Puglia is more than just beaches and baroque beauty—it’s also a fantastic place to explore with curious children. From interactive children’s museums and archaeology parks to living history museums and interactive exhibits, families will find a wide range of museums across the region that welcome young visitors with open arms and open minds.
This guide brings together Puglia’s most child-friendly museums and educational spaces—places where kids can climb aboard trains, dig for ancient artifacts, meet marine animals, gaze at the stars, or get messy with art and science. Many of these museums offer year-round workshops, guided experiences, and hands-on labs designed to spark imagination and foster a love of learning through play.
Whether you have a toddler or a teenager, there’s something here for every young explorer. Ready to discover? Let’s dive in.
Museo dei Bambini – Lecce Children’s Museum
Location: Lecce (Via Nicola Foscarini 24)
Focus: Open-ended play, early science, creativity
Admission: €8.19 + VAT per person (children over 6 months and adults)
A purpose-designed children’s museum for ages 0.5–10, where kids can explore sensory exhibits, science zones, and interactive play stations freely. Sessions are structured in 2-hour visits and offer a rich environment of self-led discovery. The museum is open on weekends year-round and hosts special themed events and science workshops.
Museo di Storia Naturale del Salento (MSNS)
Location: Calimera (S.P. 275 Calimera–Borgagne)
Focus: Nature, wildlife, astronomy
Admission: Adults €10, Children (3–14) €7
This large natural history museum includes exhibits on zoology, paleontology, and ecology, plus a vivarium and wildlife park with live birds and reptiles. The planetarium hosts space-themed presentations, while kids enjoy environmental science labs and hands-on activities related to animals, fossils, and conservation.
Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Egnazia
Location: Fasano
Focus: Messapian and Roman archaeology
Admission: €10
Adjacent to the archaeological park of Egnazia, this museum displays artifacts from the Messapian and Roman periods. Families can explore ancient ruins and learn about the region’s rich history through engaging exhibits.
Parco Astronomico Sidereus
Location: Salve
Focus: Astronomy and space observation
Admission: Adults €15, Children under 13 €10
A stunning observatory set among olive groves, Sidereus offers nighttime telescope viewing, meteorite touching, planetarium shows, and educational astronomy labs for children. Ideal for sparking curiosity about the stars.
An open-air and indoor museum combo, offering a walk through ancient Egnatia’s ruins and a well-curated indoor space. Children enjoy exploring roads, tombs, and baths with space to roam and reflect on daily life 2,000 years ago.
Parco Astronomico San Lorenzo
Location: Casarano (Contrada Manfio)
Focus: Astronomy, space science
Admission: Around €10–€12 per person (check online for events)
An astronomy park featuring a 3D planetarium, telescope observation nights, and solar lab. Regular family-focused events let kids build simple rockets, view constellations, and explore our solar system in immersive ways.
Museo della Preistoria di Nardò
Location: Nardò
Focus: Prehistoric archaeology
Admission: €8 adults, €7 children (4-13)
Home to some of Europe’s oldest Homo sapiens fossils (from Grotta del Cavallo), this museum offers fossil exhibits and stone-age-themed workshops for kids. A great introduction to early human history through local archaeological finds.
Kalòs – L’Archeodromo del Salento
Location: Caprarica di Lecce
Focus: Living archaeology, ancient life
Admission: Adults €10, Children (6–14) €5
Italy’s largest open-air archaeological park reconstructs life in prehistoric and Messapian times. Children can engage in hands-on experiences like fire-starting with flint, weaving, grinding grain, and other ancient skills during special school visits and family days.
Parco Archeologico di Rudiae
Location: Lecce (Via A. Mazzotta)
Focus: Ancient ruins, Roman amphitheater
Admission: €8 adults, €6 children (10-18)
Once home to poet Ennius, Rudiae is a fantastic spot for children to explore a real Roman amphitheater and participate in simulated excavations. The guided tours and family-friendly activities bring ancient history to life.
Museo del Giunco
Location: Acquarica del Capo
Focus: Traditional craft, cultural heritage
Admission: Around €4
Website: Not available – check with Comune di Presicce-Acquarica
A unique museum set in a medieval castle, dedicated to the traditional art of weaving marsh reeds (giunco). Children can see artisan demonstrations and try weaving simple objects during hands-on workshops that celebrate Salento’s peasant heritage.
Museo della Ceramica di Grottaglie
Location: Grottaglie
Focus: Traditional pottery and folk art
Admission: €4
Housed in a castle, this museum displays centuries of Puglian ceramic artistry. The colors, textures, and shapes appeal to kids, and families can sometimes book clay-shaping workshops to try out traditional techniques.
Museo Archeologico dei Ragazzi
Location: Nardò
Focus: Child-centered archaeology
Admission: Contact for pricing
This archeologico museum for children turns archaeology into an interactive adventure. With reconstructed dig sites and experimental history labs, kids can simulate excavations, explore tools, and reenact prehistoric life.
Acquario del Salento
Location: Santa Maria al Bagno
Focus: Marine biology, environmental education
Admission: €7
A small but engaging aquarium with Mediterranean fish and mollusks. Tours are guided and interactive, making it easy for kids to understand marine ecosystems and sea creature behavior. Often includes themed labs for schools and families.
Museo Paleontologico dei Dinosauri
Location: San Marco in Lamis (Foggia)
Focus: Paleontology, dinosaurs
Admission: Adults €10, Children (3–12) €8
This museum and adjoining dinosaur park feature life-sized models and exhibits of prehistoric creatures. Children can learn about the Mesozoic era and see actual fossilized dinosaur footprints, making it an exciting educational experience.
Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Taranto (MArTA)
Location: Taranto
Focus: Archaeology, ancient civilizations
Admission: Adults €10
MArTA houses one of Italy’s most significant collections of artifacts from the Magna Graecia period. The museum offers educational programs and workshops tailored for children, making ancient history accessible and engaging.
Museo delle Saline
Location: Margherita di Savoia (Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani)
Focus: Salt production, environmental education
Admission: Contact for current pricing
This museum explores the history and process of salt production in the region. Interactive exhibits and guided tours offer children a hands-on understanding of this essential industry and its environmental significance.
Conclusion
Puglia’s museums prove that learning doesn’t have to stay behind glass—it can be touched, built, questioned, and brought to life. As you journey through this region with your family, you’ll find not just places to visit, but experiences to share: moments of wonder, curiosity, and connection. So pack your sense of adventure and your love of discovery—Puglia is ready to welcome the whole family into its living classroom.
