MARTINA FRANCA WITH KIDS – Frankly, It’s Fabulous

Martina Franca has everything you need for a visit with kids – a playground, excellent gelato, mostly car-free streets, and plenty of kid-friendly restaurants. 

Mamma and papà can admire the Baroque architecture and lovely piazzas while the kids run around with other bambini and fill their bellies with gelato.

It’s close to other charming towns like Locorotondo, Cisternino, and Alberobello, and it’s not far from the sea.  So, it’s easy to combine a visit to Martina Franca with another place – or do like we like to do and have a chill day at the hotel/trulli/masseria pool and then head to Martina Franca for a stop at the playground, an early evening passeggiata, and dinner.

I first visited Martina Franca as a cycling guide in over 20 years ago, and my most recent visit was with my three boys (ages 4, 7, and 11).  We spent the afternoon exploring town – playing with local kids at the playground, checking out the shops, and eating some of our favorite gelato in Puglia.

Thinking of visiting Martina Franca with your kids, but don’t know where to start?  Let’s take a look at:

• Why you should or shouldn’t visit Martina Franca with your kids
• What to see & do in Martina Franca with kids
• Where to eat with kids in Martina Franca
• How to get to Martina Franca and where to park
• Family logistics (diaper changes, groceries, etc)
• What to see & do with your kids in the area
• Where to stay if you want to visit Martina Franca with your kids

I hope this helps you plan a fun, memorable, and stress-free visit!

Andiamo – Let’s go!

You may also want to check out my Guide to Visiting Puglia with Kids

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Why You Should Visit Martina Franca with Your Kids

• It’s not unknown, but it’s less ‘touristy’ than some nearby villages like Alberobello.  Yes, you’ll see postcard shops, but you can also wander quiet lanes and ‘escape the crowds’ a bit here.
• It’s a lovely place for an evening, outdoor meal with kids.
• It’s reachable by public transport.  For example, you can take the train between Locorotondo and Martina Franca in about 10 minutes. 
• It has our favorite gelateria in Puglia.
• You enjoy outdoor art.  On our recent visit, we enjoyed the art on display in the historic center.

Why you may want to skip a visit to Martina Franca with your kids:

• You’re looking for kid-focused activities.  Martina Franca is more of a ‘wander around and enjoy the ambiance’ type of place.   There aren’t adventure parks or children’s museums here.
• You can only visit midday in the summer.  Martina Franca is at its best on a summer evening or during the day outside of summer months.
• You want to swim in the sea.  Martina Franca is inland.

What To See & Do in Martina Franca with Kids

Look for Public Art

On this visit, we walked underneath the towering hands sculpture in Piazza XX Settembre (in town through August 2025). 

We also found sculptures by Andrea Roggi – his works often combine earth, olive trees, and mankind.

Good To Know:  The official name of the hands sculpture is ‘Building Bridges,’ by the artist Lorenzo Quinn.  You may have seen his enormous hand sculptures in Venice, including the famous one of the hands holding up the Ca’ Sagredo Hotel (called ‘Support,’ and representing rising sea levels that threaten the existence of Venice and other coastal cities around the globe).

Walk Through Porta Santo Stefano

What kid doesn’t like to walk through a huge entrance?  My boys enjoy marching through the imposing Porta Santo Stefano, one of four porte in town. 

Find the Dolphin Fountain

I’ll give you a hint: it’s in Piazza Roma, reached right after you walk through Porta Santo Stefano.

Check out the Tiny Lanes & Charming Piazzas

Stroll past shops, grab a gelato, and linger in Martina Franca’s piazzas.

Martina Franca has two not-to-miss piazzas, and they’re right next to each other – Piazza Plebiscito and Piazza Maria Immacolata.  Take a peek at both and find a spot for a snack or aperitivo.

Good To Know:  The towering Basilica in Piazza Plebiscito is named for Saint Martin.  Can your kids find him inside?  He’s on horseback and offering his red cloak to a person in need. 

Head to Martina Franca’s Playground

The Giardini Villa Madonna del Carmine host the town’s parco giochi. The playground has climbing structures, swings, slides, spring toys, a seesaw, and a basketball court.  The ground is padded, there’s shade, and it’s partially fenced.  There are benches and picnic tables as well. 

