Families planning a trip to Italy often wonder if they should use trains or rental cars to travel between cities. We are definitely big fans of train travel in Europe and definitely prefer to travel by train between large metropolitan areas due to the convenience and cost. However, there are situations where train travel in Italy is impractical. During our July 2018 Italian family vacation, the Lamborghini Museum and Ferrari Museumwere high on our must-see list. Both museums are in the Modena area and very challenging to reach by train. The cost of long taxi rides to and from the Bologna train station and in between the two museums was pretty staggering, and with a family of five, we would need to hire two taxis. Additionally, we were skeptical that we would be able to store our luggage at the Bologna train station for this excursion. We decided that by renting a car in Italy for a day and a half, we could visit the Italian car museums with flexibility, spend a night in Pisa and then visit a few Tuscan towns before returning the car upon our arrival in Florence.
View of San Gimignano from the outskirts
Booking an Italian Rental Car
Manual transmission vehicles are significantly less expensive to rent in Italy, but we chose to stick with an automatic transmission and reserved our intermediate, five passenger car through Alamo/Enterprise. The daily charge for the rental was €43.47, but with taxes and the rental of a car seat for our daughter (€45), the grand total for our two day rental came to €245.39.
Renting a Car in Italy – Requirements
An international driving permit is required to rent a car in Italy. My husband obtained his permit from AAA before our departure, and the process was relatively painless and cost only $20 and required two passport sized photos. He was actually never asked for his driving permit in Italy, but we did not feel it was worth the risk to not get it in advance.
Renting a Car in Italy – Car Seats
One of the trickiest parts of renting cars is figuring out how to handle car seats. We chose to rent a car seat for our three year old daughter because she was less than 30 pounds and needed a convertible car seat. We were traveling very light and definitely did not want to lug around a heavy car seat throughout our 18-day European vacation when we only needed it for a day and a half. We considered purchasing the Ridesafer Travel Vest, but she had not yet reached the lower weight limit for use in the US, we were concerned that the vest would not be permitted in Italy. While the €45 rental fee seemed pretty exorbitant, we thought it was the best option, and the seat we received seemed satisfactory. We also carried two Bubble Bum booster seats with us to use for our eight and ten year old boys.
Renting a Car in Italy – Insurance
Worldwide car rental insurance up to $50,000 is a perk of our Costco Citi card for any car rental 31 days or less that is paid for with the card. This coverage means we can decline the additional collision loss/damage insurance that is always offered through the rental company. Because our rental included a car body package to limit liability to €1,800 in case of damage or theft at no extra fee, we verified with Costco that this included insurance would not negate our coverage in advance and did not have to pay extra for full rental car insurance.
Renting a Car in Italy – Pick Up
We were departing from Venice the day that we planned to pick up our car. However, picking up a rental car in a car-free city seemed unnecessarily complicated. We chose instead to take a train from Venice to Bologna and pick up our car there.
Picking up a rental car always seems to take longer than we expect, and our experience in Italy was no exception. It’s important to research the exact location of the rental car company as the descriptions online might not be reliable. “Train station” could mean near the train station, and “downtown” might near downtown. We thought that the Enterprise/Alamo desk was at the Bologna train station, but it was actually about a block away, and finding it was a bit of a challenge. After completing the registration with the clerk, we were directed to a garage several blocks away. We were offered a six passenger vehicle that was larger than we expected but manageable. As always, we made sure to thoroughly inspect the exterior of the car for any damage and make sure any dents were properly noted before leaving the garage. We then had to figure out how to install the car seats before setting off. Our grand plan included a lunch in Bologna, but we knew our time was tight, so we headed out of the city without seeing even the Towers of Bologna.
Renting a Car in Italy – Logistics
After spending 10 days driving the Ring Road in Iceland in June 2017, renting a car for a day and a half Italy seemed like it should be no big deal. However, it was significantly more challenging than our experience in Iceland. We used our GPS with international maps in both countries but found that we were constantly being directed into restricted zones (zona traffico limitato or ZLT) in Italy. Traffic, which is nonexistent in Iceland, was often heavy in Italy. Road rules were also confusing, speed limits were often hard to determine, and Italian drivers are particularly aggressive. As a result, I was really nervous that we would end up with a huge fine to pay at the end of the trip and generally nervous the entire time we were in the car. Dropping the car off in Florence was particularly a nightmare as we had to do several U-turns before determining that the rental car return was located within a limited traffic zone; however, it was a huge relief to drop it off.
Renting a Car in Italy – Benefits
By renting a car in Italy, we were able to visit the Lamborghini Museum and Ferrari Museum, Pisa and San Gimignano in a day in a half, all without worrying about luggage storage. The Lamborghini Museum, Ferrari Museum and San Gimignano are not easily reachable by train and were particularly enjoyable parts or our trip. We would have been able to visit other Tuscan towns between Pisa and Florence as we had originally planned if we hadn’t decided that we needed to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa and tour the Pisa Cathedral. If we were traveling by train, we would have likely booked a mid-morning train journey and would have regretted not having enough time at the Field of Miracles. So, we did enjoy the flexibility to easily alter our plans.
Pisa Cathedral and the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Our Italian car rental also allowed us to have the most authentic, non-touristy experience in Italy, lunch at Glamour Caffe e Cucina near the Lamborghini Museum. After skipping lunch in Bologna, stopping for a meal before touring Italian car museums was non-negotiable, and we happened upon the Glamour Caffe. We were definitely the only tourists, and none of the servers spoke English. Our order for fixed price lunches was complicated, and we were not clear on how much the meal would cost. However, the food and authenticity of the meal was top-notch, and the price ended up being quite the bargain as well. Because our trip focused on large metropolitan areas, this was really our only opportunity to get off the beaten path and a huge benefit to renting a car.
Renting a Car in Italy – Recommendation
We recommend traveling by train in Italy unless there is something on your must-do list that is completely impractical to do via public transportation. However, it is possible for adventurous families to rent a car in Italy and truly explore the countryside.
The Lamborghini Museum and the Ferrari Museum each hosted our family’s visits. As always, all opinions are my own.
We are often asked for recommendations for great travel books for children. My kids truly love seeing new places and all enjoy reading fiction and nonfiction books about places we have visited or are on our never ending “list.” My kids have had a love of travel and books from a young age, so books about travel have always been popular at my house. We are regulars and our local libraries, and my children used to attend multiple story times each week before preschool. My four year old is an emerging reader and can sit for hours listening to stories. My eight and eleven year old boys spend hours cuddled up in their beds turning pages of their current book.
We have come across quite a few books that inspire us to visit new places or help us reminisce about recent trips. Our list of best travel books for kids includes a range of reading levels and interests.
13 Architects Children Should Know is part of the 13 Things Children Should Know book series, which has truly inspired our travel experiences. We were first introduced to these books when my middle child brought home 13 Architects Children Should Knowfrom his school’s library as a Kindergarten student. He closely examined every page and was excited to find Christopher Wren’s St. Paul’s Cathedral that we had visited in London the summer before. But, the two architects he was most interested in were Gustave Eiffel and Frank Lloyd Wright.
He was not at all familiar with Frank Lloyd Wright before reading 13 Architects Children Should Know but fascinated by pictures of Fallingwater. He had no idea where Fallingwater might be in proximity to our home, but asked me after I finished reading the description, “Mommy, will you take me there?” Fallingwater happens to be just a three hour drive from our home in Cleveland, and I readily promised him that we would plan a trip. Within six months, we toured Fallingwater with my college roommate and her daughter, and my six year old son had a permanent smile on his face the whole time. After checking Fallingwater off his bucket list, my son focused his efforts on the Eiffel Tower for two years until we took a family trip to Paris. – CMD
Maurice Sendak’s 1963 Where the Wild Things Are has inspire young travelers for more than 50 years. Young Max dreams he is visiting an island inhabited by enormous beasts. After playing with the “wild things”, Max decides to return home for dinner. This classic does not include an actual destination or weave in historical, cultural or artistic concepts. However, it embodies the desire explore new places and then head home to recharge. – CMD
Paddington Bear first appeared in Michael Bond’s 1958 A Bear Called Paddington. Paddington is a bear from Peru who is adopted by the Brown family after they meet him in London’s Paddington station. The book series includes over 20 books, and several television and film adaptations. Paddington, the 1998 reissue of the classic story, is a frequent bedtime story for my four year old daughter. She has a vague recollection of our 2015 visit to London, which included a train ride from Kings Cross station and double decker buses that are also featured in this children’s picture book.
All three of my children also enjoy watching the recent film adaptations, Paddingtonand Paddington 2. The films feature well-known London hot spots, including the National Museum of Natural History, Portobello Road, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Notting Hill and Paddington Station. The Paddington books and films remind my children of their time in London but can serve as inspiration for travel to London. – CMD
Before our family trip to Italy in July 2018, I requested Olivia Goes to Venice from our local library to introduce our daughter to Venice. Olivia is a young pig who is always ready for adventure, and this 2010 book features Olivia’s spring break trip to Venice. Author and illustrator Ian Falconer combines illustrations with photographs of the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer, Doge’s Palace, the Grand Canal, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs. Olivia enjoyed a gondola ride and chasing pigeons in St. Mark’s Square just like our daughter.
