As any capitals of Europe, Rome has a lot to offer in terms of museums, historical sites, exhibitions and activities overall. But what are the essential things to do with children in Rome ?
With such a rich history, Rome has never disappointed in terms of archeological sites and museums. So if you have to compromise between culture, history, parks & gardens you could debate a long time with your kids about what you could do in a weekend breakaway.
BabyBreaks has done some research for you and selected the best child-friendly Indoor activities in Rome so you don’t have to scroll down pages and pages of activities in your favourite travel app.
So here’s our list of great things to do with your kids for your next holiday in Rome.
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1. Explora
Explora is a unique museum dedicated to children which allow our bambini to explore their cognitive and emotional capacities. Opened in 2011, this non profit and private museum will get your kids entertained for less than 2 hours for each session. The museum organises up to 4 sessions per day and also have a kitchen cooking lab. Check out their sessions on their website.
Address:Â Via Flaminia, 82, 00196 Roma RM, Italy
Opening Times: Tuesday to Sunday with 4 sessions per day. Closed on all Mondays, December 25th, January 1st and August 15th
2. Teatro San Carlino – Puppets Shows
Il Teatro San Carlino is one of the most famous theatres in Italy showcasing only children plays made with Puppets and real Actors. Whilst the plays are in Italian language, young kids and adults will still have fun with the shows. The programme changes frequently and they are currently preparing a play around Halloween called Pulcinella e Il Ragioner Dracula. Book your tickets early during school holidays.
Address:Â Via Flaminia, 82, 00196 Roma RM, Italy
3. Vatican Museums
If there is one museum to visit in Rome with the kids, Vatican Museums are worth to go. You need to consider to spend a few hours with a great tour guide that will take you through the essential things to do. Yes these museums are very big, in fact the 5th largest in the world, hence why better to only see a fraction of it with someone who will tells you stories and facts that will please both parents and their children.
Address:Â Viale Vaticano, 00165 Roma RM, Italy
4. Colosseum
If you visit the city of Rome, you can’t miss the famous Colosseum which is still the largest outdoor amphitheatre in the world. The venue hosted gladiators fights, games and many more entertainment activities. The Colosseum was able to welcome up to 50,000 visitors and was a truly innovative way to see and hear the best games for 100 days back in Ancient Rome.
Address: Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
5. Welcome to Rome
A good introduction to the Italian capital must be done with Welcome to Rome, a 4D 30 minutes attraction which will explain to adults and children how Rome was built and evolved through the centuries. This spectacular video projection is a great entry point before heading to Churches, the Colloseum, the Vatican City or a family meal. The show starts every 30 min so you have plenty of time slots to choose from.
Address:Â Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 203, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Opening Times: Monday-Thursday – 09:00 | 19:00 and Friday-Sunday – 10:00 | 21:00
6. Vigamus
With so many historical sites and museums, Rome also has a museum dedicated to video games. Whilst it might not tell you anything about the Roman culture, it would probably satisfy your teens to be in their own world for one hour or two. This is not a venue for baby and toddlers for sure unless you Parents have a passion towards video games!
Address:Â Via Sabotino, 4, 00195 Roma RM, Italy
Opening Times: Tuesday-Sunday – 10:00 | 20:00 Closed on Mondays, May 1st, December 24th, 25th, 26th, 31st and January 1st
7. Villa Borghese
The gardens of the Villa Borghese are magnificent not matter which month of the year you are visiting the Italian capital. The best way to explore the gardens is by hiring bikes. Kids can enjoy different playgrounds with slides, bouncy rides, pony rides.
Last but not least, you have to take some tickets to go to the smallest cinema in the world called Cinema dei Piccoli with more than 60 seats that shows European movies or cartoons for children.
Address: Napoleone I, 00197 Roma RM, Italy
8. Circus Maximus
Going to the Circus Maximus is a a mind blowing experience if you imagine back in time how the chariots races were held in ancient Roman times.
Now the Circus is a great open field that allow your kids to run around without any cars or chariots. The Circus is a short walk from the Colosseum so worth to go especially after you book the 2-hour class for your kids at the Gladiators School.
9. Bioparco di Roma
Located in the Villa Borghese gardens, the Bioparco di Roma is always a fun attraction for families with young children. Expect toddlers to stop by staring many animals and also asking to take the train to explore the whole zoo.
Parents can relax by the lake whilst watching their kids having fun at the play area.
Address: Viale del Giardino Zoologico, 1, 00197 Roma RM, Italy
10. Villa Doria Pamphili Park
The Villa Doria Pamphili is the biggest park in Rome with a palace built in the 17th century, cafes and several children’s playgrounds. Your children will also enjoy a pony ride. This park is a great place to relax far away from the busy streets of the centre of Rome.
11. CinecittĂ World
As you might have guessed it, CinecittĂ World is a themed park around cinema with plenty of rides for kids and adults. This park is about 35/40 min ride from the Centre Rome so expect to take a long taxi ride. You can also take the shuttle going from Viale Luigi Einaudi, near Termini station.
It is advisable to book in advance the shuttle service to take priority. This park is more suitable for kids older than 4 years old unless you are in the summer and you want to take your toddlers to the swimming pool area (La Cinepiscina opens on the 1st June 2019).
12. Museo Leonardo Da Vinci Experience
One of the best things to do with kids in Rome is to visit the Museo Leonardo da Vinci Experience. See replicas of all of his works, including the famous last supper, before making your way further around the museum to explore over 50 working machines designed by Leonardo himself.
Address: Via della Conciliazione, 19, 00193 Roma RM, Italy
13. Hydromania
Opens on 1st June 2022
Hydromania is the only waterpark in Rome, so visiting with kids is a must-do during your trip. With slides, spin bowls, waves, and its own beach, this expansive waterpark is well equipped for families and even features outdoor activities for those who prefer to stay dry on the ground.
Address: Vicolo del Casale Lumbroso, 200, 00166 Roma RM, Italy
14. Luneur Park
Luneur Park is a theme park in Rome and is a great place to spend time with the ids doing something super fun. With rides for kids of all ages, younger children can ride at over 70cm tall, and even the adults can get in on the fun too. Luna Parks has multiple food stations and restaurants and even a McDonald’s too.
There is even a splash zone that opens between 18th June and 4th September 2022. So expect a lot of fun with the kids during the Summer with 6 waterslides and more. So don’t forget your towel, your swimsuit and flip flops!
Address: Via delle Tre Fontane, 100, 00144 Roma RM, Italy
15. Parco Natura Voloalto
Suppose you and your children have a natural affinity for nature and love learning about the great outdoors and different species of animals. In that case, Parco Natura Voloalto is the perfect way to spend your day. Join one of two guided tours around this beautiful park set in the Roman countryside to discover all the animals who live in this conservation area. Book for a guided tour only or a Barbeque tour to get your own barbeque station for the day!
Address: Via Quarto di Galeria, 114, 00166 Roma RM, Italy
16. Parco Tutti Insieme
Parco Tutti Insieme is a children’s playground with a mini-golf course set inside beautiful grounds the whole family can enjoy. Take a walk around the stunning water features, head to the mini-golf course for some family competition and relax in the children’s playground for some fun. There is so much to do here; you can even grab something to eat in the picnic area and take advantage of the barbeque. For things to do with kids in Rome, you should head to Parco Tutti Insieme for downtime and fun.
Address: Via della Tenuta della Mistica, 00155 Roma RM, Italy
17. Il Fantastico Mundo del Fantastico
Take a visit to Il Fantastico Mondo del Fantastico to discover all of your children’s favourite characters in one place. From princesses to superheroes, Merlin and Peter Pan, your children will have the best time in this beautiful green open space taking in real life shows and performances from all of the characters who live in the Fantastic World of the Fantastic. Journey through the different lands or head to the picnic area for something to eat, and then take time to relax during your trip in between adventures.
Address:
Visit Website
18. La Casa delle Farfalle (Butterfly House)
Discover the life of a butterfly-like never before. Las Casa delle Farfalle is home to over 30 species of butterfly, all living in a recreated tropical climate. Walk through the butterflies in real life with them flying all around you and take a guided tour before heading outside to enjoy the children’s playground, food and drinks stalls, and so much more.
Address: Via Labico, 140, 00178 Roma RM, Italy
19. Museo Civico de Zoologia
Museo Civico di Zoologia has over 5 million different species preserved. An immersive tour around the museum allows you to use multi-sensory and multimedia tools to explore biodiversity in the animal world, how they adapted to life, and how the environment affected different species. A must-visit for everyone who loves exploring the past and how the world has evolved.
Address: Via Ulisse Aldrovandi, 18, 00197 Roma RM, Italy
20. Oasi Park
Oasis Park is a theme park aimed at younger visitors having fun in a fairground environment with a few attractions thrown in for older guests. With train rides, car rides and Baloo Tower, your little ones will have lots of fun at the fair in an area designed specifically for them. You can also find various restaurants and picnic areas set up within the park for you to relax and a free child’s play area, soft play, and so much more.
Address: Via Tarquinio Collatino, 56/58, 00175 Roma RM, Italy
21. Parco Centrale del Lago
Visit some of Rome’s most beautiful gardens, and grounds work by heading to Parco Centrale del Lago. Initially designed for the Olympic Games, the area is now a must-see tourist attraction in Rome and a great place to visit with kids. With water features, fountains, and stunning scenery, you can enjoy a relaxed walk around the grounds, taking in the beauty of the space and learning more about its history, biodiversity, and more. You can visit The Mushroom for food for a unique dining experience above the park.
Address: Passeggiata del Giappone, 00144 Roma RM, Italy
If you are looking to discover the Italian capital and know its little secrets with interesting places to visit with your kids, there isn’t a better way to do this with a local guide. Even more so if the guide has been chosen to arrange the tour suitable for families.
Kids Tours of Rome is one of these tours that have done a great job for several years. Their hundreds of 5* reviews illustrate this. So maybe an introduction from their founder Vesna Kuljic is a good way to give you enough reasons to book a tour with them.
1. How did you come about to create Kids Tours of Rome?
Previously I worked for several tour companies that arranged regular tours for adults. Having seen a couple of guides that worked with kids, I thought it would be a good idea to start a company. We arrange tours specifically for families with children aged 6 and above.
With the help of several guides that have years of experience in museum education or as teachers /babysitters, we came to âformâ the tours that we considered would be interesting and engaging for the children.
2. How many tours do you suggest? How long it takes?
The number of tours depend on the number of days the family is spending in Rome. Generally, we recommend booking one tour per day and each lasts 2.5 hours.
3. What are the top 3 things children love about Rome/Florence
The top guided tours for kids in Rome are Colosseum and Ancient Rome. Also the food tour for kids and the Fountains and Squares tour. Apart from the sites that can be visited during our guided tour, the kids like the gladiator school and pizza/gelato making classes. As for Florence, the top off-tour activities are visiting the Palazzo Vecchio and Boboli Gardens.
The majority of our tours take place in Rome, however a small percentage is also in Pompeii and Florence. Pompeii is fascinating for children, however not many families have time to visit it during their vacation in Italy.
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