How to enjoy Tuscany in winter with kids: all you need to know to plan the perfect trip

All you need to know to plan a trip to Tuscany in winter with children: what to expect from the weather, the best places to see, visiting the Tuscan countryside in winter with children, Christmas in Tuscany, travel tips.

Tuscany is one of my favorite places to visit in Italy with kids, one I consistently recommend to families looking for a vacation that mixes sightseeing with downtime and relaxation.

However, Tuscany evokes images of golden hills, villas with pools, picnics in vineyards and farm stays: indeed, these are all things I recommend in my guide to visiting Tuscany with kids.

So the question is valid: what happens if we visit Tuscany in winter with kids?

Will things be open? Can we enjoy Tuscan towns in winter and what about farm activities for the kids? If outdoor pools are out of the question, can I get an agriturismo with an indoor pool instead?

Winter can be a lovely time to visit Tuscany; however, a winter family vacation in Tuscany looks very different from a summer one.

I spoke before about the best family activities in Tuscany based on our travels.

Today, I want to help you plan a great Tuscany stay in the cold season, so you can make the most of your time, whatever the season!

Good to know! I am from Rome and travel to Tuscany with the kids very often, sometimes for longer stays, sometimes for day trips (Rome is so close to Florence, you get there in no time! My recommendations for Tuscany in winter with kids are based on our trips and first-hand experience of the area over the years.

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Winter in Tuscany: weather

Winter in Tuscany is cold and potentially rainy.

From the end of November to about the beginning of March, Tuscany goes through its coldest season, usually reaching its coldest time in January.

Historically, winter temperatures in Tuscany look like this:

Month	Temperature	Rainy days (average)
November	15C- 59F / 6C-43F	9
December	11C – 52F – /3C – 37F	7
January	11C- 52F /2C – 36F	6
February	12C – 54F /3C – 37F	5

From the visitor’s point of view, this means that winter in Tuscany is a time for big coats, scarves, hats, boots, hot chocolate and tons of indoor activities!

Need to know! Tuscany has a varied geography with some hilly/mountainous parts, some lower altitude parts and a long coastline. In general, higher altitude and country places will feel colder than cities and some areas like Abetone will even have snow. However, don’t underestimate the cold in Florence and other towns, they can get really chilly!

Winter in Tuscany: closures

The most common worry I hear from families thinking of Tuscany in winter is: will everything be closed?

Tuscany is a popular tourist destination; however, it is also a place with real local life, buzzying cities, schools, and offices so, I want to reassure you: Tuscany does not shut down in winter and you can visit Tuscan towns no problem!

Some of the towns are even better I winter than summer as they are less crowded (San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Pisa). Some even have Christmas markets and Viareggio has a famous carnival in February!

However, there are some things in Tuscany that close during the winter and I am afraid these include many outdoor activities for kids.

Don’t worry, further down I also list all the wonderful and fun things you can do with kids in Tuscany in the winter months!

The main family activities that are not available for winter in Tuscany are:

Farm and harvest activities: since farm activities follow an agricultural rhythm, farms and agriturismo normally stop their activities in winter and start again in March.

Often, when they first reopen, they open weekends only, going back to a full schedule only closer to summer.

Villas with outdoor pools: outdoor pools in Tuscany are for summer only, many not opening until late May at the earliest. Indoor pools and heated pools are not common in agriturismo but some resort hotels do have them.

Adventure parks: Adventure parks and zipline parks tend to be closed for winter.

Christmas closures: on days such as Christmas Day and the first of the year, smaller shops and restaurants may close, especially in smaller towns. In places with a lot of footfall such as Florence, you will always find something open. However, planning grocery shopping and meals in advance for those days is best.

Need to know: small towns that cater to locals are likely to only offer bare-bone services to visitors. Restaurants are likely to only be open for lunch and dinner service (rather than non-stop, which only happens at busy times). It is helpful to plan your day around this piece of information, especially if you have children who may need food at specific times.

