drive / 3.5 hour train ride
Venice to Naples: 7 hour drive / 5 hour train ride
Venice to Lake Garda: 90 minute drive / 75 minute train ride
Venice to Milan: 3 hour drive / 2 hour train ride
Venice to Verona: 90 minute drive / 1 hour train ride

Venice, Florence or Rome?

If you’re wondering whether to visit Venice, Florence or Rome, it’s actually quite a tricky one to answer because they’re all so different. Florence is my personal favourite, we loved the more relaxed pace, and it’s such a beautiful and interesting city to explore with kids. That said, Venice is somewhere I think everyone should experience at least once. It’s completely unique and there’s something really magical about getting around by boat. And when it comes to history, Rome is in a league of its own, packed with incredible landmarks and places you won’t see anywhere else. If you’re planning a wider trip, you might also find my guide on the 5 best cities in Italy to explore with kids helpful.

Where’s the best place to stay near Venice with kids?

If you’re looking for affordable family accommodation, consider staying at a nearby holiday park and travelling into Venice from there:

Venetian Riviera Resorts

The Venetian Riviera has some of the best Eurocamp waterpark holidays – these huge sites have amazing waterslides, direct beach access and loads of activities for the kids. You can drive to Venice in around an hour or hop on the Punta Sabbioni Ferry which takes around 30 minutes. Check out my article on the best Eurocamp Resorts near Venice and here are my top 3 picks:

Union Lido Mare: This 5 star resort is the biggest campsite in Italy and the best Eurocamp site for waterpark holidays! It boasts a 1km private beach, multiple pools, tons of shops and restaurants, a fun fair, go-karts, inflatables and a whole host of activities.

Pra Delle Torri: This huge resort has a waterpark with twisty waterslides, a lazy river and a pirate-themed kids’ pool. With a golf course, a bouncy castle area, a skate park, pedalos, playgrounds and direct beach access it’s a great pick.

Marina di Venezia: This resort boasts a great aqua park with waterslides, a wave pool, multiple swimming pools and a kids’ splash playground, as well as direct beach access. It’s the closest to Punta Sabbioni (just a 5 minute drive!) – from there you can hop on the ferry to Venice.

Lake Garda Resorts

Lake Garda is slightly further from Venice but it’s a fantastic holiday spot – check out my Lake Garda guide for the best things to do. You can drive from Lake Garda to Venice in around 90 minutes (finish the journey with a train from Mestre station). Alternatively, catch the train from Peschiera del Garda Station – it takes around 75 minutes. Check out my article on the best Eurocamp Resorts in Lake Garda and here are my top 3 picks:

Cisano San Vito: Located between the lovely towns of Bardolino and Lazise, the resort is great for active families – with swimming pools and waterslides (Finn and Lola thought they were great!) and direct access to Lake Garda.

Bella Italia: This popular resort boasts a beautiful private lakeside beach. The kids will love the splash zones and waterslides, while the shallow pools are perfect for little ones. For older children, there are sports facilities including football, table tennis and bike hire.

hu Altomincio Village: Just a 10 minute drive from the lake, the park features a fantastic pool complex with waterslides and splash areas – perfect for all-day fun. Activities on offer include: mini-golf, bike hire, a tree-top adventure course and kids’ clubs.

Want to know more about our road trip?

Hopefully my itinerary and tips will help you to have a fabulous time in Venice with the kids – a 1 or 2 day visit will be plenty. If you want to find out more about our Italian Road Trip then make sure you check out my full guide. I’ve included everywhere we went, where we stayed, how much we spent and what we got up to whilst exploring Italy with the kids on a budget – this article covers it all: 3 Week Italy Itinerary with Kids: Budget Eurocamp Road Trip.