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Rome with kids: a family day out

Tall travertine wall of the Colosseum with rows of arches under a clear sky, the broken outer ring on the rightBearded marble face with an open mouth mounted on a warm-toned wall beside a dark green doorTurquoise pool below the white Baroque sculptures of the Trevi Fountain, visitors lined along the rim

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
1 of 5 free; 4 paid — see “Cost”
Duration
6 h 50 min · 09:30–16:15
Start and finish
Colosseum → Villa Borghese
On foot
≈ 26 min in total
Transport
2 rides, ≈ 39 min
Lunch
around 12:06
With kids
fine: short walks
Best time
Spring and autumn. In summer, the Colosseum at opening and the shady park after lunch.

The plan, stop by stop

Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.

Rome09:30–16:15 · 5 places · 6 h 50 min

  1. Colosseum

    · 2 h · ≈ €18

  2. 16 min on foot

  3. Mouth of Truth

    · 20 min · Donation ≈ €2

  4. Lunch · 1 h
  5. 19 min · transport or taxi

  6. Trevi Fountain

    · 20 min · Free; basin €2

  7. 10 min on foot

  8. Pantheon

    · 30 min · ≈ €5

  9. 20 min · transport or taxi

  10. Villa Borghese

    · 1 h 30 min · Free

Go · start

Add nearby

Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.

What the route costs

1 of 5 are free; 4 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.

1Colosseum732 h≈ €18
2Mouth of Truth4920 minDonation ≈ €2
3Trevi Fountain7920 minFree; basin €2
4Pantheon8230 min≈ €5
5Villa Borghese481 h 30 minFree
Total4 h 40 min1 of 5 free

Tips for each stop

  1. 1

    Colosseum. The Flavian Amphitheatre. The ≈ €18, 24-hour ticket also covers the Roman Forum and Palatine; book a time slot, and under-18s go free.

  2. 2

    Mouth of Truth. The Mouth of Truth in the portico of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. ≈ €2 donation; expect a photo queue by day.

  3. 3

    Trevi Fountain. Rome's most famous fountain. The square is free; reaching the basin costs €2 by day and is free early and late.

  4. 4

    Pantheon. A 2nd-century temple with its famous open oculus. Tickets ≈ €5; 30 to 40 minutes is enough, and it closes to visitors during Mass.

  5. 5

    Villa Borghese. A big park above the centre: bike and buggy hire, a boating lake and the Bioparco zoo next door. Free.

Who this route is for

Good for
  • Children aged about 5 and up
  • A first family trip to Rome
  • History plus time in a park
Not for
  • The Vatican Museums with little ones are hard going: see the 2-day route
  • The Forum is left out: it's hot at midday in summer
Best time

Spring and autumn. In summer, the Colosseum at opening and the shady park after lunch.

Things to do in Rome with kids

Children remember Rome through stories: gladiators in the Colosseum, the Mouth of Truth that supposedly bites liars, the hole in the Pantheon's roof that lets the rain in, and a coin in the Trevi Fountain to make sure you come back. The route keeps walks short and ends in a park where they can let off steam.

Book a morning Colosseum slot ahead; under-18s are free but still need a ticket. If the kids are flagging, skip the Forum and Palatine; they're on the same ticket, valid for 24 hours.

Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, add something nearby, and the timings update.

Villa Borghese: an afternoon off

Villa Borghese is a big park above the centre. You can hire bikes, pedal carts and electric buggies, row on the lake by the Temple of Aesculapius, and find playgrounds and a puppet theatre. The Bioparco zoo is next door, and the Pincio terrace at the park's edge looks over Piazza del Popolo and the whole city.

It's about 10 minutes up steps and paths from the Spanish Steps. The park is free; only hire and the zoo cost extra.

More for families

Older children enjoy cycling the Appian Way to the catacombs, the ramparts and terrace of Castel Sant'Angelo, and the Circus Maximus, where chariots once raced. For pizza and gelato, spend an evening in Trastevere.

How to do it right

  • Do the Colosseum at opening; children's tickets are free but must be booked.
  • Drink from Rome's street fountains: the water is free and safe.
  • Cobbles and the Forum are hard with a buggy; a carrier is easier.
  • Italy uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; carry a little cash for cafés and markets. Buy museum tickets ahead on official sites, where closing days are listed too.
  • After lunch, head for the shade and bikes of Villa Borghese.

Questions

What can kids do in Rome?

See the Colosseum, the Mouth of Truth, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain, then cycle and row in Villa Borghese, with the zoo next door.

How much is the Colosseum for children?

Free for under-18s, but you still need to book a timed ticket.

Is Rome buggy-friendly?

Partly: cobbles and the Forum are tough, so a light buggy or a carrier works best.

Where can kids play in Rome?

Villa Borghese has bike hire, a boating lake, playgrounds and the Bioparco zoo next door.

What is the Mouth of Truth?

An ancient marble mask in the portico of Santa Maria in Cosmedin; legend says it bites the hand of a liar.

Sources and fact-check

  • Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
YesGo editorial team ·
How we checkedDays are grouped by hand by neighbourhood, so each day's places are within walking distance. The YesGo planner sets the order, walks and lunch from each place's coordinates and visit time. Prices, hours and closing days come from the place pages; where we haven't confirmed them with an official source, the place page says 'checking'.

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