Families planning a trip to Italy often wonder if they should use trains or rental cars to travel between cities. We are definitely big fans of train travel in Europe and definitely prefer to travel by train between large metropolitan areas due to the convenience and cost. However, there are situations where train travel in Italy is impractical. During our July 2018 Italian family vacation, the Lamborghini Museum and Ferrari Museumwere high on our must-see list. Both museums are in the Modena area and very challenging to reach by train. The cost of long taxi rides to and from the Bologna train station and in between the two museums was pretty staggering, and with a family of five, we would need to hire two taxis. Additionally, we were skeptical that we would be able to store our luggage at the Bologna train station for this excursion. We decided that by renting a car in Italy for a day and a half, we could visit the Italian car museums with flexibility, spend a night in Pisa and then visit a few Tuscan towns before returning the car upon our arrival in Florence.
View of San Gimignano from the outskirts
Booking an Italian Rental Car
Manual transmission vehicles are significantly less expensive to rent in Italy, but we chose to stick with an automatic transmission and reserved our intermediate, five passenger car through Alamo/Enterprise. The daily charge for the rental was €43.47, but with taxes and the rental of a car seat for our daughter (€45), the grand total for our two day rental came to €245.39.
Renting a Car in Italy – Requirements
An international driving permit is required to rent a car in Italy. My husband obtained his permit from AAA before our departure, and the process was relatively painless and cost only $20 and required two passport sized photos. He was actually never asked for his driving permit in Italy, but we did not feel it was worth the risk to not get it in advance.
Renting a Car in Italy – Car Seats
One of the trickiest parts of renting cars is figuring out how to handle car seats. We chose to rent a car seat for our three year old daughter because she was less than 30 pounds and needed a convertible car seat. We were traveling very light and definitely did not want to lug around a heavy car seat throughout our 18-day European vacation when we only needed it for a day and a half. We considered purchasing the Ridesafer Travel Vest, but she had not yet reached the lower weight limit for use in the US, we were concerned that the vest would not be permitted in Italy. While the €45 rental fee seemed pretty exorbitant, we thought it was the best option, and the seat we received seemed satisfactory. We also carried two Bubble Bum booster seats with us to use for our eight and ten year old boys.
Renting a Car in Italy – Insurance
Worldwide car rental insurance up to $50,000 is a perk of our Costco Citi card for any car rental 31 days or less that is paid for with the card. This coverage means we can decline the additional collision loss/damage insurance that is always offered through the rental company. Because our rental included a car body package to limit liability to €1,800 in case of damage or theft at no extra fee, we verified with Costco that this included insurance would not negate our coverage in advance and did not have to pay extra for full rental car insurance.
Renting a Car in Italy – Pick Up
We were departing from Venice the day that we planned to pick up our car. However, picking up a rental car in a car-free city seemed unnecessarily complicated. We chose instead to take a train from Venice to Bologna and pick up our car there.
Picking up a rental car always seems to take longer than we expect, and our experience in Italy was no exception. It’s important to research the exact location of the rental car company as the descriptions online might not be reliable. “Train station” could mean near the train station, and “downtown” might near downtown. We thought that the Enterprise/Alamo desk was at the Bologna train station, but it was actually about a block away, and finding it was a bit of a challenge. After completing the registration with the clerk, we were directed to a garage several blocks away. We were offered a six passenger vehicle that was larger than we expected but manageable. As always, we made sure to thoroughly inspect the exterior of the car for any damage and make sure any dents were properly noted before leaving the garage. We then had to figure out how to install the car seats before setting off. Our grand plan included a lunch in Bologna, but we knew our time was tight, so we headed out of the city without seeing even the Towers of Bologna.
Renting a Car in Italy – Logistics
After spending 10 days driving the Ring Road in Iceland in June 2017, renting a car for a day and a half Italy seemed like it should be no big deal. However, it was significantly more challenging than our experience in Iceland. We used our GPS with international maps in both countries but found that we were constantly being directed into restricted zones (zona traffico limitato or ZLT) in Italy. Traffic, which is nonexistent in Iceland, was often heavy in Italy. Road rules were also confusing, speed limits were often hard to determine, and Italian drivers are particularly aggressive. As a result, I was really nervous that we would end up with a huge fine to pay at the end of the trip and generally nervous the entire time we were in the car. Dropping the car off in Florence was particularly a nightmare as we had to do several U-turns before determining that the rental car return was located within a limited traffic zone; however, it was a huge relief to drop it off.
Renting a Car in Italy – Benefits
By renting a car in Italy, we were able to visit the Lamborghini Museum and Ferrari Museum, Pisa and San Gimignano in a day in a half, all without worrying about luggage storage. The Lamborghini Museum, Ferrari Museum and San Gimignano are not easily reachable by train and were particularly enjoyable parts or our trip. We would have been able to visit other Tuscan towns between Pisa and Florence as we had originally planned if we hadn’t decided that we needed to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa and tour the Pisa Cathedral. If we were traveling by train, we would have likely booked a mid-morning train journey and would have regretted not having enough time at the Field of Miracles. So, we did enjoy the flexibility to easily alter our plans.
Pisa Cathedral and the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Our Italian car rental also allowed us to have the most authentic, non-touristy experience in Italy, lunch at Glamour Caffe e Cucina near the Lamborghini Museum. After skipping lunch in Bologna, stopping for a meal before touring Italian car museums was non-negotiable, and we happened upon the Glamour Caffe. We were definitely the only tourists, and none of the servers spoke English. Our order for fixed price lunches was complicated, and we were not clear on how much the meal would cost. However, the food and authenticity of the meal was top-notch, and the price ended up being quite the bargain as well. Because our trip focused on large metropolitan areas, this was really our only opportunity to get off the beaten path and a huge benefit to renting a car.
Renting a Car in Italy – Recommendation
We recommend traveling by train in Italy unless there is something on your must-do list that is completely impractical to do via public transportation. However, it is possible for adventurous families to rent a car in Italy and truly explore the countryside.
The Lamborghini Museum and the Ferrari Museum each hosted our family’s visits. As always, all opinions are my own.
Looking for a destination in the heart of Tuscany? We recommend a weekend trip to Florence. This capital of Tuscany and birthplace of the Renaissance was my introduction to Italy as a college backpacker years ago, and I was so excited take my kids (ages 3, 8 and 10) on a holiday in Florence this past summer during a 10-day family tour of Italy. We visited during a particular hot weekend halfway through our European summer vacation after visiting Paris, Venice, Pisa and San Gimignano. While there are so many things to do in Florence, we uncharacteristically chose not to tour any museums, royal residences or historical buildings. Instead, we spent our weekend in Florence roaming around and enjoying the unique architecture and atmosphere. While tours of the Uffizi, Accademia Gallery and Pitti Palace are almost certain to be on our itinerary the next time we visit, there was no shortage of sights to see in this very walkable city. Our list of the best things to do in Florence with kids includes iconic sights and hidden gems.
