Even in the mountains, sometimes it rains. But a rainy day does not have to be a wasted day, especially on holiday with kids. Trentino is full of indoor places where children learn through play, explore castles, look at the stars and take a step back in time. Many of them are in Trento and Rovereto, close to each other and easy to reach. In this guide we take you to discover the best things to do in Trentino with kids when it rains, telling you why children love them and giving you some practical tips to plan your day. We at Italy Holiday have been welcoming families to this land for a long time, and these are the places we would recommend to a friend arriving with children and a cloudy sky.
1. MuSe, the science museum where you learn by playing
In the heart of Trento you find the MuSe, the Museum of Science designed by architect Renzo Piano. It is one of the most loved places for families in all of Trentino, and a perfect destination for rainy days: it spreads over several levels that tell the story of the mountains, the evolution of life and sustainability, with hands-on experiments, workshops and interactive installations that turn science into a game.
For children there are many surprises: a large tropical greenhouse that recreates a rainforest, a digital planetarium to recognise stars, constellations and planets, a big dinosaur exhibition and a space dedicated to the youngest, designed for early childhood. Between experiments and workshops you can spend a whole day indoors. It is best to check updated opening hours and tickets on the official website before your visit.
2. Castello del Buonconsiglio, the castle of the painted months
On a hill in the centre of Trento stands the Castello del Buonconsiglio, the largest monumental complex in Trentino and the former residence of the prince-bishops. With its courtyards, frescoed halls and covered walkways, it is a place children love to explore, imagining court life of long ago. Most of the route is indoors, so it is an ideal choice when it is raining outside.
The most precious treasure is hidden in the Torre Aquila, where a cycle of Gothic frescoes tells the story of the twelve months of the year: it is a true medieval comic strip, with winter snow, knights' tournaments, hunting and life in the fields. For children it is a game to look for the animals, the farmers and the games painted month after month. For opening hours, family activities and visits to the Torre Aquila, it is best to check the official website.
3. Tridentum, the Roman city beneath the square
Still in the centre of Trento, beneath Piazza Cesare Battisti, a real Roman city is hidden. The S.A.S.S. is the underground archaeological space that holds the remains of Tridentum, Roman Trento: you walk on ancient paved streets, among walls, a tower, mosaic floors and even the sewer ducts, along a route that is entirely indoors and sheltered from the rain.
For children it is like stepping into a time machine. Beyond the real remains there is a journey into the past with virtual reality, which reconstructs the Roman city as it was two thousand years ago and brings it back to life before their eyes. It is a not too long visit, perfect to combine with a stroll in the centre. Check updated opening hours and tickets on the official website.
4. Museo dell'Aeronautica Gianni Caproni, the planes and flight simulators
Near Trento's airport you find the Museo dell'Aeronautica Gianni Caproni, one of the oldest aircraft collections in the world, started in the 1920s. In a large indoor hangar, historic planes are on display, some of them very rare, from the first propeller aircraft to more recent fighters. For children who love planes it is a dream to walk under the wings of real aircraft.
The most fun part are the flight simulators, where older children can sit at the controls and try to fly. There is also a section dedicated to Futurist art linked to flight, and activities designed for families. As everything is indoors, it is a perfect destination for a rainy day. For opening hours, simulators and activities, it is best to check the official website.
5. Le Gallerie di Piedicastello, history inside two tunnels
In Trento, at the foot of Doss Trento, two old road tunnels have become a one of a kind exhibition space. Le Gallerie di Piedicastello are two tunnels about 300 metres long each, one white and one black, which today host exhibitions and installations on the history of Trentino. Walking inside a large tunnel, indoors and sheltered from the rain, is in itself an experience that intrigues children.
The black gallery in particular is a large and striking installation, with lights and images that surround the visitor. Admission is free, so it is an easy, carefree stop when you are looking for shelter from bad weather. The exhibitions change over time, so it is best to check what is on the programme on the official website before you go.
6. Museo Civico di Rovereto, dinosaurs and a planetarium
In Rovereto, south of Trento, stands one of the oldest museums in Italy, active since 1851. The Museo Civico di Rovereto brings together archaeology, minerals, animals and a rich collection of fossils, including the dinosaur footprints from the nearby Lavini di Marco and the skeleton of a cave bear. For children who love prehistory it is a stop worth the trip, all indoors.
The heart of the visit for families is the digital planetarium, with a large dome where you lie down to travel among stars and planets during an immersive show. Between fossils, dinosaurs and a starry sky, it is a classic for rainy days in Vallagarina. The planetarium shows have fixed times, so it is best to check the programme and book on the official website.
7. Museo Storico Italiano della Guerra, inside the castle of Rovereto
Also in Rovereto, inside the ancient medieval castle, you find the Museo Storico Italiano della Guerra, dedicated above all to the First World War. The castle itself is an adventure to explore, with towers, walkways and tunnels carved into the walls, much of it to discover indoors. At the centre of a large hall a rare biplane of the era is on display, one of the few left in the world.
For children it is a way to come closer to history through uniforms, period objects and settings that let them imagine the past. The museum offers activities designed for families and a rate that helps those travelling with children. Part of the castle is outdoors, so on rainy days it is best to focus on the indoor halls. For opening hours, activities and rates, check the official website.
8. Museo delle Palafitte di Ledro, a Bronze Age village
On the shores of Lake Ledro, in Molina, there is a museum where children can take a step back 4,000 years. The pile-dwelling museum is built over the remains of a Bronze Age village, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is part of the MuSe network. The exhibition area, with the original finds, is indoors, and it becomes the ideal destination for a rainy day by the lake.
Children discover how people lived in prehistory, among tools, pots and objects of daily life, and outside, on the shore, there are reconstructed stilt huts to observe. In the warmer months the museum offers archaeology workshops and activities designed for the youngest. For opening hours, seasonal workshops and activities, it is best to check the official website.
Where to stay in Trentino with the family
If you look at where these places are, you notice one thing: most of them are concentrated between Trento and Rovereto, two nearby and well connected cities, and they are easy to reach from the Valsugana, the valley of Trentino's warm lakes. From the lake area around Caldonazzo, Levico, Calceranica and Pergine, Trento with the MuSe, the Castello del Buonconsiglio and Tridentum is less than half an hour away, and Rovereto with its planetarium just a little further. So, when the sky clouds over, you always have an indoor plan B within reach.
The other places are handy for a nice day trip. Trento and Rovereto, with their museums and castles, are very close. The pile-dwelling village of Ledro is further away, to plan as a longer trip towards Alto Garda. Having a base near the lakes of the Valsugana lets you enjoy the lake when it is sunny and move towards the city museums when it rains.
We at Italy Holiday welcome families right in this area, in homes designed to make you feel at home from the very first moment, with the space and quiet you need when travelling with children. If you dream of a holiday in Trentino with plenty to do, sun or rain, discover where to stay near the lakes of the Valsugana and pack your bags: family Trentino is waiting for you in every season.
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