Family Friendly Travel Guide to Tuscany
We had been planning a family trip for over 4 years and I still cannot believe it has finally happened. In this family friendly travel guide to Tuscany, I will focus on our 10-day trip to this stunning part of Italy. From our wonderful villa to the little sleeping village we stayed in and all the wonderful things we got up to.
For this trip to Tuscany, we were 10 adults and 4 children; so it was a huge group as you can imagine. The first thing we had to figure out was a villa big enough to fit us all. This is where I have to mention that Mr E booked everything concerning this trip. As the travel blogger and planner in the family, I am usually the one who books and organises ALL our trips. Well, except the times he has taken us away.
Related Tuscany Post: The Most Picturesque Towns in Tuscany
London to Florence
Our British Airways flight was an early one and we flew from London City Airport. Low-key, London City might be my favourite airport. It is just so hassle free and I love that it is right in the city. After an almost 2 hour flight, we arrived in Florence in the sweltering heat.
Renting a car in Florence
Tuscany is best explored with a car. I am sure there are train and buses that get you from village to town but as with most European countryside towns and villages, a car will make your experience much more seamless.
Once we landed in Florence, we used the free shuttle service from the airport to the car rental spot. We had initially rented with a random Italian company. However, because we had spent about 2 hours at the airport after we landed, by the time we got to the rental location, we were told our car was no longer available. It was such a stressful part of our trip as we had Adanna with us who by this time was cranky because of her missed nap. Immediately, Mr E just walked over to Sixt and thankfully, they had a car for us to use. In the future, we will always just go for brands we have tried and tested especially when abroad.
The car rental situation was thankfully the only bad experience we had on the trip.
Driving from Florence to Tuscany
Our villa was located in Murlo so the drive from Florence airport (rental car park) to Murlo was about an hour 20 mins. It was an easy drive and we passed by 1 toll where we paid €1.60. The views enroute were epic and prepared us for what was going to be an unforgettable trip.
Family Friendly Travel Guide to Tuscany - Where to stay in Tuscany
We stayed in the most beautiful family friendly, historical village in Tuscany, Vescovado di Murlo. Murlo is a tiny, picturesque village in the Siena commune and we stayed in Villa Angelini. Villa Angelini was booked on Emma Villas who specialise in luxury villa rentals in Italy. It is a 3-story mansion that overlooks the Montalcino hills and Ombrone valley.
We arrived to a huge cake and some treats in the fridge which had been left by the owner. The cake was so yummy and I think we had it every night with our tea.
We had a little tour of the property and were told it was formerly a restaurant and hotel which made sense with how it is laid out. It has 7 double and king-sized rooms; they all had en-suite bathrooms. My favourite nook within the house was the balcony facing the garden where you could see the countryside in the distance. I also loved the cosy sitting area that led to our bedroom; although we hardy used it, it was quite cute.
The winner for this property is the pool. It was the perfect spot for a morning dip before it got insanely hot and of course, in the evenings too when it cooled down. We also had a patio in the back where we sat for breakfast most mornings while listening to the unending sounds of the crickets chirping in the trees ahead.
Villa Angelini is perfectly positioned to visit so many Tuscan towns and cities on day trips. Many were between 20 – 45 minutes away which made it possible for us to do so much and not feel tired.
Things to note about Tuscany
- You need a car to enjoy Tuscany. I’m sure there are buses and if you can get into Siena, trains to different towns. However, a car is best to explore as many locations in this region as possible. Car rentals are quite common and there are free shuttles that take you from the Florence airport to the rental park.
- The bugs are a menace! I think they are midges or what some will call sandflies but my goodness, they are relentless. Luckily, I had my insect repellent, which I carry on any trip anyway so I had some protection. These insects are tiny so you don’t see them but their bite is so itchy.
- Some restaurants and shops close for siesta anywhere between 1 and 4pm so double check each time. This is common in most of Italy.
- The popular trees that have become the face of Tuscany are cypress trees. Although there are popular ones like at Poggio Covili, Tuscany has them in abundance so look out as you drive and you’ll spot many.
Family Friendly Travel Guide to Tuscany - What to do in Tuscany
Being a huge group of 14, which included children, we did a lot of family friendly activities in Tuscany. However, we made sure to have some time to ourselves sans kids because as we know, Tuscany is quite the romantic location.
1. A day trip to Siena
Siena is one of the most popular locations to visit when in Tuscany. It is a medieval city that has the most stunning architecture dating back to the 13th century. Its Cathedral stands in the center and is the focal point for the city. Walk along Piazza del Campo and marvel in the medieval architecture with a gelato in hand.
2. Wine tasting in Montepulciano
Montepulciano is known for its famous grapes, which it exports so when in the town, what do you do? You do a wine tasting experience from the source. We stumbled upon Podere Cassanova and its owner seemed lovely so we walked in. It felt special that one could just walk into a high street shop for a fancy wine tasting experience!
3. Sunset at Agriturismo Baccoleno
Agriturismo Baccoleno is in Asciano and has the most incredible view whatever time you visit. It is actually a popular spot to watch the sunset but it is such a huge land that anywhere you sit feels private and intimate. The stunning view towards the Agriturismo is so iconic and quintessential that it is easily a painter’s dream. Watching the sunset from this spot is so special and was one of my favourite things to do in Tuscany.
