Trentino is a land made for families. There are warm lakes with beaches where children can spend whole days in the water, museums where you learn by playing, castles to explore, treetop parks and stunning gorges with wooden walkways. Almost everything is close by, and many places are just a few minutes from the same area. In this guide we take you to discover the best things to do in Trentino with kids, telling you why children love each one and giving you a few practical tips to plan the day. At Italy Holiday we have welcomed families to this land for a long time, and these are the places we would recommend to a friend arriving with children.
1. Lago di Caldonazzo, the big warm lake of the Valsugana
Lago di Caldonazzo is a large stretch of water set in the green Valsugana valley, and it is one of the warmest lakes in southern Europe, with water near 24 degrees in summer. It is ideal for children: you can swim without the cold, play on the Blue Flag beaches and the water stays shallow and calm for a long way along the shore.
Beyond swimming, here you can try sailing, SUP (stand up paddle), canoeing and pedal boats, simple and fun activities even for the youngest. The swimming season runs from May to late September. You reach it in about twenty minutes by car from Trento on the main road towards Levico, or by train on the Valsugana line, which stops a few steps from the shore.
2. Lago di Levico, gentle waters and quiet shores
Just a few minutes from Caldonazzo, near Levico Terme, Lago di Levico awaits you. It has a long shape, almost like a fjord, and is surrounded by wooded hills. Its waters are mild and clear, and the shores are gentle and shaded by trees: perfect conditions for a family day with small children.
Here you find tree-lined free beaches, swimming areas and a loop trail that runs along the shore, easy to follow on foot or by bicycle with the whole family. Swimming runs from about May to September. You reach it on foot from the centre of Levico Terme, by car in a few minutes from the Valsugana, or by train on the valley line.
3. Lago di Lavarone, the little mountain lake with the art trail
Climbing up to the Lavarone plateau, at about 1,070 metres, you find a small lake with clear, karstic waters, surrounded by woods. In summer the water is warm enough to swim, and there are two equipped beaches where children can play in peace. The air is fresher than at the big lakes in the valley, and the atmosphere is relaxed.
Beyond swimming, the youngest enjoy pedal boats and a forest art trail, where you come across artworks and installations to discover along the way. An easy path runs all the way around the lake. You reach it in a few minutes by car from the village of Lavarone, climbing up from the Valsugana.
4. MuSe, the science museum where you learn by playing
In the heart of Trento you find MuSe, the Museum of Science designed by architect Renzo Piano. It is one of the most loved places for families in all of Trentino: it spreads over several levels telling the story of mountains, the evolution of life and sustainability, with hands-on experiments, labs and interactive installations that turn science into a game.
There are many surprises for children: a large tropical greenhouse recreating a rainforest, a digital planetarium to recognise stars and planets, and a space for the very young designed for early childhood. It is also a perfect destination on a rainy day. It is best to check current opening hours and tickets on the official website before your visit.
5. Museo delle Palafitte di Ledro, a Bronze Age village
On the shores of Lago di Ledro, in Molina, there is a museum where children can take a step back 4,000 years. The Museo delle Palafitte is built over the remains of a Bronze Age village, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it is part of the MuSe network. Inside you see original finds, while outside, on the lakeshore, there are reconstructed stilt-house huts complete with all their furnishings.
Children can step inside the huts and imagine how people lived in prehistory, among the chief's hut, the craftsmen's hut and the shepherds' hut. In the summer months the museum offers archaeology labs, guided tours and activities designed for the youngest. For seasonal hours and activities it is best to check the official website.
6. Castel Beseno, the largest castle in Trentino
Between Trento and Rovereto, perched on a long rocky ridge, stands Castel Beseno, the largest castle in Trentino. With its walls, wall-walks and courtyards, it is a place children love to explore, imagining knights and battles. From the top you enjoy a view that opens over the whole Adige valley.
Along the visit there are activities designed for families: multimedia stations, interactive games, giant chess and spaces to step into the life of knights. In summer the castle hosts historical reenactments with costumed performers. For the activity calendar and opening hours it is best to check the official website.
7. The bear of San Romedio, in Val di Non
In Val di Non, at the foot of one of the most striking sanctuaries in Trentino, there is a wildlife enclosure home to a brown bear named Bruno. His presence recalls the ancient legend of San Romedio, the saint who, the story goes, tamed a wild bear. For children it is a special chance to watch a large animal from a safe terrace, without disturbing it.
The bear lives in a large wooded area and can move freely, so he is not always visible: at times he stays among the trees or in his den, especially during the hottest hours. The visit pairs with discovering the Sanctuary of San Romedio, built into the rock, which can also be reached by an easy trail suitable for families.
8. Forest Park in Molveno, the treetop adventure
On the Pradel plateau, above Molveno, there is an adventure park suspended among the trees, at the foot of the Brenta Dolomites. Among century-old firs run rope courses with Tibetan bridges and zip lines, arranged across several difficulty levels. There is a course designed for the youngest children, from four to seven years old, and progressively more challenging courses for older kids and adults.
It is an activity that thrills families, always with instructors who follow participants and safety equipment. You reach the Pradel by cable car from Molveno and then on foot. The park is open in the summer months: it is best to check current hours, minimum ages and prices on the official website.
9. The falls and gorge of Stanghe, the white marble canyon
To close we take you further north, near Vipiteno, where a stream has carved a stunning gorge into white marble. The falls of Stanghe are followed on wooden steps and walkways that bring you close to the pale walls of the canyon, up to the main drop, about 15 metres high, in a narrow and striking stretch. The light playing on the water and the marble creates a scene that enchants young and old.
The route is suitable for families, but it is not accessible with a pushchair: for small children it is best to bring a baby carrier. The gorge is open only in the warm season, usually from May to early November, because in winter snow and ice make it dangerous. It is the farthest destination on this list, great for a day trip. Always check current hours and openings on the official website.
Where to stay in Trentino with the family
If you look at where these places are, you notice one thing: most are easy to reach from the Valsugana, the valley of Trentino's warm lakes. The lakes of Caldonazzo, Levico and Lavarone are practically on the doorstep, and from here Trento with MuSe and Castel Beseno are less than half an hour away. That is why the Valsugana lakes area, around Caldonazzo, Levico, Calceranica and Pergine, is an ideal base for a family holiday: in the morning you wake up a few minutes from the water and within minutes you reach a beach, a museum or a castle.
The other destinations are also within reach for a fine day trip. Trento and Rovereto, with their museums and castles, are very close. The Vigolana plateau is another quiet base a short way from the lakes. Adventures up in the mountains, like the Forest Park in Molveno or the valleys further west such as Val di Sole and Val Rendena, are farther, but reachable in an hour or a little more by car, perfect for a day out. The stilt-house village of Ledro and the Stanghe falls are the most distant points, to plan as a longer trip.
At Italy Holiday we 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 with the lake in front, the mountains around and plenty to do close at hand, discover where to stay near the Valsugana lakes and pack your bags: the Trentino of families awaits you.
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