7 Things to do in Florence with kids

Florence is one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Just walking around the city feels like you’ve stepped into a painting or museum, with ridiculously beautiful monuments, sculptures, and hand-painted murals at every turn. It might not seem like an obvious choice for a family getaway, but the city is surprisingly child friendly. For starters, the city centre is compact, which is ideal for little legs in tow. And the vast array of museums, galleries, and other attractions will typically have workshops or guided tours especially for children, so they too can understand and appreciate the artistry. From homemade pizzas to world class museums, here are seven of the best things to do in Florence with kids.

Things to do in Florence with kids

1. Boboli Gardens

While the younger ones might not be able to fully appreciate the Renaissance history behind the Boboli Gardens, they’ll certainly love running around this beautiful playground of perfectly manicured hedges and pathways. It’s one of the most important Italian gardens in the world – an open-air museum of fountains, ornate buildings, caves, statues, and ponds. There are tours especially for families, with a knowledgeable guide sharing fascinating stories of the gardens and more.

2. Tuscan Cooking Class

While the younger ones might not be able to fully appreciate the Renaissance history behind the Boboli Gardens, they’ll certainly love running around this beautiful playground of perfectly manicured hedges and pathways. It’s one of the most important Italian gardens in the world – an open-air museum of fountains, ornate buildings, caves, statues, and ponds. There are tours especially for families, with a knowledgeable guide sharing fascinating stories of the gardens and more.

3. Kids’ Art Class

Florence is one of the world’s artistic powerhouses. So where better for the kids to take an art class? Watch them gain or expand on their appreciation for arts and crafts as they work on their own masterpieces. This is an especially good activity for those who have older kids or teenagers who are already interested in art, providing them with lifelong skills and lessons in painting, drawing, and more. It’s undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Florence with kids.

4. Museo Galileo – Institute and Museum for the History of Science

Florence has a wealth of fascinating museums, but none will capture the interest of the kids quite like Museo Galileo. The museum holds priceless scientific pieces, including some of Galileo’s original work. Given the heavy emphasis on the history of science, it might be slightly difficult to understand for the littler ones. In this case, there are several guided tours specifically for children that help them understand the pieces and their significance in a fun and educational way.

5. Palazzo Vecchio

Palazzo Vecchio is a majestic building that’s been the town hall for centuries. It’s as iconic as it is historic, so visiting here is a must on your Florence trip. And fortunately for families, it’s very child friendly. The association offers a variety of activities for children including special tours, workshops, shows, and more. One of the activities is a video entitled ‘The Story of the Turtle and the Sail’ – it’s a story of an old turtle that Cosimi I de Medici met as a child and their adventures together in the Palazzo. After watching the video, the kids are tasked with a scavenger hunt to try and find the turtle!

6. Piazza della Repubblica

Piazza della Repubblica is the beating heart of the city. It’s bursting with Roman architecture and rich history. But what the kids will most be interested in is the antique carousel in the square. The nostalgia-tinged carousel is a joy for kids all ages and the perfect treat for them being such good sports with sightseeing. Walking around can get tiring for little legs, even in a small city, so a ride or two on the carousel followed by a gelato in the square will go down well.

7. Florence Duomo

No trip to Florence is complete without visiting Florence Duomo. It’d be impossible to miss, with the iconic dome punctuating the city skyline. The Renaissance-style basilica is seriously awe-inspiring just from the outside, but we highly recommend going inside, especially with the kids. Not only does it create a lifelong memory for them, but admission is completely free.