Family activities in Tuscany

Tuscany is a great choice for families looking for a fun and relaxing break. There are plenty of attractions here for kids – big and small – enough to fill every day of a villa holiday in Tuscany. 

Get the adrenalin walking through the treetops at Saltalbero Parco Aventura or get your swimsuit ready for a day at the Aqua Village water park. Explore the history of Tuscany, with many museums offering experiences for children to enjoy, get close to nature and meet the wilder residents of Tuscany at one of Italy’s top nature parks, or develop their culinary skills with a cooking class with an expert chef.

You’ll have no problem keeping boredom at bay on a family holiday in Tuscany. 

If you’re looking for a villa suitable for all the family in Tuscany, with easy access to a plethora of attractions and local towns, explore our collection of family-friendly villas.

Take a walk through the treetops at Saltalbero Parco Aventura at Rapolano Terme, south of Siena. These expert-led canopy tours follow special routes of increasing difficulty according to age and height. Rope bridges, boardwalks, ladders and swinging logs are among the balance-challenging ways to get around this oak woodland. The park, set in the beautiful Ombrone valley, also has play spaces, a mini-golf course and equestrian centre, as well as picnic and barbecue areas.


Tel: +(39) 338 933 3977
Web: https://www.saltalbero.it/en/index.html

Aqua Village runs two water parks in Tuscany, one in Cecina, in Livorno province, and one in Follonica, in Grosseto province, so you can choose the one most convenient for your villa. Both have a selection of pools and flumes suitable for all ages, whether you have tiny tots who like a paddle or adventurous teenagers who love an adrenalin rush – great fun for all the family. The admission price allows you to stay all day, so pack a picnic.


Tel: +39 (0)586 622539
Web: www.acquavillage.it

Piccolo Mondo, near Pisa, is an amusement park for children with the highest slide in Tuscany among its rides. The park includes indoor and outdoor attractions, including inflatable games, a water park, swimming pools, playgrounds and much more. The amusement park also offers birthday party services.


Web: www.piccolomondo.it

Palazzo Vecchio is a landmark of Florence. But did you know that there is a museum within it with attractions for children of all ages? It has two theatres – the Bia and Garcia’s storytelling room is for younger visitors, from three years of age, and the Renaissance Civilization in Florence for older visitors, from eight upwards. Short plays, featuring audience participation, are staged about the court of Cosimo I de Medici and his wife Eleonora di Toledo, who once lived in the palace. For younger children, there are tales about the palace mice and other characters. Activities include making a fresco using techniques from the Renaissance period, which can be taken away as a souvenir. The museum has a variety of guided tours, which include exploring the palace’s secret passages.


Tel: +39 (0)55 276 8224
Web: https://www.musement.com/uk/florence/palazzo-vecchio-v/?msclkid=28379a1cd4f517fa8db2ffdfaccec53c&gclid=28379a1cd4f517fa8db2ffdfaccec53c&gclsrc=3p.ds

Take a walk through the story of Pinocchio in a beautiful garden decorated with bronze statues of characters from the fairytale. There’s also a small amusement park filled with games and rides from the 1940s. At the weekends, a puppet show is staged, and during summer, there are special activities for children laid on, such as mask-making.


Tel: +39 (0)583 153 3520
Web: www.pinocchio.it

This fantastical sculpture garden in Capalbio, in the province of Grosseto, is inspired by Antonio Gaudi’s Park Güell in Barcelona. The garden was created in 1978 by the artist Nicki de Saint Phalle, who has since filled it with sculptures based on the characters of the 22 tarot cards, covering almost every surface in ceramic, glass and mirrors.


Tel: +39 (0)564 895122
Web: www.giardinodeitarocchi.it

This amusement park, the largest in Tuscany, has plenty of different rides to satisfy thrill seekers, as well as entertainment such as magic shows and, in summer and water displays throughout the day. Refuel young ones at the park’s selection of restaurants and fast-food outlets or pack a picnic.


Tel: +39 (0)565 745720
Web: www.cavallinomatto.it

Visit this wildlife sanctuary between Florence and Arezzo to see deer, owls, monkeys, wolves and more. The park has a large restaurant, as well as picnic areas.


Web: www.parcozoopoppi.it

Tuscany has some amazing underground cave systems hidden within its mountains, studded with stalactites and stalagmites, waterfalls and lakes. Archeological studies have found the remains of ancient humans and animals, as well as other interesting artefacts buried in these chambers deep beneath the ground. To locate a cave system near your villa, check the Toscana underground website below. And if you plan to go exploring, don’t forget to wear warm clothing and suitable footwear.


