New Years’ in Rome with kids: learn what New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are really like for families in Rome, where children fit into Italian traditions, restaurant tips, fireworks, and easy ideas like Piazza Navona on January 1st. Perfect for families planning a Rome holiday.
Spending New Year’s in Rome with kids can be a wonderful experience: festive, cheerful, exciting. But it can also be a loud and messy one, so it helps to know what to expect to make the most of this time and avoid overwhelm.
I know this well. I am from Rome and I have two kids and New Years’ is always a bit of a mixed experience for us: there is the fun of parties, food and events, but also issues with logistics (finding a taxi in a nightmare!), crowds and firework noise.
In my New Year’s in Rome post, I explained how the celebrations of NYE are loud and fun while New Year’s Day is busy but quiet. Today, I want to focus specifically, on what New Year’s in Rome is like for families with kids, where children fit into local traditions, and how to plan a stress-free celebration.
I hope you enjoy it!
Are New Year’s Celebrations in Rome Kid-Friendly?
If planning a stay in Rome during New Years’, the first question is you have is: can I bring kids with me to celebrate?
The answer is: it depends!
In general, in Rome kids are welcome everywhere: restaurant, opera house, theatres – it is generally understood that parents will have kids with them and kids can just tag along.
However, there are exceptions.
Some are obvious (night clubs, discos etc), some a little less: for instance, fancy restaurants may have a minimum age requirement especially for evening events.
While this is not common, it does happen, so it is important to check requirement of each places you are considering, especially on a special night like NYE.
Aside form these instances, you will see that, in Rome, it’s completely normal for children to be part of New Year’s Eve celebrations, especially at home or at family gatherings.
Kids often stay up until midnight (or try to!) and take part in the festivities, food, and fireworks.
If you are invited to house party, you will find kids there and it will be completely normal for you to show up with yours.
That said, Rome does not have many early, child-focused public events on December 31st.
Celebrations are geared toward adults and happen late at night, so while you can definitely bring kids along, they will just participate in a general event, not a family- first one.
Eating Out on New Year’s Eve with Kids
New Year’s Eve in Rome and in Italy in general is marked by a large social dinner, il cenone (lit: the big dinner, if you are interested in learning more, have a look here at >> Italian New Year’s Traditions, they are fun!) which happens in private homes and in many restaurants.
Because is it a special occasion, restaurants tend to have a set menu on this night and operate slightly different than during the rest of the year.
While this is not an absolute rule, if you’re considering eating out on New Year’s Eve with children, it’s important to check directly with the restaurant if they have a fixed multi-course menu (most do) and if there is any tweak for kids.
Make sure you ask about both course and price: asking for something simpler for kids may / may not impact on the fixed prices so it is best to know ahead, or you’ll pay plain pasta and much as a plate of oysters!
Also, make sure you know how long the dinner is going to be.
Some restaurants will have different seatings but others may have an offer that leads you up to midnight: ask exactly how the evening runs, to you can plan accordingly.
It will not be impossible to find a normal restaurant with a normal menu: just be aware that it is a special night and plan accordingly.
Going to the theater on NYE in Rome
A fun thing to do on NYE in Rome with kids is to go to the theater, the opera in Particular. The Opera in Rome is close to Termini Station (aka, reasonably central), it is a beautiful, historic theater and it is kid friendly!
We recently went to see their production of The Nutcracker and it was lovely and festive. You do not have a special dress code for the night, kids are welcome and, at the end, there was a small but nice buffet we could partake of. A nice way to spend the evening and very seasonal!
Go to an official event
Rome usually puts up a massive concert for NYE, in Circo Massimo.
The event is public, big, loud and while it is technically kid-friendly, it is not really an event for kids, so I only recommend going if you have older kids who actually enjoy a big concert-going crowds (I am thinking older teens, for instance). The official info about the event is here.
No matter your plans: Stay walking distance from your accommodation
Finding a taxi on NYE in Rome is a nightmare.
The demand is immense, the wait long and there is no guarantee you will get one: not around midnight, not later, not even much earlier, as people use them to go to parties, restaurants theaters etc (no one drives on this night).
