Traveling with children

Sicily is very family-friendly and few peoples are more child-friendly than Italians. Spring, early summer and autumn are perfect times to take a family trip to Sicily if you want an active holiday. In July and August it can be very hot, especially for small children. If you want a relaxing beach holiday, the summer months offer warm temperatures in the sea and as long as you find a shady piazza when the sun gets too strong, Sicily will give you an unforgettable family holiday in the summer months too. If you want to experience more than just beach life, there is a lot to see and do for the whole family in Sicily, and in this overview we have stuck to the east coast.

ETNA

A trip to Europe's largest and most active volcano is exciting for the whole family. Taking the cable car up to approx. 2,500 meters above sea level and experiencing the legendary volcano up close is an experience the children will not soon forget. Here you can walk around some of the spectacular craters, which still retain some heat and smoke comes out of several holes in the ground. If you want to go even further up, there are buses up to 2900 m and guided jeep tours up to 3000 m are arranged.

It is a very special atmosphere to stand on top of a volcano and see how the lava has shaped the landscape. Here you really get to experience a spectacular lunar landscape! Many would argue that a visit to Sicily is not complete without climbing Etna.

You can also climb Etna and the various hiking trails are well marked. There is also the possibility of guided tours through several inactive volcanoes. During the winter season, there is the opportunity to engage in skiing with spectacular views.

A jacket and good shoes are recommended as it can be cold on Etna, even if the thermometer shows 30 degrees down by the coast. It is possible to rent a jacket and shoes at the top of the cable car. There is also a restaurant and souvenir shop here. It is recommended to get there early as the queues can be quite long during the tourist season.

Around the volcanic mountain is the Parco dell'Etna nature reserve, which offers paths and hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulty.

From Catania there is a bus to the cable car station, Rifugio Sapienza, where there is also a car park for those traveling with their own car. The distance from the center of Catania to the cable car station is 40 km. Several tour operators arrange organized tours to Etna.

ETNA AVVENTURA

The climbing park Etna Avventura is located a few kilometers from the cable car at Etna. Here, both children and adults can unfold themselves in rope bridges and ZIP-lines among the treetops. There are 15 trails full of exciting and unique challenges that will challenge both your balance and your comfort zone.

The trails are graded according to different levels of difficulty, so here there are challenges for everyone. There is a separate area with two tracks for children between 2-5 years of age. There is a picnic and barbecue area in the area.

Read about Etna Avventura here: https://etnavventura.it.

Distance from Catania: 30 km

ALCANTARA-JUVENE

Gole dell´Alcantara is a natural gorge that has arisen after lava eruptions from the Etna volcano. Parts of the canyon have lava walls up to 50 meters high. The water is crystal clear, but can be cold even in summer. The Alcantara gorges are considered one of the most beautiful and natural places in Italy.

The spectacular Alcantara Gorges are part of the Alcantara River Park with a geological park and an interactive museum. Here there are many activities and excursions to take part in or you can explore the park on your own.

Read mere here

: www.golealcantara.it.

Distance from Catania: 55 km

LIDO AZZURRO

Lido Azzurro is one of the best bathing facilities on the golden sandy beach south of the center of Catania. This is an ideal place for families with both young children and teenagers. Here you will find a swimming pool, playground, mini club, beach volleyball courts, beach tennis courts, boccia courts, football pitches and group activities and shows are arranged. There are kiosks and cafes in the area. The lido is open from 1 June to 31 August

ead more here:

www.lidoazzurrocatania.com. Distance from Catania Centro: 3 km

LUDUM SCIENCE MUSEUM IN CATANIA

Outside the center of Catania you will find a modern science museum with over 100 interactive science try-it-yourself experiments, 6 themed exhibitions, planitarium and fascinating science shows. Here you will also find an insectarium with an exhibition of fascinating live insects. Both young and old can learn about physical phenomena, mathematics, chemistry, botany, outer space and much more in a fun and playful way. Read more here: www.museodellascienza.com/home.

ARCHIMEDE & LEONARDO DA VINCI MUSEUM

In Siracusa you will find a museum for children that exhibits interactive models of Leonardo da Vinci and Archimedes' inventions. Archimedes was a mathematician, physicist and inventor who came from Syracuse and is considered one of the most important scientists of antiquity. Among other things, the museum shows how some of DaVinci's inventions were based on the science of Archimedes. Here you can see and play with inventions that changed humanity - educational for both young and old. The information is in Italian and English. Website: https://www.archimededisiracusa.it/museo-per-bambini. Distance from Catania: 70 km

Family holiday in Sicily