Olivia Goes to Venice introduced our daughter to the canals and buildings that we saw in Venice. Now, she enjoys reading the book and remembering our time in the City of Canals. – CMD
Andrea Lynn Beck’s Good Morning Canadais an excellent introduction to Canada for any child. Our copy was gifted to us by one of our children’s favorite nannies who left us and moved to Saskatchewan. This 2014 picture book features Canadian landscapes and national classics, including the Mounties, maple trees, hockey and common animals such as the beaver, moose and goose. Our copy is extra special because our former nanny annotated it with sticky notes. – CMD
James Mayhew’s Katie and the Mona Lisa features the story of Katie and her grandmother visiting the Louvre. Katie is entranced with Mona Lisa’s smile. In the 1998 picture book, Katie is walks right up to the Mona Lisa and while she is examining the painting, she notices her grandmother has fallen asleep on her comfortable chair at the end of the gallery and climbs into the frame and into the picture where she finds Mona Lisa seated in the corner of a grand room. Mona Lisa is sad because she is very lonely, so Katie takes her out of the picture and back into the museum. The pair climb inside several different paintings in the Louvre. Mona Lisa enjoys their adventure so much that she assures Katie she now has something to smile about inside her painting.
This book definitely takes some artistic license to teach children about Renaissance art. The depiction of the Louvre is completely unrealistic, and the other paintings included are not actually exhibited in the Louvre. The size and location of the Mona Lisa are completely wrong, and the painting is hidden behind bullet proof glass and protected by a handful of guards. Even with a bit of fantasy thrown in, this book is still a fabulous introduction to Italian Renaissance for even the youngest artists. – CMD
Rome Reconstructedis a gem we found in the gift shop of the Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin in Rome. Our eight year old picked it up and asked if it could be his souvenir. This archeological guide uses cardboard flaps overlaid on top of pictures of existing structures to depict the original Roman buildings, most of which are at least 2,000 years old. These layered illustrations really help kids visualize what ancient Rome looked like.
After we visited Palatine Hill, the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, our children focused on the portions of the book featuring these sights. The short descriptions of each building are easy to read and provide informative historical information about each sight. We are heavy library users and typically only buy books that we think will be read again and again. However, we are glad that we added this book to our personal collection and know our kids will enjoy the pictures and explanations for years to come. – CMD
The Harry Potterseries is hands down one of the most delightful reading experiences I have ever shared with my children. When my older son was in second grade, I wanted to encourage him to read and so I urged him to start reading the Harry Potter series. To sweeten the pot, I agreed to read along with him and further agreed that we would watch the companion movie after he finished each book in the series AND that we would go to Universal Studios Orlando upon completion of the series. Much to my surprise, my son not took on the challenge, but he ended up voraciously reading through the Harry Potter series and we ended up having a fantastic weekend exploring the Wizarding World of Harry Potter the following October. – NKC
My boys also devoured the Harry Potter series last year while I followed along listening to the audio books. While we have not visited Universal Studios, the London locations specifically reminded us of our 2015 trip to London. Filming locations for the companion movies include St. Paul’s Cathedral, Millennium Bridge, Piccadilly Circus, and the iconic telephone booths are also featured. – CMD
Anyone who didn’t attend fourth grade in California probably has not heard of the Island of the Blue Dolphins, a sad yet beautiful story about a young Indian girl who ends up spending 18 years alone on an island before she is rescued by Spanish missionaries. I won’t spoil the details, but the girl-turned-woman ended up living her life at the Santa Barbara Mission. Having read and fallen in love with the book at a young girl, I not only made Santa Barbara Mission a point of interest to visit once I was older and could dictate my travel schedule, but I have now also introduced family and friends to the Santa Barbara Mission and shared with them the story of the Indian girl buried on the grounds. I’m thrilled that my son is in fourth grade and will be reading this book later this year. – NKC
My eight year old son recently discovered Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, which features the adventures of a Percy Jackson, young demigod who lives in New York City. Percy discovers at age 12 that he is the son of Poseidon. He and his friends have an odyssey that takes them around the United States of their own that spans over the five Percy Jackson books and then extends into Riordan’s Heroes of Olympus series. The series intertwines the stories of Greek mythology with Percy’s quest to save modern civilization. Some cities featured in the series include New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Las Vegas. Not surprisingly, Athens is now on my son’s bucket list. – CMD
These are some of our to 10 travel inspiration books for our kids. What family favorite books have we missed?
We Go With Kids is excited to announce that we have received a Liebster Award. We were nominated by Sydney from A World in Reach. We are honored that Sydney reached out and acknowledged our fledgling blog. It is definitely exciting to be nominated by one of our peers, especially as two hobby bloggers who work on this blog in our nonexistent free time.
Photo credit – The Global Aussee
What is the Liebster Award?
The Liebster Award is an award given to bloggers by other bloggers. In German, “liebster” means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. So, the Liebster Award is given to bloggers who convey this meaning across their blog! If you want to learn more about the Liebster Award, check out the official rules.
We are two lawyers by trade by who met at a law firm in 2005 – well before either had kids. Thanks to the wonders of social networking, we have stayed in touch as each of our families have grown. With five kids and more than two dozen countries traveled between the two of us, we decided to launch this website in July 2017 after returning from trips to Iceland and Africa!
Our hope is to not only share our adventures and trips on traveling with kids, but also to inspire others to “go with kids” when traveling both near and far! As a side benefit, blog posts help us record and remember details of our family vacations. Our own kids enjoy reading and reminiscing. Some of them bemoan the fact that we regularly choose not to post pictures of their faces, but due to scary facial recognition technology and safety concerns, We Go With Kids noticeably includes countless photos showing the silhouettes of our wee ones.
Sydney’s Questions:
1. What is the most important lesson you’ve learned during your travels?
Catherine: Flexibility is key! There will inevitably be a few bumps along the way, so don’t let delays, increased costs or basic mistakes negatively effect the trip.
Nancy: As a young couple, traveling without kids, my husband and I made every effort to maximize every single minute of any vacation or trip. When traveling with kids, it’s important to adjust expectations and perhaps even spend an afternoon resting at the hotel instead of visiting yet another site. Remember: the important thing is that we’re traveling together as a family!
2. What’s your favorite part of traveling? Least favorite?
Catherine: I love seeing new places and eating amazing meals. I endure long flights and regular delays for that luxury.
Nancy: I love experiencing new foods and cultures and definitely make every effort to find something that is a “local gem” versus geared towards tourists. Travel delays and the logistics of hauling kids and baggage is my least favorite part of traveling, but a necessary evil.
3. Do you collect any souvenirs from your travels?
Catherine: I collect turtles. It’s totally random but all started when a small stone turtle caught my eye on Bavaro Beach in Punta Cana way back in 2005. There were hundreds of similar turtles at every souvenir shop, but I wanted only one. My husband haggled a bit and walked away when he was unsatisfied with the price. Ultimately, I did bring it home.
Nancy: Just photos and memories!
4. What is the most unique experience you’ve had with a local while traveling?
Catherine: I was an exchange student at the University of York in my junior year of college and lived as a local for six months. I was occasionally mistaken for a local myself.
Nancy: In July 2017, my husband and I visited a Ndebele homestead during a trip to Zimbabwe. We were able to tour the family home and have lunch, cooked on site.
5. If you could travel with one person you’ve never traveled with before, who would it be?
Catherine: It would be super fun to do a two family trip with Nancy and her crew.
Nancy: I would love to visit China with my grandmother, who was born in China, left in her teens, and has never been back!
6. How did you come up with your blog name?
Catherine: I’d have to pull up the insanely long Facebook messenger discussion, but it involved lots of online research and consultation with my favorite trademark attorney. Nancy secured gmail and social media accounts for a slightly different name before we settled on We Go With Kids. My husband takes full credit.
Nancy: Ditto what Catherine said! I definitely give Catherine and her husband full credit for the final name we chose!
7. What tip would you give to a new blogger?
Catherine and Nancy: Don’t wait 18 months to start learning SEO techniques.
8. Is there a book or a movie that has inspired your wanderlust?
Catherine: Not really, but I’d really do like watching movies set in cities I’ve visited and really want to re-watch Under the Tuscan Sun.
Nancy: Not really. Occasionally, a movie will inspire me to visit a particular destination, but my desire to travel has always been present.
9. What are the top 3 things on your bucket list?
Catherine: Currently, Thailand, Argentina and an African safari are the big three, but I’m also hoping to make it to my last eight states before I turn 50.
Nancy: I’d like to take my youngest to Hawaii for his first time, but I’d also like to visit Hong Kong and a country in the Middle East, where I’ve never been.
10. What is your biggest travel regret?
Catherine: I wish I took a year off before law school and traveled around the world. If only travel blogging was a thing a million years ago.
Nancy: Apropros Catherine, I didn’t spend enough time traveling in my younger days. I wish I had taken more time off and dedicated more resources to travel, but then again, I didn’t really have the resources until I grew up and got a real job so I’m not sure how far I would’ve gotten!
Our Liebster Award Nominations
We have been following a number of other family travel bloggers over the past year and a half. While we haven’t met any of these wonderful blogging parents personally, we are encouraged and inspired by them as we all strive to open doors for our children around the world. All of these bloggers have shared travel stories and tips on We Go With Kids, and we love following their journeys.
