Take the Kids to Rome!

So, full disclosure. I did not expect to have a good time in Rome with 2 kids under 5. Especially, my kids. The oldest (4) refuses to walk anywhere further than the local shop and hates crowds, retreating inside the cocoon of his buggy like an A-list celeb on the run from the paps. My youngest (2) just has no sense of danger and would literally run laughing into oncoming traffic. Which, as we know, there’s a lot of in Rome.

But we were in Italy, flying in and out of Rome, and my husband had never been. So despite my better judgement, we booked a place in Rome for a few days. And you know what, it was the best part of our holiday!

Staying in the Monti area, we were within 15 minutes’ walk of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Trevi Fountain. Of course, 15 minutes walking is more like 3 hours with kids, so we opted to spend our first morning riding the hop-on-hop-off bus which visits all the main sites and offers a cool breeze while doing so. Admittedly some of the commentary was a bit unusual [“this area is a melting pot of different cultures which aim to achieve integration, mostly successfully”], but the views were great.

We hopped off at the impressive Castel St Angelo and wandered up to St Peter’s Square in the Vatican, spent an eye-watering amount of money on coffee and a snack, admired the view, and browsed the various souvenirs on offer. The 2024 Calendar of Hot Priests, anyone?

In the afternoon, we set out for the Colosseum. TOP TIP: Book early, preferably as soon as you book your flights. Or you will end up having to get a ticket by paying for the audio-visual guide which your 2 year old will rip out of your pocket whenever your back is turned. And then will somehow reset the screen to show the latest stocks and shares prices. [No I don’t know how she did it, either.]

In fact, my actual top tip for the Colosseum is not to bother going inside, and just to admire it from the outside. Preferably in the early morning before the crowds.

On our second day, we hopped on the bus again and went up to Villa Borghese, an 80 hectare area of gardens, museums and outdoor attractions, perfect for escaping the heat of the city. We hired a 4-person pedal car, and made a slightly hazardous tour of the park. A frisson of danger was added by the discovery that our bell didn’t work, so we negotiated the steep hills packed with pedestrians, scooters, ponies, bikes and other pedal cars, by shouting a chorus of ‘beep-beep’ at regular intervals, which, of course, the kids loved.

So overall, our stay in Rome was a huge success, probably the best part of the whole Italy trip. Here are my top tips for planning your Rome trip with kids:

1) Stay central. You’ll probably end up paying a bit more, but you’ll also see so much more. And it’s easy to pop back for chill-time or a nap. 2) Get the 48 or 72 hour hop-on-hop-off bus ticket. It’s a great first-day activity, and you can use it for the rest of the stay to roam about the city. 3) Book your attractions as soon as you book your flights – you’ll get the best entry times and it will mean you’re guaranteed to see everything you want. 4) Get out and about early. The added benefit of having kids is you’re probably up early anyway. Make the most out of it to see the sights before the crowds. 5) Plan your meals. When everyone is tired and grouchy it’s easy to just opt to stop at the nearest café, but there are so many fantastic place to eat in Rome, from pizza-kiosks to posh restaurants, so it’s worth taking the time to research the best ones. Or just ask your Travel Counsellor!

For more tips on travelling in Rome, or to discuss your next family holiday, get in touch!