Rome with Kids: The Best 3-Day Itinerary for Families
The Perfect Weekend in Rome with Kids (What We’d Do Again)
If you’re planning a trip to Rome with kids and only have a few days, this is exactly what we would do! You only need around 3 days to see all of the major sites and thats all the time I usually like to spend in a big city at once with kids at a time anyways. Rome is one of those cities that feels magical… but also overwhelming if you don’t have a plan (especially with little ones). Between the crowds, the walking, and the sheer number of things to see, it can go from incredible to exhausting very quickly. Being in a big city with little kids can feel overwhelming to a lot of people but it doesn’t have to! It’s about having a mix of the must-see sights, hands-on experiences, and just enough downtime to actually enjoy it. I always tell my friends or other parents that it’s not going to be perfect. But kids follow your behavior so try to stay calm and don’t overpack your schedule. Also, if possible always have a few parks or play places bookmarked as some backups.
We recently spent a weekend in Rome with our kids, and after lots of trial and error, this is the itinerary we’d recommend to any family.
Where to Stay:
Option 1: ➡️ The Tribune Hotel - JDV by Hyatt
We found this hotel through Hyatt. It was directly across from the Villa Borghese and only about a 15 minute walk to the Trevi Fountain! We loved that they included breakfast and it was a mix of some hot food (American too! Like eggs, bacon, etc. which is harder to find than we realized in Italy) and pastries and other cold items also. The rooms were a good size and had some better options for families. It’s common for some rooms only fit 2 people in a room in Europe. This hotel has multiple room types that were great options for families.
They also included everything in the mini fridge for free! It had some water, soft drinks, juice and even wine and beer. They also have a cute rooftop restaurant where we had dinner our first night (we arrived late) and the food and drinks were reasonably priced and the view was amazing as we got to watch the sunset from up there. We would absolutely stay here again!
Option 2: ➡️ Sofitel Roma Villa Borghese
We always love staying at a Sofitel. We have been to multiple all over Europe! This one specifically was so beautifully and in the best location! It was far enough away from the super busy foot traffic but close enough to walk to a lot of the attractions. These rooms were gorgeous and actually big for Europe. This hotel sells out fast so try to book as far in advance as possible. This hotel was also only about 5 minutes from the Villa Borghese park and 15 minutes to Trevi Fountain area. Breakfast can be included depending how you book. This Sofitel also had an amazing rooftop that you can have dinner or drinks on and that is where they have breakfast. It is also great views of the city! We highly recommend the Roma Sofitel but we love staying in them when traveling in Europe because it’s a trusted brand and we know what we are getting.
We always recommend staying as central as possible in Rome so you can easily get around and go back to the room when needed—this makes a huge difference when traveling with kids. We have been to Rome a few times now and loved this area because we were in walking distance of SO much! We were across from the Villa Borgeghese Park for the kids to run around and they had multiple restaurants and stands for coffee, gelato or wine! It was the perfect way to start the day with the kids.
Day 1
We like to keep the first day light, especially if you’re coming off a long travel day. Remember to build in breaks and if you can’t do it all, that’s okay. All of these are walkable to each other within 15 or under between each stop.
Morning
Start with a relaxed stroll through some of Rome’s most famous spots. You can walk to all of these from the hotels we recommended above! These are all relatively close together, so it’s an easy way to ease into the city without over planning.
Spanish Steps: Free to see and walk up or down and take pictures
Trevi Fountain: Free but you can pay €2 and go down to the bottom to get better pictures and avoid the crowd - VERY WORTH IT!
Pantheon: It is €5 to get in and wonder around and you can get a Digital Audio Guide in Multiple Languages! This is so beautiful and was worth it, even with kids.
Afternoon
🥪 Lunch: We loved stopping at Tre Scalini in Piazza Navona for a quick, easy lunch. It is only a 6 minute walk from the Pantheon. You do not need a reservation as you can just walk up. This restaurant has a great view of Fountain of the Four Rivers. They had a great selection for everyone. Including fresh sandwiches (this is what we got) pizza, pasta, salads, burgers, fries, gelato, etc. It was the perfect spot for the adults to rest in the beautiful piazza and the area is great for kids to move around a bit.
They have the BEST sandwiches and they are huge in size!
Walk around the Piazza and this area has lots of shopping and if time and energy allows visit:
- Church of St Agnes
- Palazzo Braschi
OR go back to the hotel and rest for a little before heading back out.
Evening
🍕 Dinner: This ended up being one of the most fun meals of the trip! You do need a reservation! As it gets later it is harder to get a reservation but we managed to get one at 7pm and it was perfect, even with the kids.
Crazy Pizza Rome is not just dinner—it’s entertainment. Music playing, staff dancing and spinning pizza dough, lively, energetic atmosphere It’s loud, fun, and perfect for kids who don’t want to sit quietly through a long meal. The food was great, but the experience is what makes it worth it.
Walk through Villa Borghese park right across the street and get gelato to end your evening.
Day 2
Morning & Early Afternoon
If you only do one thing in Rome with kids—make it this. The BEST Way to See Rome - especially with kids!
👉🏻 Book the Golf Cart Tour of Rome
This was hands down our favorite experience of the entire trip. Instead of walking 15,000+ steps (which honestly just isn’t realistic with kids), we explored Rome by golf cart and it was truly so much fun! You get to pick and choose what you want your guide to take you to see. Our kids didn’t complain once, which says everything about how great this truly is.