It is therefore paramount to find a place for dinner that allows for easy return to your accommodation, on foot.
Good to know: pre-booking a taxi does NOT guarantee they will show up. It happens regularly that they accept the call then cancel if they encounter traffic / difficulties getting to you / find an easier ride. This has happened to us a sufficient number of times for me to feel like warning you about the fact that it may very well happen.
For families, hotel restaurants can sometimes be an easier option, as they are used to hosting international guests and families.
New Year’s Eve at Home or in a Rental
For many families visiting Rome, celebrating New Year’s Eve at their accommodation is the most relaxed option. Most local families opt for this solution just to avoid the messy logistics of a transport and big events in the city and it can be fun, if you join is some of the local traditions!
To make it special and fun, you can do like the locals do: make a special dinner at home with seasonal foods (lentils are typical!), play bingo, let the kids stay up late, watch the fireworks from the window or balcony and let the kids stay up to countdown and toast to the new year.
Good to know: many buildings in Rome have communal terraces at the top, which are perfect to safely watch fireworks. If you are in a rental, ask your host if going up is an option!
Fireworks and Noise: What to Expect
Fireworks are everywhere on New Year’s Eve in Rome, not just at official events.
Despite ever more stringent regulations about private fireworks use, many people fire their own and you will see they are literally all over the Roman sky!
Important things for families to know:
Fireworks can be very loud and may feel very near.
This can be a real issue for sensitive kids so it is important to warn them about them or even equip them with headphones for the loudest part of the night.
They start before midnight and continue after, so don’t be surprised if the noise starts as early as 9pm or so
Noise levels vary by neighbourhood: the more upscale and residential the area is, the less the noise, usually
New Year’s Day in Rome with Kids
January 1st is in Rome is an easier day in terms of noise (there is none, fireworks end when then night ends).
However, it is a day when many attractions are closed and tourism activities like classes tend to stop, so the number of people strolling around the city center is at an all times high.
On this day, local families tend to take it easy at home or brave the crowds and head into the city centre for a walk. This can be lovely or overwhelming depending on where you go!
The area of Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon is PACKED with people, so while buzzing, it can be very hard for kids. If you brave the city center, I recommend you head to the Piazza Navona Christmas market: it is very busy, but it is fun for kids so at least you get some rewarding fun for your effort!
Other areas such as the scenic Colosseum area are much quieter and nicer for a walk and you may also use this day to go to a park: early January can be lovely in Rome weather wise!
The best thing to do in Rome with kids on New Year’s Day
A fin thing that IS for kids and you can do on this day is Christmas World: this is Rome’s Christmas themed park, it is open on New Year’s Day and it is perfect for kids as it safe, Christmassy, has carousels, shows, food stands, and rides especially young kids will love. Find the official site here.
Practical considerations (shops and attractions closures, transport etc)
New Years’ Eve and New Year’s Day in Rome are special days that do impact how things works.
These are not really days to have a anything ‘done’, so if you need to do a big shop or run any errands, it is best to do if before. While the 31st December is still a day when some things function, all become s harder on the national holiday of January 1st.
You will always find essentials in Rome, such as a pharmacy or food: but you may need to walk longer to get them.
Transport follows a holiday schedule on the 1st if January so it will be more limited.
Attractions tend to be closed on the 1st January and tour operators tend to observe the day off.
So, is New Year’s in Rome a Good Idea for Families?
I believe any time is a great time to visit Rome with kids but when it comes to New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, HOW you tackle Rome makes all the difference!
New Year’s in Rome works best for families who:
- Are flexible with schedules (traffic, crowds and closures will impact you)
- Don’t expect early evening events or big family events on NYE
- Are happy to keep things simple and do their own thing
- Have kids who do not mind the firework noise
I do not recommend a short visit to Rome on this occasion if you are hoping for quiet sightseeing, activities and low key time.
I hope you enjoyed this overview of New Years’ In Rome with kids and it helped you plan your stay! Safe travels!
How to enjoy New Year’s in Rome with Kids: pin this!
