I’ll always remember my first glimpse of the Colosseum. My husband and I had simply landed in Rome. I used to be bleary-eyed and nervous with anticipation about my first journey to Europe. My first view of Rome out the taxi window appeared like some other cosmopolitan metropolis. After which it occurred. I glanced down a aspect avenue and there it was — the final word icon of Rome, the Colosseum. When visiting Rome with youngsters I wished my daughter to have that very same stage of pleasure and awe.
Italy is a perfect nation for a primary household journey to Europe for a lot of causes. First, most children love pizza and pasta, so the meals isn’t an impediment. Second, by the point they’ve reached elementary college, most children have seen some photos of Historic Rome or trendy Italy in books, reveals, or films (and if not, see my studying record under!)
Visiting Rome with youngsters could be quite a lot of enjoyable as a result of you will notice their eyes gentle up as they make connections between issues they’ve heard about or seen on screens or in books to what they’re experiencing and seeing in actual life. Who wouldn’t love consuming gelato whereas taking part in close to the fountains in Piazza Navona? Or take pleasure in watching the sundown from the highest of the Spanish Steps in Piazza di Spagna?
After all, visiting Rome with kids will also be overwhelming. There’s a lot historical past to soak up. The crowds could be difficult and there may be simply a lot to see. Dad and mom usually marvel the place to start out. What’s going to the children take pleasure in? How do you select from the plethora of strolling excursions which are on the market? Are youngsters sufficiently old to understand what they’re seeing?
In case you are having those self same issues, learn on. On this information, I’ll try to point out you the most effective age to go to Rome with youngsters, the most effective time of 12 months to go to Rome with youngsters, the place to remain in Rome with youngsters, and, most significantly, provide you with a family-friendly 5-day Rome itinerary you can observe. In case you are staying longer, observe one in every of these 10-day Italy itinerary concepts.
Do you want assist planning your journey? In case you are feeling overwhelmed and don’t have the time or assets to wade via tons of data and query your selections, I assist shoppers plan a customized itinerary, tailor-made to your pursuits and journey fashion. Be taught extra about my journey planning companies.
Itinerary for five Days in Rome with Youngsters
We visited Rome in June, earlier than heading to the Amalfi Coast for a couple of days in Positano and Capri. Our daughter was 10 on the time, so this itinerary is finest in case you are visiting Rome with tweens or school-age youngsters. I do know household journey is completely different for every household, so use this as a information to assist form your selections and planning. I hope you discover it useful!
Be aware: Remember that in case you are visiting in the course of the 2025 Jubilee 12 months, issues can be further crowded and you have to plan forward. Working with a journey advisor to plan your journey and reserving very early nicely assist make your journey go extra easily. Learn extra about visiting Rome throughout Jubilee.
Day 1 (Saturday): Welcome to Rome
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Arriving in Rome from an in a single day flight from the States, you will have time to recuperate from jetlag and have a simple day. The easiest way to get via a scarcity of sleep and the time change is to get contemporary air. The exhilaration of attending to discover a brand new place is energizing. Strolling round a metropolis is an efficient solution to see some informal websites and get your bearings.
Nonetheless, when visiting Rome with youngsters, you don’t wish to overdo it or depart issues to loosey-goosey and unstructured so that everybody get a bit cranky. We determined to take a “Night Stroll with Gelato” tour with Walks of Italy to see Rome’s most scenic highlights. Nonetheless, one other good choice, particularly for little legs that may’t deal with a lot strolling, is to take a non-public Rome tour by golf cart. Older youngsters might also love the Vespa with sidecar tour of Rome.
Whether or not you e-book a tour (I like doing excursions as a result of we study a lot extra and I want non-public excursions that may be extra simply tailor-made to my household and our pursuits and power) or not, I’d advocate strolling across the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and Piazza Navona in your first afternoon or night in Rome with youngsters.
Ending off with gelato or a terrific dinner of pasta or pizza is an ideal finish to your first day in Rome with youngsters. When you finish close to Piazza Navona, take a look at Tre Scalini’s well-known tartufo or have an espresso at Caffé Sant’Eustachio, in Piazza di Sant’Eustachio.
