Italy Family Travel: Florence With Kids

florence with kids

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Florence is a city for children of all ages with lots of unique experience that your kids will love. There are lots of things that you can do in Florence with kids. You will also love that the city is a compact and small one which makes it possible to walk around the main attractions with ease.

florence with kids

Italy Family Travel: Florence With Kids

Things to Know About Florence

  • Location: Florence is city in Italy.
  • Currency: The currency in Florence, Italy is Euro. $1 US Dollar is equivalent to .88 Euros (February 2019)
  • Language: The official language in Florence is Italian. Finding people who speak English isn’t uncommon.
  • Visa: American Citizens do not need a visa to visit Florence, Italy.
  • Car Seats: Car seats are recommended if you plan to rent a car.
  • Stroller: Because there is a lot of walking, a stroller is recommended for younger kids who may get tired of walking.

Best Time to Travel to Florence with Kids

You will be able to enjoy the charm of Florence all year round, but the best time to travel there is between May and October. The weather is quite humid and hot in July and August and it is usually a bit cold from November to March. Do note that in the warmer months, it is BUSY!! We were in Florence with kids in October 2018, the weather was warm and the were crowds everywhere.

florence with kids

Transportation Options in Florence with Kids

  • Taxi: Taxis are not that cheap in this city, especially because several of the roads run on a one-way system which forces drivers to take longer routes making it an uneconomical way to go around the city. Taxis are best used to carry your luggage between the train station and your hotel. You will find a taxi stand outside the train station and also in Piazza Santa Croce.
  • Rental Car: There are plenty of car rental agencies in Florence that you can rent a car from. You can easily find a rental using comCar Rental 8or Skyscanner Car Rentals. You should also check the exact location of the rental office before booking for a car as you don’t want to drive through the city center to get there. It is going to be cheaper to pick your car from the airport than going around the city to find one.
  • Public Transportation: Since the city is compact, you will rarely use the Florence ATAF bus system. The bus ticket cost 1.20€ and are good for 90 minutes. There is a 24-hours pass for 5€, a 3-day pass 12€, and a 7-day pass 18€. You can easily buy them at most newsstands, and some bars. You can also pay 2€ on board. Buses run from 7 am till 9 pm daily and a limited night service on a few key routes.

The city is extremely walk-able and instead of looking for a public transportation, you can just walk to were you need to. We had a rental car in Florence and finding parking was quite an issue. If you plan to spend a few days there and visit other places, then I suggest getting a rental. If you plan to stay in Florence then I suggest using public transportation or taxis as needed.

 Where to Stay in Florence with Kids

There are many family friendly hotels in Florence with kids’ activities. It is advisable to book a hotel that is close to top tourist attractions like the Palazzo Vecchio and Boboli Gardens. Renting a home is also a great idea to save costs, as well as have kitchen for when you need to cook something. You can book homes using HotelsCombined, Booking.comHotels.comHomeAway and VRBO.

