Rome Family Holidays & Breaks

Best Historic Sites in Rome with Kids

• Start your exploration of Imperial Rome with a visit to the Forum, centre of political, commercial and judicial life in Ancient Rome. Bring the past to life by viewing the whole area from the heights of the Capitoline Hill first, before heading in to explore the ruined temples and basilicas. (Tip: Go early to avoid the crowds and the midday sun.) Kids love the Colosseum at the east end of the Forum, where they can follow in the footsteps of the gladiators and let their imaginations run riot reenacting the battles and wild animal fights that took place here.
 
• Walking up from the Forum to the Palatine, take in some of Rome's most relaxing ancient sites and some much-needed shade. Stroll through the Farnese Gardens before visiting the palace ruins of Domus Flavia and Domus Augustana and letting the kids run off steam at the Stadium (a former palace garden and racing track).

• Head for the Centro Storico and the Pantheon – Rome’s historic centre is a hive of activity. Browse the markets in the bustling Campo de'Fiori or take in Bernini's Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi fountains in Piazza Navona. Also by Bernini is the nearby Elephant of Minerva, an Egyptian obelisk uncovered during  excavations. The Pantheon, the Roman temple of all gods, and its vast dome are best appreciated from the inside. Close-by, the Time Elevator Roma is a 30-minute immersive ride through 3,000 years of ancient Roman history.  

• Venture south to Piazza Bocca della Verità, where kids can place their hand in the Mouth of Truth, a marble face in the porch of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. According to legend the Bocca della Verità closes shut over the hand of anyone who tells a lie.

• Visit EXPLORA, the first Italian interactive museum for children (under-12s), in the north of the Centro Storico close to Piazza del Popolo, covering technology, science, environmental studies and communication.

• In the courtyard of the Palazzo Nuovo, check out Marfario, one of the ‘talking statues’ of Rome, named for the local custom that developed in the 16th century of pinning political poems, criticisms and witticisms to them. The statue is thought to represent a river god. 

Rome Art and Architecture  

• With older kids and teens enjoy the Zaha Hadid designed Maxxi – the National Museum of 21st-century Arts, with permanent and temporary exhibitions on contemporary art and architecture.

• Head to Tridente to throw a few coins into the Trevi Fountain and let kids run riot on the Spanish Steps.

• Nearby, don't miss the Palazzo Zuccari or ‘Monster House’ with its windows and doors that like they're being swallowed by voracious gaping-mouthed creatures designed by Baroque artist Federico Zuccari when he built this place in 1590 as a studio for himself and his children.

Vatican City with Kids  

• Send a postcard from the Vatican Post Office and explore the rambling rooms of the Vatican Museums, passing Egyptian mummies and portraits of Michelangelo on the way to the Sistine Chapel. (Tip: Skip the queues by buying tickets online).

• Take a trip up the dome of St Peter's Basilica, from where you can look down on the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Gardens (dress appropriately to meet the Basilica's strict dress code).  • Visit Castel Sant Angelo, a fortress connected to the Vatican via a covered passageway built as an escape route for the Pope in times of danger. The 58-room museum retraces all aspects of the castle's history, while the terrace offers spectacular views over Rome.

Best Green Spaces in Rome  

• Escape the crowds by going to Janiculum (Gianicolo Hill), where entertainment includes carriage rides and puppet shows, and where you can enjoy the views and watch the firing of the cannon each day at noon.  

• Hire bikes and rowing boats at Borghese Gardens, the most famous of Rome's parks, or indulge little ones with pony and cart rides and a visit to the small funfair.