23 Amazing Things to Do in Florence with Kids + 2024 Travel Guide

Heading to Florence with kids?

You’re in the right place. Florence is arguably one of the most (if not, the most) beautiful and walkable cities in Italy, and a great place to visit as a family.

Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance, and is known for being the art and culture capital of Italy. This means that its one of the best places in Italy to have interactive art-related experience, admire unique buildings, and interesting museums.

Florence was my favourite city in Italy, and I am so glad that I go to experience it with my daughter who was 4 (almost 5) years old at the time. I was there as a single parent, and we walked around quite a bit, indulging in the family-friendly things to do in Florence.

For that reason, I guess you could say I’m a bit of an expert at making a trip to Florence kid-friendly, but enjoyable for you as an adult too.

So lets jump in – Florence with kids, everything to do, and what you need to know.

Things to Do in Florence with Kids

Here are the best things to do in Florence with kids on a family vacation

1. Explore the Piazza del Duomo

 The Piazza Duomo is the most famous piazza (a “piazza” is a town square) in Florence, and located right in the heart of the city. It has three of the most famous, iconic buildings in Florence.

Piazza del Duomo is pedestrian only and full of medieval architecture, Italian restaurants, and some shops as well. You’ll want to make sure you spend some time walking around here and admiring the sights.

Here are the things to make sure to check out while you’re in the Pizza del Duomo. These are three of the most famous buildings in Florence, so you’ll want to make sure to take it in and get all your pictures:

• Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, a 14th century church and the most well known building in Florence
• The Baptistery of St. John, a small basilica that was built in the year 1059 (over 1,000 years old!)
• The Duomo– One of the most first Italian renaissance buildings and inspired many others. Take some time to get photos in front of it, and if time allows, do go inside.

During high season, especially in the middle of a summer day, it can get very busy and crowded at the Piazza del Duomo. I chose to stay near the Piazza del Duomo, to be within walking distance of these famous sights.

Staying near the Piazza del Duomo is a convenient place to stay because its also very close to other attractions you will want to see in Florence. I was glad we stayed near there, because we were also a short walk from the train station. We stayed in an AirBnb which unfortunately, no longer exists because of the new rule.

However, there are some great family-friendly hotels to stay close to Piazza del Duomo, such as Eco Urban B&B (10 minute walk), Hotel Spadai (2 minutes) Hotel Monna Lisa (5 minutes).

Pro Tip: Piazza del Duomo is only a 10 minute walk from the Piazza della Stazione, Firenze train station. (The train station there is called Florence Santa Maria Novella station.) This makes it very convenient when arriving or when leaving Florence, or taking the train to other places in Italy. I was visiting Italy as a single parent to my then-4 year old. We were able to carry our luggage and walk from Piazza del Duomo to the Piazza della Stazione without a problem.

2. Ride the carousel in the Piazza della Republica

The Carousel, or Merry Go Round, in the Piazza della Republica is one of the most famous carousels in the world. The carousel has  20 horses and two “king’s carriages,” for smaller children and is open every day of the year between the May and November.

This carousel dates from the beginning of the 20th century, and has been owned and operated by the Picci family for the past century. (It is currently operated by the 6th generation of the Picci family.)

My daughter rode this carousel numerous times when we were in Florence. It was so easy – you just hop on, and there was rarely a lineup even though it was mid-July.

There was live music playing in the square, and it was all around a pleasant atmosphere. Make your way over to Piazza della Republica and enjoy the ambiance. The carousel runs from about 10am in the morning to about 8pm at night.

Good to Know: To put the location of this carousel into perspective, the Piazza della Republica (where it is located) is less than a 5-mintue walk from the Piazza del Duomo.

3. Do a walking tour of Florence aimed at families

If you enjoy walking tours but feel discouraged about bringing your children on one, then you might be happy to know that walking tours specifically aimed at children are offered in Florence.

These walking tours start in the evening at 6pm and are designed to engage kids in the history of Florence and allow them to admire it by night. This avoids being out in the sun during sweltering hot days (if you’re visiting in summer) and allows you to see Florence at dusk, which is quite pretty.

The children’s walking tour is 2 hours and 30 minutes long, and includes a dinner of pizza and a gelato dessert.

