Our Family-Friendly Northern Italy Route: Florence, Bologna & Verona in 7 Days
A personal guide to one of Europe's most rewarding family travel itineraries with honest tips, favourite finds and everything you need to plan your own Italian adventure.
If you've been wondering whether Northern Italy is a good destination for a family holiday with young children, the answer based on our recent week travelling through Florence, Bologna and Verona is an emphatic yes.
This part of Italy manages to feel genuinely magical without trying too hard: beautiful cities, extraordinary food, rich history and a culture that feels wonderfully welcoming to families.
We spent one week travelling between the three cities by train, and it exceeded every expectation.
If you’re planning a family-friendly Northern Italy itinerary, here’s what we loved, what worked particularly well with children and the tips I'd pass on to anyone considering a similar trip.
Florence with Kids: Culture, parks and gelato stops
Florence is one of those cities that could easily feel overwhelming with children. There are crowds, queues and world famous galleries at every turn. But instead of trying to see everything, we focused on interactive experiences. We’ll be back for the Duomo and roof tops bars someday without the kids!
One of our favourite experiences was the Leonardo Interactive Museum. If you’re visiting Florence with kids, I’d put this high on your list. Unlike many museums where children are expected to quietly observe, this one encourages them to engage directly with Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions through hands-on exhibits and experiments. It kept our children genuinely absorbed for hours and felt educational, but fun and interesting for all. Book tickets in advance for reduced entry costs.
We also booked a pizza and gelato making class which ended up being one of the highlights of the entire trip. Not only did the kids absolutely love being involved, but it gave us a more personal insight into Italian food culture. It was also one of those lovely travel experiences where you naturally end up chatting to locals and fellow travellers, swapping recommendations you wouldn’t find in a guidebook or online.
When it came to exploring the city, we quickly realised that planning our walks around green spaces such as Boboli Gardens, and the smaller playgrounds dotted throughout the neighbourhoods, made a huge difference in keeping everyone happy. For us, we made sure we were wandering past the Florentine wine windows (buchette del vino). The kids loved ringing the bells or knocking on the tiny wooden doors to put our order in and it became a fun way to explore different parts of the city.
For views, Piazzale Michelangelo is absolutely worth the walk.The panoramic views across Florence are among the most beautiful in Italy, and there's also lovely gardens to walk through.
For dinner, we ate at Trattoria Sabatino, a beautiful, family-run restaurant that felt completely authentic and unfussy. It’s also very reasonably priced for Florence. One important note: they don't take bookings, so arrive early to avoid a wait.
And then, of course, there was the gelato. We made it our daily ritual, and yes, we called it research. Our hands-down favourite was La Gelateria, which we would happily visit again tomorrow. Vivoli gelataria sent affogatos viral in Florence (they do look awesome) however this lovely spot has no queue and is less expensive. Plus, you can choose which flavour you want rather than just vanilla and pistachio. Trust me - chocolate’s the one. When conducting your own research, be sure to look for the authentic gelato kept in metal tins rather than piled high in colourful displays.
Bologna with Kids: Italy's Best-Kept Family Secret
Bologna was probably the biggest surprise of the trip and, in my opinion, one of the best cities in Italy for families. It felt relaxed, authentic and noticeably less crowded than Florence, while still offering beautiful architecture, incredible food and plenty to do with children.
Our first stop was the little tourist train up to the Basilica di San Luca. The journey winds through the hills above the city, and the views from the top are stunning. It’s an easy, enjoyable way to experience one of Bologna’s most iconic landmarks without exhausting little legs.
Back in the city, we enjoyed time in Piazza Maggiore, Bologna's magnificent main square. There’s plenty of space for the children to play whilst we enjoyed a coffee or an aperitivo.
Giardini Margherita became one of our unexpected highlights, where we spent some happy time turtle-spotting by the water. There’s a lovely playpark here too, and so it’s a perfect spot for a long afternoon picnic.
For some of the best views over Bologna, we climbed the city’s clock tower, which rewards the effort with incredible views across the terracotta rooftops. At street level, wander beneath Bologna’s UNESCO-listed porticoes. These covered walkways stretch for miles and make exploring comfortable, whatever the weather.
Getting lost in the Quadrilatero, Bologna's food market, and assembling the ultimate picnic was one of my favourite parts of the trip - fresh pasta, local cheeses, cured meats, bread still warm from the oven. And then, naturally, tagliatelle al ragù for dinner because there’s really no excuse not to. Without a doubt, Bologna delivered the best food of the trip.
We loved our stay at the Hotel Commercianti, which had great-sized family rooms in a perfect location.
Verona with Kids: Romeo, Juliet and Gladiators
Verona was our final stop and felt like the perfect ending to our Northern Italy family itinerary. Smaller and more compact than Florence, it’s incredibly walkable and easy to explore with children.
Arena di Verona, the Roman amphitheatre, is right in the heart of the city and for children with any interest in history, gladiators, or simply anything impressively enormous, it is genuinely breathtaking.
We loved wandering across Castelvecchio Bridge and the kids really enjoyed taking the funicular up to Castel San Pietro where the views over Verona were absolutely beautiful. Piazza delle Erbe, Verona's lively market square, is a lovely place to pick up souvenirs and soak up the local atmosphere. The square has been at the heart of Veronese life since Roman times, and you can still feel the lively energy.
For lunch, our favourite spot was Pizza des Cortes, mainly because the pizza was delicious and the Aperol lunch deals didn’t hurt either. It’s a very relaxed spot, perfect for families.
We ended our stay at Hotel Indigo, and I can't recommend it highly enough as a base. The bar, terrace, garden and beautifully designed interiors made it the perfect place to rest tired legs at the end of each day. After a week of early starts and full itineraries, having somewhere genuinely lovely to return to each evening matters more than you might expect.
Getting Around: Travelling Northern Italy by Train with Kids
One of the things that made this trip so manageable, and so enjoyable, was the ease of travelling between cities by train. Florence, Bologna and Verona are all well connected on Italy's high-speed rail network, and the journeys themselves are short, comfortable and surprisingly straightforward with children.
My key advice: book in advance. Fares vary enormously depending on when you buy, and the earlier you book, the better the price. We used Trainline to compare routes, times and prices across different services. A little advance planning here saves both money and stress on the day.
Final Thoughts: Is Northern Italy Good for a Family Holiday?
Absolutely, and without hesitation.
Florence, Bologna and Verona offer a remarkable combination of culture, history, food and atmosphere and all three cities have a warmth towards families and children that makes travelling with kids feel like a pleasure rather than a logistical challenge.
Northern Italy is also far more manageable than many families expect. The cities are walkable, the food is exceptional (and children tend to adore it), the train connections are easy, and there is enough variety across the three cities to keep every member of the family genuinely engaged throughout.
Keep in mind - this won’t be about ticking off famous sites, it’s about shared experiences: — making pizza together, wandering through local markets, stopping for gelato in hidden squares and watching your children experience somewhere completely new.
If you'd like help planning your own version of this trip, tailored to your family's ages, interests and travel style, I'd love to help. Fill out the contact form to get started.
Hi, I’m Tina, your personal travel consultant.
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