Our Trip to Florence, Italy
Traveling with a toddler is not as easy as it looks on Instagram. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it. What I might have done solo or with just Robert in three days turned into five days with our 16-month-old, Sawyer. Slowing down our travel completely changed the experience. Instead of rushing between landmarks, we spent our days wandering neighborhoods, discovering small cafés, and letting Sawyer explore the city at her pace.
Getting There
We had an overnight flight from Minneapolis to Amsterdam with a short flight to Florence. The overnight flight was definitely a game changer. We booked seats in the back of the plane which allowed us to somewhat spread out. Sawyer had her own seat and was able to sleep 5 of the 8 hour flight. During our layover in Amsterdam we found a play area that she was able to climb around and burn off some energy. After making it through the passport checkpoint we made it to our gate where we took a bus from the gate to our plane.
Note for Amsterdam Airport:
Plan at least 45 minutes to get through the passport checkpoint.
Get food before you go through the checkpoint.
If you have a short layover, you might want to check your stroller from the start. Ours was 5 hours so I am glad I had it. However, on our return flight it was really short and I wish I would have checked it from the beginning.
Our time in Florence
We decided to spend our entire 9 days in the same apartment rental. I knew that with our first trip to Europe with Sawyer we wanted a home base. I am glad we did. We were able to come back to the house at any time. If Sawyer wanted to nap at home. If we wanted to relax and have a slow morning. We didn’t need to have a plan. We got to immerse ourselves in the city and truly take it all in.
Things We Loved Doing in Florence
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There are so many museums in Florence. As you walk around the city it seems like there is a different one on every corner. On the first day we walked down our road and saw this museum, kept it in mind and on a rainy day we said let’s go check it out. For $12 per person we explored the oldest public building in Florence, Museo Nazionale Del Bargello.
Our other favorites were the Leonardo Interactive Museum, Pitti Palace, and Boboli Gardens.
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Okay, I might be exaggerating a little bit. But we walked down a lot of different roads and alleyways. We had the freedom to turn down any road, take different paths back to our apartment, and pop in any shop we wanted to. It felt like we truly got to see the city.
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We had a break in the rain and we took it. We took a regional from Firenze Santa Maria Novella to Lucca. Lucca is a city on the Serchio river in Italy’s Tuscany region. It’s known for the well-preserved Renaissance walls encircling its historic city center and its cobblestone streets. Broad, tree-lined pathways along the tops of these massive 16th- and 17th-century ramparts are popular for strolling and cycling. Casa di Puccini, where the great opera composer was born, is now a house museum. We wandered cobblestone streets that made us feel less like visitors and more like locals for the afternoon. We ate fresh pasta and gelato. We danced in the Piazza. Sawyer even rode her first carousel. Our time in Lucca was magical.
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Fresh pasta everywhere - My Favorite was Carbonara from L'Osteria dell'OK
Pizza, Pizza Pizza - Robert’s Favorite was from Gusta Pizza
Daily gelato - Sawyers favorite was Gelateria Choccolatte
Local wine - my favorite was Chianti Classico.
Top Things to Do in Florence
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Florence Cathedral (The Duomo): Explore the Piazza del Duomo, including Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto's Bell Tower, and the Baptistery.
Uffizi Gallery: One of the most famous art museums in the world, filled with masterpieces by Botticelli, Da Vinci, and Michelangelo.
Accademia Gallery: Home to Michelangelo's original David statue.
Ponte Vecchio: wander across the famous medieval bridge lined with jewelry shops.
Piazza della Signoria & Palazzo Vecchio: Explore the open-air statue gallery and the city’s historic town hall.
Piazzale Michelangelo: Hike up for the most iconic, panoramic sunset view of Florence.
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Basilica di Santa Croce: Visit the burial place of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli.
Palazzo Pitti & Boboli Gardens: Explore the massive Medici palace and its expansive Renaissance gardens.
Medici Chapels & Palazzo Medici: Dive into the history of the family that shaped Florence.
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella: Visit one of the world's oldest pharmacies.
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Mercato Centrale: Experience a bustling, historic market filled with local Tuscan food.
Wine Windows (Buchette del Vino): Locate small, historic windows in walls used to serve wine.
Oltrarno District: Explore the quieter side of the river for artisanal shops, cafes, and a more local vibe.
Pasta Making Class: Learn to cook authentic Italian cuisine.
Final Thoughts
Are we seasoned travelers? In some cases yes, in most cases, no. This is our first time to Europe as a family. This is only our second flight over 6 hours. There are things that we would have done differently but our main goal for this vacation was to experience a new city together as a family, relax, and eat good food. I would say, “mission accomplished”. Don’t worry Italy, we will be back!
If you’re dreaming about visiting Florence or planning your own Italy adventure, I’d love to help you plan it. From boutique hotels to unforgettable experiences, I can help create a trip that fits your travel style.
