Ten days from Milan to Venice via Lake Garda: Milan's science museum and Sforza Castle, Leolandia and a drive-through safari park, Gardaland and Canevaworld on the lake, and the Doge's Palace to finish. Several parks price children by height, so measure them in shoes before you go.
Northern Italy gives families two holidays in one. There are cities full of history that children can actually enjoy, and around Lake Garda there are some of Italy’s biggest theme parks and water parks. Many parks here price children by height rather than age, so a small child can go free well past their third birthday. This guide sets out a 10-day route from Milan to Venice via Lake Garda, with the theme parks, museums and practical rules that matter with children.
Every attraction here has its own page on JuniorTravelClub with details from its official website. Distances are straight-line figures worked out from each place’s coordinates. Roads are longer, so check each driving day.
The route at a glance
- Start: Milan
- Middle: Lake Garda, near Verona
- Finish: Venice
- Length: 10 days
- Works for: all ages. Leolandia and Gardaland’s fantasy areas suit small children, and Movieland suits older ones.
Before you go
Height, not age
Several parks on this route set prices by height:
- Leolandia: children up to 89 cm, measured with shoes on, enter free.
- Canevaworld: children under 100 cm go free at both Movieland Park and Caneva Aquapark, and children from 100 to 140 cm pay a reduced price.
Measure your children in shoes before you go. Museums use age instead: at the Doge’s Palace, children aged 0 to 5 get in free, and at Sforza Castle everyone aged 0 to 17 is free with a free ticket.
Rain rules
Gardaland doesn’t refund tickets for rain or power failures. Canevaworld’s tickets are open-dated for the season, so you can pick a sunny day. Pombia Safari Park reserves the right to close in bad weather.
Milan: days 1–3
Day 1: The science museum
Milan’s Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia “Leonardo da Vinci” is spread across several buildings, with a submarine to tour and PLAYLAB, a play-based learning space for preschoolers. The hands-on lab activities are included in the ticket, and free pushchairs and baby carriers are waiting at the entrance. It is closed on working Mondays. Take the M2 or M4 to S. Ambrogio.
Day 2: Sforza Castle and Leolandia
In the morning, visit Sforza Castle, founded in 1360. The courtyards are free to enter every day, and ages 0 to 17 enter the museums free with a free ticket. Ask for the special children’s map, with facts and activities for exploring the castle. The museums are closed on Mondays.
Alternatively, spend the whole day at Leolandia, about 30 km east of central Milan in a straight line. One ticket covers rides, shows and character meet-and-greets, plus an aquarium, a reptile house, a farm and Minitalia. Children up to 89 cm enter free, and you can leave and come back as often as you like.
Day 3: Pombia Safari Park (optional)
At Pombia Safari Park, about 50 km west of Milan in a straight line, children see the animals from the back seat on a safari route you drive in your own car. Then you continue on foot to the lemur oasis, the aquarium, the reptile house and the rides. One ride is included in the standard ticket, and children under 3 go free. The last car entry is at 3pm.
Lake Garda: days 4–7
Lake Garda is about 120 km east of Milan in a straight line. Base yourselves on the south-eastern shore for four nights.
Days 4–5: Gardaland
Gardaland has rides for every age. Next to the adrenaline rides, its fantasy areas for younger children include Peppa Pig Land, Fantasy Kingdom, Prezzemolo Land and Doremifarm. Your ticket covers the rides and shows as often as you like, though the odd attraction may be closed for maintenance. The restaurants sell a KID’S BOX children’s menu, and standard parking is free.
Day 6: Canevaworld
Canevaworld has two parks: the Hollywood-themed Movieland Park and Caneva Aquapark. A combined ticket lets you move between them, and a hand stamp at the gate lets you step out and come back. There are picnic areas and baby changing tables. A free shuttle bus runs from Peschiera del Garda station and the main Lake Garda campsites, so you don’t need the car.
Day 7: Verona or a lake day
Keep a day free for the lake itself, or for Verona, about 20 km east of Gardaland in a straight line. After two big park days, a beach and an ice cream will feel like a holiday.
