Rome is a fantastic city to visit with kids. If you are looking for ideas of what to do in Rome with children, here is our pick of all the best family friendly attractions in Rome, Italy.
Before travelling to Rome, make sure you read official travel rules and regulations that may affect your trip.
Ancient Rome: Roman Forum and Colosseum
A trip to Rome must start with a visit to what makes the city special: its ancient ruins!
The Roman Forum and the Colosseum are beside each other and they can be visited with a combined ticket.
You can visit Ancient Rome any time of the year however, the most pleasant time of the year to visit the forum is the spring, when the weather is mild.
This is one of our favourite things to do in Rome in June in particular, when the blossoms and a the sun turn the forum into one of the most pleasant outdoor spaces in the city.
The attractions have little to no information available, so we recommend you book a family tour with skip the line option to make the most of your day.
Click here to book your skip the line tickets to the Forum and the Colosseum
Vatican City
Vatican City is a state within a state and kids usually enjoy the idea of crossing an international border on foot!
They are also likely to be impressed by the record breaking size of St Peter’s Dome, allegedly the largest in the world.
You can climb to the top for stunning views over Rome. Entrance is ticketed.
If you love art, we recommend you allocate sufficient time to visit the large Vatican museums. Private and small tours are available and well worth the price as the crowds and the size of the museum make independent visits with kids difficult.
Click here to book your ‘beat the crowds’ tour of the Vatican museums
Castel Sant’Angelo
Castel Sant’Angelo is an impressive castle overlooking the river Tiber. Built as the resting place for Emperor Hadrian, it was later used by the Popes as a fortress and castle.
It has a lot to offer children, including a pile of massive cannon balls, the view over the river and a hidden underground passage that connects it to St Peter’s Basilica (sadly not accessible although guided tours will show you its entrance).
Click here to book your escorted tour of Castel Sant’Angelo
Villa Borghese
Rome has many gorgeous parks and one of the most popular with kids is Villa Borghese. Originally the private park of the Borghese family, this villa is now open to the public and spans over an area of 148 acres.
It hosts, among other things, the zoo, well equipped playgrounds, la casina di Raffaello (a small indoor play area) and a small lake with rowing boats for hire.
Pizza Making Class
If your kids like pizza, why not let them create their own in a pizza making class? The class we recommend is kid-friendly and takes place in a authentic Rome pizzeria. You can chose between day and evening times, to suit your family’s schedule.
You and your kids will learn how to make real pizza, how to replicate it at home and will be able to enjoy the result of your hard work with a lovely pizza-based lunch or dinner!
Click here to book your family pizza making class in Rome
Bocca della Verita
La bocca della verita, the mouth of truth, is a round stone carved in the shape of a face, with a narrow hole as a mouth. The legend has it that if you put your hand in the mouth and tell or think a lie, it will bite you!
Kids always find it incredibly funny and somehow scary in the best possible way, while adults usually recognize it from a famous scene of the movie A Roman Holiday, where the monster bites Gregory Peck’s hand!
Walking Tour
Rome is full of hidden gems and stories and there is no better way to discover them than taking a walking tour with a competent guide. The one we recommend caters for families and engages the kids with a scavenger hunt approach that allows them to have fun while learning about the city.
Click here for other ideas of how to get around Rome.
St Peter’s through a Keyhole
St Peter’s Dome is visible from many viewpoints in Rome but none is as surprising as the one at the top of the Aventine Hill. Here lies a large, dark gate, always closed, protecting the gardens of the Maltese Institute.
The gardens are closed to the public but the true gem here is the door itself: ask your child to peek through the keyhole and they will see St Peter’s Dome in the distance, perfectly famed by the round hole and the garden hedges!
Explora Children’s Museum
The Explora Children’s Museum is entirely dedicated to children and is full of educational and entertaining play areas and workshops. Children under 3 have a dedicated soft play area, while a mini supermarket, a large play kitchen and petrol station keep older children busy with role play. There is a programme of educational workshops, some held in English.
Gelato Tour
Who doesn’t love gelato? The only thing better than gelato is a gelato tour that allows you to taste the yummiest and freshest gelato Rome has to offer. The one we recommend complements your gelato tasting with the best coffee Rome has to offer (coffee is for the adults only but kids are welcome to taste the cream it comes with!)
Click here to book your coffee and gelato tour of Rome
How to see Rome’s top attractions
If you are interested in learning more about the best family attractions in Rome, you can find here our interview with Italian Mama Marta who gives a detailed run through her home city, including the perfect 3-day Rome itinerary that balances sight-seeing with family fun.
Take me back to the Rome City Guide.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a booking or purchase using one of these links, we may receive a small commission – at absolutely no extra cost to you.