Top 10 Sights in Florence For Kids
#1: Duomo With Kids (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore)
Florence’s Duomo, located in the center of the city, is the world’s third largest church, dwarfed only by St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Its neo-Gothic facade, which is decorated with pink, green and white Tuscan marble, was added in the 19th century and is brilliantly ornate. It may be my favorite church exterior in the entire world, and I could spend hours examining its details.
The Duomo’s dome was an impressive architectural feat. Plans included a dome, even though the architects were not sure how to construct it. The only dome on this scale was in Rome’s Pantheon, which was over 1,000 years old, and the building method had been long since forgotten. Filippo Brunellschi studied the Pantheon to design the Duomo’s dome. His plans involved the construction of both an inner dome and an outer dome.
The Duomo’s dome
While we did not make it inside on our last visit due to the long line, we planned to attend Sunday morning Mass at the Duomo during this visit. Like many other cathedrals, the Duomo is foremost a religious building that just happens to also be a popular tourist attraction. There were no admission fees or lines to attend Mass. The Mass times posted online were not exactly accurate, so instead of arriving 15 minutes early for Mass, we ended up 15 minutes late but still welcome. At the end of Mass, which was completely in Italian, the priest welcomed English-speaking visitors and briefly summarized the readings and his homily. Attending Mass while traveling is a tradition for our family, and we’ve heard Masses in several foreign languages, and we all really appreciated and enjoyed this English greeting.
The Duomo’s interior
The interior of the Duomo is not as impressive as its exterior. Large portions of the walls are painted white, and the stained glass windows are significantly smaller than those of other major cathedrals in Europe. Brunellschi’s 330-foot red brick dome was certainly an architectural masterpiece, but its mosaics are not as ornate as those that adorn the dome at St. Peter’s Basilica. It’s still impressive and beautiful, just a bit underwhelming, especially when compared with interiors of other major European cathedrals.
The interior of the dome
Duomo Facts for Kids: The Duomo’s iconic dome was the first Renaissance dome and served as a model for many other domes, including St. Peter’s Basilica.
#2: Piazza del Duomo With Kids
Piazza del Duomo is always crowded with the hustle and bustle of tourists and locals. Because the square is relatively small, it’s hard to get a good view of the entire Duomo and the surrounding buildings, the Baptistery and Giotto’s Bell Tower from street level.
The octagonal Florence Baptistery was constructed in the 11th and 12th centuries in Florence Romanesque style. It is known for its three stunning 14th and 15th century doors. Michelangelo nicknamed Lorenzo Ghiberti’s east doors the “Gates of Paradise.” The Baptistery is a truly beautiful building, but it’s size seems to be disproportionate with the Duomo. Their proximity really makes it hard to really appreciate each building for its own beauty, and we all wished they could be more spread out like Pisa’s Field of Miracles, which showcases its cathedral, baptistery and tower with an enormous square and pristine grass.
The Giotto’s Bell Tower is another popular sight, and visitors can climb 414 to the top and get a close-up view of Brunelleschi’s dome. We did not visit the interiors of either on this trip.
Piazza del Duomo Facts for Kids: Lorenzo Ghiberti won a competition to design the Baptistery’s north doors, beating Donotello and Brunelleschi. The north doors took him 21 years to complete but were so impressive that he was asked to design the east doors, which face the Duomo.
#3: Ponte Vecchio With Kids
Ponte Vecchio (or “Old Bridge”), Florence’s oldest and most famous bridge, is enclosed and lined with shops. A bridge has been located on this site since 966, and the current stone, pedestrian bridge was completed in 1345.
Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge across the Arno River to survive German’s World War II retreat on August 8, 1944. There are many theories on why it wasn’t destroyed by the Nazis who blew up ancient buildings on either end to block it off. Nazi officials may have saved it due to its age and beauty, or possibly it was saved because it was not considered a defensive asset. Now, it is a popular tourist sight, with shops lining both sides. Personally, I think that the view from Ponte Vecchio may be as beautiful of the bridge itself.
Ponte Vecchio Facts for Kids: While butcher shops were originally located in Ponte Vecchio, Ferdinand I evicted them in the 16th century because he didn’t like the stench that emanated into Pitti Palace from their shops. It is now a popular place to purchase jewelry.
#4: David Replica With Kids
Michelangelo’s David replica statue may be one of the world’s most famous copies. This marble statue depicts the Biblical hero who is known for defeating Goliath. David is an iconic Renaissance sculpture, originally designed as a symbol of Florentine freedom to be placed on the Duomo’s roof line but ultimately placed at the entrance of the Town Hall upon completion. After 350 years being exposed to the elements, David was moved to the Accademia Gallery in 1873 to protect it from damage. A copy was placed in Piazza della Signoria in 1910.
Michelangelo was raised in Florence, and his works were a highlight of our visits in Florence and Rome. Michelangelo sculpted David in his late 20s as a symbol of Florentine freedom right before he was commissioned to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. David and Pieta, which we saw at St. Peter’s Basilica a few days later, are probably Michelangelo’s two most well-known statues.
David Replica Facts: David was originally intended to be installed in the Duomo’s roofline. On November 12, 2010, a fiberglass replica was installed at the Duomo for one day.
#5: Piazza della Signoria With Kids
Piazza della Signoria is the city’s main square, where its town hall, Palazzo Vecchio, the David replica and Fountain of Neptune are located. The Fountain of Neptune was closed for restorations after vandalism during our 2007 visit and again under renovation during this visit but is scheduled to be reopened by the end of 2018.
Palazzo Vecchio was constructed at the turn of the 14th century. Duke Cosimo I and the Medici family made it their home in the 16th century. I love that the Tower is unexpectedly slightly off-center.
This castle-like fortress now serves as Florence’s Town Hall. There was no charge (or line) to enter the ground-floor courtyard, so we took a quick peek inside.
The Loggia dei Lanzi is a building on the corner of the Piazza del Signoria with wide arches open to the square at street level.
Piazza della Signoria Facts: The Tower is not symmetrical with the rest of the Palazzo Vecchio because the ancient tower of The Vacca was incorporated into the palace’s design.
#6: Santa Croce Church With Kids
The Basilica of Santa Croce is the world’s largest Franciscan church and located in the Piazza Santa Croce, only 800 meters from the Duomo. Santa Croce was designed by architect Arnolfo di Cambio, who went on to design the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio. Santa Croce was built between 1294 and 1442, and is the burial place for Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Ghiberti and Rossini. Like the Duomo, the Basilica of Santa Croce features a 19th century neo-Gothic marble facade. The Star of David is a focal point of the facade. Santa Croce was featured in E.M. Forester’s A Room With a View and was the main impetus for my college visit to Florence because the book was one of my companion’s favorites.
