As far back as I can remember Italy was a country I always wanted to visit! In school you learn about all the fascinating sites like the Colosseum, the Vatican, the Fountain di Trevi making it a dream of mine to go and visit one day. My first trip to Rome was back in 2005, I was studying abroad in Spain and on my free time I was able to spend 5 days in this beautiful city on my own. It was such an amazing experience I knew in my heart I would go back someday with my own family. Rome is a fantastic city to visit with family because there is so much history, beautiful sites to see, art, culture and let’s not forget the endless pasta & gelato to eat! Come and take a trip with us to Rome and use it as inspiration for your next big trip.
Day 1 – Arrive in Rome, Check into Hotel and Relax
After a 9 hour flight, over the Atlantic Ocean, we arrived in Rome! We picked up our luggage and then took a taxi to our hotel, Hotel Napoleon Rome. This hotel is housed in what use to be a 19th century palace and only minutes away from famous sites like the Colosseum, the Pantheon and St. Peter’s Bascilica. This is a 4 star hotel with good rooms, very helpful staff, hot water, a great happy hour and a wonderful breakfast selection. There is even a wonderful cafe located outside the hotel for guests who want to wake up late but still need a good cup of espresso or coffee. Once we settled into our room and freshened up we took a stroll around the area and ended up falling into the Parco del Colle Oppio with the most amazing view of the Colosseum. You must make a stop here for some great pictures! I’m not sure if my daughter could feel our excitement but she was beyond ecstatic and had the biggest, happiest smile even after a long flight with no nap. After taking in these precious moments and of course the views, we walked to a nearby restaurant/cafe located directly across the Colosseum to have dinner. We enjoyed pizza, pasta and gelato…so original right, LOL!! This was my daughter’s first taste of gelato and she absolutely loved it! We walked back to our hotel before nightfall for a relaxing and long nights sleep to begin our big adventure the next morning.
Keep in mind that restaurants and shops located near major sites like the Colosseum, Pantheon, Fountain di Trevi, etcetera can be very expensive. As you continue your adventure in Rome be sure to get lost in all the cobblestone streets. Prices are much more reasonable!
Day 2 – The Bocca della Verità and Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome
After a restful night we slept in and took our time getting ready for the day. We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast with excellent cups of cappuccinos and assortment of breads, meats, cheeses, fruits and pastries. After my caffeine fix, we were ready to go and get our day started! Our first stop of the day was Bocca Della Verita, also known as The Mouth of Truth. On our way there we walked right pass the Circus Maximus which was used a long time ago as a chariot racing stadium. When we arrived to The Mouth of Truth, the line was very short so we only had to stand in line for like 20 minutes. This popular site typically has very long lines and tourists can wait hours to get inside. We were super excited that our wait was short and thank goodness because our daughter would not have been happy. The Mouth of Truth is an exciting site to see because it’s about 2,000 years old and also seen in BIG movies such as “Roman Holiday” and “Only You” (my personal favorite). The old saying goes, if you put your hand inside the mouth and tell a lie when asked a question, the mouth of truth will shut its mouth and cut your arm off! Good thing I was being incredibly truthful throughout this whole ordeal!! Once you finish visiting the mouth you walk directly into a beautiful old church to the right. We walked around for a bit and then made our way to the Colosseum. Before meeting with our tour guide for the Underground and Ancient Rome tour, we made a quick stop for some lunch and gelato. We finished up with plenty of time and then approached our tour group ready to see the normally off-limits parts of the Colosseum. On this 3 hour tour we were in a small group of about 12 people and where able to skip the regular long lines to enter the Colosseum. This is the HUGE advantage of going in with a group! Once inside, we walked straight into the underground portion where the ancient Romans once stored their exotic animals and the Gladiators once stood. Here we learned how the Gladiators prepared for their big fight, walked the path the Gladiators walked to their heroic wins or death, even how the Romans lifted the animals to the top of the stage for the fights and so much more. After roaming the underground portion we went up 1 level (the stage portion where the Gladiators would fight) to take pictures and then went up to the very top of the 3rd level. The views from the top looking down into the Colosseum are breathtaking and worth a stop. Take a ton of pictures! After we finished touring the Colosseum we walked next door to explore Palestine Hill and the Roman Forum. If you visit Rome, this is truly a must see tour because not everyone gets to visit the underground portions of the Colosseum and it is very limited. After a long day of site seeing and learning so much about the Colosseum, we grabbed dinner and then headed back to the hotel before nightfall.
Day 3 – Fountain de Trevi, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and the Spanish Steps
On day 3 we had another late start in the morning and why not we are on vacation! We had breakfast and then ventured out to visit the most beautiful fountain I’ve ever seen, the Fountain de Trevi. As we walked to the famous fountain we once again passed the Colosseum, stopped for a selfie with the famous Cesar statue, saw the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument and then finally made it to the Trevi Fountain. This is truly a sight to see! The massive building, the water and perfect statues are worth all the hype. Just know that there are a ton of tourists here but most are friendly and don’t mind taking turns for families to take picture of the famous fountain.
