Rome with Kids: Activities, Places and Tips for Families

At first glance, Rome may not look as fun to visit with kids as other cities, but we can assure you that visiting Rome with children is anything but boring.

They'll love the stories behind the monuments, cooling off with a gelato, tucking into delicious plates of pasta or pizza, and having fun with the family activities and the things to see in Rome we recommend below.

What to see and do in Rome with kids

Gladiator School Museum

There are two ways to visit the Roman Historical Gladiator School Museum, a fun attraction in Rome for kids.

The first option, the cheaper one, gets you into the museum, where you'll find a display of the weapons, armor and other gear gladiators used in combat. Find out more and book your visit to the Gladiator School Museum.

The second option costs more, but it's the one that blows the little ones away (and the adults too), because along with the museum visit it includes a full gladiator show lasting almost two hours, where brave men, heirs to the strength and ferocity of the ancient empire, fight using real weapons and armor.

The show doesn't include fighting tigers or lions, but the sound of swords clashing is more than enough to send the audience wild. Kids will love it. Buy your ticket here.

Address: Via Appia Antica 18, 00179, Rome.

Il Museo dei bambini di Roma

This museum in Rome is designed entirely for kids to have the best time. Here the little ones can play and experiment with activities that encourage learning, socializing, development and cognitive skills.

Besides the large hall housing the main attractions, there's a green outdoor area and a lovely playground. It's at Via Flaminia 82.

Prices:

• Tickets for adults and children aged 3 and over cost €9.
• Little ones between 1 and 3 pay €6.  
• Babies under 1: free

You can buy tickets on the museum's website.

Technotown

For older kids, there's an incredible place with hands-on science and technology experiences.

It's Technotown, an attraction with robotics sessions using Lego, a stop motion lab and plenty more activities in this «technological-scientific playhouse». The only drawback is that all the activities are guided in Italian, but we still think it's worth the visit.

Ticket prices per person vary depending on the number of activities you want to do.

• Ticket for one activity: €8.
• For two activities: €14.
• Ticket for 3 activities: €18

It's inside Villa Torlonia, at Via Lazzaro Spallanzani 1/A 00161 Rome.

Leonardo da Vinci Museum

The Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Rome is a great window into the mind of a genius who was ahead of his time. Of all the things to do in Rome with kids, this one comes highly recommended.

You'll find more than fifty interactive machines built from Leonardo's original notes, along with manuscripts and sketches illustrating parts of the human body or contraptions that dreamed of taking flight.

There are also themed areas devoted to his paintings, plus a multimedia room where you can take an entertaining tour through the life and imagination of one of the great geniuses of the Renaissance.

It has the advantage of being an affordable activity. Tickets cost €10 for adults, and children under 4 go free. Buy your ticket to the Leonardo da Vinci Museum.

Address: You'll find it at number 12 on Piazza del Popolo

 

Bioparco: Rome's zoo

Rome is packed with thousand-year-old architectural wonders, but those visits can sometimes be hard for little ones to appreciate.

The Bioparco in Rome is one of the best alternatives to see in Rome with kids. Here you'll see tigers, elephants, rhinos, camels, hippos, giraffes, bears and even a Komodo dragon. There are more than twelve hundred animals in this lovely park dedicated to animal and environmental conservation.

With a ticket to the Bioparco you'll not only get to see different species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, you'll also step into the botanical setting each species comes from around the world.

Tickets:

• Adults (11 and over): €17
• Seniors (65 and over): €14
• Children: €14
• Get your tickets to Rome's Bioparco

Address: It's about 500 meters from Villa Borghese and the Borghese Gallery, at Viale del Giardino Zoologico 1, Rome.

Villa Borghese

This is the big park and green space in central Rome. At Villa Borghese there are several activities you can do with the kids.

We recommend exploring the park on one of the bikes that seat several people. Inside the park you'll find a puppet theater, the Teatro del Burattino (Saturdays and Sundays) and the Bioparco zoo.

There's also a lake where you can take out a rowboat, plus plenty of fountains and works of art. The Borghese Gallery museum is a good option for the adults.

Villa Borghese is one of those visits you enjoy most in summer. You can pair it with one of these recommendations for hotels in Rome with a pool.

Hop-on hop-off bus around Rome

Handy for getting around Rome with kids without missing the sights and without worrying about how to reach each place.

With this bus you can tour the most important sights to see in Rome. It's easy: you get on at the stop nearest to you, hop off at a place that interests you, and hop back on whenever you like. Find out more about the routes and the monuments you'll see, and buy tickets for Rome's sightseeing bus.

Exploring the Colosseum and the Forum as a family

Get your kids ready to visit the Colosseum and the Forum by telling them the parts of the story these places hold that suit their age.

Learning history in the very spot where it happened can be an unforgettable experience for them. If you would rather have a guide who knows the details, you can book a guided tour to see the Colosseum and the Roman Forum together as a family.

Cycling along the Via Appia Antica

A great place to go cycling in Rome with kids is the Via Appia. There is plenty of room to pedal, and given how long the road is, it is also the best way to see it.

You can rent a bike on your own, or if you prefer a guide and a little help pedaling, you can book an e-bike tour along the Via Appia. (Recommended for children over 10.)

The cats of Largo di Torre Argentina

This square holds the remains of four Roman temples and the Theatre of Pompey. It is also home to a working cat sanctuary.

Cats began taking shelter in this corner of Rome decades ago, and today there is a street cat sanctuary you can visit. Animal-loving kids enjoy walking up to the enclosure and saying hello to the felines through the fence.

A walk through Rome and a pizza-making class

One of those well-organized tours run by people who know the city includes a private class with an expert «pizzaiolo» who will teach the kids (and the parents) how to make a traditional Italian pizza in an authentic stone oven, just steps from Piazza Navona. Book the tour here.

Carriage rides

Traveling to Rome with kids is a joy, but it can wear the whole family out equally. To rest your legs for a while, you can take the kids on a ride aboard a vintage horse-drawn carriage.

Some of the spots where you can hop on are St. Peter's Square, Castel Sant'Angelo and the area around the Spanish Steps.

Gelato shops

You will find plenty of gelato shops in Rome. Gelato is something close to a religion around here, and you will get the chance to try all sorts of flavors and combinations every day. Whenever anyone needs a break or a distraction, the gelaterie will be there. Enjoy 😉

Tips for saving money in Rome with kids

If you are looking to save, you will be glad to know there are plenty of free museums in Rome. Find out which ones they are and which other monuments in Rome you can enter for free.

You will also be glad to know that many of the towns near Rome are perfect to visit with kids, so take a look at the most recommended day trips from Rome.

A good way to save on accommodation is to book an apartment instead of a hotel. There are plenty of cheap apartments in Rome, so you can cook as if you were at home and save on a lot of meals out.

If you prefer the convenience of a hotel, have a look at our selection of family-friendly places to stay in Rome, where we take into account guest reviews, location and the best value for money.