City Playgrounds – Parco Giochi

Kids  just want to be kids. Finding a great place for the kids to run and play is quite easy in Florence. Now, don’t expect to find a playground within the core of the Metropolitan City of Florence, but within a ten minute walk or a short cab ride you could definitely find some space for kids to play. In Italy, not all parks have playgrounds so it is important to define what you’re looking for, especially when asking locals.

When using Google Maps, or asking locals, your inquiry should include the Italian term, “Parco Giochi” which translates to “playground”. If you search for “park” or “parco” you will get search results that include parks that may have beautiful landscapes, but no playground for the kids.

We found that stopping at a playground was great way for our kids to release some energy and also meet other travelers and locals alike. This is a must do when visiting Florence with kids.

Quick Tip: Search for “Parco Giochi” when looking for kids playgrounds

Some playgrounds to visit are:

• Giardino Piero Filippi (50125 Firenze FI)
•  Playground at Lungarno Santa Rosa (50129 Firenze FI, Italy)
• Piazza D’azeglio (50121 Firenze FI, Italy)
• Giardino di Borgo Allegri (18, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy)
• Piazza dei Ciompi (50122 Firenze FI, Italy)

Picnic in the Boboli Gardens

(Giardino di Boboli, Piazza de’ Pitti, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy)

In every Italian city, you will find a well-kept garden with lots of space, culture, and history. The Boboli Gardens is no exception. Its many hills, and the picture-perfect landscape, and not to mention, view, is a great place to spend the afternoon.

Escape the busy streets and the crowds of the Metropolitan City of Florence and go for a stroll and explore the amazing outdoor museum of the Gardens. The best part is that kids under the age of 18 are free and regular admissions are 10 Euros. This is absolutely the best place to have a picnic with kids in Florence.

Quick Tip: Pick up a bite to eat at one of the supermarkets (our favorite is Coop) or do like the Florentines and visit the Mercato Centrale before going for a picnic. 

Mercato Centrale

(Piazza del Mercato Centrale, Via dell’Ariento, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy)

The Mercato Centrale in Florence is a great place for a family to explore the Florentine culture and cuisine. The market is full of quality and the freshest Florence has to offer. You can find, gelato, fresh deli, chocolate, wine, coffee, fresh bread, and much, much more. Italians are so hospitable and even more so when it comes to children. Our kids loved it, all the vendors gave them attention and allowed them to sample all treats. 

Give your kids an experience, send them on an adventure, empower them to take chances, so why not let them plan and create a meal. With AirBnB’s increase in popularity travelers now have access to many home amenities, which make it easy for families to plan and prepare meals. Our kids loved looking up recipes, hunting down the ingredients and even helping in the kitchen. This is also a great way to sneak in some healthy meals and save some money at the same time. 

Tip: check our eating in Italy guide for more meal planning tips. 

Uffizi Gallery and Accademia

(Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy)

Museums and art galleries are definitely an opportunity to learn. Giving your family world schooling opportunities is such a blessing. The Uffizi Gallery is the greatest place to learn about architecture, history, and art so get your kids engaged. A scavenger hunt is a great way to get your kids involved. Plan a Uffizi and Accademia scavenger hunt to take with you on your visit. Admire the marvels of Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Boticelli while the kids are actively looking for animals, shapes, colors, and mystical characters that make Italian art so magical. 

Before visiting the Gallery it may be a good idea to plan out an event full of exercise for the little ones. Take them to a playground or run around a square (piazza) to burn off some energy, this way they are much calmer during the visit to the gallery or museum. This worked so well for us after the playground and completing a scavenger hunt our kids took a nap in the stroller leaving us parents with some quality time with the art. 

Explore Leonardo da Vinci Museum

(Via de Servi 66R 50122 Florence)

There are many museums and galleries in the Metropolitan City of Florence but the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum is by far the best museum for families with kids. This museum has many galleries featuring the works of Leonardo da Vinci. His art, engineering, architecture, and love for science and nature gives visitors of all ages an enriched look at the past, present, and future. Unlike traditional museums, guests are allowed to play and interact with models of Leonardo’s work. Kids of all ages can explore and inquire about how Leonardos’s work has influenced history and also our current way of life. 

