Traveling internationally with kids can be an exciting, fun adventure. Traveling to Rome with kids, in particular, can be special kind of adventure. But it’ll take some planning to be prepared to enjoy a family vacation in Rome. It’s easy to see why adults would love to visit, but kids love the Eternal City also. Here are a few things that can help make a family trip to Rome an unforgettable experience.
1.Bring sunglasses
If you’re going during the kids summer break, just know that there will be plenty of sunshine to enjoy. The unfortunate part is that it can get pretty warm in Rome during the summer months. With most of the interesting attractions being outside and Rome being such a walkable city, you’re going to be spending a lot of time outdoors in the sun. This makes sunglasses a necessity for little ones. Besides it’s the quickest and easiest way to look super cool in all of the pics you’re going to take.
2.Bring a hat or two
The copious amounts of sun is a blessing in that the weather is so often beautiful in the summer. That being said, the sun can get to be a bit much as temperatures can easily pass 90 degrees (32c). The chances for high temperatures increase as you begin to approach the months of July and August. You can try to avoid the hottest parts of the day somewhat but you can’t really avoid it completely. After a short while, the sun can become down right oppressive for young ones especially. Even for adults it’s a good idea to bring a hat to keep the sun off of you. Having a couple of hats to rotate is just fine. The next challenge will be keeping it on their heads!
3.Have water bottles ready
You’re going to be doing a lot in Rome, so you and your family will need to stay hydrated. Especially with the previously mentioned heat of summer. Fortunately, all you need is a couple of water bottles and the great city of Rome has got you covered. The city that nearly perfected hydro engineering benefits today from the brilliance of centuries past. Sprinkled (see what I did there) throughout the city are various water spouts that dispense clean, drinkable, cold water. All you need is a bottle to fill up. It was one of our unexpected favorite things about Rome. If you see a spigot with water flowing out of it, just fill up your bottle and you’re good to go. Why can’t every city do this?
4.Wear comfy shoes
There is so much to see in Rome that no matter how long you’re there, you’re going to feel like you needed just one more day. While the transit system is ok, the best way to get around the city is by foot. Not only do you get to enjoy the city more, but Rome is called an open air museum for a reason. With adults it’s not much of a problem. With little ones, though, there comes limitations on how much their legs and feet can take. This is even more of an issue because while ancient Romans was masters of road construction, it wasn’t really designed for the comfort of walking.
There are many sections in the historic center that are covered in cobblestones. They are not all flat and even, as the paved roads we’re accustomed to. This means that it’s not as easy or comfortable to walk on. It’s nothing that a comfy pair of walkable shoes can’t handle. But if you come unprepared, you and especially your little ones will be dealing with a bit of unnecessary pain.
5.Visit parks and playgrounds
After visiting the Colosseum, Pantheon, Vatican, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps the kids may be just about cultured out. But there are several ways to keep them interested and enjoying Rome. One of the best ways is to spend some time in one of Rome’s parks. The Borghese Gardens is one of the best. Not only is it a beautiful park, it also has works of art scattered throughout its grounds. Kids will not only enjoy being able to run around and play, but there is also a zoo, bike rides and a boat ride available as well. When you get hungry there are also several options for food.
There is a nice playground at Piazza di San Cosimato in Trastevere. It’s one of many great piazzas in Rome. You should already be making your way over to Trastevere, so while you’re there, let the kids spend some time at the playground, which they’ll love. As a bonus, the area is shaded so even during the hot summer days they’ll get some relief from the heat. There’s also plenty of room for parents to sit and watch their children play.
6.Eat lots and lots of gelato
There’s nothing that will get kids to love Rome quicker than gelato. Since you’re on vacation you can toss diet and rules about treats out the window. One per day minimum, two per day and Rome will be your kid’s favorite city in the world! It’s really hard to find bad gelato, so while people may have their favorites it’s pretty much a given that you’ll be happy with your gelato. Of course if you’re in touristy areas expect to pay more, but other than that, enjoy!
7.Eat even more pizza (or is it the other way around?)
Pizza in Rome won’t be like pizza from home, especially if you’re from the United States. Even if that’s the case, the kids will love the pizza in Rome. The crust, is really thin and sometimes it’s more sauce than cheese. But it’s amazingly delicious and super fresh. There are plenty of other great pasta options obviously, but every kid loves pizza and while it’s different, it still is amazing.
8.Visit Rome in June
Being a family with kids, the calendar shrinks quite a bit regarding the times available for vacation. Most families are restricted to June, July and August for summer travel. There may be some temptation to wait a bit after the kids get out of school. Don’t wait. Visiting in June is better for weather. You’ll still get really warm (and some cases hot) weather without it being overbearingly hot. Nothing sucks the fun out of a vacation quicker than kids being too hot and uncomfortable to do anything and not wanting to go out because of the heat. The months of July and August can become unbearable and the heat can be unforgiving for adults, let alone kids.
The months of July and August are also the most popular to travel, so the crowds increase. This then brings an increase in price, increased difficulty finding accommodations and longer lines. Traveling to Rome in June helps to alleviate all of that.
Enjoy your family trip to Rome
Rome is such a great city that it doesn’t take much to plan to have a great time. You can even visit Rome on a budget and have an excellent time. Young ones will thoroughly enjoy it as well. With a little extra preparation, you can make sure that traveling to Rome with kids will result in fun for the whole family.
Ready to take a family trip to Rome? If you’re planning on Rome, you might as well take the short trip south and see Naples as well. Find out why our family loved our stay in Naples and why you shouldn’t miss this exceptional city.
Have you been to Rome with your family? Feel free to share any tips or experiences in the comments below.