Day 2 (Sunday): Historic Rome
In case you are planning a Rome household trip and in addition arriving on the weekend, understand that many points of interest and eating places are closed on Sunday so plan accordingly.
We determined that Sunday can be a great day to go to the Colosseum. We discovered from a earlier mistake that you have to e-book a tour or tickets upfront, in any other case, you may be caught ready for hours within the sizzling solar to get in. The Colosseum is the most-visited web site in Rome, so you have to plan forward.
I’d advocate taking a tour of the Colosseum and Roman Discussion board. There are quite a lot of choices you can select relying on the ages of your youngsters and their pursuits:
TIP: Be sure to put on snug sneakers and hats and convey alongside snacks and water. Strollers aren’t appropriate for visiting the Colosseum and Roman Discussion board.
Our tour began on the Colosseum, the place we had been in a position to skip the road and undergo a shorter line for teams with guides. On our tour, we obtained a great look into the corridors beneath what was the ground of the Colosseum, each from the primary stage and a greater vantage level up above. We discovered all concerning the video games, the lifetime of the gladiators, and the interior workings of the Colosseum. We additionally obtained to see most of the artifacts preserved from these days and will begin to think about, each via our information’s iPad renderings and the remaining elaborations, what the Colosseum appeared like 2000 years in the past.
Our heads spinning with historical past, we moved on to exploring Historic Rome, within the Roman Discussion board and Palatine Hill. As we walked in, the place we discovered concerning the legend of Romulus and Remus and the forming of Historic Rome.
We spent a great 1.5 hours within the discussion board and Palatine Hill, studying concerning the Temple of Julius Caesar, the Vestal Virgins, the Temple of Romulus and its huge bronze doorways, the Basilica of Constantine, and the Arch of Titus. Our information additionally took us to a phenomenal overlook and photograph level with an ideal view of the Colosseum.
After the tour, you may stroll over to Capitoline Hill to take a shortcut to the Victor Emanuelle II monument with out climbing all of the steps (discover the she-wolf statue then take steps throughout from the statue into the constructing behind S. Maria d’Aracoeli Church. Enter, flip proper. Comply with lengthy hall on left to Victor Emanuelle II terrace & café.)
After lunch, examine Trajan’s Column, then stroll over to the Bocca Della Verita (Mouth of Reality) in Piazza Bocca Della Verita.
After taking time to loosen up, I booked an 8 pm dinner at Taverna dei Fori Imperiale, Through Della Madonna de Monti 9. We beloved this place, particularly the artichoke with white wine and lemon and the normal Roman carbonara.
Day 3 (Monday): Exploring Trastevere
Monday is a busy day to go to the Vatican and St. Peter’s and a few eating places and points of interest are closed. That is why we determined to get off the overwhelmed path and discover one in every of Rome’s most charming neighborhoods, Trastevere.
In case you are an early riser, you may cease by the market at Campo dei Fiori and decide up pastries at Forno Campo dei Fiori, 22 within the Piazza or 5 Through dei Baullari earlier than heading to Trastevere.
The easiest way to discover Trastevere is thru a meals tour! We took the Trastevere Daylight Meals Tour (now solely supplied as a night tour) with Consuming Europe. This allowed us to get a “actual” style of Rome and discover the energetic neighborhood of Trastevere.
This was one in every of our favourite excursions of Rome, particularly for older kids. Additionally it is the meals tour that utterly bought us on meals excursions and has led to us making an attempt them in so many cities. Devour Excursions additionally presents an night Trastevere meals tour.
Since these meals excursions at the moment are within the night, chances are you’ll wish to take a gelato-making or pizza-making class, or Devour Excursions’ Avenue Meals Tour with pizza making, trattoria tasting, and gelato. I’ve lately taken a non-public cooking class in an area’s dwelling via Cesarine, which was a implausible expertise.
Another choice is a Trastevere and Jewish Ghetto mixed tour with LivTours.
That day, we headed again to the house to loosen up, bathe, and alter earlier than assembly up with household pals who stay in Rome for dinner. Nonetheless, if you wish to spend a while enjoyable, you may head over to the Villa Borghese Gardens, the place you may hire bikes and rowboats, take a stroll, and even go to a zoo.
