Museums in Venice for kids: which ones to choose for your family

Venice is essentially an open-air museum. However, when traveling as a family, choosing the right indoor spaces is just as important. Not all museums in Venice for kids offer the same experience. Some require long visits and a lot of concentration, while others are far more engaging for younger visitors and make the experience enjoyable for the entire family.

In this first selection, we highlight the museums in Venice for kids that work best for families. These are the places we recommend if you only have a few days in the city, if you’re traveling with children of different ages, or if you’re looking for experiences that combine discovery, storytelling, and active participation.

Here you’ll find Doge’s Palace, the Natural History Museum, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, the Pinault Collection, the Querini Stampalia Foundation, M9 – Museum of the 20th Century, and the Leonardo da Vinci Museum. These museums differ in themes and style, but they all share a genuine focus on families.

For each museum, we indicate the recommended age, the time needed for a visit, and the type of experience offered. This helps you choose what to include in your Venice itinerary with confidence. Further down, you’ll also find other museums and cultural spaces. But if you’re looking for a reliable starting point, begin here.

The best museums in Venice for kids when traveling as a family

If you’re deciding which museums in Venice for kids to visit, start with these. They cover different themes—history, art, science, and immersive experiences—but share one goal: making the visit engaging for children and easier for adults to manage.

Natural History Museum of Venice (Fondaco dei Turchi)

If you’re looking for a museum that kids genuinely enjoy—and one that can save the day when it rains—the Natural History Museum is a safe choice. It’s located inside the scenographic Fondaco dei Turchi and is especially popular thanks to the close encounter with the dinosaur Ouranosaurus nigeriensis, about seven meters long.

• Recommended age: 4–6 if children love animals and dinosaurs; perfect for ages 7–12; also interesting for teens.
• Time needed: 1.5–2 hours.
• Why kids like it: dinosaurs and fossils, large skeletons and animals, and sections designed to spark observation and questions.
• When to choose it: rainy days, relaxed afternoons, or as an easy stop when arriving in or leaving Venice.
• Approximate opening hours: 9:00–17:00 (October–May) 10:00–18:00 (June–September) Closed Mondays except special openings.

Doge’s Palace with Kids: A Historic Museum That Becomes an Adventure

Doge’s Palace is one of Venice’s most iconic landmarks. If approached the right way, it can become a surprisingly engaging visit for children.

It’s not an “easy” museum in the traditional sense, but it offers plenty of storytelling elements. Monumental rooms, weapons, prisons, and hidden passageways turn the visit into a real narrative experience.

• Recommended age: 6–7 and up; ideal for ages 8–12.
• Time needed: 1.5–2 hours (avoid pushing for longer visits).
• Why kids like it: the prisons, the Armory, large halls, and stories about Doges, trials, and mysteries.
• When to choose it: during your first visit to Venice, ideally in the morning; avoid peak hours if traveling with younger kids.

One of the greatest strengths of Doge’s Palace is its on-demand family experiences, specifically designed to engage kids and teens with age-appropriate language and timing.

On-Demand Family Experiences

To make the visit more engaging for children and teens, Doge’s Palace offers guided family activities. These experiences turn the museum into an interactive journey with observation games, clues to follow, and hands-on workshops tailored to different age groups.
Click here for information on costs and booking options.

Lion Hunt
A fun and unusual route through the palace guided by the lion, the symbol of Venice. Children search for the lion’s many representations—painted, sculpted, and carved—throughout the palace while following clues that lead to a final surprise to take home.

• Age: 5–10
• Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Organized by: MUVE Education
• Availability: year-round

Understanding (and Building) a Palace
A workshop that explains Doge’s Palace as a true architectural “machine.” After a guided visit focused on the building itself, participants create a 3D model of the palace using a cardboard kit they can take home.

• Age: 8–14
• Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Organized by: MUVE Education
• Availability: year-round

A Crime Solved by Art
A real detective story inspired by a murder that actually took place at Doge’s Palace in the 15th century. The activity moves through the courtyard, institutional halls, and prisons while participants follow clues and reconstruct a historical event from the time of Doge Francesco Foscari.

