15 Best Things to Do in Rome With Kids

You’ll love exploring Rome with kids through hands-on adventures like gladiator schools where children wield authentic Roman weapons and earn certificates. Visit the Colosseum with skip-the-line tours, learn about interactive science exhibits at Explora Museum, and cool off at Cinecittà World’s thrilling rides. Don’t miss underground catacomb treasure hunts, coin-tossing at Trevi Fountain, and family scavenger hunts through historic landmarks. Each experience transforms ancient history into exciting gameplay that’ll captivate young minds while creating unforgettable memories throughout the Eternal City.

Explore the Ancient Colosseum Through Kid-Friendly Tours

Starting your Roman adventure at the Colosseum sets the perfect tone for an unforgettable family trip. You’ll skip long lines and dive straight into 1.5 hours of gladiator stories that’ll captivate kids ages 3-13.

Your guide transforms ancient history into interactive fun with smartphone quizzes and engaging tales about Spartacus and fierce emperors. You’ll explore the arena floor, Roman Forum‘s impressive temples, and Palatine Hill’s imperial ruins.

Kids under 18 enter free, though tickets are still required. Arrive 15 minutes early with ID, and book morning or late afternoon slots for smaller crowds.

Pack water and snacks—you’ll need energy for all the trivia games and hands-on learning. Expert family guides make myths and gladiator training come alive through dynamic storytelling. Children will follow the exciting journey of Flavius Attilius, a Roman gladiator whose story brings the ancient arena to life.

Discover Interactive Learning at Explora Museum

When you need a break from ancient ruins, head to Explora Museum where your kids can enjoy hands-on learning that feels like pure play. This 2,000-square-meter wonderland near Villa Borghese transforms science, technology, and sustainability into interactive adventures for children aged 0-11.

Your little ones can run a miniature city, playing baker, firefighter, or doctor while learning real-world skills. The ground floor suits younger children with activities like the vegetable garden and digital creativity zones.

Older kids love the first floor’s complex exhibits on economics and equal opportunities. Don’t miss the dedicated plush toy workshop where children can create their own personalized stuffed animals as a memorable souvenir.

Book timed 90-minute slots online, especially for weekends. At just €7 for adults and kids over three, you’ll get educational entertainment that captivates everyone from toddlers to nine-year-olds.

Experience Thrills at Cinecittà World Theme Park

For bigger thrills and movie magic, Cinecittà World Theme Park delivers Hollywood excitement just 30 minutes from Rome’s center. You’ll find over 40 attractions across seven themed areas designed by Oscar-winning production designer Dante Ferretti, creating an authentic film-studio atmosphere.

Your thrill-seekers can tackle Altair’s 10 inversions, while younger kids enjoy the family-friendly water coaster Aktium. The Volarium flying theatre lifts you 10 meters high for Italy’s first flying cinema experience. Don’t miss the realistic Jurassic War dinosaur battle.

The hybrid indoor-outdoor layout keeps families comfortable during hot Roman summers or rainy days. Aqua World’s water slides and interactive splash fountains provide cooling relief, while extensive kiddie rides ensure toddlers stay entertained alongside teens. Kids can experience the magic of Bici Volanti flying bikes that simulate E.T.’s famous escape scene, allowing them to pedal their way higher into the sky.

Enjoy Marine Life and Water Fun at Zoomarine

Just 23 miles from Rome, Zoomarine transforms an ordinary day trip into an aquatic adventure where your kids can watch dolphins leap through hoops, then race down thrilling water slides minutes later. This 34-acre wonderland combines marine education with heart-pumping water attractions.

Your children will love Pirates’ Lagoon, where they’ll engage in epic naval battles using water cannons from actual galleons. Don’t miss the adrenaline-rushing Harakiri slide or the massive Cancun Beach pool with varying depths for all ages.

Between water fun, you’ll explore Dolphin Island, Penguin Beach, and Turtle Oasis. Catch 16 daily interactive shows featuring everything from acrobatic sea lions to beloved characters like Pinocchio. The medieval Camelot area and life-size dinosaur exhibits add extra excitement to your adventure. For a calming break from the action, take the family to the Cinema 4D Theater where animated films provide entertainment and relaxation.

Toss Coins at the Famous Trevi Fountain

Every child visiting Rome deserves the magical moment of making a wish at the world’s most famous fountain, where over €1 million in coins splash into the Trevi’s baroque basin each year.

Teach your kids the proper technique: stand with backs to the fountain and toss coins over their left shoulders using their right hands. One coin traditionally means returning to Rome, while additional coins supposedly bring romance and marriage.

Give each child small coins so everyone can participate without breaking the budget.

Visit early morning or evening to avoid crushing crowds and give kids safer access to the basin edge. The fountain’s dramatic nighttime illumination with over 100 lights creates an especially spectacular experience for families.

