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 another cosmopolitan metropolis. After which it occurred. I glanced down a facet road and there it was — the last word icon of Rome, the Colosseum. When visiting Rome with children I wished my daughter to have that very same degree 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 photographs of Historical Rome or fashionable Italy in books, reveals, or films (and if not, see my studying listing beneath!)
Visiting Rome with children will be lots of enjoyable as a result of you will note their eyes mild 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?
In fact, visiting Rome with kids will also be overwhelming. There’s a lot historical past to soak up. The crowds will be difficult and there’s simply a lot to see. Dad and mom typically 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 can be on the market? Are children 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 indicate you the perfect age to go to Rome with children, the perfect time of 12 months to go to Rome with children, the place to remain in Rome with children, and, most significantly, offer you a family-friendly 5-day Rome itinerary that you would be able to observe. In case you are staying longer, observe certainly one 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 by means of tons of knowledge and query your selections, I assist purchasers plan a customized itinerary, tailor-made to your pursuits and journey model. 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 greatest in case you are visiting Rome with tweens or school-age children. 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!
Word: Needless to say in case you are visiting through the 2025 Jubilee Yr, issues will likely be additional crowded and you’ll want to plan forward. Working with a journey advisor to plan your journey and reserving very early properly 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 have to time to recuperate from jetlag and have a straightforward day. One of the best ways to get by means of an absence 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 children, you don’t wish to overdo it or go away issues to loosey-goosey and unstructured so that everybody get a little 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 children may 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 be taught a lot extra and I choose personal excursions that may be extra simply tailor-made to my household and our pursuits and power) or not, I’d suggest strolling across the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and Piazza Navona in your first afternoon or night in Rome with children.
Ending off with gelato or an important dinner of pasta or pizza is an ideal finish to your first day in Rome with children. Should 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): Historical Rome
In case you are planning a Rome household trip and in addition arriving on the weekend, remember that many sights and eating places are closed on Sunday so plan accordingly.
We determined that Sunday could be a superb day to go to the Colosseum. We discovered from a earlier mistake that you’ll want to e book a tour or tickets prematurely, in any other case, you can be caught ready for hours within the sizzling solar to get in. The Colosseum is the most-visited web site in Rome, so you’ll want to plan forward.
I’d suggest taking a tour of the Colosseum and Roman Discussion board. There are lots of choices that you would be able to select relying on the ages of your children and their pursuits:
TIP: Ensure you put on snug footwear and hats and produce 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 have been in a position to skip the road and undergo a shorter line for teams with guides. On our tour, we bought a superb look into the corridors below what was the ground of the Colosseum, each from the principle degree and a greater vantage level up above. We discovered all in regards to the video games, the lifetime of the gladiators, and the internal workings of the Colosseum. We additionally bought to see lots of the artifacts preserved from these days and will begin to think about, each by means of our information’s iPad renderings and the remaining gildings, what the Colosseum appeared like 2000 years in the past.
Our heads spinning with historical past, we moved on to exploring Historical Rome, within the Roman Discussion board and Palatine Hill. As we walked in, the place we discovered in regards to the legend of Romulus and Remus and the forming of Historical Rome.
We spent a superb 1.5 hours within the discussion board and Palatine Hill, studying in regards to the Temple of Julius Caesar, the Vestal Virgins, the Temple of Romulus and its large bronze doorways, the Basilica of Constantine, and the Arch of Titus. Our information additionally took us to a lovely overlook and picture level with an ideal view of the Colosseum.
After the tour, you possibly can 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. Observe 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 calm down, 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 sights are closed. Because of this we determined to get off the overwhelmed path and discover certainly one of Rome’s most charming neighborhoods, Trastevere.
In case you are an early riser, you possibly can cease by the market at Campo dei Fiori and choose up pastries at Forno Campo dei Fiori, 22 within the Piazza or 5 Through dei Baullari earlier than heading to Trastevere.
One of the best ways to discover Trastevere is thru a meals tour! We took the Trastevere Daylight Meals Tour (now solely provided 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 certainly one of our favourite excursions of Rome, particularly for older kids. Additionally it is the meals tour that fully offered us on meals excursions and has led to us making an attempt them in so many cities. Devour Excursions additionally gives 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 not too long ago taken a non-public cooking class in a neighborhood’s house by means of Cesarine, which was a incredible expertise.
