Expert selection of the best things to do in Rome with kids: Rome family-friendly attractions, Rome museums for kids, parks, food and family tours in Rome for kids of all ages.
When I first set out to writing this list of the best things to do in Rome with kids, I started off with 10.
This was partially not to overwhelm you with a million things, and partially because the city offering, in terms of kids activities, wasn’t half as wide as it is now.
Over the years, things have changed and now Rome offers a staggering amount of things to do with kids, ranging from child-friendly tours, to classes for kids to parks and more.
I know this well: I am a mama and I am from Rome, so I very much have the finger of the pulse of what being in Rome with kids is like!
Families who visit Rome for the first time can easily involve the kids in sightseeing and visits to Rome’s main sites, suprisingly child friendly.
People with a little more time in the city can choose between many family tours, child-friendly attractions and outdoor activities.
People who live in Rome with kids can do even more, also taking their time to explore children bookstores, local parks and of course going sightseeing, which you’ll never finish doing in Rome, no matter how long you stay!
In this post, I will share as many as I can! For ease of reading, I have arranged this post in sections, starting with
Top 10 things to do in Rome with kids for first time visitors: these of course include the top landmarks and tours
Additional kid-friendly activities and places to see in Rome: a list of additional ideas for visitors that want to go beyond the most famous sites, have more time or even for locals who want to explore their own city with kids.
I hope you enjoy it!
Top tip! If you are in Rome with older kids and young adults, I recommend you also read my guide with things to do in Rome with teens.
Please note: this post contains affiliate links and, should you make a purchase through them, we might make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Top 10 things to do in Rome with kids
Explore Rome city center (with a scavenger hunt)
Suitable for kids: 4 to 12, depending on approach chosen
The uniqueness of Rome stands in the fact that the city has been inhabited continuously since its foundations, well over 2000 years ago (Rome was born in 753 B.C.!) and it is therefore like an open air museums.
This means that if you do nothing else in Rome, a walk in the city center to soak in its unique vibe is the one thing you should do!
In the city center you find Rome’s most famous landmarks such as the Trevi Fountain (make sure you have a coin to throw in!), the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Pantheon etc and many hidden gems that are, often, even more fascinating that the landmarks themselves!
The best way to explore the city center with kids is by strolling with the aid of a guide to keep them engaged and interested. Depending on your budget and what your kids prefer, you can:
Take a guided scavenger hunt tour, with a kid-friendly guide that showcases Rome though riddles and questions, to keep the children engaged and having fun. This one here is excellent for kids 6 to 12 (more or less, age is just an indication).
If you have very young kids who cannot really engage with facts yet, or you want a budget option, you can also go self guided with my very won scavenger hunts. I have created several, including a Rome Bingo with the top sites, special ones like my animal statue scavenger hunt (there are many in Rome and it’s a great excuse to get them to look for animals no matter where you are) and more specific neighbourhood hunts – they are all free, and you can print them and make a little booklet with them, for the kids to use as they go.
Visit the Colosseum and Ancient Rome (with a kid friendly guide)
Suitable for all ages (self guided); 6 and up (with kids tour)
The Colosseum always makes an impression on children and it is a wonderful place to visit as a family.
There are many ways to go about it and the best one depends on your style of travel, age of kids and interested. At a glance, the options are:
You can find all my tips for visiting the Colosseum with kids here. But, at a glance, there are two main ways to visit :
Go self guided: this is a great option if you are not interested in a lot of info about the place or do not have the time or inclination to read about it (if you do, I have here a free guide to the Colosseum who can help you make the most if your self guided visit). If you go self guided, you can get timed, skip the line tickets form the official website, which is this one, or from their official partner GetYourGuide (choose the ones marked as ‘official’, the link should open directly on them, but always double check).
If you want to make it fun for the kids, depending on age they may enjoy my free Colosseum printables, that can make the visit more interactive
If you prefer to have a guide, there are some exceptional child-friendly tours that are specifically for kids and approach the Colosseum with an interactive and game based approach.
