It’s no exaggeration to say I spent days trawling the internet to find the best places to stay in Tuscany with kids. We visited Cinque Terre and Tuscany during May half term so were up against limited availability, minimum stays, no child policies and, quite frankly, exorbitantly high prices for sub-par accommodation.
But wait, there is hope. It may have taken hours (and the reading of some rather bizarre TripAdvisor reviews) but I ended up finding 2 incredible, affordable places to stay in Tuscany, as well as a long list of luxury places I’d like to return to for a special occasion.
So, for anyone planning a family trip to Tuscany, here are the most beautiful places to stay in Tuscany with kids that made it onto my shortlist.
Disclosure: Our trip to Tuscany was self-funded. This post contains some affiliate links.
Best places to stay in Tuscany with kids
Poggio Ai Gelsi
My favourite (by an inch!) of the 2 affordable farmhouses we stayed at in Tuscany was Poggio Ai Gelsi.
You guys know I love seeking accommodation that leaves you in no doubt about where you are and well I think we can say the 5 windows at this holiday home near Pienza really nailed it.
Poggio Ai Gelsi offers 7 different types of accommodation ranging from 1 bedroom apartments to the 2 bedroom house we stayed in. The pool is shared but each room has its own dedicated outdoor area.
I chose the 2 bedroom house because it had the best views on the property. We had uninterrupted views of the valley, the pool, even the medieval spires of Pienza in the distance. But the whole house was on the first floor which meant we did have to cart our drinks and snacks downstairs to get to our outdoor seating as there’s no balcony or terrace directly attached to the accommodation.
The accommodation was generous and the kitchen was really well equipped but the interiors were tired, not gonna lie. I didn’t even take pictures of the inside of the house as it wasn’t inspiring at all but I guess that’s the compromise you make for the price. (The images on booking.com are pretty accurate so check that out for a look inside the individual rooms.) But between all the sightseeing, swimming and playing cards by the pool we spent very little time in the rooms anyway and the beds turned out to be the most comfortable ones of the trip.
We paid £200/night for the 2 bed house in May half term, everywhere else we looked at in this area was at least £400/night for our family of 3. The apartments (which look a little more modern) start from £135/night in June.
Situated in the heart of the UNESCO listed Val D’Orcia, Poggio Ai Gelsi is perfectly located to explore the beautiful towns of Pienza, Montepulciano, Montichello and more. (A snapshot of which I shared on my Instagram stories.) You do need a car as there’s nothing within walking distance, apart from insane views and vineyards. Florence airport is 90 minutes drive away.
During our stay there were no staff/hosts on the property. We checked ourselves in via WhatsApp and were sent a handy list of restaurants, supermarkets and things to do in the local area over text.
Honestly, if you can overlook the less than stylish interiors, this place cannot be beaten for views, location and price. We had a great stay here!
Click here to book Poggio Ai Gelsi
Agriturismo Poggio Leone
Another property that we stayed at was the utterly charming Agriturismo Poggio Leone. This friendly farmstay had lots of lovely touches, such as arriving to a fridge and wine rack full of reasonably priced Chianti wine. We immediately opened a bottle and sunk into a deckchair to watch the beautiful sunset views while Miles made friends with the owner’s little dogs.
Perfect for families, Poggio Leone has a mini farm with goats and ducks as well as a riding school that offers private family horse rides through the stunning surrounding countryside.
Watch this reel for more info
Another thing we loved was that you could pre-order a farmhouse breakfast for just 9 Euros per adult and 5 Euros for children. Although our accommodation was self-catering we made the most of the generous spread of fresh eggs, cold meats, yoghurts, fruit and freshly made cakes that were laid out in the farmhouse each morning along with limitless cups of freshly brewed coffee.
There are also a couple of really nice restaurants (we dined at Passatempo Di Osteria Il Papero and Ristorante Le Tre Case) a short walk or drive from this property, so we revelled in not having to use the kitchen at all!
We stayed in the 1 bedroom apartment which is traditionally decorated and features high beams and that previously mentioned well-stocked kitchen. (There was juice, water and soft drinks in the fridge as well as wine.) It was a little dark inside (although I’m sure very cool in summer!) and doesn’t have its own dedicated outdoor area. But the shared spaces, including the pool, are all absolutely beautiful and well maintained.
We noticed they are building some glamping lodges on the property, which do have outdoor seating areas and the best views, so this could be a good option for a future visit.
