15 Best Things to Do in Florence with Kids

Planning to visit Florence with kids?

Florence is a beautiful, charming city in the Tuscany region of Italy. This capital city of the Tuscany region is famous for its Renaissance art, history, architecture, and food.

It tops one of my favorite places in all of Italy!

In this guide, I will share you with the best things to do in Florence with kids, the best day trips from Florence, and where to stay in Florence with kids. I also hope to answer the many questions you might have in planning your trip to Florence with kids!

Here are the 15 best things to do in Florence with kids!

15 Best Things to Do in Florence with Kids

Florence is famous for its Renaissance art, history, architecture, and amazing food. It’s a charming Italian city perfect for a family vacation.

Here are the 15 best things to do in Florence with kids!

1. Visit the Duomo

You might be asking yourself, what is the “Duomo?” The Duomo is the more common name for the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. It’s the most recognized landmark in Florence.

When in Florence, seeing the Duomo is a must. It’s kind of hard not to see the Duomo though. This prominent, stunning building is hard to miss when driving or walking through Florence.

When I saw the Duomo for the first time, it absolutely took my breath away….. it’s massive in size, it’s beautiful! There are just no words to describe how unique and spectacular this building is.

One of the most popular things to do in Florence is the climb to the top of the Duomo. But you might be asking yourself…..

Can Kids Climb Duomo?

Yes, kids can climb the Duomo! There is no age limit on climbing the Duomo. But keep reading, to decide if it’s something you want to do.

When you hear people talking about the climb to the top of the Duomo, they are referring to the climb to Brunelleschi’s Dome.

This climb is an intense 463-step climb. They say if you suffer from a heart condition, vertigo, claustrophobia, or are pregnant, the climb to the Dome is not recommended. I will say that I suffer from both vertigo and claustrophobia and I was perfectly fine.

However, I consider myself in pretty good shape and the climb to the top was difficult. Be prepared to be out of breath, and to have to stop a few times to take a quick breather.

Kids shouldn’t have any trouble at all though with the climb. My youngest is 9 and flew up and down the stairs with no difficulty.

My three kids who are ages 9, 13, and 15 loved this adventure. And trust me it is an adventure! You’ll be traversing dark, narrow passageways that seem to never end. But once you reach the top, you will be glad you did it.

Your reward is the most amazing view of Florence! There is just no other view like this in all of Florence. From here, you can see how truly beautiful the city is!

Because of the adventure of the climb and the beautiful view at the top, climbing the Duomo should be at the top of your list as one of the best things to do in Florence with kids.

Tips and Ticket Information for Climbing the Duomo

A ticket is REQUIRED to climb the Duomo (Brunelleschi’s Dome)! These tickets are timed entries. You must show up on time!

Your ticket to climb the Duomo also includes the Baptistery of San Giovanni, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Opera del Duomo Museum, and the ancient basilica of Santa Reparata.

One of the best ways to climb the Duomo is with the Skip the line: Duomo Skywalk – Florence Heaven ticket. This is an excellent tour for those of us with kids. No waiting in line!! It includes skipping the main entrance lines with a fast track ticket, a tour of the Duomo and the terraces, and of course Brunelleschi’s Dome!

▶To book your Skip the line: Duomo Skywalk-Florence Heaven tickets, click here!

2. Ride the Carousel at Piazza della Repubblica in Florence with Kids

When in Florence with kids, you must head to Piazza della Repubblica.

Piazza della Repubblica is one of the main squares in Florence with lots of shops and restaurants around it. But the Carousel in the center is the main attraction!

Riding the carousel in Piazza della Repubblica is a must when in Florence with kids. I even rode it and had a blast! There’s nothing like riding a carousel and hearing the sweet music to make you feel like a kid again.

3. Eat Gelato

When in Florence with kids, eating gelato is a must. In fact, eat it every day or multiple times a day. Try different gelato shops and try different flavors.

Eating gelato is definitely one of the best things to do in Florence with kids.

4. See the Chocolate Wall at Venchi in Florence with Kids

Since we’re talking gelato, one gelato shop in Florence you must go into is Venchi. Venchi is a chain gelato shop you’ll find throughout Italy.

This particular gelateria in Florence though has an amazing chocolate wall behind the counter!

So stop here, be amazed at the delicious-looking chocolate wall and grab some gelato!

Location: Via Calimaruzza 18, Florence, Italy

5. Take a Pizza & Gelato Cooking Class

One of the best and most memorable things you can do in Florence with kids is to take a pizza and gelato cooking class.

