Creative Workshops for Children in Florence
Creative workshops for children in Florence
Florence has been a centre for craftsmanship and artistic production for centuries. That heritage has a living dimension in the form of creative workshops that welcome children and families.
A hands-on workshop provides something that a museum visit, however good, cannot: the experience of making something. Children who spend 90 minutes creating a ceramic piece, painting on canvas, or making pasta dough leave with a physical object and a different relationship to the material culture of the city.
This guide covers the main categories of creative workshop available for children in Florence, with specific venues, prices for 2026, and age recommendations for each.
Workshops in museums
Several Florence museums run dedicated workshop programmes for children. These combine a short introduction to the collection with a hands-on making session.
The Museo dei Ragazzi at Palazzo Vecchio is the most structured. The workshop programmes here are designed for children between 5 and 14 and run throughout the year. Themes change seasonally but typically include mask-making, fresco technique, and the production of Renaissance-style calligraphy. Sessions last 75 to 90 minutes. The cost is approximately 6 euros per child. Adult entry to Palazzo Vecchio is charged separately at around 12.50 euros.
The Museo del Bargello, which houses one of the world’s great collections of Renaissance sculpture, runs occasional family workshops on the themes of modelling in clay and the techniques used by Renaissance sculptors. These workshops are typically offered on weekends and during school holidays. Entry to the Bargello is 10 euros per adult. Children under 18 from EU countries enter free. Check the Bargello website for workshop dates in 2026.
The Galleria dell’Accademia runs family activity guides and seasonal workshops. These are less structured than the Museo dei Ragazzi programmes but include drawing exercises designed for children visiting the gallery. Ask at the information desk about current family resources on the day of your visit.
The Museo di Storia Naturale occasionally runs scientific craft workshops for children between 8 and 14. These include microscope sessions, specimen preparation activities, and natural drawing exercises. Contact the museum directly for dates and prices.
Painting and art workshops
Independent painting and art workshops for children are available from several private studios and cultural centres in Florence.
The Accademia di Arte Fiorentina in the Oltrarno neighbourhood runs children’s painting and drawing workshops in English during summer and school holidays. Sessions are typically half-day (3 hours) and cost between 35 and 50 euros per child including all materials. The minimum age for these sessions is usually 6. Classes are kept small (maximum 10 children) to allow individual attention.
Studio Art Florence, which primarily serves university students, occasionally offers children’s sessions in drawing and watercolour. Check their website for dates. Sessions of around 2 hours cost approximately 40 euros per child with materials.
Several independent artists in the Oltrarno maintain open studio arrangements during the summer months. These are less formal than commercial workshops. You might spend 60 to 90 minutes in a working artist’s studio with basic watercolour instruction. Costs vary but typically fall between 20 and 35 euros per child. The tourist office on Via Cavour can provide a current list of participating studios.
For a shorter, more informal painting experience, the Piazza della Signoria area has several street artists who run guided outdoor sketching sessions. A 45-minute sketching session with materials costs around 15 to 20 euros per person. These work well for children between 8 and 14 with a short attention span for structured instruction.
Cooking workshops for children
Food is a deeply practical form of cultural learning, and Florence has a well-developed cooking school sector. Several cooking schools offer sessions specifically designed for children or families.
The Mercato Centrale Cooking School, located on the upper floor of the Mercato Centrale building on Via dell’Ariento, runs family cooking sessions in English. A typical family session focuses on pasta making or pizza dough, lasts approximately 2 hours, and costs around 60 to 80 euros per adult and 30 to 45 euros per child. Children must be at least 5 years old to participate. Book online at least one week in advance.
Giulio Divino, a well-regarded private cooking school in the centre of Florence, runs family pasta workshops where children can participate alongside parents. These sessions are in English and are designed so that even a 5-year-old can contribute meaningfully to the pasta-making process. Prices for 2026 are around 75 euros per adult and 40 euros per child for a 2.5-hour session.
The Associazione Cuochi Fiorentini occasionally organises public cooking demonstrations and workshops at markets and cultural events. These are informal, less expensive (sometimes free), and designed for general public participation. Check local Florence event listings in the week you are visiting.
Gelato-making workshops are available through several gelaterie in Florence. The Gelateria dei Neri, Via dei Neri 9, has offered guided behind-the-scenes sessions for small groups in the past. Contact them directly for 2026 availability. A gelato-making session of about 60 minutes costs approximately 25 euros per person.
How to book and how much they cost
Booking workshops in Florence for children generally requires planning ahead. During school holiday periods (Easter, summer, October half-term), popular sessions fill within a week of opening. For summer workshops at the Museo dei Ragazzi, the first week of booking in May fills quickly.
The most reliable booking approach is direct: contact the workshop provider by email or through their website booking form. Third-party booking platforms list some Florence children’s workshops but their availability is not always current.
Prices in Florence for children’s creative workshops in 2026 broadly fall into three tiers. Museum-based workshops at institutional venues cost between 6 and 20 euros per child. Independent art studios charge between 25 and 50 euros per child per session including materials. Cooking workshops cost between 30 and 80 euros per child depending on length and complexity.
Most workshops run between 90 minutes and 3 hours. Sessions shorter than 90 minutes are rare. For children between 5 and 8, a 90-minute session is typically the upper limit before concentration becomes unreliable. For children between 9 and 14, two to three hours is generally manageable with a short break.
Materials are usually included in the quoted price. Confirm this when booking. Some art studios charge separately for canvas or specialist materials. Cooking workshops almost always include all ingredients.
Cancellation policies vary. Most independent studios and cooking schools require 48 to 72 hours’ notice for a full refund. Museum workshops at Palazzo Vecchio and the Bargello follow the standard Comune di Firenze refund policy. Read the booking terms before paying.
Where to stay
Charlotte guesthouse in central Florence is well placed for access to the workshops described above. Several of the most-recommended venues are within 15 minutes’ walk: the Palazzo Vecchio, the Mercato Centrale, the Oltrarno art studios, and the Bargello.
Staying centrally means you can build a workshop session into a morning or afternoon without lengthy travel. The team at Charlotte can help with current recommendations and booking contacts.
Find out more at Charlotte.