• Age: 8–13
• Duration: 2 hours
• Organized by: MUVE Education
• Availability: year-round

Peggy Guggenheim Collection: Modern Art with Kids in Venice

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is one of the most important modern art museums in Europe. Surprisingly, it’s also one of the family-friendly museums in Venice.
The spaces are not overly large, the route is clear, and 20th-century art offers many visual elements that spark curiosity and conversation.

• Recommended age: 6 and up; ideal for ages 7–12; interesting for teens as well.
• Time needed: about 1–1.5 hours.
• Why kids like it: colorful and immediate artworks, outdoor sculptures in the garden, and fascinating stories about Peggy Guggenheim herself.
• When to choose it: morning or early afternoon; perfect for a cultural stop that isn’t too long.

The museum has long offered family activities and workshops designed specifically for children.

Kids Day: Free Workshops for Children

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection organizes weekly Kids Day events.
When: Sunday at 3 pm
Age: 4–10
Duration: guided visit + workshop

The activity begins with a close observation of selected artworks, followed by a creative workshop where children reinterpret what they saw using different techniques and materials. The program encourages interaction, collaboration, and personal expression.

• Participation is free for children, but online reservation is required.
  Workshops are held in Italian; English language mediation may be available upon request depending on educator availability.
• While children participate in the workshop, parents can explore the museum by purchasing an entry ticket.
• Holders of the Guggenheim Family Card can also register by phone.

For updated information on dates, registration, and availability, check the official Kids Day page.

Querini Stampalia Foundation: A Small Museum Perfect for Families

The Querini Stampalia Foundation is one of the most suitable Venice museums for children. It’s a cozy house-museum where art, architecture, and everyday life naturally intertwine.

• Recommended age: 5–6 and up; ideal for ages 6–10.
• Time needed: about 1 hour.
• Why kids like it: home-like rooms, staircases and spaces to explore, and stories about daily life in Venetian noble families.
• When to choose it: as a light cultural break between walks; suitable even with children who aren’t very young anymore.

The foundation has long paid special attention to families, offering educational activities designed to introduce children to the collections in an accessible way.
A particularly appreciated tool is the activity book, which accompanies kids during the visit with observation games and small exercises. It helps them explore the museum independently and stay engaged.

Pinault Collection: Contemporary Art for Older Kids and Teens

The Pinault Collection is one of the most interesting cultural options in Venice for families with older children and teens.
Located in Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana, it hosts contemporary art exhibitions with large installations, immersive spaces, and visual languages that encourage curiosity and discussion.

• Recommended age: 9–10 and up; ideal for teens.+
• Time needed: 1–1.5 hours per location (choose just one if traveling with kids).
• Why kids like it: unconventional artworks, large spaces, and installations that invite interpretation.
• When to choose it: with curious children or teenagers; perfect for breaking up a day of more traditional sightseeing.

The Pinault Collection also provides materials designed for families, including printed guides with games and activities available in multiple languages such as Italian, English, and French.
Throughout the year, workshops and educational visits introduce children and teens to contemporary art in an accessible way. Families also benefit from priority access and free strollers.

Check the official Pinault Collection website for updated information on exhibitions, family activities, and visiting options.

M9 – Museum of the 20th Century (Mestre)

M9 is one of the most interactive museums in the Venice area and works especially well for families with older children and teens.
It doesn’t display traditional objects. Instead, the experience is built around images, videos, digital installations, and multimedia content that tell the story of 20th-century Italy in an immersive way.

• Recommended age: 9 and up; ideal for teens.
• Time needed: 1.5–2 hours.
• Why kids like it: interactive screens, videos, digital maps, and immediate visual storytelling.
• When to choose it: if you’re traveling with teenagers or looking for a museum very different from traditional ones; also a great option on rainy days.

M9 also offers educational programs and family activities tailored to different age groups.
The M-Children project includes workshops and visits designed for children aged 4–12, with different activities for younger kids and older children.
Family activities usually take place on weekends and allow visitors to explore the themes of the 20th century through games, storytelling, and interaction.

Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Venice

The Leonardo da Vinci Museum is one of the most engaging stops for families visiting Venice.
It’s an experiential museum designed to introduce Leonardo’s genius through working models, machines to operate, and interactive installations that encourage curiosity and participation.

• Recommended age: 6 and up; ideal for ages 7–12.
• Time needed: about 1 hour.
• Why kids like it: machines to touch and activate, gears, levers, bridges, and inventions that actually move.
• When to choose it: as an active break between other visits; perfect for children who struggle with traditional museums.

The exhibits are organized by themes—mechanics, engineering, flight, and water—and allow children to approach Leonardo’s inventions in a direct and intuitive way without needing prior knowledge.
It’s a short but intense visit, particularly suitable for curious kids who love building and hands-on experiences.

How to Continue Your Visit to the kids Museums in Venice

These are the museums in Venice for kids we recommend starting with, especially if you have limited time. They are reliable, tested stops that can truly engage the whole family.
However, Venice offers much more.

Continuing through this guide, you will find other museums and cultural spaces suitable for families. These might be less immediate or more specific, ideal if you have more days or particular interests.

Other Museums in Venice for Kids

Beyond our top picks, Venice offers other cultural spaces that can work well with children. These are not necessarily “must-sees” for everyone, but they can enrich your trip based on your children’s curiosity and the rhythm of your day.

Traditional Museums to Visit in Venice with Children

These museums are not specifically designed for kids. However, they can still be interesting if children are curious, already used to visiting museums, or participating in workshops and family activities.
We especially recommend them for slightly older children, keeping visits short and without the goal of “seeing everything.”

Correr Museum

The Correr Museum tells the story of Venice through maps, paintings, ship models, and the imperial apartments overlooking Piazza San Marco. It’s especially recommended for curious children or those already familiar with museums, particularly if participating in family activities.

• Recommended age: 7–8 years and up
• Why it’s appealing: stories about the Serenissima, ancient maps, major works of art
• When to visit: if you have extra time or if children enjoy puzzles, stories, and guided activities
  One of the highlights of the Correr Museum is the on-demand family tours organized by MUVE Education, designed to actively engage children and teens.
• Secrets of the “Bookbinder”
  A workshop inspired by the ancient art of bookbinding: after examining manuscripts and historical volumes, children create a decorated booklet.
  Duration: 1h30 | Age: 7–14 years
• Art Detective
  The museum’s painting gallery becomes a real “playground”: using an activity book, children observe artworks, interpret clues, and solve puzzles.
  Duration: 1h30 | Age: 6–12 years
• Jacopo de’ Barbari’s “Impossible Mission”
  A workshop dedicated to the famous View of Venice from 1500, exploring perspective techniques and city details through observation and experimentation.
  Duration: 2h | Age: 8–14 years

Official website for Correr Museum

Accademia Galleries

The Accademia Galleries house the world’s most important collection of Venetian painting, featuring masterpieces by Bellini, Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese. It’s a museum of great value but should be chosen carefully when traveling with children.

• Recommended age: 7–8 years and up
• Why it’s appealing: large paintings, vivid colors, stories about Venice’s past
• When to visit: with curious children or those used to museums, ideally during workshops or family-focused activities

Throughout the year, the Accademia Galleries organize educational workshops and activities for children, especially on weekends, making visits accessible even for younger kids.
Official website for Accademia Galleries

Naval History Museum

The Naval History Museum explores Venice’s deep connection with the sea through ship models, historical boats, navigation tools, and maritime memorabilia. It’s highly engaging for children, particularly those interested in ships and adventures.

• Recommended age: 6–7 years and up
• Why it’s appealing: ship models, gondolas, military vessels, the large torpedo on the ground floor
• When to visit: if children love the sea and exploration stories; ideal combined with a walk around the Arsenal area

Museums of 18th-Century Venice: Art, Fashion, and Daily Life

The 18th century is one of the most fascinating periods in Venice’s history. Through house-museums, costumes, perfumes, and theater, these museums show children how life in the city was during the time of Goldoni and Casanova.
They are not specifically designed for very young children but work well with curious school-age children, especially if choosing short and targeted visits.

