A family trip to Rome sounds exhilarating, and maybe even a bit exhausting! You may think it difficult to find activities to get the entire family involved while in Rome, but don’t worry; this ancient city actually has a lot of attractions that will grab your kids’ attention.
While not all places in Rome are kid-friendly, you can still find more than enough things to occupy your time, teach a little history and culture, and make memories that will last a lifetime.
Apply for your passports, pack your bags, and plan an epic family trip to Rome. Sign up for walking tours, visit children’s museums, and join a pizza making workshop. The ideas are endless in Rome!
But be sure to drop your bags at a Rome luggage storage location while out for the day to ensure your things are kept safe. The kids will tire less easily if you drop off their backpacks mid-day to give them a break from carrying them.
Then you’ll be free to check out some of these family-friendly attractions in Rome while you are visiting with the kids in tow.
Gladiator School
Sign your kids up at Rome’s Gladiator School and prepare them for a trip to the Colosseum. The Gruppo Storico Romano hosts several courses and you can sign up your little bundles of energy for as many as you would like.
Each child will get their own tunic and training sword and learn basic combat moves that ancient gladiators used to best their opponents. A certificate of participation will be awarded to everyone who finishes the course.
Photo by Kevin Olson on Unsplash
The Colosseum
Exploring the Colosseum may not seem all that fun for kids, but when you join a tour group with a fantastic guide that regales them with stories of gladiators fighting wild animals in front of vast crowds for entertainment, and then it comes alive for everyone.
Nab your tickets online for a skip-the-line tour of the Colosseum that includes full access to the arena floor. See where the wild animals were kept before being released into the arena and listen to tales of epic battles between beast and gladiator.
Trevi Fountain
What better way to keep your kids entertained while they learn to appreciate Roman art than by tossing coins into the Trevi Fountain! The biggest, most impressive fountain in Rome is a particular favorite for tourists.
The tossing of a coin into the Trevi Fountain is an absolute must and many people do so after making a heartfelt wish. There is an Italian urban legend that claims anyone tossing a coin in the fountain is destined to one day return to Rome.
Visit the Catacombs
While exploring underground in Rome may not be every child’s dream, if you have an adventurous family sign up for a tour of the catacombs. Spend part of the day exploring the deep recesses of Rome’s crypts and catacombs and learn about burial rituals.
Explore the secret Christian meeting places of ancient Rome. Check out a chapel made up completely of human bones, and listen to chilling stories as your guide takes you through these underground networks.
Day Trip to Pompeii
Pompeii is just a train ride away from Rome and kids generally love exploring the ruins of this ancient city. The city was buried under ash and lava after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.
Pompeii is now an incredible archaeological site where visitors can come and wander through the fabulously preserved city. Be sure to take the kids to the amphitheater, the oldest one in the entire world.
Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini
Spend more time underground when in Rome and explore some amazing homes that have been fully excavated. Domus Romane is a series of underground houses that sit beneath the Palazzo Valentini.
Listen to stories about those who lived in the houses while you explore. These tours do fill up quickly so be sure to grab your tickets early. The tour is ideal for older children and teenagers, not necessarily younger children and toddlers.
Bocca della Verità
This famous landmark translates to the Mouth of Truth and is located in the Chiesa di Santa Maria. The legend of the Bocca della Verità is that if you tell a lie the mouth will close and bite off your hand.
Learn the full legend of the Mouth of Truth when you visit and snap a few photos of your kiddos sticking their hands inside the mouth. Your kids will find it thrilling to shove their hand inside the marble mask’s mouth and see if anything happens.
Centrale Montemartini
This unique museum is housed in an old electric plant and it still looks very much like an old electric plant! Kids will find the ambiance fascinating and may just learn a few things about ancient Roman art at the Centrale Montemartini.
Amazing art is nestled against an industrial backdrop creating a one-of-a-kind experience filled with fine art and large machines that once produced electricity. Be sure to check out the old Papal carriage, a part of the Pope Train.
Pizza Making Class
Head over to a local trattoria for a few hours of learning how to make an authentic Italian pizza from the masters. Sign up for In Rome Cooking Classes and discover how pizza is really made in Rome.
These classes are geared for families and allow the kids to get in and work the dough as well as add the spices and toppings. After you have learned how to make the pizza, sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Walking Tour and Gelato Tasting
A walking tour of Rome may not sound fascinating to your children, but they might be more motivated to come along if gelato is on the itinerary. The two-and-a-half hour tour takes place in the evening, so feed the kids dinner before joining the tour.
While walking your tour guide will regale you with stories of the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and Spanish Steps. After the tour, you will stop for generous servings of tasty gelato.
Resources:
https://www.turismoroma.it/it/node/1286
https://citywonders.com/rome-tours/rome-crypts-and-catacombs-tour
https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/pompeii
http://www.gruppostoricoromano.it/
https://www.palazzovalentini.it/index.php?lang=
http://www.centralemontemartini.org/
https://www.inromecooking.com/
https://www.walksofitaly.com/rome-tours/welcome-rome-walking-tours/
