Visiting Rome with children: itinerary for one day

If you can devote only one day of sightseeing to Rome, we suggest focusing on the city's emblematic monuments that will interest children. Of course, in a single day the visit will remain very superficial, and we have chosen not to include a visit to the Vatican on this day.

Practical information

Ideally, start early in the day so as to be in the Colosseum–Palatine–Forum area by 8:30/9:00.
Booking for the Colosseum (combined ticket with the Palatine and the Forum) is compulsory online at https://parcocolosseo.it/

Visiting budget: entry to the Colosseum–Palatine–Forum and to Castel Sant'Angelo is chargeable.

Your schedule at a glance

Visiting route

Begin by making your way to the Colosseum area. The most practical way is the metro; the Colosseo stop on line B will bring you closest. Bus lines 51, 75, 81, 85, 87 and 118 will also drop you here.

Start with a visit to the Colosseum, the largest and most famous amphitheatre of antiquity. Begin with this visit, always impressive and one that will fascinate children. Remember, as noted above, booking is compulsory.

On the way out, make your way to the Arch of Constantine beside it, between the Colosseum and the Palatine entrance. This triumphal arch was built to celebrate Constantine's victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.

A visit to the Palatine will be your next stop. We recommend taking the entrance on Via di San Gregorio, which lets you go straight up onto the hill. The remains on the Palatine may not be the most impressive, but the walk through this park is pleasant and will let you enjoy fine viewpoints over the city and especially over the Roman Forums below. Take time to study them; the rest of the visit does not include going through them.

At this stage of the visit, you may already be ready for a lunch break (if you continue the visit, we suggest other addresses about 1h30 later). You can either eat a packed snack in the park or leave the Palatine by one of the exits towards the Colosseum. Then make your way, on the other side of the Colosseum, to Via di San Giovanni in Laterano or the parallel Via dei SS. Quatro, where there are many places to eat. We recommend Pane e Vino at 10 Via Ostilia for a sandwich, the Naumachia restaurant at 7 Via Celimontana for a sit-down meal of a good pizza or pasta and other dishes. You can finish with an ice cream at Gelateria da Costanza at 40 Via di S. Giovanni in Laterano!

Set off again by walking up the Via dei Fori Imperiali, first on the left-hand side of the street until you reach the Forum ticket office. Once there, cross over and continue along Via Alessandrina, which will let you discover a whole series of forum remains until you reach the famous Column of Trajan, a genuine comic strip recounting Trajan's military campaigns against the Dacians.

Cross the road to pass in front of the imposing monument dedicated to Victor Emmanuel II, follow it along and join Via del Teatro di Marcello, which will bring you to the foot of the staircase giving access to the superb Piazza del Campidoglio, designed by Michelangelo and shown on Italian 50-cent euro coins. Take the chance to go and admire the view over the Forum by taking the small Via del Campidoglio and emerging onto Via Monte Tarpeo.

Retrace your steps and come back down the staircase to reach the Palazzo Farnese through the little streets.

At the bottom of the staircase take a left onto Via del Teatro di Marcello as far as this ancient theatre, later turned into a fortress then a palace. Follow it along Via del Foro Piscario then right along Via del Portico d'Ottavia, a chance to discover a number of ancient remains.

If you have not already done so, you will find many places to eat here for a lunch break.
We recommend for example Sora Margherita at 30 Piazza delle Cinque Scole for a sit-down meal, or Alice Pizza at 7 Via del Portico d'Ottavia for a slice of pizza to take away or to eat at a counter on the spot.

Continue straight along the streets, Via di S. Maria del Pianto, Via dei Giubbonari, as far as the very lively Campo de' Fiori.

Turn left to arrive at Piazza Farnese. Besides the two monumental fountains that came from the Baths of Caracalla, the square holds Palazzo Farnese, seat of the French embassy. It is considered the finest palace in Rome.

Continue on your way via Via di Monserrato, which then becomes Via dei Banchi Vecchi.

Cross Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and go up Via del Banco di Santo Spirito, which will let you enjoy the vista towards the bridge and Castel Sant'Angelo. Cross the bridge and take the chance to admire the statues of Bernini's school. A little further on, you can see St Peter's Basilica and its famous dome.

Visit Castel Sant'Angelo, which children will enjoy. The views over the city are remarkable. A break with a drink in front of one of the openings looking towards St Peter's Basilica is a magical moment.

Retrace your steps and cross Ponte Sant'Angelo, then head slightly left along Via dei Panico before turning after a few metres on your left onto Via dei Coronari. Walk up this street for 500 metres as far as Via Agonale on your right, which gives access to the famous Piazza Navona. Walk around it and admire the various fountains that adorn it. Its elliptical shape follows the outline of the track of Domitian's ancient stadium. In the centre, the Fountain of the Four Rivers representing the four continents is a work by Bernini.

Leave the square from its centre, via Corsia Agonale. Turn left then immediately right to cross Corso del Rinascimento and arrive on Via del Salvatore, which you follow up. This street becomes Via Giustiniani and opens onto Piazza della Rotonda, where the Pantheon stands.

Visit the Pantheon; this ancient temple turned into a church has come down to us almost intact.

You can dine in the area; many restaurants are here. If you wish to dine right on the square we suggest for example Ristorante Di Rienzo, with perfectly acceptable dishes. You do of course pay for the view (be sure to read the menu carefully to understand the different prices for eating in and takeaway!). Nearby you will find Osteria del Sostegno at 5 Via delle Colonnelle or Ristorante Pizzeria Le Volte at 47 Piazza Rondanini.

Whatever meal you choose, then go to the Della Palma ice-cream parlour at 19-23 Via della Maddalena, which offers an incredible choice of 150 flavours! An unmissable address in Rome!

Then return to the Pantheon and leave the square by Via dei Pastini (on your right with the Pantheon behind you). Walk up the street until you reach the broad Via del Corso, which you cross to continue along Via delle Muratte until you reach the Trevi Fountain, the final stop of the day's programme.

One last chance to eat a delicious ice cream is to go to San Crispino, a Rome institution, at 42 Via della Panetteria.