We did not tour the interior of Santa Croce because we really only had one full day to explore Florence, it was really hot, and we were a bit worried about church fatigue before heading to Rome. We enjoyed the view of Santa Croce from Piazza Santa Croce, which is much larger than that square surrounding the Duomo.
Santa Croce Church Facts for Kids: Piazza Santa Croce is a major gathering spot in Florence and was covered with 15 feet of water on November 4, 1966 when the Arno River flooded.
#7: Church of Santa Maria Novella With Kids
The Church of Santa Maria Novella was built for the Dominican order in the late 13th and 14th centuries. Its green and white marble facade is original 15th century artistry. Santa Maria Novella remains the home of the Dominican order and the centerpiece of the adjacent square. We did not visit the interior, which houses the Trinita, the first painting that featured linear mathematical perspective.
Church of Santa Maria Novella Facts for Kids: Santa Maria Novella is adjacent to Florence’s train station, which is named after the church, and sometimes shortened to Florence SMN.
#8: Fort Belvedere With Kids
Fort Belvedere is the largest fortress in Florence. It is located across the Arno River from the central part of the city and on the highest hill of the Boboli Gardens. I clearly remember the amazing panoramic view from my college visit and return 10-years later while visiting Florence with friends.
Our pre-kids visit to Fort Belvedere
Fort Belvedere is my favorite place to view Florence’s city center, and especially the Duomo, which rises far above the rest of the skyline.
Fort Belvedere Facts for Kids: Fort Belvedere gained world-wide notoriety after Kim Kardashian and Kanye West rented it for their 2014 wedding for the reported sum of $400,000.
#9: Boboli Gardens With Kids
Boboli Gardens are the gardens of the Pitti Palace. They were constructed in the 16th century for Duchess Elenora of Toledo, who married Cosimo I of the Medici family. Because we visited Florence on an extremely hot weekend, we came to the Boboli Gardens in search of a park bench in the shade with a view. Adult tickets cost €10 each, and the kids were free. We were sadly disappointed to find very few benches, and none in the shade. We had to settle for taking a seat on a step of a staircase that had a magnificent view, but little shade and few benches.
View of Pitti Palace and Fountain of Neptune
Fort Belvedere is a steep hike from the Boboli Gardens. We just couldn’t manage more walking on the hot day we visited, so we settled for the view from the entrance to the Boboli Gardens, which isn’t quite as detailed, but still shows the Duomo’s impressive scale over the Florence skyline.
View of Florence from the Boboli Gardens
Boboli Gardens Facts for Kids: At the time that Elenora married Cosimo I, the Medici family was in danger of becoming extinct. Elenora had eleven children to protect the family’s future. Clearly, she needed an amazing garden to relax.
#10: Piazza della Repubblica With Kids
Piazza della Repubblica is located on the site the original Roman Forum. The triumphal arch was constructed in the nineteenth century to celebrate Italy’s unification.
The 20-horse antique carousel of the Picci family is now a centerpiece to this public space.
Piazza della Repubblica Facts: The English translation of the arch’s inscription is “The ancient centre of the city restored from age-old squalor to new life.”
A Trip With Kids to Florence, Italy
There are so many fun things to do in Florence with kids, and this list just scratch the surface. There were so top attractions in Florence that we definitely recommend a short trip. Planning an Italian holiday? Check out our listing of all posts featuring Italian destinations.
Florence is one of my all-time favorite cities. I first visited when I was a college backpacker and was fortunate to return 10 years later with my husband for an unforgettable weekend visiting friends in Tuscany. It’s such an amazing city that I was excited to return with our three kids, aged 10, 8 and 3. My prior visits had both been in March with perfect Spring weather. Even though our first family visit was during an exceptionally hot weekend in mid-July, we didn’t let the heat put a damper on our fun. Our time in Florence was filled with delicious meals and iconic monuments, cathedrals, architectural sites and gardens. With proper planning, a trip to Florence with kids can’t be ruined even by by scorching hot weather.
The Duomo
Travel to Florence With Kids
We traveled to Florence by a rental car, which we picked up in Bologna the previous day. We spent the night in Pisa and toured the Field of Miracles in the morning and explored San Gimignano, a beautiful hilltop town in Tuscany known for its medieval towers, in the afternoon. Renting a car was a convenient way to make several stops off the beaten path without having to worry about coordinating train schedules or storing luggage. Luggage storage was definitely a concern with visiting multiple cities by train in the same day. Not all Italian train stations have luggage storage, and this would have been particularly an issue in San Gimignano, which does not have either a train station or luggage storage facilities. However, the speed limits, driving patterns and limited traffic zones were particularly confusing and somewhat challenging. We brought our GPS, which had international maps, but it directed us directly into limited traffic zones on more than one occasion. As a result, our preference was to travel by train between cities whenever possible.
Our rental car
Much of Florence is a limited traffic zone, and parking is not ideal. We were glad to drop off our rental car upon arrival.
Not a typical parking garage
Because of easy train connections, Florence would be a great base to explore Tuscany. Three of my favorite Tuscan towns, Pisa, Lucca and San Gimignano are each easy day trips from Florence. There are frequent trains from Florence to Pisa and Lucca, and visitors can reach San Gimignano from Florence by taking a train to Poggibonsi and transferring to a bus.
When leaving Florence, we took Trenitalia to Rome, which was a quick 90 minute journey from city center to city center. Our train fare cost €96 for our family of five. There was no charge for our three year old, but she also did not have a seat reserved for her.
Trenitalia train
Accommodations in Florence With Kids
We stayed in an Airbnb about five minutes from the Duomo. This traditionally decorated apartment was our most spacious accommodation during our European vacation and featured a separate kitchen and dining area in addition to two bedrooms and a living room. It also had a flat screen television that we never turned on as well as a washing machine. We were in Florence only two nights, but the size and ample storage available would make this apartment comfortable for a longer stay, especially for families using Florence as a base to explore Tuscan towns by train. Irene is an Airbnb Superhost, and she let us store our bags in the apartment for about an hour after check out, which was extremely helpful.
Living room
Kitchen (with a washing machine hidden in one of the cabinets)
Local Transportation in Florence
Florence was a very walkable city, and we did not used public transportation at all during our weekend stay. Buses are available but not permitted in the area around the Duomo. We did take a taxi from the rental car agency to our Airbnb. It would have been a very long walk with luggage otherwise.