Day 4 (Tuesday): Hidden Gems
On our fourth day, we wished to take a day journey or get outdoors of the town heart and discover a few of the lesser-known Rome highlights.
We took a tour that included the Appian Method, Aqueduct Park, Baths of Caracalla, Janiculum Hill, Aurelian Partitions, and the Pyramid of Cassius Cestius.
I beloved attending to see this very historic a part of Rome and stroll within the grooves made by chariots so many centuries in the past. Likewise for the Aqueduct Park, which is an enchanting instance of Roman ingenuity and engineering experience.
After the tour, we went over to the Jewish Ghetto for lunch at Trattoria Gigetto (Through del Portico d’Ottavia, 21/A) for fried artichokes after which paid a go to to the Jewish Synagogue. Remember that no shorts are allowed and shoulders should be coated — no shorts on the eating places both. As a substitute of Trattoria Gigetto, you can too attempt Piperno or Ba Ghetto.
Another choice for the afternoon or night, particularly if in case you have teenagers, can be to go to the crypts and catacombs on an Underground Tour of Rome with Walks of Italy or take a Night time Catacombs tour with LivTours
You too can use this present day to take a well-liked day journey from Rome together with:
Day 5 (Wednesday): Catholic Rome
We saved our final full day in Rome for exploring the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica. The museum is closed on Sundays and subsequently Mondays are usually the busiest. We picked to go on Wednesday morning, whereas the Pope was giving his Papal Deal with subsequent door in St. Peter’s Sq.. Whereas 1000’s flock to listen to this well-liked Pope every Wednesday, they’re occupied from the time they line as much as get tickets within the early morning till someday after 11 when the Papal Deal with concludes.
Whereas this implies the museum and St. Peter’s can be crowded later, when you get in in the course of the morning you may discover the museum at one in every of its least busy instances. We took benefit of the slight lull within the crowd to e-book a Vatican Museum / Sistine Chapel Tour.
One other solution to keep away from the crowds is with an Early Entry Tour that will get you into the Vatican Museum early to see the Sistine Chapel with out the crowds. In case you are visiting with youngsters, I’d extremely advocate reserving a non-public, family-friendly tour that includes a Vatican Treasure Hunt.
Day by day over 25,000 individuals go to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, making it the quantity two most-visited attraction in Rome. Throughout my earlier go to to the Vatican, we had been quick on time and beelined via your complete museum, not taking in a factor, to get to the primary attraction…the Sistine Chapel. This time, we wished to do it proper and see extra of the highlights of the Vatican Museum.
One of many first highlights you will notice as you enter is an superior view of St. Peter’s dome. What I by no means thought of is you can’t see the skin of St. Peter’s dome from the sq.. The facade of St. Peter’s is so tall it blocks the view of the dome so that you solely see it from the within except you go to the Vatican Museum or different elements of Rome with a view.
Within the courtyard, we took within the sculptures and discovered quite a bit concerning the Sistine Chapel. There isn’t a speaking contained in the Sistine Chapel so we would have liked to study the historical past earlier than getting into.
The additional into the museum we went, the extra crowded, noisier, and stickier it grew to become and the climate, closeness, and lack of air-con started to take their toll. We discovered about Greek and Roman statues of goddesses, heroes, and muses and visited the Egyptian room with its sarcophagi product of porphyry.
From there we made our means via the map gallery, tapestry gallery, and different grand hallways on our means towards the Sistine Chapel. Our final cease earlier than the Sistine Chapel was the Raphael Rooms. These rooms had been almost as crowded because the Sistine Chapel however not as strict on speaking and movie taking.
Ultimately, we made it to the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo was disgruntled at having to color this ceiling and he insisted on doing it his means, regardless of the Pope’s needs. To get again at those that criticized him, Michelangelo painted them in hell, with a snake biting his non-public elements and sporting donkey ears. Fairly harsh — there was a man with an ego.
As soon as we exited the Sistine Chapel, we obtained fortunate in that the aspect door connecting the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica was open for the reason that Papal Deal with was completed early. This was nice information as tour teams can exit this fashion and get instantly into St. Peter’s with out having to queue up outdoors. Eleonora secured our entrance after which advised us concerning the door at St. Peter’s that’s sealed with concrete and solely opens each 25 years when the Pope breaks the concrete on the within.
