Family Venice holidays

The best way to see this city is, of course, by boat, and we can arrange a child-friendly sightseeing tour on a luxurious Venetian speedboat to explore Venice and the surrounding islands. See the highlights of the city from the boat, including the Doge's Palace on St Mark's Square, the Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge, without having to wade through the crowds on land. Our guides are all experts at keeping the children engaged, so even the most unruly of youngsters should be kept entertained. On a boat tour you can also visit the colourful islands of Murano and Burano, the former being the glass blowing capital of Italy, where you can learn about glass making and try making your own glass masterpiece.

If simply sitting in the back of a boat won't cut it, we can also arrange masterclasses where you can all learn to row like a gondolier. Don't worry, this is done in a much more stable gondola than the usual black Venetian ones to minimise the risk of anyone falling in.

For land-based activities, we'd recommend a tour of the Doge's Palace with a guide who can bring the city's extraordinary history vividly to life for children, and we can also arrange everything from scavenger hunts to art-based tours for any budding Bellinis in the family.

Then of course there's the food. Venice is known for cicchetti, which are bite-sized snacks or small plates - ideal for child-sized tummies. For a culinary extravaganza, enjoy a cooking course with an experienced local chef or head on a food tour of the city. Both offer fantastic opportunities to get your children to show an interest in local food. And even if your children are part of the fussy eating brigade, there's plenty of delicious pasta, pizza and ice cream to enjoy - this is Italy after all.

To escape the crowds and heat of the city in the summer, head to the nearby Lido, a seven-mile sandbank in the Adriatic Sea which is often frequented by locals wanting a beach break and the perfect addition to time in Venice if you're wanting a city and beach combo. You could also combine time in Venice with a touch of adventure in the Dolomites or the Italian Lakes for the perfect culture, adventure and relaxation combo on your Italian family holiday.