As far as islands go, Sicily is up there with the best for some seriously interesting kid-friendly stuff. If it’s not enough that your family holiday in Sicily is next to an actual active volcano, or that there are intriguing ruins to be discovered all over the place, it’s also got some great kid-friendly fun and excursions to get involved in too.
Get your older kids out into the beautiful Sicilian nature with one of Sicily Bike Routes’ guided tours. Peddle past olive groves, fruit orchards and vineyards, down tiny lanes lined with stone walls and through rural villages where you can stop for a well-deserved rest. Ranging from half-day to full-day excursions, the tours are great fun for all the family, where the simple pleasures of the island can be enjoyed. For children (or parents) that aren’t up to longer tours, you could also consider renting bicycles and tootling around under your own steam. Pack a picnic, follow one of the routes and set off on a day of discovery.
Donkeys have a long history in Sicily. Strong, sturdy and trusty, these adorable animals have served as a means of transport for agricultural villagers for centuries. Today at Etna Donkey Trekking, they are beasts of burden no more, but lovingly cared for animals ready to faithfully trot their way up the winding paths of Mount Etna. Children of all ages will delight in this novel way to explore the great volcano, ancient woods and panoramic ridges. Their calm, patient characters have seen them being used as therapy animals to help children with behavioural or emotional problems.
When your kids have had it up to their eyes and ears with culture and history, it’s time to offer them some release in the form of this rip-roaring adventure park at the foot of Mount Etna. With the great volcano looming in the background, they can enjoy hair-raising amusement rides in the theme park or slosh their way down waterslides in the aqua park. Float on wild rafting rivers, swim in the largest wave pool in Europe and strap yourself in to adrenaline-pumping fairground rides – there is something here to keep every aged kid (or big kid) happy.
With conservation, training, education and environmental awareness at its core, the Bioparco Di Sicilia offers families much more than just an ordinary zoo experience. Children can learn about the ecology of over 57 species, including chimpanzees, lemurs, zebras, meerkats, Sicilian grey donkeys and llamas. Sure to excite them further is the dinosaur park, where you’ll find a fabulous collection of life-sized prehistoric beasts, ranging from Tyrannosaurus Rex to Triceratops.
Location: Via A. Vespucci, 420, 90044 Carini (PA) – Sicily
Need to blow off some steam? Take the children to the Monti Rossi Adventure Park. Here they can discover their inner Tarzan as they follow challenging paths through the treetops. They can zip-line, clamber, climb and swing on ropes, nets and platforms to their hearts’ content. There are less taxing routes for smaller children and bigger challenges for older kids, or even mums and dads.
The roads less travelled in Sicily are actually best travelled on horseback, or so they say at Sicily Horse Riding. So saddle up and head out into the parts of the countryside few get to experience. Led by seasoned guides, these treks allow participants to discover the rich cultural and natural heritage of the island. It is a superb activity for older children and there are a variety of different tour length options for all abilities. Head out for just a few hours or a full day to discover the Alcantara Gorges and the vineyards of Mount Etna. During some tours, you’ll even be able to take the horses for a dip in the sea at the beach.
Location: Via Ardichetto, 95019 Zafferana Etnea CT, Italy
Puppetry is a traditional art in Sicily enjoyed by generations of Sicilian children. While your children’s experience of puppetry may be minimal, they are sure to love the pomp and splendour of the Sicilian shows, where exquisitely-clothed knights and kings duel in expertly orchestrated scenes. Surrounded by the beautiful architecture of Ortigia Island in Syracuse, this traditional puppet theatre is a family-run establishment were imaginations and artistry run wild.
Location: Via Della Giudecca, 17/19, 96100 Syracuse
Book: +39 0931 465 540
Piccolo Teatro dei Pupi
If you’re planning a family holiday to Sicily, but aren’t quite sure where to start, take a look at our round up of our best villas in Sicily or give our concierge team a call. They’ll help you find the perfect villa for your family’s needs. We’ve also got some great family travel tips from some of the UK’s top bloggers to help you prepare for a stress-free family holiday.
