Best Things to Do in Tuscany With Kids
Tuscany's best family days center on Florence: climbing the Duomo's dome (a real workout, not for young kids), a Pisa day trip to see the Leaning Tower, biking the medieval walls of Lucca, a Cinque Terre day for kids 8 and up, and an evening gelato and food walk through Florence's old streets.
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1Area photo: Virtual-Pano / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Florence Duomo Dome Climb
463 narrow stone steps up through the space between the Duomo's inner and outer dome shells, with a close-up view of Brunelleschi's massive dome frescoes partway up and a full rooftop panorama of Florence at the top. A genuinely physical, memorable climb, not a passive tour.
Watch out: No elevator, narrow spiral staircases with two-way traffic in places, and no stroller access, so this isn't a fit for very young kids or anyone with mobility concerns. Tickets require timed entry and often need to be booked days in advance in peak season.
2Area photo: Virtual-Pano / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Pisa Leaning Tower Day Trip from Florence
About an hour from Florence by train, Pisa is essentially a single-attraction stop, but that attraction, the Leaning Tower and the Piazza dei Miracoli around it, is genuinely worth the trip. Climbing the tower itself is a real, tilted, disorienting experience kids old enough to handle it find memorable.
Watch out: Climbing the tower has a minimum age (typically around 8) and doesn't allow strollers, large bags, or backpacks inside, so plan for someone to wait outside with younger kids or gear. Book tower tickets ahead; timed slots sell out in peak season.
3Area photo: Virtual-Pano / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Lucca City Walls Bike Ride
Lucca's intact 16th-century walls form a flat, tree-lined, roughly 2.5-mile loop on top, and the whole town bikes it, not just tourists. Rental shops sit right at the wall's edge with kid-sized bikes and trailers for younger kids. A slower, calmer counterpoint to Florence's crowds and Pisa's single-attraction rush.
Watch out: The path can get busy with local commuters and other tourists on weekends and in peak season, so keep younger riders close. Getting to Lucca from Florence takes about 1.5 hours each way by train.
4Area photo: Virtual-Pano / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Cinque Terre Day Trip
Five cliffside fishing villages on the Ligurian coast, connected by train, boat, and hiking trails, with genuinely striking coastal views and swimmable coves at several villages. Kids old enough to walk between villages or handle a hiking trail get the most out of a full day here.
Watch out: This is a real day-trip commitment from Florence, 3+ hours of travel each way, not a quick add-on. Trails between villages can close seasonally after landslides or storm damage, so check current status, and consider visiting just one or two villages with young kids rather than trying to see all five.
5Area photo: Virtual-Pano / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Florence Gelato & Food Walking Tour
A guided evening walk through Florence's historic center stopping at small workshops, family-run gelaterias, and market stalls, low-effort and consistently a hit with kids regardless of age. A good way to end a day that included a bigger, more physically demanding activity.
Watch out: Portion sizes at multiple stops add up, so pace kids (and yourselves) rather than letting them go all-in at the first gelato stop. Cobblestone streets in the historic center aren't stroller-ideal in the evening crowds.
Frequently asked
Is the Duomo dome climb worth it with kids?
For kids 8 and up who can handle 463 steps with no elevator, yes, it is one of the most memorable things to do in Florence. It is not a fit for toddlers or anyone with mobility limitations.
How far is Pisa from Florence, and is it a full-day trip?
About an hour by train each way, so it is realistically a half-day trip, not a full day, since Pisa itself is mostly a single-attraction town.
Is Cinque Terre doable with young kids?
It is a long day, 3+ hours of travel each way from Florence, so it works better for kids 8 and up who can walk between villages. With younger kids, consider visiting just one village instead of trying to see all five.
What's the easiest, lowest-effort family activity in the area?
Lucca's city wall bike ride. It is flat, scenic, and works for every age, or an evening gelato walk in Florence if you want something even lower-key.
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