Florence with Kids: Our Favourite Tuscany Base for the Perfect Family Holiday

Florence with Kids: Our Favourite Tuscany Base for the Perfect Family Holiday

“Can we have another gelato?”

I’m pretty sure that was the question we heard most during our time in Florence.

Not “Where are we going next?”
Not “How much longer do we have to walk?”

Just gelato.

And honestly, we couldn’t blame the girls.

Florence is the kind of city that makes wandering around feel like part of the adventure. One minute you’re crossing the Ponte Vecchio, the next you’re squeezing through a tiny street behind the Duomo, and somehow you’ve ended up in a little piazza with a musician playing in the corner and a gelateria calling your name.

We came to Florence as a family, but what surprised us most was how easily the city became more than just a city break.

Why Florence Works So Well with Kids

When you mention Florence, people often think about Renaissance art, museums and beautiful architecture.

And yes, Florence has all of that.

But you don’t have to spend your entire visit inside museums to enjoy the city with children.

The historic centre is compact enough to explore on foot, and there is always something happening around you. Street performers, tiny cars squeezing through narrow streets, beautiful squares, fountains and, of course, plenty of places to stop for food.

Our girls loved simply walking around.

They loved spotting tiny Fiats, choosing gelato flavours and crossing the Ponte Vecchio. We loved finding a sunny terrace, ordering an espresso and watching Florence go by.

And that is probably my favourite thing about Florence:

you don’t need to plan every minute.

Some of the nicest moments happened when we weren’t actually trying to see anything.

Florence as a Base for Tuscany

This is where Florence really won us over.

Rather than changing hotels every few nights, we stayed in one place and used it as our base for exploring the surrounding countryside.

One day Florence.

The next day Siena.

Then San Gimignano.

Another day we might simply get in the car and follow a road that looked interesting.

And this is exactly why Tuscany is such a fantastic region for a family road trip. You don’t have to stick rigidly to an itinerary. The journey itself becomes part of the holiday.

If you love travelling this way, you might also enjoy our guide to the best Italian road trips for families. It includes some of our favourite routes, hidden stops and the practical things we learned from travelling around Italy by car.

Driving or Flying to Florence?

For us, driving to Tuscany made perfect sense.

From the Netherlands, it’s roughly 1,300 kilometres, so obviously it isn’t the quickest way to get there. But if you enjoy road trips, there’s something lovely about having your own car from the moment you leave home.

You can stop whenever you want.

You can pack as much as you like.

And once you arrive in Tuscany, you already have the freedom to explore.

That said, if you don’t fancy the drive, flying is very easy.

A direct flight from Amsterdam to Florence takes around two hours, so Florence also works brilliantly for a shorter family trip.

We usually compare flight prices before booking, particularly when travelling during school holidays. We check different departure airports too, as flights from Brussels or Düsseldorf can sometimes make a surprisingly big difference to the total cost.

Travelicious Tip

Don’t only compare the flight price.

If you’re travelling as a family, add parking, petrol, luggage and transfers to your calculation. Sometimes the cheapest-looking flight isn’t actually the cheapest option once everything is included.

Renting a Car in Florence

If you’re flying into Florence but want to explore Tuscany, we’d definitely recommend having a car for at least part of your trip.

Florence itself is much easier without one.

In fact, driving into the historic centre is something you want to avoid because of the restricted traffic zones.

But once you’re outside the city, having your own car gives you so much more freedom.

We loved being able to see a village on a hill and simply decide:

“Let’s go there.”

That freedom is one of the reasons we love travelling through Italy by car.

We normally compare rental prices before booking. Discover Cars is one of our go-to options when we want everything included and don’t want to spend half an hour at the rental desk worrying about additional insurance.

If price is the priority, it’s worth comparing several providers before making a decision.

Where We Stayed Near Florence

For our family, staying directly in Florence wasn’t the obvious choice.

We wanted to explore the city, but we also wanted somewhere the girls could actually enjoy being on holiday.

So we stayed at Norcenni Girasole Club in Figline Valdarno.

And honestly?

It was one of the best decisions of the trip.

During the day we could explore Florence, Siena or one of the Tuscan villages. Then we’d head back to the campsite and the girls could disappear into the swimming pools and water slides.

There were climbing activities, entertainment, mini discos and even foam parties.

Which meant that after a day of sightseeing, nobody was asking:

“What are we doing now?”

They already knew.

Swimming.

For us, that gave the holiday a really nice rhythm.

A busy sightseeing day.

A relaxed afternoon.

Another delicious Italian dinner.

And maybe a glass of Chianti for the adults.

The resort also has different types of accommodation, including apartments, bungalows and hotel rooms, so you don’t have to be a traditional camper to stay here.

And there’s a bus connection to Florence, which is useful if you don’t want to drive into the city.

The Florence Highlights We Loved

You could spend days exploring Florence, but with children we found it much more enjoyable to pick a few highlights and leave plenty of time for wandering.

The Duomo

You can’t really visit Florence without seeing the Duomo.

The colourful marble façade is incredible, and even the girls were impressed by how enormous it is.

The square around it can get busy, so we preferred simply taking our time, looking around and letting the city happen around us.

Ponte Vecchio

Walking across the Ponte Vecchio is another Florence classic.

Yes, it’s busy.

Yes, you’ll probably stop for photos.

And yes, you’ll probably have to remind the children not to stop directly in the middle of everyone else’s walking path.

But it really is beautiful.

The colourful buildings stretching across the bridge make it one of those places that feels instantly recognisable from photographs.

Piazza della Signoria

This was another place where we enjoyed simply wandering around rather than following a strict sightseeing route.

