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Introduction
Rome is an unforgettable place to visit with children. Older children will be delighted to immerse themselves in ancient Rome, but you don’t need to wait until youngsters are a certain age – traveling with young children has its merits too, in a country like Italy where people love children. You will see the country in a different way, and people will see that in a friendlier way that makes great memories.
Rome is also a very hot city in the summer, which is when most families will visit, so you will need to keep up and stay hydrated. See tips on visiting Rome with kids for tips on walking with kids and beating the heat, free cold water, finding places to rest, finding restrooms, and using public transportation to get around. Also be sure to eat lots of ice cream. Read tips on how to buy the best Italian ice cream.
02
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The Colisseum
Two iconic Roman tourist destinations, the Colosseum and the Forum, are next to each other, making it convenient to visit both in one day.
The Colosseum is an easy place to visit with children as they can move around in its giant amphitheater imagining scenes from ancient times or perhaps from movies, and there are also shaded areas available when a break from the blazing sun is needed.
Some tips: Rick Steves has free audio downloads for Rome’s top tourist attractions, including the Colosseum. Also, how about gladiator school for kids?
03
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The Roman forum
The Forum is a short walk from the Colosseum and, with buildings dating back to the 7th century BC. C., to say that the area is rich in history is an understatement. However, the Forum is a jumble of ruins from different eras and (as of this writing) almost no background information is presented to visitors. Unless you have a guide, audio guide, good guide, or app, you’re probably wondering what incredibly important monument you’re looking at. Meanwhile, the sun will be falling, there is very little shade available, your children are hot and tired …
For family visits to the Forum, it is best to take a tour with a guide. Yes, a guided tour is an additional expense, but many other activities recommended here are either low-cost or free, so in general, sightseeing in Rome doesn’t have to be expensive. In addition, the price of the tour may include admission and also the opportunity to enter the Forum without queuing. (Most tours include three entrances, to the Colosseum, the Forum, and also the nearby Palatine Hill.)
04
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Visiting the Vatican city
The Vatican City State is a royal sovereign city-state, the smallest in the world, a small-walled enclave that exists on only 110 acres within the city of Rome. The Vatican has been the home of the Popes of the Roman Catholic Church since the 14th century.
For travelers, the Vatican can be considered a three-part visit:
- Saint Peter’s Square: one of the most famous squares on the planet, with no admission charges and easy to visit with children.
- St. Peter’s Basilica – One of the largest churches in the world and home to superlative works of art. Admission is free, but the lines are often long.
- The Vatican Museums, home of the Sistine Chapel.
Parents should carefully consider what to prioritize and how to best spend their time.
05
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The pantheon
The Pantheon dates back to 25 BC. C., but it was rebuilt by the emperor Hadrian around the year 125 d. C. and it is truly a place like no other in Rome or anywhere else: as a Tripsavvy Europe travel writer puts it: ‘The Pantheon stands as the most complete Roman structure on land, having survived 20 centuries of looting, looting and invasion «.
It is a marvelous structure known for the huge columns that support its portico and for its oculus, a round opening in its dome (which, by the way, figures prominently in the best-selling novel, Angels and Demons ). The Pantheon has been a church since 608 AD. Inside are beautiful paintings and the tomb of Renaissance artist Raphael – history buffs could spend hours here, but a great thing about visiting with kids is that you can just take a quick tour, go out and enjoy the square, take an ice cream, come back if you want.
The square outside the Pantheon, Piazza della Rotonda, is the most pleasant place. People lounge on the steps and enjoy the beautiful view of the Pantheon, plus some people-watching distractions. Fresh fresh water is available from one of Rome’s fountains – fill up your water bottle. An Italian-style MacDonald’s is just steps away, where you can eat outside and have umbrellas, and there’s a great ice cream parlor on the square.
06
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The Trevi Fountain
Here’s another wonderful place to just hang out with your kids in Rome. So popular is the Trevi Fountain, which was completed in 1762, that a small seating amphitheater has been built for weary visitors to rest and enjoy the place. Ice cream places are conveniently close.
07
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Stroll through Rome, exploring the Piazzas
You can make great memories of Rome with night walks from the Trevi Fountain to the Pantheon and Piazza Navone or Campo di Fiore. The streets are full of life at night and are filled with families with strollers and children of all ages, the temperature in summer is lovely, the sidewalk restaurants are full of life, the eyes of the visitors are constantly enchanted with beautiful statues and architecture at every step …
No lines, no admission price, kids can run, a perfect way to enjoy Rome.
Campo di Fiore is a colorful market during the day and then becomes a busy spot for night walks and snacks, great for people watching. Read more about Campo de Fiori, Piazza Navona and other tourist attractions in Rome.
08
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Spanish steps and fun in the Borghese gardens
Almost all tourists visit the Spanish Steps in Rome: the 138 steps lead from Piazza di Spagna up a steep hill to Piazza Trinita dei Monti. Most people just sit on the steps and people watch; children can play around the fountains in the square. Meanwhile, history likes the association with the English Romantic poets who met in Rome in the early 19th century.
However, families may want to continue up the steps and head to the Villa Borghese Gardens, a giant public park (148 acres) that contains lots of fun things for kids to do (plus several museums). Families can rent bikes or try various kiddie rides, or rent rowboats on a small man-made lake. There is a puppet theater in the summer months. There is another entrance to this park next to Piazza del Popolo.
The evening is a lovely, cool time to gather on the steps.
09
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More to explore
Vittorio Emanuele II Monument – This neoclassical monument built in the grandiose style from 1911 to 1935 has drawn adjectives like “pompous” and names like “the wedding cake” or “the typewriter” (and has also been resented because it destroyed historic areas and is associated with the fascist era of Mussolini.) Therefore, it is not generally on most tourist must-do lists. However, it draws over 2 million visitors a year and has a few features to recommend a visit: it’s air-conditioned, it’s free, and it has a very nice casual restaurant at the top with great views of Rome. Visitors can also pay a small admission fee to visit a terrace on the highest level of the monument.
Tiberina Island (Isola Tiberina) : On a summer afternoon, take a walk to this small island in the Tiber River, which, like everything in Rome, has centuries of history, and has been linked by a bridge to mainland Rome since the antiquity. In summer, this island is a fun place to go with restaurants and outdoor markets. There is also reportedly an open-air cinema.
Beaches near Rome
