We'll be in Rome from August 27-Sept 1 with 2 kids, ages 8 and 11. My husband thinks we can do Rome in 3 days and wants to do nearby beach towns, or the Amalfi coast or some picturesque small town for the remaining 2 days. He likes to stay moving. I however think that there are plenty of things to do in Rome with kids for the entire time. He thinks too many museums/historical sites/Vatican tours will be tiresome for the kids but I think we can do a few things each day and take it slowly and let Rome unfold before us and have plenty of times for gelatoes and people-watching. We have tour books on Rome and have checked out the tours for families (for example gladiator school, etc.) but we are in the middle of a philosophical debate-pack it in and see more of Italy or take it slow and stay only in Rome? Any thoughts or observations, including recommendations for small towns (we leave out of Ciampino airport) would be most appreciated!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16742 posts
Is 8/27 your arrival day? From where and at what time?
And is Sept 1 your departure day? If so, are you flying, and from which airport? If by train, to where?
Posted by
OP
3 posts
8/27 is arrival date from Ciampino Airport at 9 PM and departure is from Ciampino as well at 5 PM. Plan to take shuttle bus to and from airport and have a hotel near Termini Station.
Posted by
Wilmington, DE, USA
1072 posts
there's plenty for the kids to enjoy in Rome, and plenty for you too! However, it isn't impossible (or even all that difficult) to take a side trip to the coast for some beach time. Romans do it all the time - train service is great. trenitalia.com will get you tickets, www.tripsavvy.com/beaches-near-rome-1547865 will get you some information (try tripadvisor.com too).
Getting to the Amalfi coast isn't impossible either. 90 minute train ride to Naples. From there I'd take the ferry service to wherever on the coast you want to go (Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano). Fun trip on the boat, lots more scenery than the train. My personal preference is Sorrento. There are beaches (pay and free), wonderful food, easy day trips to Pompeii or Capri. You can also do the bus or boat around the coast. There is a boat trip from Sorrento (sorry, can't remember the details) that stops off of Capri for everyone to jump into the water. Then it's off to Positano and Amalfi for some siteseeing. Another swim on the way home. It's been a few years since my friends and I did this but we still talk about it with tremendous laughter.
Of course, your return flight information is going to help you decide if going south from Rome is feasible. Enjoy the trip no matter what!!!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16742 posts
Is your departure day on Sept 1 or Sept 2?
(sorry for all the questions but there's a reason)
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Yes, departure day is Sept. 1
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16742 posts
Thank you. :O)
OK, so in reality, you don't really have 3 days for Rome and 2 for something else. You have 4.5 days total.
27th: Fly into Rome at 9:00 PM
28th - Rome
29th - Rome
30th - Rome
31st - train to Sorrento or somewhere on the Amalfi; 1/2 day in the Amalfi
1st: Return to Rome; fly home in the afternoon.
This is where I see problems? You'd only have 1 night at another location and IMHO, you don't want to be, say, down on the Amalfi on the day you're flying out of Rome. In case of transport snags, it's never a good idea to be too far away from your airport of departure on the day of a flight. Additionally, you'll kill half of one of your days getting down there.
There is PLENTY to see in Rome itself, and it's going to be hot so you're not going to want to just run from one attraction to another. If you wished to, you could make a day trip down to Ostia Lido for some beach time and avoid having to physically change locations. Would something like that work for the Other Half?Then you can have a leisurely departure day without a couple of train or bus/train trips to get back to Rome.
The trouble with relocation, when days to work with are few, is that it eats time to pack up, check out, get to the station, sit on the transport, get to next hotel, check in, unpack... It can be especially challenging with young people who aren't exactly early birds!
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11513 posts
So let's see , you are arriving in the 27 at 9pm . So you really only have the 28, 29th, 30, and 31 st to sightsee .
You should be at airport 2.5-3 hrs ahead , and you should be sleeping in rome in night of the 31st . That means the 1 st isn't a real sightseeing day ( you will have to check out by 11 am ) so really only have from 11-1:30 to do anything before you return to hotel pick up bags and leave .
That's four full days . That's all .
I personally think a daytrip to coast is all you could manage .
Rome in August with kids is brutal . It's hot as hades , so yes, you will have to take things slow . My 11 yr old melted in Rome in August . And while she did enjoy it , many of the sights were tiring for her . She loved the coliseum of course ,but found walking through the forum hot and boring . She loved seeing inside St Peters , but found the Vatican hot and very crowded ( and it was !) .We too just did some wandering and gelato eating , which helped . People watching wasn't quite so much her thing , I enjoyed an hour at a cafe or so , but her , not so much .
It's a tough call , but I don't think you have time for hubby's idea ( two days off somewhere else ) if you had a few more days I would say go for it , I've travelled with my kids to Europe and I always build in a few beach days , but our visits are usually three weeks or more , not 5 days .
Go to Rome and stay there so you can keep the pace slower , don't waste time checking in and out of a hotel for one night ( 2 days away ) .
Posted by
NYC
490 posts
If it is beaches you want, Sorrento has none, they are inaccessible especially to children due to rock platforms no sand. Sorrento itself could be a good choice for stay if beaches are not important.
You can also go to Ischia from Naples port in about 1 hour. Great family beach destination.
Or if you want to minimize travel time..
Try to stay in Ostia near Rome for a day trip.
I would not overbook tour time in Rome. There is a lot to do and the entire city offers so much, stroll and enjoy it.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16742 posts
One additional idea if the beach isn't doing it for him? You could day-trip to Orvieto: a very old, very pretty hilltop town a little over an hour so from Rome by train.
Posted by
NYC
490 posts
It will be hot, try for a hotel with a pool! The Hotel Building ( yes, that'd the name) has great price for 4ppl 5 nights your dates, near train station. Just make sure no extra fees for pool use, common in Italy.
Especially if your hotel does not have a pool....The day trip I recommend is Ostia beaches, very close to Rome! Cooling off is what you will want and unless the side/ day trip includes that you may have some unhappy campers! LOL
You don't have much time, so if you can add two days your hubby can travel further afield:)