10 Things to do in Catania with Kids

Climbing an active volcano, sailing while listening to fantastic stories, taking a walk through history or enjoying an entertaining puppet show. These are just some of the experiences you can have in Catania with the little ones. But there are many others that will make your stay in the city unforgettable.

Here are some of the best things to do in Catania if you are travelling with children. Although, I'll tell you right now that it can be a bit tiring, so you'll have to recover your strength with a good ice cream. A great plan, don't you think?

Mount Etna is the main protagonist of Catania's landscape. Climbing this enormous volcano is an adventure for children. Besides, there are many ways to get to know it. If they are small, there are very accessible trails that lead to the Silvestri craters from the Sapienza Refuge, located at an altitude of 1,900 metres.

But if there is one thing that excites children, it is going up the Etna cable car. From there, and in 4x4 vehicles, you can get almost to the top of the volcano. In addition, there are day trips to Etna specially designed to entertain and teach the little ones.

By the way, Etna can be climbed at any time of the year, so you can include it in your plans to enjoy Catania at Christmas or during the winter. Although it is the highest active volcano in Europe, only in exceptional conditions, such as when there is a risk due to its activity, is it forbidden to climb to the summit.

You also have the option of discovering Etna in another way: by train. The Circumetnea is a historic railway that circles the mountain and passes through spectacular villages and landscapes. It is a great way to discover this natural treasure with your family and enjoy a truly unforgettable journey, especially if you are travelling with very young children.

If you still have some energy left, visit the Alcantara Gorges

You can choose between a day trip to Mount Etna from Catania or a half-day trip. But, if you really want to experience a full adventure, my advice is to complete it with a visit to the Alcantara Gorges. You can do it in the same day.

This is a natural area where water has eroded the volcanic rock to create a canyon of enormous beauty. And best of all, in the Alcántara Gorges you can take a dip and even go rafting.

Sailing is a great fun activity for children and adults alike. Moreover, the coast of Catania has plenty of surprises for the little sailors to enjoy and learn lots of new and interesting things. The first thing that will catch their attention will be the huge silhouette of Mount Etna.

While they gaze at it, the captain is sure to tell them stories and legends that they will never forget. The ancient Greeks, who arrived here many centuries ago, believed that the volcano was the home of Hephaestus, the god of fire, and that inside it he worked with giants and fantastic one-eyed beings, the Cyclops.

It is precisely these beings that give their name to a stretch of coast that another mythological character, Ulysses, travelled along. Here you will see enormous volcanic rock formations. It will be a good excuse to teach the little ones some geology lessons.

The sailing trip along the coast is, for all these reasons, one of the best excursions from Catania to do with children. They can also learn some sailing skills and, weather permitting, even take a dip in the waters of the Ionian Sea.

If there is one thing that excites the little ones, it is visiting castles, walking along battlements and venturing down corridors and spiral staircases. Catania has a very special fortress: Ursino Castle. It is an imposing construction with eight centuries of history and the protagonist of countless interesting events.

Its most curious aspect has to do with its location. Today it is far from the sea, but in its heyday, this building overlooked the sea from a cliff. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions changed the physiognomy of the area, but the castle managed to remain standing despite the enemies and the force of nature.

Inside the castle, children can learn many more interesting things and approach the history of Catania in a didactic way. Today the building houses the Civic Museum, which exhibits an interesting collection of pieces of great archaeological value.

Interesting facts

• Opening hours of the Civic Museum Ursino Castle: from Monday to Sunday from 9:00 to 19:00.
• Admission fee: around 6 euros for general admission and 3 euros for reduced admission. Children under the age of 10 are free.

The perfect complement: a visit to Greek and Roman Catania

If you feel like immersing yourself in a live archaeological lesson, my advice is to complete the historical tour by also visiting the Roman theatre of Catania and the thermal complex of Terme della Rotonda.

And, if you have plans for two days in Catania, don't miss an excursion to the Valley of the Temples and the Roman villa of Casale. It's a fun way for kids to learn about ancient history.

The "pupi", the puppets, are part of the essence of the island. In fact, the Sicilian puppet theatre is part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List, and what child doesn't love these articulated puppets that tell such amusing stories!

Visiting Fratelli Napoli is the closest thing to going on a journey in which the protagonists tell fantastic stories and incredible adventures. But this is a space that also tells the story of a family that has been devoted body and soul to puppets for over a century.

Each puppet on display has its own story. And, to make the visit even more endearing, it is possible to enter the workshop where puppets are still being created in a completely handmade way. Of course, it is necessary to book the visit in advance.

Afterwards, I recommend you complete the experience in the only way possible: by attending a puppet show. The children will have a great time and the grown-ups will go back to their childhood. In Catania there are different theatres where you can enjoy puppetry, such as the Teatro Machiaveli or the Teatro Zigzag.

One of the most entertaining things to do with children in Catania is to visit the Zoology Museum and Butterfly House. The time will fly by as you walk through its rooms, which are very different from those of other Natural Science museums. The reason? Because the animals are not displayed in glass cases, but you can get up close and personal with them.