Packing for Florence
Our entire trip was 17 days and 17 nights, but we were primarily staying at homestay apartments with washing machines. We packed approximately five to six full outfits for each person, which was, as always, more than we really needed. But, I worried that the promised laundry facilities might not be functioning in each of our locations and wanted to make sure that we did not have to visit a laundromat. We also needed some bulky items like two Bubble Bum booster seats. WOW air charges for each carry on larger than a personal item (e.g. backpack) and each checked bag, which cannot weigh over 44 pounds without incurring overweight fees. So, we chose to check one bag and also bring two back packs with us, and we also packed a gym bag inside our checked suitcase, knowing that we would likely be returning with more than we brought with us.
I had read extensively that cathedrals and churches in Italy require covered knees and shoulders, so we also each packed a few pairs of pants, and I did not bring any sleeveless dresses. The rules may have been relaxed because of the heat, but the covered knees rule was not enforced at any church we visited. We probably visited two dozen churches and cathedrals in Italy, and covered shoulders were required only at the Sistine Chapel, Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin. Shawls or scarves were available for visitors to purchase or borrow at Saint Mark’s and the Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin, respectively. Shorts and sundresses were appropriate outfits for the unseasonably warm weather we experienced, and I wish I brought more sundresses and a shawl or scarf and left all the pants that I had packed for my sons and me at home. And, next time, we’re definitely going with a maximum of four to five outfits each.
Our luggage
I’ve never tried packing cubes, mostly because I don’t want one more thing to store and search for before a trip, but I have been intrigued by the organization of separate packing. It’s amazing how challenging it can be to locate outfits from a large suitcase. As an experiment, I rolled and packed each person’s clothes in zip lock bags and had separate bags with our pajamas and first day clothes packed into one of the backpacks. This helped with the organization of the large suitcase and provided a back up in case our suitcase was delayed at the beginning of the trip. Luckily, we had no trouble retrieving our suitcase at Charles de Gaulle Airport upon our arrival in Europe. However, on the way back, we made the rookie mistake of packing our pajamas and remaining clean clothes into our backpacks along with our cameras and breakables and packed all of our new clothes and shoes and toiletries into the suitcase. We also forgot to remove cash from the locked pocket before checking our suitcase. When it didn’t make the connection in Reykjavik, we worried if we’d ever see it again and realized that so many things we had packed were irreplaceable because they were simply not available in the US. Luckily, our bag arrived via FedEx Ground four days later.
Ziplock organization
We neglected to pack a supply of small soap bars and shampoo, which were typically not available in our Airbnbs. But, we were able to find these items easily in local shops. I also made an unfortunate assumption that our converter also had adapter capabilities when I brought my flat iron, which turned out to be unusable for the duration of our trip (and then delayed).
With a three year old who would need to nap on the go, we decided to bring a small umbrella stroller with us. While there were some challenges on cobble streets all over Italy, including in Florence, we found that much easier than carrying our daughter, especially when she was sleeping. She typically hopped out whenever we reached stairs to make the stroller easier to manage, and my ten year old was an expert in helping when she was sleeping. We do look forward to being stroller-free soon but will miss the built-in storage and bottle holders.
Food in Florence
A major benefit of using our feet as a main mode of transportation in Italy was that we could enjoy amazing Italian meals guilt free. We typically sat down for lunch and dinner every day but made reservations only once (because we knew exactly what time we would eat dinner due to England’s semi-final World Cup match). Even during peak tourist season, we never had to wait more than five minutes for a table. We learned that a trattoria is more formal than an oysteria and less formal than a ristorante. Hosts or hostesses often stand outside to encourage anyone passing by to take a look. A few times, we were put off by a hard sell and moved on.
Our favorite restaurant in Florence was I Ghibellini. We enjoyed our dinner so much that we returned for lunch the next afternoon before our departure.
I Ghibellini
Each region had its own specialties, and menus were generally posted out front. We noticed that chicken was not really available at any of the restaurants we visited, but we all tried a variety of dishes. My older son was particularly adventurous, and my younger son developed a love of margarita pizza. I particularly enjoyed several amazing meals of seafood risotto. At dinner, my husband and I regularly shared house wine and were never disappointed. We found that restaurants did not provide tap water, so we always ended up purchasing a large bottle or two with every meal. Cut watermelon was a special dessert treat.
We did not prepare any meals in our Airbnb apartments but occasionally warmed up leftovers for breakfast. We didn’t find a grocery in Florence but did pick up water at corner shops. We made sure to have a daily afternoon dose of gelato and watermelon, especially in Florence.
Our most artistic gelato
Cell Service in Florence
We researched relatively inexpensive options to add voice/data to our Verizon mobiles while in Italy but only used cell service on our first day in Florence. We turned on international usage as soon as we arrived to contact our host, who escorted us up to our apartment. Then, the next morning, my husband used his phone to connect with his friend who was meeting us in the city. While WiFi was usually available at restaurants, we were able to mostly unplug during the day and use WiFi at our accommodation in the evenings.
Currency in Florence
We definitely needed to use euros at times in Italy, so it was essential to get some local currency. We traveled with about €200 in cash and then withdrew money twice from ATMs during the trip.
Language Barrier in Florence?
Most people in the Italian tourist industry speak English, and almost all menus were translated into English as well. My husband and I both learned some key Italian words and phrases, which were helpful in exchanging pleasantries but were rarely necessary. We experienced no language barriers in Florence.
Pickpocketing Warning in Florence
We had read many reports of pick pockets active in Italy and were extremely cautious. I carried a Travelon anti-theft messenger bag, and diligently kept the clasps locked. If I ever felt slightly unsafe, I would hold the edge of the bag covering the clasp. We had one run in with likely pickpocketers in the Rome train station but remained alert and careful and did not fall victim to their ploy. Top pickpocket locations in Florence include Ponte Vecchio, Santa Maria Novella train station, the Basilica of San Lorenzo and market, the Pitti Palace and the Uffizi Gallery.
Itinerary for Florence
We spent a weekend in Florence, arriving in the evening on Friday and departing mid-afternoon on Sunday. The highs reached into the mid-90s every day of our visit. We purposely chose to have a few laid back days and did not visit the Uffizi Gallery, the Accademia Gallery or any churches (except the Duomo). Even though we weren’t in full tourist mode, we still saw many amazing sights.
Here is our basic daily itinerary for our time in Florence:
Day One
Arrive in Florence at 7 pm
Take a taxi to our Airbnb
Visit the Duomo at night
Day Two
Palazzo Vecchio
David Replica
Santa Croce
Santa Maria Novella
Boboli Gardens
Day Three
Attend Mass at the Duomo
Roam around Florence
Mid-afternoon train to Rome
Why We Loved Florence
Florence is a walkable and amazing Italian city. The Duomo is one of the world’s most famous cathedrals, and there is also world renowned art, monuments, architecture and gardens. Even in the extreme heat, we enjoyed every minute. Considering a trip to Florence with kids? Make sure to check out the rest of our blog posts on Florence with kids, our other blog posts about Rome and Venice and our listing of all destinations in Italy!