The museum’s hands-on approach gave my kids plenty to do and many learning opportunities. The museum has five different sections, Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and my favorite Mechanisms. Approximately half of the many exhibits take a hands-on approach to learning, which is great for keeping kids engaged. We appreciate any learning opportunity for our family, particularly when it comes to learning about important historical figures such as Leonardo Da Vinci. This a great addition to our world-schooling curriculum and a must-do when traveling to Florence with kids. 

The home of Gelato 

The most iconic treat that Italy offers the world was created by a Florentine chef and alchemist, Cosimo Ruggieri. He created what we call ice cream for the court of the Medici family, a rich and powerful family in Florence. So why not do a gelato tasting tour around Florence. Introduce your kids to the traditional gelato flavors of Italy, such as pistacchio, hazelnut, stracciatella, and the classic vanilla and chocolate. Visit one or all of the must-try gelaterias (ice cream shops)

– La Carraia (Piazza Nazario Sauro, 25/r, 50124 Firenze FI, Italy)

– Carapina (Piazza Guglielmo Oberdan, 2/R, 50136 Firenze FI, Italy)

– Mordilatte (Via Gabriele D’Annunzio, 105, 50135 Firenze FI, Italy)

– Perchè no? (Via dei Tavolini, 19r, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy)

– Grom (Via del Campanile, 2, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy)

Tip: Look for the word artigianale in the ice cream shops advertising. Artigianale translates to artisanal or handmade. This is something that you want when looking for the freshest and best of Italian gelato. For more information about eating in Italy including gelato see our guide to eating the best food in Italy.   

Il Porcellino

(Piazza del Mercato Nuovo, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy)

Il Porcellino is a nickname given by the Florentine people to a bronze boar located in Piazza del Mercato. It is a tradition to put a coin into the boar’s mouth for good luck. It is said that if you offer a coin and rub the boar’s snout it will ensure a return to the beautiful Metropolitan City of Florence. 

Kids love it, my son was so excited to find the boar. As soon as we told him that we were going to see a pig statue he was on a hunt. Kids love participating in things like this, especially when it involves animals.

Explore the Piazzas of Florence

Nothing is better than walking the narrow streets of Florence to find your way to a grand space of a piazza. A piazza is known as a square in English and is where most people gather, locals and travelers alike. Most Piazzas a really large with enough space to let the little ones roam. They will likely find a group of pigeons to chase or a musician to listen to. The crowds can be quite large so make sure to keep a close eye on them. 

Think of a piazza as a hub. Many important monuments, restaurants, museums, galleries and even views can be seen from the piazzas that are scattered around Florence. For this reason, it is an ideal place to experience the culture of Florence, relax and find a place to sit and take it in. We like stopping for a gelato break, or maybe an aperitivo, which is a pre-dinner snack with an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink. Want to know more about eating in Italy? Check out our guide 

The best piazzas of Florence:

Piazza della Signoria – Historical hub

Piazza del Duomo – Home of the famous Duomo

Piazza della Repubblica – Take a caroselle ride

Piazza Santa Croce – Shops and people watch

Piazzale Michelangelo – What a view!

Day trips from Florence:

Pisa

(Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy)

Pisa is the home of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa and one of the most visited cities in Italy. It is an easy drive or train ride from Florence, making it a perfect day trip for a family with kids. If you are planning to visit Pisa keep in mind that many other tourists are heading towards the tower, making the vicinity around the tower very expensive and “touristy”. So how do you get around this, particularly when looking for a resting spot or getting a bite to eat? Pack a lunch and be prepared to roam away from the tower. Packing lunch is a great way to keep within budget and still experience the authenticity of Italian cuisine. If packing a lunch is not an option we recommend leaving the general area of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and find an authentic restaurant. Traveling away from tourism is a good rule of thumb when looking for an authentic Italian experience. 

Tuscany Pinocchio Land

(Via San Gennaro, 3, 51012 Collodi PT, Italy)

The classic fairytale, Pinocchio, is quintessential to Italian culture. If you are looking for culture and fun that is off the beaten path this park is a must. It is located between Pisa and Florence and it’s accessible via bus, train, and automobile. 

The beauty of this park is that it is set in the time period that the book was written. In the late 1800’s everything was made of wood, everything was simple and kids’ toys were still made by hand. The designers of the park kept the theme true throughout and scattered exhibits dedicated the entire story of Pinocchio. The story of Pinocchio is deep-rooted within the Tuscan culture and the park is a perfect day of fun and learning when traveling to Florence with kids. 

There are many outdoor activities at the park such as arts and crafts, rides, puppet shows, and much more.