How to spend a day in Rome on a budget with kids

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We’re all about cheap family travel, so here’s my guide on how to explore Rome on a budget – in just one day – with kids. So, is Rome cheap or expensive? Though I’m sure it’s possible to spend a small fortune in a city like Rome, it’s totally unnecessary as it can be a surprisingly affordable place to explore. There are loads of beautiful places to visit in the city and the best thing is that many of them are free – so Rome can actually be a great place to spend a day on a budget with the kids. I’ve put together an itinerary of the best bits you’ll want to check out during your visit to Rome – including tips, costs (to help you plan your budget), the nearest metro stations and useful information.

How can I travel to and around Rome cheaply?

We travelled into the centre of Rome via train from Vitinia which was a five minute drive from where we stayed at Camping Village Fabulous Eurocamp in Lazio, and there was plenty of free street parking nearby. (Read my review here: Eurocamp Holiday Review: Camping Village Fabulous, Lazio, Rome, Italy.) Being so close to the station, it was a fantastic base and much more affordable than hotels in the city – I would definitely recommend doing something similar if you’re trying to travel as a family on a budget. For more info on cheap family accommodation options near Rome, check out: Eurocamp Italy: The best holiday parks near Rome for families.

Our train tickets were just €7, and this covered all of our train travel for the day; the main train in and hopping on and off the Metro as needed. Kids under 10 travel free in Rome so for just €14 it was really cost effective – you really don’t need much spending money in this city. It was about a 30 minute train journey (with some changes) to get into Rome to the Roma Termini Central Train Station. The Metro makes getting around Rome easy and budget-friendly – using public transport is really handy if you’re hoping to see it all in just one day with the kids in tow. If you’re flying to Rome, the closest airport to the city is Rome Ciampino Airport which is only around 13km away. To save money, look for budget flights using Sky Scanner to find the cheapest days, times and airports to fly from.

How should I spend a day in Rome on a budget with kids?

If you’re wondering if Rome can be done in a day, it absolutely can! If you use the whole day, prioritise what you want to see (definitely pre-plan your itinerary!), and take the metro to speed up getting around (especially if you’re visiting with babies or kids) it’s totally doable. Though if you want a bit longer, or would prefer a slower pace, there’s certainly enough to see in Rome to fill a few days. Bring a picnic with you to keep costs down, and take advantage of Rome’s free water fountains (nasoni) where you can refill water bottles throughout the city. (I never go anywhere without our cool bag rucksack and refillable water bottles!) Remember that there are lots of cobblestone streets in Rome – so comfortable shoes and lightweight strollers are essential – you can hire a travel stroller from Baboodle if need be.

Here are some of the sights and buildings that you might want to visit in Rome for your day in the city on a budget with the kids – I’ve ordered them to ensure that your travel time isn’t wasted, and to make the most of the attractions that are close-by to each other:

1. Start your day at The Colosseum

A visit to the infamous Colosseum is a must. We didn’t go inside on our last visit (we went to Verona Arena instead, which is cheaper and quieter), but we have been before, and we did take the kids to see it from the outside. If you’re working with a small budget, then take the kids to admire The Colosseum exterior instead – it’s still one of the best sights to see in Rome and a great place to start your day. If you’re going inside, arrive as early as possible because the queues will be much shorter first thing in the morning. The closest metro station to The Colosseum is the Colosseum. It has its own Metro stop named after it, and it’s literally 2 minutes walk from there to the entrance so it’s an easy one to visit with the kids.

How much does it cost – can you enter The Colosseum for free? Standard tickets are €18 for adults and children enter for free (accurate 2024) – access to the Roman Forum and Palantine is included with The Colosseum tickets. Entry to The Colosseum is free on the first Sunday of the month but remember that the queues will be considerably longer! You can also pay a little more for a guided tour – to skip the queues which are notoriously long as it’s such a popular attraction – if you’re visiting during peak holiday times (like July and August) or on a weekend, I’d recommend a ‘skip the queue’ ticket option, especially if you only have one day to see Rome. You can also get combination tickets for a number of Rome attractions from the Tiqets website – it’s certainly worth checking if it’ll save you money.

2. Throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain

Hop back onto the metro for your next stop – a trip to Rome wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Trevi Fountain. Thankfully, you can admire it for free – the kids will love tossing a coin into the fountain and making a wish. The site of the Trevi Fountain marks the spot of the end point of an ancient Roman aqueduct, at the junction of three roads; it’s actually one of the oldest water sources in Rome – and the ice-cream shop nearby was a hit with the kids! Interestingly, we discovered that the coins in the fountain are used to support a food bank for homeless people so it’s worth a coin or two! The closest metro station to the Trevi Fountain is the Barberini – Fontana di Trevi. The walk from there took us about 10 minutes. We were aiming to find it after lunch but stumbled upon it whilst following the signs for Mcdonalds. 😂

3. Take a stroll to The Pantheon

The Pantheon is one of the best-preserved ancient buildings in Rome. Though it was free when we visited, that’s unfortunately no longer the case. However, entrance fees are still very inexpensive – adults cost €5 and children enter free – though you can get a fast-track ticket online for about £10 if you want to skip the long queues. You don’t need long to walk around this one, but it’s beautiful and worth the trip to see it. The Pantheon has a really interesting history too, having been burnt to the ground several times in the past it’s not actually the original building (nor does it look the same) although it still dates back to 126 AD so it’s impressively well preserved. The closest metro station to The Pantheon is the Barberini. The Pantheon is actually just a 7 minute walk from The Trevi Fountain so there’s no train needed for this one and you can see both sights in one go.

