Real Pinocchio, the most delicious gelato, monsters in the park, a museum for real explorers and dancing to the music of street musicians – whatever dad can come up with to keep his child occupied in Rome! Find complete instructions for a two-day holiday with a child in the capital of Italy in this article.
Choose flight and hotel
At the end of November, we decided to find out for you everything about traveling to Rome with a child and sent our vacation director to Rome with his little daughter. The best price for our trip was found in the “Flight + Hotel” package offer. 2 days in a hotel in the center of Rome and a flight in November 2017 cost us 39,800 rubles – 10,000 cheaper than booking accommodation and flights separately.
The Air Moldova flight with a transfer in Chisinau turned out to be an ideal option for my daughter. She began to get tired on the plane, and an hour and a half in the playroom at the Chisinau airport noticeably cheered her up (and on the second plane, the baby slept safely for all two hours). Flights with transfers can be 7-10 thousand cheaper than direct ones. Most airlines fly to Rome – KLM, Swiss, Lufthansa, Air France and others, so there will be no problems with choosing a suitable flight.
Luggage
Standard tickets usually include 23 kilograms of baggage. We also had the Babyzen YoYo stroller with us: it folds easily and fits like carry-on luggage. It is better to be among the first to board the plane so that the hand luggage compartment is free. One suitcase was enough for us: at the end of November in Rome the weather was like in Moscow in the warm autumn, so we took some warm clothes and the essentials for a two-day trip.
Hotel
Inn Rome Rooms & Suites
Budget hotel option for a couple of nights in the center of Rome. You will definitely feel comfortable here with a child – the hotel does not have creaky antique floors, it is located in a fairly quiet area and within walking distance of Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and other attractions. The only thing you need to take into account is that the breakfast at this hotel is very small: a croissant and juice, so stock up on provisions for yourself and your child in the morning in advance.
Moving around the city
From the airport to the city you can take an express train in 45 minutes. The train only runs during the day, so at night the only transportation option is a taxi. In the low season, it is convenient to move around the city on foot (Google Maps will help you),
on buses and metro. The paving stones in the city center turned out to be not so scary – they did not make it difficult for us to move with a stroller at all.
Express Airport – Rome: adult 16 euros, child – free.
Metro ticket: 1.5 euros
Photo: Adam Wood
Entertainment
What you can do with children in Rome? Lots of options! Basically all entertainment is very low cost or even free.
Free
Run around the fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona
The Fountain of the Four Rivers is one of the most famous fountains in Rome in the very center of the city. Children love it because they can run and jump around it, and parents love it for its amazing 17th-century architecture and the atmosphere of the ancient square.
Dance to live music in the streets
Street musicians are an integral part of Rome. Unknown performers and famous bands perform on the streets of the city, listening to them is a pleasure. Give your child a couple of coins to put in the musician’s hat – a useful and fun activity for your child.
Throw all your change into the Trevi Fountain
Every year more than 1 million euros are taken out of the main fountain of Rome. Good luck!
Walk near the Colosseum
The Colosseum delights all travelers without exception with its grandeur and architecture. Built in the 1st century AD, the amphitheater has survived two thousand years of history and has remained virtually unchanged! Near the Colosseum, children will be interested in the revived heroes of ancient legends, knights and gladiators. If you get tired, you can rest on a bench overlooking one of the most famous monuments of world architecture.
Try all the gelato in Rome
Italian gelato is a national dish along with pizza and pasta. In Rome, you can completely legally gorge yourself on a delicious dessert – it’s good that there are gelaterias literally at every turn. Look for the most unusual flavors and make your top 5 most delicious ice cream!
Visit the famous toy stores Al Sogno and Bartolucci
Al Sogno, a toy store in the heart of Rome, in Piazza Navona, is the dream of every child. Here you can touch toys for every taste and color, try on masks of fairy-tale characters and run up the spiral staircase – the store has two floors. Be prepared for the fact that your baby will definitely beg for a couple of new plush friends.
Where is it: Piazza Navona, 53
Bartolucci is a family-run wooden toys and souvenirs store that was founded in 1506. Pinocchios of all kinds, animals, birds, heroes of national fairy tales, which are made exclusively from wood, will not leave any adult indifferent. And it will be difficult to tear a child away from bright toys and a huge wooden motorcycle.
Where is: Via dei Pastini, 96-98-99
Take a walk in the Villa Borghese park
In the huge old park, you can not only see a tiger and a giraffe (there is a zoo in the park), but also ride electric cars, lie on ideal lawns and dine in the shade of spreading trees. Children will definitely love the puppet theater, which is located here, and the world’s smallest cinema. In the center of the park there is a hippodrome – during the season you can ride a pony there.
Where is it: Piazzale Napoleone, 1
Watch the sunset on the Aventine Hill
On the Aventine Hill you will find that authentic, unique, eternal Rome – with orange gardens, secluded corners of parks and stunning views of the evening city. You can have dinner right here, sitting on marble benches in the park or in one of the many cafes.
Where else to go with a child
Explora Museum
An interactive museum where a child can try himself in the role of a rescuer, fireman, salesman, doctor, and also run, push and twirl whatever he wants. An absolute must-do for active and restless children!
Where is: Via Flaminia, 82
Price: 8 euros adult, 5 euros child
Zoo
The oldest zoo in Rome is located in the Villa Borghese park. It is quiet here, there are no crowds of tourists or queues – but there are crocodiles, pheasants, tigers and several dozen other wild animals, which are talked about on free excursions. The young naturalist will love it!
Where is it: Piazzale del Giardino Zoologico, 1
Price: adult ticket 16 euros, children under 3 years old – free
Hydromania Water Park
Great place to relax with children on a hot day. Children will love the many slides of all sizes, games and splashing around in the pools. For parents – sun loungers and ice cream while the children have fun. The water park is open from June 1 to September 3.
Where is: Vicolo del Casale Lumbroso, 200
Price: adults 20 euros, children 15 euros
Monster Park
The park is located an hour’s drive from Rome, in the town of Bomarzo. The park is a Renaissance monument full of surprises that will captivate not only children, but also adults. The park contains about 30 fantastic sculptures based on mythological motifs: the Gates of the Underworld, Pegasus, Neptune, Nymphs and many others. All the sculptures are almost 500 years old, so they really look fabulous and even scary at times.
Location: Località Giardino, Bomarzo VT
Price: adults 10 euros, children from 4 to 13 years old 8 euros
Photo: OneTwoTrip recreation director Alexey Kiryanov
OforYou can book hotels online on the website or in the OneTwoTrip application.