Book your family-oriented walking tour of Florence here

4. Take a break in a Florence playground

Florence has a number of playgrounds for children. Many are well-shaded with mature trees and allow you to take a break from the summer Tuscan heat.

I relied on playgrounds when travelling around Italy with my daughter. It was so helpful to escape the crowds, take a breather, and allow her to burn off some energy.

During our time in Italy, I dragged her to many museums, and we stood in many lineups. The playgrounds gave her a chance to run around and let loose for a while.

Here is a map of all the playgrounds in Florence. To see an interactive map and assess the distance from where you’re staying to any of these playgrounds, click here.

5. Walk around the Uffizi

While you’re in Florence, you’ll most likely want to make time to go into the Uffizi Gallery. The Uffizi is one of the most famous art galleries in the world, and contains artwork from the middle ages up to the Modern period.

Even if an “art gallery” doesn’t necessarily sound fun to the ears of a child, I assure you that some of the art is striking. There are paintings and sculptures that can tell a story. My 4-year old happily walked around with me, and we discussed what the paintings and sculptures were about.

Recently, a tour agency has begun offering kid-friendly guided tours of the Uffizi which might be more fun (and less exhausting for you as a parent) than being your child’s tour guide.

The tour includes hotel pick up, skip the line access, and kid-friendly activities at the museum.

Book your private family guided Uffizi tour here

If you choose to visit the Uffizi independently (without the kid friendly tour) then I would recommend booking your ticket online in advance, and try to aim to visit early morning as it is very busy, even on weekdays on low-season.

The Uffizi is open from 8:15am to 6:30pm every day except for Mondays. Give yourself at least 2 hours to look around the Uffizi and see everything.

Pro Tip: Uffizi (and other museums)

If you’re visiting Florence with kids who are young (under 10) let them bring a stuffie with them to the museums. This way, they can have fun showing their ‘friend’ the different works. My daughter really enjoyed this.

6. Learn the real-life history of Pinocchio

Did you know that there’s a Pinocchio store in Florence? Pinocchio is from a small Tuscan town of Collodi, which is about 90 minutes from Florence.

Tuscany is seen as the ‘birthplace’ of Pinocchio, which one of many books that take place in the Tuscan region of Italy.

My daughter had seen the Disney animated movie at the time we went to Italy. I explained to her how Pinocchio was ‘born’ in this part of Italy, and she found that fascinating

The Pinocchio store sells handmade wooden toys, and other souvenirs. If you’re a fan of Pinocchio, there are a lot of Pinocchio-themed souvenirs, but they tend to be more the original Florentine Pinocchio rather than the Disney animated-style one.

The Pinocchio Store is open every day except for Sundays, from the morning until early evening. The hours differ each day, but it closes between 5pm and 6:30pm. It’s about a 10 minute walk from the main square (Piazza del Duomo).

7. Do an interactive tour of the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum

The Leonardo Interactive Museum features invention models, designs and reproduced art of Leonardo da Vinci. It’s a great place to learn about who Leonardo was, and about everything he learned about and taught – science, art, history, architecture.

You can build bridges, and play with the replicas. The museum is not aimed at kids specifically, but its the perfect place in Florence to go if you have kids. Its the one museum where you don’t have to say “don’t touch anything.” You can let your children explore, test, be creative and scientific.

The Leonardo Da Vinci Musum is located between the Duomo (Florence Cathedral) and the Accademia Gallery. It is open from 10 am to 6 pm during the week, and until 7 pm on weekends.

Book your ticket to the Leonardo Interative Museum here

9. Take a walk down the via Calzaiuoli street

Calzaiuoli street in Florence is a pedestrian-only street that is completely closed to motorized vehicles. Its also very wide, and flat, making it perfect for people walking with their kids, and stroller friendly.

It’s a bustling, busy place, and you will see all kinds of people walking up and down, shopping and eating.

Along the street, you’ll find shops, cafés and historic attractions. Everything here tends to be a bit high end and expensive. There used a Disney Store on this street, but sadly it closed.

Calzaiuoli street connects Piazza della Signoria with Piazza Duomo, so its very central and closeby. You will probably even end up walking along it without realizing!