The location of Poggio Leone is perfect for exploring sights such as San Gimignano & Volterra, which are both an easy drive away. The nearest town is Gambassi Terme (6 mins drive away) and there you’ll find supermarkets and cafes.
This property is also very well priced for its location – our apartment was £140 per night for a family of 3 in May half term. Basically, the cheapest farmhouse we came across in Tuscany that offered something more than just a room.
If, like us, you have a little one that loves animals, this Agriturismo that has thought of everything is the one to book.
Book Agriturismo Poggio Leone here
More options for stylish family holidays to Tuscany
Borgo Vescine
This beautiful borgo strikes the balance between an authentic Tuscan experience and 5* luxury. The traditional rooms look both timeless and cosy and the heated pool with views of Chianti would be absolute bliss on a warm spring day.
At approx. 500 Euros per night in May for a family of 3 it’s the most expensive option on my wishlist, but ticks all the boxes for a quintessential stay in Tuscany.
It also comes highly recommended from a follower on Instagram who had the dreamiest stay here.
Precise Poggio Alla Sala
Recently opened in June 2023, this hotel has the most beautifully designed rooms in all of Tuscany. (According to me anyway!)
Stylishly furnished in a modern rustic design that tells a story about the surroundings, this hotel is 100% me.
Situated 20 minutes from peaceful Montepulciano, this hotel was a little too far away for our May road trip, but I’ve got it bookmarked because the 4 pools (1 adults only), spa and kids club make it the perfect retreat for a family holiday in Tuscany.
From £300 per night for a classic studio.
Salvadonica
40 minutes outside Florence is Salvadonica, a traditional borgo with modern minimalistic rooms.
Boasting not only an enviable location, Salvadonica rates highly for its well-priced restaurant and private wine tastings.
The one thing that put me off booking here is that rooms are assigned upon check in, so you can’t lock in the best views, natural lighting etc upon booking, which is something I’m usually very eager about.
Rooms here are also around £300 a night in May.
Tuscany Forever
The perfect place to stay with sociable kids, Tuscany Forever is a boutique resort made up of stone villas and apartments that share 3 pools (including a lazy river), playground, tennis courts and the most incredible views of rolling hills.
Featuring mid-century modern interiors and private terraces, the accommodation ranges from 1-bedroom apartments to 5-bedroom villas, making it a great choice for holidaying with groups of friends and wider family.
I love that they also have an on-site restaurant for evenings you can’t be bothered to cook. The location is perfect for exploring some of Tuscany’s most beautiful towns including Volterra, San Gimignano and Monteriggioni.
It’s really well priced too. 2-bedroom apartments are around 150 EUR per night in May.
They were fully booked for a private event on the dates we were in Tuscany or else we would have been tempted to stay here the whole week. So get your reservations in early if this sounds like the one for you.
(Recommended by Suzi @thefamilytravelblog who made this reel about her stay.)
Relais Il Chiostro di Pienza
I also found this amazing pool with a view at a former convent in central Pienza.
Pienza is a UNESCO listed town that is considered the ‘touchstone of Renaissance urbanism’. It was one of my favourite places we visited in Tuscany and this hotel would be a great place to base yourself if you want to be within walking distance to outstanding views and restaurants.
From what I saw online the rooms are very old fashioned but incredibly well-priced at around £80 per night even in peak season.
Beautiful B&Bs in Tuscany
I wanted to share a couple of beautiful B&B’s outside Florence offering rustic Tuscan experiences and delicious cake-filled breakfasts.
The first is Valdirose, a charming family run B&B that offers a slow living experience accented with antique furniture, fresh flowers and cosy linens.
Run by cook book author Irene Berni, almost every review mentions the incredible breakfast in her sun-dappled conservatory.
Just a 20-minute train ride from Florence, I think this would be perfect for a city break where you can get away from the crowds at the end of the day.
(Recommended to me by @laurasnextstop who shared these gorgeous pictures of her stay there in 2022.)
Another affordable B&B where I’d like to stay for the breakfast alone is Le Molina. Found 30 minutes from Lucca, this B&B looks straight out of a storybook. The rooms are on the smaller side for families so this place is probably best for babes in arms. Or a child-free weekend away, if you get a chance for such a thing!
AirBnbs
Finally, if a private home is more your thing, I have a made a wishlist of AirBnb properties in the Cinque Terre and Tuscany that you can view here.
I hope you found this list helpful. I’ll be sharing more about our amazing week in Cinque Terre and Tuscany soon.
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