A city of Renaissance paintings might sound like hard work with children, but Florence has plenty to keep young travellers happy — and the trick is to balance the galleries with space to run, hands-on discovery and a lot of gelato. Kids can roam the Boboli Gardens, operate Galileo's machines, climb the dome or campanile for a real sense of achievement, dress up as Medici courtiers on a secret-passage tour of the Palazzo Vecchio, and rate the city's superb gelaterias. Here are the best family activities, with age guidance, prices and practical tips.
€10Boboli Gardens
Area
Oltrarno
Ages
All ages
“The best spot to let kids run free after museum fatigue — hunt for the grotto, fountains and hidden statues.”
€13Museo Galileo
Area
Centro Storico
Ages
Ages 6+
“Far more fun for kids than the Uffizi — Galileo's actual telescopes, giant globes and interactive science exhibits.”
€30 comboClimbing the Duomo Dome or Campanile
Area
Centro Storico
Ages
Ages 7+
“Giotto's Campanile is the better climb for kids — steps have landings to rest on, and it's less claustrophobic than the dome.”
€8Leonardo Interactive Museum
Area
Centro Storico
Ages
Ages 4+
“Kids can crank, pull and operate hands-on models of Leonardo's machines — a small, touch-everything rainy-day museum.”
€3–5Gelato Tour (Vivoli, La Carraia & more)
Area
Citywide
Ages
All ages
“Seek out proper artigianale gelaterie — Vivoli (Santa Croce), Gelateria della Passera and La Carraia (Oltrarno) are the classics.”
€10Giardino Bardini
Area
Oltrarno
Ages
All ages
“Quieter than Boboli, with a wisteria tunnel in spring and a terrace café with one of the best city views — great for a relaxed family break.”
€12.50+Palazzo Vecchio Family Tours
Area
Centro Storico
Ages
Ages 4+
“Book the costumed 'secret passages' or 'Life at Court' family tours — kids love the hidden staircases and dressing-up.”
Florence with kids in detail
1.Boboli Gardens
The Boboli Gardens are the perfect antidote to museum fatigue for families visiting Florence, a huge and beautiful sixteenth-century formal garden rising up the hillside behind the Pitti Palace where children can run, roam and let off steam after too many galleries and churches. Laid out for the Medici, it is one of the earliest and most influential Italian gardens, a designed landscape of long gravel avenues, clipped hedges, terraces, ornamental lakes and dozens of fountains and statues, and for kids it works brilliantly as a giant open-air treasure hunt: they can search for the dramatic Grotta del Buontalenti, an artificial cave dripping with fantastical sculpted figures; the amphitheatre with its Egyptian obelisk; the Neptune fountain; the island garden of the Isolotto; and statues large and comic hidden among the greenery, including the famous plump dwarf riding a tortoise. There is plenty of space to picnic, shade under the trees on hot days, and lovely views back over the city and the Duomo from the upper terraces. Practical notes for families: the garden is large and hilly with gravel paths, so it can be a workout with very young children or strollers, and there is limited food and water inside, so bring supplies; but the freedom and space it offers are exactly what children need in an intense sightseeing city. Combine it with the adjacent, quieter Bardini Garden, whose terrace has an even better view, and reward everyone with a gelato afterwards. For a relaxed, green half-day that keeps kids happy while adults enjoy the history and views, Boboli is ideal.
Hours
Daily ~08:15 until ~sunset (last entry ~1h before; some Mondays closed)
Price
~€10 (combined tickets with Pitti museums available)
Getting there
Behind Palazzo Pitti in the Oltrarno, a 5-minute walk across Ponte Vecchio from the centre
Insider tip: The best spot to let kids run free after museum fatigue — hunt for the grotto, fountains and hidden statues.
2.Museo Galileo
The Museo Galileo is one of the best museums in Florence for families and a brilliant, often-overlooked alternative for children who might struggle with the Renaissance paintings of the Uffizi next door. Dedicated to the history of science, it houses an extraordinary collection of scientific instruments assembled by the Medici and Lorraine grand dukes, and its star attractions have real wow-factor for kids and adults alike: two of Galileo Galilei's original telescopes, the very instruments with which he observed the moons of Jupiter and changed our understanding of the universe, along with — more macabrely fascinating to many children — one of his preserved fingers, displayed as a relic. Beyond the Galileo material, the beautifully presented galleries are full of things to marvel at: enormous antique globes and armillary spheres, elaborate astronomical clocks, early mechanical calculators, navigational and surveying instruments, telescopes and microscopes, and a memorable collection of eighteenth-century anatomical and obstetric wax and terracotta models used to teach medicine. Crucially for families, the museum includes interactive stations and clear, engaging explanations that let children experiment with scientific principles hands-on, making abstract ideas tangible and fun. It is a manageable size, so it does not overwhelm, and its riverside location right beside the Uffizi makes it easy to slot into a day's sightseeing, while its indoor setting makes it an excellent rainy-day or hot-afternoon option. For curious kids aged roughly six and up, budding scientists, and anyone wanting a change from art and churches, the Museo Galileo is engaging, educational and genuinely enjoyable — one of the smartest family choices in the city.
