Visiting Venice with kids might sound expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and it’s often known for high prices. The good news? You can explore it for free, or almost free, especially if you’re traveling as a family.
We were there recently with our young daughter and chose to experience the city slowly. We walked through narrow alleys and quiet squares, crossed bridges, watched the canals, and focused on simple, budget-friendly activities.
In this guide, you’ll find 10 free things to do in Venice with kids: historic markets, unique bookstores, panoramic views, parks, free museums, and everyday experiences that reveal the true soul of the city.
This article is perfect if you’re looking for Venice for free or free things to do in Venice with kids, but also if you want to discover the city at a slower pace and without overspending.
Our goal during this short trip was simple: let our child, visiting Venice for the first time, experience its unique atmosphere. Walking without a fixed plan, getting intentionally lost, and letting ourselves be surprised.If you’re planning a longer stay or want a full Venice itinerary with kids, check out our complete Naples family travel guide–style article dedicated to what to see in Venice with children, including museums, walks, and family-friendly stops.
How to Plan a Low-Cost Trip to Venice with Kids
Visiting Venice on a budget is absolutely possible, especially for families. It just takes a few practical decisions: where to stay, how to get around, and when to enter the city.
Where to Stay in Venice on a Budget
To save money, staying outside the historic center is often the best choice, especially when traveling with kids.
One option is Camping Fusina, overlooking the lagoon. It’s peaceful, well organized, and family-friendly. It’s also well connected to Venice thanks to a direct ferry to Zattere. We paid around €50 per night for two adults and one child, plus €13 round-trip per person for the ferry.
If camping isn’t your style, consider staying in Mestre. It’s well connected to Venice by frequent trains and buses and is more affordable than hotels in the historic center.
Staying in Mestre is practical with kids. Getting around is easy, and Venice’s center is just minutes away.
If you’re not sure about which area to choose, we’ve prepared a complete guide on where to stay in Venice, including practical advice on neighborhoods, Mestre, and family-friendly options.
Transportation in Venice: Vaporetto or Not?
You can explore Venice entirely on foot. In fact, walking is the best way to discover the city. However, distances can be longer than expected, and there are many bridges and stairs.
If you’re traveling with small children, think carefully about bringing a stroller or using a baby carrier. We decided not to bring a stroller to avoid constantly going up and down steps. After a while, though, our daughter got tired and didn’t want to stay in the carrier either.
At that point, we adjusted our plans and bought a daily public transport pass. It’s a convenient option if you want to move faster or visit the lagoon islands.
Venice Access Fee
Starting in 2024, on specific dates, visitors must pay a €5 access fee to enter Venice. It applies only on the busiest days.
The trial period for the access fee ends on July 27th and for the rest of 2026, you can visit Venice without paying any fees.
What to See for Free in Venice with Kids
Venice is an open-air museum. Many of the best experiences with children are completely free. From artisan workshops to scenic views, here’s what to include in your Naples itinerary with kids–style family planning approach for Venice.
Squero di San Trovaso: Where Gondolas Are Built
Once you arrive in Venice, in the Dorsoduro district, you can start right away with one of the city’s most authentic free experiences: Squero di San Trovaso.
- Where: Dorsoduro 1097
- Info: If you’d like to learn more, Squero di San Trovaso also offers guided tours lasting about 30 minutes. Reservations are required and can be made by emailing info@squerosantrovaso.com
Squero di San Trovaso overlooks the canal of the same name and is one of the few remaining boatyards where gondolas and other traditional Venetian boats are still built and repaired.
As you walk by, you can watch the craftsmen at work from across the canal. Gondolas are still entirely handmade, following centuries-old techniques. For kids, seeing how a real gondola is built is truly fascinating.
Rialto Market
Rialto Market is one of the oldest and liveliest markets in Venice and a perfect free stop for families.
Located near the famous Rialto Bridge, the market stretches between stalls selling fresh fruit, vegetables, and just-caught fish, where Venetians do their everyday grocery shopping. Walking through the stands allows you to soak in the city’s authentic atmosphere and observe the colors, scents, and rhythms of local life.
The market runs mainly in the morning. The Pescheria (fish market) is usually open from Tuesday to Saturday, while the fruit and vegetable section is open from Monday to Saturday in the early hours of the day. Even if you don’t buy anything, visiting is a free and engaging experience for both kids and adults.
Spending a morning here, watching locals at work, is one of the best ways to experience Venice “like a local” without spending a single dollar.