See the ‘chocolate waterfall’

While walking down Calzaiuoli street, be sure to make a stop at Venchi Cioccolato e Gelato which has a chocolate waterfall. I tutored ESL to an Italian teenager who was visiting Canada, and she specifically recommended this place to me.

We didn’t eat any gelato from Venchi, but I’ve heard its very good. I just wanted to go inside to see the chocolate waterfall.

My Italian student was lactose intolerant, and told me she would specifically take medication to allow her to eat the gelato from Venchi! So hear it from the Italian girl from Florence – the gelato at Venchi must be very good.

10. Take a family art class

A company called Arte al Sole runs various types of art classes for families visiting Florence. These workshops are designed to introduce kids and their families to the legendary culture of art in Florence.

The workshops are in English and best for children ages 6 and up. They also run camps, and can assist with finding childcare in Florence so that parents can go off and do some adult-only activities.

This is a really great way to get some high-quality childcare while on vacation so that parents can relax and possibly take part in other Florence activities that wouldn’t interest the kids as much.

Here are the two workshop programs offered by Arte al Sole and the prices. All art workshops are 2 hours long.

• Florence Traditional Paper Marbling (make your own paper, the medieval way) €320 for a family of 4
• Art lessons for child only or the whole family. €120 per person
• Bobli Gardens Watercolour Sketch Hunt – €230 for a family of 4

These art workshops can be booked on the Arte al Sole website .

11. Take a reading break at the Children’s Lending Library

The Children’s Lending Library is an English library in Florence that has been running since 1973. In addition to books, it also has activities and games. Its very small and cozy, and has books suitable for a range of reading levels; from pre-school up to young adult.

The library is a nice place to escape the hustle and bustle of the busy Florence streets and enjoy some peace and quiet.

As this library is run solely by volunteers, the hours are very limited. They’re open on Thursdays from 4:30pm-6:30pm, and Sundays from 10:30am-12:30pm. You simply drop in during those times.

The Children’s Lending Library is located near the heart of a Florence, about a 15 minute walk from the main piazzas.

12. See the David by Michelangelo

The David by Michelengo was sculpted in the 1500s and one of the world’s most famous sculptures. The original sculpture is located in the Academia, but there are also two other ‘copies’ of it at other locations in Florence.

My 4 year old was a bit surprised that the statue was naked, but I explained to her that its just body parts and the art is a reflection of what people were fascinated with at that time: the human form.

The Academia is open from 8:15am to 6:20 am every day except for Monday. I arrived at 8am to be safe, but the line up to get in was already insane, and my 4 year old daughter was very unhappy to stand in it for as long as we had to.

If possible, I would recommend booking a skip the line ticket. This one also includes a short guided tour, and the whole thing is an hour and a half, and includes your entrance tickets.

Book your Skip the Line Ticket to the David here

It doesn’t take too long to walk through the Academia as its quite small. I would plan to spend more time at the Uffizi than at the Academia.

Other ‘David’ sculptures in Florence

The David in the Academia is the original one made by Michelangelo. There are several replicas made by others, not only in Florence, but around the world. There’s even a wikipedia article dedicated to replicas of David!

If you don’t have time, or don’t want the hassle of visiting the original David, seeing the replicas is much easier as there’s rarely a crowd around them.

One that you can check out is the David in the Piazza della Signora – this is probably probably the easiest one for you to see, since its near the carousel. It has been there since 1910.

13. Walk across the river on the historical Ponte Vecchio Bridge

The Ponte Vecchio is a stone bridge that walks over the Arno River that was believed to have been built during the Roman times. The Arno River is the largest river in Central Italy, and it runs through both Florence and Pisa.

During World War II, the other medieval stone bridges in Florence were destroyed, but Ponte Vecchio remained. As you walk across, you will see all kinds of shops; lots of Italian souvenirs.

It only takes a few minutes to cross the bridge by foot, but you may want to stop and look at souvenirs. On the other side of the bridge (from the main part of Florence) is the Pinocchio store, and the Boboli Gardens.

14. Relax in Boboli Gardens

Boboli Gardens (Giardino di Bobili) is a park in Florence that originally opened in 1766. It was created by the Medici family and was one of the first examples of an Italian garden, and became an inspiration for how European courtyards were structured.

