Planning your Visit of Rome for Kids

Is Rome for kids?

Absolutely! Find out the best way to visit Rome with kids, whether toddlers or teenagers, and find out all the cool things to see and do. And most important of all, find out what's free and discounted!

Rome For Kids - The Best Way to Visit

In nearly 20 years of helping visitors plan their stay in Rome - from our B&B guests to friends and family - I have had the pleasure to experience Rome with kids of nearly every age and interest-level. They are, of course, all different.

But I almost always hear the same questions about travlling to Rome with children, so on this page, I'll answer:

• Is it ok to eat out with kids in Rome restaurants?
• What are some of the best activities in Rome for kids?
• Can children ride the Metro/Bus for free in Rome?
• What discounts do kids get at Rome sites and museums?
• Should you get the Roma Pass for a child?
• What's the best area to stay in Rome with children?
  
• What are some child-friendly hotels in Rome?
• Where can you take your kids to a pool in Rome?

Is it ok to eat out with kids in Rome restaurants?

Rome restaurants with kids

I'm not sure why but this is one of the most popular questions I hear about Rome for kids.

I suppose it's because people are not sure what to expect in Rome restaurants, and how much children are tolerated by Italian diners. I have two words:

Rest easy.

In general, Italians tend to love children.

They dote on them and give them lots of leeway to be kids. Children of all ages are welcome in most restaurants in Rome and other parts of Italy.

Depending on the age of your child, you can ask for a high-chair (seggiolino in Italian) if you need to.

Eating Out in Rome - Children's Menus

Sometimes you will see a "Children's menu", but most often, you won't. Many Italian children just eat what grownups eat, Roman cuisine.

If you are looking for simpler fare, check on the menu for the Contorni (side-dishes) section. You'll find veggies and usually roasted potatoes. 

Most places will be happy to make you a simple spaghetti with plain tomato sauce (or if your child eats cheese, try the traditional Roman pasta dish cacio e pepe, which is just cheese and black pepper - a delicacy!)

Street Food in Rome

Besides enjoying a sit-down meal in a Roman trattoria, you may also want to enjoy some typical street-food. This includes pizza by the slice, supplì (rice-balls), gelato, and lots of other delicacies.

One excellent way to have fun with kids in Rome is to go on a street-food tour with them. You will all enjoy it, and get to know something about Roman culinary traditions to boot!

What are some of the best activities in Rome for kids?

There is something to do in Rome for kids of all ages. Obviously, it depends on whether you are visiting Rome with toddlers, pre-teens, or teenagers.

When my sister and I were little, aged 3 and 5, my parents drove around Europe in a VW van (sorry I don't have pix, this was pre-instagram).

And they said, we are only going to visit zoos and parks. They did not take us to any museums or archeological sites. They said we loved it, and they did too.

You can do this in Rome. We have a huge amount of green space, and lots of large, beautiful parks all over the city. We also have a zoo (which I've never visited). So if you are in Rome with small children, and want to follow in my parents' footsteps, you can.

On the other hand, of course you can, and should, visit all the Rome must-sees with kids.

Depending on their ages, and also their interests, here are my recommendations for how to visit Rome's top sites with kids.

Visiting the Colosseum with Kids

By all means, you can bring your kids to the Colosseum. After visiting this amazing monument over the years with my niece and nephew, visiting friends and family, with kids of all ages, here are my tips:

• The Colosseum is not a great place to bring a stroller. If you use a stroller and need it for visiting other stuff later, I recommend bringing a lightweight, fold-up one that you can easily carry.
• Consider limiting your visit to just the Colosseum. Your ticket includes a visit the the Roman Forum/Palatine Hill. And while I am a huge fan of these sites, in my experience, children under, say 16 or so, get tired/lose focus once they've done the Colosseum. The Colosseum itself doesn't take much more than an hour, but there is getting there, standing in the security line, and then touring the monument itself. It's fantastic, but after that, usually kids seem to want to do something else. Like eat. 
• Obviously, you all should be wearing the most comfortable shoes and clothing you can. I strongly urge you and your kids not to walk around Rome in flimsy flip-flops.
• Since now you must book a date and time for the Colosseum, I recommend going first thing in the day and getting this "out of the way." This way, you can use the rest of the day for other activities, or for just toodling around.
• Bring a water bottle. You can fill up around Rome, and also inside the Colosseum.
• Because the best part of visiting the Colosseum is hearing the history and the stories, I really recommend you visit with a knowledgable and fun tour guide.

See an Old-fashioned Puppet Show

Where:

Hours:

Cost: Free

Watch a cannon go off

Where: Piazza Garibaldi, Gianicolo Hill

Hours: Every day at noon sharp

Cost: Free

Go Cycling in the park

Where:

Hours:

Cost:

Explora Museum

Can children ride the Metro/Bus for free in Rome?

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What discounts do kids get at Rome sites and museums?

The Vatican

The Colosseum

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Should you get the Roma Pass for a child?

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What's the best area to stay in Rome with children?

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What are some child-friendly hotels in Rome?

One great piece of advice I read from NYT journalist Danielle Pergament is this: if you are travelling with small children, book a hotel near a park or playground. This will help on arrival day with jet-lag, but also during your stay, as you will have an easy way to entertain your baby or toddler, and tire them out so they'll sleep well.

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Where can you take your kids to a pool in Rome?

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