While there, turn it into a mini art hunt by spotting Oceanus, tritons, and horses in the central sculpture.

Best of all, those coins fund charitable projects helping people in need.

Adventure Through Villa Borghese Park

Rome’s largest public park transforms into an outdoor playground where families can spend an entire day rowing boats, riding carousels, and exploring car-free paths without worrying about traffic.

You’ll find multiple playgrounds near Porta Pinciana with climbing frames, while Viale dei Bambini offers go-karts and carousels.

Rent rowboats at the northwest lake for 20-minute sessions where kids can spot turtles and ducks along rocky banks.

Don’t miss the Pincio Terrace‘s 19th-century water-powered clock and panoramic city views.

The Bioparco zoo houses over 1,000 animals from 200 species, perfect for animal-loving children. For a cultural break, visit the nearby Galleria Borghese which features masterpieces from Bernini, Caravaggio, and Raphael spanning the 15th to 18th centuries.

When legs get tired, hop on the little train that tours the park’s eight gardens.

You can also rent bicycles, segways, or roller skates at the main gates for extra adventure.

Hunt for Animals in Rome’s Stone Zoo Trail

After exploring Villa Borghese’s living creatures, you can set out on a different kind of animal adventure right through Rome’s historic streets. This self-guided stone zoo trail transforms your family into animal detectives, hunting for carved creatures hidden throughout the historic center.

Start at Piazza del Campidoglio with the famous Capitoline Wolf nursing Romulus and Remus. Then descend to spot Egyptian lions turned into fountains. Your kids will love finding the Egyptian cat perched on Palazzo Grazioli’s ledge and the quirky elephant nicknamed “porcin” in Piazza della Minerva.

The trail includes salamanders breathing flames, heraldic eagles and dragons, Bernini’s three bees fountain, and ends at the charming Fountain of the Turtles in Piazza Mattei—each sculpture telling fascinating legends and myths. Legend says Duke Mattei built this romantic fountain overnight to impress his beloved’s father and prove his unwavering power.

Marvel at the Pantheon’s Ancient Engineering

When you step inside the Pantheon, you’ll witness one of history’s greatest engineering puzzles that continues to baffle architects today. You’re standing beneath the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome – it’s been holding up for nearly 2,000 years without any steel support!

Point out the massive hole at the top called the oculus to your kids. It’s 27 feet wide and lets in sunlight and rain.

The Romans were incredibly clever – they used heavier materials like basalt at the bottom and lighter pumice stone at the top to prevent collapse. The walls are made from thick concrete barrel construction that supports the enormous weight of the dome above.

Look up at the coffered ceiling with its geometric squares that get bigger as they move outward. Your children will be amazed that ancient builders created something modern engineers still study.

Cycle Along the Historic Via Appia

Picture yourself pedaling down a 2,300-year-old Roman road where emperors once marched their armies! The Via Appia Antica offers an incredible escape from Rome’s crowds into peaceful countryside dotted with ancient ruins, catacombs, and Roman villas.

You’ll love the family-friendly e-bikes with padded seats and turbo mode that make the 15-16 km route manageable for kids. Start at Porta San Sebastiano and cycle through Europe’s second-largest urban park, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The terrain’s mostly paved (90% tarmac) with light traffic after the first 5 km. This historic route connects beautifully to charming destinations like Lanuvio, famous for its DOC wines and traditional Italian countryside charm.

Take Metro A to Colli Albani, then bus 660 to rent bikes at Appia Antica Café.

Short 4-mile stretches take just one hour with photo stops, perfect for creating unforgettable family memories!

Join a Gladiator School Experience

Every young history buff dreams of wielding a gladius and charging into battle like ancient Roman warriors! At Gruppo Storico Romano’s gladiator school just outside Rome’s city walls, your kids can live out these epic fantasies.

This two-hour experience begins with a mini history lesson in their on-site museum, where children handle authentic weapons and armor.

Professional instructors, dressed in Roman attire, teach sword swinging and shield blocking techniques in an outdoor arena mimicking ancient training camps.

Kids as young as six can participate safely in mock battles and obstacle courses. Participants dress in authentic gladiator tunics and belts before beginning their training sessions.

The experience concludes with certificate presentations, making participants official Roman gladiators.

Located near the historic Appian Way, this hands-on adventure perfectly complements Colosseum visits while creating unforgettable memories through immersive historical learning.

Play and Learn at LunEur Park

While Rome’s ancient history captivates young minds, sometimes kids need pure fun to recharge their batteries! LunEur Park, Italy’s oldest amusement park in the EUR district, offers the perfect family escape with 21-24 attractions designed specifically for children up to 12-13 years old.