It’s a great place to enjoy some gardens and green space in the city.

In addition to gardens, there’s also a palace on-site (Pitti Palace, home of the Medici family), and many interesting buildings. You see, its not just a ‘garden’ but is also like an outdoor museum with lots of art; sculptures and fountains to look at.

The garden large and you’ll need to do a lot of walking to explore it. The morning is the best time to visit; fewer people and a more relaxed atmosphere.

The cost to visit the Boboli gardens is 7€ for adults; children 18 and under are free. There’s an option to do a combined ticket to visit the Pitti Palace as well for 15€.

Getting to the Boboli Gardens

Bobili Gardens is on the ‘other’ side of the city, so you’ll need to cross the bridge to get there. You can easily get there on foot, including with a stroller if you need one. Its about a 15 minute walk from the Piazza del Duomo, to give you a reference. The gardens are open every day from 8:15am to 6:30pm

15. Take a pasta making class

One of the best parts of travelling somewhere like Italy with kids is being able to show them what some of their favourite foods (like pasta, pizza) taste like in their country of origin – and how to make them from scratch.

There are pasta making classes in Florence that are family friendly. They tend to last 3 hours long, and the best part – you get to enjoy the pasta dinner you cooked at the end.

Taking a pasta making class was one of the most memorable things I did in Italy with my daughter, and I’d highly recommend it to families.

There are two pasta making options that I would recommend in Florence – this one is ideal for adults and children 6+, and lasts for about 3 hours and is very reasonably priced. You learn to make three different types of pasta, and get to eat your food at the end (with a wine pairing for people who are 18+.)

Book your pasta making class in Florence (ages 6+) here

Good to Know: If you have a child under the age of 6, then I would recommend Mama Florence’s pasta making lessons instead. They are a little bit more expensive than one I mentioned above (149,00 € per adult, and 118,00 €  per kid) but children as young as 4 years old can participate.

16. Walk through Florence’s Central Market

Florence Central Market (also known as the San Lorenzo Market) is located in a 2-floor building. Its a bustling, busy place that is a foodie haven. Whether or not you buy any food, the market beautiful in the presentations of all the foods and is worth seeing.

Its a great place to walk around, stock up on some of your favourite Italian foods , people watch, and of course – eat. You can get mouthwatering pizzas, fresh baguettes, juicy burgers, pastries, sweets, you name it to eat right on site.

Florence Central Market is open every day from 9am until midnight.

If you and your family are foodies, consider signing up for a tour of the Florence Market and cooking class where you get a private tour of the market, select ingredients and then take an Italian cooking class.

Its a 5-hour long activity though, so I’d only recommend it for older children.

Book the Florence Market Tour and Cooking Class here

What to buy at the Florence Central Market

Aside from food that you can eat on-site, the Florence Central Market is also a good place to get some Italian souvenirs to take home.

Did you know that there are almost as many types of olive oil in Italy as there are types of wine? Florence is the best place to get olive oil and you can find some vendors selling locally-sourced olive oil at the Central Market.

Olive oil makes a great gift to bring home or to use for cooking with your family. (Of course, since its a liquid, you’ll need to buy a bottle amount that you can check in your luggage.)

17. Take a gelato making class

In Florence, there are family-friendly gelato making classes that allow your family to visit a professional gelato making-academy in the heart of Florence and learn from professional gelato-maker Vetulio Bondi.

During the class, get to learn what ingredients are used and the processes to making gelato so creamy and delicious. This is a unique experience to have as a family in Florence, and also, you may learn some gelato-making techniques that you could replicate at home.

Gelato making classes are 1-hour long and are suitable for ages 3 and up. The cost is 74 € for children, 79 € for teenagers, and 89 € for adults. Click here for more information and to book.

18. Visit the Biblioteca delle Oblate

The Biblioteca delle Oblate is a historic library located in the heart of Florence, just a 5 minute walk from the Duomo.

There is a great library for young children in the lower level. Its intended for children up to the age of 14 and they’ve carefully selected great materials and laid it out in a thoughtful way which you can read about here. The books are mostly in Italian, but this isn’t really an issue for young kids.

The views from the windows of the main part library are incredible. Over the orange rooftops, you can see the tower of the Duomo.

