Renting Bikes in Florence for the Whole Family

Cycling in Florence is genuinely enjoyable once you know which bits of the city to avoid. The historic centre proper - the cobblestoned streets directly around the Duomo and Via dei Calzaiuoli - is neither pleasant nor legal for cycling. But head to the riverside path or into Le Cascine park and you are immediately on flat, smooth, car-free terrain that works perfectly for a family with children of almost any age. Bike hire is straightforward, the range of equipment has improved considerably in recent years, and the distances involved are manageable in a morning.

Hire shops and what they offer

Three main operators serve families in Florence, each with slightly different strengths depending on where you are based.

Florence by Bike at Via San Zanobi 120r, close to Santa Maria Novella station, is the largest and most comprehensively equipped hire point in the city. The range covers standard adult road and hybrid bikes, children’s bikes from age five upward, tag-along attachments for children between roughly 3 and 7 (the child pedals behind you on a frame attached to your rear wheel), child trailers accommodating two children under 20 kilograms each, and cargo bikes with a front cargo area for one or two small children. They also stock electric bikes. Staff are experienced at fitting children to appropriate equipment. This is the most practical choice for families staying near the station.

I Bike Italy at Lungarno Corsini 22, near Ponte Santa Trinita on the south bank of the Arno, is particularly convenient for starting directly on the riverside path. The company focuses on guided and self-guided cycling experiences, but unhurried independent hire is available at prices comparable to Florence by Bike. The riverbank location means you can collect a bike and be cycling on the Lungarno within two minutes of signing the paperwork.

Molino del Ponte, at the Cascine park entrance near Piazzale delle Cascine, offers hire at slightly lower prices (from around 3 euros per hour for an adult bike, 2 euros per hour for a child’s bike) specifically for park use. If you are planning to spend your day in the Cascine, starting here is simpler than cycling from the centre. For families already at the park with children, this is the most direct option.

Prices for 2026

Hire rates across Florence operators are broadly similar. The following figures apply to the main rental shops:

A standard adult hybrid bike costs approximately 15 euros for a half-day (four hours) and 20 euros for a full day. A children’s bike runs around 8 euros per half-day and 12 euros for the day. Tag-along attachments and child trailers cost approximately 10 to 15 euros per half-day. Electric bikes for adults are priced at 25 to 30 euros per half-day - worth considering if one parent has knee difficulties or will be pulling a trailer. Cargo bikes run at around 20 to 25 euros per half-day.

Helmets are provided free of charge by all major operators and are available in children’s sizes. Fitting a helmet properly before you leave the shop takes two minutes and matters considerably.

Three routes that work well for families

The riverside path is the single best cycling route in Florence for families. It runs along both banks of the Arno from the city centre westward towards Le Cascine park, covering approximately 2.5 kilometres one way on surfaces that are smooth and almost entirely car-free. The complete round trip at a relaxed family pace takes around 40 to 50 minutes, not counting stops. You can extend the route further west along the river beyond the Cascine for another five kilometres of flat terrain if the children have energy.

Le Cascine park itself deserves its own mention. The main tree-lined avenue runs 3.5 kilometres from the eastern to the western end of the park, entirely flat and shaded by large plane trees - a significant advantage in summer, when the canopy keeps the temperature several degrees cooler than the open city streets. An out-and-back ride from one end to the other covers seven kilometres and takes a comfortable 60 to 75 minutes for most families, including natural stops at the amusement area or the open-air pool that sits roughly at the midpoint.

The Oltrarno neighbourhood, on the south bank of the Arno, offers a more urban cycling experience for families with children aged eight and above who are comfortable sharing some road space. Via de’ Serragli and the streets around Piazza della Passera carry relatively light traffic and pass through an area of Florence that feels like a working neighbourhood rather than a tourist circuit. This route requires more active navigation than the riverside path but gives a very different and worthwhile side of the city.

What to know before you go

Florence’s historic centre contains Zona a Traffico Limitato (ZTL) areas where motor vehicles are restricted. Cyclists can access some of these zones but not all. Fully pedestrianised streets - Via dei Calzaiuoli being the most significant - prohibit cycling entirely. Before setting off, ask at the hire shop for a brief orientation on which areas to avoid: they are used to this question and will point out the key restrictions on a map in under a minute.

Cobblestones are present throughout much of the central city. For younger children on small bikes without suspension, the vibration is uncomfortable and the risk of wobbling is real. Slow down significantly on any cobbled section and keep to the smoothest visible line through the stones. The riverside path and the Cascine are cobblestone-free.

Children in trailers or on tag-along attachments sit lower and wider than a solo adult cyclist. Bike racks, bollards, and the edge of kerbs that a solo adult would miss comfortably can catch the attachment if you are not watching. Stay towards the centre of the path when using attachments and keep your peripheral attention on both sides.

Sunscreen and water are essential for summer rides. The riverside path between the city and the Cascine is largely exposed to direct sun, and a family cycling for an hour in July will burn without protection. Apply sunscreen before collecting the bikes, carry water bottles for everyone, and plan to stop in the shade at the Cascine before cycling back.

Combining cycling with other activities

The great practical virtue of the Cascine route is that the park offers multiple reasons to stop. There is an open-air pool (entry approximately 5 euros per adult, 3 euros per child), a small amusement area, playgrounds, and food vendors throughout the summer months. A family morning that begins with bike hire near the station, cycles the river path to the park, stops for a swim or an ice cream at the midpoint, and returns in the early afternoon covers about four hours comfortably and costs, including hire, entry, and food, around 40 to 60 euros for two adults and two children.

For families based centrally in Florence, the walk to the nearest hire point is short enough that cycling does not need to be a planned expedition. If you are at Charlotte on Via Guido Monaco 19, Florence by Bike is a ten-minute walk and the Arno riverbank is fifteen - making a spontaneous morning on bikes entirely possible without advance planning.