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⭐Guide to traveling to Rome with children: the best and the worst, 2 walking routes, 7 tips and the 15 best plans⭐

Travel to Rome with children

Traveling to Rome with children is one of the most special experiences to live as a family. We assure you!

First of all, we tell you that we just got back from our trip to the Eternal City and secondly, we encourage you to bring your children closer to a mythical capital, the cradle of Western civilization. Let them be impressed with monuments such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Forum... It's a journey back in time. Neither more nor less than 2.000 years of history!

The Kucavana family tells you how our incredible experience has been in the capital of Italy. In other words, Rome for children is an unbeatable plan! Enjoy our complete guide with many ideas and practical tips to prepare your trip to the city, when to go and where to sleep.

Keep reading…

Rome Fiumicino Airport

About us

We are the kucavana familyWe travel with our two children and our adopted dog, Max. We usually travel in our campervan, Kucavana, hence the name of our blog (as a baby, Anna couldn't pronounce "campervan" and said "Kucavana"). But we also enjoy traveling by bicycle, by plane, and backpacking—the point is to have adventures as a family. The one writing this is me, Pilar, the mom of the family and perhaps the craziest one. I enjoy every family learning experience and I hope to help you enjoy it as much as we do. We do it by traveling.

To be closer to you follow us on our social networks: YouTube e Social media coordinator

Traveling to Rome with children: our adventures before getting on the plane

If you are one of our followers, you already know that we always travel very happily in our motorhome. However... This time we have changed it to the plane. Big cities, as a general rule, are not made for traveling by motorhome and we prefer to travel more comfortably by plane and stay in an apartment, which is the most comfortable option for us with children.

But traveling in times of Covid, you know no matter what... Buff... So when we went we had our adventures with the paperwork, the antigen tests and the Covid passport when it came to being able to fly. In conclusion, a somewhat difficult start, but it was worth it!

This time we traveled to Rome by plane

Summary of our trip to Rome with children

We have visited Rome on a getaway from 4 days (from Thursday to Sunday) to discover the best destinations in this city.

It is the second time that some of the family have traveled to Rome, but this time we do it in winter and as a family, during the month of January.

Surely we could have stayed 7 days and we would still have a lot left to discover about Rome. If Rome has something, it is that it is the eternal and inexhaustible city of monuments, museums, fountains and history. In Rome you lift a stone and you get a monument!

We traveled on a very well priced Ryanair flight and stayed in these central apartments in Rome ideal for traveling to Rome with children with the comfort of an apartment and the services of a hotel that we would undoubtedly repeat and recommend: Borgo Pio

Traveling by plane with children, the first time for Anna

First thing: valid ID and travel insurance so that everything goes smoothly!

Make sure you bring the Valid ID of all family members and, of course, a good travel insurance! You never know when those small mishaps can turn into anecdotes to tell, the price for the whole family cost us less than 40 euros and what can be expensive in a mishap is much, much more! From experience I know that the remedy is better than the disease!

A tip: Don't travel without travel insurance. Avoid medical co-payments, have a doctor just one click away in your app, have a lawyer who specializes in what may happen to you during the trip and avoid bad times due to cancellations or incidents on your route. The travel insurance that so far convinces us most for traveling as a family is Iati Family, Coverage price is ideal for traveling both in Spain, Europe and outside of it. It covers everything on your trip, not just medical topics essentials with a doctor and pediatrician 24 hours a day through the chat of your App. I leave you here a discount that they will give you at the end of requesting the quote.

The Fontana di Trevi in ​​Rome with children

Video summary: traveling to Rome with children for the 12 best plans

In the following video that we have prepared for you, you will discover our last trip to Rome in less than 10 minutes. In it we tell you the 12 best plans to see and do with children in Rome.

Costs of traveling to Rome with children: expenses of our trip 

To give you an idea, the 4-day trip for the 4 members of the family that we are has cost us 1500 Euros with everything included. Some 425 euros per head.

El hotel and breakfast about 700 euros, the plane 250 euros (with Ryanair), the tickets to museums and visits to places of interest 150 euros, transfers from the airport to the hotel 100 euros and in hotels, supermarkets and souvenirs 300 euros. 

