Rome, known as the Eternal City has no shortage of things to do with babies and toddlers. You can stroll through timeless favourites piazzas, gardens, museums, ruins, eat pizza by the slice and enjoy the endless flavours of gelato.
The best times to visit with younger kids are spring and autumn when the heat is not so stifling and the crowds are not as thick. Flight time to Rome takes approximately 2.5 hours, making it very manageable with younger kids. Once in Rome you might choose to rent a car and see some more of the country. There are some fantastic beaches on Italy’s coastline and Tuscany has some fantastic family friendly hotels and houses.
There are some great family hotel options (See ‘Where to Stay) and restaurants will be happy to provide you with kids sized portions of pasta. When choosing a base try to ensure there are plenty of restaurants and if possible that your hotel is in walking distance of some of the sites. Trastevere (loaded with restaurants and bars), Prati (near the Vatican), or Monti (Ancient Rome) are excellent bases for a trip to Rome with young kids.
As a large city, Rome can be tricky with toddlers and it is best to plan your days carefully to incorporate some toddler and child friendly activities into your schedule. Remember that Rome can get very hot during the summer months, particularly in August and this might prove difficult with babies and toddlers. A hop on – hop off bus tour is a great way to see the city and buses are stroller accessible. If you are visiting the major attractions such as the Coliseum and Vatican then you might consider taking a tour as this will allow you to skip a lot of the queues. If you are visiting the Vatican the queues tend to be small around lunch time so try to time it so that you arrive around 1pm if possible.
The Tivoli Gardens, which involve an hour long train journey from the city centre make for an incredible day trip also and offer loads of green space for toddlers to run around in. Make sure to plan your days carefully to incorporate things for you and your little ones.
Please see below for all the information you will need for travelling to Rome with a baby, toddler or young child.