We completed our tour with a fast overview of the Basilica together with Michelangelo’s Pieta, the chapel of John Paul II, and the altar. After that, we had been in a position to keep inside and discover on our personal so long as we appreciated.
Our authentic plan was to climb the Dome, however after the tour, we had been sizzling, drained, and in determined want of one thing to eat. Our choices had been to depart St. Peter’s to eat and are available again to climb the Dome…however that might imply having to hitch the very lengthy queue outdoors to get again in. Regardless of actually eager to see that magnificent view, I knew our drained legs weren’t as much as the climb and our endurance was exhausted, and standing in line later wasn’t going to work both so we headed out to Piazza Navona for lunch and Tartufo.
Suggestions for Visiting the Vatican Museum with Youngsters
When you resolve to take the children to the Vatican Museum, listed below are some suggestions:
- Put on snug sneakers. Not solely it’s quite a lot of strolling, however additionally it is quite a lot of standing and shuffling, which you are feeling greater than hours of strolling via the Colosseum and Discussion board.
- Guide tickets upfront. When you aren’t happening a tour, you may e-book your timed entrance on-line to keep away from the lengthy queue.
- Go in the course of the low season. Many of the museum isn’t air-conditioned and on the day we had been there it was extraordinarily humid, making it fairly insufferable at instances.
- Take breaks. You don’t have to see all the things and also you definitely don’t have to see all the things unexpectedly. Reap the benefits of the cafe, sit within the courtyard for some time, and attempt to discover some pockets of house to decompress.
- Get one thing to eat earlier than going into St. Peter’s. There’s a “secret” passage that connects the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s. It’s positioned simply outdoors the exit of the Sistine Chapel. Usually, that is solely open to tour teams and it’s generally locked (undoubtedly in the course of the Papal Deal with.) Nonetheless, whether it is open and you might be both in a gaggle or can sneak via with one, it can prevent a protracted stroll again via the museum and round to St. Peter’s however it can additionally prevent from queueing up within the lengthy line outdoors ready to get into St. Peter’s. However in case you are additionally visiting St. Peter’s, you’ll want a snack first.
- Cowl your self. Identical to St. Peter’s, the Sistine Chapel is a chapel, and to enter you will have to cowl your knees and shoulders.
- Make sure you construct in time to discover St. Peter’s Basilica and climb the dome.
- To climb the dome, veer proper earlier than getting into the basilica.
In case you have the power, you can too embrace a go to to Castel Sant’Angelo close by, which is open every day 9 am to 7 pm, apart from Mondays.
And that wraps up a tremendous 5 days in Rome with youngsters. Learn on for extra recommendations on visiting Rome with youngsters.
Greatest Ages to Go to Rome with Youngsters
I discover the candy spot for worldwide journey with youngsters is from 8-12 or so. Youthful youngsters can definitely have enjoyable and revel in making enjoyable household reminiscences, however you’re a little extra restricted on how a lot historical past and touring they will deal with.
Teenagers can even get very enthusiastic about visiting Italy, you simply have to construct in additional distinctive experiences into your itinerary (comparable to a non-public e-bike tour of the Appian Method or a evening tour of the catacombs.)
Greatest TIme to VIsit Rome with Youngsters
If you find yourself visiting Rome with youngsters, you’ll seemingly have to work round a typical college schedule. Remember that summers in Rome are very popular and solely getting hotter. There are solely a handful of inns with swimming pools, and touring the Historic Discussion board in the summertime could be like baking within the solar.
In case your solely choice is to go to in the summertime, attempt to go to as early in the summertime as attainable, hopefully earlier than July when European faculties get out for summer time break. Remember that many Italian households go on trip for the month of August so some eating places and retailers can be closed in cities and the seaside locations can be much more crowded. August fifteenth can also be a nationwide vacation the place most issues can be closed. See extra suggestions for visiting Italy in August.
