Noto with kids: all you need to know to visit Sicily’s ‘City of Gold’ and why you’ll love it

All you need to know to plan a visit to Noto with kids: why go, best things to do, where to eat, travel tips from a mama.

Stunning Noto is one of the most beautiful towns in Sicily and a unique destination to visit with kids.

Famous for its baroque architecture, the honey colored town Noto is a treat for art lovers and any traveler who loves to wander immersed in a historic and architecturally meaningful village.

As well as this, Noto is blessed with a beautiful location, which makes it ideal as a base for day trips.

Within a short driving distance from Noto you find some if the best beaches in Sicily and many pretty towns, ranging from architectural marvels such as Modica to small fishing villages such as Marzamemi or Punta Secca (Montalbano’s House, if you happen to have seen the series!).

So, as you can see, Noto has everything: beauty, cultural immersion, small town feel, beaches nearby and of course the delicious food you expect in Sicily!

But what about kids, I hear you say? Is Noto suitable for kids?

Of course it is!

Noto is also lovely to visit with kids: the town itself is perfect for an afternoon walk with a cannolo and granita, while the beaches of this area are ideal for a longer family stay of sea and sun.

I adore Val di Noto. The whole area seems out of a postcard and is one of those places where you just FEEL you’re in Sicily, beauty being literally all around you.

As a family, we love art cities but I know that many find sightseeing hard with kids.

So today, I share all my tips to visit Noto with kids, so you can enjoy this stunning town and make the best decision on how to include it in your itinerary.

Safe travel planning!

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How long to see Noto with kids

The town of Noto is small and you can see it in a few hours.

The best time of day to see it is the afternoon / evening: Noto is almost entirely built in honey colored limestone and, as the sunset hits, the building glow in a wonderful golden hues.

This very special color is what gave Noto one of its nicknames: city of gold! The other one is the more self explanatory ‘Capital of Baroque’.

If you are coming to the area of Noto, rather than the town itself, then i recommend to stay several days, especially if coming in the good season – spring to early October.

This way, you can come to the town at different times, see all the other stunning centers in this area and enjoy the wonderful sandy beaches of South-Eastern Sicily.

Why visit Noto with kids

I recommend you come to Noto with kids if you:

• You want to see a beautiful Baroque town
• You want a small town with a walkable, beautiful center
• You want a town home base but the ability to quickly drive to beautiful beaches
• You are in Sicily off season, when more coastal locations see more seasonal closures of tourism services

Why not to visit Noto with kids

I recommend at least a short visit to Noto to all families.

However for a longer stay, families looking for a resort type location, walking distance to a beach or a lot of kids entertainment, may prefer a coastal stay instead and opt for a family resort type of setup.

I also do not recommend Noto as a base if you do not have a car. In that case, I suggest you consider Siracusa instead.

The best things to do in Noto with kids

The best things to do in Noto with kids rotate around visiting the beautiful town center and taking day trips to the area.

See the town center on foot or by the little train

The main thing to do in Noto is immerse yourself in the beauty of the city center and, with kids, you can do this just by walking around or my taking the little tourist train!

Either options are easy and fun to get to know the city and allow to see the top sights.

The little trains, albeit touristy as a concept, is great for kid.

Since the town is so full of churches and historic buildings, having a quick overview of what’s what adds depth to the visit, without having to out yourself or the kids through a long specialized tour. Also, it is great for families with toddlers since Noto is not all stroller friendly.

You can find info and exact stops here: info an bookings by phone or you can contact them using the form on the website.

No matter how you decide to get around, you want to keep an eye out for landmarks such as Porta Reale (aka Porta Ferdinandea), Noto Cathedral, Palazzo Ducezio, Piazza Xiv Maggio and its gardens, Palazzo Nicolaci (look at the incredible balconies!)

Mama’s Tip! At Porta Reale, get the kids to spot the three statue on top! They are a tower, a pelican and a dog and they have symbolic meaning. The tower represent the strength of the city; the pelican is a symbol generosity and the dog is a symbol of loyalty to King Ferdinand II Borbone, in honor of which the gate was built!