Ca’ Rezzonico

Ca’ Rezzonico is the great museum of 18th-century Venice. Rooms overlooking the Grand Canal, furnishings, paintings, and decorations allow visitors to enter the homes of Venetian aristocracy.

• Suggested age: 7–8 years and up
• Why it’s enjoyable: palace-like rooms, stories of nobles, parties, and daily life
• When to choose it: with curious children or those interested in how people lived in the past

Palazzo Mocenigo

Palazzo Mocenigo tells the story of costumes, fashion, and perfume in Venice. It is one of the most sensory museums in the city, thanks to the path dedicated to fragrances.

• Suggested age: 7–8 years and up
• Why it’s enjoyable: elegant clothing, perfumes, curiosities about past fashion
• When to choose it: if children enjoy details, objects, and stories about daily life

House of Carlo Goldoni

The House of Carlo Goldoni is a small and cozy house-museum dedicated to the great Venetian playwright. It is especially suitable for families thanks to workshops and theater-related activities.

• Suggested age: 6–7 years and up
• Why it’s enjoyable: small theater, masks, stories, and characters from Goldoni’s comedies
• When to choose it: with creative children or those who love stories and theater

Venice Museums for curious children and themed museums

Not all children’s museums in Venice work the same way. In this section, we have selected museums with a strong theme – the sea, distant cultures, the environment, or glass – capable of sparking children’s curiosity even when the setup is not fully interactive.
They are especially good choices for school-age children and teens, or when looking for something different from the major art museums.

Naval History Museum

The Naval History Museum shows Venice’s profound link with the sea through ship models, historical boats, and military equipment. The visit is especially interesting for children who love ships, battles, and sea adventures.
Upon entering, the large slow-moving torpedo from World War II captures attention, while the rooms display military ship models, lagoon boats, historical gondolas, and artifacts related to Venetian seafaring.

• Suggested age: 6–7 years and up
• Why it’s enjoyable: ships and miniatures, military vessels, torpedoes, stories of battles and life at sea
• When to choose it: if children love ships, submarines, and sea stories; ideal to combine with a walk in the Arsenal area

Oriental Art Museum

The Oriental Art Museum houses one of the most important European collections of Japanese, Chinese, and Indonesian art. Armor, weapons, precious objects, and artifacts tell stories of distant worlds that often greatly fascinate children.

• Suggested age: 5–6 years and up; ideal 7–12 years
• Why it’s enjoyable: samurai, armor, unusual objects, stories of distant cultures
• When to choose it: with curious and attentive children; a quiet museum, not crowded

The museum is one of the Venetian museums most attentive to accessibility and active visits: the experience can be surprisingly engaging even for the youngest.

The museum organizes free visits for families and children, including games, stories, treasure hunts, and practical final activities (on schedule or by request).
For families, tablets with the app “Look, Touch, Discover!” are available, allowing interactive exploration of the artworks: by scanning objects and instruments, children can discover multimedia content, hear sounds via artificial intelligence, and observe hidden details.

There are also tactile and inclusive materials, such as tactile booklets with black print and braille, usable by all children, sighted or visually impaired. By appointment, it is possible to request a special guided visit using these tools.
A highly appreciated experience is augmented reality, which allows children to explore the inside of a Japanese palanquin using dedicated headsets, available upon request.
To continue the experience at home, children aged 5–12 can request the free TOMATO kit, with creative materials and games inspired by the museum (available while supplies last).

Official website of MAOV

Ocean Space

Ocean Space is a cultural space dedicated to the relationship between humans and the ocean, hosted in the Church of San Lorenzo. Exhibitions combine contemporary art, science, and environmental themes.

