Updated August 2026: This post has been refreshed with updated planning advice, transportation information, and links to our detailed Italy travel guides.
Italy With Kids: The Ultimate Two-Week Itinerary
We spent 15 days exploring Italy with our two kids, who were 12 and 15 when we traveled. Our two-week Italy itinerary took us to Venice, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Rome, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast, and somehow, it never felt overwhelmingly rushed.
The secret was limiting ourselves to four main home bases and spending at least three nights in each one. Pisa and Pompeii became stops on travel days rather than separate destinations, allowing us to see more of Italy without constantly packing, unpacking, and changing hotels.
This family-tested itinerary combines history, beaches, food, iconic sights, and enough downtime to keep everyone happy. Below, I’m sharing our exact route, where we stayed, how we traveled between destinations, and what I would do differently.
Why This Italy Itinerary Works With Kids
Although this itinerary covers several parts of Italy, we only changed accommodations four times. Spending at least three nights in each destination gave us time to explore without feeling constantly in transit.
The route also kept the trip varied. Venice gave us canals and pure Italian magic, Cinque Terre added hiking and beach time, Rome brought ancient history and iconic landmarks, and the Amalfi Coast gave us a relaxing finish. Scheduling Pisa and Pompeii on travel days let us visit both without adding extra hotel changes.
Getting Around Italy With Kids
We traveled by train between Venice, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Rome, and Naples. Italian trains made this part of the trip relatively easy, especially because we packed light and traveled with carry-ons.
For the Amalfi Coast portion, we hired a private driver from Naples. Our driver included a four-hour stop in Pompeii before taking us to our villa in Praiano. We don’t recommend renting a car on the Amalfi Coast unless you’re comfortable navigating narrow roads, heavy traffic, and limited parking.
Tip: Whenever possible, book longer train journeys in advance and leave extra time for transfers. Packing light also makes an enormous difference when navigating stations, stairs, cobblestones, and crowded platforms.
Our Two-Week Italy Itinerary
Read on, and you’ll see I listed a rough idea of what we did in each location, where we stayed, and how we got around. If you want to read even more about our European family travels, check out my post on our three-week European Itinerary.
Venice – Days 1-4
Cinque Terre (Vernazza) Days 4-7
Cinque Terre trail conditions and card prices can change, so check the official national park website before hiking.
Pisa Day Trip
Pisa is worth the visit, but allow more than three hours. Also, if you are traveling with luggage, book a place to stow it in advance. We had to visit a few spots before we found a place with availability.
Rome- Days 7-11
We had four nights in Rome, which gave us three full days in the Eternal City. Looking back, I would have loved to stay longer. There is so much to see and do in Rome that it is worth an extended visit.
We stayed in a private rental in the Monti neighborhood. It was a great location, and we could walk to most of the sites we wanted to see. The only time we took a taxi was our trip to the Vatican, which would’ve been about a 40-minute walk. Everything else was easily under twenty minutes.
During our stay, we toured the Colosseum and Roman Forum, threw pennies in the Trevi Fountain, tested our truthfulness in the Mouth of Truth, toured Vatican City and St. Peter’s Basilica, went inside the Pantheon, and dined on some of the best food we had in Italy. We absolutely loved our time in Rome and can’t wait to visit again.
Ticketing and entry requirements for several Rome attractions have changed since we last visited. Visit our updated three-day Rome itinerary for current booking information and official ticket links.
Pompeii- Day Trip
Amalfi Coast (Praiano) -Days 11-15
Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast With Kids?
If your itinerary already includes Venice or Florence, I would choose Cinque Terre. It fits more naturally into a northern or central Italy route, and traveling between the villages by train is relatively easy. Our kids also loved the hiking, swimming, and freedom of staying in Vernazza.
The Amalfi Coast is beautiful and makes a wonderfully relaxing end to an Italy trip, but it’s more expensive, more difficult to reach, and less convenient to navigate. If beaches, boat days, and relaxing at a villa are your priority, and your budget allows for private transportation, the Amalfi Coast may be worth the extra effort.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Italy With Kids
- Is two weeks enough for a family trip to Italy?
- Two weeks is enough time to experience several parts of Italy without feeling excessively rushed. Our itinerary worked because we limited ourselves to four main bases—Venice, Cinque Terre, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast—and stayed at least three nights in each. We visited Pisa and Pompeii during travel days instead of adding more hotel changes.
- What are the best places to visit in Italy with kids?
- Venice, Cinque Terre, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast gave our family a wonderful combination of history, beaches, hiking, food, and iconic sights. Venice and Rome offered plenty of sightseeing, while Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast added swimming, boat rides, and much-needed downtime.
- What ages were your kids during the trip?
- Our kids were 12 and 15 when we traveled through Italy. These were great ages for this itinerary because they could handle the walking, train travel, and occasional long sightseeing days while still appreciating the history and culture.
- What is the easiest way to travel around Italy with kids?
- We traveled between Venice, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Rome, and Naples by train. Italy’s train system made it relatively easy to move between destinations, especially because we packed light. For the Amalfi Coast, we hired a private driver because the narrow roads, traffic, and limited parking make renting a car more stressful.
- Should families visit Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast?
- If your trip already includes Venice or Florence, Cinque Terre fits more naturally into the route and is easier to navigate by train. The Amalfi Coast is a beautiful choice if you want boat days, coastal views, and a relaxing end to the trip, but it is generally more expensive and complicated to reach.
- Do you need to rent a car for this Italy itinerary?
- No. We completed this itinerary without renting a car. Trains connected most of our destinations, and we used a private driver between Naples, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast. Avoiding a rental car also saved us from dealing with parking, restricted driving zones, and unfamiliar roads.
- How far in advance should you plan a family trip to Italy?
- For summer travel, begin planning several months in advance. Popular accommodations, high-speed trains, and major attractions such as the Colosseum and Vatican Museums can sell out. Booking early gives families more choices for centrally located rooms and convenient entry times.
- Is this itinerary suitable for younger children?
- It can be adapted for younger children, but the original itinerary worked especially well with our teen and tween. Families with younger kids may want to schedule fewer attractions, allow more downtime, and consider skipping one of the travel-day stops. Strollers can also be difficult on cobblestones, stairs, and uneven trails.
Final Thoughts on Two Weeks in Italy With Kids
Our two weeks in Italy gave our family the perfect mix of history, adventure, beaches, incredible food, and time to simply enjoy being together. By choosing four main home bases and turning Pisa and Pompeii into travel-day stops, we experienced a lot without feeling like we were constantly packing and moving.
If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be to leave a little breathing room in your plans. Italy is just as much about lingering over gelato, wandering down cobblestone streets, and enjoying long family meals as it is about checking famous sights off a list. Those slower moments often become the memories everyone treasures most.
Mom of two and seeking sanity in the everyday. Let’s chat about family, school struggles, travel, and living our best life. Located in the San Francisco Bay area.
Hi I’m so glad I found your website.
If you had to choose, would you pick the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre? You were with your family in both so I thought I would ask. We plan to visit one as we are going to Venice and Florence. Thank you. Kelly
Hi,
With Venice and Florence on your itinerary, I would choose Cinque Terre. We loved Cinque Terre. It was easy to travel around and see the other towns, and the kids loved the beach in Monterosso and Vernazza.
Amalfi Coast was also very nice, but it was much more expensive and not as easy to get around. It was also a bit more complicated to get to.
Hope this helps.
Michelle