Venice With Autistic Children

A short trip to Venice with autistic children, can be both exciting and challenging. Recently, we embarked on a two-day adventure to this enchanting city, leaving Edinburgh on a 6 AM flight and returning around 10 PM the next day. Here’s how we managed our whirlwind visit, including transportation tips, family-friendly activities, and our experiences. You can watch our Venice trip from start to finish here.

Getting from Venice Marco Polo Airport to Venice

Upon arriving at Venice Marco Polo Airport, you have several options to reach the heart of Venice:

• Water Taxi: Approximately €100 for a private ride and takes around 20-30 minutes. Offers a scenic but costly and less stroller-friendly option.
• Alilaguna Water Bus: This costs around €15 per person for a one-way trip. It takes between 60-75 minutes, depending on the route. Provides a budget-friendly alternative with beautiful views but can be crowded and less ideal for strollers.
• ACTV Bus (Line 5) and ATVO Express Bus: It costs €8 per person for a one-way ticket. Around 20-25 minutes to get to Venice city. Both buses offer a direct route to Piazzale Roma, Venice’s main bus station. We opted for the ATVO Express Bus due to its promise of free Wi-Fi (which was unfortunately inaccessible). The bus proved to be the most cost-effective and practical option for families with strollers, as it was direct and convenient. You can get tickets from the machines in the airport or we found that the ticket machines outside are much less crowded and there are ACTV staff there to guide and advise.

Where To Stay in Venice

We travelled to Venice with autistic children with hand luggage only (David and I had a backpack each and we packed the kids stuff into a couple extra bags we could hang on the strollers), making it slightly easier to navigate the city’s numerous bridges and steps. The bus dropped us off at Piazzale Roma, and from there, we walked to our hotel, Foresteria Levi, located beside the Grand Canal. Checking in early was a lifesaver, as David was feeling unwell, and we were all exhausted from carrying strollers up and down the many stairs and bridges.

There are a couple of good areas for families to stay in Venice. I think anywhere along the Grand Canal would be great because then you can easily travel to any other part of Venice on a vaporetto.

Family-Friendly Activities in Venice

Despite the challenges, Venice offers many family-friendly activities that cater to children, including those with autism. Here are some highlights:

Playpark (Area giochi per bambini in Giardini Papadopoli):

A great place for kids to burn off energy after the journey in to Venice. This is just across the Ponte Santa Chiara o del Monastero bridge which is beside the bus station that the airport bus comes to.

Gelato:

No trip to Italy is complete without trying authentic gelato. It’s a sensory delight that most kids enjoy.

Pizza and Pasta:

While we tried the restaurant Teatro Goldoni, our children didn’t eat the pizza, likely due to autism-related sensory sensitivities. However, pizza and pasta are generally a hit with kids.

Rooftop Viewpoint at T Fondaco dei Tedeschi:

This offers breathtaking views of Venice. Unfortunately, it needs to be booked in advance, and we couldn’t get a space as it sold out quickly.

Captain Candy:

A fun candy shop with a variety of sweets that can be an exciting treat for children. You get to walk around and scoop candies into your bag from huge barrels! It is a really fun little shop.

Rialto Bridge:

An iconic landmark that offers great photo opportunities and beautiful views of the Grand Canal. The bridge is very busy and absolutely packed full of people – we chose not to attempt to get on it but admired it from the side of the Grand Canal.

Libreria Acqua Alta:

A unique bookstore where books are stored in bathtubs and gondolas to protect them from high water. It’s a quirky spot for photos and exploration. You can get a picture in a stationary gondola and also climb a staircase made of old books! I went in with Luke and Travis while David waited outside with Sylvie and the strollers, so my only videos look like this.

Gondola Ride:

Although we didn’t take a gondola ride, we got a picture on a stationary gondola at Libreria Acqua Alta, which was still a fun experience for the kids. I think this was a far better option for children with autism visiting Venice because being on a small boat for a long time and having to stay still could be quite a challenge.

Ponte dell’Accademia:

This bridge offers stunning views, especially at sunset, making it a perfect end to your day. This was right beside our hotel so we caught the sunset by chance!

I felt like the entire experience of Venice was so special. Just walking around and discovering unique and interesting spots like this little canal viewpoint was so fun and exciting.