We did the Pizza and Gelato Cooking Class in a Tuscan Farmhouse from Florence and had an amazing time! I could not recommend this class enough! This was definitely a highlight of our family vacation in Italy.

The instructors were super friendly! The scenery was beautiful! And the food we made was amazing!

We even said the pizza we made here was one of the best pizzas we had on our entire trip to Italy.

▶To book this Pizza and Gelato Cooking Class in a Tuscan Farmhouse from Florence, click here!

6. Explore All Things Pinocchio in Florence with Kids

Any Disney or Pinocchio fans? Do you know that the famous wooden puppet, Pinocchio has its roots in Florence?

The author of The Adventures of Pinocchio, Carlo Collodi was from Florence. The story of Pinocchio took place in an unknown town in Tuscany.

When walking through Florence. you’ll see many street vendors selling Pinocchio puppets and other Pinocchio-themed gifts.

There are also a couple of Pinocchio-themed stores you must stop at when in Florence with kids. One is Pinocchio Store Firenze. Here you’ll find puppets, wooden toys, books, and t-shirts. Another store is Bartolucci Store where you’ll find puppets, wooden toys, and gifts.

If you happen to find yourself in Piazza del Mercato Centrale, you’ll even find a Pinocchio statue there!

7. Go Shopping in Florence with Kids

Besides shopping at the fun Pinocchio stores in Florence, this city also offers many other fun shops for kids to browse.

There are a couple of fun candy shops such as Candy Lisa and Captain Candy. These shops will draw you in with their delicious-looking displays.

If you have a LEGO lover, a must-stop is LEGO Store Firenze. In this store, they have the pick a brick wall and a station to build your own custom Minifigure.

LEGO Store Firenze also has the innovative Mosaic Maker here. This is where you can purchase a picture of yourself in LEGO bricks! How fun would it be to bring this home?!

8. Watch the Sunset at Piazzale Michaelangelo

The best place to see the sunset in Florence is at Piazzale Michaelangelo.

Piazzale Michaelangelo at sunset can be a very lively place. You’ll see many people here taking in the amazing views. There are also many vendors here selling drinks and snacks if your kids get thirsty or hungry.

If you can’t make it there for sunset, you still have to visit to see the best panoramic view of Florence!

Family Photos in Florence with Kids

Piazzale Michaelangelo is the perfect place for family pictures in Florence with kids. The views just do not get any more stunning than they do here!

We hadn’t had family pictures taken in quite some time, so I decided no better place to do it than in Italy! And I thought Piazzale Michaelangelo would make the perfect spot!

Here are a few shots from our photoshoot!

TIP: It’s very easy to hire a vacation photographer in Italy through Flytographer. You enter the city and date you are interested in and a photographer who is available will get back to you!

9. Admire the Art at Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most popular things to do in Florence. This art museum is famous for its collection of ancient sculptures and paintings from the 14th century and Renaissance periods.

Here at Uffizi, you’ll see masterpieces by some of the following amazing artists including Botticelli, Leonardo, Raffaello, and Michelangelo.

A great tour for kids and families is the Uffizi Tour for Kids. We all know that kids sometimes lose interest in museums, but this tour is great at keeping kids attention, so both kids and us parents can enjoy and learn!

▶To check prices and book Uffizi Tour for Kids, click here!

At the exit of the Uffizi Gallery is a big gift shop. Here they sell lots of items great for kids including books and clothing.

Here at the gift shop, I enjoyed looking at books about Leonardo di Vinci. I knew he was a famous painter, but didn’t realize how incredibly smart he was. I was stunned by the number of futuristic inventions that he created!

10. See the Famous “David”

David is the world-famous marble Renaissance sculpture created by Michaelangelo. This sculpture is housed at the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence.

This sculpture is truly a masterpiece! It’s definitely worth the admission ticket just to see David!

▶To purchase skip-the-line tickets to see Michelangelo’s David, click here!

11. Visit Piazza della Signoria

Piazza della Signoria is the most famous and well-known square in Florence. When in Florence with kids, take a walk through this beautiful, lively square.

Here you’ll find a copy of the David statue. The original David statue was located here until it was moved to Galleria dell’Accademia. You’ll also find the beautiful Fountain of Neptune.

If you are lucky enough like us, maybe you’ll even catch a live concert while here.

When we were passing through, the Italian police band was getting ready for a concert. We stayed for a while and enjoyed listening. They played many well-known children’s tunes including Disney songs! It was very fun and entertaining!

12. Play at Florence Playgrounds

When in Florence with small kids, let them be kids and run around at one of the following Florence playgrounds.

