Things to Do with Kids in Rome, Italy

Rome with kids is hot, dusty, full of ancient stones, and somehow works because the gelato is on every block and the food culture lets you eat at 5 p.m. when the kids are flagging. The Colosseum is the big one; book the Colosseum Underground tour if your kids are 8 or older for the access to the hypogeum tunnels. The Roman Forum is paired with it on the same ticket; expect the Forum to be more interesting to adults than kids (15 minutes is plenty for under-10s). Family Park Parco Giochi Prenestina is the local playground locals send their kids to on Saturday mornings. ReeF Aquarium handles the rainy afternoon. JO&JOE Roma is the casual restaurant-bar with the rare kid corner that lets you eat at 7 instead of 9. The Vatican Museums are a 4-hour commitment with anyone under 12; the early-morning skip-the-line ticket (8 a.m. entry) is the only version of this that works for kids. Pro tip: the Roma Pass covers transit and skip-the-line access for kids 4 and up, and the math works if you visit two major sites and ride two metro trips in a day. Wear closed-toe shoes; the ancient stones eat sandals.