An alternative choice is a Trastevere and Jewish Ghetto mixed tour with LivTours.
That day, we headed again to the residence to calm down, bathe, and alter earlier than assembly up with household buddies who dwell in Rome for dinner. Nonetheless, if you wish to spend a while stress-free, you possibly can head over to the Villa Borghese Gardens, the place you possibly can lease 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 exterior of the town heart and discover a few of the lesser-known Rome highlights.
We took a tour that included the Appian Approach, 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 a captivating 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. Needless to say no shorts are allowed and shoulders have to be coated — no shorts on the eating places both. As an alternative of Trattoria Gigetto, you may also strive Piperno or Ba Ghetto.
An alternative choice for the afternoon or night, particularly when you have teenagers, could be to go to the crypts and catacombs on an Underground Tour of Rome with Walks of Italy or take a Evening Catacombs tour with LivTours
You can too use today to take a preferred 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 hundreds flock to listen to this in style 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 will likely be crowded later, if you happen to get in through the morning you may discover the museum at certainly one of its least busy occasions. 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 children, I’d extremely suggest reserving a personal, family-friendly tour that comes with a Vatican Treasure Hunt.
Day-after-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 have been quick on time and beelined by means of your entire museum, not taking in a factor, to get to the principle 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 note as you enter is an superior view of St. Peter’s dome. What I by no means thought of is that you would be able to’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 components of Rome with a view.
Within the courtyard, we took within the sculptures and discovered quite a bit in regards to the Sistine Chapel. There isn’t any speaking contained in the Sistine Chapel so we would have liked to be taught the historical past earlier than getting in.
The additional into the museum we went, the extra crowded, noisier, and stickier it turned 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 made from porphyry.
From there we made our method by means of the map gallery, tapestry gallery, and different grand hallways on our method towards the Sistine Chapel. Our final cease earlier than the Sistine Chapel was the Raphael Rooms. These rooms have been almost as crowded because the Sistine Chapel however not as strict on speaking and movie taking.
Finally, we made it to the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo was disgruntled at having to color this ceiling and he insisted on doing it his method, regardless of the Pope’s needs. To get again at those that criticized him, Michelangelo painted them in hell, with a snake biting his personal components and sporting donkey ears. Fairly harsh — there was a man with an ego.
As soon as we exited the Sistine Chapel, we bought fortunate in that the facet door connecting the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica was open because the Papal Deal with was completed early. This was nice information as tour teams can exit this fashion and get straight into St. Peter’s with out having to queue up exterior. Eleonora secured our entrance after which advised us in regards to 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 have been in a position to keep inside and discover on our personal so long as we preferred.
Our authentic plan was to climb the Dome, however after the tour, we have been sizzling, drained, and in determined want of one thing to eat. Our choices have been to depart St. Peter’s to eat and are available again to climb the Dome…however that will imply having to affix the very lengthy queue exterior 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 persistence 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
Should you determine to take the children to the Vatican Museum, listed here are some suggestions:
- Put on snug footwear. Not solely it’s lots of strolling, however additionally it is lots of standing and shuffling, which you are feeling greater than hours of strolling by means of the Colosseum and Discussion board.
- E book tickets prematurely. Should you aren’t happening a tour, you possibly can e book your timed entrance on-line to keep away from the lengthy queue.
- Go through the low season. A lot of the museum isn’t air-conditioned and on the day we have been there it was extraordinarily humid, making it fairly insufferable at occasions.
- Take breaks. You don’t must see every little thing and also you definitely don’t must see every little thing 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 situated simply exterior the exit of the Sistine Chapel. Typically, that is solely open to tour teams and it’s generally locked (positively through the Papal Deal with.) Nonetheless, whether it is open and you might be both in a gaggle or can sneak by means of with one, it’s going to prevent a protracted stroll again by means of the museum and round to St. Peter’s however it’s going to additionally prevent from queueing up within the lengthy line exterior 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. Similar to St. Peter’s, the Sistine Chapel is a chapel, and to enter you have to to cowl your knees and shoulders.