A visit to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill is a great way to step back in time and take a glimpse of ancient Rome. The Forum is a rectangular plaza in the valley between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills. The only remaining structures, which were constructed between 500 BC and AD 400, are all in ruins, but enough remains to really spark our imagination of what the governmental, cultural and civic center of Rome looked like thousands of years ago. The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill have separate entrances, but the two sights are interconnected. So, it’s possible to start at one and end in the other. For our family of five (including kids ages 3, 8 and 10), our visit to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill was a complete history lesson, and we are glad we didn’t overlook these amazing sights during our visit to Rome.
Visiting Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum
Directions to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
The Colosseum is conveniently located near the Colosseum Metro station. We were staying near the Barberini station on the red A line and had to travel to Termini, the train station, and transfer to the blue B line and then travel two stops to reach the Colosseum. The entire journey was probably about 15 minutes, and we had a short walk to the Colosseum area once we left the station.
Palatine Hill and Roman Forum Tickets
We pre-booked a combination ticket to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum/Palatine Hill through Coop Culture. The combined ticket cost €17 for each adult, and children under 18 are free. Like the Louvre, which also cost our family €34 to visit, I found it pretty astounding how inexpensive admission was for these iconic sights. In contrast, most museums in the US cost at least $75 for admission for our family.
Our tickets permitted a single entry into each attraction on the same day or on two consecutive days. Our priority was the Colosseum, and we weren’t sure how long our visit would take, so we headed there first. We were inundated with tour guides offering us skip the line entry as soon as we arrived and were happy to have already sorted out tickets and not need to risk giving money to a con artist. We needed to stand in line to exchange our pre-booked vouchers for actual tickets from a small booth outside the Colosseum.
We loathe lines in general, but this one luckily took only about 15-20 minutes. Even though it was mid-morning, the sun was already pretty hot. So, we purchased water bottles for our entire family during the wait. I discovered in the line that the fine print on our voucher allowed entry to the Colosseum only after 2 p.m. during the summer months. But, we also found that we could book a 45 minute guided tour in English that cost €5 for adults (again, children were free). We went ahead and planned a 2:30 p.m. entry and a 3:00 p.m. tour and then headed to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
Entering the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
A funny thing really did happen on the way to the Forum…. After we collected our Colosseum tickets, we asked the ticket agent for directions to the Roman Forum entrance. She took one look at our stroller and suggested that we pass the Forum entrance and use the Palatine Hill entrance instead. We had read that the Forum entrance often has a long line, so we thought we were getting valuable intel. It turned out to be the worst stroller advice we have ever received.
We got through the Palatine Hill entrance quickly but found the uphill pebble pathway nearly impossible with a stroller. Palatine Hill is the center of the Seven Hills of Rome and sits about 130 feet above the Forum but really seemed like a trek. Our daughter reluctantly climbed out when it became obvious that we wouldn’t be able to push the stroller with her weight on the uneven surface, but it was hot, and the hard to find ruins were not exciting enough to captivate her attention and make her want to walk.
The boys had watched Ben-Hur before our trip, and we were excited to see Circus Maximus, the site of the chariot races. From Palatine Hill, we were able to see a panoramic view of the field where the stadium was located. We actually had a better view of the site a few days later when we were walking to the Mouth of Truth.
View of Circus Maximus from Via del Circo Massimo
The Palace of Domitian dominates Palatine Hill (which is also the origin of the word “palace”). But, it is largely in ruins and not as exciting as the Palace of Versailles or Doge’s Palace, both of which we had visited earlier in our trip.
Checking out the courtyard of the Palace of Domitian
As usual, we used Rick Steves as a guide, and I narrated our visit by reading the short blurbs in Rick Steves Italy. Although Steves’ nuggets of information were interesting, I have to admit that we were underwhelmed with Palatine Hill. Walking up the Hill was particularly brutal and really not overly exciting.
A Visit to the Roman Forum
We may not have been wowed by Palatine Hill, but the Roman Forum was pretty spectacular. It is an impressive archeological site. The population of ancient Rome reached a whopping 1 million, most of whom lived in tiny apartments or tents but spent their time in the Forum. While none of the ancient buildings are intact, there is enough remaining to provide an image of what it looked like. My son bought the book, Rome Reconstructed, at one of the gift shops that included amazing side by side comparisons of buildings then and now, and really helped the kids understand what ancient Rome was like.
Although there were stairs here and there, the stroller was actually generally easier to maneuver in the Forum due to some paved walkways. We weren’t fighting gravity on our descent, but there were some areas where cobble stones made it absolutely necessary for our daughter to jump out and walk a bit.
Large stones in the Forum that were not stroller friendly
Roman Forum Buildings
My favorite building in the Roman Forum is the Arch of Titus. The Arch, which was constructed about 82 AD, appears to be largely intact over 2035 years later; however, parts have been reconstructed. For example, the fluted columns are original, but smooth portions are reconstructions. The Arch was originally much more colorful, but the colored marble was unfortunately scavenged over the years.
It didn’t surprise me that this 50 foot arch was the inspiration for the much larger Arc de Triomphe in Paris because I immediately saw the resemblance.
Arch de Triomphe
I was also wowed by the three columns standing from the Temple of Castor and Pollux, which date back to 484 BC. The columns were constructed in the first century AD.
Three remaining pillars of the Temple of Castor and Pollux
The Temple of Saturn dates back to about 490 BC and is the oldest sacred monument in Rome. Its enormous eight columns framed the Forum’s oldest temple and continue to stand out in the Forum landscape.
The eight remaining pillars of the Temple of Saturn are pictured on the far left
Alternate Views of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
On our last day in Rome, we followed the periphery of Palatine Hill and the Forum when walking from the Mouth of Truth to the Colosseum Metro stop, and I enjoyed the panoramic views of the Hill almost as much as our walkabout inside earlier in our trip. We did not see the Forum illuminated at night, but I’ve heard that is a pretty spectacular sight. If admission to the Forum is combined with Colosseum tickets, it is definitely worthwhile to make a quick visit. However, for families pressed for time, the Colosseum is definitely the more impressive site. Just make sure to take a walk around the periphery to appreciate the glory of ancient Rome.
View of Palatine Hill from Via del Circo Massimo
Best Way to Visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
If we were to do it again, I would definitely plan for no more than an hour visit to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, enter at the Forum (even if the line was longer), focus on the Roman Forum and possibly just poke around the top of Palatine Hill before heading out.
To find out more about family travel to Italy, check out our other blog posts about Rome, Florence and Venice and our listing of all destinations in Italy.
The Louvre in Paris is the largest and most visited art museum in the world with 400,000 art works and a permanent collection of about 35,000 on display. It is housed in the Louvre Palace, a former royal palace that dates back to the 12th century. The Louvre became a museum in 1793 during the French Revolution and has been expanded and renovated many times over the past 800 years. The Louvre may not seem like a museum that welcomes children with open arms, but it is actually one of the most stroller-friendly museums we have ever visited. So, there is no reason to skip it when traveling with children. Here are our top 10 tips for visiting Musee du Louvre with kids:
A Visit to the Louvre For Kids
Tip #1: Buy Skip the Line Louvre Tickets Online in Advance
We booked a 9:30 am entry on our first morning in Paris directly through the Louvre’s website. Pre-booked adult tickets cost €17 each, which is just slightly more than the €15 entrance fee for tickets purchased at the museum. All visitors under age 18 are free. Considering admission for our family of five to almost any US museum seems to cost at least $75, €34 to visit the Louvre seemed like an absolute bargain, and we didn’t think twice about the extra €4 necessary for advanced booking.
Tip #2: Eat Before Arriving at the Louvre With Children
The Louvre requires a good bit of walking. It is important to arrive with children who are well rested and well fed. We stopped at Franprix for a delicious breakfast of freshly squeezed orange juice and amazing bread and pastries. We didn’t stop to eat at one of the Louvre’s cafes or restaurants during the three hours we spent there, choosing not to risk long lines and instead enjoyed lunch at a British pub during England’s Quarterfinal World Cup match afterwards.
Tip #3: Arrive at the Louvre Early or Late
Our flight arrived in Paris in the evening, and in hindsight, it may have been a bit ambitious to plan a 9:30 am museum arrival the next morning. But, we had a full night of sleep and arrived at the Louvre on time. We definitely noticed that the Louvre became much busier by late morning. The Louvre is also open until 9:45 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, and it is typically less crowded during those evening hours. When planning a Paris itinerary, note that the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, January 1, May 1 and December 25.
We entered through the Louvre Pyramid, the iconic glass and metal pyramid that was designed by the Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei and completed in 1989. The Pyramid and underground lobby were created so that the Louvre could better accommodate its increasing number of daily visitors. The Pyramid was designed for 4.5 million annual visitors, and the underground lobby had to be redesigned between 2014 and 2017 when the number of annual visitors rose from 4.5 million to over 8 million. We talked about how I.M. Pei also designed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s pyramid in Cleveland as we entered.
View from inside the Louvre Pyramid
Tip #4: Bring the Stroller to the Louvre
Even though it was necessary at times to carry our stroller up or down a flight of stairs, it’s understandable considering the building dates back to the late 12th century. Nonetheless, the Louvre Museum gets high marks for being stroller friendly. When we arrived at the Pyramid, we noticed separate lines for pre-booked tickets and visitors needing to purchase tickets from the box office, but neither had much of a line when we arrived. It didn’t matter because as soon as the guard saw our stroller, he ushered us through the middle of the two entrances to wait for the next circular open air hydraulic elevator into the museum. Our kids thought this was the coolest elevator we have ever been inside of and thought it looked like it belonged on a futuristic spaceship.