On the same level as the main part of the library, there’s also cafeteria where you can order food and drinks. So, its easy to spend a morning or afternoon relaxing here.

The Biblioteca delle Oblate is open every day. The section in the lower level for children has its own special hours:

19. Take a picnic at sunset

The Piazzale Michelangelo is known as the ‘best sunset in Florence,’ and the ambiance is beautiful. There’s almost always a musician playing live music which adds to the relaxed atmosphere, and you can watch the Florentine sunset over the city.

Having a sunset picnic at Piazzale Michelangelo is actually a very popular activity amongst both locals and tourists so I recommend getting there a little early to get a good spot. It can be a bit of an uphill walk (though completely doable if you’re in shape and like to walk) otherwise you can take a bus in like 10 minutes or so.

One idea is to head to a grocer or market to stock up on grapes, cheese, bread and and then take a picnic to the Piazza Michelangelo for the sunset.

Florence Sunset Times:
May – 8:19 – 8:49pm
June – 8:50-9:00pm
July -8:38-9:00pm
August – 7:31 – 8:37pm
September –6:57 – 7:49pm

20. Visit the Selfie Museum

The Selfie Museum in Florence is a place where you can go to have fun taking silly and interesting photos, and express yourself through creativity.

Its a fun opportunity to take a break from the city, and get a ton of fun pictures in unique settings. A lot of effort has gone into the props and sets. Most sets were best with someone else taking the photo for you, so if possible – bring a second adult, or take turns taking photos of each other.

The Selfie Museum is open from 10am to 7pm, seven days a week. You can buy tickets online. The cost is 13,00 € for adults, and 5-7€ for kids, depending on age group. (Under 3 years old is free!)

Pro Tip: I recommend coming to the Selfie Museum at an unpopular time, such as morning on a weekday, as there’s likely to be fewer people. When you book, you will be given a 1-hour slot to get all the photos you want. A lot of the rooms have mirrors, so you have to wait for other people to be done before your turn.

21. Explore early science at the Galileo Museum

The Galileo Museum (Museo Galileo) is a must-see in Florence. As you know, Galileo was an astronomer and a scientist from the 1600s who made a lot of space discoveries – mountains on the moon, the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn. So, if you guys are interested in space, then you should take the opportunity to explore this museum.

At the museum, there are beautiful instruments, globes, and physical representations – all showing the attempt and the passion to learn something new. They are from a time when people didn’t have the knowledge that they do today.

The museum is not usually busy at all, so you’re likely to have an easy relaxed visit. It’s open every day from 9:30 to 6pm, except on Tuesdays when it closes at 1pm.

You can find the Galilelo Museum is the Piazza dei Giudici, which is near the river, just a 10 minute walk from the Duomo.

22. Go for a swim

Not everyone automatically thinks of swimming when they think of a trip to Florence, but it might be a nice idea to cool off on a hot day between June and September.

Le Pavoniere swimming pool is just a 14 minute walk from downtown Florence. Its located in Cascine Park, which is the largest park in the city.There is a large central pool, and a smaller pool specifically for kids.

Food is served on site at Le Pavoniere, so you can make a complete day out of it. For lunch or dinner, you can eat in the restaurant inside the historic villa, or enjoy appetizers by the pool.

The pool opens at 9am each day, and usually stays open until fairly late. The cost for children 4-11 years old is € 6,00 on weekdays, and € 9,00 on weekends. 12+ is priced as an adult, which is € 9,00 on weekdays, and €12,00 on weekends. Children 0-3 are free of charge.

Important: To swim in the pool, you need to bring your ID documents, and you also must swim with a swim cap. If you don’t have your own, you can buy them there for € 3,00.

23. Take a day trip

Florence is the largest city in Tuscany, and makes a good home base for exploring other parts of Tuscany. Other really nice places to go are Pisa, Siena, Lucca, Bolonga, or even Cinque Terre.

All of these places are between 1-2 hours from Florence by train.

Taking the train is easy and convenient, and the train station, Florence Santa Maria Novella station, is a short walk from the city centre (1 km from the Duomo.)

So if you’re staying in the city centre, take advantage and go explore somewhere that is also beautiful, but less-visited than Florence.

Read more about the day trip options with kids below.

