Rome is a fascinating place to visit. Rome with kids is wonderful because they have so much to see: picture your family strolling down the historic streets and walking up to the Colosseum or the kids wandering through the Roman Forum.
I have been to Rome with kids a couple times now and it’s truly a great spot for any age. The first time, I had one baby in tow, just 9 months old. When we visited most recently, I had 4 kids ranging from 3 to 8 and they all loved it.
The Best Things to Do in Rome with Kids
1. Golf Cart Tour
Rome wasn’t built in a day… and it’s hard to see in a day UNLESS you are cruising around on a golf cart. These tours are so much fun and you truly see so much of Rome in one tour. I think this is great to do the day you land: fight off jet lag and sit back, relax and see the sights.
Cost: Around $400 for a family
Age range: Teens love this one! For safety reasons, I would make sure the kids are old enough to sit safely on the golf cart.
2. Colosseum
This was the site my kids were all looking forward to in Rome. I have been several times so I figured we’d just go and I’d show them around. Then I started reading that even with the “skip the line” tickets, you can wait for a long time in busy months. Since standing in the hot sun with my kids didn’t sound great, I decided to book a tour. It was well worth the money and we got to enter through the “Gladiator’s gate” which the kids thought was awesome.
Cost: depends on the tour you choose.
Age range: Baby (in carrier), toddlers can do it but 5+ easiest for this.
3. Castel Sant’Angelo
This was one of my favorite sites to see in Rome with kids. It’s usually free for kids to enter and is really manageable with little ones. They all loved being in a “castle” and thought the cannon balls were “so cool”. If you can, go all the way up to the top, where the views of the city are incredible, especially the Vatican. Then, as you leave the castle, if you are looking at the river, turn left and there’s a really cute carousel!
Cost: around $15
Age range: All ages will enjoy this spot.
4. Early Morning Vatican Tour
A very special part of Rome is getting to see Vatican City. If seeing the museum and St. Peter’s is something your family would like to do, I would recommend an early morning tour for this. There are some that even include breakfast at the Vatican which is really fun. Afterwards, head to Borgo Pio for lunch at one of the many great spots and gelato at Hedera.
Cost: Ranges depending on private vs semi private and which company you use
Age range: all ages
5. Food Tour
There is no shortage of amazing food in Rome and there are plenty of food tours to check it all out. This is a great way for kids to see the city. There are pizza tours, gelato tours or even food market tours. We did a tour that was more historical and ended with gelato tasting which was a great way to get the kids through the tour!
Cost: Ranges depending on the tour
Age range: all ages!
6. Sidecar or Vespa Tour
The last time we were in Rome the kids were too small to try this but next time it’s top of my list. Zip around Rome on a Vespa or a Vespa sidecar. You’ll see a lot and have a ton of fun.
Cost: around $165 per person
Age range: 10+
7. Hills of Rome
There are Seven Hills of Rome. The two that I think kids like most are: Aventine Hill, to peek through the famous keyhole or Capitoline Hill. Capitoline Hill is one of Rome’s most famous hills and you can visit the Capitoline Museums. You’ll have amazing views of the Roman Forum.
Cost: free
Age range: any age that’s up for a walk
8. Trevi Fountain
If you love your trip to Rome and want to ensure you’ll return for another visit: toss a lucky coin into the Trevi Fountain! The Trevi Fountain is an amazing site for kids to see. It’s a fun, bustling area and especially beautiful in the early evening.
Cost: Free! But bring coins to toss
Age range: all ages will love this
3-Day Family-Friendly Rome Itinerary
Heading to Rome as a family? Here’s a plan for seeing a lot in 3 days.
Day 1
- Colosseum Tour
- Lunch in Piazza Navona and visit Al Sogno toy store
- Afternoon Golf Cart Tour
Day 2
- Early morning Vatican Tour
- Lunch on Borgo Pio and gelato at Hedera
- Castel Sant’ Angelo
- Trevi Fountain after dinner
Day 3
- Morning walk up to Capitoline Hill
- Food tour
- Borghese Gardens or Pantheon
- Visit the Trastevere neighborhood for dinner and gelato
What to Know About Traveling to Rome With Kids
Top Tip: Plan Ahead
Rome is a popular place for families to visit. Many tours, vacation rentals and restaurants book up fast. This is a spot to plan months in advance.
Tours are Key
Rome, especially with kids can be overwhelming and a tour really helps. The whole family will learn more and see so much more with a guide.
Try and Visit in the Off Season
I know this is not easy with kids and school schedules – I was one of the moms touring their kids around Rome in the hot July sun! I have also been to Rome in November and it’s like a different place: calm and perfect walking weather.
Find a Great Place to Stay
Stay somewhere that the family can feel at home and relax after a long day of walking around. The kids will be tired and probably need some downtime, so pick a spot they’ll feel at home. There are so many great neighborhoods to stay in throughout Rome.
Book Your Stay in Rome With Kid & Coe
Browse all our family-friendly vacation rentals in Rome or discover more spots in Italy that are perfect for visiting with kids.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Rome is packed with history but the sites are big and impressive to see (like the Colosseum). The food is great for kids with pizza, pasta and gelato on every corner so they’ll be well fed for the adventures.
Piazza Navona: this is a great piazza to let them run around, see the fountains and visit the toy store, Al Sogno.
A Vespa or sidecar tour! They will think it’s so cool to zip around the streets.
The best time of year to visit Rome is late fall or early spring when the crowds are the lowest.
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/rome/the-crociferi-piazza-residence
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/rome/the-rione-trevi-residencehttps://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/rome/the-labicana-residence
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/rome/the-palermo-residence-rome
