Day trips with kids from Florence

Planning day trips with children: the honest constraints

Children change day-trip mathematics significantly. A two-hour journey that an adult considers manageable becomes a significant event when it involves entertaining a 6-year-old, finding the right train platform, handling bags, and locating a bathroom at the destination. This guide takes those realities seriously.

The destinations here are ranked not by beauty (all of Tuscany is beautiful) but by logistical ease for families — which means considering journey time, access to facilities, outdoor space for children to move, and the ratio of interesting-to-overwhelming.

Tier 1: Easy day trips with children

Fiesole: the hill town by city bus

Journey: Bus 7 from Piazza San Marco (Florence), 30-35 minutes, EUR 1.70 per person (under 5 free). Buses run every 20-30 minutes.

Why it works with kids: Fiesole sits on a hill above Florence with views over the Arno valley that rival Piazzale Michelangelo. The town is small and quiet — a genuine contrast to Florence’s tourist density. Children can explore the Roman amphitheatre (still used for summer concerts), the archaeological museum, and the hilltop garden with panoramic views.

The Roman amphitheatre (Fiesole Archaeological Area, Via Portigiani 1) is the main draw: a 1st century BC theatre carved into the hillside, accompanied by Roman baths and an Etruscan temple. Entry EUR 10 adults, EUR 5 children aged 6-17, under 6 free. The open-air setting means children can move around without causing problems for other visitors.

Practical tip: Take the bus up and walk back down via the main road (Via Vecchia Fiesolana) — about 50 minutes, manageable for children aged 6 and up who are comfortable walking. The descent passes olive groves and Renaissance villas. Bring water.

Best for: Ages 5 and up. Half-day sufficient.

Pisa: tower, lawn and cathedral

Journey: Train from Florence Santa Maria Novella to Pisa Centrale, approximately 1 hour, EUR 8-12 per person (Trenitalia). Trains run approximately every 30 minutes. From Pisa station to the Campo dei Miracoli: 20-25 minute walk or taxi (EUR 10-12).

Why it works with kids: The Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) is not just the Leaning Tower — it is a large enclosed lawn surrounded by three extraordinary buildings. Children can run on the grass while adults look at the cathedral. The Tower itself (EUR 20 per person, children under 8 cannot climb) takes 45 minutes to ascend via 294 steps and is one of those experiences children cite for years afterward.

What to see:

• The Leaning Tower (1 hour including queue and climb)
• The Cathedral (Duomo) interior, free with tower ticket
• The Baptistery (excellent acoustics — guides demonstrate the echo)
• The Camposanto Monumentale (the historic cemetery with medieval frescoes)

Booking the Tower: Essential in peak season (April-October). Book at opapisa.it. Tower tickets sell out weeks ahead. If you have not booked, the Cathedral interior is free and the exterior is impressive; book the Tower for a return visit.

Honest time assessment: Pisa in its entirety needs 3-4 hours on the ground. With travel time, this is a full morning activity or a relaxed half-day. Pisa’s city centre beyond the Campo is not especially interesting for families — the Campo is the reason to come.

Combine with Lucca: Lucca is 30 minutes from Pisa by train. The medieval walled city with a walkable/cycleable wall circuit is excellent for families — see below. Pisa + Lucca makes a full day for children aged 8 and up.

Best for: Ages 5 and up for the lawn and exterior; ages 8 and up for the tower climb.

Lucca: city walls by bicycle

Journey: Train from Florence Santa Maria Novella to Lucca, approximately 1 hour 20 minutes (some direct, some via Pisa), EUR 7-12 per person. From Lucca station: 5-minute walk to the city walls.

Why it works with kids: Lucca’s Renaissance walls (3.5 km circuit) are flat, wide enough for cycling side-by-side, and lined with trees providing shade. Bicycle rental is available at multiple points near the main gates (EUR 3-5 per hour for children’s bikes, tandem bikes also available). Cycling the walls with children is one of those genuinely joyful family experiences in Tuscany.

The city inside the walls is a pleasant medieval town with towers you can climb, a Roman amphitheatre whose oval shape is preserved in the ring of medieval buildings built on top of it (Piazza dell’Anfiteatro), and excellent food. Lucca is Buccellato territory — a sweet bread with raisins and aniseed that is the city’s signature pastry.

