The best tips for a family vacation including a deep dive into la dolce vita!
Tuscany with its hilly landscape, cypress avenues, pine forests, towns worth seeing and culinary delights is a great destination for families. There is certainly no time for boredom in Tuscany with kids. Relaxing on the beach, visiting small villages or sightseeing world-famous attractions – depending on your mood, you can plan your days according to your individual needs!
Spend the night in Tuscany with kids at the organic agriturismo in Montepulciano
Just outside Montepulciano you’ll find the gorgeous Fattoria San Martino. As soon as you walk into the agriturismo, you can feel the peaceful energy that surrounds the house, thanks to the owners. Karin and Antonio have been living on the old farm for almost 20 years. At Fattoria San Martino, we don’t just pay lip service to respecting Mother Earth, sustainability and a healthy lifestyle. It’s the foundation of everything we do. It all starts with the vegetable garden and ends with the colour on the walls of the rooms.
If you’re looking for a family vacation in Tuscany away from the hustle and bustle, this is the perfect place to go. It’s right in the middle of nature. In the morning, you’ll be blown away by the view from the window, and then you can head out onto the terrace for a homemade breakfast. After breakfast, you can either go on a discovery tour or relax by the natural bathing pond at Fattoria San Martino. In the evening, you can enjoy dinner in the cosy dining room, where you can also taste the fresh harvest from the garden. It’s the perfect place for a relaxing holiday!
City-hopping and sightseeing in Tuscany with kids
If you’re city-hopping and sightseeing in Tuscany with kids, Siena and Lucca are perfect.
They’re just the right size for us to do a bit of sightseeing. Ultimately, we want to get a feel for the Tuscan cities without overwhelming the kids or ourselves. Siena’s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a reason. You can park right in front of the city centre and then take a relaxed stroll with the kids through the car-free streets. The central Piazza del Campo is easy to find. It’s definitely worth climbing the tower of the palace. Our son found it really exciting as the stairs got narrower and narrower towards the top, and the view from the top is amazing – you can see for miles around the city.
The Cathedral of Siena is an amazing architectural masterpiece made of black and white marble! There were lots of pictures of animals for the kids to discover during the tour, on the wall, ceiling and floor. It made sightseeing fun for them too!
Lucca is a really lovely little town. You can just wander through the many small alleyways and keep discovering new pretty churches or other buildings. The Cathedral of San Martino was a real highlight, especially for kids who can discover a sculpture depicting the famous division of the mantle of St. Martin. Climbing the Torre del Ore is a great way to spend an hour or two. Up on the roof, you’ll find trees growing, which is a nice surprise.
If you’re looking for something a bit more active, you can hire a bike and explore the city on the cycle path on the city wall. There’s even a playground there. When you’re ready for a bite to eat, head to Trattoria da Giulio. They serve classic Italian pasta, freshly made and served without any frills. It’s perfect after a bike tour in Tuscany with kids.
Tuscany with kids: Tips, ideas and excursions
Some days we just wanted to go on a short trip so we could have time for a swim at the hotel pool in the afternoon. Massa Marittima is a great place to spend half a day. It’s located on a hill and offers a great view of the Maremma plain. The historic town centre is impressive, with its cathedral and many well-preserved old buildings. Kids can run around freely in the car-free piazza.
We also enjoyed the fishing village of Castiglione della Pescaia. A stroll along the seafront will take you past the fishing boats to the beach, where you can stop for a rest at Bagno Il Faro. You can enjoy a cappuccino with a sea view while the kids play in the small playground. The castle that stands tall over the village is particularly impressive. It’s probably best to make the detour there without a buggy.
Another lovely spot on the beach is Follonica. You can park on the road, cross the pine forest and end up right on the beach. The beach is really spacious and a great place for a stroll. The water is shallow, so kids will have a blast splashing around.
We’d also suggest the Marina di Vecchiano beach when you’re in Tuscany with kids. It’s got a gorgeous sandy beach and calm waters, plus a nice restaurant.
Enjoy a day in Florence on holiday in Tuscany with children.
We spent a long time thinking about whether we wanted to visit Florence during our trip through Tuscany with the kids. Ultimately, we decided to go for it and embrace the spirit of discovery. It was obvious that we needed to make the day as relaxed and exciting as possible for everyone. This included an extra-large portion of ice cream, as well as a child-friendly plan. We set off bright and early to get a look in at the cathedral before the crowds arrived. To make sure the kids didn’t miss out on any fun, we went on a round of the carousel afterwards. You can get more tips here.