4. Take a wander through Piazza Navona

Next take a five minute walk to Piazza Navona, one of Rome’s most beautiful squares. The fountains, street performers and artists create a lively atmosphere that kids will adore. It’s a great spot to take a break and enjoy some people-watching. If you’re having a picnic lunch, this is a great spot for it – either bring food with you, or grab some supplies from a supermarket or bakery to keep your lunch budget friendly. Or, if you want a break from the hustle and bustle, take a short walk to Villa Borghese Gardens to enjoy your lunch in the beautiful park. The closest metro station to Piazza Navona is the Barberini. Piazza Navona is actually just a 5 minute walk from The Pantheon so it’s worth combining your visits if you’re nearby.

5. End your day at St Peter’s Square and Basilica

Within the walls of the Vatican City, St Peter’s Square and Basilica are a must-see. The building is quite incredible and Finn and Lola were definitely awestruck by the size of it all. You can enter the tunnels below from inside to see the tombs of past popes and they enjoyed that bit the most. I’ve ended your day here, as it’s a longer metro journey, and it’s likely to be a lot less busy either first thing in the morning or from about 4pm. The nearest metro station to St Peter’s Square and Basilica is Ottaviano S. Pietro and it’s just a 5 minute walk from there. The Vatican area is quite a distance from some of the other popular sights (it’s a good 30 minute walk from the Trevi Fountain area) so the metro is really handy if you’re hoping to get around everything you’d like to see in just one day with little people in tow!

How much does it cost – can you enter St Peter’s Basilica for free? There’s a charge to enter the dome and the museum, but the Basilica and the grottoes below are free – we chose not to enter the paid areas, and just enjoyed the freebie bits. You can purchase tickets if you’d like to go inside the Dome or to have a tour guide during your visit. You must wear respectable clothing within religious buildings, such as St Peter’s Basilica; shoulders covered and no short-shorts. You’ll be turned away if not but can wrap a scarf around you if need be and these are sold in the nearby shops.

How long are the queues at St Peter’s Basilica? There’s an airport style security check to enter the building. We last visited during the pandemic so there was hardly anyone around and no queues, however when we came previously during August there were very long queues to enter (it can be up to 2 hours) so that’s something to be aware of. Try to visit out of season and avoid weekends if you can.

I think the itinerary above is plenty to fit into one day, but if you’re spending a bit longer in the city, or heading back multiple times, then here are a couple of other places that you might want to visit if you have a little more time:

The Sistine Chapel (The Vatican Museums) is also at the Vatican site though it’s not free. It’s recommended that you leave several hours to get through it all – one of the reasons we chose to skip it whilst visiting with the kids as it’s not particularly child-friendly. But, it might be something you’d like to do with older children if you have more time.
The Catacombs tunnels are former underground burial grounds dating as far back as the second century. Although there are over 60 of them, only 5 are open to the public.

The Roman Forum ruins are located in the centre of the city. Historically, this area had many purposes; including elections, trade, social gatherings, criminal trials and gladiator matches before The Colosseum was erected, so it’s an important part of Rome’s history. Entry isn’t free but it’s included in the ticket cost if you visit The Colosseum – a standard ticket offers access to both of these sites as well as Palatine Hill.

You might also want to consider getting a Rome Tourist Card to get an easy entrance pass for all of the main sights – as these often include guided tours and ‘skip line tickets’. Websites like Tiqets also often have discounted entrance tickets to the main tourist attractions, like The Colosseum, so compare the prices online before you visit. Here’s a copy of the Rome Metro map – use this to plot your route to avoid going back on yourself or spending too much time travelling between the sights.

Exploring outside of Rome on your holiday

If, like us, you love to explore cities and really see what a country has to offer, here’s how you long it would take you to travel on from Rome to these other amazing destinations. We love a road trip but, if you’d prefer not to drive, the train service in Italy is fantastic (we used it loads during our honeymoon when we flew to Italy) and it’s usually pretty affordable too. (It’s important to factor in the cost of the tolls as well if you are driving – they soon add up!)

Rome to Florence: 3 hour drive / 1.5 hour train ride
Rome to Venice: 5.5 hour drive / 3.5 hour train ride
Rome to Naples: 3 hour drive / 1.5 hour train ride
Rome to Lake Garda: 6 hour drive / 4 hour train ride
Rome to Milan: 6 hour drive / 3.5 hour train ride
Rome to Verona: 5 hour drive / 3 hour train ride

Want to know more about our road trip?

If you’re looking for a guide on the Ultimate Italian Road Trip then you’ve come to the right place. You can find out about everywhere we went, the places we stayed, how much we spent and what we got up to in my comprehensive guide to exploring Italy with the kids on a budget: