If you’re currently planning a trip to Rome with kids, lucky you! It is such a beautiful city full of rich history, culture and amazing food. We had such a great time in the Eternal City, and our perfect 3 days in Rome itinerary will help you do the same. In this detailed guide, we’ll cover what to see, the top things to do with kids and tips to make your family holiday in Rome a memorable one!
We’ve visited Rome many times as a couple and were so excited to go back with our kids (two little boys under age 5). Two questions we got asked a lot were: Is Rome good for families? And can you enjoy Rome with a toddler? Our answer: Absolutely! Of course, travel is a little different with kids, but still very enjoyable, so I will give you all the family-friendly tips below.
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Our Perfect 3 Days in Rome Itinerary for Families
Firstly, I’m going ot share some useful things to know before booking your family holiday (vacation) to Rome, I’ll then move on to our detailed itinerary.
When to Visit Rome, Italy with Kids
While I planned us the perfect Rome itinerary, I got the time of year a little wrong. We visited Rome in July, and it was HOT. Pre-kids, we did Rome in August and absolutely loved it; however, the heat hits differently when you’re pushing a pushchair (stroller) and running after or carrying a toddler. I would recommend avoiding the summer if at all possible; spring or autumn (fall) would make your trip much more pleasant.
If you are visiting in the summer, I would consider the Hop-on Hop-off Bus as it will be a nicer way to get around!
Getting into Rome
We flew into Roma Fiumicino Airport. This is the largest airport and most likely to be the one you’ll come to. From here, you can take a train to Roma Termini station, which is fairly central. The train takes around 30 minutes and costs €14 per adult (kids under 5 don’t need a ticket). From our experience, Trains are usually on time and reliable. You can easily buy tickets from the ticket machine, which has multiple languages on it.
There is also a bus option, which costs €6 but will take around an hour, depending on traffic. We decided as we only had 3 days in Rome, Italy, it was worth paying slightly more to save time.
How Many Days in Rome are Enough
We had 3 days in Rome as a family, and it was the perfect amount of time to see the best of Rome’s attractions. As London to Rome is an easy flight, we didnt have to deal with jet lag. If you’re coming from the USA, I would recommend a little longer so you can adjust. Or even combine Rome with visiting another area of Italy as well.
Where to Stay in Rome for 3 Days
Rome is not huge, and for the most part, you can get around on foot. If you only have 3 days in Rome, Italy, I would advise you to stay as centrally as possible. Rome gets extremely busy, and we found getting out early to beat the crowds and the heat the best way to explore. Staying outside the centre and travelling in will take a chunk of your time and is a lot of effort, especially with little kids.
I always find an apartment best with little kids, as you have access to a kitchen (we mainly need a fridge for milk) and a separate bedroom so the kids can go to bed and we can have a little longer without disturbing them. We don’t spend much time there, but it’s nice to have a bit of extra space compared to a hotel room.
LINK TO THE APARTMENT WE STAYED IN.
This apartment was just a 15-minute walk from Roma Termini (the train station you’ll likely come to from the airport) and a 10-minute walk from the Colosseum. It was a great value compared to others in the area. It was only one bedroom (and a sofa bed), but it had air conditioning (which is unusual for Italy) and a washing machine, which is always good with little kids. Also, the photos show a bath, but we only had a shower.
Our 3 Days in Rome Itinerary for Families
Below is our itinerary for 3 days in Rome with kids. Since having children, I have put a lot of time into planning our trips. I find that being organised helps us all enjoy it more. This is the exact itinerary we did, and I was really pleased with it!
It covers all the main things to see in Rome, as well as the best things to do and a couple of hidden gems.
Day 1 – The Colosseum, Monument to Victor Emmanuel II and The Roman Forum
The first of your 3 days in Rome itinerary covers some of the most iconic tourist things to do in ancient Rome. These are must-do activities and some of Rome’s most iconic landmarks. I initially thought we would see more on this day, but the day below filled the day easily, especially in the heat.
The Colosseum
Yes, its for tourists, but no trip to Rome would be complete without visiting the iconic Colosseum! This is where we started our first day. It opens at 8:30 am, we arrived at 9, and it was already busy. By 11 am when we left, the queue outside was huge. Potentially, later in the afternoon would be quieter as it’s open until 7:15 pm in the summer.
Kids under 18 get free entry with an accompanying adult, but you do have to visit the desk inside to get them a physical ticket. Keep hold of this ticket to use at the Roman Forum later.
The Colosseum has been set up to be accessible for pushchairs (strollers). There is a lift (elevator) that is reserved for families, wheelchairs, older people, etc, so it only had a short queue. However, if you can avoid taking a pushchair, I would, as it will be easier to navigate.
The Colosseum isn’t really aimed at children, and there aren’t any kid-focused activities there, but our boys still enjoyed it, and talking about the Romans and gladiators helped keep their interest.
Tickets do sell out, so I would recommend booking in advance. I always try to book through Viator or Get Your Guide as they usually offer free cancellations; however, they had so many different options/ packages you can choose from, it was a bit confusing, and all seemed very expensive. I ended up booking directly through the official website. It can be a bit slow, but it was the best price.
We went for the standard tickets, which are €18 for adults. I’ve linked them here.
While you can book a Colosseum family tour, we chose to avoid a guided tour with our small children and I think it was the right decision to let them go at their own pace. They wouldn’t really be interested in it, and the crowds were hard enough to navigate without having to stick with a group. Audio tours are available and would be a better option to let you go at your own pace.
Monument to Victor Emmanuel II
This is a hidden gem of Rome. It’s not exactly hidden because it’s huge! But not everyone knows you can go inside, and it’s free! It was so worth it for the incredible views, it was also very quiet, which was nice.
We went here after the Colosseum as it has a cafe/bar/restaurant, and we needed a rest and to escape the heat. This is where we stopped for lunch and the first ice cream of the holiday!
The Monument to Victor Emmanuel II Building
Kid Tip: To the right of the building (if you’re looking at it) is an accessible entrance. There are a few steps that we had to carry the pushchair up, but then you can take the lift up to the viewpoint/restaurant level.
Booking Tickets: You don’t need to book, and it’s free! You can take a glass elevator to the very top floor for a fee, I believe it was €14 if you bought tickets at the ticket desk there.
Views from the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II
The Roman Forum
Your Colosseum ticket also includes entry to the Roman Forum (but it has to be used within 24 hours). This was next on our itinerary. The Forum is big and slightly less crowded than the Colosseum, which made it easier with children., they loved to explore the acient ruins that make up the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
We spent about two hours here. You could spend much longer, but it was so hot, and we were all getting tired by this point.
The Roman Forum
Kid Tips: While lots of the Roman Forum is accessible for pushchairs, some parts have steps and steep ramps.
There is a beautiful viewpoint, called Palatine Hill but it is up a lot of steps. My husband opted out and stayed near the bottom with the boys, and I made the climb to the top solo. Carrying them and the pushchair to the top would not have been fun, but the view was incredible!
Booking Tickets: Entry is included with your Colosseum tickets, but you need to visit both on the same day.
Playground – Area Giochi per Bambini
Of course, we had to visit a playground! We’re huge fans of taking the kids to a playground as it’s a free, kid-focused activity. This one was cute, and they enjoyed it.
We played here before going on to get dinner. This playground is only a 10-minute walk from the Colosseum. I would advise visiting the Colosseum and then coming here so they can burn some energy. We only left it until later as it was so hot during the day!
Area Giochi per Bambini
Day 2 – The Vatican City and Trastevere
Our second day of this 3 days in Rome with kids itinerary, starts in the Vatican City and finishes in a local Rome neighbourhood with excellent food options!
The Vatican City
We had another fairly early start, heading to the Vatican City. The Vatican City is technically its own Country, the smallest in the world, and it’s extremely beautiful.
Outside St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City
Getting there is easy; you can take the number 64 bus from Roma Termini (check Google Maps to see if you have a closer stop), and this takes just 25 minutes. The bus we got was very busy, and we had to fold our pushchair, but it only cost €3 each way and is free for kids under 5. You need to buy a ticket before boarding from one of the small green kiosks, which you will see on the sides of the road, that also sell souvenirs.
Inside Inside St Peter’s Basilica
This is another popular place to visit in Rome, and again, it gets crowded. At around 9 am, it wasn’t too busy. St Peter’s Basilica is free to enter, and booking is not required. There was a small queue for security, but it moved quickly. We spent about half an hour in here, and that was long enough to wander around; much longer and the boys would have lost interest.
Tips For Visiting The Vatican City with Kids
You’ll need to leave your pushchair in the pushchair parking area located after security, just before the steps up to the Basilica; they give you a ticket for it.
The Vatican City
Booking Tickets for St Peter’s Basilica and The Sistine Chapel
St Peter’s Basilica is free, and booking is not required; however, the queues can get long. To visit the Basilica’s Dome, you should book in advance, but note, it is about 550 steps up. You can skip the first 230 by taking the lift (elevator) for an additional fee. It is not pushchair accessible!
The other main things to see in the Vatican City are the Vatican Museums. I would have loved to see the Sistine Chapel, but unfortunately, I left booking tickets too late, and they had all sold out. If you would like to do these, book well in advance to avoid disappointment!