My favourite one is this one by LivTours, which is a super family friendly company – led by two parents of young kids, they know exactly what families need and they are super selective of their guides, so the standard is top.
Should they not be available on your dates, other excellent ones are this one (only second because the booking interface is a little less intuitive, in my opinion) and this one, which is by the same company as above but comes in semi-private offer, which means you have a chance of being paired up with another family, which can add to the fun!
The Colosseum is what kids tend to be most excited about but the Forum and Palatine are just beside it and wonderful. These are the areas where you truly see how Rome was as a city, you find yourself literally working on the footsteps of the Romans and since the place is open air, you can easily enjoy it even just as a unique and incredible park. It is one of the most unique places in the city and 100% worth visiting, especially with a guide or a bit of background info (you can read my guide to the Roman Forum here)
Visit the Vatican (with a child friendly guide)
Suitable for kids: Basilica (all ages); Dome climb (6 and up); Vatican Museums: all ages but recommended for 6 and up
Vatican City is inside Rome and a powerful, meaningful place to visit with kids. Like the name suggests, Vatican City is not just a landmark but a city within the city (Actually, Vatican City is a whole country!), made of several areas and attractions. Some of them area easy to enjoy for children; some… a little less!
With kids, I recommend you see:
St Peter’s Square, Basilica and the Dome: this areas is made by the large monumental square in front of St Peter’s Basilica and the Basilica itself, a masterpiece of architecture and one of the most meaningful places for Christians and Catholics.
Both these areas are easy to visit with kids and free, plus if you have adventurous ones you may easily impress them by adding a climb to the top of St Peter’s Dome, which offers icredible views! The way up is by hundreds of steps so kids tend to find it exciting and fun but you do need slightly older ones as it is quite an endeavour! I recommend you read here >> my guide to climbing St Peter’s Dome, to get an idea of what it entails.
Vatican City is also home to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. They are stunning and really worth visiting but they can be hard for kids due to crowds, size and topic (not of immediate interest for many kids).
You can visit in your own time but, personally, I find them much better with a guide. Unlike most other places in Rome, the Vatican Museums really are hard to navigate alone and especially for kids, it can easily be overwhelming and very boring.
My favorite chid-center tour of the Vatican is this one. I love it because it is engaging and game based but manages to give a lot of info to adults too and it also comes with tickets, so you don’t have to worry about sourcing them.
To get an idea of how to plan your day and what you may want to see, I suggest you read my (free) guide about visiting the Vatican with kids
Explore Castel Sant’Angelo – one of the most child friendly attractions in Rome
Suitable for: 6 and up especially (no strollers allowed), younger kids welcome but can find it challenging
Castel Sant’Angelo is Rome’s castle and one of the best Rome attractions for kids as it has it all: incredible histories of intrigue, prisons, bastions and even cannot balls!
The castle is along the river and it is easy to visit in your own time, since there are many good info panels along the way or you can get tickets with audioguide which are even easier to follow. > Get them here <
Take a golf cart or vespa sidecar tour to see more of the city
Suitable for: All ages (golf cart); height limits apply to the vespa sidecar one.
Rome is a large city and while the city center is easy to explore on foot, it is one of those cities that has you clock in 25k steps a day! So, a great way to see a lot but keep walking manageable, with kids who may not be used to these distances, is to explore on a fun vehicle such as a golf cart or a super fun vespa with sidecar!
I have taken both these tours and they are both incredibly fun but best for different ages.
A golf cart is ideal for small kids: they are slow-ish, they have car seats and you can sit with your child. My favorite kid-friendly golf car tour is this one, ask for Brando as your guide!
The vespa sidecar tour is most suited to slightly older kids (not toddlers) simply due to the nature of the vehicle: the sidecar only takes one person so your child rides alone, with you on the vespa beside it.