Top Hotels To Stay At When In Florence with Kids

  • Four Seasons Hotel Firenze – This is a lavish hotel that is made of two Renaissance buildings and then equipped with a pool, spa, and Jacuzzi which is surrounded by an 11 acre private garden. The hotel also has kids’ amenities like a playground with activities in the summer, babysitting services, kid-sized robes, and slippers. You kids will also love to experience the hot air balloon ride, and so on that is provided by this hotel.
  • Palazzo Vecchietti – Boutique hotel is found in a 16th-century palace with large suites, apartments, and penthouses. All the rooms include a hideaway kitchenette equipped with coffee maker and dishwater. Some suites also have private balconies, soaking tubs, rooftop terraces, or Turkish baths. You will also love the mouthwatering breakfast provided by this hotel.
  • Portrait Firenze – Luxury hotel and all the details in the room will be made to suit your style if you want and you will also get stunning views of Ponte Vecchio and Arno River from this hotel room. The hotel also has a lot of children’s activities like spy games in the Uffizi, Italian cooking classes, and so on. You will also find Children’s menus at their restaurants.
  • Hotel Lungarno – Located right on the river and they offer wide varieties of children’s activities which will make their time here memorable. Some of the kids’ program offered by this hotel are trip to Bargello Museum, pizza making classes, hands-on experiments based on Da Vinci’s and Galileo’s works, and so on.
  • The St. Regis Florence – This historic hotel was designed by Brunelleschi. It has great restaurant with mouthwatering food, a full-service spa, and family amenities. All the suites are equipped with tubs and a signature butler service. The hotel also offers complimentary meals for children, kid-sized robes and slippers, a connecting room at half price.
  • Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy – This hotel offers stunning rooms and suites as well as provides services like round-trip airport transfer, packing and unpacking services, a bottle of champagne, and a daily breakfast which will be delivered to your room. The hotel also offers age-appropriate amenities based on the age of your kids and babysitting service.
  • Villa La Vedetta – Stunning boutique hotel overlooking the city. The hotel offers two suite types for families which is the Suite Deluxe and the Bellavista Suite. The hotel has many kids’ amenities like stepping stools and coloring books in the rooms, special menu for kids in the restaurants, and babysitting services.
florence with kids
In the summer months it gets very hot, a hotel with a pool is a must. Photo Courtesy of Villa La Vedetta

Top Things to Do in Florence with Kids

  • Visit Palazzo Vecchio: This is among the best family-friendly museum with stunning children activities like a scavenger hunt, puppet shows and stories, children’s kit with maps and tools to keep your little ones busy while on the tour of the museum. There is also a Life at Court tour where your kids will get to dress up in clothes that the royal family’s children wore. You can also go to the tower where you can se see magnificent views of the city.
  • Get magnificent views of the city of Florence from the top: There are many locations in the city that offer great views from the top. The best options are:
    • Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo
    • Florence from Duomo
    • Florence from Fiesole
    • Florence from the Department Store in Piazza della Repubblica
    • Florence from the Ponte alle Grazie
  • Take a cooking class: This is one of the top things that you should not miss while in Florence. There are many cooking classes in Florence that you can choose from and the lesson will start with your kids picking the fresh produce and then making the meal from the beginning till end.
  • Go on Family Tour of the Uffizi Gallery: This is a mesmerizing gallery with superb exhibits and lots of engaging kids’ activities like trivia games, treasure hunts, educational games which are going to keep your kids entertained while you admire the artworks.
  • Go on the Hop-On Hop-Off tour bus: This is a fabulous and convenient way to explore the city with kids. The bus is also going to stop at about 15 major tourist attractions.
florence with kids
  • Ride Antique Carousel: This can be found in Piazza Della Repubblica and your kids will surely enjoy their time here with a lot of fun things to do before they then stroll through the city.
  • Visit the Boboli Garden: This garden will make a great outdoor activity for your kids as they will enjoy the freedom to run and just explore every pathway of the garden.
  • Visit Leonardo Da Vinci Museum: This is a small but interesting museum where your young ones will be entertained with the reproductions of several civil engineering projects that was designed by Leonardo Da Vinci.
  • Visit the Galileo Museum: This is a kid-friendly museum that preserves collections of tools that were designed by Galileo Galilei. The museum also organizes kids’ activities on weekends that your kids will not want to miss out on.
  • Visit Bargello Museum: This is a museum with lots of kids’ activities. The museum also has a relaxing courtyard where your kids can sketch art.
  • Try out tasty Ice cream: Florence is filled with many good ice cream shops and you should not miss the chance to taste one of the best gelato in the world while you are in the city.
florence with kids

Best Gardens, Parks and Playgrounds To Visit When In Florence With Kids

  • Folon e il Giardino Delle Rose
  • Giardino Bardini
  • Giardino dell’Iris
  • Giardino di Boboli
  • Le Cascine
  • Parco Delle Cascine

Best Places To Eat In Florence With Kids

Florence is said to have amazing pizza. Either way, you’re guarantee to enjoy a good meal regardless of what restaurant you choose. If you’re on a budget, make sure to check the menu and prices before you sit down for a meal.