The best places to visit in Tuscany in winter with kids

Now that we know what to expect in Tuscany in winter, let’s have a look at the best places to visit in Tuscany in the cold season!

Florence in winter with kids

Florence is one of the best places to visit in Tuscany with kids as it offers several indoor fun options for children of all ages.

You need to wrap up, as Florence gets remarkably cold in winter, but the many museums and shops make it easy to enjoy.

As you can see from the photo below, which I took last winter, the sky has some clouds and people are dressed in puffer jackets and ankle boots.

This was early winter: expect January to be even colder and the need for warm coats to increase.

Among the best things to do in Florence with kids in winter there are:

• Leonardo Interactive Museum
• Selfie Museum
• Museum of Illusions
• Stibbert Museums (with armours!)
• Soccer Museum (Coverciano)
• Admiring the Christmas lights and shops (8th December – 6th January only)
• Pasta-making class with Pastamania
• Gelato class with Vetulio Bondi – why not? Gelato is not just for summer!

Of course, you can also enjoy the city’s museums, with or without a tour. I recommend:

Uffizi – one of the few places in Italy where I believe a kid-friendly guide is a must (too big, too busy, too overwhelming without). My absolute favorite kid-friendly tours of the Uffizi is this one by LivTours (all ages, including babies and toddlers) which makes the museum manageable and even fun for kids of all ages.

Good to know: if you prefer a shorter tour, they also have this Express Uffizi one, which is also kid-friendly, gets you in and out of the museum faster and allows to avoid the worst of the crowds.

Accademia Gallery – you can visit this one on your own and see the David without a guide. Tickets here or, if sold out, here on Tiqets. I find Tiqets and excellent last minute resource.

If you are well wrapped up, you can also enjoy the wonderful streets of Florence and the city’s open-air museum feel!

You can visit on your own, using some of these resources:

• Top things to see in Florence
• Florence printable scavenger hunt of kids and activity sheets

Or you can book a kid-friendly tour with Maria Claudia Tours (especially suitable for kids 6 to 11. See above)

Find many more kid-friendly things to do in Florence here >>> visiting Florence with kids: tips and travel guide

If you are planning on being in the city over Christmas / New Years, you may also find seasonal Christmas events for kids in Florence here

Lucca in winter with kids

Lucca is a lovely town to visit with kids as it is quiet, car free (in the center) and well connected by train to Florence and Pisa, which are likely to feature on your itinerary and cool to see with kids!

Lucca in winter is cold and local, therefore particularly suited to people who want to feel a little off the tourist track, without renouncing beauty and comfort.

The best things to do in Lucca with kids in winter are:

• Go ice skating in Piazza Napoleone during the event ‘Lucca On Ice’, usually running during at weekends in late November and everyday during the Christmas festivities (check dates each year as they vary)

• Rent bikes to cycle on Lucca’s walls: not specifically a winter activity but possible in cold weather (you’ll warm up pedaling!)

• Horse carriage ride: I don’t love this one as I feel for the horses, but I know kids love it and it works well in winter, when you can wrap under a blanket

• Spend a day near Lucca at La Fata e il Folletto indoor inflatable park ‘La Fata e il Folletto‘ or Il Castello di Alice (contact them before you go for opening hours and availability, all info on their pages)

Hot chocolate, sparkling shops, and playgrounds are of course available in Lucca all year round.

I highly recommend the lovely bookshop on the main Lucca shopping street: we always spend hours there as they have books for kids and adults and cute toys: last time we bought a cookery book for kids with simple meal ideas and recipes and we use it at home all the time!

Find here >>> our guide to Lucca with kids

Pisa in winter

Winter is one of the best times to visit Pisa, maybe the place in Tuscany most affected by overcrowding during the high season.

For most people, Pisa is a destination for a day trip, rather than a place to stay long.

I disagree: while you can indeed see the tower and Pisa city center in few hours, I find that Pisa is actually rather nice, if you live it like a local.

