Rome is one of those cities that works on multiple levels simultaneously. For adults, it's a layered archaeological and artistic wonder. For kids, it's a place where gladiators were real, where you can throw a coin in a fountain and make a wish, and where gelato is available on every corner. The challenge is pacing — Rome is overwhelming even for adults. With kids, you need a strategy. This 5-day itinerary is built around that reality: one major site per morning, free afternoons, and plenty of gelato.
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Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete breakdown of your 5 Days in Rome. Click any day to expand.
Fly into Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), 30km from the city. Leonardo Express to Roma Termini (€14, 32 minutes, runs every 30 minutes). Rome is the Eternal City — 2,800 years of history in a living, breathing metropolis of 4 million people. Start at the Colosseum (€18, book skip-the-line tickets 2 weeks ahead) — the largest amphitheatre ever built, completed in 80 AD, with capacity for 50,000 spectators. The ticket includes the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill — allow 3-4 hours for all three. With kids: the Colosseum is genuinely awe-inspiring for children — the gladiator history and the scale make it one of the best family sights in Europe.
Palatine Hill (included with Colosseum ticket) — the hill where Rome was founded, with the ruins of the imperial palaces and views of the Roman Forum and the Circus Maximus. The Roman Forum (included) — the political and commercial centre of ancient Rome, with the Temple of Saturn (497 BC), the Arch of Titus (82 AD), and the Temple of Vesta. With kids: bring the Horrible Histories Rome book — it makes the ruins come alive.
Dinner in Trastevere — the most atmospheric neighbourhood in Rome, a labyrinth of cobblestone streets and ivy-covered buildings across the Tiber. Da Enzo al 29 on Via dei Vascellari — cash only, arrive at 7pm before the queue forms, the cacio e pepe and the coda alla vaccinara (oxtail) are extraordinary. Or Tonnarello on Via della Paglia — larger, family-friendly, with outdoor tables and excellent Roman pasta.
Stay near the Vatican (for Day 2) or in Trastevere (most atmospheric). Recommended: Hotel Raphael (luxury, near Piazza Navona) or Residenza Trastevere (mid-range, in the heart of Trastevere).
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