Hours
Wed–Mon ~09:30–18:00, Tue ~09:30–13:00 (check seasonal hours)
Price
~€13 adult, reductions for children and families
Getting there
On Piazza dei Giudici beside the Uffizi and the Arno, a 5-minute walk from Piazza della Signoria
Insider tip: Far more fun for kids than the Uffizi — Galileo's actual telescopes, giant globes and interactive science exhibits.
3.Climbing the Duomo Dome or Campanile
For families with older children, climbing to the top of the Duomo complex is one of the most exciting and rewarding things to do in Florence — a real physical adventure that turns sightseeing into a sense of achievement and rewards the effort with an unforgettable view over the terracotta rooftops of the city. There are two climbs to choose from, both included in the combined Duomo passes. The first is Brunelleschi's dome itself, a 463-step ascent that winds up the curving space between the dome's inner and outer shells, passing right beside Vasari's dramatic and slightly scary Last Judgment fresco of heaven and hell before emerging onto the lantern at the very top; it is a genuine thrill, but the staircase is steep, narrow, one-way and can feel claustrophobic, so it suits confident children of around seven and up who are comfortable in tight spaces, and requires a compulsory timed-entry slot booked ahead. The second, and often the better choice for families, is the climb up Giotto's Campanile, the bell tower beside the cathedral: at 414 steps it is a similar height, but the staircase is roomier, has several landings and terraces where you can stop, rest and take in the view on the way up, and is far less enclosed — and, as a bonus, from the top you get the perfect photograph of the great dome itself, which you cannot capture while inside it. Either way, wear good shoes, carry water, avoid the hottest part of the day, and be honest about young children's tolerance for stairs and heights. For energetic kids, reaching the top under their own steam is a highlight of the trip.
Hours
Dome & campanile daily by timed ticket ~08:15–19:00 (dome closed Sun mornings)
Price
Covered by the ~€30 combined Duomo passes; timed dome slot required
Getting there
At the Duomo in the centro storico, a short walk from everywhere central
Insider tip: Giotto's Campanile is the better climb for kids — steps have landings to rest on, and it's less claustrophobic than the dome.
4.Leonardo Interactive Museum
The Leonardo Interactive Museum is a compact, hands-on attraction dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci the inventor and engineer, and its touch-everything ethos makes it especially good for younger children who need to do rather than just look. The core of the collection is a set of full-scale wooden models of Leonardo's celebrated machines and mechanisms — flying contraptions and a giant 'aerial screw' helicopter, war machines, gears, cranes, hydraulic devices, bridges and mechanical studies — reconstructed from the drawings in his notebooks, and, crucially, many of them are designed to be handled, so kids can turn cranks, pull levers, spin wheels and set the models in motion to see the engineering principles at work for themselves. This interactivity keeps children engaged far better than a static gallery, and simple explanations (in multiple languages) connect the machines to Leonardo's restless genius. Alongside the inventions, the museum usually includes reproductions and interactive presentations exploring his art, including analyses of the Mona Lisa and his painting techniques, and some branches feature digital and immersive elements. It is a small museum that takes around an hour, making it an easy, affordable and low-commitment stop, and its central location and indoor setting make it a reliable rainy-day or hot-afternoon option to break up a day of churches and galleries. There are a few similar Leonardo- and Michelangelo-themed interactive museums dotted around the centre of Florence, all with a comparable hands-on approach. For families with children who love building, machines and how-things-work exhibits, and who benefit from being allowed to touch and play, it is an enjoyable and educational choice.
Hours
Daily ~10:00–19:00 (seasonal)
Price
~€8 adult, reductions for children
Getting there
Central, near the Duomo and Via de' Cerretani, a few minutes' walk from the cathedral
Insider tip: Kids can crank, pull and operate hands-on models of Leonardo's machines — a small, touch-everything rainy-day museum.
