One Perfect Day in Florence with Kids: Our Family-Friendly Florence Itinerary
Planning a trip to Florence with kids and wondering if this city is actually family-friendly? The answer is yes. While Florence is famous for world-class art, historic landmarks, and stunning architecture, it's also surprisingly easy to explore with children. It is truly very walkable and easy to navigate. Florence offers plenty of experiences that the whole family will enjoy.
If you only have one day in Florence with kids, you can still experience many of the city's highlights without feeling rushed. The compact historic center is highly walkable, making it easy to combine famous attractions with kid-friendly activities, delicious food, and plenty of opportunities for breaks along the way. Families visiting Tuscany often use Florence as a base, but even a single day here can become one of the most memorable parts of your trip. We have made many day or weekend trips here while currently living the Tuscan countryside and have figured out the best mix of sightseeing and having just a few plans.
Where to stay:
In most of Europe, it is hard to find rooms that sleep more than 3 people. Most are rooms sleep 2 and some are 3-4. You will have to get 2 rooms or have to get a rental. We personally LOVE staying at an Agriturismo! But if you are dead set on staying in the city, a rental is usually the better way to go if you have kids. Here are our favorite options from hotels to rentals:
1. Outside the City, in the tuscan countryside: Agriturismo Fattoria di Maiano
We love staying in a Agriturismo. This is a working farm (from dairy, to olives or grapes) that offers accommodations to travelers. You are in the country so the kids have so much more room to run around and play. The rooms are apartments so more space and this one specifically has a nice pool and a bunch of animals the kids can interact with. This one is only 20 minutes from Florence, so you can easily spend the day in Florence but base yourself here for a more relaxing, calm stay. You can read more about them on our post Where to Stay in Italy With Kids: Why Agriturismo’s Are Perfect for Families.
➡️ Book this property: AgriturismoFattoria di Maiano
2. Inside the city, in an apartment: Coco Places Apartments Santa Maria Novella
Sleep 4-8 people and is within walking distance of the main city centre. This rental is a great family-friendly option because it is spacious ad has a kitchenette, washing machine and even a terrace!
➡️ Book this property: Coco Places Apartments Santa Maria Novella
3. Inside the city, hotel with pool: iQ Hotel Firenze
Hotel central located but not in the extremely busy part of the city so it’s quieter. They have a rooftop pool that is suitable for kids and many room typed available for families. Up to 7 people.
➡️ Book this property: iQ Hotel Firenze
4. Inside the city, hotel: Firenze Suite
This hotel is centrally located and you can walk to all major sites or museums. These rooms have good family set ups and you really get the Italian feel.
➡️ Book this property: Firenze Suite
1️⃣ Start Your Morning at the Leonardo da Vinci Interactive Museum
One of our kids' favorite stops in Florence was the Leonardo Interactive Museum. Unlike many museums where you're constantly reminding little ones not to touch anything, this one encourages hands-on learning.
The museum features working models of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions, puzzles, engineering challenges, and interactive exhibits that help bring his genius to life. It was the perfect way to kick off our day and immediately got everyone excited about exploring Florence.
If you're traveling with elementary or middle-school-aged kids, don't skip this stop. most museums are not do not touch anything, this place encourages interactive play and kids LOVE IT!
➡️ Get your tickets to the Leonardo da Vinci Interactive Museum here.
2️⃣ Ride the Carousel in Piazza della Repubblica
One of those simple moments our kids still talk about was riding the beautiful antique carousel in Piazza della Repubblica. While Florence is packed with world-famous landmarks, this was a fun reminder that sometimes the little things become the favorite memories. We grabbed a coffee nearby while the kids enjoyed a ride, then spent some time soaking up the atmosphere of one of Florence's liveliest squares. It's a quick stop, but if you're visiting Florence with kids, I highly recommend building it into your day.
3️⃣ Grab Lunch and Explore the Historic Center
One of the best things about Florence is how walkable it is. After visiting the Duomo, we wandered through the historic center, crossing lively piazzas and stopping for gelato along the way.
Piazza della Signoria is worth a quick stop, especially for kids who enjoy spotting statues and people-watching. The open-air sculptures make it feel almost like an outdoor museum without the museum rules.
4️⃣ Spend the Afternoon at Boboli Gardens
After a busy morning sightseeing, Boboli Gardens offered the perfect change of pace.
Located behind the Pitti Palace, these sprawling gardens gave the kids room to run around while we enjoyed some of the most beautiful views in Florence. The pathways wind through fountains, sculptures, hidden corners, and shaded areas that make it easy to spend a couple of hours exploring. If you're visiting Florence during the warmer months, this was one of our favorite places to escape the crowds and slow down for a bit.
PRO TIP: If you are going on a Sunday though make sure to bring your own water or snacks. Some of the stands are closed and we were walking around for a while in the hot summer without anything. There was a restaurant at the main entrance open but not far into the gardens. Just be prepared. We saw some other people bring picnics as you can see in a picture below.
5️⃣ Stop at a Traditional Wine Window
One of the most uniquely Florentine experiences we had was visiting a wine window. One of our favorites that is centrally located - Cantina De’ Pucci. This place is not on a Main Street, gives you real glass and has some small outdoor seating. But you can search wine window in Google Maps and a list of them will come up! Just be warned not all of them look like true single window in a wall, some are makeshift because they have gotten so big!
