We will be using Florence as a base for day trips. We will be there for 4 days. There will be 4 of us with a 10 & 13 year old. What day trips would you recommend?

I always recommend Pisa as a day trip from Florence, especially with children. Climbing the leaning tower will be a trip highlight for them, as will all the souvenir kiosks. Pisa is about an hour train trip from Florence. You need reservations to climb the tower, and you can get them at www.opapisa.it .

i agree about pisa, but quite honestly there is plenty in florence for 4 days..

There is "plenty in florence" for 4 days but there is plenty everywhere for 4 days. That wasn't the question! This site is really incredible for pre-disapproving other people's travel interests!

If the kids enjoy bicycling, renting bikes and taking a tour around the wide, lovely, historic walls of Lucca is a unique offering, and even if they don't like cycling, Lucca can make a very relaxing destination, since it is almost entirely car free. There are towers to climb (with parks on top) and the oval town is built around a very visible old Roman amphitheatre, so it impressive.

Siena is often very popular with young people because of its dramatic medieval layout, and it is easily reached by bus.

If your kids have any interest in Roman ruins, Fiesole is only a bus ride away, and it has great views of Firenze.

That part of Italy (as most parts of Italy) are absolutely crammed with things of unique interest -- places that make musical instruments, science and medicine museums, hot bath grottoes, pasta makers, etc.

If your family members are terribly keen on anything, you might mention it and perhaps someone can suggest something you'd enjoy in particular.

Hi BB,

>...What day trips would you recommend?<

With only 4 days, I would recommend no more than one. With the 2 kids, probably Pisa.

When will you be there?

There is "plenty in florence" for 4 days but there is plenty everywhere for 4 days. That wasn't the question! This site is really incredible for pre-disapproving other people's travel interests!>

Heh heh right on a real Fodors pet peeve of mine - what i call FodorGarchs just sometimes think their way is the only way - and yeh when someone asks a question like this they set right away to set naive idiotic (in their opinion) poster straight according to their own dictates. And where does the you need at least X days end and you can day trip. I could and have spent a week at a time in Florence and still have things to see.

Kids especially will get tired of the constant mob scene in Florence - take him to the Leaning Tower and climb it - this will be IMO much better than any single one things you - well i mean the kids would do in Florence.

The average casual tourist will find two full days in Florence enough - it's a relatively compact area.

For kids a day trip to the beach could be combined with a look at the Leaning Tower in Pisa

or Montecatini Terme - the spiffiest spa i've been to in Europe - take the waters - bath in the magic water, etc.

BabyBop:

If you care to keep the day trip short, we enjoy Fiesole...a bus from Piazza San Marco nar the Accademia, will get you there, straight up hill...a visit to the Roman ruins which abound, lunch in town...bus back to Florence...but if you're so inclined, walk back down the hill (about 5 miles into Florence)...then bus or taxi back to the Duomo area. This would all be about a half day.

Stu T.

We went to Siena and Pisa as separate daytrips from Florence and had a great time at both. My personal preference would be Siena, but with a 13 year old Pisa may be more interesting and/or enjoyable.

Good luck!
Tracy