9 Tips for Taking the Train to Florence With Kids

Book your train tickets 3-6 months early to secure family seating and better prices on Frecciarossa high-speed trains. Take advantage of free travel for kids under 4 and 50% discounts for ages 4-15. Choose window-aisle seat combinations across consecutive rows for comfort. Pack entertainment, snacks, and all-terrain strollers for Florence’s cobblestone streets. Validate regional tickets before boarding and allow extra time for connections with luggage. These strategies will set you up for discovering even more ways to make your Florence journey seamless.

Book High-Speed Train Tickets 3-6 Months in Advance

When you’re planning a magical train adventure to Florence with your little ones, booking high-speed tickets 3-6 months ahead isn’t just smart—it’s indispensable for both your wallet and peace of mind. Trenitalia releases schedules 90-120 days in advance, so you’ll want to mark your calendar and book as soon as tickets become available.

The savings are remarkable when traveling with kids. Rome-Florence tickets drop from $53-60 same-day to just $21 when booked 45 days ahead—that’s serious savings for your family budget. Trenitalia starts at €12.90 and Italo at €9.90 for advance non-refundable tickets. With Italy experiencing rising rail demand due to the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics, booking early becomes even more crucial to secure your preferred travel dates.

Early booking also secures seats together, which is vital when managing children on busy high-speed trains. Use comparison sites like Trainline to check both operators easily.

Choose the Right Train Type for Your Family

While Italy’s train network offers multiple options for reaching Florence, selecting the right type makes all the difference when you’re juggling strollers, snacks, and excited children.

For longer journeys from major cities, choose Frecciarossa high-speed trains. They’re fastest at 300 km/h and offer guaranteed seats, air conditioning, and power outlets for devices. The café-bar keeps hungry kids satisfied during travel.

Regional trains work perfectly for shorter trips to nearby destinations like Pisa or Siena. You won’t need reservations, giving you flexibility with departure times. The double-decker options provide comfortable seating and bike storage if needed. Remember to validate your regional train tickets at the green machines before boarding to avoid fines.

Consider Italo’s family offer—children under 14 travel free with 50% adult discounts. Both high-speed options require seat reservations, ensuring your family sits together throughout the journey.

Take Advantage of Children’s Discounts and Free Travel

Train travel becomes considerably more affordable once you discover Italy’s generous children’s discounts and free travel options.

Children under 4 travel completely free on Trenitalia trains without occupying a seat, though you’ll need reservations with small fees. Kids 4-15 receive 50% off base prices on national trains across all classes and services.

Don’t overlook family group offers that can slash costs further. The group discount gives 50% off children’s fares and 20% off adult tickets when traveling with 2-5 people including at least one child under 15. FrecciaFRIENDS offers 20-50% discounts for groups of 3-5 on high-speed trains.

Always compare adult fares with child fares, as adult tickets sometimes cost less. The booking system automatically selects the best available price at purchase. Young travelers under 30 can also take advantage of FrecciaYOUNG offers starting from €19 for additional savings on high-speed routes.

Select Seats Strategically for Maximum Comfort

Since children need space to move and parents require easy access for assistance, strategic seat selection can transform your train journey from stressful to smooth.

Choose window-aisle combinations across consecutive rows, positioning kids by windows away from foot traffic while keeping adults in aisle seats for quick access. This setup often leaves middle seats empty, giving you extra space.

Book adjacent seats early through online reservation systems to guarantee your family sits together.

Prioritize roomy reclining seats that offer domestic first-class airplane legroom – they’re available in standard train cars and support comfortable napping. Consider a 2+2 arrangement where adults manage children separately, which can reduce the burden on one parent during longer journeys.

For overnight routes to Florence, consider sleeper accommodations with roomettes or bedrooms featuring lay-flat berths.

Quiet cars provide additional low-stimulation environments for sensitive children.

Pack Smart With Entertainment and Snacks

Once you’ve secured the perfect seats for your family, smart packing becomes your secret weapon for a peaceful journey to Florence. Print bingo, tic-tac-toe, and scavenger hunt games before departure—trains’ smooth motion prevents motion sickness, making these activities perfect entertainment.

