Florence with kids: a family day out
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 1 of 4 free; 3 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 5 h 50 min · 09:30–15:19
- Start and finish
- Giotto's Campanile → Boboli Gardens
- On foot
- ≈ 29 min in total
- Transport
- none — all on foot
- Lunch
- around 12:19
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn. In summer, visit Boboli in the morning or late afternoon.
The plan, stop by stop
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Florence09:30–15:19 · 4 places · 5 h 50 min
Giotto's Campanile
· 1 h · Combined cathedral pass
- 10 min on foot
Museo Galileo
· 1 h 15 min · Paid
- 4 min on foot
Ponte Vecchio
· 20 min · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 15 min on foot
Boboli Gardens
· 1 h 45 min · Paid
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
1 of 4 are free; 3 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Giotto's Campanile | 41 | 1 h | Combined cathedral pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Museo Galileo | 37 | 1 h 15 min | Paid |
| 3 | Ponte Vecchio | 60 | 20 min | Free |
| 4 | Boboli Gardens | 36 | 1 h 45 min | Paid |
| Total | 4 h 20 min | 1 of 4 free |
Tips for each stop
- 1
Giotto's Campanile. 414 steps, no lift, and Brunelleschi's dome right in front of you at the top. On the combined cathedral pass.
- 2
Museo Galileo. Galileo's own telescopes, a giant armillary sphere and hands-on experiment rooms.
- 3
Ponte Vecchio. The old bridge lined with jewellers, with the Vasari Corridor running overhead. Free, and loveliest at sunset.
- 4
Boboli Gardens. The Medici hillside garden: the obelisk amphitheatre, the Buontalenti Grotto and the top-terrace view. Wear good shoes.
Who this route is for
- Children aged about 6 and up
- Families tired of art galleries
- A fine day for the garden
- Toddlers in buggies: lots of steps in the tower and garden
- The Uffizi and Accademia: see the 2- and 3-day routes
Spring and autumn. In summer, visit Boboli in the morning or late afternoon.
Things to do in Florence with kids
What children enjoy most in Florence is what they can touch, climb or run around. Giotto's Bell Tower is a real adventure: a narrow stair, landings with windows and a view from about 85 metres up. The climb takes 20 to 30 minutes; if your child dislikes heights or tight stairs, walk round the cathedral instead.
Museo Galileo is five minutes from Piazza della Signoria, by the river. It holds the telescopes Galileo himself looked through, and in the last rooms children can swing a pendulum and roll balls down an inclined plane. There's rarely a queue.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, add something nearby, and the timings update.
The Boboli Gardens: room to run
Over the bridge is Palazzo Pitti, with the Boboli Gardens behind it. There's lots of shade, paths and steps, an amphitheatre with an Egyptian obelisk, the Buontalenti Grotto with its statues and cave-like walls, and down at the Isolotto a pond with an island and ducks. The top terrace looks over all of Florence.
Bring water and snacks, as the café doesn't always open. Buggies struggle on the gravel and steep slopes; a carrier is easier.
More for families
In the evening, head up to Piazzale Michelangelo for gelato and the view; buses 12 and 13 go there. Older children enjoy the Palazzo Vecchio family tours with its secret passages, and the bus ride up to Fiesole for the Roman theatre.
How to do it right
- Climb the bell tower at opening, while it's cool and quiet.
- Bring good shoes, water and snacks for Boboli.
- A carrier beats a buggy: lots of steps and gravel.
- Italy uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; carry a little cash for cafés and markets. Buy museum tickets ahead on official sites, where closing days are listed too.
- Gelato makes a good stop anywhere on the route.
Questions
What can kids do in Florence?
Climb Giotto's Bell Tower, explore Museo Galileo's hands-on rooms, cross the Ponte Vecchio and play in the Boboli Gardens; in the evening, Piazzale Michelangelo.
What age is Giotto's Bell Tower suitable for?
The 414-step climb suits children from about 6 or 7 who don't mind heights or narrow stairs.
Is Museo Galileo good for kids?
Yes: telescopes, globes, big models and rooms where they can do experiments themselves.
Can you take a buggy into the Boboli Gardens?
It's hard work on the gravel and slopes; a carrier is easier.
Where can kids run around in Florence?
The Boboli Gardens, Piazzale Michelangelo and car-free Piazza Santo Spirito.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