See Noto from above (Older kids)

If you have older kids who area steady on their feet (and you are too!), a lovely thing to do in Noto is to climb to the top of the tower of San Carlo Borromeo Church.

The climb is up a narrow, spiral, stone staircase, with a rope as an aid up: the steps are uneven and trangular so while this is not a challenging climb for people with a steady step an no fear of height, i would not recommend it with a toddler or small child.

The view from the top is lovely and a great way to get a feel for the color palette of the city!

Have a playground break in Villa Comunale

You wouldn’t come to Noto for the playground, but if you are here with littles, it is nice to know that there is one! It is inside Villa Comunale, public park beside Porta Reale.

Something special! Infiorata di Noto

Every year, on the third Sunday in may, Noto hosts a very special event, the infiorata.

This event consists of an incredible display of flowers, arranged to resemble a carpet that covers entirely Noto main street: it’s a stunning site and an event that brings here visitors from all over!

Best things to do in Noto area with kids

Outside of the city of Noto, the number of things to do with kids increases! Day trips and experiences we recommend are as following.

Go to the beach

Noto is close to many stunning beaches, with sand and beautiful waters for swimming. The best family beaches near Noto are:

Lido di Noto in Noto Marina, with lovely sand, gently degrading seabed and a mix of free areas and lidos

Spiaggia di San Lorenzo beach, one of the best and most popular in the area, with free stretched and many lidos, blessed with a long sandy stretch and shallow waters

Avola beach, lovely sandy beach between rock formations, with several lidos, soft sand and gently degrading waters.

Vendicari and Eloro beaches, in and beside the protected natural area of Vendicari, ideal for families who like a wilder beach experience (no lidos, you want to bring all you need from home)

Have lunch in Marzamemi

Marzamemi is a tiny place but it is so cute, so characteristic and so cheerful, you have to come here! The main thing to do here is just admire the small village, its tonnara and picture perfect square.

The village is a popular lunch place so you won’t be alone here but sitting out in the main square and the quality of the food here is just so pleasant, it is worth it, even if not overly original!

Good addresses to have are:

La Casa del Pomodoro, Via Marzamemi 43, 96018 – cheap, informal, paper plate settings and take out type of place

Al Boccone, Viale Regina Elena, 96018 Marzamemi – good restaurant with lovely sea views. best to book to be close to the sea 9high chairs for kids available)

Don Peppino for gelato is a local institution.

Good to know: Marmamemi is tiny so you can easily spend a day at the beach and here from Noto!

Spend a day in Siracusa

Sircusa is one of my favorite places in Sicily, maybe my favorite of all, and a fantastic place to visit with kids. There are two main parts of the city you want to focus on, both easy to visit in one day: the old center Ortigia and the archaeological park, both absolutely unforgettable and child friendly!

You can find here >>> my guide to spending one day in Siracusa.

Where to stay in Noto with kids

In the town of Noto, I recommend you check out:

Hotel Porta Reale, in a perfect location to explore the town on food, with suites and family apartment for up to 4 people

Hotel Flora, nice 3 star hotel close to Porta Reale with junior suites for up to 4 people (double bed and bunk beds)

For a stay outside of the town and a rural experience also look at Agriturismo Val Di Noto (budget friendly, rural, with animal and home restaurant, a deep dive into old Sicily!).

Where to eat in Noto with kids

Food is spectacular in Sicily so you really do not need to stress about specific addresses, but some you may like are:

Trattoria la Carretteria, small, informal place with traditional cuisine home-style, Address: Via Cernaia 19, 96017 Noto

Ristorante Pizzeria Casamatta, for pizza Address: Via Tommaso Fazello 23, 96017 Noto

Pasticceria Kennedy, for cannoli! Address: Via Silvio Spaventa 19, 96017 Noto

How to get to Noto and how to get around

The easiest way to get to Noto is by car. If you are visiting for a few hours, you can park in the parking on Via Cavour 158, which is close to the park and Porta Reale gate into the city.

if you are staying for a few days, there are daily rates available: the best way to go about it is communicating with your host so they can advise on exact logistics.

Noto with kids – pin this!