While visiting the Trevi Fountain, don’t forget to grab a coin using your right hand and throw it over your left shoulder to ensure you will return to Rome in the future!
After about 45 minutes of admiring this beautiful sight we decided it was time for some gelato! We ventured to Giolotti which is known as one of the OLDEST and most famous gelateria’s in all of Rome. This spot did not disappoint! My flavor of choice was pistachio, my daughter had vanilla and my husband had strawberry. All of the flavors were incredibly delicious and worth the small wait for scrumptious gelato! Now it was time to visit the Pantheon. The Pantheon is one of the most well preserved and influential buildings in Rome. It is considered to be a temple dedicated to all the gods of pagan Rome and still a real mystery of how it has sustained its beauty through many raids and wars it has seen through its time. After a good hour of touring this ancient site with hundreds of other tourists, we decided to have lunch at a nearby restaurant located directly across the Pantheon in the Piazza della Rotonda. The restaurants in this particular piazza are quite expensive but we were so hungry we decided to go ahead and splurge for lunch. The food, wine and views of the Pantheon and people watching as we sat at an outdoor table was perfection! When in Rome eating outside on a beautiful day is always the best way to go. After lunch we opted to walk off our food to the famous Piazza Navona. Here you will find 3 famous fountains, the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, Fontana del Moro and Fontana del Neptune. Be sure to spend some time admiring these fascinating structures and pay attention to the detail because they are truly amazing pieces of work! In the middle of the square you will find many talented artists displaying their own personal works of art for tourists to buy or gawk at. You will also find musicians on each corner playing music on a variety of instruments for all to hear and soak in. My daughter ran around for quite sometime and dozed off allowing us to relax at one of the many outdoor bars and restaurants offered. If you visit during the hot summer months a very local refreshing drink to order is called an Aperol Sprtiz which I must say is now one of my favorite citrusy drinks! After the hustle and bustle of Piazza Navona we ventured out to the Spanish Steps. Be forewarned, that regardless of what time or day it is, the Spanish Steps is always busy with hundreds of tourists from all over the world! Keep your kiddos and valuables close by. Not only do the famous steps reside here but many high-end retailers such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Hermes, Prada and more which is another reason the area is crazy packed. Needless to say, we took a few pics and then headed back to our hotel to a much more peaceful and calm area.
Day 4 – Vatican City and La Trastevere Rome
As we entered day 4, we decided to visit the smallest country in the world, Vatican City. We departed our hotel at about 9am and asked our taxi driver to drop us off directly in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. As we exited the taxi there were several guides asking if you would like a tour of the Vatican for a good price. We decided to jump on board because if you go with a large group you DO NOT have to wait in line to get inside. These lines can get incredibly long (I’m talking hours of waiting) to view the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica. Trust me it is worth the fee to just avoid the long lines! Fortunately for us, we were able to find a nice group that was ready to head into the Vatican as we purchased out tickets. Most walking tours are very similar because you all head in to the Vatican Museum first and then St. Peter’s Basilica. As you enter the Vatican Museum your guide will lead you through various rooms full of statues, artwork, tapestries, world maps, and paintings. Ultimately, every tour guide is trying to reach the most famous room the Vatican has to offer, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. This chapel is truly a beauty site to see and so incredibly mesmerizing. Just know that no picture taking is allowed in this room for fear of ruining the 14th century paintings. After departing the museum, you will the be led to St. Peter’s Basilica. Here is where your guide stops and you gives you time to explore this magnificent church on your own.
Ladies and gentlemen be sure to wear appropriate attire when entering St. Peter’s Basilica. Women must have their shoulders covered, no shorts or short dresses allowed. Men must wear shirts and pants, no shorts tanks or sandals allowed. They are very strict here.
Be sure to stop by Michelangelo’s La Pieta, climb up the dome and visit the Vatican Necropolis to see the tomb of St. Peter. As you exit St. Peter’s Basilica there is the Vatican store located to the right of the church. This store is very tiny and ran by the Nuns of the Vatican. Try your best to get inside and buy a few things for yourself, family and friends. After a few hours of touring the Vatican City we were out on our way out to lunch and decided to head to the popular neighborhood called La Trastevere. If you want to experience Rome as a real Roman and get away from most of the hustle and bustle of tourists this is the spot for you! Although now gaining major popularity, it is still a fantastic place to experience an authentic Rome. In the Trastevere district you will find a plethora of restaurants, pizzerias, small churches, fabulous piazzas, local shops and lively bars. You will not be disappointed while people watching and enjoying a glass of an Aperol Spritz! We had a late lunch and then made our day back to the hotel.
If you want to take some holy water home from St. Peter’s Basilica you can do so BUT make sure you buy or bring your own container in advance because you cannot purchase anything inside the Basilica.