Strollers are welcome throughout the museum, and we rarely felt crowded. Elevators in the Louvre are reserved for the disabled (including children in strollers) and their accompanying parties. This is in stark contrast to Versailleswhere we had to check our stroller at left luggage before entering the Palace and the Vatican where wall to wall visitors in many galleries made it extremely hard to maneuver the stroller and where we were not permitted to use the elevators, which were reserved for those in wheelchairs only.
Tip #5: Don’t Forget the Louvre Map
The Louvre exhibits are seemingly endless. It’s absolutely massive and not possible to explore every exhibit in a single day. It is essential to bring a map and formulate a game plan. We should have downloaded and printed the Louvre interactive floorplan in advance, but we picked up a map underneath the Pyramid first thing.
Tip #6: Use Rick Steves as a Tour Guide at the Louvre
We traveled with Rick Steves’ Paris guide, which includes a 30 page annotated tour of the Louvre. This guide was perfect for us. I read Steves’ descriptive overviews about an exhibit or selected major works for my husband and kids and found that it provided the perfect nugget of information to help enhance the experience for our whole family. We otherwise would not have noticed the S-curve in Venus de Milo‘s back and the seam at her hips. We also made sure to examine the glass case next to Winged Victory of Samothrace with her outstretched thumb and finger, which was discovered in the 1950s.
Tip #7: Prioritize the Big Three at the Louvre
I vividly remember visiting the Louvre on my college backpacking trip and following pictures directing me to Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Winged Victory of Samothrace. These seem to be on everyone’s Louvre must see list. Because the Louvre is enormous, it takes some time to just navigate to each, but make sure not to rush through the amazing galleries along the way.
We started in the Sully Wing and first visited the Near Eastern Antiquities, which was impressive and not very crowded at all. My favorite was the Frieze of Archers from the fifth or sixth century B.C.
We then visited the Egyptian galleries before reaching the Gallery of Statues with perfect anatomic Greek sculptures in natural poses. Athena of Velletri stands at one side and Venus de Milo at the other. Athena of Velletri is a Roman replica of a Greek statue that dates from the 5th century B.C. Venus de Milo is an ancient Green sculpture created between 130 and 100 B.C. I love the juxtaposition of the goddesses of wisdom and beauty.
Athena of Velletri
Venus de Milo
We then headed into the Denon Wing to Winged Victory of Samothrace, which dates back to about 190 BC. This winged-woman standing on a ship commemorated a naval victory. I love that this massive statue is exhibited in a large open area with high ceilings rather than crammed into a gallery. We had a discussion about how fragile arms are on ancient statues and how they were often broken and lost.
Winged Victory of Samothrace
The Louvre statues were particularly impressive due to their age and preservation.
Of the “Big Three”, we visited the Mona Lisa last and realized when we saw the crowd that we should have made a b-line for this gallery as soon as we arrived.
Tip #8: Be Prepared for Mona Lisa‘s Paparazzi at the Louvre
Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is virtually synonymous with the Louvre. This early 16th century Italian Renaissance painting has been on display in the Louvre since 1797. While the Louvre generally did not seem crowded on our Saturday morning visit, visitors line up to see the Mona Lisa, protected by bullet proof glass and guarded by guards. It took us several minutes to work our way up to the front of the crowd to get a picture of her famous smirk.
The word “paparazzi” comes to mind, and yes, Mona Lisa is much smaller than anyone expects (only about 21 inches by 30 inches!).
It doesn’t help that the Louvre’s largest painting, Paolo Veronese’s The Wedding Feast at Cana, is displayed on the opposite wall. I was drawn to Veronese’s massive canvas and surprised at how little attention it received as the visitors focused solely on Mona Lisa. The unexpected Venetian setting made me more excited about our upcoming trip to Venice a few days later. The juxtaposition of these two paintings definitely was one of the most interesting parts of the Louvre.
Even though I saw Mona Lisa 21 years ago, it was simultaneously exhilarating and slightly underwhelming to visit her on this trip. Nevertheless, Mona Lisa was the most memorable part of our Louvre visit for our kids. They remember the crowd, her auspicious smile and The Wedding Feast at Cana on the opposite wall. My son is convinced she’s planning something evil.
Tip #9: Don’t Forget to Look Up While Visiting the Louvre
Some of the most memorable art is located on the gallery ceilings. It’s easy to be so mesmerized by the art on the wall and not fully appreciate the architecture and ceiling art.
Tip #10:Take Forced Perspective Pictures in front of the Pyramid at the Louvre
The Louvre’s Pyramid is not only a world-renowned architectural icon but also a great place to take a forced perspective picture. There are a number of strategically placed pedestals in front of the Pyramid to make it easier to capture the perfect shot, which we most certainly used.
Thank you to Scott’s Cheap Flights for providing complimentary premium membership. All opinions are my own.
I have had a Scott’s Cheap Flights premium membership for about three months. While I was admittedly hesitant that the premium membership would be worth the cost of its $39 annual fee, I am already convinced that Scott’s Cheap Flights premium membership is well worth its annual fee for any traveler who makes at least one trip abroad each year. With three kids, our family needs to purchase five flights anytime we travel. We are constantly in search of discounted airfare to make international travel affordable. We use Google flights and monitor several fare deal websites and have taken advantage of several good deals that we have stumbled upon over the years, including round trip airfare to San Francisco for $130, to New Orleans for $80 and to Reykjavik for $370. However, it’s so time consuming to wade through all the offers that aren’t available from our local airports that I have to admit that I often don’t even open the automated fare deal emails I received. Now that I regularly receive Scott’s Cheap Flights’ ad free and filtered emails about amazing flight deals from only my desired airports, I have unsubscribed from the free services that used to send me automated emails and am certain that we will find better airfares through Scott’s than searching on our own as we’ve done over the past few years.
Review of Scott’s Cheap Flights
Scott’s Cheap Flights History
After Scott Keyes took advantage of a $130 round trip flight deal from New York City to Milan in 2013, he built an email list to let friends and colleagues know about other deals he found. Keyes partnered with co-founder Brian Kidwell in 2015. Now, Scott’s team monitors airfares and notifies its 1.6 million members when they find abnormally low fares on a specific route.
Scott Keyes and Brian Kidwell – Photo credit Scott’s Cheap Flights
Scott’s Cheap Flights Limited Membership Review
Scott’s Cheap Flights offers free limited memberships with impressive benefits. I tried out a limited membership before upgrading and found that limited members receive occasional cheap flight notifications from their geographic area but not filtered to include only the closest airports. When Scott’s Cheap Flights send limited members deal notifications, they delay them about 30+ minutes from the premium members’ notification. The deal alerts include ads, and Scott’s Cheap Flights makes sure to notify limited members of the amazing premium deals that they missed out on due to their limited membership. These alerts could definitely be useful but reminded me of many of the other free flight deal notifications. The emails and a few Scott’s Cheap Flights reviews definitely made me want the premium membership.
Is Scott’s Cheap Flights Premium Worth It?
Scott’s Cheap Flights Premium Review
I upgraded to a premium membership about 10 days after starting my limited membership. The welcome message indicated that premium subscribers receive three times as many deals and are “wayyyy” more likely to book a flight deal than limited members. After becoming a premium members and setting my airport selections, every fare deal I receive includes routes from the airports our family would consider using. Premium members also receive notification on fare deals to Hawaii and Alaska, peak season flights and mistake fares.
Each deal alert includes an introduction, discounted routes, lowest fares available, time frame, airlines, baggage costs, normal costs, special notes, estimate on how long the deal will last and a link to a sample Google search. Scott’s Cheap Flights does not earn a referral fee on flights booked.
Scott Keyes is always searching for low airfare – Photo credit Scott’s Cheap Flights
Scott’s Cheap Flight Deals I Wanted to Book
Due to our kids’ school schedule, our family does not plan to travel internationally until this Summer or Winter, and we don’t have a location nailed down. Most of the flight deals I’ve received through Scott’s Cheap Flights have been for travel through May 2019, so we haven’t been able to take advantage of anything yet. Nonetheless, when I an appealing fare deal shows up in my inbox, I often click on the Google Flights link just to test some dates around my kids’ Spring break. Sometimes, I am not able to find flights as low as advertised, which could mean that they already sold out. Other times, I find deals that are so good that I’ve had to restrain myself from booking trips.
My absolute favorite deal was a $276 round trip flight from Cleveland to Rome on Delta basic economy that included a full size carry-on and was available over our kids’ Spring break. Even though we just spent five days in Rome last July, this deal seemed too good to pass up. Similar flights were well over $1,000 each when I was looking last summer. Rome was such an phenomenal city, and I was desperate to find someone who could take advantage of this amazing fare deal. I didn’t have any luck, but pulling up one of my Scott’s Cheap Flights emails has been a cool party trick on several occasions when discussing bargain airfare. One friend who was booking insanely expensive holiday travel between Memphis and Cleveland was actually annoyed to learn that the Cleveland-Rome flight was a fraction of the cost of her Memphis-Cleveland flights.
The Colosseum in Rome
Here are some other sample fare deals that made me want to book flights:
$396 flight from Cleveland to Beijing on Air Canada, Delta or United with no baggage fees
$314 flight from Cleveland to Honolulu on American with carry on
$372 mistake fare flight from Cleveland to Zagreb on American, British Airways or Croatia Airlines
Is Scott’s Cheap Flights Premium Membership Worth the $39 Annual Fee?
