Rome with Kids

Although Italians love children and are generally very tolerant and patient with them, they provide few amenities for them. Discounts do exist. Always ask about a sconto bambino (child's discount) before purchasing tickets. Children under a certain height ride free on municipal buses and trams. Children under 18 who are EU citizens are admitted free to state-run museums and galleries, and there are similar privileges in many municipal or private museums. Discounts on concert tickets may be available for young people with student ID.

Sights & Attractions

Historic sites that give kids space to run around in and explore include the Colosseum and the Roman forum and adjacent Palatine Hill. The Musei Capitolini provides a children's audio guide and special room where kids can draw and play interactive computer games. Children also tend to find the catacombs, which are dark and mysterious, exciting sites to visit. The Museo dei Bambini (Children's Museum) at Via Flaminia 82, the Biopark (animal research center) in the Villa Borghese Park, and the Luneur Amusement Park at EUR are all havens where little ones can let off steam and give exhausted parents some breathing space. Boat trips on the Tiber are fun and, in summer, don't forget that the beach at Ostia Lido is only a short train journey away. The APT information kiosks supply information about special children's activities, many of them free.