Your little ones will love the colorful 28-gondola Ferris wheel, Brucomela coaster, and classic horse carousel. The park’s height-based system ensures age-appropriate rides, while the massive 2,100 m² Splash Zone provides invigorating water fun during summer visits.

Beyond rides, you’ll discover educational workshops about sustainability and biodiversity throughout this “garden of wonders.” With child-sized facilities, stroller-friendly paths, themed seasonal events, and multiple food options, LunEur creates an ideal blend of entertainment and learning for Rome’s youngest explorers. The park spans over 60,000 square meters of beautifully landscaped grounds filled with lush greenery and trees, providing plenty of space for families to explore and relax between attractions.

Explore Underground Catacombs

When your kids are ready for an unforgettable underground adventure, Rome’s ancient catacombs offer a thrilling journey through 2,000-year-old Christian burial tunnels that feel like exploring a real-life treasure maze!

Your children will love spotting early Christian symbols like fish, anchors, and doves painted on ancient walls while walking through dimly lit corridors carved into volcanic rock.

Choose family-friendly sites like Domitilla or San Callisto, where specialized “Catacombs for Kids” tours transform history into exciting treasure hunts with maps and activity booklets. The Catacomb of Domitilla stretches for over 17 km and features an underground basilica that creates an especially magical atmosphere for young explorers.

The underground temperature stays cool at 59-63°F year-round—perfect for escaping summer heat!

Tours typically last 30-45 minutes underground with kid-trained guides who share age-appropriate stories.

Recommended for ages 6+ with good walking shoes and comfort in enclosed spaces.

Discover Roman Myths at Capitoline Museums

As you climb the steps to Rome’s oldest public museum, your kids will discover that the Capitoline Museums house some of the world’s most exciting mythological treasures—including the legendary bronze she-wolf who nursed Romulus and Remus, Rome’s twin founders!

This iconic Etruscan statue, donated by Pope Sixtus IV in 1471, captivates children with Rome’s founding story.

Book a 2-hour kid-friendly guided tour where trained guides bring myths to life through spectacular sculptures like the emotional Dying Gaul and powerful Hercules statues. Children can actually touch ancient statues and artifacts during these interactive experiences, making history come alive through hands-on exploration.

Your family can even join Percy Jackson-style mythology tours that transform ancient artifacts into adventures with Olympian gods and satyrs.

Don’t miss the frescoed walls depicting Rome’s early history and the current Cartier exhibition comparing modern jewelry to ancient gods like Zeus and Aphrodite.

Race Virtual Chariots at Circus Maximus

Step into ancient Rome’s largest entertainment venue and watch your kids’ eyes light up as they strap on VR headsets to race chariots around the legendary Circus Maximus! The “Circo Maximo Experience” and “Circus Maximus GO” transform this archaeological site into an interactive playground where children drive virtual chariots through seven thrilling laps.

Your kids’ll choose from four historic racing factions—white, blue, red, or green—then dodge crashes while overtaking rivals to win symbolic laurel wreaths and “one million sesterces.” The experience brilliantly combines education with entertainment, showing 3D reconstructions of Rome’s transformation from swampy valley to imperial grandeur. The tour covers eight stops including the valley floor, Imperial Circus, cavea seating tiers, and the Arch of Titus, each offering immersive historical insights.

Plan 40 minutes to two hours depending on your package. Children under 14 need adult supervision, and you’ll need ID for headset rental. The site’s wheelchair accessible, making it perfect for all families.

Navigate Scavenger Hunts Through City Landmarks

Transform Rome’s historic center into your family’s personal treasure map with scavenger hunts that turn landmark-hopping into an adventure game! These educational experiences typically cover 1.5 miles with eight stops, connecting major sites like the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Navona with hidden gems like the Elephant and Obelisk.

Choose from printable bundles, GPS-enabled apps, or guided tours that blend riddles, missions, and observation tasks. Your kids’ll hunt for specific architectural details, decode Roman numerals, and solve puzzles while learning about emperors, engineering, and Baroque art.

Museum-linked hunts like the Leonardo trail combine hands-on exhibits with outdoor clues, perfect for ages 6-11. These interactive adventures work for all ages, from preschoolers to tweens, making them the ideal family activity regardless of your children’s developmental stage.

These narrative quests frame each landmark as a “mission,” keeping children actively engaged rather than passively sightseeing through Rome’s treasures.

The Sum Up

You’ve got an incredible adventure waiting in Rome with your little explorers! From gladiator tales at the Colosseum to splashing around at Zoomarine, there’s something magical around every corner. Don’t forget to pack comfortable shoes and bring that sense of wonder – you’ll create memories that’ll last a lifetime. Rome isn’t just about history; it’s about sparking curiosity and imagination in your kids while having an absolute blast together!