• Suggested age: 9–10 years and up
• Why it’s enjoyable: immersive installations, themes related to the environment and the sea
• When to choose it: with teens or children sensitive to nature topics; the experience depends heavily on the current exhibition

Official website of Ocean Space

Outside the Center: Special Museums and Places Near Venice

If you have extra time or are looking for experiences beyond the historic center, there are a few places just outside Venice that can enrich your trip with children. These are optional stops, to be chosen only if they fit well into your itinerary.

Villa Pisani

Villa Pisani, in Stra along the Riviera del Brenta, is one of the most famous Venetian villas. Besides the historic interiors, the large park is a perfect space for children.

• Suggested age: 6–7 years and up
• Why it’s enjoyable: the park, the monumental garden, and especially the hedge maze, one of the largest in Europe
• When to choose it: with an extra day or if traveling by car; ideal in spring and summer
  Official website of Villa Pisani

Borges Labyrinth

On the island of San Giorgio Maggiore is the Borges Labyrinth, a path inspired by the works of Jorge Luis Borges. It is not specifically designed for children, but the labyrinth experience is often very fun for them.

• Suggested age: 7–8 years and up
• Why it’s enjoyable: getting lost and finding your way in the labyrinth, the island setting
• When to choose it: with curious children; to combine with a visit to San Giorgio island
  Book

Le Stanze del Vetro

Le Stanze del Vetro is an exhibition space on San Giorgio Maggiore, dedicated to 20th-century and contemporary glass art. Some exhibitions are particularly suitable for families.

• Suggested age: 6–7 years and up
• Why it’s enjoyable: colorful glass, unusual shapes, paths designed for younger children
• When to choose it: if you are already on San Giorgio or looking for a short and different visit

Official website of Le Stanze del Vetro

Murano Glass Museum

The Murano Glass Museum tells the story of Murano glassmaking, one of Venice’s most famous traditions. The chronological path is enriched with spectacular objects, beads, colorful glass, and surprising shapes.

• Suggested age: 6–7 years and up
• Why it’s enjoyable: colorful glass, beads, demonstrations related to glassmaking
• When to choose it: during a visit to Murano, ideally combined with a glass furnace

Burano Lace Museum

The Burano Lace Museum is located on Burano Island and tells the story of a traditional craft, especially related to the history of the island’s women. It is a small and intimate museum, suitable for a short visit.

• Suggested age: 7–8 years and up
• Why it’s enjoyable: lace-making demonstrations, curiosities about an ancient craft
• When to choose it: as a calm stop during a visit to Burano

Also, check out our article on the Venetian Islands with kids.

How to Choose Museums for Children in Venice

Venice offers a wide range of cultural experiences, but when traveling with children, choosing wisely is more important than seeing everything. Here are some practical criteria to decide which museums to include in your itinerary, based on available time and children’s ages.

If you have limited time (1–2 days in Venice):

Focus on museums that work best for families and do not require long visits. The best choice is to concentrate on Level 1 museums, such as the Natural History Museum, Doge’s Palace (better with family routes), or the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.

If traveling with young children (4–6 years):

Prefer museums with visual elements, simple storytelling, or hands-on activities. The Natural History Museum, Leonardo da Vinci Museum, and some Peggy Guggenheim activities are more suitable than large traditional art museums.

If traveling with older children or teens:

With children aged 7–8 and up, you can be more adventurous: Doge’s Palace, Oriental Art Museum, Naval History Museum, or M9 – Museo del ’900 offer more complex but highly stimulating content.

If it rains or you need an indoor break:

Museums are perfect on rainy days or during crowded periods. In these cases, the Natural History Museum, M9, and museums with interactive or multimedia paths work particularly well.

If visiting Murano, Burano, or San Giorgio Maggiore:

If planning a trip to the islands, complement it with specific museums such as the Murano Glass Museum, Burano Lace Museum, or Le Stanze del Vetro on San Giorgio. These are short visits, considered as a complement to the day.

Final tip: choose a few museums suitable for your children’s age, and always alternate indoor visits and outdoor time. Venice is an extraordinary city even just by exploring on foot.