When we started considering Europe as a summer vacation destination, we immediately wanted to combine visits to both Italy and France. Our three kids, aged 3, 8 and 10, had never been to Italy, and Rome and Venice had been high on my bucket list ever since I visited Florence as a college backpacker. Even though it was hot and crowded at times during our mid-July visit, we had a lovely Italian holiday filled with delicious meals and visits to iconic monuments, cathedrals, architectural sites, palaces, gardens and art museums. We enjoyed planning a family trip to Italy with kids and put together this Italy trip planner for other families!
The Colosseum
Traveling to Italy With Kids
Wondering how to plan a family trip to Italy? Start with making travel arrangements to and from Italy. We booked our trip to Paris and Italy a mere 5 1/2 weeks before our departure due to scheduling issues. We discovered while booking flights that flying from Cleveland to any major Italian city cost between 2-3 times the total of our round trip flight on Wow air to Paris, However, because there were plenty of budget flight options from Paris to Italy, we booked round trip flights to Paris and planned to spend 10 days in Italy in the middle of our trip.
When we went to book the evening flight I had found from Paris to Venice, we discovered that arriving into the Venice Airport at night is particularly challenging with local transport limited to boats. Most Airbnb hosts meet their guests upon arrival and require hefty late check in fees, and some do not allow check ins after a certain time. Because the risk of not having accommodations was simply too great to even consider, we decided to research overnight trains. Almost immediately, we found the Thello night train from Paris to Venice that met our needs perfectly. The train was scheduled to leave Paris at 7:10 p.m. and arrive in Venice at 9:35 a.m., so we would lose very little sight-seeing time in transit. At €35 per person for a couchette with bedding, it was a particularly affordable option, and the sleeper cars looked much better than any I had taken during my backpacking days.
Even though my three year old did not have to pay to ride the train if she used existing seats/couchettes, we did not think that we could comfortably have two people share a couchette in one of the four person sleeper cars. So, we chose to book all the couchettes in a six person sleeper car to make sure that no other passengers were placed with our family. The overnight train cost us a total of €210, which was roughly the same as our average accommodation cost! I figured that we also saved at least $800 by avoiding flights, travel to and from the airports in Paris and Venice and accommodations with late check in fees.
We were pretty sure that our kids would enjoy the overnight train as a fun sleepover experience, and they definitely did. The three level bunk beds were a particular hit. We bought dinner in Gare de Lyon before our departure and had a particularly relaxed evening in our sleeper car. Our boys chose the top bunks, and my daughter quickly mastered the ladder. We all slept for about nine hours of the journey. The only downside was that the train arrived in Venice about an hour and a half late, which meant we were late for our scheduled Airbnb check in. Find out all about our trip on the Thello night train.
We booked an EasyJet flight from Rome‘s Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to Paris Orly Airport (ORL) at the end of our time in Italy. Our five tickets and one checked bag cost €372. Although it is only a two-hour flight, it took about seven and a half hours from the time we left our Airbnb in Rome until we reached our Airbnb in Montmartre. We pretty much lost an entire day of sightseeing and generally preferred our night train experience.
Travel Within Italy With Kids
We traveled in Northern Italy by both rental car and train. We took Trenitalia from Venice to Bologna, where we picked up a rental car to take us to the Lamborghini Museum and the Ferrari Museum, Pisa and San Gimignano, and we returned our car upon our arrival in Florence. We traveled via Trenitalia again from Florence to Rome, a quick 90 minute journey.
Renting a car was a convenient way to make a bunch of stops slightly off the beaten path without having to worry about storing luggage, which was our major concern with visiting multiple cities by train in the same day. However, the speed limits, driving patterns and limited traffic zones were particularly confusing and somewhat challenging. We brought our GPS, which had international maps, but it directed us directly into a limited traffic zone on more than one occasion. As a result, our preference was definitely traveling by train between cities whenever possible. Find out all about renting a car in Italy.
Our rental car
Accommodations in Italy With Kids
Although booked our trip only a few weeks in advance, we were very pleased with our accommodations in Italy.
Accommodations in Venice
We stayed at La corte di San Marco, an Airbnb close to Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Rialto Bridge. This authentic Venetian apartment was updated and had two bathrooms and a washing machine. The host, Jenny, was extremely responsive and had lots of tourist information available in her clutter-free apartment. The apartment also had an adorable enclosed outdoor patio. I noticed a pack and play and high chair in the laundry room and children’s silverware in the drawers that would be extremely helpful for families with babies or toddlers.
La corte di San Marco Airbnb
Accommodations in Pisa
Our Pisa hotel, the Relais I Miracoli Residenza D’Epoca was located literally steps from the Tower of Pisa and had the most spectacular view from our window. Only two rooms in the hotel have this view, and they are both family rooms. Our room was comfortable, and a stocked mini bar and breakfast at the cafe downstairs were included in the room rate. We parked our car overnight outside the city walls about five minutes away.
View from our hotel room
Accommodations in Florence
We stayed in an Airbnb about a five minute walk from the Duomo. This traditionally decorated apartment was our most spacious accommodation and featured a separate kitchen and dining area in addition to two bedrooms and a living room. It also had a flat screen television that we never turned on as well as a washing machine. We were in Florence only two nights, but the size and ample storage available would make this apartment comfortable for a longer stay, especially for families using Florence as a base to explore Tuscan towns by train. Irene is an Airbnb Superhost, and she let us store our bags in the apartment for about an hour after check out, which was extremely helpful.
Our Florence Airbnb
Accommodations in Rome
We wanted to be centrally located in Rome and booked five nights at the Sole Trevi Fountain Airbnb. This two-bedroom apartment was ideally located about a two-minute walk from the Barberini Metro stop and about 10 minutes from the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Stairs. The furnishings were predominately from Ikea, and the cube storage in the master bedroom was particularly useful in separating each of the kids’ clothes and keeping them easily accessible. David was a first-rate Superhost, and we would definitely recommend his apartment, which also included a washing machine. David also let us store our bags in the apartment after check out. We felt right at home during our five nights in David’s apartment.
Sole Trevi Fountain Airbnb
Local Transportation within Italy With Kids
We found most of Italy very walkable but did need to travel at times via vapretto, metro or taxi.