Venice: days 8–10
Venice is about 130 km east of Lake Garda in a straight line. Drop the car before you get there and arrive by train.
The Doge’s Palace
The Doge’s Palace on St Mark’s Square was the palace of the Republic of Venice. One ticket also opens the Museo Correr, the National Archaeological Museum and the Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana. Children aged 0 to 5 get in free, and children aged 6 to 14 pay the reduced rate. With the Seniors + Junior offer, every paying member of a group of two adults and at least one child up to 16 also pays the reduced rate. The audioguide comes with the MUVE app. There is a Baby Pit-stop area for nursing, nappy changing and rest, and a Museum Café inside.
Spend the rest of your time in Venice slowly: walk the small streets, find the squares where children can run, and let them choose the gelato.
An alternative: start in Genoa
If you’re arriving from the Riviera, the Aquarium of Genoa is about 120 km south of Milan in a straight line. You must book a date and time slot, and you can stroke the rays at the touch tank by following the instructions beside it. The baby corner has six toilets with changing tables. It’s open 365 days a year, but once you leave, you can’t re-enter on the same ticket.
Good to know with kids
Measure everyone in shoes
Leolandia measures children with their shoes on, and price bands at Canevaworld depend on height. A few centimetres can decide whether a child is free.
Mondays
Milan’s science museum is closed on working Mondays, and Sforza Castle’s museums are closed every Monday. Plan Mondays for a theme park or a travel day.
Prams
The science museum lends free pushchairs and baby carriers, and Leolandia rents strollers by the day or afternoon.
Food
Gardaland sells a children’s menu, Canevaworld has picnic areas, and Leolandia has gluten-free options at Caffè Minitalia.
Families with a disability
Leolandia gives free tickets at the ticket office for children with disability certification. The Doge’s Palace admits visitors with a disability and their companion free. Caneva Aquapark rides are not wheelchair accessible, but both Canevaworld parks have accessible toilets.
Plan and book
Compare car hire for the trip: car hire in Italy on AutoEurope. Search for Gardaland tickets on Tiqets and compare with the park’s own shop. Mobile data: Italy eSIM on Airalo.
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Tickets & tours for these places
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Where to stay with kids in Lake Garda
Peschiera del Garda is a practical base for the Lake Garda parks: Gardaland is about 2 km from Peschiera del Garda railway station and is linked to it by a free shuttle bus every 30 minutes, and Canevaworld also runs a free shuttle from the station. Verona is about 22 km from Gardaland in a straight line.
Final thoughts
Measure the children in shoes, plan Mondays around the museum closures, keep Canevaworld's open-dated ticket for an uncertain day, and leave the car before Venice. Each attraction's page has the current details.
Frequently asked questions
Which Lake Garda theme park is best for young children?
Gardaland has fantasy areas for younger children, including Peppa Pig Land, Fantasy Kingdom, Prezzemolo Land and Doremifarm. At Canevaworld, children under 100 cm go free at both Movieland and Caneva Aquapark.
Do children pay at Italian theme parks?
Several parks price by height. Children up to 89 cm go free at Leolandia, and under 100 cm at Canevaworld's two parks. At Pombia Safari Park, children under 3 are free.
Is the Doge's Palace good for children?
Yes. Children aged 0 to 5 get in free, there's a Baby Pit-stop area, and the audioguide is in the MUVE app. One ticket also covers three other museums on St Mark's Square.
What is there for kids in Milan?
The science museum has a submarine to tour and PLAYLAB for preschoolers. Sforza Castle is free for under-18s, with a children's map. Leolandia is a day trip.
Do we need a car?
For Leolandia, Pombia and Gardaland, a car helps. Canevaworld has a free shuttle from Peschiera del Garda station. For Venice, leave the car and arrive by train.
What happens at Gardaland if it rains?
Tickets are not refunded for rain or power failures. If the forecast is uncertain, choose Canevaworld instead, whose tickets are open-dated for the season.
How many days do you need?
Ten days covers Milan, Lake Garda and Venice at a family pace. With a week, skip Pombia and the extra lake day.
