I'll be honest though. The thought of tackling Rome with five children was slightly terrifying. Crowds, heat, busy roads and five boys with very different interests isn't exactly a relaxing city break recipe.

But Rome surprised us.

It challenged us, exhausted us and completely won us over.

Arriving in Rome

We arrived in Rome in the afternoon and grabbed a taxi to our apartment, conveniently located near the train station.

It turned out to be the perfect location for our family. The area was much quieter than we expected, with none of the overwhelming crowds you'd normally associate with Rome. The boys were able to walk comfortably without us constantly having to hold onto them, which instantly made the start of the trip feel more relaxed.

After dropping our bags, we headed out to a family-run restaurant that had been recommended by locals.

The food was absolutely incredible.

I've always said Italians know how to do food properly, and this meal proved exactly why. Every dish that arrived at the table looked better than the last, and before long we'd all abandoned the idea of eating our own meals and were taking bites from everyone else's plates because everything was simply too good not to share.

One of the highlights for the boys was Dad's beer, which arrived in a glass so large it looked bigger than his head. The children thought this was hilarious, although Dad insists the glass was deceptively large and there wasn't actually that much beer inside.

Meanwhile, I was perfectly happy with my Aperol Spritz. Ever since visiting Venice, I don't think a trip to Italy feels complete without one.

Exploring Rome

The next morning was dedicated to sightseeing.

To make life easier, we booked a hop-on-hop-off bus. Not only is it a great way to get around the city, but all five boys love sitting on the open-top deck and watching the world go by.

After a short walk to the nearest stop, we spent around an hour enjoying the sights before hopping off to explore properly.

Our first major stop was the Pantheon.

Thankfully, I'd booked skip-the-line tickets in advance because the standby queue was reportedly around three hours long.

Before reaching the Pantheon, we wandered through beautiful cobbled side streets and tucked-away lanes that felt quintessentially Italian. Of course, no stroll through Rome would be complete without gelato, so we stopped to sample some before continuing.

The Pantheon itself was stunning, but one of my favourite moments was sitting in the square outside afterwards enjoying lunch with an incredible view of one of Rome's most iconic landmarks.

Sometimes it's the simple moments that stay with you.

The Trevi Fountain

From the Pantheon, we made our way to the Trevi Fountain.

What I love most about the Trevi Fountain is that you know you're getting close before you can even see it.

You can hear the water.

You can smell the freshness in the air.

Then suddenly you turn the corner and there it is.

It's one of those places that genuinely lives up to the hype.

Yes, it was busy. Very busy. But what surprised me was how respectful people were. Everyone seemed to take their photos before moving aside to let others have their turn. Somehow it all worked despite the crowds.

It was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.

The Spanish Steps... Twice

Next, we wandered over to the Spanish Steps.

For our horse-mad son, this was heaven.

Horse-drawn carriages lined the square below and he would happily have spent the entire day stroking the horses if we'd let him.

The boys then decided they absolutely had to climb the Spanish Steps.

Even the three-year-old was determined to make it to the top.

I decided this was one adventure I was happy to sit out and watched from below while they raced each other up the steps in the Roman heat. From where I was standing, they looked like tiny ants scrambling to the top.

After taking plenty of photos, they all came charging back down.

Then came the discovery that nearly finished us off.

The hop-on-hop-off bus stop we needed wasn't at the bottom of the Spanish Steps.

It was at the top.

So back up they all went.

And this time I had to go too.

By the time we reached the top, everyone was absolutely exhausted. We rewarded ourselves with cold drinks in a lovely little café before finishing the bus tour and heading back to the apartment for some much-needed downtime.

That evening ended exactly how every day in Rome should — with another fantastic Italian meal.

Cruise Time

The following morning we made our way to the train station and boarded the train to Civitavecchia to begin our Mediterranean cruise adventure.

But Rome wasn't finished with us just yet.

One Final Day in Rome

After our cruise, we had one final day in Rome before our evening flight home.

As soon as we arrived back at Rome's main station, we dropped our luggage into pre-booked storage and jumped on the Metro to the Colosseum.

This was the experience I had been most looking forward to.

The crowds were intense.

The Tour de Rome was taking place, roads were closed and the city felt busier than ever.

Fortunately, we had booked a private guide.

And she was incredible.

From the moment we met her, she understood exactly how to engage the boys. Rather than simply talking at them, she brought history to life.

The boys marched like gladiators.

They practised entering the arena.

They learned stories and facts in a way that felt like an adventure rather than a history lesson.

She affectionately referred to herself as their "Italian grandmother" and by the end of the tour I think the boys would happily have taken her home with us.

As for the Colosseum itself, it is every bit as impressive as people say.

No matter how many times you've seen photos, nothing compares to standing there in person.

It's almost impossible to comprehend that people built something so extraordinary nearly 2,000 years ago.

One of the biggest highlights was having special access to the Arena Floor. Standing where gladiators once stood made the entire experience feel even more real.

Why Rome Was Worth Every Minute

Rome with five children isn't easy.

The crowds can be overwhelming.

The heat can be exhausting.

The constant headcount of five children definitely takes its toll on two parents.

There were moments when we were physically exhausted.

There were moments when we questioned our sanity.

But there wasn't a single moment when we regretted it.

What amazed us most was how fascinated the boys were by everything they saw. Places they'd only ever read about suddenly became real. Stories they'd heard came to life right in front of them.

That is why we travel.

Not because it's always easy.

Not because it's always relaxing.

But because every trip helps broaden their horizons and shows them just how incredible our world really is.

We hope Rome gave them a small glimpse into that world.

A glimpse that inspires them to return one day with their own families, partners or children and remember visiting these amazing places when they were young.

If that's the legacy of this trip, then every step, every crowd and every ounce of exhaustion was completely worth it.

Rome, we'll definitely be back.