Rome City Guide
Rome may not top your list of family-friendly destinations, but there is plenty to engage kids of all ages in the Eternal City. I first brought my two kids to Rome when they were aged 5 and 7 and it remains one of our favorite European destinations.
Here are my top 5 kid-approved attractions:
1. Largo di Torre Argentina cat sanctuary (pictured in header)
Sunning themselves on the ruins where Julius Caesar met his fate on the Ides of March in 44 BC are the dozens of cats who reside at Rome’s cat sanctuary. The excavated ruins are open to cats only, but head down the somewhat-hidden stairs to spend time indoors with a rotating roster of 100+ felines, some disabled, who are cared for by volunteers.
2. Gladiator Tour of the Colosseum
Bring the spectacle of the gladiatorial games to life with a private guided tour of Rome’s most famous monument. Enroll younger kids in “gladiator school” prior to your visit for a truly interactive experience, complete with costumes.
3. Pizza Making Class
Even if your kids are picky eaters, chances are they love pizza. Learning to make everyone’s favorite food with a local expert is fun for the whole family. One Street Over Travel can arrange a private class with a pizza chef, followed by a delicious meal of your own creation.
4. Museum of Illusion
Rome’s newest attraction is an immersive (and highly Instagrammable) experience that will delight visitors of any age. There’s even a “smart playroom” for younger kids with brain-teasing games, many of which are available for purchase in the gift shop.
5. Vatican Museum Treasure Hunt
Asking kids to spend a few hours in a museum will usually elicit groans. My solution is to turn museum-going into a game by creating a treasure hunt. My kids were able to spend far more time looking at art when they had a goal and an incentive–a prize from the museum gift shop at the end. Example: try having kids hunt down every piece of art with a cat in the Vatican Museum (see photo above). This worked spectacularly well until my children aged into teens and started to enjoy museums without needing to be bribed.
Ready to plan your family-friendly trip to Rome? Get in touch!