Rome is a veritable outdoor museum. The city is home to world-famous archeological sites, elegant villas set within leafy parks, and picturesque piazzas, making it the perfect place to explore with kids of all ages. From toddlers to adolescents, the Eternal City offers plenty of attractions for the whole family. We’ve put some of our favorite experiences together in this list and are happy to arrange additional activities based on your preferences – just email us at hello@treasurerome.com!
The seat of the glorious Roman Empire, Rome is so full of history that it can be hard to know where to begin. For a family-friendly introduction to the city’s past, try Welcome To Rome. This multimedia interactive experience includes IMAX-style projections, holograms, and 3D plastic models that reconstruct the city’s most famous sites. In just one hour, the experience provides a great overview of Rome’s history and is a great place to start your visit to the city. It’s educational and entertaining so kids and adults will love it.
Hours: Mon-Thurs 9:00-19:00 / Fri-Sun 10:00-21:00
Address: Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 203
Rome’s Villa Borghese park is best known for being home to the Galleria Borghese and its rich art collection but the park is also home to the Bioparco: Rome’s city zoo. Opened in 1908, the zoo has over 200 different animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians – from penguins and boa constrictors to giraffes and hippos. It also has a lush garden filled with Mediterranean and exotic plants. For plant lovers, we also recommend visiting the Botanical Garden of Rome in Trastevere.
Hours: The zoo is open daily from morning to early evening. See opening times here.
Address: Viale del Giardino Zoologico 20
Food tours and cooking classes are great activities for children and adults alike! We can help arrange many fun walking food tours that will help you discover Rome’s culinary traditions but if you want to try your own hand at cooking, we suggest signing up for a pizza-making class! During this experience, you’ll learn the art of being a pizzaiolo and the importance of using the best primary ingredients – vine-ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and Italian wheat for the dough – while you bake a delicious pie to enjoy afterwards! For more information, see our TreasureRome Experiences or contact us.
Villa Borghese is one of Rome’s largest and most beloved parks: art lies around every corner and it’s full of fountains, museums, lookout points, and more. If you’re in Rome on a sunny day, you could spend hours getting lost in Villa Borghese together with your family. One of the highlights includes the Laghetto (‘little lake’) where you can rent row boats and take a little tour of this picturesque lake while swans swim by at your side. For a spot of exercise, rent a bike or rickshaw and ride through the park in a group! During the summer months, the Globe Theater puts on shows in a replica of Shakespeare’s famous wooden theater. Don’t leave the park without admiring the city skyline from the Pincio, a large piazza at the edge of the park that looks out onto Piazza del Popolo.
Rome is filled with ancient history so why not take the chance to live it rather than just admire it from afar? The Eternal City’s Gladiator School is run by the Gruppo Storico Romano and is a fun way to travel back in time and learn about the history of Rome’s most ferocious gladiators. Learn about the games of Imperial Rome, dress up in armor, and simulate battles during this fun two-hour experience.
Why not take the kids on a day trip outside of Rome? Find out where to go here.
