Florence for a day?

[LionMummyRoar]

Hoping for a bit of inspiration!
We are going to be in Italy over the May half term and I am thinking about a day trip to Florence. I will be with my husband and two DCs aged 5 and 7. I love Florence, but aware that dragging DCs around museums is a recipe for disaster for all of us. Likewise they are unlikely to sit still whilst I drink a Negroni. So I have to change my perspective! What should we do and what should we avoid?

Also I did think about a kid friendly tour but they seemed expensive and DH wasn't keen.

Thanks!

We had a day trip to Florence with DC of that age, we booked the Uffizi , climbed up the tower at the Duomo , did a bit of walking around , a pasta lunch and bribery with Gelato. There is no time for multiple museums but one child went on to study History of Art after firing an interest. It is hard to know what will take their fancy really so I have tended to offer all options.Climbing towers and ice cream were staples of sight seeing for many years for us.

I went to Florence last Autumn and didn't go to the Uffizi or saw David opr the Duomo. Mainly because a) I am not that interested in art and b) you need to book tickets weeks in advance.

I saw some beautiful churches, lots are free, did the Palazzo Vecchio, walked over the Ponte Vecchio, wandered around and saw beautiful buildings and ate very expensive and great ice cream.

I think it's a great city to have a look at even without seeing the big museums.

Where will you be based in Italy?

We did one day in Florence from Rome in October. We got the train. Had a walk around. Climbed the duomo. Had pizza. Went to see David at the Accademia. Had gelato. Went to the Leonardo Da Vincis interactive museum - that was a favourite. Walked down through the piazzas looking at the sculptures. Went to the bridge. Walked around the leather market and saw the pig. Walked back to the train. Got a McDonald's (our only one in Italy) because the boys were so good - ate it on the train. We had a great day.

Hop on / off bus would be ideal - this is what we did when we only had a day visit from elsewhere in Tuscany. I think you have to manage your own expectations with kids in tow - art and Negronis can wait till they are a bit older 😉

Thank you all, I think the concensus is to jus have a good jwander around with gelato stops. The boys do like to go on an "adventure" so I might just plot out a good walk with stops along the way.
Climbing always good for us too, @yikesanotherbooboo and I love the look of the Da Vinchi museum @mmgirish so those might be our stops!