Plazza Nabona with the fountain of Neptune and full of restaurants and terraces

The best and the worst of traveling to Rome with children

The positive points of traveling to Rome as a family 

The best thing about this trip for us has been…

Place of the crime of Emperor Julius Caesar. Deposits of Largo Torre from Argentina
More good points...

The worst of Rome with children

For us the worst thing about this trip has been…

Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, the king who unified Italy. Also called Altare della Patria or Vittorino.

7 tips for traveling to Rome with children

1 Strollers

Do not take strollers not suitable for paved or paved streets. Carry a baby carrier or a stroller with large wheels.

2 Water

take one water bottle or reusable bottle, the water in Rome and its 2500 fountains is good. Always take it with you except when you are going to enter the grounds of St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, which do not allow them and require them.

3 Starters

Buy the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine tickets online Before you go, there are no physical ticket offices there. Remember that children here have free entry, but you still have to reserve the ticket online. If you want the guided tour in Spanish, book it in advance!

4 Transportation

The city is manageable to walk from one place to another, there are no great distances. But if you go with children who are not used to walking or are very young, a good option is to take the tourist bus and go up and down at each stop to see the main sights of Rome. you can book it here

5 Educational trip

We recommend that before visiting the city, you spend time with your children to read books and stories about ancient Rome or watch a video on Youtube that explains the Empire Romano. Then you will enjoy your visits much more. A good option, as we did, is to go to Welcom To Rome for the first time to see an audiovisual show where they explain the history of Rome quite well explained, suitable for children as well, especially from 5 years old.

6 accommodation

Stay if you can in a apartment and central. It is undoubtedly the best option with children, the most comfortable for them and for the whole family. The kitchen is an important plus on our routes with children, in the evening when they are already tired they prefer to have something to eat in the apartment and that way we can also rest from the hustle and bustle. We can recommend the apartments We were also like a hotel because they clean the room every day and they give you breakfast. We loved them and they were very close to everything. We explain it to you at the end of this post.

7 Transfers

If you go with just enough time to see the city and you don't want to waste time in the journey from the airport to the city, We advise you to take a taxi or even better a private driver that is cheaper and you agree beforehand. We left delighted, 40 minutes to go and 40 to return, without waiting and very comfortable with children. There's Uber and this company of civitatis which was cheaper than the Uber.

Views of the Colosseum and the Forum from the Palatine lookout in Rome

Our map of visits and places of interest in Rome with children

After this summary, let's get to the good stuff! Discover What to do in Rome with children and what to see in Rome with children. In conclusion, let's go for the fun!

First of all, I leave you with a map of the main points of interest in Rome with children that we prepared before going and that will surely be good for you.

2 Proposed routes through Rome with children on foot

We leave you here two routes that we took to see the main places of interest in the city on a map that you just have to navigate and walk for a while.

They are routes made on foot from 8 in the morning to 18-19 p.m. 10 kilometres This is how close we walked on each of these routes. They are made with our 6 and 9 year old children used to walking.

Route Day 1: The Imperial Rome of antiquity

The first route that we did and that we propose to you is the route that for us was the most essential part of our trip to Rome as a family. We did the route very well walking most of it, although we used the tourist bus both on the way out and on the way back to go to our accommodation and at some point when the kids were tired we also used it. Getting on the bus helped us rest for a while and move from one point to another and while taking a walk along the road seeing other things with the audio guide in Spanish that we really liked.

Route Description through Rome with children 1

Here goes our roadmap with all the visits we made in chronological order as we did and without going around, but everything on the way in the most rational way possible, just as we planned before going:

  1. Welcome to Rome, audiovisual show to understand the entire history of Rome before visiting it.
  2. Largo di Torre Argentina, archaeological sites in a plaza. Place where Emperor Julius Caesar was assassinated.
  3. Coliseum, the largest Roman amphitheater still standing in the world.
  4. palatine, archaeological remains of the emperor's house.
  5. Forum, archaeological remains of the ancient city center of the Roman Empire.
  6. Circus Maximus, where horse chariot races were formerly held.
  7. Bocca della Verità , a monument in a church where if you tell a lie with your hand in the lion's mouth he will rip your hand off.
  8. Marcelo Theater. Archaeological remains of this ancient Roman theater. Before reaching it along the same street from Bocca de la Verità you will also see various beautiful Roman temples.
  9. wander through the old streets of the center, going through the Fountain of the Turtles, one of the favorites of the Romans.
  10. We end up in the St Angello Castle. The mausoleum of Emperor Augustus, which was later built on top of by a fortress for the Pope. There is a secret hallway that goes to the Vatican.