The museum houses a fantastic collection of animal species that have their habitat in the Mediterranean and its surroundings. But it also exhibits specimens of exotic animals from distant lands, from African elephants and zebras to kangaroos, snakes and unique birds.

The museum also has an immense collection of insects. However, if there are any great protagonists, it is the butterflies. Here you will find a modern butterfly farm where you can see magnificent live specimens. It even has an incubator where children can learn about the life cycle of these beautiful insects.

Useful information

• Museum of Zoology opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
• Price: admission is free.

No matter the date. One of the things you can't miss in Catania, even less if you are travelling with children, are its . It is true that they are famous in Italy, but the ones from Sicily are special and are part of its essence. Trying them is the perfect excuse to make a short stop on any visit to the city and recharge your batteries.

The ice creams that you will try in Catania have a very creamy texture and a flavour that both young and old like. The secret? Recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation and an artisan production process. By the way, they are not served in the form of balls, but with an ice-cream scoop.

But being in Catania we must also talk about granita. It is halfway between ice cream and granita, very similar to sorbet. It is a mixture of frozen fruit, water and sugar that is usually served with a layer of cream or a brioche. Children love it for breakfast or as a snack.

In Catania it is not difficult to find traditional ice-cream parlours whose shop windows are a real temptation, and not only for the little ones. In Via Etnea you will find one of the most traditional, the Pasticceria Savis with 125 years of history. Prestipino, Chocolate Café or Café Europa are other establishments where you can try these delicious gelatos and granitas.

A visit to the MOGAM Museum is a fantastic experience for the whole family. The reason? It houses one of the best private collections of classic sports cars in Italy. A collection that includes models from Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Lancia. And some of them are even Formula 1 cars.

But MOGAM is special not only because of its collection of motor vehicles, which also includes motorbikes and even motorboats. It is also home to an interesting collection of figurative art. There are more than a hundred pieces by renowned artists such as Russolo, Pascali and Boccioni.

Interesting facts

• MOGAM opening hours: visits to the museum are guided and by prior reservation, so there are no fixed opening hours. Open only from Monday to Friday.
• Price: General admission costs around 10 euros. Children under the age of 14 pay around 6 euros and children under the age of 5 are free.

Catania has leisure facilities that delight children. One of the most popular is Etnaland. As its name suggests, it is almost at the foot of the volcano. And in its shadow, the little ones will have fun climbing on its more than 30 attractions. There are rides for the quieter ones and also for the more adventurous ones.

If it's hot, Etnaland also has a fantastic water park where you can cool off and have another good time. In fact, with its huge pools and around 30 attractions, it is one of the largest water parks in Europe. A prehistoric park and a botanical trail round off the fun on offer.

Learning can really be fun. And children will see for themselves as they walk through LUDUM, a space where visitors are not just spectators, but active participants. What does this mean? That the experiments carried out here are not only seen, but also touched and even felt.

The aim is to disseminate scientific knowledge in a very fun and understandable way for everyone. For this reason, the activities on offer mix science and theatre. The result is a show that has been recognised and awarded as one of the best in its category.

This museum is divided into different thematic areas: thermodynamics, light and sound, dynamics and electromagnetism. It also has an insectarium where you can learn much more about these animals. It also has a planetarium where you can take star trips and explore the universe.

One more point: at week ends the museum organises very entertaining play activities for the little ones, from magic and conjuring courses to science-related exhibitions.

Interesting facts

• Opening hours: LUDUM is open during the week for groups by prior reservation, but on Sundays it operates for the general public in the afternoons.

This park is a perfect place to relax and let the children release some energy. It is the real green lung of Catania and is located in the centre of the city, in fact, it belongs to an ancient stately villa. It is a good place to stroll, to play or even to have a small picnic as a break from sightseeing.

In Villa Bellini, in addition to tree-lined walks and play areas, concerts and recreational and sporting activities are often organised. Its tree-lined promenades are dotted with monumental fountains, statues of illustrious men and details such as mosaics that are worth stopping to admire.

And if that wasn't enough, from its hills there are fantastic views of both Etna and the sea. The best place to admire them? The Chiosco della Musica, which is a beautiful Art Nouveau gazebo from which the view of the mountain is spectacular. Admission to the park is free and it doesn't close until 10 pm.

Catania is a city that offers many plans to enjoy with the family. But it is always advisable to take into account some aspects that will make the visit much more fun and enjoyable:

• The climate in Catania is not particularly harsh, but it is advisable to bring appropriate clothing, especially if you intend to reach the top of Mount Etna. Even in summer, temperatures there are cool.
• If you're spending more than a day in Catania and the weather is fine, a great idea for the kids is to spend a few hours at the beach. There are some great beaches here, sheltered and with little surf.
• If you're visiting Catania at Christmas, museums often have special activities for the little ones. You may also be able to take advantage of discounts at some attractions.
• The street food in Catania is delicious and children will love it. So don't worry too much about finding restaurants to eat at ahead of time. Terraces and stalls are great places to eat and there are plenty of delicious eateries.