Previous
Team Travels: The Algarve
Next
Team Travels: Tuscany
Popular Articles
The 10 Best Beaches in Cyprus
Cyprus has beaches for almost every kind of holiday, from soft, pale sands and shallow family bays to turtle-nesting shores, watersports hubs, and quiet coves beneath cliffs. Better still, the island makes it easy to combine time beside the sea with ancient ruins, mountain villages, and lunches in coastal tavernas. The best beaches in Cyprus […]
The 10 Best Beaches in Mykonos
Mykonos may be known for its whitewashed lanes, late-night parties, and famous beach clubs, but its coastline has more range than the headlines suggest. Long sandy bays curve around the south of the island, while the north coast feels wilder, more exposed to the Aegean wind. The best beaches in Mykonos cover almost every mood. […]
10 Best Villas in Ibiza
The fabled ‘White Island’ is a place of many faces. On the one hand, Ibiza is renowned as a prime clubbing destination with a vibrant nightlife that’s a magnet for partygoers. But there’s more to the island than exclusive clubs and dancing ’til dawn! Further inland, you’ll find there’s a much more laid-back atmosphere among […]
Discover the enchanting allure of Sicily, where cobblestone streets whisper tales of ancient charm, sun-kissed beaches beckon with endless allure, and every vista is a picturesque masterpiece. Whether you crave the thrill of uncovering antiquities or indulging in the bounty of local delicacies, Sicily promises to captivate your senses at every turn. Step into your […]
The Local’s Guide to Authentic Sicily
There are many wonderful places to visit in Italy, and one of the jewels in the crown is the beautiful little island at the tip of Italy’s famous boot. Renting one of our luxury villas in Sicily means you’ll have the whole island to explore – but how do you know you’re experiencing the very best […]
Top 4 Beautiful Walks Around Cefalu
If you’ll soon be jetting off to one of our Italian country villas in Sicily, make sure you add the mediaeval town of Cefalù to your list of must-do day trips. Standing guard over the Tyrrhenian Sea, it’s a bustling mix of Romanesque architecture and narrow cobbled streets that’s definitely best explored on foot. Late spring is […]
No Driving Required: 10 Car-Free Villa Holidays
For some of us, there’s no better feeling than arriving on holiday knowing the car keys have stayed at home. Perhaps it’s the pleasure of wandering into the village for fresh croissants each morning, walking down to the beach whenever the mood takes you, or ordering another glass of wine at dinner, knowing home is […]
We’re delighted to share that Oliver’s Travels has been voted Runner-Up in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2026. This marks the tenth consecutive year that Condé Nast Traveller readers have recognised Oliver’s Travels among the world’s leading villa rental companies. And we’re so grateful to everyone who has voted for us along the […]
Want to host your own Traitors-inspired weekend? Here’s everything you need to know
We know you’re watching it. And if you’re anything like us, you’re also thinking about playing it. It’s easy to feel confident while you’re watching from the sofa, but how would you really fare if you were tapped on the shoulder? Could you hold firm when accused or give yourself away before breakfast? Chances are, […]
How to Make the Most of Your 2027 Annual Leave
Annual leave is one of the year’s more finite pleasures. Used without much thought, it can quickly disappear into the occasional Friday and a handful of Mondays. Place it more strategically, however, and the same allowance can turn four days away from your desk into nine or even ten days elsewhere. Easter falls early in […]
Sense and Sensibility: Where to stay for a Jane Austen-inspired escape
On 25 September, this year’s Sense and Sensibility will introduce Jane Austen’s razor-sharp wit and biting social commentary to a whole new generation of gooey-eyed romantics. Like Emma Thompson’s much-loved 1995 adaptation and the novel long before it, the new film promises fierce heroines, men whose charms cannot always be trusted and – of course […]
Venice Film Festival 2026: Where to Stay
Every September, Venice – a city already accustomed to grand entrances – becomes the stage for cinema’s most anticipated arrivals. First held in 1932, the Venice International Film Festival is the oldest in the world. Its 83rd edition runs from 2–12 September 2026 on the Lido, the long barrier island separating the Venetian Lagoon from […]
10 European City Breaks and Where to Stay
One of the great pleasures of living in the UK is its access to the rest of Europe. It is easy to forget quite how extraordinary it is until you hear it from someone who has crossed an entire ocean to get here. The distinctly American idea of “doing Europe”, which tends to mean a […]