Day 5 – Relax and Family Photo Shoot
Day 5 was a great day for us to slow down, relax and really take in the beauty of Rome. The only item on our itinerary for this day was to take our family photo shoot.
After having our daughter, I made it a point to schedule family photo shoots for us while on holiday. It has now become a family tradition of ours to take these priceless mementos and reminisce about them months and even years later. Depending on what country we visit I research and book a local company who hires independent photographers. In Rome we used a company called Localers who are based out of Paris and I’ve used before. I highly recommend this company because they are incredibly professional, reliable, great at communication, flexible on what type of pictures you want to take and amazingly priced! Another perk for booking with Localers in that your photographer is typically a local or has lived in the city for some time and almost always gives you a personal guide of the city while taking pictures.
On this particular day, we first started out at the Spanish Steps and shockingly enough had the whole place almost all to ourselves. It was seriously unbelievable! After the Spanish Steps we walked to the Fountain di Trevi, stopped at a small museum, Piazza Navona, several narrow alleys and finally ended at the Colosseum. Every time I look at our professional pictures it puts the biggest smile on my face and makes my heart so full and happy! These are truly priceless moments to have forever.
Day 6 – Back to the Vatican, Castel Sant’Angelo and Piazza Navona
On this gorgeous day, we woke up late and then headed back out to the Vatican because we forgot to buy a few gifts for family and friends. This time we did not go inside the Vatican Museum or St. Peter’s Basilica but walked to the museum shop located to the left of St. Peter’s Basilica to purchase authentic souvenirs. This store is much bigger than the store located on the opposite side of the Basilica but still sell the same items without having to wait in a long line. Just know if you forget to purchase something while on your guided tour you can always go back and walk to the “unguarded side” and still purchase some special gifts. After our purchases we walked towards Castel Sant’Angelo to take pictures of this castle built back in 123 AD! This was first used as a mausoleum by Roman Emperor Hardian and years later used by the pope as a fortress and castle and now a museum. The St. Angelo bridge has magnificent statues of Angels on either side and such a sight to see. Be sure not to miss it! We then grabbed some lunch and then walked to the Piazza Navona in search of art work by the local people. We found a large beautiful painting as well as a few small paintings for my family. This is another tradition we like to do when visiting different countries, collecting artwork from locals. It’s a way for us to give back to the community and have a piece of their culture into our home. Because of the hot day nothing tastes better than a cold glass of the popular drink Aperol Spritz or a glass of white wine. We then had a fantastic dinner with the best staff possible! My daughter got a little fussy mid way through dinner so our server took charge by distracting her in Italian and even giving her a glimpse of where her food came from in the kitchen! Happy child equals very happy parents!!
Day 7 – Bioparco di Roma
On our last full day in Rome, we decided it would be the perfect day to visit the Bioparco di Roma Zoo. We started out the day by first grabbing something sweet to eat at my favorite dessert place Laduree. My daughter and I grabbed an assortment of macarons and enjoyed every last piece! After our sweet stop we began our walk to Park Villa Borghese to reach the zoo. This park is HUGE! I wish we had discovered this park earlier during our stay but a good thing to know for next time. At this park you can rent a small boat, rent a bike, visit various museums, watch an opera, have a picnic, take a train ride and even watch the sunset from Pincio! We finally made it to the zoo and let me tell you we were very impressed. The zoo was very clean, spacious, a variety of animals to visit with, great paths and plenty of benches to relax at. We got to see bears, elephants, hippos, giraffes, monkeys and so many more! After about an hour of visiting with the animals we got rained out for a bit. Fortunately for us we were near a cafe so we got to relax and eat a good Americanized lunch: hot dogs, chips and ice cream. I was hoping for something more Italian but this was all they had on the menu, LOL! After a good 30 minutes the rain let up and we were back to visiting with the animals and then ended at the gift shop. We bought our daughter small stuffed animals, notebook and colored pencils. She loved the zoo very much and was so happy we went! We walked through this huge park once again and passed so many museums that are definitely on my list for the next time we are in Rome. As we walked back to our hotel we went off the beaten path and got to see some very old churches with the most impressive interiors I have ever seen. Our daughter couldn’t get enough of them. Once we reached our hotel, we ordered in room service for out last dinner in Rome: lasagna, pasta & steak and it was perfect!
Conclusion
In my opinion, Rome is the perfect city to visit with families. You get the history, food, culture, kid friendly spots and all the gelato possible! Rome is a very popular location to visit and can be very hectic but with good planning and patience it will all be worth it!
https://waterfallmagazine.com
I absolutely love your site.. Very nice colors & theme.
Did you create this website yourself? Please reply back
as I’m planning to create my very own website and want
to learn where you got this from or what the theme is called.
Many thanks!
Hi! Thank you so much. I use Blossom Feminine by Blossom Themes. This theme is incredibly user friendly!! I hope this helps!