Weekend ideas with your kids

There’s a special kind of magic in packing a small backpack together with your children.

Seeing their excitement for an adventure — even a short one — that’s just yours.

Travelling as a family doesn’t have to mean planning a long, complicated trip; sometimes two well-organized days are enough to unplug and create unforgettable memories. And Italy, in this sense, is a real open-air playground for families.

It has everything you need: beautiful places that don’t tire out the little ones, nature where they can run free, and that simple, delicious food that everyone loves. You just need to know where to go.

Here are some ideas for your next weekend away, designed to make both grown-ups and kids happy, without too much stress.

A Window onto the Dolomites in Val Badia

A place where the air smells of wood and mountain, where green meadows in summer turn into white blankets of snow in winter, and where children can run around in total safety.

This place exists, and it’s Val Badia, in South Tyrol.

It’s not just a destination for skiers, but a little piece of paradise perfect for a restorative getaway in every season.

Here, Ladin culture blends with postcard-worthy landscapes, creating a unique, almost fairy-tale atmosphere. For children, the activities are endless.

In summer, you can take easy walks, suitable even for strollers, like the loop around Lake Braies, a turquoise lake that looks painted. You can also ent bicycles and ride along one of the many cycle paths winding through the meadows.

In winter, besides skiing, there are sledding slopes and lots of snow fun. The villages in the valley, like La Villa or San Cassiano, are small and cosy, full of hotels and chalets that look like they belong in a Christmas nativity scene.

Getting to Val Badia is easy by car: you take the Brenner motorway to Bressanone (Brixen) and then follow the signs for the valley. The road is well maintained and very scenic.

Finding somewhere to sleep is no problem. The people of South Tyrol are masters of family hospitality. Almost every hotel is set up with large rooms, a wellness area for parents and, often, kids’ clubs with organized activities. Many offer an all-inclusive formula with dinner included, so you don’t need to go hunting for a restaurant in the evening with tired children.

The Call of the Sea in the Marche: The Conero Riviera

If you’re looking for the sea but want to avoid the chaos of the most famous resorts, the Conero Riviera is the answer.

This stretch of the Marche coastline offers a perfect mix of nature, beautiful beaches and quiet little towns — all very child-friendly.

The heart of the area is Monte Conero, a headland covered in Mediterranean scrub that plunges into the Adriatic Sea, creating coves and pebble beaches. Places like Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle or Sassi Neri are real gems, reachable via a short walk or, for more adventurous families, by sea with a taxi boat.

The towns of Sirolo and Numana, perched on top of the cliffs, are delightful to explore. They have small historic centres perfect for evening strolls, artisanal ice-cream shops, and a relaxed atmosphere.

For children, beyond the beach there’s the fun of discovery: watching fishermen mending their nets or seeing the boats come back into the harbour.

Getting to the Conero Riviera is very straightforward. The A14 motorway runs along the coast, with clearly marked exits for Ancona Nord and then for Sirolo/Numana. Once you’re there, getting around is easy, although in peak summer it’s best to use the park-and-ride areas and shuttle buses to the most popular beaches.

Accommodation is plentiful: there are many fully equipped campsites with bungalows, family-friendly hotels just a few steps from the sea, and farm stays (agriturismi) in the nearby countryside for those who like cooler evenings. Locals are very used to family tourism and incredibly welcoming.

A Dive into Prehistory in Val Camonica

Val Camonica, in Lombardy, is home to the world’s largest collection of rock engravings — a UNESCO World Heritage Site that tells the story of prehistoric life in a huge open-air museum.

For a child, this isn’t a boring history lesson but a real treasure hunt, searching for animal figures, warriors and magical symbols carved into the rock.

The Naquane National Park of Rock Engravings is the best known and most visitor-friendly site, with easy paths winding between rock faces.

Beyond archaeology, the valley has much more to offer. In summer, you can take beautiful walks in the Adamello Park, on easy trails suitable for children that lead to small mountain lakes. In winter, there are small ski resorts like Montecampione, ideal for kids’ first steps on skis.

Val Camonica is easily reached by car from the A4 Milan–Venice motorway, exiting at Brescia and then following the state road up the valley. It’s a convenient and scenic drive.