There are sculptures, beautiful buildings and plenty of activity around the square.

It’s also a good place to take a little break before continuing your walk through the city.

Our Favourite Florence Moment: Piazzale Michelangelo

If you only make time for one viewpoint in Florence, make it Piazzale Michelangelo.

Go towards the end of the afternoon.

As the sun begins to drop, Florence starts to turn golden.

We found a spot on the steps, watched the musicians playing and looked out across the rooftops.

The girls were surprisingly happy to just sit there for a while.

No museum.

No attraction.

No rushing to the next thing.

Just Florence.

And those are often the moments you remember most from a family trip.

Exploring Tuscany from Florence

This is where having Florence as a base really paid off.

We could spend a day exploring without having to pack our bags again afterwards.

San Gimignano

With its famous medieval towers, San Gimignano looks almost like something from a fairytale.

It’s compact enough to explore on foot and fun to wander around without a plan.

And yes, there is more gelato involved.

Siena

Siena has a completely different atmosphere.

The Piazza del Campo is the heart of the city, and we loved wandering through the surrounding streets before settling down for lunch.

Lucca

Lucca was another favourite.

The historic city walls are one of the reasons we wanted to visit, and walking or cycling around them gives you a completely different perspective of the city.

And then there was lunch.

Because one thing we quickly learned in Tuscany is that lunch is rarely something you rush.

Other Places to Add to Your Tuscany Road Trip

Depending on how long you have, you could also visit:

• Pisa
• Volterra
• Montepulciano
• Greve in Chianti
• Vinci

And don’t underestimate the driving days themselves.

Some of our favourite parts of Tuscany weren’t destinations at all. They were the roads between them.

Vineyards.

Olive groves.

Cypress trees.

Little villages on distant hills.

And the occasional moment when one of us shouted:

“Stop! Look at that view!”

That’s Tuscany.

A Little More Than Just Florence

One of the things we love about travelling around Italy is that you can combine very different experiences in one trip.

You could spend a few days exploring Florence and Tuscany, then continue your road trip towards the coast.

And if you’re looking for somewhere completely different, our trip to Elba is a lovely example of how easily an Italian trip can turn into a combination of culture, road trips and beach time.

Elba has a completely different feel from Florence.

Instead of Renaissance buildings and busy piazzas, you get turquoise water, mountain roads, little coastal villages and beaches.

It would make a fantastic addition to a longer Italian itinerary if you’re looking to combine city + countryside + island rather than spending your entire holiday in one place.

A Hidden Gem Near Figline Valdarno

Not every memorable place needs to be famous.

During the warmer months, we discovered a natural swimming area near Figline Valdarno.

After a busy day exploring, jumping into the water was exactly what we needed.

The drive there was part of the fun too, with beautiful scenery along the way.

These are the kinds of places we often remember most.

Not necessarily the attractions we had carefully planned months in advance, but the little discoveries that weren’t on the original itinerary at all.

A Stop at The Mall Luxury Outlets

If you like shopping, The Mall Luxury Outlets near Montevarchi is another easy stop when you’re exploring the area.

You’ll find well-known Italian and international luxury brands at outlet prices.

It’s not something we’d build an entire day around, but if you’re already driving through the area, it’s an easy place to spend an hour or two.

And sometimes a little retail therapy isn’t a bad addition to a family road trip.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Florence?

Florence is beautiful throughout the year, but if we could choose our favourite months for a family trip, we’d pick May, June or September.

You’ll generally get pleasant temperatures without the full intensity of the summer heat, and Tuscany is beautiful at this time of year.

July and August can work brilliantly too, especially if you’re staying somewhere with a swimming pool.

Just be prepared for hot days and busy attractions.

And regardless of when you visit, bring comfortable shoes.

You will walk.

A lot.

Is Florence Worth Visiting with Kids?

Absolutely.

What surprised us most about Florence wasn’t the famous landmarks.

It was how easy it was to enjoy the city as a family.

We could explore for a few hours, stop for gelato, wander down another street, sit in a square and then head back to the pool.

And by staying outside the city, we didn’t have to choose between a city holiday and a relaxing family holiday.

We could have both.

That’s why Florence worked so well for us.

Culture in the morning.
Tuscany in the afternoon.
Gelato whenever possible.

And if you have a little longer, you can turn it into a bigger Italian road trip and add places such as Elba or other destinations from our Italian road trip guide.

Our Travelicious Tips for Florence

✔ Consider staying outside Florence. You’ll often get more space, a pool and easier parking while still being close enough for day trips.

✔ Rent a car if you want to explore Tuscany. Florence itself doesn’t require one, but the countryside is much easier to discover with your own wheels.

✔ Don’t overplan. Leave room for the unexpected villages, viewpoints and lunch stops you discover along the way.

✔ Visit Piazzale Michelangelo around sunset. It’s one of those simple experiences that costs nothing but creates a lasting memory.

✔ Compare flights from different airports. Amsterdam isn’t always the cheapest option, so check Brussels and Düsseldorf too.

✔ Build in pool time. Especially when travelling with children in summer, a few hours of doing absolutely nothing can make the sightseeing days much more enjoyable.

✔ And always leave room for gelato. This one is non-negotiable.

More Italy Inspiration

If you’re planning an Italian family adventure, you might also enjoy:

The Best Italian Road Trips for Families – our guide to exploring Italy by car, including scenic routes and hidden gems.

Elba: Italy’s Little Island Secret – for turquoise water, mountain roads and a very different side of Italy.

You can also read our guides to Lake Garda, Lake Como, Milan, Verona, Venice and Rome.

Because Italy has a habit of making you think you’ve finished exploring…

until you start planning the next trip.