There are no typical buses or subway system in Venice. The metro are ferry boats, which are known as vaprettos. One way tickets for riders over age six cost €7 each, which is substantially higher than typical public transportation costs in other metropolitan areas. Because our Airbnb was centrally located near both Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Rialto Bridge, we only used a vapretto for the round trip journey from the train station to the apartment and walked the rest of our time in Venice. On the way back to the train station, we took a slightly longer but much more scenic route through the Grand Canal, which we definitely recommend. Find out more about vapretto travel in Venice.
View from the vapretto in Venice
While Rome was also a very walkable city, the Metro was convenient when we needed to travel farther distances quickly. We took only six Metro rides during our five days in Rome. Travel cards for unlimited travel on the Metro and buses can be purchased for 1 day – €6, 3 days – €16.50 and 7 days – €24, but because we used the Metro so infrequently, we purchased single ride tickets for €1.50 each from the vending machine in the station before boarding. Children under 10 do not require tickets. Find out more about Metro travel in Rome.
Ticket machine in Rome’s Metro
We did not use public transportation at all in Florence, but we did take a taxi from the rental car agency to our Airbnb. We also traveled by taxi to FCO from the Barberini Metro stop cost the fixed price of €50. Taxis were convenient because we avoided schlepping our kids and bags through the streets of Florence while getting our bearings and on the train and Metro in Rome. Our drivers were particularly professional, and we even got a mini tour of the outskirts of Rome.
Packing for a Family Trip to Italy
Our entire trip was 17 days and 17 nights, but we were primarily staying at homestay apartments with washing machines. We packed approximately five to six full outfits for each person, which was, as always, more than we really needed. But, I worried that the promised laundry facilities might not be functioning in each of our locations and wanted to make sure that we did not have to visit a laundromat. We also needed some bulky items like two Bubble Bum booster seats. Wow air charges for each carry on larger than a personal item (e.g. backpack) and each checked bag, which cannot weigh over 44 pounds without incurring overweight fees. So, we chose to check one bag and also bring two back packs with us and packed a gym bag inside our checked suitcase, knowing that we would likely be returning with more than we brought with us.
I had read extensively that cathedrals and churches in Italy require covered knees and shoulders, so we also each packed a few pairs of pants, and I did not bring any sleeveless dresses. The rules may have been relaxed because of the heat, but the covered knees rule was not enforced at any church we visited. We probably visited two dozen churches and cathedrals, and covered shoulders were required only at the Sistine Chapel, Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin. Shawls were available for visitors to purchase or borrow at Saint Mark’s and the Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin, respectively. Shorts and sundresses were appropriate outfits for the unseasonably warm weather we experienced, and I wish I brought more sundresses and a shawl and left all the pants for me and the boys at home. And, next time, we’re definitely going with a maximum of four to five outfits each.
Our luggage
With a three year old who would need to nap on the go, we decided to bring a small umbrella stroller with us. While we did need to carry the stroller up and down stairs at times (and over Venice’s bridges, in the Metro stations and at the Forum and Palatine Hill), we found that much easier than carrying our daughter, especially when she was sleeping. She typically hopped out whenever we reached stairs to make the stroller easier to manage, and my ten year old was an expert in helping when she was sleeping. We do look forward to being stroller-free soon but will miss the built-in storage and bottle holders.
I’ve never tried packing cubes, mostly because I don’t want one more thing to store and search for before a trip, but I have been intrigued by the organization of separate packing. It’s amazing how challenging it can be to choose outfits from a large suitcase. As an experiment, I rolled and packed each person’s clothes in ziploc bags and had separate bags with our pajamas and first day clothes packed into one of the backpacks. This helped with the organization of the large suitcase and provided a backup in case our suitcase was delayed at the beginning of the trip. Luckily, we had no trouble retrieving our suitcase at CDG upon arrival. However, on the way back, we made the rookie mistake of packing our pajamas and remaining clean clothes into our backpacks along with our cameras and breakables and packed all of our new clothes and shoes and toiletries into the suitcase. We also forgot to remove cash from the locked pocket before checking our suitcase. When the suitcase didn’t make the connection in Reykjavik, we worried if we’d ever see it again and realized that so many things we had packed were irreplaceable because they were simply not available in the US. Luckily, our bag arrived via FedEx Ground four days later.
Ziploc organization
We neglected to pack a supply of small soap bars and shampoo, which were typically not available in our Airbnbs. But, we were able to find these items easily in local shops. I also made an unfortunate assumption that our converter also had adapter capabilities when I brought my flat iron, which turned out to be unusable for the duration of our trip.
Eating in Italy With Kids
A major benefit of using our feet as a main mode of transportation in Italy was that we could enjoy amazing Italian meals guilt free. We typically sat down for lunch and dinner every day but made reservations only once (because we knew exactly what time we would eat dinner due to the England semi-final World Cup match). Even during peak tourist season, we never had to wait more than five minutes for a table. We learned that a trattoria is more formal than an oysteria and less formal than a ristorante. Hosts or hostesses often stand outside to encourage anyone passing by to take a look. A few times, we were put off by a hard sell and moved on.
We found the perfect table to watch the World Cup, so we booked it for the next night
Each region had its own specialties, and menus were generally posted out front. We noticed that chicken was not really available at any of the restaurants we visited, but we all tried a variety of dishes. My older son was particularly adventurous, and my younger son developed a love of margarita pizza. I particularly enjoyed several amazing meals of seafood risotto. At dinner, my husband and I regularly shared house wine and were never disappointed. We found that restaurants did not provide tap water but always had to purchase a large bottle or two with every meal. Cut watermelon was a special dessert treat.
Our favorite restaurant in Rome was Gioia Mia Pisciapiano, where we enjoyed dinner three of our five nights in Rome. In Florence, we enjoyed our dinner at I Ghibellini so much that we returned for lunch the next afternoon before our departure.
There were plenty of options for takeout meals, but we typically preferred a sit down meal. The only exception was Alice Pizza, a chain that sells pizza with fresh toppings and a crunchy crust by weight. One was conveniently located next to our Airbnb and opened early, so we picked up pizza on the go a few times or ate at the counter.
Alice Pizza
I loved starting off my morning with a perfect cup of cappuccino served at the counter of the coffee shop next to our apartment. Like most coffee shops, alcoholic beverages were stored on higher shelves so that it could double as a spot to grab an early evening drink.
Pro Tip: A “coffee” in Italy is really an espresso shot. Because this is not my preference, I always opted for a cappuccino but read Cafe Americano is a close substitute as well.
Morning cappuccino
We did not prepare any meals in our Airbnb apartments but occasionally warmed up leftovers for breakfast. We did not find a grocery in Venice, Pisa and Florence and found any snacks or produce at corner shops rather outrageously priced. However, we did purchase some snacks and fruit at a Coop grocery in Rome. We made sure to have a daily afternoon dose of gelato and maintained a supply of bottled water, which we could refill at many of the water fountains around the cities.