Pack wax crayons with coloring sheets, friendship bracelet kits, and scratch-art books for mess-free creativity. Download films about Italian castles or beaches onto tablets, and use interactive maps to track your progress through stations.

Don’t forget snacks! Café car prices run high, so pack your kids’ favorites in easily accessible bags. When restlessness strikes, explore the dining car and walk through different compartments. Take time to explore the station before departure to build excitement and anticipation for the adventure ahead.

This combination of seated activities and movement breaks transforms long train rides into engaging adventures.

Bring the Right Gear for Florence’s Cobblestone Streets

While Florence’s historic cobblestone streets create magical backdrops for family photos, they’ll challenge every wheel on your stroller and test your little ones’ stamina. These uneven stones from 1339 form jigsaw-puzzle patterns that’ll jolt standard strollers mercilessly. You’ll want all-terrain strollers with large, shock-absorbing wheels to handle the bumpy ride.

Baby carriers or slings work brilliantly on narrow sidewalks where you’ll walk single-file. For older kids, pack sturdy walking shoes with grippy soles—those irregular cobblestones are ankle-sprain hazards waiting to happen. Skip heels entirely and choose supportive footwear with cushioned insoles.

Consider lightweight travel strollers with rubber tires for downtown’s large slabs, or bring foldable wagons as alternatives when navigating Florence’s charming but challenging historic streets. Despite being the first European city with paved streets, many areas remain uneven with common potholes that require extra caution when traveling with children.

Master Station Etiquette and Ticket Validation

High-speed and Intercity tickets don’t need validation, but you’ll need assigned seats.

Teach kids to match the train number on your ticket to the departures board—not just the destination.

Arrive 20-30 minutes early at major stations like Firenze Santa Maria Novella.

Check the large partenze board for your platform, then verify on the smaller binario board before heading down. Be prepared to operate doors yourself by pushing the circular arrow button when it lights up, as Italian train doors require manual opening.

Plan Your Journey Timing and Connections

Smart timing transforms your train journey from stressful to smooth when traveling with kids. Book routes under two hours for toddler comfort—Rome to Florence works perfectly for shorter attention spans.

Avoid lengthy trips with 1-2 year olds since early walkers struggle with confined spaces.

Plan feeds and rest times around your train schedule to prevent meltdowns.

Book separate seats for children over three on longer journeys rather than cramming everyone together.

High-speed trains with reservations guarantee your family sits together, unlike regional trains that operate first-come, first-served.

When planning connections, allow extra buffer time for luggage handling and stroller folding.

Check departure boards for track changes, and remember that elevators in multi-level stations take time to reach with kids and gear. Booking high-speed train tickets early may unlock family offers on Trenitalia and Italo that significantly reduce your travel costs.

Prepare for Your Arrival in Florence

As your train pulls into Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station, you’ll find yourself perfectly positioned just steps from the Renaissance magic your family came to explore. The Duomo’s just a 10-15 minute walk with little legs, making this arrival location ideal for families.

Before heading to the platforms, grab snacks from the station’s gelato stands or McDonald’s—hungry kids make sightseeing challenging. The luggage office near Platform 16 lets you store heavy bags while exploring.

Once you’ve shown your tickets at the green-lit gates, steering between the 19 platforms takes only 2-3 minutes. Restrooms are conveniently located near Platform 5. If you’re traveling with premium tickets, the FRECCIALounge offers a quieter space for families to relax before departure.

When you’re ready to explore Florence, taxis wait right outside, or you can catch buses and trams for easy transportation around the city.

The Sum Up

You’ve got all the tools you need for an amazing train adventure to Florence with your kids! Remember, advance planning makes everything smoother, but don’t stress if things don’t go perfectly – that’s part of the journey. Your children will love watching the Italian countryside zoom by, and you’ll arrive relaxed and ready to explore Florence’s incredible art, gelato shops, and historic streets together. All aboard for unforgettable family memories!