Our Favourite Sensory-Friendly Activity in Venice

Hard Rock Cafe:

Another Hard Rock Cafe for the bucket list! This one is near Piazza San Marco, which is one of the most popular tourist spots in Venice so you are likely to venture here anyway. Hard Rock Cafe has become one of our safe food spots for our autistic children. Hard Rock Cafe is predictable – which made it one of our favourite stops in Venice.

Getting Around Venice With Autistic Children

We walked around a lot of Venice – but I absolutely would not recommend that and I would not do it again. If I were given a do-over I would pay for a vaporetto pass and use those to skip as many bridges as possible because I thought I was going to pass out doing those stepped bridges with strollers.

Venice has plenty of transport options, they just aren’t very cheap.

Is Venice Autism-Friendly?

Venice has elements that can be enjoyable for individuals with autism, but it also presents significant challenges. The city’s crowds, noise, and unique transportation system can be overwhelming, particularly during peak tourist seasons. However, with careful planning—such as visiting during quieter times, focusing on less crowded attractions, and using private transportation options—Venice can still be an enjoyable destination for individuals on the autism spectrum.

Things That Make Venice Stand Out

• Vaporetto’s are often crowded and noisy, especially during tourist season. Families might find it easier to use private water taxis or gondolas, which provide a more controlled and less overwhelming environment.
• Venice is a pedestrian city, with narrow streets and numerous bridges. This can be physically demanding, but also allows for a slower pace of exploration. Planning routes that avoid the most crowded areas and visiting during off-peak times can reduce sensory overload.
• The main mode of transportation in Venice is by water. While boat rides through the canals can be a calming experience for some, the noise and motion may be unsettling for others. Private boat tours might be a more controlled option than crowded public transport like vaporettos (water buses). A lot of autistic children are drawn to water – so be mindful that a lot of the canals are easy to access with no barriers for safety.
• Venice’s famous piazzas, like Piazza San Marco, can be extremely crowded, especially during peak tourist seasons. However, visiting early in the morning or during off-peak times can offer a quieter experience. Some of the less visited squares and areas can provide a more peaceful environment. We found that on a rainy day, Piazza San Marco was pretty quiet.
• Venice is home to many museums, such as the Doge’s Palace and the Gallerie dell’Accademia, which can be busy but offer quieter spaces at certain times. Some museums are beginning to offer sensory-friendly hours or quieter times for visitors with special needs, though this is still emerging in Venice.
• Visiting nearby islands like Murano and Burano can offer a more relaxed and less crowded experience. These islands are known for their crafts and colourful houses, providing a visually stimulating yet potentially less overwhelming environment.

Tips for a Smooth Experience

1. Plan Ahead: Research each location and contact them to discuss any special accommodations your child might need. If you can plan to arrive after check-in time you should, or try to arrange an early check-in.
2. Sensory Tools: Bring along sensory tools and comfort items that help manage sensory needs, such as noise-cancelling headphones, sensory toys, and a sensory toolkit.
3. Clear Communication: Ensure that everyone involved in the trip understands the needs and preferences of the neurodiverse individual. Clear communication can prevent misunderstandings and enhance the travel experience. Consider using PECS or an AAC. We have a free pack of travel PECS available for download. Consider using our Italy PECS and Venice PECS to enrich your Venice travel experience.
4. Safety: Consider getting an autism card for your child, or even better – use our emergency passport for medical information and important contacts. Our absolute must have safety item for travelling with an autistic child is a TinyTags wristband or tag that can be tapped or scanned by a mobile phone – giving the person who tapped it all of the information they need to get your child back to you. TinyTags also feature a location alert to help you find your child.

My biggest tip for those travelling to Venice with autistic children or a baby is to bring a baby or child carrier because those bridges are relentless with strollers.

Our short trip to Venice was a whirlwind experience filled with both challenges and memorable moments. Venice’s unique charm and family-friendly activities made it a worthwhile adventure, even with the extra considerations of traveling with children on the autism spectrum. The hardest part was by far the difficulties in taking strollers over bridges that are built with steps. By planning ahead, choosing the right transportation, and incorporating breaks, you can make a brief visit to Venice enjoyable and stress-free for the whole family.