Family Holidays: Rome family holidays and breaks

Take the Family holiday rating 5 stars out of 5

Why

Rome has always been one of the world's great cities to visit, and since the Millennium clean up every historical monument looks its imposing best. And even with younger children you can do most of your sightseeing on foot. Treat the city as their playground whether it's throwing a coin in the Trevi or pretending to be Roman soldiers in the Colosseum. A great family holiday or break choice.

Top left: Garden
Top right: St Peters Basilica

Bottom left: Rome Skyline
Bottom right: The Forum, Rome

When

July and August are usually hot and humid and lead to bad tempered children (and parents); too many tourists with sensible Romans getting out of the city. Christmas and Easter can be special but St Peter's will be packed with pilgrims, so take your short break in May or June, September and early October.

How

A short 2hr 30 mins flight with Alitalia or British Airways from a range of airports to Fiumicino and with EasyJet and Ryanair from Stansted to Ciampino keeping the prices at competitive levels. Other airlines that fly to rome from the UK include Aer Lingus, Air Berlin, bmibaby, flyglobespan, and Ryanair. Search for great flight deals to Rome with Ebookers and Expedia.

From the airport, trains and buses respectively feed both airports, so try to avoid those expensive taxis.

Stay

There are numerous suitable accommodation options for families in and around Rome. As with most cities you can find more space, peace and value further from the centre, but will then need to travel more each day. One of our particular favourites is The Cavalieri Hilton, Rome or you can browse many more of our favourite Rome hotels from partners Active Hotels. There are also self catering options, (although these may be on the outskirts or out of town), aparthotels or serviced apartments from partners The Apartment Service, (which generally save 15-30% on a comparable hotel). One more option to consider for the warmer months of the year are wonderfully family friendly camping sites and parcs in the Lazio province, for example Camping I Pini, (38 miles from Ciampino Airport - Rome), from Canvas Holidays, (save 5% by quoting 'Take the Family').

Do

Centro Storico: The historic centre of Rome is full of activity; take in Bernini’s fountains in the Piazza Navona and head down to the markets in the bustling Campo de'Fiori.

Imperial Rome: View the Roman Forum from the heights of the Capitoline Hill and when you get in the Colisseum look down to the passages where the animals and gladiators waited their turn to die.

Vatican City: Take a trip up the dome of St Peter’s basilica where you can look down on the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Gardens.

Tridente and Travestere: After a quick look up the Spanish Steps, it’s a short walk to the city’s most stylish shops, but balance this with a visit across the Tiber to the ancient quarter of Rome – more Garibaldi than Gucci.

Click here for an up to date family friendly events guide to Rome.

Eat

Rome has a restaurant to suit every purse and palate, and the restaurants in the neighbourhoods of San Lorenzo and Trastevere are renowned for reasonably priced delicious home cooking. Children are welcome in all restaurants and will be served mezze porzioni on request. Try Cantina Cantarini in Piazza Sallustio, a traditional, high quality but reasonably priced trattoria, or, for pizza, La Montecarlo, near the Piazza Navona – very popular with Romans, and excellent pizza.

Cost

You can enjoy three nights in a two star hotel, including flights, for under £200 if you book in advance. Or you can spend substantially more on a luxury break.