10 things to do in Florence with kids

Florence is one of the most fascinating cities in Italy, rich in history, art and culture. If you're traveling with children, you'll find plenty of fun activities suitable for the whole family.
From the wonders of the Centro Storico with its enchanting squares and majestic monuments, to interactive museums and unique experiences, there really is so much to discover.
In this article we offer an itinerary for a long weekend in Florence with kids.

1 - Cascine Park

The Cascine Park is the largest public park in Florence: a huge 130-hectare green area, perfect for a day outdoors with the kids!

It stretches along the Arno River and offers large lawns to run and play in, tree-lined avenues to bike along, and many shady corners ideal for a break. A variety of bird species can be seen here, turning a visit into a little adventure in nature.

If you're looking for a place for a picnic with the kids in Florence, this is the perfect spot! And if you happen to be there on a Tuesday morning, drop by the big weekly market: a kilometer of stalls where you can find everything, including fresh, km 0 products to enjoy on the spot.

Cascine Park in Florence

2 - Fortezza da Basso

The Fortezza da Basso is a large Renaissance building that now hosts fairs and events of all kinds.
If you visit Florence with children, it's worth checking the calendar: interesting events are often held here for them too!

Another plus? There is ample parking nearby, very convenient for leaving your car and continuing your sightseeing without stress. From here you can easily reach the historic center on foot or by public transportation.

The Fortezza da Basso

3 - San Lorenzo Market

If your kids are curious and love discovering new places, the San Lorenzo Market is a fun and mouthwatering stop.
Inside the covered part you'll find colorful fruit and vegetable stalls, fragrant bakeries and butcher shops where the famous Florentine steaks stand out. Upstairs, however, is an area dedicated to street food, perfect for a lunch break with typical Tuscan dishes suitable for the whole family.

Outside, stalls sell local craft, souvenirs and leather goods. Even in the evening, the area remains lively, with many cozy little restaurants where you can enjoy a typical dinner in a lively atmosphere.

San Lorenzo Market

4 - Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore

Arriving in the heart of Florence, the Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore, imposing and beautiful, will impress you with its beauty. Santa Maria del Fiore is the third largest church in the world.
The entire Piazza del Duomo is a huge open-air museum consisting of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Brunelleschi's Dome, Giotto's Bell Tower, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, Santa Reparata, and the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.
To avoid the long lines of tourists that form at the entrance, you can buy online entrance tickets to Florence Cathedral, Brunelleschi's Dome and Giotto's Bell Tower and guided tours.

⚠️La visit to the Brunelleschi's Dome offers spectacular views of all of Florence, but it is an experience to consider carefully if you are traveling with young children.
To reach the top, in fact, you have to climb 463 steps and the path can be challenging, especially for those with claustrophobia or vertigo. If you have older children or adventurous kids, it could be an exciting experience!

Here i ticket to Florence Cathedral.
Here are tickets for Brunelleschi's Dome, Giotto's Bell Tower, and the Duomo.

📌In this area you will find some of the most interesting museums.
The museums of Florence are so many that we have dedicated a guide especially to them: Museums of Florence with children among art, culture and history


Credits: Michelle Raponi The Cathedral and Baptistery of Florence

5 - Piazza della Signoria

Walking from the Cathedral to Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria, you cross Via dei Calzaiuoli the Florentine shopping street, where you can find both the big brands of Italian fashion and more affordable brands.

In a few minutes, admiring the shop windows, you arrive in Piazza della Signoria, where you can admire:
📌 the splendid Palazzo Vecchio,
📌 Michelangelo's David (a copy, the original is kept at the Accademia Museum),
📌the Neptune Fountain and many other sculptures, like in an outdoor museum!
📌A few steps away is the Piazzale degli Uffizi, the entrance to one of the world's most famous art galleries.

To visit the Uffizi without waiting, you'll want to buy the flight-skipping ticket or a cumulative ticket for multiple Museums of Florence:
✔ The Uffizi and Accademia, which includes access to the Museo dell'Accademia, where Michelangelo's original David is located.
✔ The Florence Pass, which includes Uffizi, Accademia Museum, Hop-on-Hop-Off Bus and audio guide.

Arianna, a mom from the FB group Its4kids, advises us:
"If you visit Florence with primary school-aged children, I recommend going to Palazzo Vecchio and borrow the backpack full of games to explore the historic center. It's completely free and a great way to engage children! The tour is completed in a couple of hours.
N.B. Pick up at the Palazzo Vecchio ticket office on the left without standing in line."

Here to book the tour to the Uffizi Gallery with treasure hunt for children.

Piazza della Signoria

6 - Galileo Museum

For little scientists who don't miss a single museum, a must-see in Florence is the Galileo Museum, also known as the Museum of the History of Science. This museum houses and exhibits an extraordinary collection of scientific instruments produced up to the 20th century, which tell the story of the great discoveries and ingeniousness of the past.

