Best Things to Do in Florence With Kids
Florence's family days are a planned Uffizi Gallery visit, climbing the Duomo's dome, a hands-on gelato-making class, a Pisa day trip to see the Leaning Tower, and a Boboli Gardens afternoon for open-air running-around time.
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1Area photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir حچاي اچمون-سنير חגי… / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Uffizi Gallery Family Visit
One of the world's great art collections, and genuinely worth seeing — but a shorter, focused visit hitting a handful of key works (Botticelli's Birth of Venus is the one that lands with almost everyone) beats an exhausting full-museum march.
Watch out: Book timed entry well ahead — walk-up lines run hours in peak season. Not a good fit for kids under about 7; consider a shorter alternate activity for younger siblings while older kids and one parent do the Uffizi.
2Area photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir حچاي اچمون-سنير חגי… / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Duomo Dome Climb & Baptistery
463 narrow steps up Brunelleschi's dome is a real physical activity that ends in one of the best views in Florence, over the terracotta rooftops — a much more active, kid-engaging stop than another gallery walk.
Watch out: Timed-entry slots are required and book out days or weeks ahead in peak season. The climb is genuinely narrow and steep in sections; not suitable for strollers, and claustrophobic kids or adults should know what they're in for.
3Area photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir حچاي اچمون-سنير חגי… / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Florence Gelato-Making Class
The best hands-on, kid-first activity in the city — real ingredients, real instruction from a gelato maker, and a result you actually eat at the end. A welcome change of pace from museum-and-monument days.
Watch out: Book ahead; good classes have limited group sizes and fill up in peak season. Confirm the class accommodates any food allergies before booking, since ingredients aren't always flexible mid-class.
4Area photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir حچاي اچمون-سنير חגי… / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Pisa Leaning Tower Day Trip
About an hour from Florence by train, and worth it for the Leaning Tower itself plus the chance to actually climb it — a genuinely different, more playful stop than Florence's dense art-museum offerings.
Watch out: Tower climb tickets have a minimum age (typically around 8) and limited group sizes per timed slot — book ahead rather than assuming walk-up availability. Beyond the tower and cathedral square, central Pisa doesn't offer much else for a family day.
5Area photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir حچاي اچمون-سنير חגי… / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Boboli Gardens
Genuine open-air space behind the Pitti Palace — fountains, statues, and room to actually run, which matters after a day or two of stone streets and museum queues.
Watch out: Gravel paths and some slopes make strollers workable but not effortless. It's a garden, not a playground — don't expect dedicated kids' play equipment, just open space and things to look at.
Frequently asked
Is the Uffizi Gallery worth it with young kids?
For kids under about 7, generally not worth the crowds and standing — the payoff-to-patience ratio is low. For kids 8 and up, a shorter, focused visit with a guide who picks a handful of highlights works well.
Can young kids do the Duomo dome climb?
It's 463 narrow, steep steps with no elevator option — doable for most kids 7 and up who can handle stairs, but not stroller-friendly and genuinely tiring for younger kids.
Is Pisa worth a day trip from Florence just for the Leaning Tower?
If you have a spare half-day, yes — it's a quick train ride and a genuinely fun, different stop from Florence's museum-heavy days. It's not worth a full extra day unless you're combining it with something else nearby.
What's the best pace for a family visit to Florence?
Slower than you'd think — 3–4 days lets you do one major activity per day (Uffizi one day, Duomo climb another, a gelato class or Boboli Gardens afternoon as the lighter days) without exhausting everyone by day two.
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