Planning a Family City Vacation in Rome
A city steeped in ancient history, Rome is perfect for a family-friendly getaway. Visiting the Italian capital brings history vividly to life, and you can sightsee it simply by strolling, with regular reviving pizza, pasta, and ice-cream stops. Check out our tips for enjoying the city the most with your family.
Rome, a place of mythology, gladiators and ice-cream, has an unparalleled hold on the imagination. The city centre feels like an open air museum, the gloriously intact Colosseum rising up at its ancient heart, and with millennia-old ruins and dazzling baroque at every turn.
Central Rome is fairly walkable, so stay centrally or somewhere with easy access to the centre by metro or bus and it’s easy to explore, hopping on the occasional metro or bus for longer journeys. Rather than specifically family-friendly sights, in Rome a family trip could encompass epic Roman ruins, chances to tell a lie at the Mouth of Truth, or cycling around the bucolic Villa Borghese park. Another plus is that Italians love children, and babies, especially, will get a fuss made of them wherever they go.
What to do in Rome with kids
Toddlers:?The Palatine encompasses the imperial ruins of ancient palaces, but more importantly, lovely gardens in which toddlers can run around and play; pack a picnic to take it easy and enjoy the greenery. What’s more, the Palatine is covered in the same ticket as the Roman Forum and Colosseum, with splendid ruins, and stories of emperors, gladiators and wild animals to inspire your small companions.
The Explora Museum has a central water mechanism where toddlers can get busy moving water from one place to another and getting the machine to work. They can also play at being grown ups, with small shopping trolleys, post office counters, and grocery shopping. There’s a good playground outside (a rarity in Rome), with a zipline.
Rome’s piazzas?are ideal for young children, giving the freedom to run and roam. Piazza Navona has impressive fountains, street artists and performers such as living statues. There are also the elaborate displays of?Al Sogno?toyshop, and?Città del Sole?toy store nearby, the latter with lots of wholesome wooden toys.
Children under 10:?The Colosseum?looms large on the landscape of any trip to Rome, and younger kids will find the evocation of gladiatorial combat, imperial power and wild beasts irresistible. Opt for a family guided tour to bring the ancient auditorium to life. Afterwards, wander up nearby Aventino hill for a view through its mysterious peephole.
Rome’s historic centre?includes the chance to gaze upwards at the?Pantheon’s?oculus and toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain. Try some hands-on Leonardo inventions at?Museum Leonardo Da Vinci Experience. Have a marble sign engraved at Via Margutta’s Il Marmoraro, and get your hand (possibly) bitten off at the Mouth of Truth.
The ancient Roman road, the?Via Appia,? has a preserved stretch running southwards through emerald countryside and lined by Roman ruins. You can bike it, with bike hire at the?Visitor Information Centre. Nearby,?Rome Gladiator School?runs gladiatorial training sessions, ideal for kids who love a bit of mortal combat.
Tweens and teenagers:?Colosseum night toursare a thrillingly different way to explore the amphitheatre. Take a tour that visits the building’s underground sections where the wild beasts were kept, as well as the seeing the arena by moonlight, an atmospheric way to see where the deadly entertainment took place.
Villa Borghese, Rome’s most beautiful park, has Surrey (four-person), regular, or e-bikes, so you can explore the park with its boating lake. Check out viewpoints that offer a backdrop of Roman rooftops, such as at Pincio Hill, or a short walk away, photogenic anoramas from the top of the Spanish Steps, the city’s rococo outdoor staircase.
The Vatican?&?St Peter’s?have days worth of riches to explore, and even the surliest teen will be (secretly) impressed by the glories of the Sistine Chapel. Take a teen-oriented tour of the highlights to avoid museum fatigue and queues. Climb the dome of St Peter’s for a soaring view down over its piazza and beyond.
Where to eat in Rome with kids
Toddlers:?A wonder of Rome is that children are welcomed with benevolent smiles, while babies are treated like mini-celebrities. Mezza (half) portions are offered rather than children’s menus. If you don’t fancy a sit-down meal, pick up some of the world’s best takeaway pizza from?Forno di Campo di Fiori.?For a more leisurely meal, there are hundreds of options, such as lively?Pizzeria alle Carrette, in Monti, convenient for the Colosseum, where there are plenty of pasta dishes available as well as pizza.
Children under 10:?Local trattorias have appealing menus of pasta dishes and are lively and welcoming: look out for places such as?Da Tonino, with big pasta portions on gingham tablecloths close to Piazza Navona.?La Polpetta is likely to appeal as it has pasta and pizza, and serves up a cornucopia of different meatballs and other fried things (‘polpetta’ means ‘meatball’); there are several branches, most conveniently in Trastevere and Monti.
Tweens and teenagers:?The best place in Rome for street food and Roman foodie culture is the covered food market in Testaccio, full of food and market stalls. Here you can get offal-rich Roman sandwiches at Mordi e Vai and pizza al taglio (by the slice) with unusual toppings (such as fennel, orange and olives) at Casa Manco. The lively streets of Trastevere are popular for an evening stroll, and there are lots of choices, including?Trattoria Oste Nostro, on a cobbled backstreet, with enough insouciant cool and delicious pasta dishes to appeal to t(w)eens.
Did you know??
The Colosseum had capacity for 80,000 people, had 80 entrances, and took eight years to build. It was built over Nero’s artificial lake, which was part of the former’s vast imperial palace, ‘Domus Aurea’. The emperor Vespasian drained the lake to create a site for the vast, people-pleasing amphitheatre.
Where to stay in Rome with kids
Toddlers:?With toddlers, make life easier for yourself and stay somewhere central, so you don’t have to travel far to explore.?Albergo del Senato?has baroquely decorated family rooms, a roof terrace, and overlooks the heart of the action of the Pantheon square. You can’t get much more central than?Navona 49, on Piazza Navona, which offers apartments with kitchen facilities – ideal when you’re travelling with little ones.
Children under 10:?For a peaceful vibe, yet still not far from the centre, check into the Aventino neighbourhood. This is a hill neighbourhood of ivy-cloaked ochre villas and peaceful streets, plus the Orange Garden, with big views over the city, You can stay at the gracious?Hotel Via San Pio, which has family rooms that sleep up to four. Nearby, and not far from the Colosseum,?Apartment Nido all’Aventino?offers several smart apartments, with a sun terrace.
Tweens and teenagers:?This age range will relish being in the heart of the action. A good area is Tridente, close to Piazza del Popolo, the Spanish Steps, and designer and mid-market shopping. Stay at the swish?Babuino 181?where there’s a rooftop with a view, or opt for an apartment, such as?Margutta Terrace Apartment, which is tucked away on a historic and gallery-lined cobbled street, opening onto a courtyard.
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