Your best Rome adventures for a five year old
March 28, 2019 6:13 AM Subscribe
We will be traveling to Rome soon with our 5 year old. Thanks to the great answers on my prior AskMe, kid is now sufficiently hyped. SO and I have been to Rome before, but this is kiddo’s first time (and first time to Europe). Do you have any sure hits/can’t miss things in Rome for a five year old?
We’re in Rome May 7-18.
I know answers will vary by kid. I can say upfront that the macabre is of no interest.
Our hotel is about halfway between the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps (both of which we’ll visit, certainly). We plan to do most exploration by foot, but might do some buses.
We have two books just for kids visiting Rome. But each fails to convey what’s actually fun for/with a five year old. A nice picnic spot might be worth be worth five frescoes. A great toy store or particularly interesting gelateria may well be more vividly remembered than a a visit to the Vatican Museum.
There’s obviously no end of things for adults who are interested in art and history, which are perhaps more easily shared with an older kid. We’ll do a bunch of that, but we hoped for first hand experiences with things a little kid might love, even if not per se “attractions.” Thanks.
We’re in Rome May 7-18.
I know answers will vary by kid. I can say upfront that the macabre is of no interest.
Our hotel is about halfway between the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps (both of which we’ll visit, certainly). We plan to do most exploration by foot, but might do some buses.
We have two books just for kids visiting Rome. But each fails to convey what’s actually fun for/with a five year old. A nice picnic spot might be worth be worth five frescoes. A great toy store or particularly interesting gelateria may well be more vividly remembered than a a visit to the Vatican Museum.
There’s obviously no end of things for adults who are interested in art and history, which are perhaps more easily shared with an older kid. We’ll do a bunch of that, but we hoped for first hand experiences with things a little kid might love, even if not per se “attractions.” Thanks.
One nice picnic spot - Il Giardino Degli Aranci. In Trastevere, Santa Cecilia is beautiful and less crowded/hectic than the scene at Santa Maria. And some nice smaller streets to wander around in a less touristy bit of Trastevere. Caffé Peru would be a nice spot for a casual dinner with kids, low stress and great food (I recommend the spaghetti al limone).
posted by sallybrown at 7:34 AM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by sallybrown at 7:34 AM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Gelateria della Palma - 150 flavours of Ice Cream, just 2 minutes walk from the Pantheon.
https://goo.gl/maps/W4kosj7w7T42
posted by Akke at 7:54 AM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
https://goo.gl/maps/W4kosj7w7T42
posted by Akke at 7:54 AM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
If you do go to the Vatican Museum, there's a small section called the Carriage Pavilion. This houses all the Popemobiles they still have, from horse-drawn carriages and sedan chairs right on up to the early automobiles. It's absolutely delightful, in my experience less crowded, and kind of a different scene from the rest of the museum, which is fabulous but pompous.
posted by DSime at 7:56 AM on March 28, 2019
posted by DSime at 7:56 AM on March 28, 2019
Even small kids like the ceiling of the Sant' Ignazio church, there's no queues, unlike the St Peter, and it's also 2 minutes from the Pantheon ( which kids may also like because of massive pillars, hole in the ceiling and the fact that it is the best surviving Roman building).
Sant' Ignazio ceiling
posted by Akke at 8:03 AM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Sant' Ignazio ceiling
posted by Akke at 8:03 AM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
I would definitely take my kids to some of the renaissance gardens outside Rome
posted by JPD at 8:36 AM on March 28, 2019
posted by JPD at 8:36 AM on March 28, 2019
One nice picnic spot - Il Giardino Degli Aranci. In Trastevere, Santa Cecilia is beautiful and less crowded/hectic than the scene at Santa Maria. And some nice smaller streets to wander around in a less touristy bit of Trastevere.