Our most artistic gelato
Cell Service in Italy With Kids
We researched relatively inexpensive options to add voice/data to our Verizon mobiles while in Italy but ended up only using cell service on the one day we were meeting up with a friend. We had self check-in instructions in Rome and were able to contact our host after connecting to WiFi in the apartment. WiFi was usually available at restaurants, and it was nice to mostly unplug during the day and use WiFi at our accommodation in the evenings.
Currency in Italy With Kids
We definitely needed to use euros at times in Italy, so it was essential to get some local currency. We traveled with about €200 in cash and then withdrew money twice from ATMs during the trip.
Language Barrier in Italy With Kids
Most people in the Italian tourist industry speak English, and almost all menus were translated into English as well. My husband and I both learned some key Italian words and phrases, which were helpful in exchanging pleasantries but were rarely necessary. The only time we truly experienced a language barrier was at lunch outside of Modena where none of the servers spoke English. We thought we ordered three fixed price, three-course meals but wondered when the large portions of delicious food were brought to our table if we misunderstood the pricing scheme. It turned out to be an amazing and unbelievably inexpensive meal.
Pickpocketing Warning in Italy With Kids
We had read many reports of pick pockets active in Italy and were extremely cautious. I carried a Travelon anti-theft messenger bag, and diligently kept the clasps locked. If I ever felt slightly unsafe, I would hold the edge of the bag covering the clasp. We had one run in with likely pickpocketers in the Rome train station. A well-dressed woman who spoke little English was standing at the top of an escalator and told us we had to use the elevator with the stroller. While taking a stroller on an escalator is not common in the US, it is very common in Europe, where elevators are often not available. However, elevators are preferred if easily accessible, especially when we were carrying all of our luggage. Even though I was not sure if she was a station employee, we thought this was useful information and followed her to the elevator. Unexpectedly, she and two other women jumped on with us at the last-minute and caused constant confusion obviously trying to distract us during our short ride, even telling us not to get off when we reached the Metro floor. We remained alert and careful and luckily did not fall victim to their ploy. After that experience, we were wary of anyone not in uniform offering free advice.
To help get our kids involved with planning our Italy family vacation itinerary, I borrowed some children’s books on Venice, Florence and Rome from our local library, including 13 Architects Children Should Know and 13 Buildings Children Should Know. We initially hoped to make quick stops in Padua, Bologna and Sienna, but later determined that we did not have enough time to tack on even brief visits to additional cities. The key to finding the best Italy itinerary for families is to prioritize cities to visit and allot enough time in each one.
Family Trip to Italy Itinerary – 11 Days
We spent 11 days in Italy in the middle of a 17 day European vacation. We planned to take a slower pace when possible, sit and enjoy meals, watch World Cup games and really explore the city. We really didn’t acclimate to waking up early, and it was always late before we got into bed. Even though we weren’t in full tourist mode, we still saw many wonderful cities and sights. We weren’t able to fit in trips to Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast this time, but both are high on our list for our next trip.
Here is our basic daily Italy with kids itinerary:
We definitely recommend Italy family travel. We hope this guide outlined how to plan a family trip to Italy. Make sure to check out our listing of all blog posts related to travel to Italy with kids!
The Lamborghini Museum and the Ferrari Museum hosted our family’s visits. As always, all opinions are my own.
Guest Blogger: Jade and Ryan were busy planning a month long trip away from home when they found out Jade was expecting. They didn’t let that deter them – they just brought along their three month old… For more on the Davies family, from East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia, follow them on Instagram.
In April 2017, we spent six glorious days in Tuscany with our three month old infant, Henry. Our time in Tuscany was at the end of a month long vacation that began with five days in New York City and 14 days in the UK visiting family.
Who spends a month living out of a suitcase with a three month old infant?
We had just started planning our month long trip when we found out I was pregnant. Although we did pause, many times, and wonder whether we should just wait and take the trip when the baby was older, we really had no option to turn back or cancel the trip as we were traveling with family, and they had already booked their flights. So, we plowed on and continued making plans even though the trip would ultimately require us to live out of a suitcase for a month with a three month old infant!
How did we prepare for a month long vacation?
Prior to having kids, we had traveled extensively, but most of it was of the backpacking variety that did not require much prior planning or organization. Knowing that I would be traveling around the world with an infant, I thought maybe I should have more of a plan. So, I began first by researching transportation options to figure out the logistics of flying and traveling with an infant and all the items required. My biggest concern was how to transport our family while traveling with an infant – train? bus? taxi? car hire? We opted to rent a car and mostly used it to get around although buses and cars were our usual mode of transport before kids.
How did we get to and get around in Italy?
We flew from Bristol, UK to Pisa, Italy with Easyjet Airlines on an early morning direct flight that took just over two hours. This gave us a whole day of travel upon arrival. I happily grabbed the window seat, which I prefer as it tends to give us a little more room to stretch out, and Henry slept the whole way. I had already booked a car for pick up at the airport, and the rental car company provided a car seat, which we were able to install ourselves. Car seat laws differ by country and rental car companies don’t always provide car seats, so we inquired ahead of time.
It was a one hour drive from the airport to where we were staying, and the car came equipped with a navigation system, which provided super easy instructions in English. Henry does not mind the car, so he slept most of the way.
Where did we stay?
We rented a gorgeous two-bedroom apartment on a hilltop overlooking Tuscany, located in Uzzano, a commune in the province of Pistoria. The apartment was truly amazing – it came equipped with a full kitchen, laundry, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms. We had plenty of space, which was great, as my parents were also traveling with us. The only downside to the apartment was its location – about an hour long drive to Florence and an hour to Pisa, so while this would not have been ideal if we had only been in Tuscany for a short time and/or did not want to rent a car, this was a great location for us because of the space and the amenities. We also spent one day in Uzzano, exploring the small town that consists of about four streets and a big church on the top of the hill. Henry needed a rest day after our day trip to Venice, so Uzzano was a great place to have a relaxing, low key day.
Our apartment complex
View from our home base.
Our rest day in Uzzano.
What did we do?
Given the location of our accommodations and our use of a rental car, we decided to break out trip up into small day trips. Over the course of six days, we took day trips to various destinations around Italy. Although we frequently found ourselves wishing we had more than one day to explore any particular city, it was a good overview and having a designated place to sleep was nice, given that we were traveling with an infant.
1. Pisa
Our first adventure was to visit Pisa, a small walled city. We literally followed the road signs saying “Leaning Tower of Pisa” and the paid parking signs…. which led us to a parking spot right across the road from the famous tower. We paid 15 € to park there for the day and just took our stroller with us. The city was flat and easy to get around with the pram. We wandered around the Leaning Tower and the surrounding buildings and took all the cheesy tourist photos that you would expect… it had to be done. There was a one hour wait to get into the building itself, so we just looked from the outside. We enjoyed a sumptuous lunch of pizza, pasta and breads, from a restaurant on the street leading away from the tower. After lunch, we strolled the streets and just enjoyed the beautiful architecture, before grabbing gelato and heading back to the car.