Definitely! Even though we have not booked a Scott’s Cheap flight yet, we hope to travel to Southeast Asia or South America this year. I am certain that we are going to find a flight to Bangkok, Buenos Aires or somewhere else amazing through one of Scott’s Cheap Flights’ alerts at a savings of significantly more than $39. Also, the alert messages make me happy knowing that it is possible to travel internationally without blowing the budget on flights. I may have thousands of unread emails in my inbox, but I open every message from Scott’s. I just wish Scott’s Cheap Flights included more domestic travel. I’m itching to travel to Seattle or Portland and can never find any fare deals on my own.
The Eiffel Tower was a major inspiration for our family’s European vacation this past summer. Seeing the Eiffel Tower has been #1 on our eight year old son’s bucket list ever since he saw the half scale replica in Las Vegas at age four. He wasn’t even sure why he was so enamored with Gustave Eiffel’s wrought iron lattice tower, but it was something he had to see. Whenever we discussed potential vacations, he made sure his desire to see the Eiffel Tower had not been forgotten. My husband and I consider a wide range of factors including air fares and our personal desire to visit a location when deciding on where to spend our family vacations, but our son’s unwavering insistence on the Eiffel Tower was persuasive. When we found that round trip airfare from Cleveland to Paris was about half the cost of flights to any other mainland Europe destination, it seemed that our visit to the Eiffel Tower with kids was destined.
Las Vegas’ Eiffel Tower
Why is the Eiffel Tower So Popular with Kids?
The Eiffel Tower is one of the world’s most famous landmarks. It was designed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution and also to be used as the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair. The Tower took less than two and a half years to construct and was the tallest building in the world until the Chrysler Building surpassed it in 1930. It was named for Gustave Eiffel, the engineer whose company designed and constructed it.
Favorite Viewpoints of the Eiffel Tower for Kids
We first spotted the Eiffel Tower as our plane was landing at Charles du Gaulle Airport. It was small but noticeable in Paris’ skyline. My eight year old was pretty excited. We arrived in the early evening, and after checking into our VRBO in Montorgeuil, we strolled to the Seine River, where he got his first close up view of the Eiffel Tower dominating the skyline. Even though the Tower was off in the distance, it was a magical moment.
Boy meets the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is visible from so many spots in Paris that we saw it multiple times each day during our two weekends in Paris. Each bridge across the Seine offers a slightly different perspective, and it was fun to find it in the skyline. On our second evening in Paris, we took a classic Seine River boat cruise with Vedettes du Pont Neuf and got to see the Eiffel Tower up close for the first time.
We could also see the Eiffel Tower from the Arc de Triomphe. While we didn’t climb to the top of the Arc, I’ve heard that those who do enjoy one of the best views of the Tower. Another favorite view of the Tower was from Sacre Coeur where we saw it lit up with sparkling lights at night. This light show occurs on the hour every hour between sundown and 1 a.m. and lasts for about five minutes. The entire Tower sparkles, and a spotlight shines from the top.
Booking Tickets to the Eiffel Tower With Kids
Many visitors to Paris are satisfied viewing the Eiffel Tower from one of the many stunning viewpoints. I had visited Paris twice previously but only not gone inside. Visitors who want to go into the Eiffel Tower need to book tickets well in advance during peak tourist season. There are many tours companies that include an Eiffel Tower visit, but we booked our tickets directly through the Tower’s official website. We secured our tickets three weeks in advance of our visit, which was necessary as elevator tickets to the Eiffel Tower summit were ultimately sold out for all five days we were in Paris. We settled for elevator tickets right before sunset to the second floor for our family of five (two adults and kids ages 10, 8 and 3) for a total of €40. We printed out our emailed tickets and waited patiently for the final night of our European vacation. Because there is no way to predict weather conditions so far in advance, we kept our fingers crossed for blue skies.
It is possible to purchase tickets to the second floor or summit via elevator or stairs at the Eiffel Tower itself, but lines are often quite lengthy. Our goal was to avoid lines at all cost during this trip, so we didn’t even consider “day of” tickets. However, friends of ours went a few weeks before us with their four kids and reported that the trip to the summit was worth the wait down below.
How Much Does it Cost to Visit the Eiffel Tower?
The adult rate to visit the Eiffel Tower ranges from €10,20 for stair access to the second floor to €25,50 with elevator access to the top. There are separate children’s rates for those age 12-24 (ranging from €5,10 to 12,70) and 4-11 (ranging from €2,50 to €6,40). All children under age 4 are free. Check up to date Eiffel Tower ticketing information.
Visiting the Eiffel Tower With Kids
On the last night of our European vacation, we took the Metro to Trocadero and arrived about 45 minutes before our timed elevator tickets. At the Gardens of the Trocedero, we were treated to our best view of the Eiffel Tower yet – complete with a rainbow created by the mist from the Fountain of Warsaw.
Due to construction in the area and limited pedestrian crossings, we had to take a roundabout path to get to the Eiffel Tower entrance, but we followed the crowds and arrived at the security check point about 15 minutes before our entry time. We cleared security a few minutes later and were directed to the elevator entrance and another short line. We checked out the view from underneath the Eiffel Tower on the way from one line to the next.
We were not permitted to enter the elevator line until 10 minutes before our 9:00 p.m. entry. A tour group accompanied us on the elevator, so we heard the guide’s commentary. I found this informative and interesting, but my husband would have preferred if tour groups were separated from other tourists.
Second Level of the Eiffel Tower
We exited on the second level, which consists of an upper and lower observation deck and were wowed by the views. Free bathrooms and a bar are located on the lower of the two observation decks. Jules Verne, a Michelin star restaurant is located on this level and accessible through private access from the south pillar. A meal at Jules Verne was not in the cards (or budget) on this visit, and the restaurant is now temporarily closed for renovations until Spring 2019.
Sunset was approximately 9:45 p.m. that night, so we watched as the sky turned from blue to yellow and orange.
We had hoped that there would be a way to secure tickets to the summit on the second floor but learned that was no longer possible. We fully explored the second level until after the 10 p.m. light show when the entire Tower illuminated with flashing gold lights, and a beam spun around from its top. We decided to walk from the second floor to the first floor for a different experience. The 341 stairs really weren’t bad, even with three kids and a stroller. The journey took no more than 10-15 minutes.
First Level of the Eiffel Tower
The first level includes a glass floor, a gift shop and several restaurants, including the 58 Tour Eiffel and The Buffet. We wandered around this floor as the sky turned black and then decided to head down. My husband and the boys chose to take the remaining 328 stairs down, while my daughter and I took the elevator. We thought that we would easily beat them down, but finding the elevator exit was more challenging than I expected. We found them waiting on the ground level in the center of the Tower when we exited the elevator. As we admired our last up close view of the Eiffel Tower, the 11 pm light show began, and we got to see the dazzling Tower from underneath before heading to the Metro.
Eiffel Tower Review
The Eiffel Tower was a highlight of our family’s visit to Paris. While it is possible to enjoy many breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower from all around Paris, going up into the Tower was an unforgettable experience. It’s essential to book early during peak season, even if though it means a chance of less than ideal weather. We were lucky that we had perfect weather conditions, but we all wish we would have booked early enough to secure tickets to the summit. It was a bummer for sure to miss out on that view, but on the bright side, we all have a reason to return to the City of Lights.
Our Eiffel Tower Review
A visit to the Eiffel Tower with kids really was a bucket list opportunity, not only for our eight year old but for our entire family. My daughter, who was three during our European vacation, regularly mentions that the Eiffel Tower was one of the highlights of our trip.
Planning a family trip to Paris? Check out our entire series of blog posts on visiting Paris, and don’t miss our guide to planning a trip to Paris.
Thank you to the Great Lakes Science Center for providing complimentary tickets for my family. All opinions are my own.
My boys’ favorite museum in Cleveland is the Great Lakes Science Center. On a recent day off school, I suggested a “field trip”, and they requested the Great Lakes Science Center without hesitation. My kids (ages 4, 8 and 10) especially enjoy the Science Center’s hands on exhibits and projects, the NASA Glenn Visitor’s Center, the Dome theater, the special demonstrations and the rotating special exhibits. My parents decided to join us, and I was grateful for the extra hands and the luxurious 1:1 adult-to-child ratio, especially in a museum where each kid constantly wants to explore something in a different direction. The Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland offers so many opportunities for fun STEM learning, and we can’t wait for our next visit.
Visiting the Great Lakes Science Center With Kids
The Great Lakes Science Center is located next to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Lake Erie’s North Coast Harbor. The Science Center is typically open from 10 a.m. to 5. p.m. every day during the summer and Tuesdays through Sundays during the winter. Note that due to its proximity to FirstEnergy Stadium and the large number of tailgating revelers in the area, the Great Lakes Science Center is closed on the Browns’ regular season home game dates. (I presume if the Browns had a home play off game that the Science Center would close as well, but my dad’s research indicates that the Browns have not had a home post-season game since the current stadium was completed in 1999. His fingers remained crossed that a home playoff game inconveniences the Science Center sooner rather than later).
Great Lakes Science Center Parking
Parking at the Great Lakes Science Center is conveniently available in the 500-car attached garage, and visitors receive a reduced $8 rate with validation. I paid for parking at the Box Office and avoided looking for a pay station or fumbling with my credit card when exiting. Visitors entering through the parking garage arrive on level 0. There are also meters in front of the Science Center, but the two-hour limit really does not provide enough time to fully explore.