Map of the route through Rome with family 1

If you enter this map that I made, you will be able to navigate on your GPS and go from one point to another with Google Maps easily and thus follow the route. I hope it is useful to you, as much as it was to us!

Route Day 2: La Dolce Vita and the essential Rome with children

For our second day in Rome we did this second route on foot mostly with our little ones. The other route that we consider most essential if you visit Rome.

On the third and fourth day of our route we visited the Vatican and other points further away from the city among them, which we tell you below but which in our experience are not so essential. To visit the Vatican I recommend relaxing with the kids, it is a huge, beautiful museum that they will like too, but the visit lasts almost the entire day so you have to reserve a day to see the Vaticano and go with the ticket purchased in advance to avoid waiting in line for 1 hour.

Description of the route to visit Rome with children on our second day

Here goes our roadmap with all the visits we made in chronological order as we did and without going around, but everything on the way in the most rational way possible, just as we planned before going:

  1. Plaza España and the beautiful staircase of the Trinità del Monti, where you can take a free tour.
  2. Street famous for its art and movie shops with a shop, Via Margutta. It has a very curious store, the Marmolario, a curious old store where they make ancient inscriptions on stone, as before.
  3.  Popolo Square, with artists and with the Museum displays Leonardo da Vinci recommended to discover the work of this artist and where children can play with all his inventions.
  4. Via del Corso, one of the main central commercial routes with shops and the Column of Marcus Aurelius with his little drawings about his victories and battles.
  5. Trevi Fountain, where you throw a coin to return, two to find love and three to get married. You can also discover its hidden treasures on a tour of its underground.
  6. The old store Pinocchio wooden toys.
  7. El Hadrian's temple.
  8. El Pantheon impressively pretty.
  9. Venice Square, where we will see the impressive monument of King Victor Emmanuel and to the left the Trajan's Column and Trajan's Forum.

Map of the route Rome with family on the second day

If you enter this map that I made, you will be able to navigate on your GPS and go from one point to another with Google Maps easily and thus follow the route. I hope it is useful to you, as much as it was to us!

Rome with children: what to see and do for the 15 essential plans

Looking at the Imperial Forum in Rome from above the Palatine

1 | Relive the history of the Roman Empire at the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine

If a emblematic monument to visit in Rome with children during your vacation that is the Coliseum. Located in the old center, it hosted the famous gladiatorial combats, against beasts, the Roman games. When you're inside, it's easy and a lot of fun to imagine almost 50.000 spectators in the largest stone amphitheater of Roman civilization. The most important thing is to dream!

The entrance for the children under 18 years old is free. For adults without a guided tour, on your own, it is about 20 euros. In addition to the Colosseum, it includes a visit to the Forum and a visit to the Palatine (the house where the Roman emperors lived), but I do not recommend doing it on your own without a guided tour, you will miss a lot of the history, legends and curiosities of the place.

Another thing you should know is that you must buy tickets online before going, there are no physical ticket offices there

THE ADVICE FOR TRAVELING TO ROME WITH CHILDREN AT THIS POINT

You can buy Colosseum, Forum and Palatine tickets with guided tour included here the best price. And if you want a super offer on tickets to the Vatican, Colosseum, Forum and Palatine I recommend you take the pack of Rome in full with guided tours and tickets to everything the essentials at the best price.

2 | A wonderful experience for the whole family at the da Vinci Museum where touching is allowed! 

Located in the heart of Rome, a five-minute walk from Piazza di Spagna and Villa Borghese, the Museum shows Leonardo da Vinci it is located near the basement of the basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo, in the famous and central Piazza del Popolo.

