Travel Guide: Rome with a Toddler
- Kendall Posey
- Jul 8, 2024
- 11 min read
Updated: Feb 22
Little feet in the giant Colosseum!
When our family began planning our Italian vacation for the summer of 2024, we knew that we had to start in Rome!
With it's ancient landmarks, delicious food, plentiful green spaces, and the Italians' iconic love for babies, The Eternal City was the perfect destination for our toddler's first international trip.
Before we dive in, I just want to give a SHINING recommendation for Rome and Italy in general for travel with a toddler! So, if you’re planning to travel to Rome with your little one, read on for all of our best tips and tricks!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Those rumors you’ve heard about Italians’ love for babies? TRUE! From our first day in Italy, we experienced Italians (even men in their 20’s!) giving Maddie a kind smile or a wink. That alone sold me on Italy. Maddie was treated like the precious gift that we know she is, and by total strangers!
ARRIVAL IN ROME
The closest airport to Rome is located in Fiumicino, a smaller coastal city that's about a 40 minute taxi to Rome. When you pick a taxi at the taxi stand, be sure to choose one that has the standard rate of 50 Euros for a ride to Rome pasted on the side. These taxis are the official ones- any others may charge you more.
Maddie rode on my lap for the ride, as she did on any other taxi or public transportation. In fact, we didn't use a carseat for our entire Italy trip, but for two days of driving a rental car in Tuscany.
STROLLER RENTAL
Sometimes, she'd rather help push the stroller than be pushed! Ha!
Rome is a walking-heavy destination, and we knew we needed a stroller but didn't want to bring one from home. Enter Babonbo, solving all of our problems :)
Babonbo is a baby gear rental service that connects local parents to travelers who need baby gear. Babonbo boasts an impressive selection of gear, like cribs, car seats, and even toys!
We selected a stroller that had sturdy, thick tires that we were sure could handle the cobblestone. When we picked it up, less than a 10 minute walk from our Airbnb, we were impressed with how clean and new it looked!
I would recommend Babonbo solely for the convenience, but the quality of the product you receive as well as the timely service take it over the top! If you aren't planning on bringing a stroller with you, this service is the perfect solution!
SIGHTS
The awe-inspiring Roman Forum
Rome is usually on bucket lists for families with older kids, as they’ve likely learned about Ancient Rome in school, but let me assure you that Rome has PLENTY to offer for your little one too! Below, I’ll tell you about the major sights through our toddler’s eyes, as well as if each sight is stroller friendly. I've also linked the official website for each sight for booking tickets!
Disclaimer: We opted out of any tours so that we could see each sight at Maddie’s pace and not be tied to a group if she (or we!) found something extra interesting, or if we needed to make a quick exit for a tired or hungry child. Depending on your child’s temperament, a tour may be the best way for you to enjoy the sights, but we felt most relaxed having the freedom to stop and go as needed.
THE COLOSSEUM
The Colosseum was the first sight that we explored in Rome, and it was mind boggling! It is very stroller friendly, with smooth wide paths, a ramp to the lower level, and a lift to the upper levels, which the full experience pass gives you access to. We thought that the full access pass was so worth it because each different vantage point gives you a fresh perspective. It is very sunny in the arena and can get quite hot, so be sure to bring a hat and some water for your child. Madeline asked to walk in the arena, and she loved feeling the texture of the stone and looking down into the winding maze of the pit of the arena. The Colosseum was a great first dip into Rome, as we could take it at our own pace and there was plenty of freedom for Madeline to roam.
THE ROMAN FORUM
The Roman Forum was one of our favorite sights with our little. It has tons to offer for toddlers, and for the adults in your crew, the history is enthralling. We really felt as if we were walking 2000 years in the past! A quick word for the stroller- I hope your toddler likes rollercoasters! In all seriousness, most of the paths are totally doable for strollers, with a few places where we just had to take it slow and steady. It didn’t seem to bother Maddie too much, and it made me giggle seeing her bounce around!
One thing that Maddie loved were the gardens in the Forum! This was the one thing that she got out of her stroller for, and she seemed so happy to look around up there. There’s a path lined with orange trees, a large rose garden, some open fields where some people were picnicking or napping, and a gorgeous overlook with a view of the Vatican. I think she could’ve stayed forever if we weren't getting so hungry! That’s another thing to note for the Forum. We did not realize how MASSIVE the property is, so we did not eat beforehand and had to get a few snacks from the vending machine. While it was fun seeing what Italian vending machines sell, I would recommend properly fueling before you conquer the Roman Forum!