I have done this very recently with my teen and it has been one of the best things we have ever done in Rome, we had an absolute blast! I highly recommend it: the tour we took was this semi private one, with also got us to meet a very nice family we had lovely chats with.
Take a cooking class – pasta or pizza making are typical of Rome
Suitable for: all ages (toddlers ‘help’ you)
If your kids love hands on activities, than a cooking class in Rome is one of the best things to do in Rome with kids you can ask for! The most traditional dishes from the city are pasta and pizza, so it makes sense to focus on those.
Over the course of the years, we have taken several classes and we have some favourites! Those we loved most of all are:
Pizza making in Trastevere, this class here specifically, which is hands on, in a stunning school and really social.
Pasta making in Trastevere, this one, which is super hands on and fun as they get the kids to use a lot of different implements and shapes. The photo you see below is myself and my daughter taking the class! I also have a full review here.
Be a gladiator for a day by taking a gladiator class
Suitable for: 6 years old and up especially
If your child loves gladiators, then they may love the opportunity to be one, for an afternoon!
Gruppo Storico Romano organizes gladiator classes for kids and adults and they are great fun: outside of the city center, you will need a taxi to get there but it can be worth it for an experience that is truly unique to Rome.
What I loved about this class is that unlike many gladiator movies and stories, it is not gory and exaggerated but rather, explains what gladiators where, what the connection with the Roman army was, how their trained etc, which adds a lot of depth and historical information to something kids are already interested in but hardly ever have actual information about. >>> Find info and prices here
Go to Villa Borghese (park) and its zoo
Suitable for: all ages
Villa Borghese, in Rome city centre, in one of the capital’s most beautiful parks.
Here you have the zoo, playgrounds and a small pond with rowing boats for hire, plus the chance to rent bikes and pedal go karts.
This is also where the famous Borghese gallery is: while not for kids as such, this is a wonderful museum and a small enough one for kids to enjoy.
Rome zoo sits inside Villa Borghese and it a fun place for small kids and toddlers especially.
The zoo doesn’t really compare with large zoos too may have visited in London or San Diego however, it is cute for little kids and often offers organised events with an educational focus.
Take a food tour (guided or self guided)
Suitable for: all ages if kids are adventurous eaters
Rome has incredible food and a really fun way to tap into its variety is by taking a food tour, with a live guide or self guides!
I have recommendations for both!
For Guided food tours, I love these two: Trastevere Food Tour (group tour, focuses on the area of Trastevere which is beautiful and a well known foodie paradise) and this one by LivTours, which is only up to 6 people so it feels super personal and intimate and focuses on the city center and Rome Ghetto, with its unique culinary tradition.
Th group tour is excellent for older kids while the small group is also suitable for littles, as they can pace it to their own needs.
If you prefer to go self guided, since I am from Rome, I have made a diy food ‘tour’ you can take in your own time. You can find it here >>> DIY Rome food tour for families. You can make it more interactive with kids with my free Rome food printables too!
Cycle along Via Appia
Suitable for: older kids especially due to the use of bikes / difficult terrain and length on normal bikes
A really fun and unique thing to do in Rome with kids is taking bikes and cycle along Via Appia, one of the most ancient streets in Rome. Via Appia is now an archaeological park and UNESCO protected site and a stunning green area where to experience both history and Rome natural setting. You can get bikes or electric bikes depending on age of kids. Find info and prices here.
More fun and interesting things to do in Rome with kids
Watch a Roma match at Stadio Olimpico
Stadio Olimpico is the big soccer stadium in Rome and a great place to go with kids who love sports!
During soccer season, you can get tickets for the family area of the stadium and watch La Roma play from reasonably comfortable and safe seats.
You can book your ticket from the stadium directly here. Or read here: how to see a soccer match in Italy with kids
Have gelato
well, of course! Easy to do while strolling, you may like to have some tried and tested addresses for it. Find here > my selection of the best gelato in Rome. Remember that we have some cute gelato printable for your kids, should they want to keep score of their favourite finds!
