LECCE WITH KIDS – In a Land of Beaches, This is a City You Shouldn’t Miss

Like the title says, this part of Italy is all about the clear, turquoise, spectacular beaches that rival the colors you see in the Maldives. 

So, is it really worth heading inland?  And dragging your kids from their happy place at the beach?

Yes.

Lecce is well-known to Italians, and if you bring it up, they often give a little head tilt to the side, smile, and start telling you why they love the city. 

It’s got something for everyone, and I think it’s the perfect complement to time spent at the beach.  You don’t need to spend days in Lecce to appreciate it.  One day in Lecce (or even a half day if that’s all you can pull off) is a perfect amount of time for a family visit.

I’m a mamma of three boys and we live near Florence.  We love exploring Italy, and we were recently in Lecce as a part of a two-week stint in Puglia.  I’ve also spent plenty of time in the Puglia on other family travels, for work (as a cycling guide), and traveling on my own in my 2+ decades in Italy.

Let’s take a look at:

• Why Lecce is a great stop for families
• When to visit Lecce with kids
• Things to see and do in Lecce with kids
• What to eat in Lecce with kids
• How to get to Lecce and get around the city
• Family logistics for Lecce (strollers, baby supplies, etc)
• What to see and do nearby
• Where to stay with your family if you want to visit Lecce

Andiamo – Let’s go!

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Why You Should Visit Lecce with Your Kids

Lecce is worth a visit with kids because:

• It’s a nice contrast to time spent at the beach
• There are a ton of kid-friendly things to do in town (tower views, gelato, cycling, playgrounds, architectural ruins, shops, kid-friendly foods) – you won’t get bored
• It’s easy to reach by public transport and once you’re there, to get around on foot
• It’s gorgeous! 

When to Visit Lecce with Your Kids

Lecce is a year-round destination. 

My main tip – avoid visiting during the day during the summer months.  It’s really hot and there aren’t many places to hide from the sun!

If you happen to be in the area at the end of August (24^th, 25^th, 26^th), try to catch the Sant’Oronzo Festival – the city buzzes with the luminarie (lights), little markets, fireworks, a temporary amusement park for kids, and a procession.

Read more about visiting Italy in January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – December.

What to See & Do in Lecce with Kids

Take a Rickshaw Tour

We took a rickshaw tour with Velo Service in the late afternoon and it was the perfect way to get an overview of Lecce’s main sites and some favorite haunts of our guide.  We spent a little over an hour exploring the historic center.  We were able to fit in the back of the rickshaw (adult, 11-year-old, 7-year-old, 4-year-old), but with larger groups you’d need to rent more than one.

‘Climb’ the Bell Tower

You can’t climb up Lecce’s bell tower, but you can take an elevator!  Although we prefer climbing the steps with our own legs, we still enjoyed the spectacular views from the top of the bell tower. 

Buy your tickets in the office at the opposite side of the piazza, then walk back and take the elevator up (it takes a couple of minutes).  It’s windy at the top.  There are glass fences/protectors at adult armpit level.

Kids can use the digital goggles to learn about what they’re seeing (stadium, Piazza Sant’Oronzo) and what’s far in the distance (Greece).

You can find more info (opening hours, current ticket prices, etc) on the Chiese Lecce official website.

Good To Know:  You can leave your stroller at the base of the elevator.

Helpful Tip:  The bells do toll.  Double-check the timing when you’re buying tickets if you want to catch/avoid the tolls on your visit.

Do your kids like climbing towers? Be sure to check out
Towers to Climb in Tuscany with Kids
My Favorite Venice Climbs and Viewpoints

Check out the Roman Amphitheater

It’s easy to peek at the Roman amphitheater from street level.  Looking down into the amphitheater, my boys spent a few minutes imagining the gladiator battles that took place. 

The aphitheater is next to the lively Piazza Sant’Oronzo and Caffè Alvino (perfect snack stop).

Do your kids love gladiators?  Don’t miss Gladiator School in Rome!

Find the Art by Lecce’s Banksy

If your kids are like mine and enjoy street art and Banksy, you’re in luck – kind of.  Lecce has its some false Banksy art, and you can get up-close-and-personal with it. 

One of the works is on the Duomo – a Madonna holding a migrant boat as a child.  It’s signed ‘BANKSY’ and it’s a similar style to the famous artist, but it’s regarded as false.  Still, it’s fun to check out, and if you’ve got older kids or teens, you can discuss the art’s message.   