THE VATICAN
First, let me tell you that a trip to the Vatican with a toddler is definitely possible if you come with reasonable expectations and are prepared with the right tools. The line outside of the Vatican entrance on the Northside of Vatican City can get lengthy and advance tickets can sell out quickly, so be sure to secure your tickets when they release about 60 days out and arrive before your allotted time slot, as you may be waiting for a bit to get inside. We booked the 8:30 AM time slot, the earliest one available to try to avoid the crowds, as approximately 20,000 people PER DAY visit Vatican City! Though it was still pretty crowded, it definitely could have been worse, and I think we benefited from the earlier slot. Once inside, because we opted out of a tour, it was a bit difficult to know where to go, and it was frankly overwhelming. Looking back, we would have made a beeline to the major sights instead to wandering in the courtyard and looking at the smaller wings of the museum.
One important thing to note is that strollers are NOT recommended for the Vatican Museums. This is due to the narrow staircases that you must descend to get to various wings, including the Sistine Chapel. We did not bring a stroller, and Maddie enjoyed running around (though we did need to keep a close eye on her since there are artifacts roped off at a level that she could easily walk under). By the end, however, Madeline was exhausted and a tad cranky. If we were to do it again, we would bring a toddler carrier so that one of us could have worn her as she napped, instead of playing ‘pass the hysterical and exhausted baby’ LOL. To keep her satisfied (i.e. distracted? ha!) we asked her to help us find all of the birds in the paintings. The hallways are covered in artwork, and there was an abundance of birds to find!
All that said, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to see this iconic sight, and we would recommend that you see it too! Just keep your expectations reasonable, pack extra snacks, and bring a carrier :)
THE SPANISH STEPS
The Spanish Steps are just what they sound- a very big staircase! The history is actually quite rich, and we’ll get into that in a moment, but first- the stroller. 135 steps to the top, a stroller simply does not work for this landmark. The stroller we rented was collapsible, so my rockstar of a husband carried it to the top.
If your toddler is anything like ours, they will love climbing the stairs! I was impressed with how many steps those little legs could climb! She also loved the view once we got to the top and enjoyed running around the little lookout space. The Spanish Steps were built between 1723 and 1726 and represent the relationship between the Eternal City and the Holy City. The three tiers on the staircase are an ode to the Trinity- Father, Son, and Spirit. They are a stunning piece of architecture, as the longest and widest staircase in Europe, and the view at the top is worth the climb.
BONUS NOTE: Sitting is not allowed on the steps, and a fine of 400 Euros could await those who try!
THE MAMERTINE PRISON
The Mamertine Prison isn’t one of the big sights you normally see on a Rome itinerary, but this was on our “must see” list! This prison, right next to the Forum, is the last prison that the apostle Paul was held in as he awaited his execution. In the small, dark prison room, practically in a basement, Paul wrote 2 Timothy. We made the descent on the short staircase to the lower level of the prison and spent a little bit of time reading some of 2 Timothy. It was an impactful experience for us all!
The museum itself is small and not crowded. You can easily move your child’s stroller around on the upper level, and there is ample space to park your stroller before descending the staircase to the prison cell. Maddie liked seeing the artifacts housed on ground level and enjoyed the climb down to the lower levels, but was a bit uncomfortable with how dark the prison cell was. Luckily, there wasn't a whole lot to see down there, so the visit to the cell itself was quick. If you have 30 minutes of extra time in your itinerary and could appreciate the history of this sight, we highly recommend!
THE TREVI FOUNTAIN
The Trevi Fountain was a short 10 minute walk from our AirBNB, and it was one of our favorite places to be. The vibe is nothing short of magic. I especially recommend the Trevi for a date night. My mom was kind enough to watch Maddie on our last night while my husband and I sat in the glow of the fountain and people watched!
If you’re taking your kiddo, be aware that the fountain is surrounded by descending stairs, so you can’t easily go to the base of the fountain with your stroller. Luckily, the fountain is easily seen from the top of the stairs, or really from anywhere in the square- you really can’t miss it :)
THE PANTHEON
The Pantheon is one of the most stroller friendly places on the list! It’s essentially one giant circular room inside with tombs and memorials lining the walls. It houses the tombs of several famous artists and musicians, including Raphael.
Honestly, it was not quite what we were expecting. I had read before we left for Italy that some of the temples dedicated to Roman gods have been reappointed as Catholic churches, but it was a bit shocking to see the inside looking so relatively modern compared to the exterior. That said, our toddler enjoyed the visit!
