Thinking of going to Italy with the kids? Read on for 10 wonderful hotels and hideaways that are bellissimi for families.
From the Alps to sun-baked Sicily, Italy tops the charts year on year when it comes to family holidays. There’s pizza, pasta and gelato cheek by jowl with beaches, lakes and mountains. The opportunity to bring history to life everywhere you go, and the warmest of welcomes for kids.
Here are our favourites for families – places with pools, villas with views, hotels with heart.
1 Borgo Egnazia, Puglia
This dreamy resort has everything you could possibly want for the perfect family escape. Just inland from the Adriatic (and with its own beach clubs on the coast), the architecture of Borgo Egnazia pays homage to traditional Puglian masserie and villages, and has swimming pools, a spa and a range of restaurants.
Family rooms: The Casas (villas) have 3 bedrooms and a pool apiece, while the Casette (townhouses) have 1 or 2 bedrooms. Both options have safe, walled gardens and kitchens.
Best for: All ages
Family rating: 3/3 stars – a fantastic all-ages kids club (up to teens, free for all except under 3s in the creche) with crafts, soft play, toys, cooking lessons; there’s an enormous range of baby & toddler gear to borrow; kids pool, tennis courts, playground, and a teen games room
2 Locanda Rossa, Tuscany
A welcoming hotel set in lush greenery and classic Tuscan landscape with beaches nearby, Locanda Rossa hits the mark every time. The restaurant celebrates local ingredients in delicious dishes, breakfasts are a highlight. And there’s so much to do from island-hopping to cooking classes, bikes to borrow and horse riding. Want to hear more? Read about Ben’s visit during the harvest season.
Family rooms: The Villas have 3 bedrooms, a kitchen, and garden; some Junior Suites can interconnect; Garden Suites have 2 single sofa beds.
Best for: Babies, Toddlers, Children (4-12 years)
Family rating: 2/3 stars – playground with trampoline, family pool, kids menu, tennis and paddle courts, books and games, table tennis, table football
3 Villa Pia, Umbria
A carefree hotel with a house party feel and wonderful views of the surrounding quintessential countryside, Villa Pia is everything kids love. Rates are all-inclusive (drinks, meals and snacks) think hearty and delicious Italian food with a kid’s tea at 6 and adults-only dinners later. Plus, it’s an easy drive from several airports.
Family rooms: Family Rooms have a double bed and 2-3 singles, while interconnecting rooms give you a double and a twin.
Best for: Babies, Toddlers and Children (4-12 years)
Family rating: 3/3 stars – outside are a playground, two heated pools, a playhouse, tennis, rope and log swings; inside you get soft play, a games room, dressing up clothes, a music room, toys and books
4 La Darbia, Italian Lakes
Above the lesser-known and tranquil Lake Orta, with unparalleled vistas across the steep green escarpments, La Darbia has a grown-up feel but is fit for all ages. In this collection of chic self-catering apartments, there’s an onsite restaurant, breakfast baskets are delivered to your door, and it’s an easy stroll down to the village for shopping, meals or watersports on the lake.
Family rooms: Lake Family and Lake Luxury Apartments have two bedrooms (the 2nd is a twin), plus a private terrace or garden each; Lake Nest Apartments can have a baby cot.
Best for: All ages
Family rating: 2/3 stars – the 16m heated infinity pool with a view (fenced and with steps), playground, zipwire, kid-friendly menu options
5 Sicily Boutique Villas, Sicily
Found in a trio of our favourite spots (Noto in the Baroque SE, Cefalu on the photogenic northern coast, Selinunte in the west near sandy beaches) on this spectacular island are the upscale Sicily Boutique Villas. These gorgeous house rentals (for 5-8) have delightful indoor-outdoor living areas, lawned gardens, private pools and wonderful views over the wild countryside.
Family rooms: All are excellent for families: the Cefalu villas are 15-20 minutes inland and have 3 or 4 bedrooms; as do the Noto villas which are on terraced olive groves; the Selinunte villa has 3 bedrooms.
Best for: Babies, Children (4-12 years), Teens
Family rating: 2/3 stars – each has a good-sized private pool, high spec kitchens, lovely garden, and each location offers no end of fun activities
6 Borgo San Marco, Puglia
A friendly boutique hotel created in a former fortified farmhouse and its outhouses, Borgo San Marco has 90 hectares of grounds including a walled citrus garden, olive groves and shady lawns. It’s well-placed for the beautiful Adriatic beaches (2km down the road) and the cute white towns of Trulli country.
Family rooms: The Suites have a second room and sleep up to 5; Standard rooms can take an extra bed or baby cot and some of these interconnect.
Best for: Babies, Toddlers, Children (4-12 years)
Family rating: 2/3 stars – a big beach-style freeform swimming pool with shallow end, playground, large garden, Zoo Safari (biggest zoo in Europe) is 4km away
7 Fattoria Barbialla Nuova, Tuscany
For pure countryside escapism, stay on this 500-ha private estate in converted farmhouses surrounded by woodland, hills, pastures, tranquillity and wildlife. Fattoria Barbialla Nuova adheres to Slow Food principles with seasonal culinary lessons, truffle-hunting and pasta-making. This is a wilder side to Tuscany, perfect for more adventurous families.
Family rooms: 5 of the 7 apartments in the two main converted farm buildings can sleep families of 4-7; there’s also a separate 4-bed villa which can sleep up to 10.
Best for: Babies, Toddlers, Children (4-12 years)
Family rating: 2/3 stars – every house has a pool (shared between the apartments in each, the villa has its own), animals to meet, boules, table tennis, cooking, exploring the estate
8 Hotel Santa Maria, Rome
An oasis of peace in the Eternal City’s liveliest and loveliest neighbourhood, Trastevere, Hotel Santa Maria is a charming conversion of a 17th-century convent. There’s a lovely central courtyard with orange trees and myrtle bushes, a roof terrace, and you’re within walking distance of great restaurants and many sights.
Family rooms: The four Suites sleep 4-6 (plus a baby), and there are Triple and Quadruple Rooms too.
Best for: All ages
Family rating: 2/3 stars – bikes to borrow, baby cots and high chairs, kids books and board games; check out the Forum, Colosseum, ice cream parlours and more nearby
9 Le Marche Luxury Estate, Le Marche
Ideal for extended family celebrations, this pair of spectacular supervillas offer concierge services and a wellness focus. Le Marche Luxury Estate is set in 9 acres of sweeping grounds, surrounded by olive groves and leafy gardens, and enjoy panoramic Adriatic views.
Family rooms: Olive Tree Villa (sleeps up to 14) has 7 bedrooms all of which can be set up as twins; Olive Grove Villa (sleeps up to 8) has 4 of which 2 can be twins; book both for a family celebration of up to 22.
Best for: All ages
Family rating: 3/3 stars – a big swimming pool for each villa with inflatables, gardens, tennis, table tennis and table football (Olive Grove Villa), barbecue and fire pit (Olive Tree Villa); beaches, watersports, horse riding nearby
10 Montana Lodge & Spa, Alps
Just 10 minutes from the centre of the popular ski resort La Thuile, this stylish hotel has a sophisticated spa, sun-trap terrace and elegant restaurant. Montana Lodge & Spa is well-located for both winter snow sports and summer climbing, walking, rafting and pony-trekking – perfect for active families.
Family rooms: Suites and Junior Suites come with double sofa-beds in the living room; Lofts have an extra bed on a mezzanine for families of 3.
Best for: All ages
Family rating: 2/3 stars – La Thuile has nursery slopes and a good ski school; the kids zone has toys, games and DVDs; kids menu; a heated indoor pool