My boys really liked playing here and they deemed it one of the best playgrounds in the area.

Check out the Slow Food Night Market

Although it’s only held once a month, if you’re in town on the second Sunday of the month, check out the Mercati della Terra di Martina Franca and Crispiano.  Be sure to check the market’s Facebook page for the location (it rotates between Martina Franca and Crispiano). 

Pick up fresh fruits and vegetables, wine, olive oil, artisan crafts, and more.

Where to Eat in Martina Franca with Kids

Latteria Ringo (Gelato) – Important things first.  Grab a cup or cone or a granita at this excellent gelateria in town.  It’s currently our favorite spot for gelato in Puglia (we haven’t tried every gelateria, but we’re working on it…).  Not-to-miss flavor: pesto di pistacchio con sale dolce.

You may want to check out
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Garibaldi Bistrot – In the main square (Piazza Plebiscito), with a nice atmosphere and good food.  Kids can play in the piazza while adults linger at the dinner table.

Via Dei Matti – Another option on Piazza Plebiscito, with more casual options.  They serve ‘little bites,’ like Spanish tapas or Venetian cicchetti, so you can get a few things for your family to try/share.

Foodie Alert: Martina Franca is the place to try capocollo di Martina Franca.  It’s thinly sliced cured pork, taken from the neck or shoulder.  You can try it at most restaurants in town.  One option – Osteria del Cocopazzo (reserve a table outside).

How to Get to Martina Franca & Where to Park

Drive Your Own Car – The easiest (and most flexible) plan for traveling to Martina Franca is by car.  The SS172 runs right through town and connects Martina Franca to Locorotondo (north) and Taranto (south). 

If you don’t want to drive your own car, you could also hire a private driver (NCC – noleggio con conducente) or even a taxi.

If you’re traveling with kids, I highly recommend visiting by car.  You can park where you want, leave when you want, and easily bring your stroller. 

Take Public Transport – If you’re staying in a nearby town (like Locorotondo), you can reach Martina Franca by bus (just 15 minutes from Locorotondo).  Remember to keep an eye on the schedule. 
While you can use public transport for longer journeys, know that there are usually multiple stops (and sometimes delays).

Parking in Martina Franca – There are a few parking lots and garages around the historic center.  One of the main ones is Parcheggio Orti del Duca.  You can park and reach the main piazzas or the playground on foot in about 5 minutes.

If you want make a grand entrance through Porta Santo Stefano, you can park on the street nearby.  On our recent visit, we parked on Via Gabriele d’Annunzio and used the EasyPark app to pay for parking (and top up when we stayed longer than expected).

Read about
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Martina Franca Family Logistics

Strollers – I find Martina Franca to be very stroller-friendly.  It has plenty of wide sidewalks and you can move around freely in the pedestrian center. 

Traffic – Martina Franca is mostly car-free, but there are still some cars allowed in the historic center (like residents or workers), so you can never let your guard down.  If you’re walking to the playground, take the slightly longer (and more picturesque) route through the historic center instead of the more direct route on the main road.

Diapers – You may luck out and eat in a restaurant with a changing table in the bathroom.  However, I recommend bringing a portable changing mat for ‘on-the-go’ diaper changes. 

Bathrooms – If you need to use a toilet, your best bet is to use one in a restaurant or café (purchase something like a coffee or a pack of gum).  There are a couple of free public toilets but they may not be open (or at 100/100 on your cleanliness scale).

Baby Products – If you need diapers, wipes, baby food, toiletries, or other baby supplies, you can go to a pharmacy (most are on the edges of the historic center) or the grocery store (your best bet is a larger one outside of the historic center, like Conad). 

You may want to read more about
Strollers in Italy
Diapers in Italy
Bathrooms in Italy
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What to See & Do Nearby with Your Kids

This area is really compact, so there’s plenty to do near Martina Franca:

• Locorotondo
• Ceglie Messapica
• Cisternino
• Alberobello
• Ostuni
• Grottaglie
• Bicyle Ride
• Monopoli
• Polignano a Mare
• Beaches, like WWF-protected Torre Guaceto Beach