Best for: Ages 4 and up (younger children in bike seats or trailer bikes). Allow 4-5 hours minimum.

Practical note: Lucca is pleasant year-round but very busy in summer. The walls provide shade; the city centre is more exposed.

Tier 2: Rewarding but needs planning

Siena: the medieval city with the great piazza

Journey options:

• Bus (Tiemme): from Florence Autostazione (near Santa Maria Novella station), 1 hour 15 minutes, EUR 7-8 per person. Multiple daily departures; book tickets at the station or online.
• Train + bus: train to Siena Centrale (not direct from Florence — requires change or slower route), then bus to centre. Generally slower than the coach.
• Guided tour: departing Florence with hotel pickup, 1 hour drive, handles all logistics.

Why it works with kids: Piazza del Campo is one of the world’s great public spaces — a sloping shell-shaped square where twice a year the Palio horse race takes place. Children can roll down the slope; adults can sit at one of the café terraces and watch the world go by. The sense of entering a complete medieval city is powerful even for children who do not engage with history.

What to see with children:

• Piazza del Campo (free, always open): the central experience
• Torre del Mangia: 400 steps, EUR 8, views over the campo and the Sienese countryside. Children aged 8 and up manage it well.
• Siena Cathedral (Duomo): extraordinary black-and-white marble, enormous interior. The inlaid marble floor is uncovered for limited periods — check dates. Entry EUR 9-15 depending on what is included.
• Museo Civico (Palazzo Pubblico on the Campo): excellent medieval frescoes including the famous Allegory of Good and Bad Government. Entry EUR 9.

Honest assessment: Siena is steep — the city is built on three hills. Families with pushchairs or children who tire quickly need to plan routes carefully. The main tourist loop (Campo to Duomo) is about 15 minutes on flat ground but involves stairs and slopes. Older children (8+) handle it well.

Best for: Ages 8 and up. Full day or half-day depending on pace.

San Gimignano: towers and gelato

Journey: No direct train; options are bus from Siena or Poggibonsi, or car. Most families visit San Gimignano as part of a guided tour combining Siena and Chianti.

Why it works with kids: San Gimignano’s fourteen medieval towers are genuinely impressive — they were built as status symbols by competing noble families (the taller your tower, the higher your status). The town is small, walkable, and photogenic. The ice cream here also has a genuine claim to fame: Gelateria Dondoli on Piazza della Cisterna has won the Gelato World Championship multiple times.

Honest constraint: San Gimignano is very busy in peak season (June-August). The main streets feel pressurised in the afternoon. If visiting, arrive before 11 am or after 4 pm. The town is best appreciated in an hour or two rather than as a full-day destination on its own.

Best for: Ages 6 and up. 2-3 hours sufficient; best combined with Siena.

Tier 3: Suitable with older children and planning

Chianti: vineyards, villages and cycling

Journey: Car is the most practical option (45 minutes from Florence). Guided tours from Florence handle transport.

Why it works with older kids: The Chianti hills between Florence and Siena are olive groves, cypress avenues, fortified villages (borghi) and wine estates. For families with teenagers or children aged 10 and up who are comfortable in the countryside, the landscape is genuinely beautiful and the villages (Greve in Chianti, Panzano, Radda) offer artisan food, swimming pools at some agritourism properties, and a different pace.

What to do with children:

• Cycling the Chianti route (several rental companies in Greve in Chianti offer children’s bikes and tandems)
• Visiting a wine estate for olive oil tasting (children welcome at most; wine is for adults)
• Swimming at an agriturismo with a pool (many require advance booking for day guests)

Honest constraint: Chianti requires a car or tour. The winding roads are beautiful but can cause motion sickness in children. Buses exist but are infrequent.

Val d’Orcia: for photography and space

Journey: Car or private tour, 2+ hours from Florence.

Why it works: The Val d’Orcia landscape (UNESCO World Heritage Site) is what most people picture when they think “Tuscany”: rolling hills, lone cypress trees, fortified farms, the medieval towns of Pienza and Montepulciano. For families with teenagers who appreciate landscape or photography, it is magnificent.

