Travel with Kids

Traveling In Rome: 28 Of My Best Tips

Traveling In Rome: 28 Of My Best Tips

Rome! What an iconic city. We were SO excited to reach Italy during our six months in Europe. We loved watching our kids discover new things, finding places to eat and making memories together. Here are 28 activities, foods and tips that stood out during our time there.

Originally published February 2020. This is a look back at our family’s time in Rome.

Last updated: October 31, 2026. I refreshed practical details about tickets, transport, food and hotels.

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Activities with Kids

Our family loved the mix of history, beautiful streets and chances for the kids to play and move around. These became some of our favorite Rome activities.

1. Children’s Museum (Explora)

We had fun at Rome’s children’s museum, especially watching the kids make dinner in the play kitchen. I also liked meeting a few parents who spoke a little English. The ticket setup frustrated me then: sessions were 1.5 hours and I bought two for our family. Explora now lists 1 hour 45 minute timed visits, so check the current schedule and tickets before choosing a time.

2. Gardens at Villa Borghese

I’m embarrassed that I missed these gardens. When Chris’s parents babysat during our romantic anniversary trip, they took the kids almost every day. They found a little cafe where one waiter learned the kids’ names. The children rode ponies, watched performers and played their hearts out.

3. Villa Doria Pamphili

Villa Doria Pamphili is another huge park tucked into the city. Playgrounds can be a welcome break from touring; check current access and facilities before you go.

4. The Vatican

We didn’t take our kids to the Vatican. I had a horrible stomach flu during our first week in Rome and wasn’t up for managing five kids in such a large museum. The map hall was my favorite, and I wished I had more time to admire everything. For tickets, use the Vatican Museums’ official visitor page, which points to its official online ticket portal and warns about lookalike reseller sites.

We also have a Vatican family video on YouTube.

5. The Colosseum

The Colosseum was my favorite thing to do in Rome. We booked the platform-floor tour and missed it when traffic threw off our timing. We were so bummed, then found another tour company that could take us in half an hour. That guide was amazing: she showed the kids pictures of what the Colosseum used to look like and put up with a zillion questions. We rescheduled our first tour and went twice. We bought amazing books in the Colosseum bookstore and found great souvenirs. The official Colosseum ticket page lists reserved time slots for entry, so check current tickets and meeting details before you go.

We watched videos before our visit, and the kids got into the gladiators, the Roman Empire and the craziness and opulence of Rome. History came to life for our family. We also have a Colosseum family video on YouTube.

6. Street performers

Believe it or not, walking around the city was entertainment for us. We saw musicians, sand sculptures, chalk drawings, magicians and more. One time a group approached us with a spokesperson; I ignored them and kept walking. Keep phones and wallets secure and pay attention if someone tries to distract you.

7. Gladiator training

Gladiator training was my second favorite thing we did in Rome and one of my best memories. “Tiny,” our teacher, was a mountain of a man and so hilarious. He taught us about gladiator history, showed us a little museum of armor and weapons, then training began. Chris participated while I stayed with the younger kids. The class learned commands, sparred, showed their fitness and voted at the end to award each other. It was so much fun. We took a taxi to the studio; check the operator’s current age and transport details before booking. We also have a Gladiator training video on YouTube.

I remember there were a lot of mosquitoes. Follow local advice and the product label if you decide to pack repellent. We once recommended this mosquito repellent.

8. Gelato or a cooking class

I took Grant to a gelato-making class for a date that month. It was super fun! We like to find cooking classes when we travel, and the kids enjoy making something together.

9. Fountains around the city

The Trevi Fountain is a must-see at least once. It can be incredibly crowded, but it is stunning. I also suggested looking for the Turtle Fountain, the Fiumi Fountain and the Fountain of Neptune. If you would like a guided visit, compare this Trevi tour option. Tickets for the inner basin are €2 for visitors who do not qualify for free entry; the fountain is visible from outside without a ticket. Check the official fountain schedule before you go.