HIGHLY recommend you stop at Volpetti to pick up picnic supplies sandwiches - its an amazing store (yeah the prices are kinda crazy but the staff are super nice and the experience was, imo, worth it) they had maps to direct us up the hill to the Giardino, with the keyhole view of St Peters marked and everything.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 8:48 AM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
HIGHLY recommend you stop at Volpetti to pick up picnic supplies sandwiches - its an amazing store (yeah the prices are kinda crazy but the staff are super nice and the experience was, imo, worth it) they had maps to direct us up the hill to the Giardino, with the keyhole view of St Peters marked and everything.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 8:48 AM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Some of the best Roman ruins are an hour's train ride (from the Pyramide station) at Ostia Antica. There are downloadable guides, but here's a company that does tours for kids. It's really lovely, with loads of shade and nice museum and cafe on site. If you get a transit pass for Rome bus service, it includes the train to Ostia, so a good value.
If you do decide to use public transport, the Probus Roma is an invaluable app (link is for Android, it's also available for iOS).
posted by dbmcd at 8:48 AM on March 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
If you do decide to use public transport, the Probus Roma is an invaluable app (link is for Android, it's also available for iOS).
posted by dbmcd at 8:48 AM on March 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
Our 6-year-old had a really nice time at Explora. It was also nice to be around other families; it helped shake us out of the "Rome is a historical place preserved in amber" feeling.
A lot of people recommend the Coliseum for kids, but think about how you'll explain it a little in advance, because we could not really explain what it was for (people killing each other, no killing *animals*!) that didn't sound extremely horrible tumbling out of our mouths.
posted by purpleclover at 9:54 AM on March 28, 2019
A lot of people recommend the Coliseum for kids, but think about how you'll explain it a little in advance, because we could not really explain what it was for (people killing each other, no killing *animals*!) that didn't sound extremely horrible tumbling out of our mouths.
posted by purpleclover at 9:54 AM on March 28, 2019
Oh, we also has a nice time at the Bioparco di Roma (the zoo). Is it the greatest zoo in the world? It is not. Is it perfectly fine and in Rome and kid-friendly? Yes, it is!
It's in the Villa Borghese park, which also has a couple of cool playgrounds, as well as vehicles/rowboats for rent that I imagine would really tickle a 5-year-old. (Alas, we were there on New Year's Day, so they were not open.)
I also strongly feel the best gelateria is the one closest to you, the one you stumble upon. I don't believe in traveling for gelato unless you're going all the way to Florence. Thank you for coming to my Ted talk.
posted by purpleclover at 10:07 AM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
It's in the Villa Borghese park, which also has a couple of cool playgrounds, as well as vehicles/rowboats for rent that I imagine would really tickle a 5-year-old. (Alas, we were there on New Year's Day, so they were not open.)
I also strongly feel the best gelateria is the one closest to you, the one you stumble upon. I don't believe in traveling for gelato unless you're going all the way to Florence. Thank you for coming to my Ted talk.
posted by purpleclover at 10:07 AM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
If you’re up for going a little farther out, The Butterfly House and the Tulip Park will be on while you’re here. There’s also the Explora kids’ museum.
There are also kid-friendly tours of the major sites that you all might be interested in.
The E.U.R. lake is good for a picnic and strolling; there’s two excellent gelaterias in the area, a playground and a kiddie bounce house that I think is 5€ a kid. And I live in the area, so if you’re up for a MeFi and Minis meetup on the weekend, hit me up and our kids can let out some cross cultural energy (school is still in session, unfortunately. Mine are 6 & 4) 😁
I’m also going to give you a heads up that the Metro system is FUBARed right now; Line A stops Repubblica, Barberini and Spagna are all closed right now with estimated reopening in 2-3 months time.
posted by romakimmy at 12:53 PM on March 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
There are also kid-friendly tours of the major sites that you all might be interested in.
