In a nutshell
- Planning a trip to Florence with kids and wondering what the city has to offer for families? We’ve rounded up the best activities, playgrounds, and practical tips so you know exactly what to expect.
- Tech-loving kids will go crazy for the Leonardo da Vinci Interactive Museum — they can actually touch and operate Leonardo’s inventions.
- A real local favorite and a hit with kids is the Museo Stibbert: real knight’s armor, samurai warriors, and swords — plus a free park with a turtle pond.
- On any stroll through the historic center, make sure to stop at the historic children’s carousel on the Piazza della Repubblica — a Florence institution for over 100 years.
Historic Children's Carousel
The Piazza della Repubblica is one of the most popular gathering spots for families in the historic center — the children’s carousel Antica Giostra Toscana has been spinning here for over 100 years.
The carousel runs daily from 10 AM to midnight. One ride costs 2 euros, and five rides cost 5 euros.
Kids of any age can ride; for very little ones, an adult must join them — and that adult rides for free.
Leonardo Interactive Museum
At the Leonardo da Vinci Interactive Museum, kids and adults can actually try out the devices themselves that the genius inventor designed some 600 years ago.
On display are machines and tools that still influence our world today — flying machines, medieval weapons like the catapult, and engineering tools like the hydraulic saw.
Everything can be touched and set in motion, so kids with a passion for technology are guaranteed to have a blast!
There are also craft tables where children can build their own geometric constructions.
Plan to spend about one and a half to two hours here. The museum isn’t huge, but there’s seriously a lot to explore.
Note: Tickets can only be purchased online.
Get tickets for the Leonardo Interactive Museum
Museo Stibbert
If you’re planning a city trip with kids to Florence, the Museo Stibbert is an absolute must.
Frederick Stibbert was a passionate collector of weapons and armor from around the world. When he died over 100 years ago, he left his villa and his entire collection to the city of Florence.
Every local kid knows and loves this museum — especially those with a soft spot for knights and swords. Most tourists miss it because it’s located outside the city center.
That also means it’s always quiet — a real relief compared to the usually packed museums of Florence.
The museum also has a beautiful park that’s free to walk through, complete with a turtle pond. Feeding the turtles and ducks is totally encouraged!
Climb the Cathedral Dome and Bell Tower
The Florence Cathedral is one of the most important sights in Florence — not just for its architecture and history, but because climbing the 116-meter-high dome is simply thrilling for visitors of all ages.
From the top, you’ll have a spectacular 360-degree panorama over Florence. The climb isn’t ideal for toddlers because of all the stairs, but preschool- and school-age kids absolutely love it! If you’re into great views, our guide has many more Florence viewpoints worth checking out.
The way up is all on foot — 463 steps to the top of the dome.
You can also climb Giotto’s bell tower — that’s 414 steps.
Tickets for the Cathedral Dome must be booked in advance — ideally at least one week ahead.
Children up to and including age 6 get in free; children between 7 and 14 pay 25 euros. The refundable adult ticket costs 45 euros.
Alternatively, you can buy tickets directly on the Cathedral’s website for just 30 euros — though these are non-refundable.
Lies auch:
Il Gigante High Ropes Course
On the hills northeast of Florence, you’ll find the largest high ropes course in Tuscany. Adults and children ages 3 and up can tackle climbing routes of varying difficulty, all in the cool shade of the forest.
There’s also a small bar serving snacks and filled schiacciata, plus a large picnic area — great for a proper family outing.
You can reach the park in about 30 minutes by taking bus line 25 from Piazza San Marco in the center of Florence.
Right across from the ropes course is the entrance to the park of Villa Demidoff — a sprawling park with artificial grottos, ponds, and giant statues. Perfect for an afternoon away from the city!
Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride
At various spots around the old quarter — in front of the Cathedral or at the Piazza della Signoria — old-fashioned carriages wait to take you on a tour of the city.
You’ll clip-clop past Florence’s most beautiful sights. With a little luck, your coachman will speak English and share fun stories about the city’s history.
It’s worth comparing prices between the different carriages — just walk up to a coachman and negotiate directly. Generally, expect to pay around 100–200 euros for an hour-long ride for four people. Not exactly cheap, but it’s genuinely one of the most memorable things to do in Florence with kids.
If you’d rather explore on foot, there are also plenty of great city tours in Florence, some of which are specifically designed for families.
Festa del Mugello
If you’re visiting Florence between May and September and you want to enjoy a relaxed dinner while your kids run free, the Festa del Mugello is the answer.
It’s an open-air restaurant with a playground in the south of Florence, serving classic Tuscan dishes in a laid-back outdoor setting.