The museum is not very big, but it takes you into the main inventions and the main works of art of the artist. Our children loved it because they could touch the different inventions, and we already know that they love it hahaha

Discover the interactive machines made by Italian artisans based on Leonardo's manuscript codes, studies of his most famous Renaissance works and also sketches of the human anatomy, in-depth videos on The Last Supper and an immersive multimedia room that takes you on a journey through life and the mind of Leonardo da Vinci.

THE ADVICE FOR TRAVELING TO ROME WITH CHILDREN AT THIS POINT
In Piazza del Popolo, in front of the Leonardo da Vinci museumThere are usually musicians and artists. A piece of advice, sit for a while at the foot of the authentic Egyptian obelisk there, observe its inscriptions and listen to the music that plays while you rest for a while.

Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Rome with children

3 | Welcome to Rome: the show that will introduce you to Rome and its history

welcome to rome is a surprising audiovisual that you should not leave out of your Rome plan for children from 5 or 6 years old. Here you can live a unique experience: immerse yourself in the 2700 years of history of the Eternal City.

We say from 6 years old, because our daughter Anna at this age followed all the audiovisual and liked it, but we consider that for younger children it may be too much for them.

Through an exciting “time machine” you take an extraordinary journey and see Rome transform from a small town to the big city we all know today. You will come across, therefore,a vibrant experience that will later help you better understand your visit to Rome!

THE ADVICE FOR TRAVELING TO ROME WITH CHILDREN AT WELCOME TO ROME
We advise you to buy tickets online beforehand so you don't have to wait in line or run out and go to Welcome to Rome before making the rest of the visits to the city. It will help young and old alike to see the city with a different perspective. And remember, it is better not to go with children under 6 years old, they may get a little bored.

4 | The Castle of Sant Angelo awaits you among secrets

It is almost impossible to leave the city of Rome without even having a photo of the famous Castel Sant'Angelo. This monument is connected to the city center by a very beautiful bridge and by a secret corridor to the famous Vatican. The latter fascinates children!

A curiosity? In the past it was created originally as a mausoleum where Emperor Augustus was buried and then it was used as prison by the Italian state. This is an example of the rich Roman past.

Sant'Angelo Castle

ANOTHER CURIOSITY ABOUT THIS CASTLE ON OUR ROUTE THROUGH ROME WITH CHILDREN
In it is a secret corridor to the Vatican, where the Popes escaped in case of need.

5 | The Pantheon, perfect family visit

During your stay in Rome with children, don't forget to visit the great dome of the Roman Pantheon, with its 43m diameter. Is awesome!. The building is illuminated by the light that filters through the only opening to the sky, in the center of the dome, the oculus. Water entered through the oculus when it rained, but the Romans built a system to channel the water through drains. Look at the floor: it's curved! 

It is the best preserved ancient monument in Rome with its Corinthian colonnades. At first it was a Roman temple, but later it was converted into a Catholic church.

There, you can see kings and some famous artists buried. An example: the famous painter and artist Raphael.

THE CURIOSITY ABOUT THE PANTHEON ON OUR ROUTE TO TRAVEL TO ROME WITH CHILDREN
Through its central hole, the oculus, light enters and water enters. But don't worry, the ground is curved and carried the water to some pipes, look carefully.
In the oculus also once a year it rains rose petals. The Roman firefighters go up on Pentecost Sunday and launch them.

It is a perfect visit in your Rome plan for children. Therefore, they have an opportunity to discover the technical and artistic mastery of the ancient Romans. 

One thing you can explain to them here is that there are types of Roman columns: Ionic, Doric and Corinthian. The ones you will see here are Corinthian with the capital full of leaves.

It's our favorite monument in Rome, and on top of that it's free!

Rome with children or as a couple, it doesn't matter, it's always a good plan

6 | Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain and flip your coin

What can we tell you about the Trevi Fountain that you don't know? A very famous and very cinematographic monument, it is the most famous fountain dedicated to the god Ocean, and not to Neptune as some mistakenly say (the latter has a trident), and the largest in Rome. 