Great Lakes Science Center Box Office
The Box Office is located on the first level, and we immediately noticed that renovations since our last visit in the Spring included the removal of the enormous escalator that previously dominated the main lobby and addition of a much smaller staircase. My mom, who struggles with stairs, took the elevator, while the rest of us raced up the new stairs to check out the view out of the enormous window. The Great Lakes Science Center is a member of the ASTC passport program, so members of most reciprocal ASTC museums receive free admission.
The Rotating Special Exhibit
After we collected our tickets, we headed back down to Reinburger Hall on Level 0 to check out the current special exhibit, Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body. Grossology explored the science behind phenomena that kids find fascinating, like flatulence, boogers, burps and stinky feet. My kids all had permanent grins as they literally ran from exhibit to exhibit. Considering this exhibit focused on typically “inappropriate” topics, they felt that they were getting away with something while exploring.
My daughter was particularly enamored with the GI slide, a 30-foot long 3-D model of the digestive system. She got to slide down the esophagus into the stomach and then climb through the small and large intestines.
The 12-foot skin climbing wall was another highlight. This fiberglass replica of human skin included skin blemishes like pimples, warts, hair and moles. I’m not sure how much my four year old “learned” about dermatology making her way from one end of the climbing wall to the other, but she was definitely thrilled to reach the end.
My kids have also enjoyed previous special exhibits featured in this space, including AllAboard! The Science of Trains and Build It. All Aboard focused on the science and engineering of rail transportation and included a ride-on train for kids of all ages, and Built It! offered visitors many opportunities to build with LEGO and check out amazing LEGO art reproductions.
Space Exploration and the NASA Glenn Visitor Center
Next, we headed up to the NASA Glenn Visitor Center on Level 1. The Visitor Center prominently features Ohio astronauts, including, of course, John Glenn. My boys both dressed up as astronauts for Halloween during preschool and are interested in the planets and constellations. We love the National Air and Space Museum and Cleveland’s Shafran Planetarium, so it’s no surprise that the space-themed galleries are a huge hit with my kids. The 1973 Skylab 3 Apollo Command Module dominates one room of the exhibit. It traveled almost 40 million miles in space, and its move from the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field in 2010 took over a year to plan.
Cleveland Creates Zone With Kids
In the Cleveland Creates Zone, kids use design and engineering skills to create rockets and parachutes. Each area includes all the materials needed to create and test designs. My kids enjoy the Creates Zone every time we visit the Great Lakes Science Center and could create and then test and tinker with rockets and parachutes for hours. The projects were a bit advanced for my four year old, so we worked together, and I found that making a cone for our rocket was not something that came naturally to me. I had to ask my boys for help, and the results were not overly successful, but my daughter insisted that we bring her rocket home anyway because she loves mementos.
My boys enjoyed watching a special physics program in the Cleveland Creates Zone. The program focused on force and motion. My 10 year old was chosen to be a special volunteer for the program and test a catapult on stage.
Polymer Funhouse
The Polymer Funhouse is an exhibit designed for children under age 8. Because I had my parents as extra chaperones, I was able to take my daughter to the Funhouse while the boys watched the physics demonstration with their grandparents. There were many exhibits for younger visitors, but my four year old spent most of her time in the ball pit waiting for balls to drop on her head. She’s not quite ready for molecular biology, but she definitely has a concrete understanding of how fun it is to play with a heap of colored plastic balls.
Eating at the Great Lakes Science Center
We ate lunch at Spark Kitchen on Level 0 due to its convenience and the frigid temperatures outside. We ordered a large 18 inch pizza and a some hot dogs for our crew. The pizza took about 15 minutes to bake, but my parents were ready for a break and sat with our buzzer in the Kitchen while I took the kids back to the interactive exhibits and felt like a yo-yo as I bounced from one kid to the next, trying to keep an eye on each of them. There must be some connection between STEM learning and appetite because the kids seemed famished as they gobbled their meals.
The Cleveland Clinic DOME Theater
After lunch, we headed to the 1 p.m. showing of Natural Parks Adventure at the Cleveland Clinic Dome Theater. This six-story theater takes “going to the movies” to the next level with its giant dome three-projector, laser-illuminated projection system (the world’s first!). My boys excitedly climbed to the seats near the top of the theater. My daughter, who had a stimulating day and was due for a nap, was a bit scared of the height but also did not want to sit lower in the theater and clung to me until she fell asleep in my arms. It was a rare treat that I fully enjoyed, and the rest also gave her the energy she needed for a bit more exploring before we headed home.
National Parks Adventure was my favorite part of our visit to the Great Lakes Science Center. The film included footage of many of my favorite National Parks, including Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon. Watching the film in the Dome Theater made me feel like I was actually there with the cast or at least made me realize how much I would like to be visiting the National Parks right along side the cast. It was also certainly nice to rest my feet for a bit and enjoy some unexpected snuggle time with my youngest.
The Science Phenomena Exhibits
My kids enjoy the hands on Science Phenomena exhibits on Level 2 each time they visit the Great Lakes Science Center. Perennial favorites include the pitching cage where kids can see how fast they can throw a ball and the shadow room, which uses phosphorescent paper and a strobe light to produce shadows that last 30 to 60 seconds.
My daughter could attempt to make giant bubbles for hours, but the temptation to watch the bubble pop never ends.
The Science Center also takes spirograph to the next level with paper on a moving platform.
Why We Love the Great Lakes Science Center With Kids
Our trip to the Great Lakes Science Center was inspired by my sons’ request to visit on their school holiday. My kids love all the hands-on opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering and math. Looking for more fun family activities in Cleveland with kids? Check out our favorite Northeast Ohio activities.
Our family had a lovely journey on the Thello night train from Paris to Venice. My husband and I had each taken overnight trains as young backpackers in our 20s, and we were hesitant at first to travel on an overnight train as a family with kids ages 4, 8 and 10. But, we considered this travel option when researching how to get from Paris to Venice. We discovered a number of complications with the budget flights from Paris to Venice. Arriving in Venice at night is challenging because Airbnb hosts charge hefty late check in fees, and late arrivals also require an expensive water taxi ride into Venice. At €35 per person for a couchette with bedding, the cost of Thello tickets was a particularly affordable option, and the sleeper cabin looked much better than any I had taken during my backpacking days. The Thello night train also allowed us to travel from the city center of Paris to the city center of Venice without losing much valuable sightseeing time. The Thello sleeper train turned out to be a fun and convenient way to travel from Paris to Venice with kids.
A Trip on the Thello Night Train
Thello Train Booking
We booked our Thello tickets directly through Thello’s website. We printed our confirmation and brought it with us. We chose the smart fare, which is non-refundable and available as low as €29 per person.
Thello Train’s Gare de Lyon Departure
In order to prepare for our Thello night train’s departure at 7:10 p.m. from Paris’ Gare de Lyon, we condensed our family’s luggage into our large suitcase and one backpack before checking out of our Airbnb. We knew that it would be totally impractical to lug around our suitcase and backpack as we explored the Champs-Élysées, the Place de la Concorde and the Musée de l’Orangerie and knew luggage storage was essential. We did some research about area luggage storage and decided that it made the most sense to store our luggage at Gare de Lyon rather than near our Airbnb and have to return to the area before continuing on to the train station. We took the Metro to Gare de Lyon, and I waited with the kids inside the Metro station while my husband exited into the train station with the suitcase and backpack to the luggage storage facility we found online. After he safely stored the bags in a locker, he used another billet to get back into the station to meet us and continue on to the Arc de Triomphe.
We had an unforgettable, luggage-free day of sightseeing that included McDonald’s ice cream and Monet’s Waterlilies galleries, the two best rooms of art my sons have ever seen and not a roller suitcase. We returned to Gare de Lyon about an hour before our departure, picked up our luggage, purchased dinner and waited in the beautiful, bustling station, which was built for the 1900 World’s Fair.
We boarded our train upon its arrival on the platform. Even though my three year old did not have to pay to ride the train if she used existing seats, we did not think that we could comfortably have two people share a couchette in one of the four person sleeper cabin. So, we chose to book all the couchettes in a six person sleeper cabin at €35 per seat to make sure that no other passengers were placed with our family of five. The overnight train cost us a total of €210, which was roughly the same as our average accommodation cost! Similar smart fares are available for this route starting at €29 for adults and €20.30 for children ages 4-14. Considering the low cost, it was not surprising that our cabin was located in pretty far down the platform in coach 86, but we didn’t mind the walk.
Thello Night Train Ride With Kids
When we reached coach 86, we located our sleeper cabin and were pleasantly surprised to find that it very closely resembled the pictures we had seen online. We specifically chose a cabin in the middle of coach 86 so that we would not be right next to the bathroom and really were not disturbed by other passengers at anytime in the journey. There were three seats on each side, and the highest bunks were set up with six sets of bedding. There was luggage storage available over the door and under the seats and six water bottles in specifically designed holders in the wall. Had we known that water bottles were provided, we would not have stocked up on beverages in the train station.
