Why choose Ferrara for a family holiday
If you are planning a weekend in Ferrara with the whole family, you will quickly discover that this splendid city of art is a true paradise for the youngest travellers. With its entirely flat historic centre, the almost total absence of motor traffic in the monumental areas and a deep-rooted culture of hospitality, Ferrara with children proves to be a relaxing, stimulating and magical destination.
From chivalrous adventures among the castle towers to cycling in the open air, here is an itinerary in Ferrara designed to delight adults and children alike, without forgetting the delicious stops to discover the local cuisine.
Photo: liakada-web / Flickr – Ferrara, Castello Estense (CC BY 2.0)
Exploring the Estense Castle with children: a journey through time
The pulsating heart of the city is also the attraction that more than any other fires the imagination of young travellers. The Estense Castle, with its water-filled moat, drawbridges and four majestic towers, seems to have stepped straight out of a storybook. Located right in the centre, it is easily reachable on foot from any point of the pedestrian zone or in just 5 minutes by bike from the main city car parks.
Visiting the Estense Castle
The visit to the Estense Castle is structured to capture children’s attention through routes that combine grand history with accounts of everyday life at the Este court. The estimated duration of the complete visit is about 1.5 to 2 hours, ideal for the pace of younger visitors.
- The dungeons: Don Giulio’s prison cell inside the Torre dei Leoni is an experience that fascinates older children greatly, with narrow passages and ancient writings on the walls.
- The drawbridges and moat: before entering, take some time to walk around the moat. If you are lucky, the children will be able to spot the large carp swimming in the water beneath the walls.
- Educational workshops: on the weekends, the facility often organises animated visits and creative workshops for families, where children can transform themselves into knights and ladies of the court.
Ticket prices for the Estense Castle:
- Full price: € 12.00
- Reduced: (over 65s, members of groups of at least 15 people, university students with a university enrolment card, holders of full or reduced tickets for Fondazione Ferrara Arte exhibitions, FAI members, COOP Alleanza 3.0 members): € 10.00
Secondary school groups (middle schools and high schools): € 5.00 - Minors aged between 11 and 17: € 5.00
- Family: For every paying adult, 1 child enters free
- Torre dei Leoni: supplement € 2.00 – free for MyFe card holders and children up to 11 years old
Photo: petervisser4u / Flickr – Ferrara. Castello Estense (CC BY 2.0)
Ferrara by bike: cycling in complete safety
It is no secret that Ferrara is universally known as the city of bicycles. Exploring Ferrara by bike is not only the most convenient way to get around, but a genuinely fun activity to do with children, thanks to an extensive network of pedestrian areas.
The best cycle paths in Ferrara for families
The numerous hire points in the centre offer bicycles of every type, equipped with child seats for the youngest riders or child-sized bikes, with average hire rates ranging from approximately € 10.00 to € 15.00 for the whole day.
- The Estense Walls route: the perfect cycling itinerary for families. It is a circuit of about 9 kilometres, completely tree-lined and elevated, surrounding the historic centre. Being entirely free of cars, children can pedal freely among green meadows and ancient ramparts. The estimated time to complete the full circuit at a child’s pace is about 1 hour.
- From Corso Ercole I d’Este to the park: a cycle ride along what is considered one of the most beautiful Renaissance streets in Europe. Starting directly from the Estense Castle, you cycle for about 10 minutes on flat road, passing in front of the celebrated Palazzo dei Diamanti, until you reach the city’s great green lungs.
Photo: Nicola Quirico /Wikimedia Commons – Pista ciclabile nei pressi della mura Estensi, Ferrara (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Green spaces and parks near Ferrara
After culture and cycling, it is essential to take a break for running and playing. Ferrara hides splendid gardens right beside its historic streets, all with completely free entry.
Parks in the city
- Parco Massari: located just steps from the Palazzo dei Diamanti (just 2 minutes on foot or 30 seconds by bike), it is the most famous public garden in Ferrara. It offers century-old trees, wide lawns, a large equipped playground for children and a fountain with ducks that the youngest visitors adore. The ideal stop lasts about 1 hour.