“Libreria Acqua Alta” bookstore
Among the free things to do in Venice with kids, Libreria Acqua Alta is one of the most unique.
Located near Rialto, this bookstore is famous for storing books inside gondolas, bathtubs, and creative stacks to protect them from flooding. Just stepping inside feels magical, especially for children.
Entry is free. Kids also love the bookstore cats, who wander between shelves or nap on piles of books.
In the inner courtyard, you can climb the famous staircase made of books and look out over the canal. It’s a unique spot to see Venice from a different perspective, completely free.
Libreria Acqua Alta (directions here) is a perfect stop during a walk through the city center. It’s a short visit, but very scenographic, and ideal even with children of all ages.
Free Panoramic View of Venice
Please note: as of May 2025, the terrace of Fondaco dei Tedeschi is closed. Always check updates before your visit.
When open, this experience is free but requires an online reservation. You choose a time slot and receive a QR code to access the terrace.
Located close to Rialto Bridge, Fondaco dei Tedeschi is a historic Venetian palace that now hosts a shopping center. Beyond the indoor spaces, the main reason to go up is the panoramic terrace, which offers a spectacular view of the city.
Once you reach the top floor, show the QR code you received when booking to access the terrace. Visits last about 15 minutes—just enough time to take photos and admire Venice from above.
- Where: Fondaco dei Tedeschi, San Marco 5541
- Info: now it’s closed – keep updated here
Gondola Ride for 2 Euros
Yes, you can ride a gondola for just €2. It’s called the gondola traghetto, a public service also used by locals.
The traghetto is larger than a tourist gondola and operated by two gondoliers. The crossing is very short. It simply takes you across the Grand Canal where there are no bridges.
Where to Catch the €2 Gondola
You can board at specific stations called “stazi”:
- Dogana
- San Tomà
- Santa Sofia
- Carbon
- Santa Maria del Giglio
At each stazio, you’ll find a clearly marked stop. Just get in line and pay the gondolier directly. The fare is 2 euros per person, including children. Residents pay a reduced rate.
It’s not the typical tourist gondola ride, but it offers a simple and authentic experience that locals use every day.
Se preferite un giro più lungo, potete prenotare un giro in gondola condiviso di 30 minuti.
Crossing Venice’s Most Famous Bridges
Venice is a city best explored on foot, and one of the simplest and free ways to discover it with kids is by walking across its bridges.
Bridges aren’t just passages—they are real viewpoints where you can watch the canals, passing boats, and daily life in the city. There are over 400 bridges, and many offer truly special views.
Some of the most famous bridges to cross include:
- Rialto Bridge, one of Venice’s symbols, perfect for pausing and watching the Grand Canal
- Accademia Bridge, with a stunning view of the Basilica della Salute
- Scalzi Bridge, welcoming visitors arriving by train
Climbing up and down the bridges also becomes a small adventure for kids, who can observe Venice from above and discover new perspectives without spending a dime.
Strolling Through Calli and Campielli
One of the best free things to do in Venice with kids is simply walking, without a fixed destination, through calli, campi, and campielli.
Venice doesn’t have streets but pathways, and every corner can be a discovery: a sudden bridge, a quiet courtyard, a small square to pause and watch everyday life.
For children, it’s like a continuous exploration. You can turn your walk into a game: look for the narrowest bridge, count the boats, follow a canal, or intentionally get a little lost.
Walking through the calli is the easiest way to soak in the city’s atmosphere and understand why Venice is unique, without spending anything.
During your strolls, you can also seek out some particularly interesting calli:
- Calle Varisco, famous as the narrowest street in Venice, just over half a meter wide, fun for kids to try passing through one at a time
- Calle del Bovolo, where you can glimpse the famous spiral staircase of Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, one of the city’s quirkiest views
- Le Mercerie, the long sequence of calli connecting Rialto to San Marco, always lively and perfect for seeing Venice at its busiest
- Strada Nuova, wide and bustling, ideal if you arrive from the train station and want to start feeling the city’s vibe immediately
You don’t need to follow all of them: the idea is to let curiosity guide you and discover Venice step by step, at a relaxed pace.
Visiting Venice’s Most Beautiful Churches for Free
Visiting Venice’s churches is another activity you can do for free, even with kids.
Many churches have free entry and allow you to admire artwork, spectacular architecture, and fascinating stories without buying a ticket.
Some of the most beautiful churches to visit for free include:
- St. Mark’s Basilica (free access to the basilica, excluding certain areas)
- Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, bright and imposing
- Church of the Gesuiti, with rich and dramatic interiors
Entering a church can also be a quiet break during the day, especially if you’re traveling with kids and need a moment to slow down.