In case your little one has an October break or half-term, that might be an excellent time to go to. Spring break is one other ultimate time. Simply understand that in case your spring break falls together with Easter, Rome goes to be further crowded for spiritual observations and plenty of retailers and eating places can be closed from Good Friday via the times after Easter.
Christmas time could be pretty, though chilly. There are a couple of Christmas markets round Rome you can take pleasure in, together with a phenomenal one in Piazza Navona. Simply understand that many issues can be closed on Christmas and St. Stephen’s Day. If visiting throughout spiritual holidays, it could be higher to remain in a rental the place you may inventory as much as put together meals earlier than retailers shut, or in full-service inns that supply on-site eating.
The place to Keep in Rome With Youngsters
In Rome, you’ll find a number of boutique inns that supply household suites or connecting rooms for charges that aren’t fairly as outrageous as cities like Paris. I nonetheless discover trip rental flats via vrbo a great choice for households to present everybody further house to unfold out and a kitchen to remove the necessity to eat out for each meal. This helps with the Italy journey funds and for everybody’s endurance for consuming at eating places.
Another inns that supply a household room or suite at an inexpensive worth embrace:
Discover extra locations to remain in Rome:
Books to Learn Earlier than Visiting Rome with Youngsters
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An effective way to organize youngsters for a visit to a unique nation (or wherever actually) is by studying about that vacation spot earlier than the journey. This helps them perceive what to anticipate, study a bit concerning the historical past, and have all the things soak in a bit deeper on the journey. Listed below are a few of our advisable books to learn earlier than a household journey to Rome:
- That is Rome by Miroslav Sasek – this outdated favourite image e-book depicts all the main points of interest in Rome and even describes a few of the historical past and symbology of Rome (like what SPQR means). Despite the fact that my daughter is well beyond image books, she nonetheless obtained one thing out of it as a result of as I used to be speaking about our itinerary and talked about the Bocca della Vertita, she knew precisely what it was.
- Not For Dad and mom: Rome: All the things You Ever Wished to Know from Lonely Planet – this “Not for Dad and mom” not-a-guide e-book tells the story of Rome that not even dad and mom know. My daughter took it fairly significantly and hid the library e-book from me each time she was studying it.
- G is for Gladiator: An Historic Rome Alphabet by Debbie Shoulders – This A-Z image e-book introduces kids to the historical past of Historic Rome, a terrific precursor to a go to to the Colosseum and Discussion board.
- The Coliseum Con by Geronimo Stilton – if graphic novels are extra your child’s factor, they may benefit from the well-liked Geronimo Stilton and his adventures in Rome.
- Trip Beneath the Volcano by Mary Pope Osborne – an ideal intro to a aspect journey to Pompeii, that is a part of the favored Magic Tree Home sequence the place Jack and Annie discover themselves in Pompeii as Vesuvius begins to erupt.
- Magic Tree Home Reality Tracker #14: Historic Rome and Pompeii by Mary Pope Osborne – the non-fiction companion to Trip Beneath the Volcano, this goes deeper into the historical past of Rome and Pompeii.
- Historic Rome (DK Eyewitness Books) by Simon James – this well-liked nonfiction sequence presents information in a really graphical format that’s straightforward to digest.
- The Assassins of Rome (The Roman Mysteries) by Caroline Lawrence – if mysteries enthrall the children in your own home, take a look at the sequence of The Roman Mysteries.
- The Orchard Guide of Roman Myths by Geraldine McCaughrean – 15 of the most well-liked Roman myths retold in a means that’s interesting to younger readers.
- Rome with Youngsters by J.M. Pasquesi – this guidebook is for fogeys however pleasant for teenagers too as every part suggests issues for teenagers to search for and enjoyable information about Rome. It provides an inside view of all of the highlights of Rome with strategies on the place to remain and the place to eat. Higher than a median guidebook, that is really geared towards household journey and what issues are fascinating to youngsters. It’s a must-read!
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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Writer of We3Travel. A former advertising and marketing govt and journey advisor, Tamara is an award-winning journey author and acknowledged professional in household journey. Tamara is a member of SATW, NATJA, IFWTWA, and the Journey Journey Commerce Affiliation, and serves on the Board of the Household Journey Affiliation. She can also be the writer of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Trip Professionals journey podcast.