Baroque in style, it is also a true masterpiece. According to tradition, the first thing to do the visitor is to throw coins into the water backwards to make his wish come true and secure a return to Rome.

1 Coin to return to Rome

2 Coins to get love

3 Coins to get married

This thing of choosing what they want children love. The difficult thing is after the poor hit the shot from behind hehehe

THE ADVICE FOR TRAVELING TO ROME WITH CHILDREN
Choose your wish first and then throw the coins that match the wish you want (see above) with your back to the Trevi Fountain! Very funny!

Of course, it doesn't surprise me that an average of 3000 euros are collected here every day, hehehe Although they go to the city's social services, it's something.

Finally, tell you that near the Trevi Fountain you will find the Pinocchio wooden toy store, a slightly more expensive but very nice souvenir. The store is called Bartolucci.

Fontana di Trevi after throwing your coins

7 | Climb the most beautiful staircase in the world in Plaza España

Always full of people is this square, whose main attraction is the beautiful view from the top of the 138 steps staircase!. Without a doubt, it is one of the busiest places in Rome. Its monumental structure is a meeting place for Romans and tourists and has been the setting for countless films.

Spanish Steps and the spectacular steps of Trinitat di Monti in Rome with children

Here, especially on the weekend, you will find painters who will make a caricature of you, singers, artists and many bride and groom taking pictures for their wedding.

Nearby, you come across one of the best areas of Rome: Via dei Condotti, a famous street for shopping and with some quite luxury shops.

THE ADVICE FOR TRAVELING TO ROME WITH CHILDREN IN THIS PLAN
From Plaza España we recommend you go to Via Margutta. Street famous for its art shops and for some movie scenes. It has a very curious shop, the Marmolario. An old shop where they make old stone inscriptions, like before. A nice and original souvenir in a beautiful shop.

The curious store of Roman stone inscriptions. the marble

8 | The Vatican: the smallest country in the world

Without a doubt, one of the essential places when traveling to Rome with children. Discover the Vatican as a family with the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the largest and most prestigious church in Christendom.  

It is in the Vatican Museums where you visit the famous Sistine Chapel with the illustrious frescoes by Michelangelo, Botticelli... for children to read like a comic.

Rome for children

THE ADVICE FOR TRAVELING TO ROME WITH CHILDREN IN THE VATICAN
Do not bring thermos, canteens or reusable metal water bottles in the Vatican, in security they keep them!

If children and teenagers are not tired, they can also discover the largest collection of Roman art in museums and one of the best collections of ancient sculptures in the world, including the Belvedere Apollo and the amazing group Laocoön with his son.

Vatican: the smallest country in the world

9 | Guided tour on the tourist bus Big Bus Tours

In case you are wondering what to do in Rome with children and what to see in Rome with children, there is a perfect way to enjoy freedom. Sightseeing at your own pace, for example by taking the tourist bus Big Bus Tours. Families can get off to take the ideal photo or stay to explore the most emblematic places for hours. In total, you can enjoy eight stops.

The truth is that for a day we used it and we did the whole tour and we saw things that otherwise we would not have been able to see.

THE ADVICE FOR TRAVELING TO ROME WITH CHILDREN WITH THE TOURIST BUS
The Big Bus Tours has a family rate that is better value and lasts 24 hours from the start. In addition, with the Big Bus Tours you can also take the Sightseeng buses, every 15-20 minutes maximum a bus passes at each stop.

Furthermore, the audio guide in spanish Our children followed it very well and when you got off you also had an app with walking routes around the stop with an audio guide for each site you passed. Great plan to not waste time and not miss anything in this beautiful city, facilitating the distances with the children.

Visiting Rome comfortably from the tourist bus while listening to the audio guide in Spanish

10 | Eat pasta and pizza… like a Roman

There are three things that make Rome my favorite city: the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and Carbonara pasta. Lose yourself in the Trastevere neighborhood and visit authentic, signature osterias, taverns and trattorias, through which several generations of local cooks have passed, serving hearty dishes with classic Roman recipes. Look for the authentic and above all have fun eating!