Free Parks and Gardens in Venice with Kids
When visiting a city, you often look for a park where kids can play and you can take a relaxing break. Venice is no exception.
Even if you think that there aren’t any green spaces in the city, don’t worry: throughout Venice’s sestieri, you’ll find free gardens and playgrounds, perfect for slowing down and letting kids burn off energy.
Royal Gardens of Venice
Just a few steps from St. Mark’s Square, there isn’t a true playground, but a pleasant green spot to escape the crowds: the Royal Gardens.
This small green oasis is especially nice on summer days thanks to the shade from the trees. There are no children’s play structures, but it’s a perfect place to sit, rest, and calmly decide what to visit next.
- When: Gardens are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
- Where: Royal Gardens, St. Mark’s Pier
Biennale Gardens of Venice
If you visit the Venice Biennale with kids, know that inside the gardens there is also a play area with slides, swings, and other equipment.
While you’re there, you can also consider a family-friendly guided tour: Saturdays at the Arsenale or Sundays at the Gardens, both at 3 PM. It’s a simple way to introduce kids to art.
Playground near Ca’ Rezzonico, Dorsoduro
In Dorsoduro, overlooking the Grand Canal, is the Ca’ Rezzonico palace. Beyond the museum, the palace also has a garden freely accessible, independent of the visit.
It’s a quiet spot, ideal for a break and for letting children play away from the crowds.
- Where: Ca’ Rezzonico, Fondamenta Rezzonico, Dorsoduro
Giardino Papadopoli
Between Venice Santa Lucia Station and Piazzale Roma, Giardino Papadopoli offers around 7,500 square meters of green space and play areas for children.
It’s a convenient stop if you’re arriving or leaving by train and want a break before or after exploring the city.
- Where: Sestiere Santa Croce
Navagero Park in Murano
If you visit Murano with kids and arrive late after seeing the glassmakers at work, Navagero Park is a perfect stop to let them have fun after the ferry ride and a busy day.
- Where: Corte Calle Passerini, Murano
Located within a courtyard, this park is special because, in addition to classic playground equipment like slides and swings, it offers many shared toys: toy cars, rocking horses, and indoor-style games.
It’s a local tradition: families leave here toys their children no longer use. The park also has a picnic area, perfect for a break.
Free Museums in Venice
Visiting museums is one of the best ways to discover Venice, and it’s also possible to do for free, especially when traveling with kids.
In addition to museums with always-free entry, the city offers various free access opportunities throughout the year. By planning carefully, you can include a cultural visit without impacting your daily budget.
Free museums on the first Sunday of the month
Another way to save in Venice is to plan your visit on the first Sunday of the month, when entry to state museums is free.
Some state museums you can visit for free on the first Sunday of the month include:
- Gallerie dell’Accademia
- National Archaeological Museum
- Museum of Oriental Art
- Giorgio Franchetti Gallery at Ca’ d’Oro
- National Concordiese Museum
- Palazzo Grimani Museum
- Quarto d’Altino Archaeological Museum
- Villa Pisani National Museum
Some museums and monuments are free year-round:
- St. Mark’s Basilica (museum excluded)
- Wagner Museum – Ca’ Vendramin Calergi
- Venice Planetarium
Kids Day at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Throughout the year, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection offers various family activities, including free Sunday afternoon workshops.
Kids Day is designed for children aged 4 to 10 and introduces them to art in a simple and fun way through hands-on activities related to the permanent collection or temporary exhibitions.
- Info: Find all information about Kids Day and other family activities
For a selection of the most child-friendly museums, see our complete guide to museums in Venice to visit with kids.
10 Free Things to Do in Venice with Kids
Venice is perfect for exploring without spending much. Walking, observing, pausing in parks, and choosing the right experiences allows you to discover the city’s most authentic side, even with children.
Free activities to enjoy in Venice with your family include:
- Watching gondolas being made at Squero di San Trovaso
- Visiting Rialto Market and discovering local Venice
- Exploring Libreria Acqua Alta among books, gondolas, and cats
- Admiring Venice from above (when the terrace is open)
- Riding the $2 gondola on the Grand Canal
- Crossing Venice’s most famous bridges
- Getting lost in calli and campielli, seeking the most curious corners
- Entering the city’s most beautiful churches for free
- Relaxing in parks and gardens in Venice and the islands
- Visiting museums for free on special days and attending Kids Day