We were pretty sure that our kids would enjoy the overnight train as a fun family sleepover experience, and they definitely did. The three level bunk beds were a particular hit, and the Thello couchettes were more comfortable than we expected. As the train journey got underway, we ate our dinner and had a relaxed evening in our sleeper cabin. We enjoyed watching the French countryside that we passed by until the last bit of sunlight bid farewell for the day. Our boys chose the top bunks, and our daughter quickly mastered climbing the ladder up and down to “visit”. We explored a bit but mostly stayed in our seats.
When the conductor came by to check our tickets, she also took our passports. Many train passengers worry about this, but we knew from our previous night trains it was common practice to expedite passport control when crossing borders. There was no WiFi, so we read about Venice in our guidebook and all slept for at least nine hours of the journey. We were able to keep all our luggage with us and lock our compartment from the inside. We felt very safe traveling with kids. Although we would have enjoyed seeing the Swiss countryside, it was dark for our entire journey through Switzerland. Our kids will have to wait for another trip to be dazzled by the Alps.
We somehow managed to sleep right through the alarm I set and woke up when the conductor knocked to return our passports as promised after Milan. It was not long before our scheduled 9:35 a.m. arrival in Venice, and we were a bit frantic to get packed up until we discovered that the train was running late. Breakfast bags with pastries and more water bottles were delivered as an unexpected surprise before our arrival in Venice at about 11:00 a.m.
Our Thello Night Train Review
Taking the Paris to Venice train was a fun and convenient way to travel, and we saved at least $800 by avoiding flights, travel to and from airports in Paris and Venice and late Airbnb check in fees. One main negative was that we did not have a private bath or the ability to shower. Two and three person premium sleeper cabins with private bathrooms are available on Thello night trains, but my husband and I were uncomfortable splitting our family into two rooms. The only other negative was that the train arrived in Venice about 90 minutes late, which meant we were late for our scheduled Airbnb check in, but that luckily worked out seamlessly. While we flew from Rome to Paris at the end of our time in Italy, it took seven and a half hours door to door, which meant that we lost almost an entire day of sightseeing en route. We will definitely consider a night train as a travel option in the future and would recommend considering the Thello night train with kids.
Find Out More About Visiting Paris or Venice With Kids
Considering a family trip to Paris or Venice? Check out our posts on planning visits to Paris with kids and Venice with kids.
A visit to Venice was an essential part of our family’s itinerary for our summer vacation in France and Italy. My husband and I had each visited Italy previously, but neither of us had been to Venice and were intrigued by the City of Canals. Even though it was hot and crowded at times during our mid-July visit, Venice lived up to our expectations and more. Our gondola ride was definitely the highlight, but St. Mark’s Basilica, the Rialto Bridge, Doge’s Palace, shopping and exploring the narrow pedestrian streets were all unforgettable. Visiting a pedestrian-only city requires some special planning considerations, but there are so many things to do in Venice with kids.
Chasing Pigeons in St. Mark’s Square
Planning a Family Trip to Venice
Traveling to and from Venice, Italy With Kids
We booked our trip to Europe a mere 5 1/2 weeks before our departure due to scheduling issues. We had discovered while booking flights that flying from Cleveland to any major Italian city cost between 2-3 times the total of our round trip flight on WOW air to Paris. However, because there were plenty of budget flight options from Paris to Italy, we booked round trip flights to Paris and planned to spend 10 days in Italy in the middle of our trip.
After securing our flights to Paris, we wanted to finalize our transportation to Italy. Before we booked our planned evening flight from Paris to Venice, we discovered that arriving into the Venice Airport at night is particularly challenging with local transport limited to expensive water taxis. Most Airbnb hosts meet their guests upon arrival and require hefty late check in fees, and we wondered if we would be able to check in if our flight was delayed. On a whim, we looked into overnight train options. Almost immediately, we found Thello’s night train from Paris to Venice that fit our needs perfectly. The train was scheduled to leave Paris at 7:10 p.m. and arrive in Venice at 9:35 a.m., so we would lose very little sight-seeing time in transit and avoid travel time to and from airports. At €35 per person for a couchette with bedding, it was a particularly affordable option, and the sleeper cars looked much better than any I had taken during my backpacking days.
Even though my three year old did not have to pay to ride the train if she used existing seats/couchettes, we did not think that we could comfortably have two people share a couchette in one of the four person sleeper cars. So, we chose to book all the couchettes in a six person sleeper car to make sure that no other passengers were placed with our family. The overnight train cost us a total of €210, which was roughly the same as our average accommodation cost! I figured that we also saved at least $800 by avoiding flights, travel to and from the airports in Paris and late Airbnb check in fees.
We were pretty sure that our kids would enjoy the overnight train as a fun family sleepover experience, and they definitely did. The three level bunk beds were a particular hit. We bought dinner in Gare de Lyon before our departure and had a relaxed evening in our sleeper car. Our boys chose the top bunks, and our daughter quickly mastered climbing the ladder up and down. We all slept for about nine hours of the journey. The main negatives were that we couldn’t shower and the train arrived in Venice about an hour and a half late, which meant we were late for our scheduled Airbnb check in. Otherwise, taking an overnight train from Paris to Venice was a fun and convenient way to travel. While we flew from Rome to Paris at the end of our time in Italy, it took seven and a half hours door to door, which meant that we lost almost an entire day of sightseeing en route. We’ll definitely consider a night train in the future.
We departed Venice by taking a Trenitalia train from Venice to Bologna. We planned to rent a car to explore Northern Italy, but found renting a car from Venice challenging because the island is pedestrian only. It seemed easier to take a train to Bologna rather than travel to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport to pick up our car.
Accommodations in Venice
Although we booked our 2 days in Venice only a few weeks in advance, we found an amazing Airbnb in Venice. We stayed at La corte di San Marco, an Airbnb close to Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Rialto Bridge. This authentic, air-conditioned Venetian apartment was updated and had two bathrooms and a washing machine. The host, Jenny, was extremely responsive and had lots of tourist information available in her clutter-free apartment.
The master suite featured its own attached bathroom with a unique arched doorway.
The kids slept on a pull out couch and single bed located in the apartment’s large living area. This room featured exposed ceiling beams, a kitchenette and dining table. We did not eat any meals in the apartment, but it was well-equipped with all the necessities and even offered children’s silverware.
The apartment also had an adorable enclosed outdoor patio connected to the master bedroom, the main living space and the laundry room.
Jenny asked that we place a barrier in the door frame of the apartment’s front door every time we left the apartment due to possible flood waters. With the recent severe flooding in Venice, the danger is clear, and we hope that La corte di San Marco did not sustain any damage. We would definitely recommend La corte di San Marco for families visiting Venice and would not hesitate to book this Airbnb again ourselves.
Local Transportation in Venice
We found most of Venice very walkable but did need public transportation to get to our Airbnb. With no roads in Venice, buses or taxis are not an option. The public transit system consists of water buses, which are known as vaprettos. One way tickets for riders over age six cost €7 each, which is substantially higher than typical public transportation costs in other metropolitan areas. We are experienced mass transit riders, but found the vapretto system somewhat confusing. After purchasing tickets from the kiosk, riders need to validate at the electronic ticket reader before boarding. Typically, no one checks tickets on the vapretto itself, but a rider without a validated ticket could be subject to a hefty fine.
Lines 1 and 2 follow the Grand Canal, and Line 1 makes 14 stops between Santa Lucia Railway Station and St. Mark’s Square while Line 2 is the express option that makes only 5 stops. Lines 4 and 5 circumnavigate the main island. Upon arrival, we purchased tickets and were directed to Line 4 because it is the shortest journey from Santa Lucia Railway Station and St. Mark’s. However, we had to wait quite some time for a Line 4 vapretto to arrive and didn’t have the most scenic route. On the way back to the train station, we chose to take the slightly longer but much more aesthetically enjoyable route on Line 1 through the Grand Canal, which we definitely recommend.
Packing For a Trip to Venice
Our entire trip to Europe was 17 days and 17 nights. Because we were primarily staying at homestay apartments with washing machines, we packed approximately five to six full outfits for each person. It was definitely more than we really needed, but I always worry about washing machines not working and want to avoid visiting a laundromat on vacation at all costs. Wow air charges for each carry on larger than a personal item (e.g. backpack) and each checked bag, which cannot weigh over 44 pounds without incurring overweight fees. So, we chose to check one bag and also bring two backpacks with us and also carried an extra bag inside our checked suitcase, knowing that we would likely be returning with more than we brought with us.
With a three year old who would need to nap on the go, a stroller was a necessity. While we did need to carry our small umbrella stroller up and down stairs at times, especially over Venice’s many bridges, we found that much easier than carrying our daughter, especially when she was sleeping. She typically hopped out whenever we reached stairs to make the stroller easier to manage, and my ten year old was an expert in helping when she was sleeping. We do look forward to being stroller-free soon but will miss the built-in storage and bottle holders.
I’ve never tried packing cubes, mostly because I don’t want one more thing to store and search for before a trip, but I have been intrigued by the organization of separate packing. It’s amazing how challenging it can be to choose outfits from a large suitcase. As an experiment, I rolled and packed each person’s clothes in zip lock bags and had separate bags with our pajamas and first day clothes packed into one of the backpacks. This helped with the organization of the large suitcase and provided a back up in case our suitcase was delayed at the beginning of the trip.