In a strange way, the fact that the tower is such a magnet for tourism means that the rest of Pisa is real and local: so if you are looking for an authentic experience of a real everyday Tuscan town, staying in Pisa in winter is a great option!

If you are in Pisa in winter for a day trip only, I recommend coming here mid-morning, enjoy the tower, exploring the Camposanto and then stay for a meal in the center.

‘We love pasta’ is nice and affordable for an informal meal, Cantina Vasari is small and lovely and Ir Tegame (pasta only) are also good addresses.

My favorite way to tackle a quick trip to Pisa is to take the bus from the station to the tower but then walk back to the station, to see the city center and the Lungarno (river promenade)

The best things to do in Tuscany in winter

The best things to do in Tuscany in winter with kids include a mix of traditional Tuscany activities you can also enjoy other times of the year and very seasonal activities that happen in winter only.

Learn to make pasta

Tuscany has wonderful culinary traditions and some out-of-this-world pasta sauces. Learning to make pasta here is a super fun way to spend a winter afternoon!

A great Family friendly pasta class in Tuscany is Pasta-making class with Pastamania (bookable on Viator)

Learn how to make gelato:

Yes, in winter! You can make and enjoy gelato all year round and Florence has a special and find place to try your hands at it: gelato school at Gelateria Bondi. Book here >> Gelato class with Vetulio Bondi

Visit museums

Tuscany has so much art, you’ll never run out of museums to visit, especially in Florence. With kids, you may enjoy:

• Leonardo Interactive Museum, Florence
• Selfie Museum, Florence
• Museum of Illusions, Florence
• Stibbert Museums (with armors!), Florence
• Soccer Museum (Coverciano), Florence
• Leonard Museum, Vinci
• Textile Museum, Prato
• Museo delle Navi antiche (Museum of ancient ships) , Pisa

Uffizi – one of the few places in Italy where I believe a kid-friendly guide is a must (too big, too busy, too overwhelming without). My absolute favorite kid-friendly tours of the Uffizi is this one by LivTours (all ages, including babies and toddlers) which makes the museum manageable and even fun for kids of all ages.

Good to know: if you prefer a shorter tour, they also have this Express Uffizi one, which is also kid-friendly, gets you in and out of the museum faster and allows to avoid the worst of the crowds.

As an alternative, I also recommend Maria Claudia Tours (especially suitable for kids 6 to 11. Use code MAMALOVESITALY to book or tell her I sent you!)

Accademia Gallery – you can visit this one on your own and see the David without a guide. Tickets here or, if sold out, here on Tiqets. I find Tiqets and excellent last minute resource.

Soak in hot springs and thermal baths

Tuscany has many natural hot springs areas and they are fantastic to visit in the cold weather, one the few things that are actually better if you visit Tuscany in winter than in summer!

With kids, the best ones are:

Piscine Theia in Chianciano – which is a spa-like experience with areas for kids

Saturnia – free hot springs that are great for older kids and families who want a ‘wild’ experience.

Read about them in our guide here >>> best Tuscany hot springs

Go wine tasting (yes, with the kids!)

Tuscany is famous for its wine production and you’ll be happy to hear you don’t have to renounce going wine tasting in Tuscany just because you have kids with you!

Many wineries in Tuscany are kid-friendly (read here >>> how to go wine tasting in Tuscany with kids).

However, in winter many of the elements that make them appealing to kids, such as farm tours, animals, and outdoor playgrounds, are usually closed. Also, wineries may operate on specific days only; therefore, getting in touch ahead to make a booking is mandatory.

So you may need to go about it a different way. Options include:

Book lunch in a winery: places such as Tenuta Torciano, Antinori, Volpaia or Castello di Meleto are beautiful and offer indoor restaurants where you can enjoy food and wine in a family-friendly atmosphere (book in advance). The Osteria in Castello di Meleto was a highlight for us and one of the best meals we ever had. The burger my son ordered was out of this world melt in your mouth delicious!

Have a meal in an enoteca: Enoteca is the Italian name of a wine bar and usually describes cozy restaurants with a large wine selection and menu with dishes that complement the wine (usually platters, earthy pasta dishes, warming meats).