florence with kids
  • I’ Girone De’ Ghiotti
  • Ettamo Gelateria
  • La Boheme Restaurant & Café
  • Ristorante Il Ricettario
  • Salumeria Verdi – Pino’s Sandwiches
  • Gelateria dei Neri
  • Da Angelo Gelateria
  • La Schiaccia Della Signoria
  • Rooster Cafe Firenze
  • Bottega Conviviale

Best Tips for Visiting Florence on a Budget

  • Skip The Lines: Invest in Firenze Card which is a 72 hours pass and will give you access to up to 30 museums and public transport. The card cost €72 per person. You can also skip the line by making a reservation online or on phone.
  • Save money on food: You should try to eat lunch at a restaurant with a fixed lunch menu or get a slice of pizza which is a cheap lunch option. Dinner meals can get expensive, so you can use this opportunity to cook dinner if you’re staying at a place with a kitchen.
  • Save on transport: The main monuments in Florence are located in the city center close to each other and you can easily access them by walking around. You will only need the bus if you want to explore the further part of Florence and also cross the river. You can also buy a Firenze Card as they offer free transport for 3 days. You should also avoid taxis because they are quite expensive.
  • Learn a few Italian words: It is good to learn some basic words and phrases even for a short visit as this is a polite thing to do. Plus, the locals love it too.
    • Yes: Si
    • No: No
    • You: Tu
    • I: Io
    • Please: Per favore
    • Thank you: Grazie
    • You’re Welcome/Please: Prego
    • Sorry: Scusa
    • I don’t understand: Non capisco
    • Hello/HiL Ciao, Salve
    • Good morning/Good day: Buon giorno
    • Hello, my name is: Ciao, mi chiamo
    • How Are You?: Come Stai? / Come va
black kids travel

What other countries did we visit on this trip?

Booking Your Trip – Tips & Tricks

How To Book Cheap Flights When You Travel

If you are looking to book the cheapest flights you can possibly find on the internet, then make sure to use Skyscanner when searching for flights. Don’t forget to download the Free Skyscanner App also which is very handy. This is how I was able to get $12.40 airfare from Los Angeles to London, as well as $9.40 airfare from London to Italy.

How To Book Affordable Accommodation When You Travel

When booking accommodation, TripAdvisor is the way to go because you can read reviews and see photos from other travelers to get a feel of where you will be staying. Other great sites to book hotels are HotelsCombined, Booking.com and Hotels.com. Don’t forget to check HomeAway and VRBO for house and villa rentals too. Perfect for when you travel with a large family, and also to save money when hotels are expensive. Another favorite of mine is BookVIP – they offer huge resort savings.

How To Book Activities When You Travel

My favorite website to search for activities, tours and especially skip the line tickets is Viator and Get Your Guide. This makes trip planning so much easier because you don’t have to search several sites as both websites have several options to choose from. Same also goes with TripAdvisor Attractions – you can search and book activities as well as read reviews.

How To Book Rental Cars When You Travel

Instead of checking every single website, I use RentalCars.com, Car Rental 8 and Skyscanner Car Rentals to find car rentals all over the world with just one click. If you plan to park at the airport, visit Airport Parking and make a reservation.

Why Travel Insurance Is a Must When You Travel

People book trips and forget the most important part, purchasing travel insurance. Because we travel often, I purchase our travel insurance through Allianz for a year at a time which means that we are covered for all trips within that year. Travel insurance will protect you and your family against theft, injury illness, flight cancellations and so much more. It is a MUST!

Looking to save even more money when you travel?

Visit my Travel Resources page to see all the reliable and trustworthy brands that I use to book my travel with. I only recommend brands that I’ve used and can vouch for, so you’re in good hands! ? Also check out these posts below:

Top Travel With Kids Tips

Traveling with kids and have a few questions you need answers too, these posts below will help your trip run smooth.

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Kay, The Mom Trotter

Hey Fam, I’m so glad you’re here!
I am an entrepreneur and travel enthusiast who is passionate about sharing an alternate way of living surrounding travel, homeschooling, parenting and financial independence, with a mission to inspire other families.

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