5.Gelato Tour (Vivoli, La Carraia & more)
A gelato tour is the simplest, cheapest and most reliable way to keep children happy in Florence, and since the city is a serious gelato town it doubles as a delicious sightseeing route that even the adults will look forward to. The trick is to seek out proper artisanal gelaterie (look for the word 'artigianale', natural muted colours rather than lurid mounds, and seasonal flavours) rather than the tourist-trap parlours near the big sights with their towering, garishly coloured tubs. Several classic addresses are worth building a walk around. Vivoli, near Santa Croce, is one of the oldest and most famous gelaterias in the city, going strong since the 1930s and beloved for its rich, traditional flavours. Across the river in the Oltrarno, the tiny Gelateria della Passera on its charming little square and the riverside La Carraia (also known for generous portions and great value) are local favourites, while spots like Gelateria dei Neri and Perché No! in the centre round out the options. Turning the search into a game — comparing flavours, rating each stop, trying something new like ricotta and fig, pistachio or stracciatella — gives children a mission and a reward that carries them cheerfully between churches, piazzas and museums, and gives everyone welcome breaks and a cooling treat on hot days. Cones or cups cost only a few euros, making it an affordable pleasure you can repeat daily without guilt. For families, a well-planned gelato crawl is not just a snack but a genuine, joyful way to experience the city and its neighbourhoods at a child's pace.
Hours
Gelaterias typically ~11:00–23:00 (later in summer)
Price
A cone or cup ~€3–5
Getting there
Best spots are spread across Santa Croce, the Oltrarno (Passera, La Carraia) and the centre — walkable
Insider tip: Seek out proper artigianale gelaterie — Vivoli (Santa Croce), Gelateria della Passera and La Carraia (Oltrarno) are the classics.
6.Giardino Bardini
The Giardino Bardini is one of Florence's loveliest and most peaceful green spaces, a beautifully restored hillside garden in the Oltrarno that makes a calmer, less crowded alternative to the much larger Boboli Gardens next door and a delightful spot for a relaxed family break away from the busy streets. Climbing the slope below the Costa San Giorgio, the garden is a designed landscape of three distinct areas — a formal Italianate section with a grand Baroque staircase, an English-style wooded park and an agricultural stretch with orchards — laced with paths, fountains, statues and flowerbeds that change with the seasons. Its most celebrated feature is the wisteria pergola, a tunnel that erupts into a spectacular canopy of hanging purple blooms in April and May, drawing photographers and families alike, while at other times of year roses, irises, hydrangeas and fruit trees keep it colourful. For children there is space to wander and explore at an easy pace, gentle terraces rather than the long hilly hikes of Boboli, and plenty to discover among the statuary and water features. The real reward, though, is the view: the garden's upper terrace and its charming café command one of the finest panoramas over the whole of Florence — the dome, the towers, the river — arguably even better than the famous Piazzale Michelangelo, and far more tranquil, making it a perfect place to pause with a drink or an ice cream while children rest. Its ticket is often combined with Boboli, so the two can be visited together, and it links to the walk up toward San Miniato and Piazzale Michelangelo. For a serene, scenic and stroller-friendly green escape with a knockout view, the Bardini is a gem.
Hours
Daily ~08:15 until ~sunset (check seasonal days)
Price
~€10 (often combined with Boboli ticket)
Getting there
In the Oltrarno on the hillside near the Costa San Giorgio, a 12-minute walk from Ponte Vecchio
Insider tip: Quieter than Boboli, with a wisteria tunnel in spring and a terrace café with one of the best city views — great for a relaxed family break.
7.Palazzo Vecchio Family Tours
The Palazzo Vecchio, Florence's grand medieval town hall on Piazza della Signoria, runs one of the best programmes of family activities of any museum in the city, transforming what could be a dry tour of state rooms into a genuinely exciting adventure that captivates children. The palace's education department offers a series of themed guided tours and workshops designed specifically for families and kids, which must be booked in advance and are well worth planning around. The most popular is the 'secret passages' tour, which takes small groups through hidden doors, concealed staircases and normally off-limits spaces — including the cavity above the ceiling of the vast Salone dei Cinquecento, where you can see the massive wooden roof structure — revealing the intrigue, escape routes and hidden machinery of the Medici court in a way that thrills children with its sense of mystery and discovery. Other activities include costumed role-play tours where kids dress up and meet characters from the Medici era, learning about life at the Renaissance court, and creative workshops. Beyond the organised activities, the palace itself is atmospheric and rewarding for families, with its enormous frescoed hall, opulent chambers, maps and the climb up the Arnolfo Tower for a great view over the piazza. Being centrally located and largely indoors, it also makes an excellent rainy-day option. Booking the family tours ahead is essential, as places are limited and they are deservedly popular. For turning Renaissance history into an interactive, imaginative experience that engages children rather than boring them, the Palazzo Vecchio's family programme is one of the smartest and most memorable things to do with kids in Florence.
Hours
Museum Fri–Wed ~09:00–19:00, Thu ~09:00–14:00; family tours by advance booking
Price
Museum ~€12.50; guided family activities extra (book ahead)
Getting there
On Piazza della Signoria, a 5-minute walk from the Duomo and beside the Uffizi
Insider tip: Book the costumed 'secret passages' or 'Life at Court' family tours — kids love the hidden staircases and dressing-up.