So you want to visit the Eternal City, where history, culture and wonder await every traveler. But what about when you’re traveling with your little adventurers in tow? Fear not, because there are plenty of things to do in Rome with kids, not just for the history buffs and art enthusiasts. It’s a city that welcomes families with open arms and has a treasure trove of kid-friendly activities and attractions waiting to be explored.
When traveling to Rome with children, you need to consider that it won’t be all about ancient ruins and grand monuments. This is why while planning your Rome trip, looking for children-friendly activities is a must.
In this blog post, we’ll take you on a journey through the heart of Rome, showing you the best activities and experiences that will make your family trip unforgettable. From exploring ancient ruins that transport you back in time to savoring mouthwatering gelato that delights taste buds of all ages, we’ve got you covered.
Rome isn’t just a city; it’s an open-air classroom where your children can learn about history, art, and culture through hands-on experiences. So, whether you’re planning your first family trip to Rome or you’re a seasoned traveler looking for new ideas, our guide will help you craft a memorable Roman adventure that both you and your kids will cherish forever. Let’s embark on this Roman journey together!
Check out our suggestions for the best hotels in Rome for families.
Table of Contents
- 1 What to do in Rome with kids – Our picks!
- 1.1 Explore Rome’s city center
- 1.2 Enjoy Rome’s parks
- 1.3 Go to Rome’s zoo
- 1.4 Visit Explora Children’s Museum
- 1.5 Go to the Colosseum
- 1.6 Explore the Vatican
- 1.7 Join a pizza-making (and eating) class
- 1.8 Tuck into artisan gelato
- 1.9 Discover leisure time in Ancient Rome
- 1.10 Have fun in Casina di Raffaello – Ludoteca
- 1.11 Discover the activities of Technotown
- 1.12 Go for Christmas
- 1.13 Explore the Catacombs
- 1.14 Visit the ruins of Ostia Antica
What to do in Rome with kids – Our picks!
Explore Rome’s city center
I always love wandering the streets of Rome’s Centro Storico and I believe I’m passing this love onto my son who has been appreciating his city’s beauty since he started to walk.
The city center is not just an open-air museum packed with artwork and architectural masterpieces. It’s also a district that has been inhabited for centuries, and so it hides fascinating stories and anecdotes behind every corner.
If you are wondering what to do in Rome with kids, exploring the city center with this family-friendly tour that will keep you all entertained with quizzes, trivia, and scavenger hunts for 2 hours seems like a good option!
In my opinion, the city center is also one of the best areas to stay for families!
Enjoy Rome’s parks
Among the favorite things to do in Rome with kids, the local parks are easily one of the first choices.
Some of the coolest parks in Rome that both children and adults will love are the always-gorgeous Villa Borghese Gardens and Villa Doria Pamphilj.
Villa Borghese is heaven for anyone who enters as there is something for everyone. You can relax on a picnic, rent a rowboat in the lake and row around the small temple, join other families in the kids’ playground, visit the local zoo, and hire a pedal-power golf cart to wander around the whole park. There is also a kid-friendly tour of the Borghese Gallery and park.
Similarly, Villa Pamphilj, too, is a former noble villa that was adapted into an urban park where kids can play in the playground, see the aquatic wildlife such as fish, turtles, ducks, and swans, and run wildly and freely.
Go to Rome’s zoo
Inside Villa Borghese is also Rome’s Bioparco Zoo. What to do in Rome with kids and children of all ages, the Bioparco is home to a huge variety of animals from all over the world and also local wildlife such as the region’s wolves.
Among the species your children will have the chance to see closely there are giraffes, lions, tigers, monkeys, penguins, and bears.
Click here to buy your skip-the-line ticket
Visit Explora Children’s Museum
This fantastic children’s museum is located in the Flaminio neighborhood a stone’s throw from the stunning Piazza del Popolo. It caters to babies from as early as 0 to kids aged 12 with different activities organized in separated and well-adapted areas.
We went to Explora with our son when he was one and was just starting to walk. The area devoted to 0 to 3-year-old toddlers is well-padded and requires socks to enter.
The halls of the museum for older kids had several initiatives such as a firefighter’s truck to explore and other educational activities often in science and innovation fields.