- Parco del Sottomura: the green space running along the lower part of the walls. It is reached by descending from the bastions of the cycling ring in less than 2 minutes. It is an immense stretch of grass ideal for an outdoor picnic, flying kites or taking a rest in the shade after exploring the city.
Green parks near Ferrara and out of town
If you want to venture a little outside the urban centre, the surrounding area offers extraordinary natural oases:
- Le Vallette di Ostellato: located about 30 minutes by car from the centre of Ferrara (taking the RA8 Ferrara-Porto Garibaldi, exit Ostellato), it is a splendid nature oasis where children can go cycling, spot water birds and take walks in the countryside. The visit here can last from a minimum of 2 hours to a full half day. Access to the pedestrian oasis is free, while guided activities or on-site hire of bikes and canoes are charged.
- La Delizia del Verginese: a small country castle in the hamlet of Gambulaga in Portomaggiore with a beautiful historic garden (the Brolo), ideal for a relaxed Sunday outing. Summer opening hours are Wednesday and Friday 8:30-13:30, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 9:00-12:30 and 15:30-19:00.
Photo: Nicola Quirico /Wikimedia Commons – Ingresso Parco Massari Ferrara (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Food stop: what to eat in Ferrara with children
Ferrarese cuisine is rich, flavourful and incredibly appealing even to the palates of the youngest diners. During your weekend, you cannot pass up a stop at the historic trattorias or bakeries in the centre.
Here is what to eat in Ferrara to win over the whole family:
- La Coppia Ferrarese (locally called ciupéta): Ferrara’s typical bread, famous for its unusual shape with four twisted horns and its crunchiness. Children will enjoy breaking off the ends and eating it as they stroll.
- Cappellacci di zucca: the filling is usually made from violina pumpkin flesh (oven-baked), generous amounts of Parmigiano Reggiano, egg, a pinch of breadcrumbs and the unmistakable aroma of nutmeg. Once ready, they are traditionally dressed with a rich Ferrarese meat ragù or with melted butter and sage, two sauces that perfectly enhance the sweet flavour of the pumpkin, which children generally love.
- Il pasticcio di maccheroni: a triumph of Renaissance cuisine that encloses macaroni in meat sauce inside a case of sweet shortcrust pastry. A truly unique sweet-savoury contrast.
- La tenerina: the perfect sweet to end the day. It is a typically Ferrarese chocolate cake, with a thin crust on the outside and a soft, creamy heart inside. A true delight for young sweet-tooths.
Foto: liakada-web /Flickr – Coppia ferrarese (CC BY 2.0)
Practical tips for your family weekend
- Parking: if you are arriving by car, we recommend leaving it in one of the large car parks just outside the walls and moving exclusively on foot or by hiring bicycles.
- Accessibility: the historic centre is flat and easy to navigate even with a stroller, but watch out for stretches with cobblestone paving, where the going may be a little bumpier.
- Planning: Estense Castle is very busy at weekends; buy your tickets online in advance to skip the queue at the ticket office and make entry with children quick and hassle-free.
Photo: Mikael Colville-Andersen /Flickr – The Bicycles of Ferrara (CC BY 2.0)
A strategic base for your family adventure
Ferrara shows how a city of art can be child-friendly, offering a perfect mix of chivalrous history, green spaces and cycle paths. Staying at Holiday Park Spiaggia e Mare in Porto Garibaldi allows you to plan this wonderful day trip with the utmost ease: in less than an hour by car (along the convenient Ferrara-Porto Garibaldi motorway link) you can move from the tranquillity of our pools and beach to the Renaissance charm of Ferrara’s streets, giving your children an unforgettable weekend of sea, nature and culture.
Photo: Pramzan /Wikimedia Commons – Certosa di ferrara (CC BY-SA 3.0)