Where to Stay in Florence with Kids

Here are some great places to stay in Florence with kids that are well situated (safe, and close to things you want to do) according to different budget levels

I mentioned some ideas above of placed to stay near the Piazza del Duomo, but here are some additional places to stay in Florence that are particularly family-friendly.

• Budget: B&B The Attico – Close to the city centre, offers a buffet breakfast and children’s cots upon request
• Mid-range: Il Mercato Centrale B&B – Recently renovated, allergen-free rooms in the city centre
• Luxury: B&B La Marmoa 39 – Right in the centre of Florence, and offers a baby gate and a play area if you stay here with kids, plus a great breakfast included each morning

Things to Know about Florence with Kids

Here are things that are good to know before heading to Florence with Kids

• Florene is very walkable, and stroller friendly. Most of the attractions that you’ll want to see are within a 15 minute walk of each other.
• You’ll need to book a hotels to stay at Florence, like many other Italy destinations, has become a bit over-touristed in recent years, especially since the pandemic. There’s no denying that. In fact, a new rule was made that short-term vacation rentals (Airbnbs) are no longer allowed in in the city centre because of the impact it was having on locals finding affordable homes.

Although Florence is very busy, I believe its absolutely worth it. It will help a lot if you book entry tickets online and skip the line tickets for the different attractions you want to see, so that you don’t get stuck standing in line ups with frustrated kids (as I did).

All in all, Florence was by far, my favourite city in Italy and I want to show you why, despite the summer crowds, its absolutely worth a visit with kids. Whether you have toddlers or older children, there’s a ton to do in Florence.

Where to Eat in Florence with Kids

Here are the best places for a family meal in Florence

You can’t go wrong in Florence with food. Most places we ate at were places that we stumbled upon while we were walking around, and every single person was so friendly and welcoming to my 4-year old. She was given free small plates of pasta, occasionally some colouring and the food was always delicious.

However, there are a few particularly special places in Florence that if you have time, I’d recommend making an effort to go eat at.

1. Osteria de Pazzi

Osteria de Pazzi serves traditional homestyle Italian food in a historic building. The food is to die for (especially their carcofi- artichoke!) Check their menu here.

This restaurant is known for the owner singing in the kitchen, and often comes out and jokes with customers.

2. Trattoria La Casalinga

Trattoria La Casalinga serves traditional Tuscan dishes. Its on the ‘other side’ of the river. It has been open 1963 and is very well known for locals. Everything on the menu is fatta in casa (homemade).

I recommend going a little early if you don’t want to wait too long in line. Check out the menu here.

3. Vivoli

Vivoli is the oldest gellatería in the city. They serve gelatos, ice cream, pastries and coffees. The gelatos are artisan and made with seasonal frozen fruit and 100% Italian whole milk. They’re known for their affogato which is their “great coffee cream”. Vivvoli has a cozy, charming atmosphere and truly a gem in the city.

Tips for Visiting Florence with Kids

Here are a few tips that are especially relevant if you’re visiting Florence with toddlers or young kids

Bring a stroller if you’re visiting Florence with toddlers. Its a very walkable city, but there can sometimes be a lot of walking. My 4 year old did fine without any kind of stroller, but I would definitely bring one for ages 0-2 years old,.

Important: Don’t bring a double stroller with seats beside each other, because that type is too wide for some of the alleyways and tiny streets.

Don’t pack too much into one day. There’s so much to do in Florence that its easy to get excited and plan multiple things in a day. If you have young children, this can sometimes get frustrated and exhausting -for you and them. Read my post on toddler travel tips.

Day Trips from Florence

Florence makes a good home base while exploring Tuscany. Here are some day trips in nearby cities, villages and Tuscan countryside that you may want to consider as a family

Florence is pretty central in Italy, and you can get to other cities (such as Rome and Venice) pretty easily via the high speed train.

Most of the other notable places to see in Tuscany are between 1-2 hours outside of Florence. The best way to get to them is to take a train, but there are organized group tour options too, some of which are suitable for families depending on the ages of your children.

Day Tours from Florence to Other Parts of Tuscany

Most of the group tours from Florence are a long day (9-12 hours in length) so I’d only recommend it if you have older children who would be able to handle being on the road for that long.