10. Pompeii

I wrote about Pompeii in a separate post. Tickets are personal, daily entries are capped and admissions have seasonal time slots. Check the official ticket and timetable page and plan your transport before deciding whether Pompeii works for your Rome itinerary. We also have a Pompeii family video on YouTube.

11. Mamertine Prison

If you are interested in Christian history, visit Mamertine Prison. We didn’t get there on our trip. At the time, I hoped to visit on a future cruise.

Favorite Foods

Rome is delicious. These were some of our favorite things to eat. Check current menus and prices as you plan.

1. Pizza. It’s not like the pizza we eat at home.

2. Focaccia. Kind of like a naked pizza. It can be thick or thin, and it was my favorite thing I ate in Rome.

3. Gelato. Of course! In our class we learned that gelato can get more airy as the day goes on. The teacher suggested simple flavors like lemon or fiordilatte to taste the gelato. That was a class tip, not a rule for every shop.

4. Pasta. Such. Yummy. Pasta.

5. Seafood. The seafood we tried was amazing.

6. Risotto. Being gluten-free, this was often my go-to. It is not automatically gluten-free or protected from cross-contact, so ask the restaurant about ingredients and preparation. AIC has dining information to help with planning.

7. Bread. Lots of bakeries and lots of yumminess.

8. Beef. We enjoyed trying steak and simmered beef.

Tips for Rome

1. Plan your transit ticket before boarding. On our first bus ride we brought cash but couldn’t buy a ticket on board, and I didn’t know where to get a pass. We rode without one—that was a mistake. Later Chris’s parents forgot their pass and received a €100 fine. I learned to sort out tickets before getting on. ATAC lists shops, machines, offices and contactless Tap & Go. Tap & Go has 100-minute validity on eligible trips. Use the same card or device each time, and tap at every change; each device pays for one traveler. Check ATAC’s ticket options, Tap & Go rules and ticket validation guidance.
2. Getting around Rome was easy for our family. Taxis were plentiful for our needs, and we did not need a car for every outing. We took a taxi to the gladiator studio.
3. Rome can be dirty. This surprised us. Trash dumpsters overflowed near our apartment and in other neighborhoods we saw. It wasn’t like that everywhere, but some areas were pretty gross.
4. Check prices before you order. We noticed restaurants in piazzas and popular areas cost more than places a street or two over. Check the menu and ask about anything unclear before ordering.
5. For taxis, check what is available now. We used Uber for a few days. Roma Mobility says licensed taxis are white with a roof TAXI sign and licence markings; check the meter and ask for a receipt. Uber currently lists rides in Rome. See official taxi guidance and Uber Rome.
6. Wi-Fi was spotty for us. It was the worst we had experienced, including in the hotels where we stayed in Italy.
7. Choose your own pace. We spent a month in Rome and just a few days in Amalfi, Florence and Venice. If I did it again, I’d spend less time in Rome and more elsewhere. Florence was our favorite and felt most like Italy to us.
8. Rome’s history is everywhere. Layers of history beneath and around the city amazed me.
9. Prepare to walk and carry kids. We walked a lot and often carried the kids. Baby-wearing worked well for our family; strollers could be awkward on cobblestones. Check the route and distance for your day. The carrier I liked is here.

Where To Stay With Kids

Rome has places to stay from central hotels to large resorts. Before booking, check your room capacity, what the rate includes and any seasonal facilities your family plans to use.

1. Hotel Artemide. The official site lists a breakfast buffet. Ask whether it is included in your rate and which room can accommodate your family. See its services and FAQ.
2. Hilton Garden Inn Rome Claridge. Check which room fits your family, current child facilities and the route to the sights you want to visit. See the hotel’s official page and room options.
3. Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel (luxury). Compare room options and rates, and check seasonal Kids Club dates, ages and availability with the hotel before booking. See the amenities and Kids Club pages.

Prepare to fall in love with Italy. It’s built for wandering, full of beautiful places and a joy for our family to explore. Rome will always be part of our story.

XOXO,

Leslie