Learn to make gelato
Nothing beats eating gelato but in Rome, you can also learn how to make it. Making gelato is simple in theory but fascinating in practice and comes with an additional advantage: once you know, you’ll forever be able to spot real gelato vs industrial ice cream and choose the very best not matter where you are! You can find info and prices here
Take a family-friendly mosaic class for kids
Kids age 6 and up might love taking a mosaic class with a real artist.
This is a wonderful art-based activity for kids in Rome and perfect for primary school age kids and teenagers and my personal favorite of all the kids’ activities in Rome as it is not a gimmicky one for them: it’s a proper immersion in a real artisan workshop devoted to an ancient art. You can find prices and full description here.
Join a kids tour with drawing with AJ
A lovely activity for kids who love art and drawing is this Rome city center tour with art lab, led by lovely AJ. AJ is amazing with kids, and she brings them around Rome city center helping them to discover its secrets and create their own art as they go. This tour is the guided version of my very own animal statue scavenger hunt mentioned above, and works great for kids who do best with a live guide and are old enough to enjoy anecdotes and stories about the city.
Go to the park
Rome has wonderful parks. The main one, and such a cool one I actually consider it one of the top things to do in Rome with kids (see above) is Villa Borghese, but there are many more to explore. Among the many, Villa Doria Pamphili, Villa Torlonia and Villa Ada are all worth it. Find here >> best parks and gardens in Rome.
Let them play in Explora, Rome’s children museum
Suitable for: all ages
Scientists in the making, lovers of trains and tiny tots will love a visit to Explora, the children museum of Rome.
Here you can play in a soft area (for under 3s), learn about hydraulic machines and even drive the Italian high-speed train ‘freccia rossa’.
Get interactive fun in Museo Mostra dei Leonardo – interactive Rome museum for kids and adults
Suitable for: All ages
Palazzo della Cancelleria in Rome city center hosts a permanent, wonderful exhibition of Leonardo’s machines.
The exhibition has a hands-on approach; kids can experiment with several of the machines (not all) and have a dedicated corner to build Leonardo’s self-supporting bridge. You can find here >>> our review of Leonardo’s Exhibition and why we love it.
Have fun in Rome’s Museum of Illusions
Suitable for: all ages
The Museum of Illusions is one of the best museums in Rome for kids, perfect for those moments when they need some pure, non-sightseeing related fun!
The Museum is on Via Merulana, in the city center, takes about 1 hours to visit and has several rooms and installations that will trick you eye and perception to make you reconsider reality as we know it!
The museums is especially suited to kids age 6 and up, but all ages can enjoy it. It is fantastic for a teens too You can read our full review and see photos here >>> Rome’s Museum of Illusions review and tickets
Visit the Capitoline Museum (with a Percy Jackson Tour)
Suitable for: 6 and up especially
The Capitoline Museums are one of the best museums in Rome and can be of great interest to kids especially if they like Roman Mythology.
In the museums and surrounding are you can see the Rome she-wolf and kids will recongize many figures from myths and legends. You can visit the museums on your own, in which case I recommend you read our free guide to the Capitoline Museums with kids here, or you can take a specialised Percy Jackson tour for kids – really fun and well done!
Meet ancient Roman Character with a drama-led Julius Caesar’s tour
A unique and fun way to learn and experience Rome city center is by joining a drama-led tour of the places in Rome associated with Julius Caesar, a character school age kids are likely to know!
The tour is suited especially for tweens and older kids (and adults) and it is fun, informative, unusual and immersive, as you learn about the events around the end of Julius’ Caesar’s life just where they happened. This is perfect if you like tours that are highly interactive, enjoy drama or just want to see Rome in a completely different and unique way. Find info and prices here.
