SANT' ELENA
Sant’Elena is a charming residential area of Venice, just 20 minutes’ walk from San Marco, and three stops away by waterbus. There is lots of green space here and playgrounds for children, and it is very shady in the summer months. Apartments here are really reasonably priced and the waterbuses connect you directly to Lido (and the beach!), San Marco, Rialto, Murano, Zattere, and other interesting locations round the city. The Biennale is a short walking distance away (about 10 minutes) and it is near to the charming Via Garibaldi.
FAMILY FRIENDLINESS
For families it is extremely relaxing because it has the biggest green area in Venice, where the kids can run free and for sporty parents it’s a great place to run, and there are basketball courts, football pitches, and even two free outdoor exercise areas with strengthening equipment. There are several restaurants and cafes (including one of our favourites, Vecia Gina) and a butchers that also serves ready cooked meats, as well as a deli that has many great options for eating at home or preparing a picnic. During football season, the local Venice team plays twice a month (on Sundays) at the stadium here.
LIDO
The island of Lido is also great for kids. There are several parks and, of course, the beach! It is easy to get around with a pram, as there are roads and no tiny bridges.
It takes less than 15 minutes to get to San Marco with the number 14 passenger ferry (twice an hour), and there are direct waterbuses to most of the popular areas including Rialto and the rest of the Grand Canal, Burano, the railway station, Zattere, and Fondamente Nuove. Lido is also directly connected to the airport via the Alilaguna boats.
It’s a beautiful island with many gorgeous Liberty style houses. There are several supermarkets on the island as well as two street markets a week, and lots of cafes, restaurants, and shops. Renting an apartment is a great option but there are also several “residences” on Lido, and a couple of them have swimming pools. A residence is half hotel, half apartment, usually a small apartment with a corner kitchen in a hotel-like complex.
FAMILY FRIENDLINESS
In summer months these can be a perfect option for families who want to visit Venice during the day but come back to a relaxing place where the kids can play in the park or have a swim on the beach or in a pool. As a family, we like this option because it’s a good way to save money by eating at home some evenings. If you are travelling by car, Lido is perfect because this is one of the few islands in the lagoon with roads. From the mainland you can drive to Tronchetto to take a car ferry to Lido (every 50 minutes), and there are many places to park for free on the island.
CASTELLO
between Giardini & San Zaccaria
If you want to stay right in the historic centre, we recommend that you check out hotels or apartments along the lagoon-side walk between Giardini and San Zaccaria. From here you can reach San Marco entirely via ramps on the bridges along the lagoon (most of the year but sometimes they remove them), which makes it a perfect option for those with prams.
FAMILY FRIENDLINESS
There are often many cool boats moored along this part of the lagoon, and lots of space to walk and run around on Via Garibaldi and the wide walkways in front of the water. Via Garibaldi is a delightful area with many bars and restaurants, a street food market, a supermarket, and there’s a children’s play park at Giardini.
PELLESTRINA
For a completely different experience, why not immerse yourself in the life of a Venetian lagoon fishing family and stay on Pellestrina. In the summer you can enjoy a relaxing, unique holiday on this remote island, swimming on the beach or lagoon, eating some of the best fish in Venice, and enjoying spectacular views of the lagoon.
Historically this was a fishermen’s’ island, which was very isolated for years so the locals ate only fish and vegetables – this traditional cuisine is still strong today. Many fishermen still live there. The fish served in local restaurants is almost always fresh, seasonal, and caught locally.
Renting houses and apartments is relatively cheap here. There is a lovely agriturismo as well as an Inn with 5 rooms. The island has a nature reserve for bird watching, wild beaches, and lots of fishing boats to see. Locals often go fishing and then prepare their catch on a grill in the street, and in the summer the children can be seen jumping into the lagoon from the street to cool off. There are various festivals during the summer, and several fantastic restaurants, include Memo and Le Valli.
FAMILY FRIENDLINESS
It’s a great for an adventure. Children are pretty free here and often go around alone, exploring the beach, cycling, fishing or swimming in the lagoon.
HOW TO GET THERE
This long, thin island can only be reached by a waterbus from the main land town of Chioggia, or via two car ferries (from Tronchetto to Lido, then Lido to Pellestrina). It is difficult to reach central Venice unless you have a boat but it is possible using the bus to Lido (number 11) via a short ferry ride (in fact, all the local children travel daily to central Venice to go to high school!) Renting a car from the airport and driving here can be a good option.
CERTOSA ISLAND
In the summer Certosa island is also a good option. Although there are only two waterbuses that stop here, you can really experience the Venetian lagoon on Certosa. There is a hotel on the island, with a café and restaurant, or you can rent a room on a boat in the marina (or a whole boat).
FAMILY FRIENDLINESS
If you don’t mind taking the waterbus then Certosa is great for families because it has loads of grass to run around on, woodland to explore, and boats to watch. You can even swim in the lagoon on the northeastern side of the island! However, there is no public transportation to this island late at night, so special arrangements need to be made with the hotel for pick ups.