My 8-year-old enjoys some of Florence’s kid-friendly museums, but on a recent afternoon, we decided to spend our few hours in the city doing less-traditional things.
It was still kind of a ‘mom-son date,’ so we did pack in a couple of special trips (pastries! more sugar!), and we were flexible (I needed to make a quick stop at a specialty market).
If you’re coming to Florence and need an idea or two for your elementary-age child besides lesser-known museums like the HZERO Train Museum, Florence’s best gelato stops, or the climb up Giotto’s bell tower… here’s what we did on a weekday afternoon.
I’ll run you through each stop we made, and also give you alternatives for each stop. We made a little loop, starting and ending at the Sant’Ambrogio Market. Our visit was during the afternoon, but you can easily tweak this for a morning visit or even stretch it out to an all-day stay.
Table of Contents
Park at Sant’Ambrogio Garage
Likely, you’re already in town. If you’re driving into town, the Sant’Ambrogio garage may or may not work for you. I like it because it’s easy to get into and out of, it’s close to the stops we made on this itinerary, and there’s a (wo)manned (clean, safe) bathroom on the 1st floor (€1 at the time of writing).
Tip: If you’re hungry, grab something at the Sant’Ambrogio Market )before it closes at 1pm). Even if you’ve had lunch already, practice your Italian and buy some tomatoes or in-season fruit). Or, get a panino at Semel just across the street from the market. We’d had a car picnic, so our bellies were full (for the moment).
Oblate Library
We wandered toward the Duomo and made our first stop at the Oblate Library (Biblioteca dell’Oblate). We spent time inside the Kids’ Area, on the left as you enter the building. Most of the books are in Italian, but they’re still fun to leaf through. And, there’s a small section of books in other languages.
This is a great stop on a hot day because even the courtyards are shady. You can get a cold drink (or a hot one in the winter) in the café upstairs. While you sip your drinks, check out the incredible view of the Duomo!
Good To Know: There are clean bathrooms here too, but they’re not right at the entrance. You can ask the people working at the front desk, “Dov’è il bagno?”
Good To Know: This is a nice stop if you’re visiting with kids of different ages. You can stop in to look at books (for all ages), get a snack, change diapers, and breastfeed your baby in a quiet space.
Stroll To and Around the Duomo
After the Oblate Library, we continued toward the Duomo. We’d actually thought of climbing to the top of the Dome, but a quick look showed the tickets were already sold out for the day.
We settled for a photo and decided to do a little half-loop around the cathedral, stopping to watch the artists at work and choose our favorite paintings and caricatures.
Iginio Massari Pastries
Our sweet teeth were calling, so we walked past the Baptistery and slid into Iginio Massari to satisfy our craving. My son chose a gelee and macaron and I also went for a macaron and small cake. They’re so beautiful sometimes it’s hard to eat them!
Good To Know: You can sit in the back room (head to the right of the bar) – it’s gorgeous, spacious, and a nice place to rest your legs. There’s also a toilet.
Alternative: You could also get gelato. You’re near Badiani and Perchè No?, both favorite gelaterie of our family.
Piazza della Repubblica
We made our way to Piazza della Repubblica, a go-to spot for me when I’m with kids in Florence. We chose to people-watch (while standing) and continued on our way.
Alternatives: You could also take a seat at one of the bars on the piazza, go on a ride on the carousel, or check out the kids section of the RED bookstore (go up to the 2nd floor). Or, if you want to check out Florence’s most beautiful bookshops, walk two minutes to Giunti Odeon, a former cinema that now shares its space with a bookshop and café.
Zecchi Art Supplies
My son wanted to browse the aisles of this historic Florentine art shop. On the way, we stopped in at Alessi and Pegna to buy a couple of gifts (mamma errand). Once he was finished in Zecchi (no purchases, but many new ideas), we started our walk back to Piazza Sant’Ambrogio.
Alternatives: Stop in at the Paperback Exchange, full of English-language books for adults and kids. Or, browse Città del Sole, a fun toy shop (chain).
Moohoo Mart
After time spent in Japan, my older sons love stopping in at Moohoo Mart to look for treats they remember from the country. We also picked up some ingredients for weeknight dinners.
Then, back to Sant’Ambrogio and home!
And, that’s it! It was a fantastic few hours in Florence – museum-free. I hope it’s given you some non-museum ideas for your time in Florence with your kid(s)!
You may also want to check out
Florence with Kids – A Complete Guide
Where to Stay in Florence with Kids
What to Do in Florence with Kids on a Rainy Day
Fun & Easy Day Trips from Florence with Kids
