First hand, expert list of the very best, unmissable things to do in Rome with kids to experience the very best of Rome as a family -tried and tested by a local mom (that’s me)!
If you are planning a trip to Rome with kids and feeling both excited and a little overwhelmed by all the things to see and do: don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!
My name is Marta, I a Rome mama of two with a big love for my city and a passion for helping families make the most of their time here and this is my website, all about visiting Rome with kids!
As you explore my website, you will see I have many suggestions for fun things to do, from big attractions, to hidden gems, and theme parks – here for instance, you find a list of over 60 things to do in Rome with kids!
But if you are just starting out, you probably do not need all of that just yet, you need a more efficient, easy to follow guide to help you pin down your absolute must see.
This is why I wrote this post!
In this guide, I’m sharing my hand-picked shortlist of what I consider the top unmissable things to do in Rome with kids: a carefully selected list of must-see attractions and family-friendly experiences, perfect whether you’re visiting for a few days or planning your first Rome itinerary with kids and need an essential list of things not to be missed. You can then add to these later!
In this post, you’ll find iconic landmarks, beautiful parks, fun tours, and authentic local experiences — all family-tested, kid-approved, and truly Roman. Each experience has been tried by me and my kids (and we’re pretty picky!), so you can trust these are the real highlights for families visiting Rome.
This is my list of what I consider the top 5 unmissable things to do in Rome with kids as a first time visitor.
Please note: this post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase, we may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you.
Explore Rome’s Historic Center
The top things to do in Rome with kids is just being in Rome and no, I am not joking!
Rome’s historic center is like a giant open-air museum and being here, walking around and taking it in is fun, meaningful and enjoyable for curious kids and parents alike. The place is beautiful, full of funny stories to learn and of course it has copious amount of gelato to make the walking easier. What’s not to like?
My favorite way to explore is on foot. I you like spontaneous exploring, you can definitely just explore, get lost and see where adventure takes you: Rome is safe and getting lost in it is part of the fun!
However, Rome is also full of stories and, without some guidance, you may find that you miss things and insights that make the city interesting and also fun for kids and adults.
To help you with this, I have put together specific guides to top attractions (see below), suggested itineraries and scavenger hunts for kids!
You can read my guides top highlights like:
- Piazza Navona – beautiful, car free, has a great toy store!
- The Pantheon – majestic! And the hole in the roof incredible to see
- Trevi Fountain (don’t forget your coin toss!)
- Torre Argentina’s cat colony
You can follow my step-by-step itineraries here:
To scavenger hunts for kids, on the other hand, are here > Rome scavenger hunts for kids, with things to find and fact cards.
The Colosseum – A Kids’ Favorite!
It may sound obvious, but it is true: a family trip to Rome is complete without visiting the Colosseum, one of the most iconic landmarks in Rome and the world at large. The Colosseum is beautiful, easy to visit and kids tend to love it: its size alone is jaw-dropping, and it’s a place children recognize instantly from stories of gladiators and ancient Rome.
You can find all my tips for visiting the colosseum with kids here. But, at a glance, there are two ways to go about it.
Self-Guided:
If you love to visit places independently, you’ll be happy to hear you do not necessarily need a guide to visit the Colosseum. The Colosseum has an official ticketing website and you can secure tickets from it yourself: all tickets are timed so that there are no lines: you book your preferred slot and juts go to the entrance at the alloc
The Colosseum website is not the easiest to navigate, but I have an easy to follow guide that can help you make sense of it and pick the right tickets. You can find here >> how to book tickets from the Colosseum website.
You can also make the visit easier with:
- My Free Guide to the Colosseum for Independent Visitors
- My Printable activity sheets for kids — fun facts and games to keep them engaged
Family Tours:
If you prefer a guided experience, there are excellent Colosseum tours for kids that make history come alive.