These tiny windows date back hundreds of years and were originally used for serving wine directly from noble families' palaces. Today, several have reopened and serve wine, cocktails, coffee, and other drinks through the small openings in the wall.
While the adults enjoyed trying a glass of local Tuscan wine, the kids loved the novelty of ordering through a tiny window. It's a quick stop, but one of those memorable experiences that makes Florence feel special.
6️⃣ End the Day watching the sunset over the city
Abbazia di San Miniato al Monte: Located a short, steep walk higher up the hill from Piazzale Michelangelo. It offers equally spectacular views but with a fraction of the crowds and beautiful historic architecture. If it is not too crowded at Piazzale Michelangelo then it is worth hanging out at because there are usually people playing live music and the crowd gets in on the dancing. It is definitely an experience!
From there, we found a family-friendly trattoria for dinner and reflected on just how much we had managed to fit into one day.
Terrazze Michelangelo - city views and only a 10 minute walk from the viewpoint!
If you have more than one day, here are some of out other favorite things to do in Florence with kids:
If you have more time in the city, these are some of the things we have done and loved while being in the city.
➡️ Florence Golf Cart tour with food stop: 2-3 hour tour that is kid-friendly and a great way to see the city without walk 20K steps. They stop for 30 minutes for you to enjoy a provided snack and a glass of wine!
➡️ The playground in Piazza Massimo d’Azeglio: Just a small open space with some play sets. But. great break from the city and to let the kids just run around for a little.
➡️ Climb the Duomo: Recommended for older kids as it’s A LOT of steps, but amazing views.
➡️ Take a boat ride on the Arno River: Set sail on the Arno River on an electric boat tour and experience Florence from a unique point of view. Discover wonderful sights enjoying Aperitivo with soft music. The kids will love being on the water, you can relax with a glass of wine!
➡️ Take a horse-drawn carriage ride: You can take about a 45 minute carriage ride around the major sites of Florence. The kids will love seeing horses and the coachmen will give you some history facts about the city.
FAQ about Florence with kids?
Q: Is One Day in Florence Enough?
A: While you could easily spend several days exploring Florence, we found that one well-planned day was plenty with kids. Between the interactive Leonardo Museum, the iconic Duomo, the beautiful Boboli Gardens, and fun experiences like visiting a wine window, Florence offered the perfect blend of culture, history, and family-friendly activities. If you're traveling through Tuscany and only have a day to spare, Florence absolutely deserves a spot on your itinerary.
Q: What are the best things to do in Florence with kids?
A: Some of our favorite family-friendly activities include:
Leonardo da Vinci Interactive Museum
Climbing the Duomo or Giotto's Bell Tower
Riding the carousel in Piazza della Repubblica
Exploring Boboli Gardens
Crossing Ponte Vecchio
Q: Is Florence walkable with kids?
A: YES!! Florence is one of the most walkable cities in Italy. Most major attractions are located within the historic center, making it easy to explore on foot. We rarely needed public transportation while sightseeing.
Q: Is Florence stroller-friendly?
A: Mostly yes, but expect some challenges. The historic center has cobblestone streets and crowded pedestrian areas. A lightweight travel stroller works best, though many families find a baby carrier easier for younger children.
Q: Should I take kids to the Uffizi Gallery?
A: It depends on their age and interest level. Older children and teens who enjoy art or history may appreciate it, but younger kids often prefer interactive attractions like the Leonardo Museum or outdoor spaces such as Boboli Gardens.
Q: What is the best area to stay in Florence with kids?
A: For first-time visitors, I recommend staying in the historic center near the Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica, or Ponte Vecchio. These locations make it easy to walk to major attractions and return to your hotel for breaks when needed.
Q: Is Florence safe for families?
A: We felt very safe walking around Florence during both the day and evening. As with any major European city, it's important to be aware of pickpockets in crowded tourist areas, but overall Florence is considered one of Italy's safest cities for families.
Q: When is the best time to visit Florence with kids?
A: Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) are ideal. You'll enjoy comfortable temperatures, fewer crowds than summer, and plenty of opportunities to explore on foot without the intense heat. If you go in the summer, which we have and we still enjoyed it. Just be prepared for crowds and heat. Try to go on a weekday and plan some indoor and some outdoor activities to break it up.
Q: Are Boboli Gardens worth visiting with kids?
A: Definitely. Boboli Gardens was one of our favorite places in Florence because it gave the kids room to run around while we enjoyed incredible views, fountains, sculptures, and shaded walking paths.
Q: What are wine windows in Florence?
A: Wine windows (buchette del vino) are small openings built into historic buildings where wine was sold centuries ago. Several have reopened and now serve wine, coffee, and snacks. They're a fun stop for adults and a unique piece of Florentine history that kids find fascinating too.
Q: What is the most kid-friendly museum in Florence?
A: The Leonardo da Vinci Interactive Museum is usually the top choice for families. Unlike traditional museums, many exhibits are hands-on, allowing kids to experiment with replicas of Leonardo's inventions and discoveries.
Q: Is Florence better than Rome with kids?
A: They're very different experiences. Rome offers ancient ruins, gladiator history, and larger attractions, while Florence feels smaller, more walkable, and easier to navigate with young children. We loved both, but Florence definitely felt more relaxed but probably because it is smaller!
