Italy family holiday by train
Description of Italy family holiday by train
Enjoy a family holiday where mindful, slow travel is at its core, thanks to Italy’s great rail network. Take the train from Bologna and discover six cities in Emilia-Romagna, staying in two great hotels as you go.
This is a self guided tour where you can make your own journey, but you’ll have local guided experiences along the way, including several workshops.
It’s a feast of a trip: this rich region has great food at its core. Bologna, home of bolognese, Reggio Emilia, known for parmesan, and Modena, known for its fantastic balsamic vinegar.
This trip has been designed with families in mind, with plenty of activities for children. You’ll enjoy hands on activities like mosaic making in Ravenna, a cooking workshop in Modena and pottery making in Faenza. The cities’ historic attractions include meeting a luthier in Bologna, parmesan makers in Reggio Emilia, and you’ll get guided tours with a local guide.
You’ll stay in two places on this trip: Bologna for six nights and Ravenna for three, two centres from which you can make easy day trips on the train, without having to take your luggage with you every day. Accommodation has been chosen for its commitment to benefitting local communities and the environment.
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Responsible Travel
Planet
CARBON REDUCTIONThis family trip has been carefully designed to make travelling by train simple, comfortable, and sustainable, an enjoyable way to discover new places while minimizing environmental impact. Moving through the landscape by rail allows you to slow down, gaze out of the window, and appreciate the beauty of villages, fields, and rolling hills passing by. It also offers a meaningful opportunity to teach children about responsible, mindful, and eco-friendly ways of travelling.Once within the cities, the itinerary promotes low-impact exploration through walking tours, bike rides, or the use of efficient public transportation systems.
ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
Every element of the journey has been thoughtfully planned to align with sustainable values. Accommodations are selected with care, giving preference to certified partners who adopt green practices , such as reducing waste, sourcing local and seasonal food, saving energy, and providing options for vegetarian and vegan guests. Together, these choices create a truly responsible and rewarding travel experience. An example? The Albergo del Cuore in Ravenna. Owned by a local cooperative it employes people with disabilities, it is fully accessible, has a bistrot providing vegetarian and vegan options and has a small shop with local products to support local economy.
People
LOCAL ECONOMYThis thoughtfully crafted itinerary invites travellers to explore the Emilia-Romagna region while making a positive contribution to its local economy and rich cultural heritage. Each activity has been chosen to encourage genuine connections with residents, traditions, and the region’s long-standing craftsmanship.
Guests will enjoy six nights in a welcoming, family-run 3-star hotel in the heart of Bologna — conveniently located near the train station and main avenues — followed by three nights in an ethical hotel in central Ravenna. Both accommodations are locally owned, ensuring that every stay directly supports small enterprises and community-based initiatives.
EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
The hotel in Ravenna is accessible to people with disabilities and managed by a cooperative committed to inclusion and social empowerment, offering employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities
This trip can be adapted for people with limited mobility, vision or hearing; or cognitive issues and is LGBTQ+ friendly.
All travel between Bologna and nearby cities such as Ravenna and Faenza is by train, reinforcing our dedication to sustainable, low-impact, and responsible travel.
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