ALTAR OF THE FATHERLAND
Disclaimer: we never went inside, but I can testify that the outside makes for a great picture! Because it was on our way to lunch after going to the Forum, we took a quick pause to admire. It was built in the late 19th century into the early 20th century to honor Victor Emannuel II who was the first king of a unified Italy. The inside houses the tomb of the unknown soldier, as well as a few other museums. If you have an extended stay in Rome, this may be worth a visit. It seems no less toddler friendly than any other European museum. Noteworthy is the large staircase leading to the entrance to the museum- we didn't try it, but it does not look stroller friendly.
ACCOMMODATION
We stayed at the Eco Attic in Monti. I have so many reasons that we loved this AirBNB. It boasts 4.99 stars on AirBNB, and for good reason. From check-in to check-out and beyond, our host Caterina was always responsive and helpful. The apartment itself was bright, stylish, and comfortable: everything you’d want after a full day of sightseeing.
It houses 3 bedrooms (2 doubles, 1 single), 2 full bathrooms, a kitchen, an area for eating and gathering, and the coolest balcony. Our toddler loved the giant windows looking out onto the balcony, and especially loved going to the balcony and looking at us from the outside! Though there are restaurants and shops below, we were never bothered by street noise, as the apartment is on the 5th floor.
If you worry that it may be inconvenient to be on the 5th floor, rest assured that there is a very tiny but very functional elevator that can bring you to your door in a jiffy!
Our favorite street pizza and gelato shops were both a 5 minute walk from the AirBNB and we enjoyed pastries and cappuccinos from the corner pasticcerie every morning. Here’s how far the stay is from all of the major sights:
Colosseum- 17 min walk
Roman Forum- 14 min walk
Altar of the Fatherland- 14 min walk
Trevi Fountain- 12 min walk
Spanish Steps- 16 min walk
Pantheon- 20 min walk
Vatican- 20 minute taxi
Trastevere neighborhood- 35 min walk
Some other great features of this place are a communal washer and dryer and an adorable shared terrace with seating. The real plus for us was that this stay had all of the necessities for a baby or toddler, with a great highchair and a practically new crib.
FOOD
Eating in Rome with a toddler is worth the trip in itself! Madeline ate a good bit more here than she does at home. She really enjoyed the pastries, pizza, fruits, and ESPECIALLY the pasta! Everywhere we went had a highchair available for her and the staff always gives her special attention. We brought Maddie’s favorite silicone bib and plate, which were perfect for eating on the go because of how easy they are to wipe down and pack back in the diaper bag.
We relied pretty heavily on the street food for our time there because our schedule was so packed with sightseeing. For breakfasts, we ate at Taliani, which was on the corner of our Airbnb’s building. I’d often indulge in fresh squeezed orange juice, then ask the server what kind of pastry she recommended. Whatever she picked was always delicious! Elisha still dreams about their cappuccinos!
One major food highlight for us, Madeline included, was our dinner at Da Michele. It’s a charming family owned restaurant with an authentic atmosphere, quick service, and absolutely delicious food. We started with appetizers of fiora di zucca (fried zucchini blossoms) and suppli (a fried cheesy rice ball). They paired so well with the house wine. SO good! For our main dish we tried the carbonara and the cacio e pepe. Just look up pictures of these and you’ll feel hungry immediately! The pic above is of Maddie devouring her carbonara. I had no clue that her little tummy could hold so much food! For dessert, we had a slice of chocolate cake, which was more like a decadent, dense brownie, and tiramisu. The owner makes the tiramisu himself every morning and I would pay big money to eat that tiramisu again. Mads loved every part of it, and we were truly treated as family!
Another major highlight for Maddie was the gelato. She has a dairy sensitivity that prohibits her from eating ice cream, but the gelato shops had so many options for her! Our favorite spot in Rome, Gelateria Artigianale Il Capriccio di Carla had 6 or more fruity sorbet flavors as well as a vanilla and chocolate that were dairy free. That place was so good that we never tried another! And judging by the conversations we heard from patrons inside, we weren’t the only repeat customers. We really researched the gelato places before picking where we’d go, trying to steer clear of the tourist spots that load their mile high piles of gelato up with preservatives. We searched out the spots that use the traditional method of storing the gelato in wells, a good sign that they keep preservatives to a minimum.
DON'T FORGET!!!
We've compiled some AWESOME and comprehensive resources for you to use before you go! Here are the links to our guides for airports with a toddler and the things we love about Italy with a toddler.
We hope you enjoy your trip to Rome with your toddler! And as always,
Book the flight, bring the littles,
Kendall