If you’re planning a family visit to Rome, we’ve written this blog article to help you prepare for your trip. We spent 4 full days in the beautiful Italian capital with our two children. Here’s what we took away from this trip: the best activities to do in Rome with kids or teenagers and the cafes and restaurants we liked.
How many days to visit Rome with the family?
Rome is full of incredibly rich historical sites. It’s a true open-air museum! You’ll find places of absolutely remarkable beauty everywhere in the city center, at almost every street corner. Moreover, the main attractions in Rome can take several hours to visit.
The ideal duration for a family visit to Rome is at least 5 days. That’s the necessary time to discover the city’s most mythical places, essential for a meaningful trip.
Spending a weekend in Rome is not enough. A week would be ideal if one wishes to take the time and discover the city more leisurely. We stayed for 4 days, and clearly, one day was missing. That’s why we think 5 days is the best duration to visit the must-see places of Rome with children.
What to do in Rome with the family? The 10 activities not to be missed!
The first reason we went to visit Rome with the family was, of course, the ancient ruins. But Rome is not limited to the history of the Roman Empire! There are also plenty of other places to see from different eras that are sublime.
Here’s what you can visit in Rome in 3 or 4 days with your family!
1. Visit the Colosseum of Rome and the Roman Forum
The Colosseum is THE significant monument to visit in Rome with the family. This massive Roman amphitheater is simply impressive, both outside and inside.
Visiting the inside of the Colosseum with children is worth it. Once inside, you can truly appreciate the grandeur of the monument and imagine the gladiators fighting down in the arena and the spectators cheering. Excellent!
Booking tickets in advance is essential! Entry for those under 18 is free, but you must reserve a spot and pick up the tickets at the kiosk, which means queuing up.
As it was a real hassle, we booked a guided group tour (here it is). And honestly, we have no regrets, even if it was more expensive: no waiting, excellent explanations from the guide, all good! After the Colosseum, we did the Roman Forum. The visit lasted over 2 hours, but we didn’t see the time pass.
2. Discover the Pantheon neighborhood on foot
After ancient Rome, there is also Renaissance Rome. You find it in the neighborhood of the Pantheon but also other districts of the city. This area is very touristy, but it’s beautiful! Each building, each street, each church or monument tells a story.
The Pantheon is one of the best-preserved ancient monuments in the world! It stands out from the other buildings in the area. We were lucky to visit the Pantheon in Rome for free. Now, the entrance is charged. Compared to the Colosseum, the visit for children is less impressive, so it’s not an essential place to visit in Rome with the family.
3. Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain is arguably the most touristy spot in Rome. It’s packed with people! We advise you to go there very early in the morning. Otherwise, during the day, it’s a real ordeal.
Prepare your coins and your wishes! It’s a classic activity, but it’s fun to do together.
4. Watch the cannon shot from the Janiculum Hill belvedere
We highly recommend this place! First, the Janiculum Hill belvedere offers a breathtaking panorama over the city, and second, there is the little spectacle of the cannon shot at exactly noon! A must-do in Rome with kids!
This visit allows you to discover another part of Rome, located on the other side of the Tiber. After the belvedere, we went to lunch in the Trastevere district. We added the restaurant below in this post. It was charming!
5. Stroll in the Villa Borghese park
We went to look for coolness and greenery in the Villa Borghese park, and we were not mistaken. It’s a charming and relaxing place.
The park is huge and very pleasant for a walk. You can also visit the Borghese Gallery. The interiors look amazing, but there was a queue at the ticket office. The weather was perfect, and we chose to enjoy the outdoors. We got the message: in Rome, you always have to book in advance.
6. Go down into the catacombs of Rome
Among the family activities in Rome that are out of the ordinary are the catacombs! An unusual activity to do in Rome with the family, but maybe not with the young kids (it’s still a cemetery).
From what we’ve seen, the St. Sebastian catacombs are the most beautiful. They are in the Ardeatino district, far from Rome’s tourist center.