Finding a place to stay is very simple: the valley caters to calm, family-oriented tourism. You’ll find welcoming three-star hotels with great value for money, agriturismi and cosy, family-run B&Bs. Many restaurants serve traditional dishes such as casoncelli or polenta, which usually go down very well with children too.

The Taste of Antiquity among the Temples of Magna Graecia

For curious kids who love ancient stories of gods and heroes, a weekend in Calabria, among the remains of Magna Graecia, can be truly unforgettable.

The Costa degli Dei, in the Vibo Valentia area, combines the crystal-clear waters of the Strait of Messina with a millennia-old history.

The symbolic spot is Capo Vaticano, with its white sandy beaches and dramatic cliffs, but the real jewel is nearby Tropea, with its historic centre perched on a rock and its churches and monasteries overlooking the sea.

Not far away lies one of Italy’s most important yet underrated archaeological sites: the Scolacium area in Borgia, where you can walk among the ruins of a Roman town — forum, theatre and basilica — surrounded by centuries-old olive groves. It’s a magical, peaceful place where children can run and explore freely.

Getting here takes a little more travelling, but it’s worth it. The most convenient airport is Lamezia Terme, which is well connected. Alternatively, you can drive down the A3 Salerno–Reggio Calabria motorway.

Finding accommodation is a pleasure: the coast is full of family-friendly resorts, from holiday villages with entertainment to small, family-run hotels where you’re made to feel at home. People from Tropea are warm and genuine; they love children and go out of their way to make you feel welcome.

By Canoe among the Mills of Tuscany: Val d’Orcia with the Little Ones

Everyone knows Val d’Orcia for its picture-perfect landscapes, rows of cypress trees and excellent wine. But fewer people know it’s also a fantastic place for an active holiday with kids.

Instead of only visiting hilltop towns (though places like Pienza or Montalcino are wonderful), you can experience the area in a different way.

One idea is to rent canoes or kayaks and paddle along the Orcia river. It’s a calm activity, suitable for beginners and children — as always, with life jackets. You drift slowly along the water, watching nature and birds, and passing old stone mills. It’s the kind of adventure kids remember for a long time.

The rest of the time, you can explore the famous Crete Senesi, those bare, clay hills that look almost lunar, and stop at a teaching farm to see how pecorino cheese is made.

Getting to Val d’Orcia by car is part of the fun. You’ll drive along provincial roads that wind through the hills, with breathtaking views at every bend. Siena is the closest main reference point.

Finding a charming place to stay is easy: the Tuscan countryside is full of agriturismi, many of them perfect for families. They often have a pool, farm animals and large outdoor spaces where children can play safely while parents enjoy the peace and a good glass of Rosso.

Between Canals and Bike Paths in the Po Valley

You don’t have to go far to find a destination that’s perfect for families.

An often overlooked corner of Italy, but full of ideas for a fun weekend, is the plain between Mantua and Ferrara.

Two jewel-like cities: flat, quiet and ideal to explore by bike with children.

Mantua, surrounded by its lakes, seems to float on water. Its historic centre is compact and full of wonders, from the Ducal Palace to the simpler yet fascinating Rotonda di San Lorenzo.

Ferrara, with its huge network of cycle paths, is the bicycle city. Riding along its Renaissance walls is a unique and easy experience for everyone.

The distance between the two cities is short, making it possible to visit both over a relaxed weekend.

Getting around is extremely easy: the area is served by excellent state roads and motorways (A22 and A13), and trains connect all the main cities.

The real bonus is how easy it is to find accommodation. In addition to regular city hotels, there are many holiday homes and farm stays in the surrounding countryside, often at much more affordable prices than in more famous tourist spots. Locals are used to slow, respectful tourism — families who simply want to spend quality time together.

Wherever you choose to go, remember: the journey is already part of the adventure.

Pack your bags together, let the kids help choose the music for the car, and be ready to change plans if you spot a sign for a playground or an ice-cream shop.

The destination matters — but even more important is the joy of discovering it together with your little ones!

Cover photo credit: viaggiapiccoli

Photo credits: italia.it