Among the most famous pieces is Galileo's telescope, with which the illustrious scientist made revolutionary discoveries, observing the lunar mountains and the satellites of Jupiter. Another wonder not to be missed is the first mercury barometer, invented in 1634, which testifies to the evolution of scientific instruments over the centuries.

The museum is interactive and fun, ideal for engaging young children in a journey of discovery of science. A visit to the Museo Galileo turns learning into an educational game, stimulating the curiosity and imagination of future scientists. Don't miss this unique experience during your visit to Florence!

You can purchase Galileo Museum tickets . here

7 - Ponte Vecchio and trip on the Arno

A few minutes' walk from Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery takes you to the legendary Ponte Vecchio, one of Florence's iconic landmarks.
The postcards of Ponte Vecchio are really all over the world!
There are lots of small goldsmith stores on the bridge, partially closing off the view of the river. In the center of the Bridge there is a space between the stores that allows a view of the Arno.

Ponte vecchio is often very crowded, a destination for tourists from all over the world, so it is best to go there at off-peak times such as, for example, during meal times or early in the morning.

If time permits, it's great to take a boat trip on the Arno to see the city from a different point of view and observe its historic buildings from a truly impressive view.
Here you will find a rafting activity on the Arno suitable for families. (children over 4 years old).
For sportier families there is also the possibility of using the packraft, a kind of inflatable single-seater kayak.
Here the info on packraft on the Arno

Ponte Vecchio in Florence

8 - Boboli Gardens

Cross Ponte Vecchio and head to Palazzo Pitti, once the residence of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany and the seat of the King of Italy now an important museum, which is worth a look even if only from the outside.
Here are tickets to Palazzo Pitti

Don't miss the gardens of the Pitti Palace, aka the world-famous Boboli Gardens. They are a wonderful and monumental park that they embrace: they occupy an area of about 45 thousand square meters and can be toured leisurely in about three hours. Within them you can admire statues, fine structures and lush vegetation.

Admission to the Boboli Gardens is free for children and teens up to 18 years of age, while for adults here you can buy the Boboli Garden ticket

The Boboli Gardens behind the Pitti Palace

9 - The Abbey of San Minato al Monte to see Florence from above

Seeing Florence from above is also possible for those who do not like too challenging routes.
Just head to the abbey of San Minato al Monte to enjoy a spectacular view.
The church is one of the perfect examples of Florentine Romanesque. Not to be missed, even of the youngest visitors, is the presence of ancient sundial still in working order. Also on the floor of the basilica is a marble zodiac from around 1200. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that on the day of the summer solstice at noon (and only for a few moments) the sign of Cancer is illuminated by a ray of sunlight.
Another place to enjoy the panorama of Florence is Piazzale Michelangelo. Easily reached by bus or car, it is a large square, with plenty of parking, from which you can see views of the Arno River, Brunelleschi's Dome and the Florentine hills.

10 - Il Gigante Park

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A short distance from Florence lies the Parco Mediceo di Pratolino, also known as the Parco del Gigante for its enormous statue. This magnificent park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is dotted with statues, ponds, hiking trails, and woods, making it a favorite spot for Florentine families looking for a picnic in the shade.

Nearby, the Adventure Park Il Gigante offers 16 trails suitable for children as young as three as well as for more experienced adventurers. It’s a perfect opportunity for a family-friendly adventure in nature, with all the necessary equipment provided by the park staff for a fun, safe, and relaxing experience.

Il Gigante Park

Practical info for visiting the Historic Center of Florence

The center of Florence is a real open-air museum that deserves to be discovered with an experienced guide. There are several options you can choose to visit it with children:

🏆 Join a treasure hunt
Discovering Florence can become a game! With a treasure hunt, children will be involved in the visit while exploring the city in a fun way.

Here info and tickets for the Animal-hunt-in-art.

🏛️ 2. Book a free tour of the historic center
For those who want to discover Florence with an expert guide, the free tour is a great option. A guided walk through the wonders of the city, with the option of deciding at the end of the experience how much to pay.

👉The free tours do not have a fixed price: each participant, at the end of the activity, decides how much to pay according to his or her level of satisfaction.

Here you can book a free tour for the Historic Center of Florence.

🚌 3. Board the Hop-on-Hop-Off Buses
If the kids are tired of walking, the Bus Hop-on-Hop-Off is a perfect solution! The open-top buses allow you to see Florence from above, with strategic stops at the most important points in the city. Kids love them and parents can enjoy some relaxation.
Tickets are valid for 24h, 48h or 72h and are free for children under 5 years, with discounts for those aged 5 to 15.

Here for info and tickets Bus Hop-on-Hop-Off.