BOOK TICKETS FOR THE VATICAN MUSEUMS AND SISTINE CHAPEL HERE.
ALSO NOTE: Both women and men need to cover their shoulders and knees in the Basilica. The Basilica and all the Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays.
Castel Sant’Angelo
We chose not to go into the Castel, but I wanted to mention it as it is another popular thing to do in Rome. It’s only a short walk from St Peter’s Square, so this would be the perfect time to see it.
I would suggest walking down the road called Borgo Pio. This is a beautiful little street with lots of cute Italian restaurants. This is the perfect place to stop for a drink or lunch.
Castel Sant’Angelo
BOOK TICKETS FOR CASTEL SANT’ANGELO HERE.
MONEY SAVING TIP: Entry to Castel Sant’Angelo is free on the first Sunday of the month.
Castel Sant’Angelo
Trastevere
From Castel Sant’Angelo, you can walk down the river to Trastevere. The walk takes about 30 minutes, but it is shaded by the trees lining the river.
Pretty Streets Trastevere
Trastevere is a beautiful little area of Rome known for its excellent food. It doesn’t have any big tourist attractions, so it’s much quieter. It was nice to escape the crowds for a couple of hours and have a drink in the sunshine.
Kid Tip: As this area is much quieter, the boys could wander around a bit more freely. My eldest enjoyed walking along the wall by the river (with my husband holding him). I’m not sure why walking on a wall is more fun than walking on the ground, but it is!
Exploring Trastevere
Day 3 – Other Iconic Things to do with Kids in Rome and the Park Villa Borghese
On the final day of our 3 days in Rome itinerary for families we made sure to see all the other main attractions in Rome and also planned some time to relax in the park.
The Trevi Fountain
This fountain is spectacular and a must-see when you’re in Rome. Of course, it gets extremely busy. I’d read that if you get there at 8 am, there will be no crowds. Well, at 8 am, it was already pretty crowded.
Family photo by the The Trevi Fountain
Kid Tip: Take plenty of small-value coins. Legend says if you throw a coin into the fountain, you will return to Rome. My kids threw in about 50, and they loved it! I promise you, throwing one coin will not be enough for a toddler!
The Trevi Fountain
Right by the fountain is a cute Cafe called L’Antico Forno di Piazza Trevi. It had a huge line, but just next door was their store that sells the same croissants and had no queue. We got these for breakfast!
L’Antico Forno di Piazza Trevi
The Pantheon
Next, we walked past the Pantheon. It doesn’t open until 9 am, and at 8:40, there was already a long line outside. My husband and I have been in before; it’s a 2000-year-old church and a very unique building, but we decided not to wait in line with the kids.
BOOK TICKETS FOR THE PANTHEON HERE.
The Pantheon
Campo De’ Fiori
This is one of the main market squares in Rome. It’s a nice place to pick up a souvenir such as pasta, limoncello or other touristy items. There are also lots of cafes and restaurants here. For me, this isn’t a ‘must-do’ place, but it is popular, so I think, worth mentioning here.
Campo De’ Fiori
Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona is another huge square in Rome is known for its three beautiful fountains. Sadly, they were all under construction, so we didnt get to see them! The main building overlooking the square is a beautiful church, while the other side is lined with restaurants.
It was very quiet when we were there, but you’ll often see street performers, artists and fortune tellers.
Piazza Navona
The Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps are so stunning and for me, a place in Rome you need to see. If you don’t like walking/ want to save time. I would go straight from the Trevi Fountain here, skipping the other three places. As you can see, it was pretty busy but still beautiful.
The Spanish Steps
Villa Borghese
This is the final stop on our 3 days in Rome itinerary! It’s only a 20-minute walk from the Spanish Steps, but it is a bit of a hike up the hill! If you follow Google Maps, you should come past the viewpoint ‘Terrazza Viale del Belvedere’ where you’ll see great views over the city.
Villa Borghese is a lovely park and is a perfect place to visit with kids. I think you could easily spend a full day here. There’s a playground, a carousel and a little train ride. The highlight for our kids was rowing the boats on the lake, 20 minutes costs €5 each and €3 if you’re under 1.1 meters tall. It’s only a small lake, so 20 minutes was long enough. It was quite hard work to get anywhere, as both boys wanted to use an oar, and I had to sing Row, row, row your boat on repeat; they really enjoyed it though!
Boating in Villa Borghese
That concludes our guide on our perfect 3 days in Rome itinerary. Thank you so much for reading, and we hope you enjoy your Rome vacation!
Happy Exploring,
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