Rome plus one other location in Italy: Spring Break 2026

[Anonymous]

Went to Italy with kids that age. We went to Rome (4 nights), an agriturismo in Umbria (2 nights) and Siena (3 nights). It was a great trip. We had babysitters for all evenings in Rome and Siena (found through friends in Italy) so it was nice to get out every evening sans kids.
During the day we planned kid friendly excursions and let the younger one do naps in the stroller. Plenty of stops to run around in parks or a grassy patch. Lots of pizza and gelato! It was a great trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again - I understand the hesitancy about bringing young kids to Europe, but sorry they're going lol. We had a great trip in Portugal. Everyone got to do what they wanted to do. Was it a much slower pace than if I had gone by myself? Yes, but my husband is also a slow traveler so he actually liked the slower pace better. We went all over in Portugal - Lisbon, Porto, Douro Valley, Sintra, Cascais, etc. etc. My 5 YO walked the entire day in Sintra and was fine. She loved the castles. I am not worried. My parents will also be going with us and that helped with the kids. I plan a mix of kid/adult activities, and we take breaks to rest/go to the playground etc.

That's why I allocated so much time to Rome, because we'll be slow, and that's fine by me. The 5 yo loved Portugal, still talks about it. Will she remember it in 20 years? Who knows, but we'll always have the pictures, and we (the parents) will remember.

So back to the original question - I had originally considered flying into Venice and out of Rome, but didn't see any direct flights to Venice and wasn't sure how kid-friendly it would be.

I'd take the train to Venice and stay at the JW Marriott. It has its own island so if you need to get away from the hustle it's very easy to do, amazing breakfast, pool, etc. You can get a townhouse-style suite with a little yard to let them out to play as well. Take the boat shuttle in for a few hours until the kids are exhausted and then back to the island. It would be amazing!

This is what I would do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is hilarious and everything wrong with both this forum and travel grumps in general.

Where do we start?

- seasickness in Venice? Um, no.
- smelly canals in Venice? Sure it happens, but not often. So what? It’s Venice!
- Nobody goes to Venice anymore, it’s too crowded. Sure, Jan.
- too many nights in Rome? OP said they like to take things slow
- the kids won’t remember the trip? So what? You still take kids to the Outer Banks or whatever dodgy beach you go to in the summer and thankfully they won’t remember that either.
- it’s hot? Yes, it is Italy in the summer. I’m sure OP knew that before booking. So what, you dress for it.
- too much walking? Sorry you can’t bring your minivan everywhere you go. Somehow they’ll be fine.

OP, go. Have fun! Sure the kids may not remember it - but you will. Italy is an amazing country and great for kids. I’d do what a PP poster suggested and take the train from Rome to Venice and stay at the JW if you can swing it. And see about flying out of Venice. Good luck!

I know three families whose kids got sick on a boat or immediately afterwards in Venice. And one family discovered their kid is deathly afraid of small boats (think: hysterical screaming and crying).

FTR, my kids have been on boats since they were babies, so I’m not a nervous Nelly.

Have you been to Venice when it rains? When it’s cold? The water can be rough—and the weather can be pretty awful.

I say all this as someone who adores Venice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is hilarious and everything wrong with both this forum and travel grumps in general.

Where do we start?

- seasickness in Venice? Um, no.
- smelly canals in Venice? Sure it happens, but not often. So what? It’s Venice!
- Nobody goes to Venice anymore, it’s too crowded. Sure, Jan.
- too many nights in Rome? OP said they like to take things slow
- the kids won’t remember the trip? So what? You still take kids to the Outer Banks or whatever dodgy beach you go to in the summer and thankfully they won’t remember that either.
- it’s hot? Yes, it is Italy in the summer. I’m sure OP knew that before booking. So what, you dress for it.
- too much walking? Sorry you can’t bring your minivan everywhere you go. Somehow they’ll be fine.

OP, go. Have fun! Sure the kids may not remember it - but you will. Italy is an amazing country and great for kids. I’d do what a PP poster suggested and take the train from Rome to Venice and stay at the JW if you can swing it. And see about flying out of Venice. Good luck!

I know three families whose kids got sick on a boat or immediately afterwards in Venice. And one family discovered their kid is deathly afraid of small boats (think: hysterical screaming and crying).

FTR, my kids have been on boats since they were babies, so I’m not a nervous Nelly.

Have you been to Venice when it rains? When it’s cold? The water can be rough—and the weather can be pretty awful.

I say all this as someone who adores Venice.

You’re right. It gets very cold in Venice in the summer which is not the rainy season when it can flood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Went to Italy with kids that age. We went to Rome (4 nights), an agriturismo in Umbria (2 nights) and Siena (3 nights). It was a great trip. We had babysitters for all evenings in Rome and Siena (found through friends in Italy) so it was nice to get out every evening sans kids.
During the day we planned kid friendly excursions and let the younger one do naps in the stroller. Plenty of stops to run around in parks or a grassy patch. Lots of pizza and gelato! It was a great trip.

NP.

Hey PP - I think you just highlighted and confirmed that Italy is not where to go with little ones! ROFL - you hired babysitters to watch your kids while you enjoyed it!

I'm not hearing Venice either is it because there's no way you make a stroller work well there? I took my 11 and 13 yrs old and we loved it a couple yrs ago. That is a great age for Italy. Even 7 or 8. He'll even 6. I would save money and not do Italy before age 5.