Giardino di Borgo Allegri

Giardino di Borgo Allegri has a great children’s play area for those with small kids in Florence. It’s about a 3-minute walk from Basicila of Santa Croce in Florence.

Here you’ll find small slides, swings, and ride-on toys.

There’s even an inside area, great for those rainy days, with small toys such as trucks and cars.

Address: Borgo Allegri, 18, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy

Parco Giochi Santa Rosa

Small children’s play area overlooking the Arno River.

Address: Lungarno di Santa Rosa, 50142 Firenze FI, Italy

Giardino delle Scuderie Reali 

Another small children’s play area in Florence; includes slides and swings.

Address: Piazzale di Porta Romana, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy

13. Visit Boboli Gardens

Boboli Gardens is an 11-acre open-air museum in Florence. It’s directly behind the iconic Pitti Palace! It’s a beautiful, relaxing place to visit when in Florence with kids.

The gardens and park are stunning! The greenery and beautiful statues make for a nice place to walk around.

Fun Fact: These grounds originally were created and belonged to the Medici family. This garden style became a model for many European gardens.

Day Trips from Florence with Kids

Florence is a great city to base yourself in to explore the other areas in Tuscany. You could either take a tour, rent a car, or travel by regional train to explore these other towns in Tuscany.

We took the Tuscany in One Day Sightseeing Tour from Florence. This was an easy way to see a few towns in Tuscany and they also took us to a restaurant overlooking the Tuscany countryside for a full-course Italian lunch!

▶To book this amazing Tuscany in One Day Sightseeing Tour from Florence, click here!

Here are some great places to take day trips from Florence with kids!

14. Explore Other Towns in Tuscany

Siena

Siena is a beautiful medieval city in Tuscany. It’s surrounded by a 1000-year-old well-preserved wall. Its central square, Piazza del Campo is famous for its horse races called Palio, which are held twice a year.

When visiting Siena you have to visit the beautiful Duomo di Siena. This cathedral is very unique in that it has stunning white and dark green (looks black) marble.

TIP: As in all churches in Italy, shoulders must be covered. They did provide covers for anyone that needed them.

Siena’s beautiful architecture, cafes, restaurants, and shops are definitely worth a stop as a day trip from Florence with kids.

San Gimignano

San Gimignano is another beautiful walled medieval town in Tuscany. This town is situated in a beautiful hilltop setting. You can see this town from miles away in the distance and its skyline is just stunning!

San Gimignano has some really great shops to walk in. This is a perfect spot to find the perfect Tuscan souvenir to bring home.

While in San Gimignano with kids, you have to stop by Gelateria Dondoli. This gelateria is very popular, so expect a long line but it moves pretty quickly.

Pisa

I’m including Pisa, because of the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is just one of those places everybody wants to see.

To be completely honest, Pisa was my least favorite place in all of Italy. In fact, it was the only place of all in Italy I did not like.

I felt Pisa was a dirty city, filled with aggressive people trying to sell you things. And there’s really not much here to see besides seeing the Leaning Tower.

My advice is if you want to see The Leaning Tower of Pisa go straight to that and then leave. The tour we went on only stopped in Pisa for about 1.5 hours and that was plenty for me.

15. Visit the Stunning Cinque Terre

So if you’ve never heard of Cinque Terre let me give you a little background. Cinque Terre is a region consisting of 5 seaside villages with colorful buildings built into the cliffs along the picturesque Italian Riveria.

You’ve probably seen many pictures of it and just may have never realized it was Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre is a must-see on your family vacation in Italy. This can easily be done as a day trip from Florence, which is what we did.

Some people even decide to keep their hotel in Florence, spend the night in Cinque Terre, and then return to their hotel in Florence the next day. When people do this, they usually leave most of their luggage in Florence and only take what they need to Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre’s hills are no joke. It can be hard to take luggage into some accommodations because of the steep inclines. This is why the less luggage here the better.

When in Cinque Terre with kids, rent a private boat and explore the Meditterean SEa. This was one of my favorite things we did on our entire trip to Italy. Our guide took us to a great area to swim in a cave!

Another great thing to do in Cinque Terre with kids is head to the popular Nessun Dorma restaurant in Manarola. This place is Instagram famous for its stunning views.

TIP: Download the Nessun Dorma App. This allows you to be put on the wait list when at a close distance from the restaurant.

While taking in the breathtaking view here, you can indulge in bruschetta, meat and cheese platters, and wine. My kids enjoyed a frozen alcohol-free strawberry daiquiri on an extremely hot day.