- Remember to 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.
If in case you have the power, you may also embody a go to to Castel Sant’Angelo close by, which is open each day 9 am to 7 pm, apart from Mondays.
And that wraps up a tremendous 5 days in Rome with children. Learn on for extra tips about visiting Rome with children.
Finest Ages to Go to Rome with Youngsters
I discover the candy spot for worldwide journey with children is from 8-12 or so. Youthful children can definitely have enjoyable and luxuriate in making enjoyable household recollections, 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 must construct in additional distinctive experiences into your itinerary (comparable to a non-public e-bike tour of the Appian Approach or a night time tour of the catacombs.)
Finest TIme to VIsit Rome with Youngsters
If you end up visiting Rome with children, you’ll doubtless must work round a regular college schedule. Needless to say summers in Rome are highly regarded and solely getting hotter. There are solely a handful of lodges with swimming pools, and touring the Historical Discussion board in the summertime will 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 doable, hopefully earlier than July when European faculties get out for summer time break. Needless to say many Italian households go on trip for the month of August so some eating places and retailers will likely be closed in cities and the seaside locations will likely be much more crowded. August fifteenth can be a nationwide vacation the place most issues will likely be closed. See extra suggestions for visiting Italy in August.
In case your little one has an October break or half-term, that will be a really perfect time to go to. Spring break is one other excellent time. Simply remember that in case your spring break falls together with Easter, Rome goes to be additional crowded for non secular observations and lots of retailers and eating places will likely be closed from Good Friday by means of the times after Easter.
Christmas time will be pretty, though chilly. There are a couple of Christmas markets round Rome that you would be able to take pleasure in, together with a lovely one in Piazza Navona. Simply remember that many issues will likely be closed on Christmas and St. Stephen’s Day. If visiting throughout non secular holidays, it might be higher to remain in a rental the place you possibly can inventory as much as put together meals earlier than retailers shut, or in full-service lodges that provide on-site eating.
The place to Keep in Rome With Youngsters
In Rome, you could find a number of boutique lodges that provide household suites or connecting rooms for charges that aren’t fairly as outrageous as cities like Paris. I nonetheless discover trip rental residences by means of vrbo a superb choice for households to offer everybody additional house to unfold out and a kitchen to get rid of the necessity to eat out for each meal. This helps with the Italy journey finances and for everybody’s persistence for consuming at eating places.
Another lodges that provide a household room or suite at an reasonably priced value embody:
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 children for a visit to a special nation (or anyplace actually) is by studying about that vacation spot earlier than the journey. This helps them perceive what to anticipate, be taught a little bit in regards to the historical past, and have every little thing soak in a little bit deeper on the journey. Listed here are a few of our really useful books to learn earlier than a household journey to Rome:
- That is Rome by Miroslav Sasek – this previous favourite image e book depicts all the foremost sights in Rome and even describes a few of the historical past and symbology of Rome (like what SPQR means). Although my daughter is well beyond image books, she nonetheless bought 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: Every thing You Ever Needed 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 critically and hid the library e book from me each time she was studying it.
- G is for Gladiator: An Historical Rome Alphabet by Debbie Shoulders – This A-Z image e book introduces kids to the historical past of Historical Rome, an important 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 could benefit from the in style Geronimo Stilton and his adventures in Rome.
- Trip Underneath the Volcano by Mary Pope Osborne – an ideal intro to a facet 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: Historical Rome and Pompeii by Mary Pope Osborne – the non-fiction companion to Trip Underneath the Volcano, this goes deeper into the historical past of Rome and Pompeii.
- Historical Rome (DK Eyewitness Books) by Simon James – this in style nonfiction sequence gives info 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 E book of Roman Myths by Geraldine McCaughrean – 15 of the most well-liked Roman myths retold in a method that’s interesting to younger readers.
- Rome with Youngsters by J.M. Pasquesi – this guidebook is for folks however fulfilling for youths too as every part suggests issues for youths to search for and enjoyable info about Rome. It provides an inside view of all of the highlights of Rome with options 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 attention-grabbing to children. 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 skilled 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 be the writer of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Trip Professionals journey podcast.