4. A romantic wander around Pienza
When anyone asks me which town I liked best, I never hesitate to scream “Pienzaaaaaaa”. I absolutely loved it and will recommend it as the number 1 trip if ever in Tuscany. We did go as a group but I imagined it with Mr E only and thought it would make such a romantic day out. Strolling the quaint streets hand in hand and ending the evening watching the sunset from one of the viewpoints would be bliss!
5. A visit to picturesque Poggio Covili
Poggio Covili is the picture spot of all picture spots. It is actually an agriturismo where one can stay over or just have lunch or dinner. These days, it is more known for being all over pinterest as the “face” of Tuscany. The owner has put a barrier to stop people driving up just for pictures. However, they are happy to have people take photos as long as it is done respectfully.
6. Step back in time in Murlo
I will always be happy that we stayed in Murlo. Such an unassuming and underrated town and not one I had even heard about until our trip. Murlo is quite an important medieval town and is currently being researched by archaeologists. The fact that there is hardly any tourist makes Murlo feel so authentic. It is also very family friendly with playgrounds scattered around so it is worth a visit if kids are in your travel party.
7. Spend an afternoon at the Thermal Spa in Bagno Vignoni
Although visitors can no longer bath in its thermal springs, Bagno Vignoni remains an interesting location. For history lovers and students of theology, it is close by to one of the most important travel routes in history. It is assumed that the Etruscans and Romans would have used the springs during their travels.
8. A day trip to Florence
Florence is usually the stop before heading to Tuscany. However, if you have an extra day to spare, a trip back to Florence to actually spend the day is a must do! There is just so much to see in Florence and as a big city, quite easy to navigate. The Duomo is of course the number 1 thing to see in Florence.
9. Do not miss sunrise
Yes sunsets always get all the attention but sunrises are equally as epic. I’d even argue that it is more fulfilling to watch a sunrise since you’ve most likely woken up at an ungodly hour. Is 5.30am ungodly? LOL to me it is since Adanna sleeps until about 7.30am. Anyway I woke up early a couple of times to catch the sunrise and was overwhelmed each time by its sheer beauty.
10. Vineyard tour in San Gimignano
For a bit of adult time, we went on an evening date to Torciano winery for wine tasting and dinner. It is actually a family friendly winery as we thought we could take Adanna if we had to. However, we ended up going on our own and it was really lovely. I’m not a fan of red wine at all and went for the experience, which I absolutely loved. Tuscany is filled with wineries and vineyards, so this activity is a must!
11. Italian Dinner with a local Chef
As a treat, we hired a local, private Chef Andrea to make us something local and that was one of the best things we did. He made 4 courses – starter was bruschetta, with some cheese and meat on the side; 2nd course was Pasta Bolognese; 3rd course was chicken cooked in red wine with some fresh vegetables on the side and dessert was a native custard cake and gelato. It was certainly the best food we ate throughout our stay.
12. Have a gelato!
This must be the 1st rule of being in Italy. I must have had a gelato every day lol but in my defence, it tasted so good. It did not help that 2 mins from our villa was a gelato shop and the tiramisu flavour was so yummy.
Family Friendly Travel Guide to Tuscany - Where we ate in Tuscany
Since we rented our villa, we made most of our meals in the villa. We would start the day with coffee and have a late breakfast with everyone sat al fresco. Dinner was usually also made by us with the exception of the day we had the private Chef.
However, the 2 long days we had on day trips, we experienced restaurant dining.
Trattoria Latte di Luna, Pienza
This was a little café that had al fresco seating. We got there late afternoon and ordered the roast chicken and cabonara. The spot was really lovely to people watch and it was a pretty restaurant. I think it may have been family owned as I noticed an older lady come from the house across and walk into the restaurant to serve guests. The food was really lovely too, which was not surprising. It was here that I had my only aperol spritz and soon realised it tasted different in Italy.
Caffe Nannini, Siena
After a really hot afternoon wandering, we decided to stop for lunch in the Piazza. We literally walked into the first restaurant and opted to sit inside thanks to the air-conditioning. I ordered the spaghetti alle vongole, which was very yummy, and Mr E had cabonara. Caffe Nannini is in the Piazza el Campo and quite a popular location but the food is so good that it’s worth checking out.
What I loved about both spots was how accommodating of Adanna they were. Both spots had high chairs for her and brought her fries out early. Caffe Nannini had a baby changing facility where I was able to change her.
Is Tuscany child friendly?
Tuscany is very family friendly. It is perfect for kids and we did see a lot of families out and about. There were playgrounds everywhere; most activities allowed for kids to come along and Italians are so friendly towards kids. One thing to note is that Tuscany has a lot of ancient buildings so many of them are not fit for kids running around. Think sharp edges, a lot of stairs, uneven cobbled streets etc. To preserve the authentic nature of Tuscany, one can imagine that these cannot be changed. Most of these sites are UNESCO heritage sites and protected so it is important to be aware and work around them.
Family Friendly Travel Guide to Tuscany: My Thoughts
The authenticity of Tuscany cannot be ignored. From the locals, to the food to the incredible views, Tuscany has to be on everyone’s bucket list. I am really not sure what I expected but every day, I was in awe of yet another thing. Tuscany is also a repeat destination since it is impossible to see everything in 7-10 days. I suppose a month makes more sense to travel from village to town to city more efficiently. However, if you are like me with limited time off, 5-7 days are enough to slowly make your way through my recommendations in this family friendly travel guide to Tuscany.
Bisous, Bugo x
