Rome with kids

[Laanet]

Does anyone have tips (particularly on things to do and places to eat) in Rome? We'll be there in the summer for a long weekend with two kids (4 and nearly 8). We'd like to visit the Colosseum and Vatican City but no particular ideas apart from that. Thanks in advance :)

The trastevere area near the Vatican is lovely in the evenings. Loads of open-air restaurants, very family friendly with entertainers performing in the piazza.

There are a lot of nice places to get food and look at things by the river too.

Bear in mind it will be really hot, very busy and the traffic is utterly crazy but it is an amazing city.

Thanks! That sounds great!

I definitely recommend the Welcome To Rome Experience.
We spent quite a while in the Borghese Gardens. There’s loads to do - a zoo, carousel, rowing boats, puppet shows, a little train and playgrounds (the best one is near the Porta Pinciana entrance). You can also rent bikes, small karts, quad bikes and segways in several locations. We found good options on Viale dei Bambini (close to the Pincio terrace) and near the entrance of Porta Pinciana.
My dc also enjoyed the Explora Museum.

This was my fabulous trip with my son in February (just remember it's INSANELY hot in Rome in Summer so go really slow and use the water fountains to fill up bottles)

affordacool.wordpress.com/2023/02/15/rome/

Rick Steves app has a fun kid friendly guide to the Colosseum - I read that out to my DC rather than use a booked guide, as it was more flexible.

Book Colosseum as far in advance as you can (2 months I think) through official Coop Culture website. Try to get tickets with Arena included as that’s the bit where the gladiators actually stood, plus you can see down into the vaults below.

If it’s boiling, don’t bother with the Roman Forum/Capitol Hill. There is no shade. We visited in 34 degree heat and kids were not impressed.

Pantheon is a must. Trevi fountain too - although it’s packed with Instagrammers.

There’s a fun old fashioned toy shop at the north end of Piazza Navona. Campo dei Fiori is quite touristy but there are some stallholders who put on a bit of a “show” selling their stuff - our DC really enjoyed.

Gelato - don’t worry about going to places with top reviews/long queues. It’s all good!

If it’s not too hot you can walk or bike ride down the Appian Way south of the Colosseum.

Again, if it’s hot, make sure wherever you choose to eat has air con, before you settle in! Or if eating outside, that your table is in the shade. Also prepare to use taxis more than you might have planned, better than a long walk in the sun.

Really good tips - thanks so much everyone! Definitely will need to be realistic bearing in mind the heat...

It's stupidly hot, and I cope well with heat but that was enough to put me off for life. Frozen water bottles essential

We went in august a few years ago with kids and did lots of the things listed above, but I would also recommend the catacombs. We had to take a bus to get out to them, but it was a really interesting tour around them and was beautifully cool down there, we all enjoyed it.

We went in august last year and it wasn't hot, about mid twenties so perfect for sightseeing. Villa borghese has four person bike hire. It's a nice park though a bit scrubby.

Lots of lovely ice cream places (though pricy if you go somewhere like the Spanish steps). We also rented e scooters from the app and whizzed around though if you have young kids I'd avoid that as the traffic was quite scary.

Go up to the statue of Garibaldi the views of Rome from there are amazing and there's shade along the way.

If you can get an evening slot for the Vatican there will be a lot less people.

Excellent - beginning to get a good list of ideas - thanks all!

We used these guys for a Vatican museums tour when my kids were little - it was fabulous, they totally tailor made the tour based on the kids interests and they all still talk about it to this day! Plus you skip the lines which is always good. We’re taking the kids (now teens) back this July and have booked them again for the Vatican plus Colosseum as they were so good!

https://www.joyofrome.com/en/joy-of-rome-joyful-tours-and-walks-in-rome/

There is a Magnum (ice cream) shop near the Spanish Steps. You can create your own magnum with customised toppings.
Fun and delicious!

The trastevere area near the Vatican is lovely in the evenings. Loads of open-air restaurants, very family friendly with entertainers performing in the piazza.

second this, I stayed in this area, and got bus to get around

there are water fountains to refil bottles

its hot, take sun screen

book Vatican and colessium now, to ensure you get tickets

dont stay long at these places

take a light coloured umbrella for shade, but also so children can see you if you get separated for a few moments

put your handbag on your lap when seated eating or drinking

i preferred Spanish steps to the fountain as less people

if it’s hot have a siesta and go out earlier in the day when it’s cooler, stop up later at night

Placemaking

When I went i got up at 6am to go to the trevi fountain . Rome is wonderful to walk around at that time as there are virtually no tourist's around and it's fascinating watching the city coming to life.

A magnum ice cream in rome, which has the world’s best gelaterias is a criminal waste of calories. Go to Della Palma by the pantheon and choose from 15 or so home made chocolate ice creams instead.
as for restaurants - it’s pretty hard to eat badly in rome unless you’re going for magnums and Mc Donald’s. The campo fiord and neighbouring pizza Farnese have a wide choice in a fun atmosphere and it’s an excellent location for an evening stroll to see the fountains