- My favorite is the Colosseum and Roman Forum Tour for Kids by LivTours, which
Includes a fun scavenger hunt, perfect for primary school children and teens, plus access to the gladiator stage. It also includes a guided visit to the Roman Forum and Palatine, where Rome was born, which are incredible places to follow, literally, on the footsteps of the Romans! - Another excellent tour is the Colosseum Tours for Kids with Mariaclaudia and her team
Hands-on, interactive tours designed for primary schoolers and tweens.
Book via Facebook @Mariaclaudiatours or email mariaclaudiatours@gmail.com
(Tell her Marta from Mama Loves Italy sent you!)
Visit Vatican City with Kids
Vatican City is one of the most important places to see in Rome and while Visiting the Vatican can seem intimidating with children, there are ways to make it manageable and even fun.
The main thigns to know about Vatican city is that it is not one attraction but a cluster of several, some free, some ticketed, some easier to visit with kids, some a little more challenging!.
What to See in Vatican City
- St. Peter’s Square (click to read my guide) – Free to visit and perfect for families. The huge open space and grand architecture make a big impression on kids and there are some cool things about it too: for instance, there is a ‘magic’ trick the columns do which is pretty incredible to see …
- St. Peter’s Basilica – Free entry to the main floor, or climb the dome (ticketed) for incredible views — great for adventurous kids who can handle the steps.
- Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel – Stunning but busy, the Vatican Museums are one of the great museums of the world. You can visit self guided or with a guide and these are one of the very few places in Italy where I believe a guide truly goes a long way!
My Recommended Family Tours of the Vatican:
- Full Vatican Tour for Kids by LivTours, info here
Designed for families, covering the highlights of the Museums, Sistine Chapel, and Basilica in a fun, interactive way. - Vatican Tour for Kids with Mariaclaudia and Her Team
Ideal for children up to 11. Engaging, interactive, and customized for families.
Book via Facebook @Mariaclaudiatours or email mariaclaudiatours@gmail.com
Borghese Gardens
The Borghese Gardens are a vast, beautiful and historic garden in Rome city center which is fantastic for kids. The gardens are large and well kept and have several attractions for kids: the zoo is here, there are several playgrounds, there are areas with carousels and games, a pond with turtles, rowing boats and you can also rent family bikes! You can find my guide to Borghese Gardens here.
As well as easy family fun, the gardens are also very scenic as they have a fantastic panoramic terrace (il Pincio) from where you get stunning views of the city. From here, you can also reach the Spanish Steps on foot and get even more amazing views of the city as you walk down them!
Fun City Tours: Hop on Hop Off Bus, Golf Cart & Vespa Sidecar
Rome is a large city and, with kids, it is often easier to tackle it if you have transport, at least some of the time!
For a unique way to explore, I loved the Vespa Sidecar Tour I took with my son: It’s a a fun way to get around, it is super cool to see and experience, with the people waiving at you as you zoom past them (sidecars are an unusual sight!) and you cover a lot of ground as the vespas are agile and can move swiftly around the city.
If kids are too little for a sidecar, a golf cart tour is also a fun way to visit the city: smaller than a car or bus, golf carts can reach places are other vehicles can’t and they are a safe and fun way to see a lot with no effort. You can read my full review here.
Last but not least, we also have hop on – hop off buses which cannot get into the smaller and more atmospheric areas of Rome but they are great for covering grounds (and are less expensive than the other two!)
My favorite tours are:
- Golf Cart Tour with LivTours – click here for info
Family-friendly, private, and customizable. Car seats available. Our guide, Brando, was amazing with the kids! - Budget-Friendly Bus Tour – click here for info
- MY TOP PICK Vespa Sidecar Tour – click here for info
Semi-private, suitable for older kids (not toddlers). A thrilling, unforgettable way to see Rome’s top sights.
And these are it! If you were looking for an essential, top of the top list of the unmissable thigns to do in Rome with kids, this is my selection!
Of course, there are SO many more things to do, this doesn’t even scratch the surface of all Rome has to offer but if you are short on time in Rome, these are the ones I recommend the most. If you want more, you can find here >> my complete guide to the best things to do in Rome with kids which has over 50 of them. Safe travel planning!