After eating at Nessun Dorma, we headed to the restrooms at the restaurant which are located by walking up the stairs. We stumbled upon an amazing playground here! Playground views just don’t get any better than this!

My kids, even the teens, enjoyed playing here! My husband and I enjoyed relaxing while the kids enjoyed just being kids.

FAQ

Is Florence Child Friendly?

Is Florence child friendly? Absolutely!

Florence is definitely child friendly. We saw plenty of children in Florence; babies and toddlers in strollers, young kids, older kids, and teens.

It’s also a very walkable city, making it easy to get around with kids.

You’ll find something for every age in Florence. Florence is definitely a city for all!

How Many Days Do You Need in Florence?

How many days do you need in Florence? I would allow at least two full days to see Florence. You could easily spend so much more time here taking in all this city has to offer.

Florence is also an excellent city to base yourself in when seeing other towns in the Tuscany region. If you plan to do this, plan on staying at least 4 nights in Florence.

We based ourselves in Florence for 4 nights. This allowed us two full days to see Florence, a day tour to see other Tuscany towns, and a day trip to Cinque Terre.

Is Tuscany Good for Children?

Is Tuscany good for children? Yes, yes, and yes!! Tuscany consists of a large region in Central Italy. Tuscany includes Florence (the capital of Tuscany), many other amazing small towns, and of course the beautiful Tuscany countryside we all know of.

Many families choose to stay in the countryside and stay in an Airbnb or VRBO with lots of open spaces and a swimming pool.

Where to Stay in Florence with Kids

Florence is a family-friendly city, so there are many great family-friendly places to stay in Florence with kids.

VRBO

Staying in a VRBO is an excellent option if you’re looking for more space to spread out, a kitchen, and a washing machine.

▶To check out VRBO accommodations in Florence, click here!

B&B Galileo 2000

B&B Galileo 2000 is a luxury property located in the heart of Florence. This is where we stayed in Florence with our kids! This property has so many things going for it!

Its location is amazing! It’s very close to everything! We were so close to many of the main attractions, museums, squares, and restaurants in Florence.

This property is a Bed & Breakfast, so all the rooms are a little different. The room we stayed in was very large and well-decorated with elegant furnishings and Renaissance art.

It had a sitting area, a dining table, and a mini-fridge. My husband and I shared a king-size bed and the kids each had their own individual beds to sleep in.

Oh, and last but not least, it does have an air-conditioner! If you’re traveling to Italy during the summer, air conditioning is a must!

TIP: In Italy, city taxes are collected separately from your room. Most places want you to pay them in cash.

▶To check rates and book B&B Galileo 2000, click here!

How to Get to Florence

By Train

How you get to Florence will depend on where you are coming from. Most travelers flying internationally will fly into Rome or Milan and then take a train to Florence.

We took a high-speed train from Rome and it was an easy and fairly quick trip!

To purchase train tickets, I recommend using the Trainline app. I purchased our train tickets here. It was super easy.

By Plane

If wanting to fly directly into Florence, you would fly into Florence Airport, Peretola.

Pisa International Airport is another option. It’s located about 62 miles from Florence; so you’d have to take a train or car to get to Florence from Pisa.

How to Get Around Florence with Kids

Florence is a very walkable city. Everything is pretty close to each other and you never have to walk too far to get anywhere.

However, when in Florence with kids sometimes you might need to take a taxi because small legs tire very easily.

Download the “appTaxi” App. This is the app you need to request a taxi in Florence. I did find that requesting a taxi with this app did take a long time….. or maybe there are just not as many taxis available in Florence.

However, if you need a taxi from Santa Maria Novella Train Station (main train station), you will very easily find one here. As you walk out of the station, the taxi lineup is on the left.

Conclusion: Florence with Kids

Florence is a beautiful, charming city in Tuscany waiting for you and your family to explore.

I hope you have enjoyed my guide, 15 Best Things to Do in Florence with Kids.

Enjoy your time in one of the best cities in the world! I hope you love it as much as I do!

Ciao! 🇮🇹

P.S. There’s no such thing as eating too much pizza, pasta, and gelato while in Italy.!

READ NEXT:

5 Best Cooking Classes in Florence, Italy – 2023

20 Best Things to Do in Rome with Kids for an Epic Family Vacation

17 Best Things to Do in Milan with Kids on an Italy Family Vacation – 2023

Italy with Teens: Tips, Things to Do & Where to Visit!

Florence to Venice Day Trip -Your Guide to an Amazing and Unforgettable Day!