What We Choose to See: Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City & secret beautiful viewpoints + hidden gems.
One of our favorite parts was the secret scenic spots our guide took us to! We would have never been able to find it on our own. Rome is built on 7 hills, so it is a LOT of walking. This tour lets you: See more, stay comfortable, keep kids happy & still experience the city in a meaningful way.
If you’re traveling with a mix of ages (we had kids ages 4-26 and adults up to 69), this is the easiest way to make everyone happy.
👉🏻 Read our full review on the Golf Cart Tour.
Why We Loved It:
Completely customizable – you choose what you want to see
Minimal walking – huge win for kids and parents/grandparents
Covers so much in a short time
Access to hidden spots you’d never find on your own
Engaging guide who tells you the history of what you are seeing and made it fun for everyone
After our tour ended the kids were hungry so we went back to Piazza Novena to grab sandwiches and let the kids run around and burn some energy off. There are lots of places to choose from but we went back to Tre Scalini in Piazza Navona and ordered sandwiches to go and sat in the square.
Since our hotel was so close to Villa Borghese Park we came here to walk around and there was a car show going on so the kids loved walking around to see all the antique cars. We then got gelato in the park and the kids rode the carousel and played before we headed back to get changed for dinner.
Evening
Wonder around! The best thing about being in a city like Rome is getting lost in the alleys and different streets with so much to see! We had a BIG group (14 people) as we met up with friends and their kids for the weekend and the only reservation for food we made was for Crazy Pizza. There are so many places to sit down and eat you can find a place without needing a reservation, especially if it's a more casual place like we did this night. We walked back towards the Trevi Fountain (because the first day we it was too crowded to try to get pictures) and we wondered around shops, stopped at a random restaurant and had pizza & pasta and then we got gelato and just walked around.
This is when we figured out THE BEST HACK to get great pictures at the Trevi Fountain!
Since they just started charging for you to go to get close, most people still don’t realize how cheap it actually is to do! Go around 8:30-8:45pm because they only let people in until about 8:55pm. Then as people start to leave you have the fountain to almost yourself until like 9:30pm!!! The price is only 2 Euros per person and kids under 6 I believe were FREE! We got lots of pictures and videos and it was the best experience to be able to throw coins in together!
Day 3
Morning
Sign the kids up for Gladiator School - This was such a fun experience for both kids and adults. You can watch your kids without having to pay for yourself. We had kids ages 4-16 who actually all enjoyed it!
This was such a fun and memorable experience. Instead of just looking at the Colosseum, the kids actually got to step into the world of ancient Rome and learn a little bit about what Gladiators are and did.
What to Expect:
Dress up like a gladiator
Learn real techniques and fighting
Train with instructors
Hear stories about Roman history
It’s interactive, engaging, and one of those activities kids will talk about long after the trip. Our activity was about 2 hours long and was $140 per kid.
Afternoon
After gladiator school, it’s the perfect time to head to the Colosseum. It’s about a 15-20 minute cab ride away from the Gladiator school. But first have some lunch! After the Gladiator School the kids were super hungry so we stopped and grabbed some food before we had a tour of the inside of the Colosseum. You could choose to only visit the outside if you didn’t want to pay to go in,
Even just seeing it from the outside is incredible—but if your kids are up for it, you can also go inside. We recommend booking tickets in advance because especially on the weekends it can get very busy and they can sell out. Individual tickets to the Colosseum are about €18 per person. Guided tours of the Colosseum start at around €40 per person, depending on where you book.
👉🏻 Book a tour of the Colosseum with access to the ground floor.
👉🏻Book a tour of the Colosseum with a Guided Audio App
Other Optional Things to do:
If you have extra time before heading home, here are a few more ideas:
- Visit Rome catacombs - Best for older kids
- Attend a Rome Soccer Match. View the schedule here. Great for soccer fans!
- Visit the new cinema and amusement park in Rome, Cinecittà World - great for a summer trip in the heat
We were taking the train out of the city this evening, so we left around 4pm and it was perfect because the kids were just ready to sit and chill.
FAQ
Q: How many days do you need in Rome with kids?
A: We recommend spending 2–3 days in Rome with kids to see the main highlights without feeling rushed. A well-planned weekend itinerary allows you to visit iconic landmarks, enjoy great food, and include at least one kid-friendly experience.
Q: Is Rome stroller-friendly?
A: Rome can be challenging with a stroller due to cobblestone streets and uneven sidewalks. A lightweight travel stroller or carrier is often easier, especially if you plan to walk between attractions. We did take one out in the city the first day and it was okay but it’s annoying when the streets are busy and narrow.
Q: When is the best time to visit Rome with kids?
A: The best times to visit Rome with kids are spring (April–June) and fall (September–October), when the weather is mild and crowds are more manageable. Summer can be very hot and crowded, which can be harder with younger children.
How do you avoid long lines in Rome with kids?
A: Planning ahead makes a huge difference!
Book tours and tickets in advance
Visit major attractions early in the morning or later in the day
Consider guided tours that include skip-the-line access
Q: What makes Rome fun for kids?
A: Rome can be fun for kids of all ages because it brings history to life. From ancient ruins to interactive experiences like gladiator school, plus gelato stops and open piazzas to explore, there are plenty of ways to keep kids engaged.
Q: Are there good kid-friendly food options in Rome?
A: Absolutely! It is the pasta and pizza capital of the world! There are so many easy options that are good for kids. You can also find amazing sandwich and grab and go options for kids. There is also gelato on almost every corner!