Visit Ostia Antica with a kid friendly tour
Ostia Antica is one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in Rome and one many visitors miss. Considered a ‘little Pompeii’ (another it is not little at all!), it is a great place if you want to get away from the crowds, learn history and get some fresh air. You can visit Ostia Antica by yourself if you just want a stroll in beautiful surroundings but I highly recommend you take a kids’ tour of it too, to understand what you are seeing. Like in Pompeii, a guide really makes the place come to life and will make you imagine people truly living here, including a cafe where the ancient Romans would have hanged out, just like we do today!
Visit a cat colony – for kids who love a furry cuddle!
Rome has special legislation in place that protects strays and there are several spots in the city where you can see cat ‘colonies’, groups of cats fed and looked after by volunteers.
You can read why cats are protected in the city in our article about Rome street cats.
Go to Romeow Cat Bistro
If your kids love cats, I have another place to recommend they may love: the Romeow cat bistrot. The cafe is a lovely, vegan bistrot and very much a food establishment: you come here to eat, not just see the cats, but it is a proper cat cafe as it has many cats happily living here and enjoying life!
The place is adorable and unique. You can come here for lunch or even just for cake: booking highly recommended as the place is packed.
Go to the playground
Is it too obvious to state that one of the best things to do in Rome with kids is to go to the playground? Maybe, but Rome playgrounds really help breaking up sightseeing and so, they make this list! You can find here >> playgrounds close to top attractions in Rome
Bring them to one of Rome’s Amusement parks
LunEur – LunEur amusement park is the historical Luna Park of Rome.
Very popular with local children, it is a fun place for a kid-center afternoon and a great address to have especially during school holidays, when the park organizes themed events such as Halloween dress up days or easter themed afternoons.
If you catch a taxi from Fiumicino airport, you may see its iconic Ferris wheel while driving into Rome! Find info and address here
Cinecitta’ World
A fun amusement park with rides for kids of all ages, Cnecitta’ World is outside of the center and is suited to kids of all ages, including teens as it has bigger rides than Luneur, which is more low key
Christmas World (seasonal)
A seasonal and fun attraction in Rome for kids, this is a Christmas Themes park with food stalls, Christmas shows, ice skating and seasonal entertainment coming to Villa Borghese in December.
Have some water fun (summer)
In summer, Rome can get very hot and seeking solace in water is a great way to make days better. In Rome, we have several options.
LunEur water park
Already mentioned above, Luneur is a popular amusement park in Rome and, in summer, it opens a splash area.
Hydromania (Summer)
Outside of the city center, this is a large water park great for summer days. Find info here.
Outdoor pools (summer)
I know you are not going to Rome to lounge pool-side but in summer, a day at the local swimming pool is one of the very best things you can do in Rome with kids!
You can choose between many, some attached to hotels and some favoured by locals. Find info and addresses of swimming pools in Rome here.
The beach
Rome is not famous for its beaches but if you are in the city, a day on water is a great way to cool down and let the kids have fun! Find here >> the best beaches near Rome for families
Relax at the The Pond in EUR
Missing a quiet day at the local pond? Head to Laghetto dell’Eur for a local family experience in one of the most family friendly parks in Rome. The pond is outside the city center but it is easy to reach by metro and, in spring, it is one of the best places to admire cherry blossoms in Italy!
Drink from Rome’s nasoni (drinking fountains)
Ok, ok, I know, drinking from a drinking fountain is hardly an activity, but in Rome, it kind of it! One of Rome’s most distinctive traits is its small fountains or ‘nasoni‘, cool drinking fountains with a peculiar spout that looks like a long nose. They are everywhere in the city and offer free, fresh drinking water.
What makes them special is how they work. The water flows constantly for them: to drink, stand beside the fountain, then put your hand under the flow and press it against the spout to stop it coming out. The water will be forced to come out from a secondary hole and will create an arch from where you can drink. Small kids LOVE this and finding a nasone especially in summer is an almost guaranteed mood booster!