We had to!
On the way back to the house, we stopped at Villa Garzoni, the beautiful home where Pinocchio author Carlo Lorenzini spent his childhood. It was about 22 € per person to enter, but well worth it. Collodi, the town where Villa Garzoni is located, is roughly one hour driving distance from Florence, but would also be a great day trip, especially for those traveling to Italy with older kids as there is a Pinocchio gallery to visit as well.
Villa Garzoni
2. Florence
The city center of Florence is a no drive zone, so we had to park outside the city and walk. We parked at a parking lot near the train station, which cost about 20 € for the day. Knowing we would be doing a significant amount of walking, we took the stroller and used it heavily, including on the 15-20 minute walk from the train station into the heart of the city
Our first stop in Florence was the Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, a city square that features Santa Maria Novella, a Gothic Renaissance basilica completed in the 14th century. We picked up a coffee before heading over to San Lorenzo Market. As we meandered along the winding streets, we stumbled across many beautiful buildings and churches.
Once we arrived at San Lorenzo Market, we all enjoyed delicious pizza made from the fresh produce sold at the downstairs market. It was exciting to be in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the marketplace and we loved every minute of it. After lunch, we went on a mission to find the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, a Renaissance Palace that I learned about in school and was eager to visit. The Palace is now the seat of the Metropolitan City of Florence as well as a museum, and I was thrilled when we spotted a local artist showing her work in the downstairs gallery.
San Lorenzo Market
From the Medici Palace, we went to Santa Maria del Fiore (commonly known as the Duomo), which unfortunately, was completely booked and had a 2.5 hour long wait to tour. Traveling with an infant, we did not think it would be wise to wait, so we just enjoyed the beauty of the Duomo and adjacent Florence Baptistry from the outside. We were also disappointed that we did not get to tour Uffizi Gallery, which was closed for renovations.
The magnificent Duomo
During our day in Florence, we also crossed the Ponte Vecchio, a medieval stone closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge over the Arno River. We loved walking along the river, getting lost in the beauty, architecture, and culture of Florence. We made sure to enjoy gelato from one of the many shops around the city.
Ponte Vecchio
Gelato – yum!
We also saw the replica of Michelangelo’s David at the Palazzo Vecchio. The original was originally placed at the same location but moved indoors to the nearby Galleria dell’Accademia for conservation.
Pro-Tip: We visited the first week of April, and there were so many tourists that we got blocked out of visiting many locations, like the Duomo. Be sure to pre-book any items that are on your bucket list to ensure the opportunity to visit.
3. Cinque Terre
La Spezia is located in the Liguria region of Northern Italy, and is the start of the Cinque Terre, a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera that consists of five villages. It was a 90 minute drive from our house to La Spezia, which took a good chunk of time out of our day. Once we arrived in La Spezia, we took the train that departs from La Spezia station every 20-30 minutes and stops at every town along the Cinque Terre for those who don’t want to or can’t walk it. With an infant, we had no illusions of walking it and used the Ergo 360 on this day trip instead of the stroller for ease of maneuverability.
Our first stop was at Monterosso al Mare, which happens to be the last town on the Cinque Terre line and the only town that has its own beach. We strolled the historic old town at our own leisurely place and enjoyed popping in to visit beautiful old churches.
From Monterosso al Mare, we boarded the train to Vernazza, the quintessential Cinque Terre town. We enjoyed lunch at one of the restaurants leading down tot he waterfront and afterwards, walked up the cliff side overlooking the town.
Unfortunately, by the time we stopped to check our watches, it was time to jump back on the train to La Spezia and drive back home for a late dinner. I wish we had one extra day to explore the other towns, but the distance from our home base was just too great. I was glad to use the carrier, rather than the stroller because most of the towns along the Cinque Terre were on the side of a cliff and maneuvering the stroller on/off the train would have been not only tricky, but exhausting.
4. Venice
Our day trip to Venice was long as it began with a one hour long drive from our house to Florence, and then a two-hour train ride to Venice. Henry hated the train and was very upset during the entire ride, which I spent walking him up and down the aisles to try and calm him down.
We arrived in Venice at 10 am, which gave us plenty of time to explore and take our time strolling around the canals and taking in the stunning architecture. There were tons of restaurants and churches on every corner, so definitely take your time and enjoy the sights. One easy way to cover a lot of ground is to go on a gondola ride, but we found on a previous trip that it was beneficial to negotiate with a vendor instead of just using the first one that you see, as they will likely spot that you’re a tourist and charge you quite a bit more than if you just put in some leg work.
Pro-Tip: Avoid taking your stroller to Venice, if possible. We brought our stroller because of forecasted rain and cold temperatures but had trouble managing with it over the bridges and stairs. It would have just been easier to use a baby carrier instead. It can be extremely expensive to stay in Venice, but take a look at main land options and consider catching a ferry/boat or train across to spend the day in Venice.
5. Montecatini Terme and San Gimignano
We spent our last day in Tuscany visiting the towns of Montecatini Terme and San Gimignano. Montecatini was close to our home base in Uzzano, so we thought this would be a great location to visit. The town was filled with stunning old bath houses and the landscape was gorgeous; unfortunately, they were still closed for the season. I would highly recommend visiting Montecatini and its bath houses in the summer.
On a whim, we decided to drive to San Gimignano, because it was so close to Montecatini. WOW, am I glad we did! San Gimagnano is a small walled medieval town perched on top of a hill. We took advantage of the public parking (5-10€ for the day), but you can also just catch a bus into the city or walk. We arrived just in time for lunch and ate at a restaurant in the Sant’Agostino Square. The weather was absolutely brilliant, so we sat outside and had pizza and drank vino. Afterwards, we walked the streets and did some last minute shopping, while on the hunt for the world’s best gelato.
Final Thoughts
We ate a lot of pizza, wine, and gelato during our time in Italy, but we love Italian and the food was amazing. While we did eat a lot, we also felt like we did so much walking that we burned off quite a few calories. Because we visited touristy locations, we did not experience any language barriers. It was easy to buy diapers and wipes locally. If we went back, we would prefer to stay in metropolitan areas and spend more time exploring each city. The rental car was convenient, but we might try exclusively using trains next time. Although we did a lot of driving, we loved every minute of it and definitely recommend exploring Italy with kids.
The Loggia dei Lanzi is a building on the corner of the Piazza del Signoria with wide arches open to the square at street level.