Kids can roam freely between the tables and the swings, while parents enjoy delicious tortelli or bistecca alla Fiorentina in peace — the tables have a clear view of the play area the whole time.
Cooking Class for Families
For kids ages 6 and up, Florence offers the chance to take a three-hour cooking class together with their parents — one of the most fun family-friendly activities in Florence.
The whole family learns the fundamentals of Italian cooking: you’ll prepare homemade ice cream and pizza in a wood-fired oven using fresh, local ingredients.
And of course, you get to eat everything at the end. Honestly, this was one of our favorite experiences — the kids absolutely loved it.
Playgrounds in Florence
Playgrounds inside Florence’s historic old town are few and far between, but there are some great options just outside it. Here are our top picks for playgrounds in Florence.
Piazza d’Azeglio
One playground within the historic center can be found at Piazza d’Azeglio, about a ten-minute walk from the Cathedral.
The playground is fenced in and features a small children’s carousel, slides, swings, grassy areas, and a small soccer field.
Right on the piazza there’s also a small but charming boutique hotel, the Villa Tortorelli — a solid choice if you want a central location with easy access to play areas.
Giardino dell’Orticoltura
Just outside the old town, near the Piazza della Libertà, is the lovely Giardino dell’Orticoltura park.
Alongside shady lawns and a bistro with a terrace, there’s a great playground with swings and a tunnel slide, plus a beautiful historic greenhouse from the 19th century.
Above the park you’ll also find one of our lesser-known spots in Florence — the Giardino del Parnaso, with its snake sculpture and a seriously great view over the city.
Parco dell’Anconella
The Parco dell’Anconella is located south of the center, and it’s probably the most popular park for families visiting Florence with children — thanks to its wide open spaces and the sheer number of things for kids to do.
In spring and summer there’s also a bouncy castle, along with a turtle pond, a climbing wall, a great playground, and plenty of benches and grassy areas to relax.
You can reach the park from the center by bus, or park easily along the edges of the park if you’re driving.
Hotel Tips for Florence with Kids
Dedicated family hotels in the traditional sense are hard to come by in Florence, but there are plenty of places to stay in Florence that work really well for families.
Palazzo Alfani
The Palazzo Alfani is a centrally located apart-hotel made up of several apartments.
The owners have kids themselves and have furnished the apartments to be very family-friendly. On request, they can provide high chairs, baby baths, and toys.
Book the Palazzo Alfani Apart-Hotel
Villa Neroli
The 4-star Hotel Villa Neroli is a standout for families, thanks to its 6,000-square-meter garden and pool.
The hotel offers spacious family rooms for up to six people, a shuttle service to Florence Airport, and its own parking lot.
The city center is 15 minutes away on bus line 10, with the stop right in front of the hotel.
Villa Cora
Villa Cora is a luxurious 5-star hotel situated between the old town and the Piazzale Michelangelo.
Children receive a welcome kit on arrival, there’s an outdoor pool, and the hotel organizes activities for kids like painting lessons, water games, and a scavenger hunt.
General Tips for a Family Vacation in Florence with Kids
Florence is a wonderful destination for families with children, so here are a few practical pointers to help you make the most of your family vacation. And to make sure you don’t forget anything when packing, check out our packing list for a vacation with kids.
Getting Around Florence with a Stroller
Florence’s historic center is quite manageable with a stroller, especially since the city is very flat. That said, we’d recommend a stroller with rubber tires — the cobblestones can make for a pretty bumpy ride otherwise.
Most museums have elevators between floors, so you can bring a stroller along without any issues.
At the Cathedral, there are just a few steps at the entrance — the main hall inside is fully accessible. Getting up to the dome is only possible on foot.
Also read our tips for the best travel stroller
Using Public Transportation in Florence with Kids
Children who are taller than one meter pay the full bus or tram fare in Florence, regardless of their age. A bit frustrating — most cities around the world base fares on age rather than height.
The good news is that you’ll barely need public transit if you’re staying in the old town. Most of the highlights are close together and easily walkable.
A ticket costs 1.70 euros and is valid for 90 minutes, covering both buses and trams.
Eating and Drinking in Florence with Kids
Italians are genuinely welcoming to children — nobody will bat an eye if you walk into a restaurant with two or three kids in tow.
High chairs are pretty much always available.
Even at a nicer restaurant, you can order the kids a simple plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce, even if it’s not on the menu. Ordering something simple off-menu for children is completely normal in Italy.
And if you want to avoid any tourist faux pas at your next restaurant visit, check out our Italian etiquette guide — it’s super handy.
