Aerial view of the Colosseum surrounded by ancient ruins and green parkland in the heart of Rome, Italy

🇮🇹Rome & Lazio

Explore Rome and Lazio with your family: gladiator arenas, volcanic lakes, crispy porchetta, and cobblestone streets that make history feel alive.

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Your family guide

Rome and Lazio with kids: where ancient history meets everyday adventure

“Forget the guidebooks. In Rome, your kids will beg to climb the next ruin and hunt for the next fountain.”

— San & Jo

Rome and Lazio might just be the most dramatic family destination in Europe. Built on seven hills with the Tiber River winding through its heart, Rome feels like a city-sized theme park where the rides are two thousand years old. Your kids can stand in the Colosseum where gladiators once fought, toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, and eat gelato in a Baroque piazza before lunch. History here is not something you read about in a textbook. It is something you walk through.

Beyond the capital, the Lazio region opens up into a quieter, greener world that is perfect when your family needs a breather. Volcanic crater lakes, rolling hills dotted with olive groves, medieval hilltop towns, and coastal beaches are all within easy reach of Rome. A morning at Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli or a swim at Lake Bracciano with a medieval castle as your backdrop makes for the kind of day your family will talk about for years.

Lazio rewards families who are curious. The food is deeply rooted in tradition, the landscapes shift from urban chaos to rural calm within an hour, and the sheer density of things to discover means no two days feel the same. Spring and autumn are the sweet spots for visiting, when the weather is warm but not overwhelming and the crowds are more manageable than in peak summer.

Central ItalyRegion of Lazio

April to June and September to OctoberBest time to visit

Euro (EUR)Local currency

Cities and places in Rome & Lazio

3 places

Hadrian's Villa

Hadrian's Villa near Tivoli is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Italy's most spectacular Roman ruins, perfect for a family day trip from Rome.

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Rome

Discover Rome with your family: the Colosseum, Vatican, Trevi Fountain, and incredible food — all in one extraordinary city.

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Tivoli / Villa d'Este

Tivoli is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the fountain-filled Villa d'Este and ancient Hadrian's Villa. A perfect family day trip from Rome.

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What makes it special

Why families keep coming back to Rome and Lazio

History your kids can actually touch

From the Colosseum's arena floor to the underground chambers of Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome puts ancient history within arm's reach. Walking the Roman Forum where emperors once held court is the kind of experience that makes history lessons click in a way no classroom ever could.

A city built for wandering

Rome rewards the family that simply walks. Every corner reveals a new fountain, a hidden piazza, or a street artist at work. Villa Borghese offers Rome's largest green space for a picnic break, while the ivy-covered alleys of Trastevere are perfect for a slow evening stroll with gelato in hand.

Lazio's countryside is your escape hatch

When the city buzz gets too much, Lazio's rural landscapes are never far away. Lake Bracciano offers calm swimming with a medieval castle on its shores, the Alban Hills hide wine estates and hilltop towns, and the ancient ruins of Ostia Antica make a brilliant and far less crowded alternative to Rome's busiest sites.

Art and architecture at every turn

St. Peter's Basilica, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel are all here. Rome is one of the few places where world-class Renaissance and Baroque art is simply part of the urban backdrop, making even a walk across the city feel like a gallery visit.

Food that tells a story

Roman food is bold, honest, and deeply tied to local tradition. From crispy carciofi alla Giudia in the old Jewish quarter to a plate of cacio e pepe in a neighbourhood osteria, eating your way through Lazio is one of the great pleasures of the trip. And yes, the gelato really is that good.

Your kind of holiday

History and culture explorers

Rome is one of the world's great living museums. Your family can visit the Colosseum, wander the Roman Forum, explore Hadrian's Villa, and discover pre-Roman Etruscan tombs at Cerveteri and Tarquinia. Every day brings a new chapter of history to life.

Food-loving families

Lazio's food culture is one of Italy's most distinctive, rooted in peasant tradition and bursting with flavour. Carbonara, bucatini all'amatriciana, porchetta sandwiches at a street market, and fresh seasonal vegetables make every meal an adventure. Thursday means gnocchi alla Romana. That is just the rule.

City and countryside mix

Rome is endlessly stimulating, but Lazio's countryside offers the perfect counterbalance. Combine days in the capital with a swim at Lake Bracciano, a day trip to Frascati for wine and views, or a lazy afternoon exploring the ruins of Ostia Antica without the big-city crowds.

Fun facts

Things your kids will love knowing about Rome and Lazio

The Pantheon has been open for nearly 2,000 years

Built around 126 AD, the Pantheon is the best-preserved ancient building in Rome. Its famous oculus, a circular opening at the top of the dome, is open to the sky. When it rains, the water falls straight through and drains away through the floor. Inside, you can also visit the tomb of the Renaissance painter Raphael.

Millions of coins are thrown into the Trevi Fountain every year

Tradition says that tossing one coin into the Trevi Fountain means you will return to Rome. The fountain collects around one million euros in coins each year, and the money is donated to a local charity. The fountain is at its most spectacular after dark, when the lights make Neptune's horses look like they are leaping straight out of the water.

Castel Sant'Angelo has a secret escape tunnel

Originally built as a mausoleum for the Roman Emperor Hadrian, Castel Sant'Angelo was later used as a fortress and a papal refuge. A hidden passageway called the Passetto di Borgo connects the castle to the Vatican, and popes used it to escape danger in times of crisis. Your kids will think that is extremely cool, and honestly, they are right.

Taste Rome and Lazio

What to eat with your family in Rome and Lazio

Carbonara

Rome's most famous pasta dish is made with spaghetti or rigatoni, guanciale, eggs, Pecorino Romano, and black pepper. No cream, ever. Rich, silky, and deeply satisfying, it is the kind of dish that converts even the fussiest young eaters.

Kids love it

Cacio e pepe

Just three ingredients: pasta, Pecorino Romano cheese, and black pepper. The simplicity is the point. When it is made well, the sauce is creamy and intensely flavoured without a drop of cream in sight. A brilliant option for kids who prefer straightforward flavours.

Safe choice

Carciofi alla Giudia

Whole artichokes deep-fried until the outer leaves are shatteringly crispy and the heart is tender. This Jewish-Roman specialty from the historic Ghetto neighbourhood is one of Lazio's most distinctive dishes. Order them as a starter and watch them disappear.

Must try

Porchetta di Ariccia

Spit-roasted pork stuffed with fennel, rosemary, and garlic, with crackling crispy skin. Originally from the Alban Hills town of Ariccia, porchetta is sold at street markets and roadside stalls across Lazio. Grab it in a bread roll for the ultimate family lunch on the go.

Local favourite

Gnocchi alla Romana

Semolina dumplings baked with butter and cheese until golden and bubbling. Softer and richer than the potato gnocchi you might know, this Thursday tradition in Rome is the kind of comforting, cheesy dish that goes down well with children of all ages.

Daily treat