Board games, always-open baby stations and age-tailored entertainment: these are the ingredients that, according to Italian families, make the difference between an ordinary vacation and a truly child-friendly one. And there are those who have refined these ingredients better than others.
A new study actually photographs the Italian regions most attentive to the needs of those traveling with children in tow, in a summer 2026 that confirms itself as a must for families: nearly 3 out of 4 families will (or have already) taken at least one vacation, and the focus on accommodations geared toward the little ones weighs more and more in the choice of destination.
The Best Italian Regions for Family Vacations
Leading the podium of the most family-friendly destinations in Italy are Emilia-Romagna, Trentino-Alto Adige, Puglia and Abruzzo, four regions that are very different from one another, yet share a hospitality offer built around the needs of children.
Emilia-Romagna has been a reference point for family holidays for years thanks to the Adriatic Riviera, where hotels and villages offer mini clubs, continuous animation and theme parks just a short walk from the beach. Completing the offer are the region’s thermal facilities, designed for an audience of all ages, and beaches awarded by pediatricians with Green Flags for the safety of the seabed and the services dedicated to the little ones.
Trentino-Alto Adige instead focuses on the mountains: trails accessible even to strollers, adventure parks among the woods, educational alpine huts and mountain hotels with pools, indoor play areas and free guidance on the slopes in winter. An active, yet reassuring vacation, perfect for those seeking open air without giving up comfort.
Puglia stands out for seaside tourist villages, often with an all-inclusive formula, with Gargano, in particular, concentrating some of the most awarded facilities for family hospitality, among beaches with shallow depths and calm waters ideal for the youngest. Abruzzo has also built a solid family-oriented reputation over the years, bridging coast and the Apennines: the beaches of the provinces of Teramo and Pescara host numerous hotels with dedicated animation and specific packages for children.
The Numbers of Family Tourism in Italy
To confirm the weight of this segment, the study “The Value of Family Tourism” led by Jfc shows that in the summer of 2026 72.1% of families with children will take at least one vacation, staying on average 9.6 nights away from home. For the main summer vacation, the average expected expenditure is €1,981, up 6.7% compared to 2025, and 76.6% of Italians say they are willing to spend a little more to ensure their children a serene vacation.
Overall, 7,855,000 households will travel this summer, for a market value estimated at over €15 billion. Yet there are also difficulties: 27.9% of families skip vacation, mainly for economic reasons, but also due to the scarcity of services dedicated to children at the booking stage.
Among the most common requests there are organized entertainment, play areas and mini clubs, while the preferred accommodation remains the hotel, chosen by 48.7% of families for convenience. The sea remains the most popular destination (57.2%), followed by the mountains (24.5%), with the car as the transportation method chosen by 83.6% of households.
