Rome is amazing to visit with children. My two little ones have a real love affair with the city and, following their lead, I could have easily called this list ‘500’ rather than just 5 things your kids will love about Rome. But just out of curiosity, the other day I asked them to pick only their highlights and this list is what came from the exercise. I am sure your kids will agree too!
Find here my top tips for visiting Rome with children
5 things kids love about Rome
- Rome’s glorious piazzas, that wide spaces to run around in one the most beautiful urban setting in the world. No matter how big or small they are, when Rome’s narrow streets open up into one of these spaces, ‘oooohhhs’ and ‘aaahhhhs’ abound: they usually also host small cafes, which act a reward to tired little and not so little legs
Piazza del Popolo is one of better knows squares in Rome. It hosts no less than 4 stunning churches, the Leonardo da Vinci museum and it’s closed to cars, making it a gorgeous spot for a quick rest
Top tip for families: never assume that piazzas are car free. Especially in the city centre, piazzas can seem like safe, enclosed spaces, but in most cases they are just a feature of the road and cars and scooters do cross them at sometimes ridicoulous speed. Piazza del Popolo, in the picture, is partially closed to traffic and Piazza san Pietro is car free.
2. It’s many fountains, perfect for splashing around (bring a change of clothes!). Fountains, monumental or not, are a peculiarity or Rome and their fresh running water is great for playing and to cool you down on hot summer days.
One of my favourite corners of Rome and a very ‘Roman’ one too. The cobbled streets, the outdoor cafes (this one is a gelateria) and the fountain are quintessentially Roman. A unique corner in a unique city
Top tip for families: instead of buying bottled water, carry a bottle with you and fill it up at one Rome’s ubiquitous fountains. On a sunny day, challenge the kids to see who can spash further without getting their clothes wet (hint: use your hand to block the main nose of the fountain: this will force water to come out from the smaller passage and it will form a neat arch kids will love!)
3. It’s quirky monuments, with their unusual shapes and never ending stories. Rome is one of the most generous cities in the world when it comes to peculiar stories and anecdotes: the Colosseum and the Roman forum are world famous and keep vestiges of the most glorious Roman past, but what is a pyramid doing in Rome? How come there’s an elephant in one of its more central squares? Every corner of Rome tells a story that is sure to entertain and entice little explorers and curious adults. The book Not For Parents Rome: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know (Lonely Planet Not for Parents)
One more shot from #Rome: this is one of the most peculiar buildings in the city – a pyramid, now standing between a busy junction and the most tranquil of all green corners of the city: the so-called protestant cemetery. #culturegram #ttot #italy
Top tip for families: go church hopping! Some of Rome’s most beautiful art is not in museum but in the city’s many churches Entrance is free, they can be visited in few minutes, minimising the risk of temper tantrums, and their shady interiors offer refuge from the outiside heat in the summer. Votive candles and side cripts are always a hit with the kids.
4. It’s delicious gelato. No need for introductions here: Italian gelato is world famous and Rome has some of the most amazing gelaterie. You can find the best addresses here: The best gelato in Rome
Zabaione, gianduia, dark chocolate with grand Marnier, cream. That’s what I call #gelato. #rome #food #ItalianFood
Top tips for families: to make sure you find real gelato, pick places that sell ‘gelato artigianale’ and stay away from any that offer too wide a selection of flavours: real gelaterie only work with seasonal, fresh ingredients and, like the best restaurants, have smaller, well selected ‘menus’
5. It’s public parks and villas. Rome has many green areas and most of them have an impressive past: originally the private backyards of Rome’s most influential families, the parks are now open to the public and offer fantastic spaces with playgrounds, monuments, and open air cafes
Villa Borghese, Rome. An afternoon in the style of a couple of centuries ago: coffee, neoclassical architecture, and rowing boats! #familytime #family #familytravel
Top tip for families: head to Villa Borghese and take out one of the rowing boats in the area called ‘giardino del lago’. The kids will love rowing and you can challenege them to spot the turtles that call this pond their home! Hint: they love lounging in the sun the far end of the lake
I’d love to hear what your kids liked the most about Rome: leave a comment or post a photo on Instagram with #littletravelnotes so we can all have a gallery of children approved spots in Rome!
I’ve been to Rome several times but not with the kids. I’ve been waiting for the kids to get older so it’s more walkable with them. I really want to sign them up for that gladiator-for-kids training at the colosseum – I think they’d have a blast and enjoy doing some of the stuff they read about at school.
I think you are right about the walking thing: when you have small children, ‘charming’ is not the word that comes to mind to describe Rome’s cobblestone 😉 The gladiator things sounds like a lot of fun, if you go and do it I’d love to hear how they get on!
I loved everything about Rome on my visit. It seemed like around every corner was another priceless piece of art by one of my favourite artists. I’m not a big museum guy, but the great thing about Rome is like the best parts of a museum but with fresh air and gelato 🙂
That is very much what I love about the city too: art is even more enjoyable if part of a living and breathing place, it becomes so much more real!
Wow Marta… you made me go and look for air tickets! It’s been 3 years since my last time in Rome with kids, I guess it’s time to book again 😉
It is!! Make sure you tell me when you go, I might very well be there 😉
The architecture and food look amazing! These are great tips for those wanting to travel to Rome with a family.
I agree that Rome is a fantastic place to travel as a family. Reading this list makes me want to go back!! Right now!! 🙂 I write travel guides for kids so they can learn and enjoy fun activities about all the sights. The one on Rome is the most popular. Love your post!!
I love travel guides for kids and I think yours are great! Travelling with kids is certainly different from any other sort of travel and these resources are so important to give ideas and reassure parents that yes, it can be done and it can be a lot of fun too!
I haven’t taken the kids to Rome but I can tell you their favourite thing would definitely be the gelato! and the pizza… and the pasta… My 5 year-old is desperate to go to Italy for exactly these reasons!!
Hehe, food in Italy is a great resource: amazing how much longer kids accept to walk if the reward is gelato 😉
My kids love the “granita” and they loved the spanish steps. We had a great time in Rome. They were fascinated by so many things. We were in Rome this summer and we had almost 40 degrees…
We visited and loved Rome for all these reasons and a hundred more. Thanks for sharing.
I don’t have children and I’ve never been to Rome but I’d love these things about Rome never mind children! ☺I visited Tuscany on a school tour over 10 years ago and fell in love with Italy! One thing I regret is not trying gelato. That’s a great tip in picking gelaterie to pick places that sell gelato artigianale. I’ll keep this in mind when I return.
I love seeing all these photos. I agree, adults would like these places too. Filling water bottles in the fountains is a super good tip!
never been to rome but certainly would love to visit… i’ve heard nothing but lovely things and it’s pretty cool that europe has so many places that are kid friendly. i’m sure my nieces would freak out on all the gelato at their disposal!
I love all the quirky monuments, it allows kids to have their imagination run wild! Totally love Rome!
I love these photos! Beautifully captured Rome 😀 such a great place to take your kids 😀