The best things to do in Rome with kids: Rome is a wonderful city for a family trip and there are so many brilliant things to do with kids in Rome from educational to simply fun. We absolutely love the Italian capital and have been lucky enough to have a number of trips there and have pulled together our favourite things to do in Rome with kids. Kids activities in Rome are not hard to come by as the city really is very welcoming to visitors of all ages. And there are enough things to do in Rome for families to create a fantastic holiday. No matter what season you visit in. Browse through our suggestions below for the best things to do with children in Rome.
Read more:An ultimate guide to Italy with kids
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Table of Contents
Drink water like a local
Not as odd as it initially sounds and a lot more fun, particularly on a hot summer’s day.
Throughout Rome are public fountains called Nasones which means “large nose”. They are named after their distinctive shape.
First introduced in to the city in the mid-19th century they supply fresh drinking water to the residents and its visitors.
There are over 2500 nasones dotted through the streets and they’re the perfect way to cool off.
Don’t drink like a tourist though, from the bottom of the spout. Drink like a local by covering this up and allowing the water to squirt out the middle of the spout for easier drinking.
Kids will love cooling off in the water on a hot summer day, making it one of those fun things for kids to do in Rome.
Relish in all the history at the Colosseum
The number one place to visit in Rome (including all Rome attractions for kids) has to be the Colosseum. And even though it’s one of those places you know you have to visit it really doesn’t disappoint.
Kids will love the history here with tales of gladiators and wild animals fighting to the death.
There are some fascinating exhibits which really bring the whole experience alive. But just walking through the same places that gladiators and Roman emperors walked is a fantastic experience. It is without a doubt one of the best things to do in Rome with kids.
Book your skip the line tickets here
Spend time with the animals at Rome Zoo
Bioparco di Roma is the city’s zoo. Spread across 17 hectares and with over a thousand animals it’s a great day out.
It’s an ideal place to get out of the city for a while. Located in the Villa Borghese park it’s interesting to see some of the two hundred plus species that live here.
Whilst it’s not the largest zoo in the world it is well thought out and kids will love the chance to do something very child-centred making it one of those great things to do with family in Rome.
Book your zoo tickets in advance here.
Stop for Gelato
Any child friendly Rome trip should involve gelato.
Italy has to be the best country in the world to stop for an ice cream and Rome is no exception.
There are places to grab an ice cream on the go all across the city and also those you can take your time over and sit in.
Giolitti is the oldest ice cream parlour in the city (opening in the 1900s) and is a great place to stop.
Read our full review of a visit to Giolitti Rome here.
Become a Gladiator – things to do in Rome with kids
Visitors aged six and up can take part in Gladiator School.
For two hours you can train to be a gladiator at a school in Rome. Suitable for adults and children alike, the fun lesson will teach you how to fight like a warrior of Ancient Rome, while learning about life in the imperial city, Roman weapons, and more.
This is a really unique experience and something really fun to do when you’re visiting the city.
Get your tickets for Rome Gladiator School here.
Throw a coin in to the Trevi fountain – things to do in Rome with kids
The Trevi fountain is a 17th century fountain at the cross roads of three aqueducts in the city (including one that supplied ancient Rome).
It is absolutely beautiful, incredibly ornate with so much to see. It is famous for being the place where you can throw a coin using your right hand over your left shoulder and this is said to guarantee your return to Rome.
It’s always worth a try, particularly as this city is one with so much to explore one trip won’t be enough (and many others agree as thousands of euros are thrown in to the fountain every day).
Definitely one of those things to do in Rome with children which all the family can enjoy.
There’s also now an opportunity to go beneath the fountain. This is a really unique experience and you can pick up tickets for going underground at the Trevi Fountain here.
Have a glimpse in to the world of Ancient Rome
Rome’s Forum is one of those places in the world that you can visit and that does not seem real. It feels almost like a film set (I feel like this about Pompeii too).
You can wander the streets of ancient Rome, usually with some of the city’s cats lazily draped around statues or columns. And you get an insight in to what it would have been like to have lived here during Roman times.
So much of ancient life revolved around this centre and it’s absolutely fascinating to walk through it.
It’s one of my favourite areas of the city and one of those things for kids in Rome which will have them talking for years to come.
Get priority tickets for the Forum and Colosseum combined here.
Get a real insight of things to do in Rome with kids by taking a tour
There are a few places around the world where we recommend taking a tour and Rome is definitely one of them.
The city can feel sprawling and it is packed full of amazing detail that you may not decipher for yourself (or even spot).
We took a tour with Rome Private Guides who were brilliant at gearing the whole walk to the ages of our children. They also organised tickets for us for all the sites we visited which just brought Rome alive.
This really was one of the fun things to do in Rome with kids for our family.
Read our full review of a visit with Rome Private Guides here and find out about having a private guide through Get your Guide here.
Rest tired feet on the Hop on Hop off bus
We absolutely love Hop on Hop off buses. They’re a great way to explore a place and when you’re visiting Rome with kids it can be very tiring.
These buses are a great way to see the sights but have a chance to rest at the same time.
They’re also somewhere to use to travel around the city as once you’ve got your bearings and discovered more about the history and the layout of the city you can jump off to start exploring.
Buy your tickets for the Hop on Hop off bus here. You can also buy tickets for the Hop on Hop off river cruise here too.
Get an amazing glimpse of ancient Rome at the Pantheon
The Pantheon was once a Roman temple (today it is part of the Catholic church in Rome) and it is a spectacular building in the city.
Built between 113 – 125 AD it is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome and the world’s best preserved structures from Ancient Rome. So it’s well worth a look into.
While there isn’t lots here for kids to do it is an awe-inspiring building and easy to pop in to for a glimpse at living history.
Hang out on the Spanish steps – things to do in Rome with kids
The 18th century Spanish Steps are famous throughout Rome and have been used in films and literature ever since.
They’re a great place to hang out, to run up, to admire. At the bottom of the steps is the beautiful Fontana della Barcaccia (Fountain of the longboat) from the 17th century. Here you can drink the water making it another of those things to do for kids in Rome which all the family will enjoy.
Take a day trip to Pompeii
There are plenty of things to do in Rome with kids but you can also have some amazing day trips.
One of the best is to travel to Pompeii which really is one of those places which is better in real life than any of the books can show.
Feel the history and enjoy a fantastic day trip to somewhere really unique.
Get your tickets from Rome for a Pompeii and Mt Vesuvius day trip here.
Your Rome checklist
- ✈️ – Find great flights to Rome with Opodo
- 💳Â -Get a Currensea Card to easily pay for purchases abroad
- 📚 – Get planning your trip with the Lonely Planet guide to Italy
- 🏨 – Find the best family holiday to Italy
- X – Book your private transfer from Rome’s airport
We hope you’ve enjoyed our suggestions for the best things to do in Rome with kids. It is a beautiful city and one which will enthrall all the family. Why not check out our ultimate guide to Italy for kids for things to do across the country.
