Florence wasn’t at the top of my list when I thought about family trips—too many museums, too much art, not enough kid stuff. But when I started to look into what to do there with my kids, I was surprised at how much Florence is a kid-friendly travel destination. This city’s got history and charm, sure, but it’s also got plenty to keep kids happy if you know where to look. We spent a few days wandering its streets, and here’s how we made Florence a win for the whole crew.
Getting There and Settling In
We took the train from Roma Termini station. It’s an easy 1.5 hour ride with trains going about every half hour most days. The train ride is comfortable, has seats facing each other with a table in the middle so we could play games with the kids, and luggage storage above the seats. While the luggage storage did fit our large bags it was not necessarily easy to get them up there.
Your other option to get to Florence is to fly there. Most major cities in Europe have daily flights there within about 2 hours. The airport itself is small, so getting out is a breeze, even with tired kids in tow. From there, it’s a 20-minute taxi to the city center—about 25 euros—or a tram for 1.50 euros each.
We stayed at the Grand Hotel Adriatico, a family-friendly hotel with separate twin beds for the kids. They each got a coloring book from the reception when we checked in.
Florence is walkable, but with little legs, we kept most days to a tight radius. The city’s compact, but it buzzes—tourists everywhere, especially near Santa Maria del Fiore and Ponte Vecchio. My kids—ages 5 and 7 loved the gelato stops and open squares. Here’s what we did to keep them smiling.
Taking a Pasta Cooking Class
First up, we booked a pasta-making class through a local restaurant that was kid friendly. It wasa 3-hour whirlwind. They loved making some of their favorite pasta. We rolled dough, shaped ravioli, and made a bit of a mess. The instructor kept it simple, letting them sprinkle flour and helping roll out the pasta when it looked like my kids were struggling. These classes are popular so I recommend booking well in advance, especially in the summer months.
A Day Trip to Pisa
We took a day trip to Pisa, about an hour by train from Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station. It’s on a commuter train, so no need to purchase tickets in advance. Trains run every about every 30 minutes, so it’s easy to hop on. Renting a car works too, though parking’s a hassle in Pisa. And it takes about the same amount of time to drive.
Pisa’s all about the Leaning Tower, and the kids got a kick out of posing for the cheesy “holding it up” photos. You can climb the tower’s 252 steps but you have to be at least 8 years old to do so. Again you will want to book your ticket in advance and you will get a timed entrance for the tower entrance. The other attractions around the tower do not require a timed entrance so if you get to Pisa early, you have some other options before you climb.
The Field of Miracles around the tower has grass to run on, and we grabbed a snack at a nearby cafe. The whole area is very touristy with vendors hawking trinkets but worth the half-day diversion.
Riding the Carousel in Piazza della Repubblica
From the first time we walked by, we knew the kids would want to ride the carousel in Piazza della Repubblica. It’s old-school wooden horses and bright lights. The carousel wasn’t super busy so the kids were able to hop right on. The square’s lively with street musicians and people milling around. Spring evenings there were perfect—cool but not cold.
Da Vinci Interactive Museum
The Leonardo da Vinci Interactive Museum was a surprise hit. It’s not too far from the Duomoand while it wasn’t too big, we easily spent a couple of hours there. It’s got replicas DaVinci’s inventions—flying machines, tanks—some you can touch or crank. My 7-year-old loved cranking the wheels, while the 5-year-old wanted to put together the puzzles. You couldn’t touch everything there, but there were nice big signs so it was easy to distinguish what you could play with and what you couldn’t. It’s not as stuffy as big art museums, and the hands-on stuff kept them engaged. If your kids like building things, it’s a must.
Eating Pizza Like Locals
Pizza is a must in Florence, and you’ll have plenty of options there.. We found a spot called Mister Pizza near the Duomo—big, thin-crust pies. Margherita was the kids’ pick—simple, cheesy, no fuss—and I’d grab a prosciutto one for variety. It’s casual—grab a table outside or take it to go. The kids loved watching the dough spin in the open kitchen, and it was cheap enough we didn’t stress spills.
Gelato followed every evening meal. There are places near every plaza so you really can’t miss them. Nutella and chocolate were the go-to flavors. Overall the food in Florence was hit and miss. I would recommend scoping out some places on Trip Advisor or Yelp and making reservations as the best places will fill up.
Exploring Piazza della Signoria
Palazzo Vecchio, right on Piazza della Signoria, is a great place for kids. It’s a fortress-turned-museum, with grand halls and secret passages. There are statues and artwork inside and outside. Some may even call it a “castle adventure.”
In and around the piazza street performers, artwork and numerous statues. If you stand in just the right spot you’ll see a lion eating the statue of The David in front of Palazzo Vecchio. I recommend coming back to the Piazza della Signoria at night to catch the Fuente de Neptuno lit up.
Tips for the Trip
Florence is a walkable city, even with kids. It was nice to stay at a hotel near the Santa Maria Novella train station, but that made it a little bit of a walk to other parts of the town. Public transport’s spotty, while there is a tram, it doesn’t go through the touristy parts of town. If you really need a ride somewhere an Uber or taxi are your best options.
Mid-day is when places are the busiest. If you want to go inside Santa Maria del Fiore get there early. It’s free to enter so there will be a long line if you get there around lunchtime, which wont make the kids happy about entering.
I did climb the 400+ steps up the bell tower by myself. That was too much for the rest of my family. The view was incredible. And if you get a chance I would recommend it. You will want to purchase a ticket in advance and pick a time to climb.
Wrapping Up
Florence surprised me—it’s not just art and statues. The kids loved the carousel, pasta-making, and pizza as much as I enjoyed the views. Pisa added a fun detour, and Da Vinci’s gadgets sparked their curiosity. Palazzo Vecchio felt like a castle quest. It’s not a week-long stay—3 or 4 days is plenty. What would your kids like to do most in Florence?