And no, other poster - going to Venice or Italy or Europe is NOT the same as going to OBX. Who are you people??! You think a beach holiday is the same a trip to Italy? It's thousands of dollars depending on flight tickets and days in a hotel for starters but it's the context that is the point!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is hilarious and everything wrong with both this forum and travel grumps in general.

Where do we start?

- seasickness in Venice? Um, no.
- smelly canals in Venice? Sure it happens, but not often. So what? It’s Venice!
- Nobody goes to Venice anymore, it’s too crowded. Sure, Jan.
- too many nights in Rome? OP said they like to take things slow
- the kids won’t remember the trip? So what? You still take kids to the Outer Banks or whatever dodgy beach you go to in the summer and thankfully they won’t remember that either.
- it’s hot? Yes, it is Italy in the summer. I’m sure OP knew that before booking. So what, you dress for it.
- too much walking? Sorry you can’t bring your minivan everywhere you go. Somehow they’ll be fine.

OP, go. Have fun! Sure the kids may not remember it - but you will. Italy is an amazing country and great for kids. I’d do what a PP poster suggested and take the train from Rome to Venice and stay at the JW if you can swing it. And see about flying out of Venice. Good luck!

I know three families whose kids got sick on a boat or immediately afterwards in Venice. And one family discovered their kid is deathly afraid of small boats (think: hysterical screaming and crying).

FTR, my kids have been on boats since they were babies, so I’m not a nervous Nelly.

Have you been to Venice when it rains? When it’s cold? The water can be rough—and the weather can be pretty awful.

I say all this as someone who adores Venice.

You’re right. It gets very cold in Venice in the summer which is not the rainy season when it can flood.

The op is going over spring break—presumably around the first week in April…when it is likely a bit chilly and rainy (at least that’s what I’ve heard from countless families who traveled to Italy (including Venice) over spring break in recent years.

[Anonymous]

We did this last year- Naples and Amalfi coast. Amalfi was perfect weather but its not quiet. All the italians go to Sorrento and around for easter. We loved it. Just be aware its not going to be quiet.

[Anonymous]

Italians love children and restaurants welcome them. You'll be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is hilarious and everything wrong with both this forum and travel grumps in general.

Where do we start?

- seasickness in Venice? Um, no.
- smelly canals in Venice? Sure it happens, but not often. So what? It’s Venice!
- Nobody goes to Venice anymore, it’s too crowded. Sure, Jan.
- too many nights in Rome? OP said they like to take things slow
- the kids won’t remember the trip? So what? You still take kids to the Outer Banks or whatever dodgy beach you go to in the summer and thankfully they won’t remember that either.
- it’s hot? Yes, it is Italy in the summer. I’m sure OP knew that before booking. So what, you dress for it.
- too much walking? Sorry you can’t bring your minivan everywhere you go. Somehow they’ll be fine.

OP, go. Have fun! Sure the kids may not remember it - but you will. Italy is an amazing country and great for kids. I’d do what a PP poster suggested and take the train from Rome to Venice and stay at the JW if you can swing it. And see about flying out of Venice. Good luck!

I know three families whose kids got sick on a boat or immediately afterwards in Venice. And one family discovered their kid is deathly afraid of small boats (think: hysterical screaming and crying).

FTR, my kids have been on boats since they were babies, so I’m not a nervous Nelly.

Have you been to Venice when it rains? When it’s cold? The water can be rough—and the weather can be pretty awful.

I say all this as someone who adores Venice.

You’re right. It gets very cold in Venice in the summer which is not the rainy season when it can flood.

The op is going over spring break—presumably around the first week in April…when it is likely a bit chilly and rainy (at least that’s what I’ve heard from countless families who traveled to Italy (including Venice) over spring break in recent years.

We went for spring break last year and it was a little chilly I guess (sweaters at times) and it did rain. It’s not a tropical spring break but has other draws.

[Anonymous]

Having been in Venice for a week with my own two-year-old, I’d recommend Lucca or a similar smaller town. Between having to double-team the stroller over all the steps and worrying about the delightful combination of canals and impulse control, it wasn’t the best way to enjoy that magical place.

If you can figure out transportation, I love the idea of you staying at a rural agriturismo, too.

Lucca would be my choice, or Assisi.

[Anonymous]

We’ve been to a dozen different places in Italy. While Venice was lovely, the food wasn’t our favorite.

I think someone on DCUM once posted that Venice is the McDonalds of Italy. While I wouldn’t go that far, they aren’t completely off base.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve been to a dozen different places in Italy. While Venice was lovely, the food wasn’t our favorite.

I think someone on DCUM once posted that Venice is the McDonalds of Italy. While I wouldn’t go that far, they aren’t completely off base.

We had to hunt a bit for better restaurants when we were there last year but ate at some absolute gems. More work to suss out for sure but worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Italians love children and restaurants welcome them. You'll be fine.

It kind of depends on where you are in Italy. I saw some restaurant patrons literally hiss at a young kid (not my kid) who cried for maybe 20 seconds.

[Anonymous]

March in Rome can be a mizzed bag weather wise, and north of that will likely be chilly. I would go south.

[Anonymous]

To the OP- Go! Enjoy! With kids that age I would think that towns with high impact visuals for your kids would be fun so the Cinque Terra or Amalfi coast (even if a little early) would be good. We went to Sorrento and Capri for SB in 2019 and the towns were just waking up for the season but we had a great time. Capri is gorgeous though a little harder to get around with out a car. Your kids might enjoy Pompeii so a trip from Rome to Pompeii might be worth it. Florence was intensely crowded with large tour groups when we were there which might be a little much with small kids.

have a great time.