THE GASTRONOMIC ADVICE FOR TRAVELING TO ROME WITH CHILDREN
In many restaurants they have a menu of the day at noon on weekdays, they may not put it on the signs at the entrance, but ask because for 10 euros we have been able to eat a starter, dish and drink, so eating well and cheaply can also be possible in Rome.
We leave you the place where we ate that menu and where their pizza calzone and pasta was very delicious: All 'Orsetto, a restaurant in front of Plazza de Popolo, not suitable for finolis, but one of those with homemade food and with everything from Roman people.

Of course, be careful with your pocket, in Rome going to a restaurant is a little more expensive than in Spain. Above all, where the big difference is in the drinks (a beer 8 euros or a coke 6 euros) and sometimes they charge you for the "cutlery" as surprise extras at the end of the bill.

Tiramisu, the dessert not to be missed in Rome

11 | Villa Borghese Park: nature, animals and art

If you have enough time in Rome, you are traveling with children or, above all, you are looking for a bit of relaxation, the Villa Borghese is a mandatory stop on your itinerary. It is one of the largest urban parks in the city and offers several points of interest: Borghese Gallery, Rome Zoo and Water Clock. 

A good plan is to go to the small lake in the Park and rent a boat while you watch the ducks and turtles.

12 | The mouth of truth

And of course, when traveling to Rome with children they must slip their hand into the mouth of Truth under the portico of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. According to tradition, the mouth of truth swallows the hand of those who lie. In conclusion, something very funny!

In addition, near there you can see the Roman Circus Massimo and in front, on the same street, you can see different ancient Roman temples and the Roman Theater Marcelo. Without a doubt, highly recommended and educational sites for our children.

Bocca de la Verità, mask that will tell you if you are sincere and faithful

13 | Explora Museum or Children's Museum

Do you want to have fun?

Explore It is a museum for the youngest visitors, where they are taught history and science in a didactic way. The place is interactive, so the little ones can use different materials and tools. Explora's motto is "Learn by doing" and this museum is something that especially children enjoy a lot.

We could not visit it this time, but the truth is that it looks very good. For the next.

Explore Museum. PHOTO: www.mdbr.it

14 | The famous Gianicolo canyon

The Gianicolo, considered the eighth hill in Rome, is one of the least known areas of the city, and yet it is home to one of the best viewpoints in Rome. The photos will be spectacular!

In this place, at twelve noon, blank bullets are fired every day. This tradition was imposed by Pope Pius IX to coordinate the chimes of all the churches in the city. It is a fun activity that especially interests the little ones if you are in the area.

THE TRAVEL TIP
At 12 noon you go to see how the Gianocolo cannon is fired.

15 | Pulcinella Theater

The Pulcinella theater is one of the most famous puppet shows in the Eternal City and one of the favorite amusements of children. It is ideal if you visit the Gianicolo in the afternoon and want to find an activity in Rome with children. You will find it in Passeggiata del Gi.

Pulcinella's theatre. PHOTO: https://commons.wikimedia.org/

Hotel in Rome with children: how to find the perfect accommodation for your family?

After much searching, we were lucky enough to discover the Residence Trianon Borgo Pio. Actually, there are 45 apartments with hotel services, such as daily cleaning of the apartment, which has allowed us to feel like we were at home or in our own motorhome. A luxury of a mini house for this getaway and at a good price for everything it offered.

With modern design and fully equipped, these apartments are ideal if you want to enjoy the heart of Rome in an independent way. Its location is privileged, between the Vatican City and Castel Sant'Angelo. 30 minute walk to the furthest attraction.

If you ask our daughter Anna what she liked most about the trip to Rome, she will tell you the apartment lol Imagine!

The truth is that with children an apartment gives you much more comfort for dinners and moments of rest, also with Covid we found an apartment safer than a hotel.

Something in favor of the apartment we stayed in is the dishwasher and microwave among many appliances that it had. And finally, highlight the buffet breakfast that they have on the roof that, apart from having delicious cakes, you have breakfast with unbeatable views of the Vatican and the Castle of St Angello.

Terrace of our Trianon Borgo Pio apartments in Rome with children

What did you think of our trip to Rome with children?

 Thinking of a similar experience? Tell us your doubts in comments or explain us your travel plan to Rome. We read you!

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