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What to do with kids in Roma

Rome works with children if you choose a few things and alternate. Ruins win them over when there is a story to tell — gladiators, emperors, a stone mouth that bites liars — and between stops you need a lawn, a fountain or a gelato. The centre is walkable, but distances are longer than they look on the map.

Below are the places children actually enjoy, and further down every family-friendly place, sorted by where you are. For a ready-made day, the planner keeps a slower pace and puts the breaks in the right places.

Where to take the children

  1. Colosseo

    The gladiators' arena is the stop children remember. Tell them about the wild animals, the fights and the tunnels they rose from, then walk out to the Roman Forum next door.

  2. Bocca della Verità

    Legend says it bites the hand of anyone who lies, and every child wants to try. It stands in the portico of a medieval church, the queue moves fast and the visit takes a few minutes.

  3. Castel Sant'Angelo

    A real castle on the Tiber, with spiral ramps, cannons, cells and a terrace at the top under a bronze angel. The climb is a small adventure and the view rewards everyone.

  4. Villa Borghese

    The park for letting off steam: lawns, the lake with rowing boats, the Bioparco zoo and bikes or rickshaws for hire. Half a day here balances a morning of monuments.

  5. Fontana di Trevi

    The ritual of tossing a coin over your shoulder works at every age. Go early in the morning or late in the evening, when the crowds thin and children can reach the edge.

  6. Terrazza del Gianicolo

    From the Janiculum you can see the whole of Rome, and at noon the cannon fires a blank shot. Along the avenue there is a merry-go-round and a puppet theatre, when it is open.

  7. Giolitti

    The reward at the end of the walk, a short way from the Pantheon. Dozens of flavours with cream on top: in Rome gelato is eaten in every season, and this is one of the oldest shops.

A slower pace, short walks between stops and a break to eat: the walk fits the little ones.

Plan a walk with children

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Every family-friendly place

Frequently asked questions

Is Rome good for children?

Yes, if you do not try to see everything. Pick two or three stops a day, alternate ruins and parks, and take a long lunch break. In summer avoid the middle of the day: the Forum and the Colosseum have little shade.

How much walking is a day with children?

In the planner, choose the "Relaxed" pace and the "With children" interest: stops get shorter, breaks more frequent, and walks between them stay short. Every leg shows its minutes and metres.

What if it rains?

Castel Sant'Angelo, the Capitoline Museums and the Vatican Museums are indoors. There are more ideas on the page about what to do in Rome when it rains.

Where do you eat with children?

Pizza by the slice and supplì are the easiest: eaten standing up, and loved by nearly everyone. The planner puts a lunch break at a street-food stop or a trattoria in every day out.

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