Any suggestions on sightseeing that would interest them. We have been to Rome twice but without kids, so we are familiar with the city. It's their first time to Europe and want then to enjoy travelling!
rob
Posted by
San Francisco, CA (USA)
559 posts
Rome is a big city with lots of noise and dangers, like traffic and big tour groups. That said, there's things to do and see, just as long as you're getting it to their perspectives. Hopefully they are active walkers, make sure their legs are used to all the movement and build-in nap times to the schedule. After a long bit of walking, and the heat, the ornery monster will flare-up from time-to-time.
Food is an easy one, from pizza, gelato, pastries, pastas and fried foods...everything a kid would want!
Colosseum is an easy one, book tours that include going onto the arena floor and underground. Kids will be in awe of staring upwards and imagining themselves as a gladiator.
Pantheon is another, besides being BIG, the ocular hole in the center of the roof always attracts kids attention. Lots of gelato shops around the area also, good incentive treat.
The Explora Museum is a kids interactive museum where they are the focus, learning about shapes, colors, able to climb and slide around. Near Piazza del Popolo you can kill a solid 2-3 hours here and the kids will be thrilled that Rome isn't just old, boring stuff.
Posted by
496 posts
We visited Rome last July with our 5 grandkids and their parents. Kids 6-12. They enjoyed the Colosseum and Pantheon. We did not do the museum mentioned which sounds great. We did a family pizza and gelato cooking class. It was fabulous fun and delicious evening which covered our dinner that night. Not the least expensive thing to do but that experience was priceless!
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1594 posts
Earlier this month in Rome with our 9 and 6 year old grandchildren, we were surprised how very much they enjoyed Ostia Antica --- parts of it were like a giant maze, they ran around discussing which "house" to buy, they did a dance performance and a mock fight in the theater, they loved the high-up lookout place, and more. If the mosaic floors hadn't been covered up for the winter, they would have loved those, too. Also the multi-seat ancient Roman toilet. Rick Steves guidebook, map, and podcast is good for Ostia Antica. We ate lunch in the town a few blocks from the entrance at a lovely little trattoria called Arianna al Borghetto where the kids were happy with the menu (as they were everywhere we ate on this trip).
They also enjoyed Castel Sant'Angelo even though it was horrifically crowded.
Posted by
Seattle
50 posts
Yes! Another vote for Ostia Antica. It's a great place for kids to run around and get lost in an ancient city. I went there with kids years ago (oldest was 10), and they loved it.
It's also easy to get to via train from Rome. Go to Piramide Station in the south of the city, and it's a roughly half hour ride. The train ride is part of the adventure. And the Monumento restaurant in the modern town is a good spot to eat.
Within the city, the Castel Sant'Angelo is pretty cool as well. And you get to walk over a great bridge to get there.
Da Baffetto is a pizza place that my kids still remember and try to go back to if they visit Rome. That and Giolitti (for gelato). One thing I promised my kids when we were in Italy was "Gelato every day!" and they loved it.