I probably wouldn’t do any of these day trips if you’re travelling with toddlers, but I think that older children 5+would be fine on most of them. I will recommend some below that are suitable options for families.

1. Siena

1 hour, 6 minute train ride from Florence

Siena is a medieval Gothic city, and its centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Sight, with a fortification that is 1,000 years old. The architecture is Gothic style and stunning.

In Siena, you can walk around the main piazza, Piazza del Campo, see the striking Siena Cathedral, and various museums and galleries.

2. Lucca

1 hour, 14 minute train ride from Florence

Lucca is known as “Città d’arte” (City of Art) and like Siena, has old fortified walls from the 1st century A.D.

Lucca is said to be one of the most kid-friendly towns in Tuscany, because it is small and completely car-free. It’s one of the places where you don’t have to choose between beauty and ‘child friendly.’

3. Pisa

1 hour, 20 minute train ride from Florence

See the famouns leaning tower of Pisa, and more impressive Italian medieval architecutre. For ideas of things to do in Pisa as a family, read my post on Things to Do in Pisa with kids

If you want to get from Florence to Pisa, the easiest and cheapest way (as for most Tuscan cities) is to take the train. From the Florence Santa Maria Novella station, you can take a train to the main station in Pisa (called Pisa Centrale.) It leaves every 30 minutes (sometimes more often during peak hours), and a single ticket costs 8.90 euros.

Good to Know: From Pisa, you can get a ferry to Sardinia Island, one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean. You would need to spend at least a few nights on Sardinia to see everything, including its impressive beaches. Read my post on travelling through Sardinia with kids

If you’re interested there is a day trip from Florence that visits Pisa and Lucca. Its a 9 hours day, and all ages are welcome. The tour leaves at 9:00am from Florence and includes some free time during the day in both cities.

Book your day trip from Florence to Pisa and Lucca here

4. Bolonga

1 hour, 28 minutes from Florence

Bologna is famous for having a warm atmosphere, and for its food. Its known the food capital of Italy, and nicknamed “la grassa” (the fat one.)

Bolonga, like Lucca and Pisa, is also known for being a good place to visit in Tuscany for families.

Since its known for its good, you should look for local restaurants that are great for adults and kids, such as Trattoria del Tempo Buono (simple, small and rustic but has mouthwatering Italian food) or Sfoglia Rina, which is a pasta restaurant that people of ALL AGES will love.

5. Cinque Terre

2.5 hour train ride from Florence

Cinque Terre might be a bit further than you want to travel with kids on a day trip from Florence, but its very lovely and worth a visit if you don’t mind the 2.5 hour train ride.

There is a family-friendly tour to Cinque Terre from Florence that lasts for 12.5 hours. Its stroller accessible and has infant seats available. It leaves from 7:00am from Florence.

Book the Cinque Terre day trip from Florence here

Florence with Kids: FAQs

Here are the most commonly asked questions about travelling in Florence with kids

How many days do you need in Florence with kids?

To see everything in Florence with kids and experience all that you want to, you will need at least three days.

Is Florence safe for children?

Yes, Florence is a safe city for children and otherwise. The historic city centre has a very low crime rate, there are are many pedestrian-only streets and squares with a family-friendly attitude

Is Florence good for family holiday?

Florence makes a great family holiday. It has family-friendly museums, large and walkable piazzas and pedestrian only streets, delicious food. There are also art workshops, classes and camps geared to English-speaking tourist children. Florence was my favourite place to visit in Italy with my daughter

Is Florence baby friendly?

Florence is baby friendly because its flat, and has pedestrian-only streets and squares (piazzas) which make it very stroller friendly. Because it is flat, it is much more stroller friendly than other Italian cities, such as Venice.

Florence with Kids: Conclusion

Florence is arguably the most beautiful city in Italy, and full of inspiration in the passion that has been put into its architecture, art and culture. I love the layout of the city, the things to do and the food.

The only thing I don’t love about it is the crowds – especially in the summer. But its popular for a reason. I hope that this post has filled you with ideas and inspiration for how to visit Florence as a family.

There are so many things to do in Florence with kids, that I believe if you can only visit one city in Italy as a family – then Florence should be at the top of your list. Buon viaggio!