More kid-friendly things to do in Rome
The following museums are not for kids as such, but for topic and layout are great to visit with kids too
Visit the creepy Capuchin Crypt and its bone art
Older children and teenagers tend to love the odd and somewhat disturbing Capuchin crypt, decorated with skulls and bones. You can check for suitability for your family here
Visit the Borghese Gallery with kids who love myhology
Suitable for: primary school age and up, especially if into mythology
Famous Galleria Borghese is worth a visiting at all ages thanks to its compact size and fun animal sculptures.
While the museum is not interactive, it can be easily enjoyed by kids – challenge them to find animals in each room and tell them the stories the statue depict: it is like a treasure trove of myths! You can read here > my free guide to the Borghese Gallery for kids where you can learn what you will see and what the fun stories are!
The museum has a nice playground just beside its back door door (free).
Watch a short movie about Rome in ‘Welcome to Rome’ exhibition
Suitable for: kids 6 and up especially
Virtual reality and 3-D reconstructions of ancient Rome are at the centre of a new museum called Welcome to Rome, in Corso Vittorio.
The visit is short but impressive: adults and kids get an audio-guide explaining the different installations and a small cinema shows regularly a short movie on the history of the city. This is one of my favorite museums in Rome for kids
Good to know: Leonardo’s machines exhibition and Welcome to Rome are very close to each other and easy to visit on the same day
Bring littles ones to the Rome Museum of Police cars
If you have a son like mine, who adores cars, then a visit to the museum of police cars of Rome may be one of the things to do in Rome with children! You can find info and prices here.
Find heights! Viewpoints and high places
Finding high places is often a hit with kids and Rome has some wonderful ones.
Climb to the top of St Peter’s Dome
If your kids love high places, then you must get them to the top of St Peter’s Dome, from where you get incredible views of the city! I have already mentioned this above, in the paragraph on Vatican City, but the dome climb is also a great activity in itself, so I want to mention it here too. The activity is suitable for kids 6 and up especially as it involves many steps and it is an active, adventurous and fun thing to do! You can read my dome climb review here.
Go to the top of the Vittoriano
The Vittoriano is a strange looking building overlooking Piazza Venezia and locals refer to it with a nickname that highlights its peculiarity: we call it ‘the typewriter’ (English speakers often say ‘wedding cake’)
The building is unmissable and has something special: a wonderful terrace with glorious views over Rome.
Kids love climbing up here (you cannot use a stroller but the steps are large and easy) and there is a cafe on the second terrace where they can get a juice or a snack.
From the same terrace, you have a great view over the Forum and the Colosseum!
Get a view from the top of the Capitoline Hill
One of the best viewpoints for stunning views of the forum and a fantastic place to visit in its own right, since the very top of the hill is designed by no less than Michelangelo. This is the same square where you find the Capitoline Museums names above. Find here > my free guide to the Capitoline Hill.
Spy St Peter’s dome from a keyhole from the top of the Aventine Hill
Another fantastic view over Rome is from the top of the Aventine Hill which has more than one spot worth seeing.
One is the Garden of Oranges, which is a lovely garden with a panoramic terrace over Rome (no playground, but the garden is lovely).
The other one is the secret keyhole through which you get an unexpected view of St Peter’s Dome from afar! Both lovely to see. You can read how to find the Aventine Keyhole here
Get swiping views of Rome from Janiculum Hill
One of the highest natural viewpoints just above Trastevere, the Janiculum Hill is wonderful to get a bird’s eye view of teh city. It also has nice green areas and, at 12, the cannot marks midday!
Visit the Colosseum with kids at night (seasonal)
If you have kids who don’t mind staying out a little late, I recommend to visit the Colosseum at night!
In summer / fall, the Colosseum has special openings after hours and the tours are engaging and super atmospheric: my two children loved it!
