Visiting Etna even with small children is possible and does not constitute any risk by following our advice. Etna is an active volcano, but by staying at lower altitudes, on the marked roads and official paths of the park there is no danger. A short useful guide for families with small children.
This is one of the most frequently asked questions. The answer is: absolutely yes! There are several activities that can be organized with children to visit Etna.
Visiting the volcano with family
Depending on the time you plan to dedicate to visiting the volcano, you can safely follow the advice already given in What to see on Etna in one day? or What to see on Etna in half a day?
We assume that in this case the needs of the little ones will dictate the times. In any case, as we explain in the articles to which we refer, Etna offers several possibilities for visiting places of great landscape and naturalistic interest. If you have your own car, you can easily reach the maximum altitude of 2000 meters (see the paragraph below on advice in relation to age). The tourist locations of Nicolosi - Rifugio Sapienza (South) or Linguaglossa - Piano Provenzana (North) have bars and refuges for stops and finding refuge for a break. The Etna cable car also departs from Rifugio Sapienza, which allows you to ascend to the highest altitudes without any effort, but be careful about the altitude for smaller children. For dynamic families who love walking with their children in nature, there are several paths that can be tackled safely, here are some:
- The Silvestri Craters, Sapienza Refuge (South) – 15/20 minutes. Easy, even with children
- The Sartorius Craters, Citelli Refuge (North East) - loop approximately 1 hour, easy.
- Black Mountain of Zappini, Piano Vetore (South) – complete loop approximately 2 hours, easy.
You can consult our hiking map to view these and other itineraries.
Other fun and leisure activities
A visit to Etna can be combined with some leisure and entertainment activities. Here are some examples of family activities on Etna.
Visit to an adventure park – today there are 3 adventure parks on the volcano. Two on the southern side, at Piano Vetore at about 1700 meters and at Monti Rossi di Nicolosi. The other in the town of Milo on the eastern side. Tibetan bridges, pulleys, activities for all levels of difficulty and ages, including adults, with the added possibility of stopping in the nearby picnic areas.
Walks with donkeys, horses, alpacas – there are some associations that offer trips on the backs of these docile animals. Just do a search to find the references.
Visit beekeeping farms – Zafferana etnea is the town of honey. Many companies offer both tastings and visits suitable for children, a sweet and educational experience.
Etna Tour by Train – The Circumetnea Railway could be another interesting activity with families especially on weekends, when there is no commuter traffic. We recommend considering it with children aged 4/5 years and up if you plan to do the whole tour, because it is quite long, about 4 hours with some stops. Learn More
Guided excursions
Contacting an organization of guided excursions on Etna can be the perfect solution for families with children. In fact, you will not have to worry about anything and activities suitable for the presence of children will be proposed. The recommended activities are usually half-day excursions in jeep or easy trekking with children over 6 years of age already accustomed to walking in nature. Organizations like ours are specialized in tours with families and are also provided on request with car seats (free of charge). We also offer excellent offers for children: children under 13 years of age pay discounts of up to 50% depending on the tour.
Below are some of the most advantageous proposals recommended for families:
Advice in relation to age and altitude
For reasons related to atmospheric pressure, it is not recommended for children under a couple of years of age to go above 2000 meters above sea level. For children under 3/4 years of age, it is recommended not to go above 2500/3000 meters (Etna cable car arrival station).