Check out the Façade of Santa Croce

I know, I know – looking at the front of a church doesn’t sounds like a thrilling activity for kids.  But this one’s interesting and full of animals (they represent territories like Rome, Genoa, Venice, and the noble Orsini family – can you figure out which ones?) and creatures. 

We didn’t go inside and instead spent our time happily investigating the façade. 

Tip:  If your kids like this façade and you’ll be traveling to Matera with kids, check out Matera’s Chiesa del Purgatorio and its façade that includes angels, skulls, and skeletons!

Play with Local Kids in the Garibaldi Gardens

This large playground is just outside the city center.  Our consensus was that the playground equipment was better for younger kids, but that there are plenty of other fun things to do for older kids too (play soccer, check out the fountains, run around). 

The playground isn’t fenced, but it’s in the middle of a large area and not too close to the roads.  There are actually two little playgrounds really close to each other (you can see one from the other) and they have slides, spring toys, swings, and play structures, all on padded ground.  There are benches and one of the playgrounds also has shade.

Helpful Tip:  If you’ve got a car, you could drive and park on via Garibaldi (for example, the paid parking here) or the Parkejoo garage and save little legs the walk.  We walked to/from the center and it took us about 15 minutes each way (moving at a 4-year-old’s pace).

Good To Know:  There’s another playground, the Parco dei Colori, that’s about a 30-minute walk from the Duomo.  It also works well on a visit to Lecce, and you could stop before or after you visit the city center.

Find One of the City Gates

There are only 3 of 4 remaining – which is your favorite?  If you want to just find one of them, we recommend the beautiful Porta San Biagio.  At this same spot, you can also see the obelisk with the dolphin (Salento) biting the moon (Turkish invaders).

Look for the She Wolf

Lecce’s symbol is a she-wolf under a holm oak tree, and you can see it in many places in the city, including:

• On a mosaic in Piazza Sant’Oronzo (combine with a peek at the amphitheater)
• Inside the Duomo
• On the Lecce calcio (soccer/football) squad’s jerseys
• On trinkets in shops

Fun Fact:  Lecce was called Lupiae back in the day, and Lecce’s soccer team are nicknamed the lupi (wolves).

Sample Lecce’s Gelato

Look for seasonal fruit flavors if you’re visiting in the summer.  We loved Gelateria La Romana (of the same La Romana gelato we love in Rome), not far from the Giardini Garibaldi playground.  Tip: Don’t miss the pesto di pistacchio or cremolata.  Baldo Gelato is a great option for fruit flavors and it’s also close to the Giardini Garibaldi playground.

Discover Cartapesta

Papier-maché (cartapesta) has its origins in Lecce because there was a need at the time (1700s) to create décor with less expensive materials.  The handicraft has stayed and you can see artisans at work in the historic center of Lecce. 

You can even try making it in a workshop or get a close up look in a shop or outside a shop (like in front of Cartapesta near Piazza Sant’Oronzo).

More things to check out in Lecce with your family:

• Lecce Children’s Museum – You can only book 14 days in advance
• Rent bicycles – Veloservice rents bicycles in Lecce
• Railway Museum of Puglia (Museo Ferroviario della Puglia) – This museum has everything for train enthusiasts – from mini models to real trains.
• Museo Faggiano – An underground museum of archaeological ruins.  I really wanted to stop in but decided it wasn’t the right spot to bring my 4-year-old.  I’d definitely consider it with older kids or teens.
• Città del Sole – Toy store chain that’s a favorite of our family
• Shopping and window shopping – You can find ‘regular’ shops in Piazza Mazzini, more shops on Via Vittorio Emanuele
• Double-façade Duomo

Coats of arms on the buildings – If the coat of arms is on the door, the owner was born noble.  If the coat of arms is on the corner of the building, the owner bought the title.

What to Eat in Lecce with Kids (& Where to Eat It)

Take a chance to try some leccese or pugliese specialties while you’re here:

• Pasticcioto – custard-filled pastry
• Orecchiette – ‘little ear’-shaped pasta
• Rustico Leccese – puff-pastry stuffed with mozzarella and tomato; great for pizza cravings; easy to carry around as a snack and tastes amazing even if it’s not hot
• Puccia salentina – kind of like pita bread, but a little softer and fluffier; kid-friendly; good as a bread for sandwiches; originally made from the leftover pieces of dough and were liked because they were easy to transport

Try these kid-friendly places to eat in Lecce:

