Florence with Kids: What Really Works

Visiting Florence with children is a rich and surprising experience: the city offers much more than museums and churches, with historic gardens, colourful markets, artisan workshops where you can touch and make things, and a history full of adventures and unforgettable characters. With a bit of planning, even families with young children can fully enjoy this city.

What to see in Florence with children

The Duomo and Brunelleschi’s dome

The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is Florence’s symbol and it impresses children just from the outside, with its enormous dome dominating the city’s rooftops. The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo is probably the most child-friendly museum stop: large, bright rooms with life-size original sculptures (including those by Donatello) and a narrative structure that tells the story of the dome’s construction like an almost impossible undertaking. Children aged 6 and over are captivated by the story of Filippo Brunelleschi, who won the competition to build the dome with an egg.

Palazzo Vecchio and the medieval role-play

Palazzo Vecchio offers the Mus.e educational workshops, among the most original experiences in Florence for children. Children receive a map and must solve puzzles as they explore the palace’s rooms, dressed as messengers or Medici pages. The programme is called “Il Museo dei Ragazzi” and is booked on the City of Florence website.

The Galleria dell’Accademia and the David

Michelangelo’s David is 4.10 metres tall: a presence that strikes everyone, children included. A visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia is relatively brief (about 45 minutes for the main sections) and does not tire children the way a long session at the Uffizi does. Online booking is essential in the high season.

Natural History Museum “La Specola”

Located on Via Romana in the Oltrarno, “La Specola” is one of the oldest scientific museums in the world. The zoological section is perfect for children who love animals: skeletons, taxidermied animals, insect and butterfly collections. The anatomical wax section is not recommended for children under 10, but the rest of the museum is suitable for all ages.

Where to eat in Florence with children

Florence is a welcoming city for families at the table too. Traditional Florentine trattorias, often family-run for generations, welcome children naturally. Some useful pointers:

The Mercato Centrale di San Lorenzo, on the upper floor of the covered market, is perfect for a family lunch: each family member can choose their preferred dish from the numerous stalls, and everyone sits at large communal tables. It is a practical, affordable and lively solution.

For dinner, trattorias in the Santa Croce or San Frediano neighbourhoods offer authentic Florentine cooking, generous portions and a family atmosphere. Ribollita (bread and vegetable soup), pasta e fagioli and pappardelle al ragù are dishes that children often enjoy.

For an afternoon snack, Florentine artisan gelato is unbeatable. The most reliable gelaterias are those with lidded tubs, not the brightly coloured pyramid cones. Gelateria dei Neri on Via dei Neri, Gelateria Edoardo on Piazza del Duomo and Gelateria Sbrino on Via dei Renai are among the best.

Getting around Florence with children

The historic centre of Florence is almost entirely pedestrian or traffic-restricted. This means you get around mainly on foot, which is perfect if children are old enough, but can become tiring with younger ones.

For children up to 3–4 years old, pushchairs work in the centre but the stone paving (sampietrini) is uneven in many areas: pushchairs with large wheels or baby carriers are recommended.

The T1 and T2 trams cover the main routes from the station towards Piazzale di Porta Romana and the airport. ATAF buses cover the entire urban area. Children under 6 travel free; from 6 to 10 a reduced fare applies.

Taxis in Florence are found at the main squares (Piazza Santa Croce, Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza San Marco) or can be called via app. The service is reliable and drivers are generally helpful with children and luggage.

Parks and outdoor spaces for children

Parco delle Cascine

The Parco delle Cascine is Florence’s largest urban park: 160 hectares of tree-lined avenues, lawns and cycling paths along the Arno. Every Tuesday morning the Cascine market takes place, one of the largest in the city. There are play areas, bicycle rental and an artificial lake. It is the ideal place for half a day of relaxation after museums.

Boboli Gardens

The Boboli Gardens, behind Palazzo Pitti, are a historic park of enormous charm. Statues, fountains, artificial grottos and shaded paths entertain older children for hours. Children under 18 from the EU enter free.

The Orticoltura Garden

Less well known to tourists, the Orticoltura Garden on Via Bolognese is a botanical park with a beautiful nineteenth-century greenhouse. It is peaceful, green and far from the tourist crowds of the centre.

Practical tips for families

Plan museum visits in the first hours of the morning: queues are shorter, children are fresher and the rooms less crowded. State museums (Uffizi, Accademia, Bargello) are free for children under 18 from the EU: always remember to bring an identity document.

Avoid concentrating too many museum visits in a single day: it is better to alternate one museum in the morning with free time in the afternoon. Children absorb far more with a relaxed pace.

In summer always bring a water bottle: drinking fountains (nasoni) are found throughout the city, including Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza Santa Croce and the Duomo area. The water is cool and excellent.

Where to stay

Homelink Charlotte, at Via Guido Monaco 19, is the ideal choice for families visiting Florence with children: the property has a triple room, is 5 minutes from SMN station, in a lively and safe neighbourhood just a short walk from Mercato Centrale and 10 minutes on foot from the Duomo.

Related property: Homelink Charlotte Link: /charlotte/