Go to the Colosseum
I’m sure most kids aged 10+ in Rome will love to visit the Colosseum and feel gladiators for a day.
Depending on the ticket or tour you book, you can enter different areas including the Arena where the shows took place and the dungeon where the gladiators waited for their fate to happen.
To keep your kids engaged during the whole tour, you can book an experience with a specialized guide that includes games and activities for the young ones like this Ancient Rome family tour for kids.
To be even more prepared and better fall into the gladiator’s role, kids love the initiative organized by Gruppo Storico Romano where they train to be a true Roman fighter in a 2-hour gladiator class.
Explore the Vatican
This might seem boring for children, but there are actually fun tours organized specifically keeping in mind kids’ needs and preferences yet entertaining also the rest of the group by showing the main highlights of the Vatican City and Museums.
How about a scavenger hunt to spot the masterpieces kept in the Vatican? Do you prefer a more traditional tour? You can book a fun and informative experience to learn everything about the Vatican’s classics and most famous artwork including the Sistine Chapel.
Join a pizza-making (and eating) class
Who doesn’t love pizza? While the eternal competition between Neapolitan and Roman-style pizza is always on, in Rome, you can find all styles and toppings.
Check out our favorite pizza places in Rome for some scrumptious meals, while, if your kids like to get their hands messy, book them up for an exciting pizza-making masterclass.
Tuck into artisan gelato
Along with pizza, we couldn’t miss gelato. Rome is packed with fantastic gelaterias. From fruits to creams to all types of nuts and chocolate flavors, you can enjoy your scoops on a cup, on a nuts and chocolate-coated cone, in a stuffed brioche pastry, or even on a brownie.
Discover leisure time in Ancient Rome
The Circus Maximus and the Baths of Caracalla might even evoke academic research and history classes, but if you visit them with the right tour, they become exciting spots to visit in Rome with kids.
In this private Caracalla Baths & Circus Maximus tour, for example, your family will learn plenty about Roman engineering skills, aqueducts, and how mosaics were made, as well as how they organized the shows, animal hunts, and chariot races.
But the expert guide will make it a fun-packed experience where the young ones, too, will enjoy their time and remember the facts and cool anecdotes.
Have fun in Casina di Raffaello – Ludoteca
Built in the 16th century in the heart of Villa Borghese Park to house the attendant of the noble family of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, since 2006, Casina di Raffaello has been a place devoted to kids’ activities and themed initiatives.
They organize educational games, interactive events, temporary exhibitions, animated readings, and even summer camps for the local kids. Check out their website for an updated calendar of their activities and how to join them.
Discover the activities of Technotown
Technotown is Rome’s first science game room where kids can join many interactive events. Located in the beautiful settings of Villa Torlonia, kids from 12 years of age can take part in educational workshops and creative factories.
Some of the initiatives include many photography-related workshops such as the darkroom, photo printing technologies, portrait photography, and pinhole photography, as well as other science fields such as sound design, and sneak peek 3D maker activities. Check out their website for updated information and calendar.
Go for Christmas
December is one of the most magical times of the year and if you are planning to spend Christmas in Rome, rest assured that your kids will love it.
From local piazzas to the city’s parks, around Christmas, there are plenty of activities for children and kids of all ages including themed entertainment parks and exhibitions, cool shopping opportunities, and beautiful decorations.
Explore the Catacombs
For slightly older children and teens, exploring the ancient catacombs beneath Rome will certainly be an exciting adventure.
The Catacombs of Domitilla, for example, offer guided tours that take you underground to discover fascinating history and early Christian art. It’s a unique experience that adds a mysterious twist to your Roman adventure.
For some extra adventure, you can join a golf cart tour of the Appian Way that includes also entry to the catacombs. Make sure to always notify the tour provider about the age of your children in case they need a car seat.
Visit the ruins of Ostia Antica
One of the easiest and coolest day trips from Rome, Ostia Antica is an important ancient city that has been beautifully preserved across the centuries.
One of the things to do in Rome with children is to visit the ruins of this ancient Roman town with a family-friendly tour such as this one where your kids can engage in games and activities while visiting the place.
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