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 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 youngsters love pizza and pasta, so the meals isn’t an impediment. Second, by the point they’ve reached elementary faculty, most youngsters have seen some photographs of Historical Rome or trendy Italy in books, exhibits, or films (and if not, see my studying record under!)

Visiting Rome with children could be loads 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 enjoying close to the fountains in Piazza Navona? Or get pleasure from watching the sundown from the highest of the Spanish Steps in Piazza di Spagna?

After all, visiting Rome with youngsters will also be overwhelming. There may be 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 surprise the place to begin. What’s going to the children get pleasure from? How do you select from the plethora of strolling excursions which are 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 very best age to go to Rome with children, the very best time of yr 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 you could observe. In case you are staying longer, observe one in all 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 data and query your selections, I assist shoppers plan a customized itinerary, tailor-made to your pursuits and journey fashion. Study extra about my journey planning providers.

Itinerary for five Days in Rome with Children

We visited Rome in June, earlier than heading to the Amalfi Coast for just a few days in Positano and Capri. Our daughter was 10 on the time, so this itinerary is finest if you’re visiting Rome with tweens or school-age children. I do know household journey is totally different for every household, so use this as a information to assist form your selections and planning. I hope you discover it useful!

Observe: Needless to say if you’re visiting in the course of the 2025 Jubilee 12 months, issues will probably be additional crowded and you’ll want to plan forward. Working with a journey advisor to plan your journey and reserving very early effectively 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’ll need 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 effective solution to see some informal websites and get your bearings.

Nevertheless, 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 just a little cranky. We determined to take a “Night Stroll with Gelato” tour with Walks of Italy to see Rome’s most scenic highlights. Nevertheless, 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 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 be taught a lot extra and I desire personal excursions that may be extra simply tailor-made to my household and our pursuits and vitality) or not, I might advocate 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. 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): Historical Rome

In case you are planning a Rome household trip and likewise arriving on the weekend, needless to say many points of interest and eating places are closed on Sunday so plan accordingly.

We determined that Sunday could be 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’ll 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 might advocate taking a tour of the Colosseum and Roman Discussion board. There are loads of choices you could select relying on the ages of your children and their pursuits:

TIP: Ensure you put on comfy 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 have been capable of skip the road and undergo a shorter line for teams with guides. On our tour, we received 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 concerning the video games, the lifetime of the gladiators, and the inside workings of the Colosseum. We additionally received 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 concerning the legend of Romulus and Remus and the forming of Historical Rome.

We spent 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 gorgeous overlook and photograph level with an ideal view of the Colosseum.

After the tour, you’ll be able to 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 chill out, I booked an 8 pm dinner at Taverna dei Fori Imperiale, By way of 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. This is the reason we determined to get off the crushed path and discover one in all Rome’s most charming neighborhoods, Trastevere.

In case you are an early riser, you’ll be able to cease by the market at Campo dei Fiori and decide up pastries at Forno Campo dei Fiori, 22 within the Piazza or 5 By way of 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 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 all our favourite excursions of Rome, particularly for older youngsters. It is usually the meals tour that utterly 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 are actually within the night, you could wish to take a gelato-making or pizza-making class, or Devour Excursions’ Road Meals Tour with pizza making, trattoria tasting, and gelato. I’ve lately taken a non-public cooking class in an area’s residence 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 condominium to chill out, bathe, and alter earlier than assembly up with household associates who reside in Rome for dinner. Nevertheless, if you wish to spend a while stress-free, you’ll be able to head over to the Villa Borghese Gardens, the place you’ll be able to 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 exterior of the town middle and discover a number 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 historical 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 (By way of 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, it’s also possible to attempt Piperno or Ba Ghetto.

An alternative choice for the afternoon or night, particularly when you’ve got 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 at the present time 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 Handle subsequent door in St. Peter’s Sq.. Whereas 1000’s flock to listen to this widespread 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 Handle concludes.

Whereas this implies the museum and St. Peter’s will probably be crowded later, for those who get in in the course of the morning you may discover the museum at one in all 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 advocate reserving a personal, family-friendly tour that includes a Vatican Treasure Hunt.

Daily 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 brief on time and beelined by means of the complete 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 notice as you enter is an superior view of St. Peter’s dome. What I by no means thought of is you could’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 loads concerning the Sistine Chapel. There isn’t any speaking contained in the Sistine Chapel so we wanted to be taught the historical past earlier than moving into.

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 product of porphyry.

From there we made our manner by means of the map gallery, tapestry gallery, and different grand hallways on our manner 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 manner, 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 received fortunate in that the aspect door connecting the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica was open for the reason that Papal Handle 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 exterior. 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 have been capable of keep inside and discover on our personal so long as we favored.

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 might imply having to hitch 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.

