AIBU to ask you to plan my itinerary for Rome

[SardineJam]

....please!? Me, DP, DS1 (aged 8) and DS2 (aged 5) will be going to Rome end of August. We arrive around 5pm on the Friday and leave around 8pm on the Monday (3 nights and 3 days). Help inspire me please.

Watching with interest!

I disagree about the sites being of little interest to DC
we took ours when they were 3 and 7, and they definitely enjoyed climbing the cupola at St Peter's, the Coloseum, and Ostia Antica. For the coloseum, get your tickets at either the Forum or Palatine Hill where the queues are much, much shorter. It's a 3 in one ticket, and you can then just stroll into the coliseum past the queues.

if it really is too hot, then get a train to the coast
you can be in Lido di Ostia (same line as Ostia Antica) in about 50mins IIRC.

re guidebooks - we had the Eyewitness Travel Family Guide Rome. It's worth getting. There are lots of facts and things for DC to look out for, plus it lists good, cheap restaurants and parks near all the main sights.

Ostia antica looks fascinating!

We went in August and we all loved it!
Top tip- book an underground tour of the Colosseum before you go, there a TripAdvisor thread about it. We did this and there was no queing and we got to go all over where the public weren't allowed.

To get around while it is hot, take the Metro. Its cheap, there are only two lines ( red and blue) and all the major sights are on a metro stop. You need to change at Termini to change lines for the Colloseum. If you buy a 3 day ticket, this gets you on buses and the metro anywhere in Rome.
Rome is easy enough to walk around in but small kids and heat, you might want to consider.I hear stories about bag snatchers and pickpockets on the Metro. Never had an issue, just be sensible. Its no worse than any other major city.
I second a tour bus. Gives you a feel for the city.
Enjoy, I love Rome.

And try and pre book your tickets. We went in April and queues for St Peters were horrendous.If you are quite fit, it is worth climbing right to top of dome in St Peters. The view is stunning!

We went for a week with our son in August when he was 8. People thought we were barking mad but he said it was the best holiday ever. He loved, loved, loved the Colosseum, especially the gruesome stories. I think we went three times (ouch - expensive). There are workers dressed up as gladiators etc and it was very child friendly.

The forum was also a hit and the chariot racing stadium (sorry can't remember the name). The baths didn't go down quite as well but ok.

Other stuff: Catacombs, the place with all the bones, trevi fountains, pizza, ice cream. If you need to get out of the city there's a seaside resort about half an hour away on the train.

Most days we started late, went straight for a long lunch (pizza and ice cream) and didn't really get going till late afternoon when it was less hot. (Or you could start early but we never managed it.) Drink loads - there are drinking water fountains everywhere that are brilliant.The evenings were really pleasant and there's a big square in the centre (sorry name escapes me again) with lots of street entertainers to keep kids amused.

Be aware that the street hawkers who approach you selling crap souvenirs will target your children. They will seem very friendly and may try to give your children items, including tying cord bracelets on their wrists. Apparently they start off saying it is free and then try and get you to pay for the item when it can't easily be removed. Just keep saying no and move away.

The Castel St'Angelo (also known as Hadrian's tower) is fabulous and very central. You enter up a long spiral passageway that is wide enough for horses to go up. The kids can easily imagine being soldiers here. Great views from the top.

We took ours when they were 8 and 9 and had a fan time though we went October half term. We did Ostia Antica for a day, definitely worth it. We also hired a family guide for about 3 hours around the colosseum and forum who was fabulous, really engaged the kids.

If you Google Rome with kids there are loads of suggested itineraries. I found a couple of Guardian articles really interesting.

There's an option to do a Gladiator School for a few hours and a small museum with Leonardo da Vinci models which sounds interesting.

We're going in April but with older DC (teens) so sadly the gladiators are out. I'm planning on a Coliseum and Forum day; an Ostia Antica day and a St Peters/Vatican day. Try to see stuff early then spend the afternoons/evenings wandering and eating!