You can find here >>> our full review and tips for visiting the Colosseum at night
See the Imperial Forum coming back to life with the Forum light show (seasonal)
On summer nights, the Imperial Forum of Augustus come back to life with a light show that uses modern technology to show the public how the Forum would have looked like at the time of its construction.
The show is wonderful and fun for kids of school age and up. With the aid of headphones, listen to the history of the Forum and admire its spaces virtually reconstructed with lights and projections. Wonderful and exciting! read our review here >>> Review of Journey Through the Forum light show.
Take a stroll in Trastevere
Gorgeous Trastevere is a treat at all ages and it is particularly fun to visit for slightly older kids if you at night, when the area comes to life with restaurants, cafes and street performer.
This is one of the liveliest areas to enjoy Rome at night and thanks to the many restaurants, the atmosphere stays family-friendly until pretty late. You can find my family friendly Trastevere itinerary here.
Visit ‘Along the River’ (seasonal)
A fun summer event that sees food stalls and performers along the River Tiber: a family friendly street event perfect for summer nights.
Visit the palatial home of Emperor Nero, now fully underground
Children of school age may have heard of Emperor Nero, a man knows for his excesses. If they do, they may enjoy a visit to the Domus Aurea, Nero’s lavish home now entirely underground!
The house of the Emperor is said to have been the biggest and most decorated ever seen in Rome but had a peculiar history that means now it is entirely under street level. As you visit it now, you find yourself completely underground but there is a twist: at the end of the tour, you are give a headset and, with the aid of visual reality, you’ll see what it was like in its full splendour! You can read here >>> how to visit the Domus Aurea and our tips for visiting with kids
Visit the Rome catacombs
Older, adventurous kids may enjoy a trip to Rome’s catacombs.
Rome’s catacombs are early Christian underground cemeteries expansive over many kilometers under the modern city, forming an impressive network of tunnels.
They are very interesting and while not very scary, sufficiently adventurous for picking the interest of children of (almost) any age. I recommend a visit to the catacombs for kids age 9 and up.
You can find here >>> my guide to visiting the Rome Catacombs with info to help you make an informed decision. You can book your catacombs tour here
Visit Caracalla’s Baths with kids
The Baths of Caracalla are colossal ruins of ancient Roman baths and one of my favourite archaeological sites to visit in Rome with kids.
Imposing and beautiful, the Baths are outdoors: older kids will be impressed by their size while small ones will love the opportunity to safely run around in what used to be a large gym and is now a stunning, open air area. You read our guide and info here
See Rome’s pyramid (outside)
Did you know Rome had a pyramid? It dates back to Roman times and it is fun to see inside and out! You can learn all about Rome Pyramid and see its photos here.
If you love cats, you will love to learn that a cat colony leaves here too: they roam free in the pyramid area and they are super friendly (but they will leave you alone should you want to, so don’t worry!).
Take a tour to learn about Ostiense’s street art (older kids)
If your family loves street art, make sure you have a stroll in the area of Ostiense, a great place for local atmosphere too. The areas has several interesting murals and is not tourism heavy, which means you also have the chance to experience a different side of Rome. I recommend you do this with a guide (this one is a good tour) as the art is scattered in different locations and it is not necessarily super easy to find on your own.
Vist San Clemente, the ‘layered’ church
Rome has a long history and a place where you can see how different events and times followed one another is the incredible church of San Clemente.
The church exists over several levels: the lower one is the most ancient and dates back to Roman times while the most recent one, at street level, dates back to the VI century.
This is a very peculiar and very interesting archaeological site in Rome that is great especially for school age kids and teenagers who can appreciate the peculiarity of its significance (it is not great for toddlers as the rules about not touching anything are very strict)This is one of the best underground attractions in Rome.
I hope you enjoyed this overview of the best things to do in Rome with kids and it helped you get a sense of what the city can offer in terms of tours, classes, child attractions and child friendly things the whole family can enjoy. Safe travels to Rome!
This post was first published in 2019 and is constantly updates. Last update: October 2026.