The E.U.R. lake is good for a picnic and strolling; there’s two excellent gelaterias in the area, a playground and a kiddie bounce house that I think is 5€ a kid. And I live in the area, so if you’re up for a MeFi and Minis meetup on the weekend, hit me up and our kids can let out some cross cultural energy (school is still in session, unfortunately. Mine are 6 & 4) 😁
I’m also going to give you a heads up that the Metro system is FUBARed right now; Line A stops Repubblica, Barberini and Spagna are all closed right now with estimated reopening in 2-3 months time.
posted by romakimmy at 12:53 PM on March 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
The Vatican Museum has a great audio tour that my kids still talk about. It's kind of a scavenger hunt that gets them to actually look at the art. The Baths of Caracala were an interesting, low-key amble. Gelato every day!
posted by libraryhead at 4:58 PM on March 28, 2019
posted by libraryhead at 4:58 PM on March 28, 2019
The lakeside park at the EUR (accessible by metro) is a lovely place for an evening stroll, it as filled with playparks, boardwalks and even a small amount of funfair rides if I remember correctly. It was filled with kids and families when I went, all having a great time.
White it’s a bit antithetical to the spirit of Rome, one of the most convenient elements of globalism is that there tends to be a McDonalds within a few hundred yards of most of the big tourist sites; great for familiar snacks, ice cream, accessible toilets and air conditioning, and WiFi. Most have kiosk ordering too which makes it even more convenient.
Kids might also really dig riding the tramlines which are a really good way of seeing the city too.
Sites like Ostia are fascinating, but they can be a bit prosaic for people without in-depth knowledge; there’s not a lot of shade and a lot of walking too, so keep your expectations modest. It does have a good cafe though and a surprisingly decent lunch.
Ostia does have a lot of ongoing archeology happening, and those working on stuff can be surprisingly interesting to talk to so don’t be frightened to say hello and ask them about what they’re doing.
Churches might be a bit of a stretch for kids but religious culture in Rome is amazing; visiting the lady chapels in some of the big churches with the incense burning, candles flaming and novenas in full swing is a fascinating thing to observe.
Siteseeing with kids can be a bit of a trial but Making it into a game of of lighting a candle in every church or an “offering” outside every temple might be a good way to make these things a bit more interactive.
“Nun spotting” is also an interesting ongoing game to play, and a good opportunity to practice your bongiornos.
Theres also a great playpark outside the MAXXI art museum that was absolutely packed when I visited. It’s in a pretty outherwise lowkey neigbourhood with kids playing in the street, so an interesting break from the city centre.
posted by Middlemarch at 1:43 AM on March 29, 2019
White it’s a bit antithetical to the spirit of Rome, one of the most convenient elements of globalism is that there tends to be a McDonalds within a few hundred yards of most of the big tourist sites; great for familiar snacks, ice cream, accessible toilets and air conditioning, and WiFi. Most have kiosk ordering too which makes it even more convenient.
Kids might also really dig riding the tramlines which are a really good way of seeing the city too.
Sites like Ostia are fascinating, but they can be a bit prosaic for people without in-depth knowledge; there’s not a lot of shade and a lot of walking too, so keep your expectations modest. It does have a good cafe though and a surprisingly decent lunch.
Ostia does have a lot of ongoing archeology happening, and those working on stuff can be surprisingly interesting to talk to so don’t be frightened to say hello and ask them about what they’re doing.
Churches might be a bit of a stretch for kids but religious culture in Rome is amazing; visiting the lady chapels in some of the big churches with the incense burning, candles flaming and novenas in full swing is a fascinating thing to observe.
Siteseeing with kids can be a bit of a trial but Making it into a game of of lighting a candle in every church or an “offering” outside every temple might be a good way to make these things a bit more interactive.
“Nun spotting” is also an interesting ongoing game to play, and a good opportunity to practice your bongiornos.
Theres also a great playpark outside the MAXXI art museum that was absolutely packed when I visited. It’s in a pretty outherwise lowkey neigbourhood with kids playing in the street, so an interesting break from the city centre.
posted by Middlemarch at 1:43 AM on March 29, 2019
Villa d’este is lovely, but bear in mind the fountains are all gravity fed so there’s a huge amount of stairs. If you’re going make sure everyone has plenty of energy!
posted by Middlemarch at 1:59 AM on March 29, 2019
posted by Middlemarch at 1:59 AM on March 29, 2019
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posted by something something at 6:40 AM on March 28, 2019 [3 favorites]