17 Best Family Things to Do in Rome

Villa Medici organises their Little Explorers at Villa Medici tour for families, great if you want to entertain the kids with a unique art treasure hunt. On Sunday mornings, the kids can discover the historic residence’s rooms and gardens, searching for statues and paintings of animals and mythical creatures. Watch out, as there are surprises around every corner – some statues aren't made of marble and bronze, but flesh and bone!

Kids can also engage in creative activities and hear legendary tales being told. It lasts about an hour and booking is necessary. Groups may include a maximum of 10 families. Villa Medici is on Pincian Hill, Rome’s highest point, near Piazza di Spagna and partly surrounded by the Giardino di Borghese Gardens.

The Colosseum is one of Rome’s best historical sites where you and your kids can imagine life in Ancient Rome. This magnificent amphitheatre has optional guided tours, including ones that are dedicated just for kids. Specialised guides take you through the vast arena with its trapdoors and passages in an engaging storytelling-like way, keeping young minds continuously awed and intrigued. Walking through passages where real gladiators walked into battle centuries ago is invigorating for both young and old.

From all the walking and historical sightseeing in Rome, Explora - Il Museo dei Bambini di Roma can be a good break for younger kids, where they can learn and have fun in an interactive environment. You can find Explora within a short walking distance from Piazza del Popolo. Activities range from zip lines to water features with flows that you can manipulate through wheels and levers, as well as a scaled-down grocery shop where the kids can role play. Cooking classes are usually held on Sundays.

The Botanical Garden of Rome can transform an afternoon outdoors into an exciting adventure in unspoilt nature. Part of the Sapienza University, the botanical garden spans about 12 hectares on the edge of Gianicolo Park. Children can discover exotic plants, bamboo thickets, Japanese gardens and towering trees.

Find various environments like Bosco Mediterraneo (Mediterranean forest), Roseto (rose garden), Valle delle Felci (the fern valley), Palme (palm trees) and Orto e Giardino delle Piante Aromatiche (the aromatic garden), as well as tropical forests and arid climates for succulents in greenhouses. A stream, lake and ponds accommodate aquatic plants and lilies, and budgies frolic between the branches.

The Civic Museum of Zoology (Museo Civico di Zoologia) in Rome is home to fascinating skeletons of a wide variety of animals. From fin whales, giraffes, elephants to many other animals, the exhibits in each room are designed to be engaging and exciting for little visitors. An interactive diorama simulates the aquatic environment of the Red Sea's coral reef, while the amphibian and reptile section houses the giant skull of an animal from 280 million years ago.

There's also a collection of almost 3 million shells. Interested in birdwatching? The ornithological section features tricks and tools to help you learn. There are educational activities organised by Zoolab, a biology laboratory where children can watch, experiment and learn about living organisms. You can reach the museum on the northern edge of Villa Borghese by tram or bus.

Head to Luneur Park in the modern Esposizione Universale Roma (EUR) district with the kids where they can let off some steam. Italy’s first amusement park features several attractions and a calendar of unmissable events. Whether it’s the Buffoplano ‘funny plane’, the Barcamatta ‘crazy boat’, the Follesalto ‘crazy jump’ or the Magicirco ‘magic circus’, all the rides are colourful and child-friendly (and height-restricted for kids).

At the entrance, you'll be greeted by the historic Ferris wheel that’s had a modern revamp – 28 cabins all in different colours just like a rainbow. A few obsolete rides have been left to give the new environment some vintage charm. The result is an amusement park that does its city justice, where past and present meet in a unique, timeless atmosphere.

At Cinebimbicittà in Rome, children can get behind the scenes and discover the secrets of filmmaking. The space is styled as a film set and is aimed at kids aged from 5 to 12. Parents can visit the film studios and kids can participate in activities and workshops that stimulate creativity, reveal the magic of cinema and teach the terms and tricks of the trade, including clapperboards, editing, set design and costumes.

There are also interactive visits, family activities, readings and special events. Entrance to Cinebimbicittà is included in the ticket for Cinecittà si Mostra, an initiative that opens sets and exhibition itineraries to the public. Located in the capital's south-eastern suburbs, the studios are easily reached via metro.

MAXXI or the National Museum of 21st Century Art in Rome offers a trip that’s a great opportunity for kids to discover modern art, thanks to its educational activities. The museum’s exhibits are designed for families with kids between 5 and 10 years and act as a springboard for creative workshops while artistic analysis kickstarts new ideas and images.

Taking part is free for the kids – only accompanying adults pay for the entrance ticket. MAXXI is committed to experimentation and contemporary creativity structured around collections of art and architecture and brought to life by events and initiatives. The site itself, in the Flaminio district, is an innovative piece of architecture by Zaha Hadid, winner of an international competition involving over 200 architects from across the globe.

