Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ROME FOR CHILDREN
Romans love children and even if there are few child-specific sights in town, your little ones will be
welcome just about everywhere.
Practicalities
»
Cobbled streets and badly parked cars make getting around with a pram or pushchair difficult.
»
Buy baby formula and sterilising solutions at pharmacies. Disposable nappies/diapers (
pannolini
in
Italian) are available from supermarkets and pharmacies.
»
Restaurants are laid-back when it comes to accommodating children and will happily serve a
mezza
porzione
(child's portion) and provide a
seggiolone
(highchair). Some hotels can supply a
culla
(cot)
on request.
»
Children under 10 travel free on all public transport.
»
Check out
www.turismoroma.it/piccoli-turisti-curiosi
for suggestions on child-friendly things to do.
Sights
Rome's museums and galleries are not ideal for rampaging toddlers, but many of the bigger ones now
offer educational services and children's workshops. Some even host kid-friendly events.
Suggested sights for kids include the Colosseum (
Click here
), Villa Borghese (
Click here
) and
Giardino Zoologico 1; adult/child over 1m & under 12yr/child under 1m €14/12/free; 9.30am-6pm
Apr-Oct, to 5pm Nov-Mar; Bioparco) , Rome's zoo. The catacombs of Appia Antica (
Click here
)
are best for children over about 12.
Explora
( 06 361 37 76;
www.mdbr.it
; Via Flaminia 82; adult/child 1-3yr €7/3; entrance
10am, noon, 3pm, 5pm Tue-Sun; Flaminio) is a hands-on, feet-on museum dedicated to kids under
12. Bookings are advised and essential on weekends. Outside there's a free play park open to all.
Out of town in Tivoli, the gardens at Villa D'Este (
Click here
) are fun to explore with their water
jets, cascades and grim-faced gargoyles. Nearby, the extensive ruins of Villa Adriana (
Click here
)
provide ample opportunity for hide and seek.
At
Ostia Antica (
Click here
)
, kids can run free amidst the ruins of ancient Rome's main port and
give their imagination a work out at the impressively preserved amphitheatre.
Further afield, the haunting Etruscan tombs at Cerveteri (
Click here
)and Tarquinia (
Click here
) are
fascinating for adults and great for little ones.
Tours
A Friend in Rome
( 340 501 92 01;
www.afriendinrome.it
)
Silvia Prosperi organises private tailor-made tours
(on foot, by bike or scooter). She covers the Vatican and main historic centre as well as
WALKING TOUR