Near the catacombs is the Appian Way in Rome, or Via Appia, a road built by the Roman legionnaires in 312 BC! The place is astonishing. You no longer feel like you’re in a big city. A place that leaves terrific memories!
7. Visiting the Vatican with Family
When in Rome, you can visit another country: the Vatican! The Vatican is known for its unique monuments and artworks. Among the most famous are St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.
Again, getting in is not straightforward. To avoid the wait (according to some accounts, it could be up to 2 hours), we chose to take a guided tour in the morning (to have lunch right after).
The Sistine Chapel is just beautiful; we couldn’t miss seeing it. Same for St. Peter’s Basilica. We found the visit to the Chapel a bit short, but otherwise, it’s perfect (here is the guided tour we did).
8. Visit the Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome
This circular-shaped castle is one of the significant historical monuments of Rome. It was built in the 2nd century. It’s incredible to stroll within such a construction almost everywhere in Rome.
The visit is entertaining, and the views of the city are magnificent. Moreover, the Castel Sant’Angelo is located on the banks of the Tiber River, not far from the Vatican and the historic heart of Rome. We recommend it!
9. Take an Immersive Journey through the History of Rome
“Welcome To Rome” is perfect if you want a different experience from other activities! It’s a museum where you can discover the history of Rome in 3D. The kids loved it (and so did we)! (see prices here)
The location is very convenient: right in the historic center of Rome, a 5-minute walk from Piazza Navona. The museum is open from 9 am to 6 pm, and the session lasts 1 hour.
10. Visit Villa D’Este
What else is there to do in Rome with the family? Visiting Villa D’Este is a must if you stay in the area for at least 4 days. If you only have a short weekend in Rome with the family, it’s not possible.
This grand villa is located in Tivoli, which you can reach by train (50 minutes) or car (40 minutes). We didn’t have enough time for this visit, and it’s a pity. The fountains and gardens seem incredible.
Where to Stay when Visiting Rome with Family? The Best Neighborhoods and Hotels!
The most central part of Rome stretches from the Vatican to the Trevi Fountain, with the Pantheon right in the heart. It’s also the most touristic part. For a weekend in Rome with the family, this is the area to prioritize to do everything on foot. You can find all the accommodations we’ve spotted in our blog article:Â Where to Stay in Rome.
The accommodations close to Termini Station are very convenient because it is the terminus for the express train that will take you to Rome’s Fiumicino airport. Here is the hotel where you can stay with the family in Rome near the station and visit the city on foot: Hotel Barberini.
Where to Eat in Rome with Kids?
We have kept the best addresses from our trip to Rome.
If you are going to Visit Rome with your family, you must try the real Italian pizzas! They are delicious; we could eat them every day. The best place for us was Pizza Florida. We went back several times because it was so good!
In addition to pizza, you should also try Italian gelato. There are Gelaterias all over the city. We had ice cream here:Â Fiocco di neve. It is right in the city center in a rather touristy spot, but the ice cream was still delicious!
In the Trastevere district, we can recommend the restaurant Ristorante Pinseria Da Massi. It is a restaurant with traditional Italian cuisine.
Trip to Rome with Family: 3 Tips
Here are some practical tips and information for a trip with children or teenagers to Rome.
- Book tickets in advance.
- Almost everything can be done on foot (Coliseum, Pantheon area, Trevi Fountain, Vatican, Castel Sant’Angelo). The Trastevere area with Janiculum Hill is a bit further but within walking distance. For the catacombs and Villa D’Este, you must take either a taxi or public transportation.
- To go from the airport to downtown Rome, you can take the Leonardo Express train to Rome’s Termini Station (close to the historic center). The shuttle buses also drop off, for the most part, at Termini Station. We preferred the train. On the way back, we took a taxi because the plane was departing very early.
So, the verdict: is visiting Rome with the family worth it? Yes, clearly, yes! This city is a treasure. There is no better place to discover the history of the Roman Empire. However, you must prepare and buy tickets in advance to enter the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel, or St. Peter’s Basilica.