Vigamus is an arcade museum dedicated to the history of consoles in Rome, from the earliest experiments to the latest gaming developments. If you were a gamer in the 1980s, you'll remember the Commodore 64 and afternoons spent playing game after game. Who'd have thought such ordinary items would end up in a museum such as this? For adults, it's a walk down memory lane, while kids can discover their videogames' ‘ancestors’.

A collection of 440 items, including unique pieces like Doom's master discs, which the game was transferred onto after its development, and from which all commercial copies are taken. In the interactive zones, you can try new technologies or one of the 50 gaming set-ups. Vigamus is a treat for all ages, a trip that'll bring joy to young and old alike.

This is a great way to put yourself in a gladiator’s shoes. This unique Gladiator School is right beside the Colosseum and offers immersive gladiatorial experiences through 2-hour “boot camps”. After you’ve donned the traditional tunics and belts, the senior gladiator teachers who are members of the Roman History Group will show you ancient battle techniques such as sword fighting, as well as parrying with a range of other ancient weapons. It’s a fun way to learn about Ancient Roman history.

Half an hour’s drive south from the centre of Rome, EurPark offers outdoor adventures for the whole family along its 2 circuits. The Adventure Area contains treetop obstacles suspended between tree trunks as well as a 4-sided climbing wall and an archery range. There’s also a refreshment area where mum and dad can watch their little ones doing their best around each course. The second circuit, called the Energy Area, is dedicated to fun outdoor sports. Some are whacky such as the inflatable human soccer field. Day tickets are around €30. 

The terrace at Gianicolo (Janiculum) Hill is best known for its panoramic views over the Tiber River and the Vatican. You can take the family for a fun walk around the hill’s centrepiece spot of Piazzale Garibaldi. But the one spot that often draws the attention of the little ones is the puppet theatre, Teatrino di Pulcinella. The theatre’s next to a carousel, with shows held usually over the weekends. Even though it’s in Italian, the comedic and slapstick portrayals, reminiscent of Punch & Judy, can trigger some laughs.

This fun “5D” experience takes you on a multisensory audio-visual ride. The premise is you’re introduced to a time machine that helps you travel back to Ancient Rome since the age of Romus and Romulus, through to the development and decline of the ancient empire, and all the way up to present-day Rome. Prepare your stereoscopic 3D glasses, then buckle up in seats that mechanically move to the scenes before a widescreen. Blasts of wind and water sprays complement your 45-minute ride. Tickets are around €12 for adults and €9 for kids.

At one point, you’ll notice the considerable number of stray cats roaming freely around Rome. A Roman policy was set in place in 1991 to protect cats in the city. To best view Rome’s feline community, head down to Largo di Torre Argentina, where volunteers regularly tend to the animals in this special shelter. The cat sanctuary is set among ancient temple ruins, with cats of all colours playing on Roman columns or slumbering over marble statues. They’re up for adoption, too.

Any sibling rivalries can be settled on the race track at Kart Roma. This karting track is reachable within a 45-minute drive southwest of central Rome. It can be a good break from all the usual sightseeing in downtown, where you can satisfy your need for speed while honing your racing skills. If you’re totally new to go-karting, Kart Roma also has a racing school, but most who already have basic driving skills will easily get the hang of these zippy vehicles. While spectating or waiting for your turn, you can try homemade dishes at their onsite restaurant.

Technotown is a place in Rome where kids can have fun, experiment, and uncover scientific and technological secrets through interactive activities. Mum and dad are also greatly involved. The science and technology game room is in the Villino Medioevale of Villa Torlonia. Here, the future comes to life in and among magnificent historic architecture – the impressive setting makes the workshop even more exciting.

The activities change day to day and follow a packed programme, designed to stimulate creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving. The topics are varied and engaging, including music, the environment, robotics, and 3D production. While participants must be at least 6 years of age, there’s no maximum age limit because learning indeed knows no bounds.

On the Janiculum Terrace (Terrazza del Gianicolo), you can witness a thrilling event at noon sharp. You've probably seen cannons when visiting museums and castles, but have you ever seen one in action? Every day since 1846, a blank shot explodes from the mouth of a powerful cannon, resounding throughout the whole city and followed by the ringing of the city’s church bells in unison.

The Janiculum Hill Cannon put on a daily show that’s bound amaze both young and old. The artillery used to be housed in Castel Sant'Angelo, but was moved to its present spot under the statue of Garibaldi in 1904. You can reach the site by walking up Janiculum Hill – it's free to visit and you can also enjoy an enchanting view of the capital.