10 Best Things to Do with Kids in Rome
Where are the Fun Places in Rome to Take Your Family?
Though Rome is big on history and culture with incredible sights like the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Borghese Palace, kids aren’t left out of the fun. We’re not just talking about museums and amusement parks either, but a wealth of nature and amazing things to discover. Fun awaits your family beyond the broad avenues, parks with enchanting villas, and imposing post-war architecture.
The city’s size isn’t a problem. There’s good public transportation between zones, and buses and metro stations often accommodate pushchairs. So, what are the best things to do with kids in Rome? Read on as we show you all the fun places in Rome to take your family.
1. Little Explorers at Villa Medici
An exciting hunt for statues and paintings
Good for: Families, History, Photo
Villa Medici hosts a Little Explorers tour for families, great if you want to entertain the kids with a unique treasure hunt. On Sunday mornings, the kids can discover the historic residence’s rooms and gardens, searching for statues and paintings of animals and mythic 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. 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
Location: Viale della Trinità dei Monti, 1, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
Open: Wednesday–Monday from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Phone: +39 06 67 611
Little Explorers at Villa Medici
2. GAMM Game Museum
From the first consoles to modern computer games
Good for: Families, Photo, Unusual
GAMM Game Museum (formerly called Vigamus) is a museum dedicated to the history of consoles and gaming, from the earliest experiments to the latest gaming developments. If you were a gamer in the 1980s, you’ll remember the Commodore 64. Who’d have thought such items would end up in a museum like this? For adults, it’s a walk down memory lane, while kids can discover their video games’ ancestors.
The collection holds 440 items, including unique pieces like Doom’s master discs, from which all commercial copies were taken. In the interactive zones, you can try new technologies or one of the 50 gaming setups. GAMM is a treat for all ages, bringing joy to young and old alike.
Location: Via delle Terme di Diocleziano, 36, 00185 Roma RM, Italy
Open: Sunday–Thursday from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm, Friday–Saturday from 9.30 am to 11.30 pm
Phone: +39 06 5513 6582
GAMM Game Museum
3. Luneur Park
Amusement park in Rome’s EUR district
Good for: Families, Adventure
Head to Luneur Park in the modern Esposizione Universale Roma (EUR) district where your kids 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 colorful and child-friendly.
At the entrance, you’ll be greeted by the historic Ferris wheel that’s had a modern revamp. A few obsolete rides have even 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
Location: Via delle Tre Fontane, 100, 00144 Roma RM, Italy
Open: Hours vary by season
Phone: +39 06 8946 4001
Luneur Park
4. MAXXI
Also known as the National Museum of 21st Century Art
Good for: Families, Photo, Budget
MAXXI is a great opportunity for kids to discover modern art, thanks to its educational activities. The museum’s exhibits and creative workshops are designed for families with kids between 5 and 10 years and act as a springboard for artistic analysis and new ideas.
Taking part is free for the kids as only accompanying adults pay for entrance tickets. MAXXI is committed to experimentation and creativity, structured around collections of art and architecture and brought to life by exciting events. 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. Read more
Location: Via Guido Reni, 4a, 00196 Roma RM, Italy
Open: Tuesday–Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +39 06 320 1954
MAXXI
5. Illusione ottica di Via Piccolomini
An optical illusion of St. Peter’s Dome
Good for: Families, Budget, Unusual
Via Nicolo Piccolomini, slightly north of Villa Pamphili Park, is about 300 meters long and it’s perfectly in line with the dome of St. Peter’s Basicila, making for breathtaking views. Look from the beginning of the street, and Michelangelo’s masterpiece seems very close to the belvedere at the end of the road. But as you get closer, the monument seems to gradually move away.
The weird illusion is probably generated by the incline of the road’s surface with respect to the Basilica. First, your spatial perception becomes slightly incorrect. Then as you move forward, you begin to grasp the actual distances. The best way to witness it is by driving forward at about 10 mph.
Location: Via Nicolò Piccolomini, 00165 Roma RM, Italy
Illusione ottica di Via Piccolomini
6. TechnoTown
Where kids can conduct fun experiments
Good for: Families
Technotown is a place where kids can have fun, experiment, and uncover scientific and technological secrets through interactive activities. Parents 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, and the impressive setting makes the workshops even more exciting.
The activities change day to day and follow a packed program, 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.
Location: Via Lazzaro Spallanzani, 1, 00161 Roma RM, Italy
Open: Tuesday–Sunday from 9.30 am to 7 pm (closed on Mondays)
TechnoTown
7. Civic Museum of Zoology
Enormous skeletons and prehistoric creatures
Good for: Families, History, Photo
The Civic Museum of Zoology is home to fascinating skeletons of a wide variety of animals. From fin whales, giraffes, and elephants, 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, while the ornithological section features birdwatching tips. There are educational activities organized by Zoolab, a biology laboratory where children can learn about living organisms. You can reach the museum on the northern edge of Villa Borghese by streetcar or bus.
Location: Via Ulisse Aldrovandi, 18, 00197 Roma RM, Italy
Open: Tuesday–Sunday from 9 am to 7 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +39 06 6710 9270
Civic Museum of Zoology
8. Cinecittà si Mostra
A child-sized movie set for discovering movie theater
Good for: Adventure, Families, Unusual
At Cinecittà si Mostra, children can get behind the scenes and discover the secrets of filmmaking. The space is styled as a movie set and is aimed at kids aged from 5 to 12. Parents can visit the movie studios and kids can participate in activities and workshops that stimulate creativity, reveal the magic of movie theater, and teach the tricks of the trade, including clapperboards, editing, set design, and costumes.
There are also interactive visits, family activities, readings, and special events. Located in the capital’s south-eastern suburbs, the studios are easily reached via metro.
Location: Via Tuscolana, 1055, 00173 Roma RM, Italy
Open: Wednesday–Monday from 10 am to 6 pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Phone: +39 06 7229 3269
Cinecittà si Mostra
9. Botanical Garden of Rome
A journey through tropical plants and Japanese gardens
Good for: Families, Photo
The Botanical Gardens of Rome can transform an afternoon outdoors into an exciting adventure in unspoiled 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 lillies, while budgies frolic in the treetops. Read more
Location: Largo Cristina di Svezia, 23 A, 00165 Roma RM, Italy
Open: Daily from 9 am to 5.30 pm
Phone: +39 06 4991 7107
Botanical Garden of Rome
10. Janiculum Hill
A cannon-firing show that’s always a hit
Good for: Families, Photo, Budget
On the Janiculum Terrace (Terrazza Panoramica Passeggiata del Gianicolo), you can witness a thrilling event at noon. You’ve probably seen cannons when visiting museums and castles, but have you ever seen one in action? Every day since 1847, a blank shot explodes from the mouth of a powerful cannon, resounding throughout the city and followed by the ringing of the church bells.
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’ll gain enchanting views of the capital.
Location: Passeggiata del Gianicolo, 8, 00165 Roma RM, Italy
Open: Daily at noon
Janiculum Hill
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