My packing was efficient, but it was far from perfect. I forgot a few easy to purchase items like soap and shampoo and found that our converter was not compatible with my flat iron. I had read that cathedrals and churches in Italy require visitors have covered knees and shoulders, so we also each brought a few pairs of pants, and I decided not to bring any sleeveless dresses. The rules may have been relaxed because of the July heat, but the covered knees rule was not enforced at any church we visited. We probably visited two dozen churches and cathedrals, and covered shoulders were required only at the Sistine Chapel, Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin. At Saint Mark’s, coverings were available for a small fee at the entrance to the church. Shorts and sundresses were appropriate outfits for the unseasonably warm weather we experienced, and I wish I brought more sundresses and a scarf and left all the pants for me and the boys at home. And, next time, we’re definitely going with a maximum of four to five outfits each.
Eating in Venice With Kids
A major benefit of using our feet as the main mode of transportation in Venice was that we could enjoy amazing Italian meals guilt free. We typically sat down for lunch and dinner. Even during peak tourist season, we never had to wait more than five minutes for a table. Hosts or hostesses often stand outside to encourage anyone passing by to take a look. A few times, we were put off by a hard sell and moved on. We noticed that chicken was not really available at any of the restaurants we visited in Venice, but we all tried a variety of dishes. My older son was particularly adventurous, and my younger son developed a love of margarita pizza. I enjoyed amazing daily seafood dishes, including of seafood risotto and salmon pasta. At dinner, my husband and I regularly shared house wine and were never disappointed. We found that restaurants did not provide tap water, so we always had to purchase a large bottle or two with every meal.
We had some fabulous meals during our two days in Venice and visited one restaurant that we would not recommend.
Trattoria da Nino. Following our arrival in Venice and some relaxation in our Airbnb, we headed out for our first Italian meal. We settled on Trattoria da Nino and sat on the outside patio. My husband ordered squid ink pasta, a Venetian specialty, and we had a lovely time watching people pass by on the narrow pedestrian street.
Squid ink pasta
Ristorante AgliArtisti. On the first night, we headed out to find a restaurant showing the France-Belgium Semi-Final FIFA World Cup match. We stumbled upon Ristorante Agli Artisti, which had an available table with a perfectly situated television. Service was impeccable, and the food was wonderful. The eclectic decor included exposed wood beams, grape vines and grapes and other interesting objects affixed to the walls and ceilings, and I especially liked the Murano glass water tumblers. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and celebrated France’s win.
As soon as we paid the bill, my husband asked to reserve the same table for 8 pm the following night for the England-Croatia Semi-Final FIFA World Cup Match. A family from New Zealand with a father who also grew up in England reserved the table next to ours for the same reason the following afternoon. Their three young daughters were not at all interested in the game but excitedly invited our daughter to join them in watching Netflix on their iPad as soon as we finished eating. World Cup soccer might not be a can’t miss activity on everyone’s European vacation, but my husband and sons are soccer fanatics, and that England-Croatia match was England’s first time in the World Cup Semi-Finals since 1990. Unfortunately, the ending was a devastating loss.
Watching the England-Croatia FIFA World Cup semi-final match
Rio Venice di Chen Weili. On our final afternoon in Venice, we ate lunch at Rio Venice di Chen Weili, which was unfortunately our least favorite meal in Italy. Service was slow, the food was mediocre and we were charged a much higher service fee than anywhere else in Italy. Had we had data to check reviews before we entered, we would have avoided this restaurant. Note that we had been warned that many menus (including Rio Venice’s) feature seafood platters priced per 100 grams, which some tourists believe to be a fantastic bargain and order. The surprise comes at the end when they discover they are charged 10 times the advertised price for a 1000 gram meal.
We did not prepare any meals in our Airbnb apartments but occasionally warmed up leftovers for breakfast. We made sure to have a daily afternoon dose of tasty gelato. The most creative presentation were creative flower-shaped cones. Check out this guide to the best gelato in Venice.
Shopping With Kids in Venice
We generally enjoy peeking into local souvenir shops while traveling but particularly enjoyed checking out all the gorgeous Murano glass in Venice, and our next visit to the city will definitely include a trip to the Murano, a Venetian island. Ever since I purchased a stone turtle on Bavaro Beach in Punta Cana, I’ve looked for the most unique and traditional decorative turtles during our travels. We probably visited every glass shop, looking for the perfect turtle, and of course, ultimately settled on the first one we saw.
One shopkeeper gave us a mini-lesson on how Murano glass is made. My daughter loved the glass and carefully looked at all the pieces while keeping her hands glued to her sides. She chose one of the Christmas trees on her left from this shop.
While the island typography clearly made transportation of goods more challenging in Venice, prices for shoes, clothes and souvenirs were not dramatically inflated. I even found a pair of Geox sandals significantly reduced from what I would have paid in the US.
Restrooms in Venice With Kids
Restrooms are not as widely available in European cities as they are in the US. Free restrooms for customers are often available in restaurants, hotels and museums, but public restrooms typically require a fee. My three year old and I visited a public WC in Venice. The €1.50 fee was only charged for me, continuing the glorious European trend that kids under six are never charged for admission. The restroom fee may be an unnatural phenomenon, but the facilities were clean.
Cell Service in Venice
We researched relatively inexpensive options to add voice/data to our Verizon mobiles while in Italy but used only WiFi service in Venice. WiFi was available at all of the Venetian restaurants we visited, and we were able to mostly unplug during the day and use WiFi in the evenings.
Currency in Venice
We definitely needed to use euros at times in Italy, so it was essential to get some local currency. We traveled with about €200 in cash and then withdrew money twice from ATMs during the trip.
Language Barrier in Venice
Most people in the Italian tourist industry speak English, and almost all menus were translated into English as well. My husband and I both learned some key Italian words and phrases, which were helpful in exchanging pleasantries but were rarely necessary. The only time we truly experienced a language barrier was at lunch outside of Modena where no one spoke English. We thought we ordered three fixed price, three-course meals but wondered when the large portions of delicious food were brought to our table if we misunderstood the pricing scheme. It turned out to be an amazing and unbelievably inexpensive meal.
Pickpocketing Warning in Venice
We had read many reports of pick pockets active in Italy and were extremely cautious. I carried a Travelon anti-theft messenger bag (review), and diligently kept the clasps locked. Our valuables were all safe during our visit to Venice, and we did not have any run ins with likely pickpocketers as we did in the Rome train station. But, with three kids, I’m often distracted and felt much more secure with my belongings secured inside of anti-theft bag.
Planning Our Italy Itinerary for Venice With Kids
To help get our kids involved with planning our five nights in Italy, I borrowed some children’s books on Venice from our local library, including 13 Architects Children Should Know, which featured Venice’s Andrea Palladio’s Church of the Most Holy Redeemer.
Church of the Most Holy Redeemer
We prebooked our visits to St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, but made errors in each. We scheduled the 4:30 pm entry into St. Mark’s Basilica without realizing that the Basilica closed at 5:00, making our visit very rushed. And, we mistakenly made reservations for a special exhibit at the Doge’s Palace opening in September instead of general admission entry. These mistakes were unfortunate, but luckily our only booking missteps.
Best Itinerary for Venice With Kids
We spent two days in Venice at the beginning of 10 days in Italy and planned to take a slower pace, sit and enjoy meals, watch World Cup games and really explore each city. We really didn’t acclimate to waking up early, and it was always late before we got into bed. Even though we weren’t in full tourist mode, we saw many of Venice’s top sights during our 48 hour visit. We didn’t have time to visit Venice’s other islands, including Burano or Torcello or the Lido beaches, but next time we hope to explore beyond the main island.
Here is our basic daily itinerary:
Day One – Venice
Train arrives in Venice at 11 a.m.
Take vapretto to Airbnb
Explore Venice streets
Saint Mark’s Square
Rialto Bridge
Gondola ride
World Cup Game
Day Two – Venice
Doge’s Palace/Bridge of Sighs
Explore Venice streets
Return to Saint Mark’s Square and Rialto Bridge
Visit Saint Mark’s Basilica
World Cup Game
Day Three – Depart Venice
Vapretto ride up Grand Canal to train station
Train to Bologna
Venice For Kids
We highly recommend a trip to Venice for kids. Make sure to check out our listing of blog posts on visiting Italy, including posts about Florence and Rome.
It doesn’t help that the Louvre’s largest painting, Paolo Veronese’s 
Even though I saw Mona Lisa 21 years ago, it was simultaneously exhilarating and slightly underwhelming to visit her on this trip. Nevertheless, Mona Lisa was the most memorable part of our Louvre visit for our kids. They remember the crowd, her auspicious smile and The Wedding Feast at Cana on the opposite wall. My son is convinced she’s planning something evil.
The Eiffel Tower is visible from so many spots in Paris that we saw it multiple times each day during our two weekends in Paris. Each bridge across the Seine offers a slightly different perspective, and it was fun to find it in the skyline. On our second evening in Paris, we took a classic Seine River boat cruise with 
Lines 1 and 2 follow the Grand Canal, and Line 1 makes 14 stops between Santa Lucia Railway Station and St. Mark’s Square while Line 2 is the express option that makes only 5 stops. Lines 4 and 5 circumnavigate the main island. Upon arrival, we purchased tickets and were directed to Line 4 because it is the shortest journey from Santa Lucia Railway Station and St. Mark’s. However, we had to wait quite some time for a Line 4 vapretto to arrive and didn’t have the most scenic route. On the way back to the train station, we chose to take the slightly longer but much more aesthetically enjoyable route on Line 1 through the Grand Canal, which we definitely recommend.