Enoteche are usually easy with kids as they are informal, have food and tend to have a mellow atmosphere as they are all about quiet enjoyment of wine, not getting drunk.

Visit a wine town: Another way to go about wine tasting with kids in Tuscany in winter is to visit a wine town.

Places like Montalcino or Montepulciano have many shops selling wines by the surrounding wineries and can be a great place to taste and ship home your favorite.

The photo above is from our wine tasting in Montalcino.

Visit a Christmas market (December to 6th of January only)

Christmas markets are not an Italian tradition but this doesn’t mean you don’t find some cute ones in Tuscany!

Don’t imagine anything like Germany or like the Dolomites (Alto Adige has the best Christmas markets in Italy) but if you are in Tuscany over Christmas, the markets can be very atmospheric!

Some of the nicest Christmas markets in Tuscany are in Florence, Arezzo and Siena (usually the first weekend in December, a great time to visit Siena and its famous Piazza del Campo with kids!). I am also very fond of Montepulciano at Christmas: Piazza Grande is simply stunning during the holidays!

Go skiing in Abetone, Pistoia

Tuscany doesn’t have mountains as impressive as the Alps, but it does have a ski resort and it is rather nice: Abetone!

If you are in Tuscany in winter with kids and want them to see the snow, this can be a fun place for a day trip or an overnight stay.

Look at Val di Luce spa resort, with family rooms, mini club and all you may need for a weekend on the snow.

Good to know! Abetone is close to Pistoia which has a fantastic zoo that is open in winter! Find all info on their website >>> Pistoia Zoo <<<

Experience the carnival

Carnival in Italy is a super fun time to be in Tuscany in winter for kids and it is a time when Italian kids dress up (Halloween is a new thing for us, carnival is when we do fancy dress!) and it is also a time of wonderful sweets and desserts.

If in Tuscany during carnival, make sure you taste cenci (also called frappe or chiacchiere) and schiacciata alla fiorentina (cake).

I normally buy cenci in a pasticceria (dessert shop) or a forno (bakery) and order a mix of fried and oven baked ones as I love them both and can never pick a favorite!

Carnival happens all over Italy the week before Lent but there is one place in Tuscany where carnival is special: Viareggio!

Viareggio has a long tradition of carnival carts and their parade is a huge event: during the whole carnival time, the city fills with kids’ events, activities and workshops.

You won’t be able to enjoy Viareggio’s seaside in winter but the carnival makes up for it! Find info here >>> https://viareggio.ilcarnevale.com/programma-eventi/attivita-per-bambini/

Where to stay in Tuscany in winter with kids

Below, you find some resources for a winter stay in Tuscany with family, in the areas we have recommended in this post or destination hotels

Florence – read here >>> where to stay in Florence with kids (hotels and rentals)

Lucca:

• Villa Anna, lovely, baby friendly and kid-friendly, they are also able to offer airport shuttle pickup
• In Villa Lucrezia, lovely accommodation with private parking, close to Lucca walls (this is ideal if you have a car and don’t want to stress over the infamous Luzza ztl area (permit holder traffic access only)!

Abetone – Val di Luce spa, family friendly resort

Castelfalfi Resort – stunning 5 star hotel and estate with kids club

Getting around Tuscany in winter with kids

The best way to get around Tuscany in winter is by train or car.

The train is ideal if you are staying between Florence, Lucca and Pisa, which are very well connected by train and easy at any age.

The car is the best way to get around Tuscany if you need to reach country estates or smaller towns. If driving in Tuscany in winter, please remember:

Tuscany in winter has short hours of daylight: avoid driving on country roads after dark (in winter, it can be as early as late afternoon)

You may need winter tires or have snow chains on board: ask your rental company what the car is equipped with.

I hope you enjoyed this quick overview of what to expect if visiting Tuscany in the winter with kids and it helped you plan your trip. Safe travels!

Tuscany in winter – pin this!