• Alvino – a must-stop for classic pastries like rustico leccese, arancini, pucce, or my boys’ favorite – faggottini (little hot pockets with your choice of filling – my boys chose hot dogs and fries); this place also has sweet treats; sit outside on the piazza; you can also get gluten-free or vegan rustico here
• Pizza&Co – pizza!  Or, outside the city center, 400 Gradi has a garden dining area
• Mamma Lupa – try the different crostini; order multiple dishes and let your family share; outdoor seating
• Mister D – if your kids (or you) need a burger or pulled-pork sandwich

How to Get to Lecce with Your Family

By Car – If you’re not staying in Lecce, this is the easiest way to get to Lecce.  You can park in multiple lots around the city.  If you’re staying in Lecce, you’ll need to give your car’s license plate to your hotel so they can register it with the local police (so you won’t get fined for entering the ZTL – limited traffic zone).

By Train – Lecce has a train station and there are regional (slow) and high-speed trains arriving daily.  If you’re traveling car-free in Puglia, Lecce is an easy place to get to/from.  Just keep in mind it’ll be more difficult (and costly) to get to nearby beaches (if that’s part of your plan).  From the station, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the cathedral.

Good To Know:  If your kids like trains, check out Lecce’s ‘Railway Museum of Puglia,’ on the back side of the train station.

Parking in Lecce – On our last visit, we parked in this lot in the blue spaces (pay the machine and get a ticket or use a parking app).  The Parkejoo garage is huge, on the edge of the historic center, and close to the Garibaldi Gardens playgrounds. 

Read more about
Parking in Italy
ZTLs in Italy
Italy Travel Apps I Use

Lecce Family Logistics

Strollers – Lecce is stroller friendly, and if you plan on exploring a lot of Lecce, you’ll want to have your stroller for little ones.  We walked a ton on our recent visit, even though we also saw a lot of the city by bicycle rickshaw. 

Toilets – The City of Lecce has a map of city-run public toilets, but you can also use toilets in bars or restaurants.  For example, grab pastries at Caffè Alvino by the amphitheater and use the toilet before you leave. 

Diaper Changes – I didn’t notice many changing tables in toilets in Lecce on our recent visit, so I recommend having a portable changing pad with you. 

Baby Supplies – You can find diapers and baby basics at Acqua e Sapone near the playground in the Garibaldi Gardens.   If you’re not heading to the playground, try a pharmacy in the historic center.  There are smaller grocery stores (like Coop and Conad City) in central Lecce, and bigger supermarkets.

Kids Clothing – For basics, head to OVS kids (kind of like Target), just outside of the historic center.  Lecce also has Chicco (focused on babies and toddlers).  If you really need to stock up, there’s an Io Bimbo store in the industrial area outside of the city.

Learn more about
Bathrooms in Italy
Strollers in Italy
Diapers in Italy
Pharmacies in Italy
Grocery Stores in Italy

What to See & Do Near Lecce with Your Family

Our family’s favorite thing to do near Lecce is head straight to one of the coasts (Ionian Sea or Adriatic Sea) and play/swim at the beach with other families. 

Beaches and Beach Towns – Porto Cesareo, Torre Lapillo, Torre dell’Orso, Baia dei Turchi, Alimini

Villages & Cities – Nardò, Otranto

Check out my Puglia beach guides
Torre Guaceto Beach
Torre Lapillo Beach
Lido Stella Maris (at Torre Lapillo)

Where to Stay In or Near Lecce with Kids

While I usually say stay in the historic center when visiting a city in Italy, I feel a little differently about Lecce.  Since a huge part of a stay in this area is going to the gorgeous beaches, I recommend staying in the countryside near Lecce.  That way, you can get to the beach or Lecce easily. 

Masseria La Tofala – We stayed here on our recent visit and it checked many of my family travel boxes (swimming pool, large grassy area, playground, laundry service, close to grocery store, etc).  The location is fantastic for visiting Lecce, turquoise beaches on the Ionian coast (like Porto Cesareo & Torre Lapillo), and charming towns like Nardò.

If you’re visiting outside of beach season, a central Lecce stay would be best. 
Nohi’s House – Well-located apartment in the historic center. 

Enjoy your time in Lecce with your kids!  I’ll leave you with this quote from our bicycle rickshaw guide: 

“Lecce has three parts – what you can see, what’s inside, and what’s on top.” 

I encourage you and your kids to try to see Lecce from those three perspectives.  Hint:  wander the streets, try to find a courtyard or enter a shop or restaurant, and go to the top of the bell tower.