Web: www.turismo.intoscana.it/site/en/itineraries/Underground-Tuscany

Toscana Mia

Simonetta and Paola are long-standing friends of To Tuscany and Toscana Mia cooking school is the best place in Chianti for the family to enjoy a cooking session. There are low tables for the children to prepare food at, where they learn how to make pasta and other favourite foods. It’s great to see the kids make and eat their own food at the end of the day – smiles all round.

Web: www.welcometuscany.com

Antonella La Macchia

All the family can learn to cook with Antonella, who offers cooking classes for adults and children, in Italian, English or French, at her kitchen in Florence. Sweet crepes, cake pops, and pizza are just some of the delicious treats she’ll put little hands to work on.

Web: https://www.antonella.cooking/
Tel: +39 (0)392 433 4453

Children will love the interactive exhibitions in the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum in Florence. More than 40 machines have been built to scale using the plans of the great Italian Renaissance polymath, including his famous flying machines. Plus, there are reproductions of his masterpieces on display, too, including ‘The Last Supper’ and the ‘Mona Lisa’.


Tel: +39 (0)55 282 966
Web: https://leonardointeractivemuseum.com/

Umbria is perfect for families looking for a fun and relaxing break. There are plenty of places to go on unforgettable family days out, and attractions in Perugia, Terni and Orvieto that the children will love. From theme parks and waterfall rafting to art camps and chocolate museum, there’s a lot to keep your kids occupied on a holiday to Umbria.

After an action packed day of adventures or exploring a medieval hilltop town, you can head back to your very own private villa. The children can make themselves at home and play in the garden whilst you unwind and take in the amazing views.

We have a wide range of family villas that have all the facilities you need for a stress free break with your children.  See below for some of Umbrias’s best family friendly attractions.

Marmore Falls

The Marmore Falls, at Terni in Umbria, are the highest in Europe. Children can explore them on a river adventure, soft rafting or canyoning trip, while adults participate in a more intense rafting or ‘hydrospeed’ experience, which offers an exhilarating close-up of these waters and the lush tropical-like surroundings. Rafting Marmore has taken thousands of people safely down the descent from the Falls and through the Nera River. The various activities can last between one and four hours. Each experience includes a licensed guide. To take part, no particular skills are required but you must be a good swimmer and in good health.

Web: www.raftingmarmore.com

Arte al Sole

Arte al Sole organises art camps and cultural activities for kids in Italy, with unique week-long day camps in English located in family-friendly locations in Tuscany and Umbria during the spring and summer.  Art and Sport camp in Umbria offers a week of soccer, art, and language in the countryside near lake Trasimeno. The Arte al Sole experience provides children with a chance to engage with an international community of friends and learn about Italy's rich cultural heritage on their own level. In addition to art camps, private kids workshops are offered year-round in Florence, & Lucca.

Web: https://artealsole.com/
Tel: +39 (0)333 866 8476

“I travelled to Tuscany with my partner and our 11-month-old son in June 2019. We stayed at La Vigna, a shared pool villa in Montebuoni, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, especially the jacuzzi with its stunning views. One highlight was a wine tasting where the hosts were incredibly accommodating, providing snacks and drinks for our son. 

A day trip to Florence was memorable, especially because it was our son's first-time trying pizza, and he absolutely loved the authentic Italian flavours. We were met with warmth and hospitality everywhere we went in Tuscany, particularly towards our son. During our tour of Siena, our guide was wonderfully patient and understanding whenever I needed to attend to my son. 

Our time in Tuscany was filled with delightful moments, and I would definitely return for another family trip."
- Melanie, Customer Relationship Manager

Now you have found activities for the kids, start looking for your perfect Tuscan villa, suitable for all the family. Our family villas offer spacious accommodations, featuring large pools safe for children to enjoy and spacious gardens with plenty of space to run around and play games. Whether it's just you and the kids or the whole extended family, we know you want to find the perfect accommodation for you. Our hand-picked villa collection has something for everyone, from private retreats in the Tuscan countryside to villas near local towns and cities for day trips or coastal villas ideal for days by the beach.

Explore our family-friendly villas to start planning your Tuscan holiday today. Alternatively, entrust your holiday planning to our team of Villa Specialists. With their firsthand experience and intimate knowledge of the region, they'll ensure you find the ultimate Tuscan holiday tailored to you.