Ideas for Visiting the Vatican Museum with Children

When you resolve to take the children to the Vatican Museum, listed here are some ideas:

• Put on comfy sneakers. Not solely it’s loads of strolling, however additionally it is loads of standing and shuffling, which you are feeling greater than hours of strolling by means of the Colosseum and Discussion board.
• Ebook tickets prematurely. When you aren’t happening a tour, you’ll be able to 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 have been there it was extraordinarily humid, making it fairly insufferable at occasions.
• Take breaks. You don’t have to see all the pieces and also you actually don’t have to see all the pieces unexpectedly. Reap the benefits of the cafe, sit within the courtyard for some time, and attempt to discover some pockets of area 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 exterior 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 Handle.) Nevertheless, whether it is open and you’re both in a bunch or can sneak by means of with one, it is going to prevent a protracted stroll again by means of the museum and round to St. Peter’s however it is going to additionally prevent from queueing up within the lengthy line exterior ready to get into St. Peter’s. However if you’re 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’ll need to cowl your knees and shoulders.
• Make sure to construct in time to discover St. Peter’s Basilica and climb the dome.
• To climb the dome, veer proper earlier than coming into the basilica.

If in case you have the vitality, it’s also possible to 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 children. Learn on for extra recommendations on visiting Rome with children.

Finest Ages to Go to Rome with Children

I discover the candy spot for worldwide journey with children is from 8-12 or so. Youthful children can actually 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’ll 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.)

Finest TIme to VIsit Rome with Children

If you end up visiting Rome with children, you’ll seemingly have to work round an ordinary faculty schedule. Needless to say summers in Rome are extremely popular and solely getting hotter. There are solely a handful of motels with swimming pools, and touring the Historical 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 colleges 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 outlets will probably be closed in cities and the seaside locations will probably be much more crowded. August fifteenth can also be a nationwide vacation the place most issues will probably be closed. See extra ideas for visiting Italy in August.

In case your youngster has an October break or half-term, that might be a great time to go to. Spring break is one other very best time. Simply needless to say in case your spring break falls together with Easter, Rome goes to be additional crowded for non secular observations and plenty of outlets and eating places will probably be closed from Good Friday by means of the times after Easter.

Christmas time could be beautiful, though chilly. There are just a few Christmas markets round Rome you could get pleasure from, together with a gorgeous one in Piazza Navona. Simply needless to say many issues will probably be closed on Christmas and St. Stephen’s Day. If visiting throughout non secular holidays, it could be higher to remain in a rental the place you’ll be able to inventory as much as put together meals earlier than outlets shut, or in full-service motels that supply on-site eating.

The place to Keep in Rome With Children

In Rome, you could find a number of boutique motels 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 by means of vrbo choice for households to present everybody additional area to unfold out and a kitchen to remove the necessity to eat out for each meal. This helps with the Italy journey price range and for everybody’s persistence for consuming at eating places.

Another motels that supply a household room or suite at an reasonably priced worth embrace:

Discover extra locations to remain in Rome:

Books to Learn Earlier than Visiting Rome with Children

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An effective way to organize children for a visit to a unique nation (or anyplace actually) is by studying about that vacation spot earlier than the journey. This helps them perceive what to anticipate, be taught just a little concerning the historical past, and have all the pieces soak in just a little deeper on the journey. Listed below are a few of our advisable books to learn earlier than a household journey to Rome:

1. That is Rome by Miroslav Sasek – this previous favourite image e-book depicts all the key points of interest in Rome and even describes a number of the historical past and symbology of Rome (like what SPQR means). Regardless that my daughter is well past image books, she nonetheless received 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.
2. 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 mother and father know. My daughter took it fairly significantly and hid the library e-book from me each time she was studying it.
3. G is for Gladiator: An Historical Rome Alphabet by Debbie Shoulders – This A-Z image e-book introduces youngsters to the historical past of Historical Rome, an important precursor to a go to to the Colosseum and Discussion board.
4. The Coliseum Con by Geronimo Stilton – if graphic novels are extra your child’s factor, they could benefit from the widespread Geronimo Stilton and his adventures in Rome.
5. Trip Below 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 collection the place Jack and Annie discover themselves in Pompeii as Vesuvius begins to erupt.
6. Magic Tree Home Truth Tracker #14: Historical Rome and Pompeii by Mary Pope Osborne – the non-fiction companion to Trip Below the Volcano, this goes deeper into the historical past of Rome and Pompeii.
7. Historical Rome (DK Eyewitness Books) by Simon James – this widespread nonfiction collection gives details in a really graphical format that’s straightforward to digest.
8. The Assassins of Rome (The Roman Mysteries) by Caroline Lawrence – if mysteries enthrall the children in your own home, take a look at the collection of The Roman Mysteries.
9. The Orchard Ebook of Roman Myths by Geraldine McCaughrean – 15 of the preferred Roman myths retold in a manner that’s interesting to younger readers.
10. Rome with Children by J.M. Pasquesi – this guidebook is for fogeys however satisfying for youths too as every part suggests issues for youths to search for and enjoyable details about Rome. It offers an inside view of all of the highlights of Rome with recommendations on the place to remain and the place to eat. Higher than a median guidebook, that is actually geared towards household journey and what issues are fascinating to children. It’s a must-read!

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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Writer of We3Travel. A former advertising government 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 also be the writer of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Trip Professionals journey podcast.

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