Honest constraint: Val d’Orcia is a driving destination. The distances between points of interest require a car, and the journey from Florence is over two hours each way. For families with young children, this is a long day. Better suited to families renting a car for 2-3 days in the countryside.

Best for: Ages 10 and up; teenagers with landscape/photography interest.

Comparing day trip options for families

What about Cinque Terre with kids?

Cinque Terre is one of the most requested questions we receive from families. Here is the honest answer:

The train journey from Florence takes approximately 2 hours 30 minutes (Florence to La Spezia via Pisa, then regional train to Cinque Terre stations — 2-3 more stops). That is 5 hours of total travel for a destination with 3-4 hours on the ground. Children aged 10 and up who are enthusiastic walkers can handle this. Children under 8 will struggle with both the journey and the famously steep hiking paths between villages.

The alternative: if you have a car and are based in a Tuscan countryside property, driving to the coast via the A12 motorway takes 90 minutes. Cinque Terre is much more feasible as a destination if you are already on the coast or in Liguria.

Our honest recommendation: unless your children are 10 or older and enthusiastic walkers, choose Pisa or Lucca for a coastal-feeling day instead. Both are far more accessible from Florence.

Tour vs independent travel: the honest comparison

Choose independent travel if:

• Your children are 8 and up and reliable on trains
• You are going to Pisa, Lucca or Fiesole (all easy by public transport)
• You want flexibility on timing (especially useful for children who sleep in)
• You are comfortable navigating Italian train systems

Choose a guided tour if:

• Your destination is Siena + San Gimignano (complicated bus logistics)
• You have children under 6 who need stroller storage and flexibility
• You are going to Val d’Orcia or Chianti (driving required, parking difficult)
• You want a guide who can make stops when children are restless
• This is your only chance to see these places and you do not want logistics to fail

Good guided tours from Florence include hotel pickup, English-speaking guides, and usually a lunch stop. For routes involving driving — Chianti, Val d’Orcia, San Gimignano — this is often worth the extra cost.

Frequently asked questions about Tuscany day trips with kids

Can we take a pushchair on Tuscan trains?

Yes, Trenitalia trains have designated spaces for pushchairs near the doors on most regional and intercity services. Foldable pushchairs are easier. Book tickets in advance for regional trains (you can buy at the station machine on the day but trains can be full in peak season).

What food should we bring for a day trip?

Italian trains do not have dining cars on regional services. Pack snacks and drinks. At the destination, picnic supplies from a local alimentari (deli) are economical and better than tourist restaurants near major sights. Supermarkets in every town carry juice boxes, crackers, and ready-to-eat food.

Are there public toilets at Tuscan tourist sites?

Major sites (Pisa Campo dei Miracoli, Siena Campo) have public toilets (usually EUR 1). Museums always have facilities. In small villages and along walking routes, plan ahead — facilities are sparse. Cafés will generally allow customers who have bought something to use the bathroom.

What if a child gets travel sick on Tuscan roads?

The Chianti route in particular has winding roads. Sit children in the front seat if possible, keep windows cracked, and avoid large meals immediately before driving. Anti-nausea wristbands (available in Italian pharmacies) work for some children. For the most winding roads, schedule drives in the morning before children are tired.

Are there any theme parks near Florence?

Gardaland (Lake Garda) is approximately 2 hours 30 minutes by car — a full day from Florence. Smaller options: Cavallino Matto near Donoratico (1 hour 30 minutes by car) and Fantasilandia in Genoa (2 hours 30 minutes). None of these are practical as a day trip from Florence alongside sightseeing; they are better suited to families spending a week in Tuscany with a car.

Top experiences

Bookable activities with verified prices and instant confirmation on GetYourGuide.

Florence: Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti day trip

• Free cancellation
• Hotel pickup

Florence: day trip to Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano with lunch

• Free cancellation
• Hotel pickup

Florence: half-day tour to Pisa with optional leaning tower

• Free cancellation
• Hotel pickup

Florence: seaside beauty day trip to Cinque Terre

• Free cancellation
• Hotel pickup

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