1 Day in Rome with Kids: Family Itinerary + Budget Tips

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We’re all about cheap family travel, so I’ve put together a 1 day Rome itinerary to help you explore the city with kids without spending a fortune. So, is Rome cheap or expensive? While it’s easy to spend a lot in a city like Rome, it’s honestly not necessary. It can actually be a surprisingly affordable place to visit – there are so many incredible sights to see and the best part is that many of them are completely free. Rome a great option for a budget-friendly family day out. In this guide, I’ll take you through a realistic 1 day itinerary for Rome with kids – including the best things to see, handy tips, typical costs to help you plan your budget, plus nearby metro stations and travel info to make getting around easy.

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 Fabulous Village Eurocamp in Lazio, and there was plenty of free street parking nearby. (My Camping Fabulous Village Review has all the details.) 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, check out my article on Eurocamp holiday parks near Rome.

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 cover your itinerary in just 1 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 to spend 1 day in Rome on a budget with kids:

Rome can definitely be done in 1 day with a pre-planned itinerary – prioritise the things you want to do and use the metro to speed up getting around with the kids. Though, if you’d prefer a slower pace, there’s certainly enough to see in Rome to fill a few days. Pack a picnic 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.

To make the most of your day (and avoid unnecessary walking) follow my 1 day itinerary in order – it’s designed to keep travel time down and make things easier for little legs. Here are the 5 main sights that you’ll want to include:

1. Start your day at The Colosseum

My 1 day itinerary begins with the most famous landmark in Rome – visiting the Colosseum with the kids is an absolute must. If you’re working with a smaller budget, simply seeing the Colosseum from the outside is still incredibly impressive and one of the best sights in the city. If you’re planning to go inside, try to arrive as early as possible as the queues are much shorter first thing in the morning. The closest metro station is Colosseo, which is just a couple of minutes’ walk from the entrance, making it an easy and convenient stop when visiting Rome with kids.

How much does it cost – can you enter The Colosseum for free? Depending on your ticket type, adult tickets are typically around £20-£30 and children enter for free (though they still need a ticket) – access to the Roman Forum and Palantine is included. Entry to The Colosseum is free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month but the queues will be considerably longer! To avoid waiting around (which isn’t ideal with kids), you can pay a bit extra for ‘skip the queue’ tickets or book a guided tour. It’s also worth checking combination tickets (from sites like Tiqets or GetYourGuide), as these can sometimes work out cheaper overall.

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, it’s completely free to visit and the kids will love tossing a coin into the fountain and making a wish. The Trevi Fountain marks the end point of an ancient Roman aqueduct and sits at the junction of three roads, it’s actually one of the oldest water sources in Rome. Interestingly, the coins thrown into the fountain are collected and used to support a food charity helping people in need, so it’s definitely worth bringing a coin or two. The closest metro station is Barberini – Fontana di Trevi and it’s around a 10 minute walk from there.

3. Take a stroll to The Pantheon

The Pantheon is one of the best-preserved ancient buildings in Rome. It was free when we first visited but, although there is now a small entry fee, it’s still very affordable. Standard tickets are around £5, and you can pre-book online to skip the ticket queues. You don’t need long to look around, but it’s absolutely worth seeing. The building dates back to around 126 AD and is incredibly well preserved, especially considering its age. While the original temple on this site was destroyed, the structure you see today has stood for nearly 2,000 years. The closest metro station is Barberini, although you won’t need it here. The Pantheon is just a short walk (around 5–7 minutes) from the Trevi Fountain, so it’s easy to visit both in one go.

4. Take a wander through Piazza Navona

Next, take a short walk to Piazza Navona, one of the most beautiful squares in Rome. With its fountains, street performers and artists, it has a really lively atmosphere that kids will love, and it’s a great place to stop for a break and enjoy a bit of people-watching. If you’re planning a picnic lunch, this is a perfect spot. You can bring food with you or pick up something from a nearby bakery or supermarket to keep costs down. If you’d prefer somewhere a little quieter, you can also walk over to Villa Borghese Gardens and enjoy your lunch in the park. Piazza Navona is just a 5 minute walk from the Pantheon, so it’s easy to combine both stops in one go.

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 scale of the building is incredible, and the kids were completely mesmerised by it. Inside, you can also visit the Vatican Grottoes beneath the basilica, where many former popes are buried, this was a real highlight for the kids. I’ve ended the day here as it’s a bit further out, and it’s usually quieter either early in the morning or later in the afternoon (around 3-4pm). The nearest metro station is Ottaviano – S. Pietro, which is around a 5-10 minute walk away. The Vatican is a fair distance from many of the other main sights in Rome (closer to a 35-40 minute walk from the Trevi Fountain area), so the metro is really helpful if you’re trying to fit everything into a 1 day itinerary with the kids in tow.

How much does it cost – can you enter St Peter’s Basilica for free? Entry to St Peter’s Basilica is completely free, as are the Vatican Grottoes beneath it. However, there is a charge if you want to climb the dome or book a guided tour. We chose to stick to the free areas, and there’s still plenty to see without spending anything. If you’d like to go up into the dome or have a guide, you can purchase tickets in advance. ‘Skip the line tickets’ can help you avoid the ticket queues, but you’ll still need to go through security. As with all religious sites, there is a dress code. Shoulders and knees should be covered, and you may be turned away if not. You can usually buy scarves from nearby stalls if you need a quick cover-up.

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.

The itinerary above is plenty to fit into 1 day in Rome with kids but, if you’re spending a bit longer in the city, here are a few more things you might want to do:

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.
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 and GetYourGuide 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.

Where to go after Rome

If you’re visiting Rome as part of a wider Italy trip, it’s really easy to continue on to some of the country’s most popular destinations. We love a road trip, but Italy’s trains are excellent, often faster than driving and usually very affordable. Just bear in mind that if you’re driving tolls can add up quickly. Here’s roughly how long it takes to travel from Rome to other key cities:

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

When’s the best time to visit Rome?

If you want to visit Rome without the crowds then avoid the peak summer season – even in the shoulder seasons it can be insanely busy. If you do have to visit in peak times, or on weekend dates, then it’s definitely worth buying some fast-track tickets to avoid spending all of your time waiting in queues – especially if you only have one day in the city. Head to the main attractions either first thing in the morning or late afternoon, to avoid the crowds that collect in the middle of the day and scheduled tours. To give you an idea of what the weather might be like, here are the average daily highs and lows for Rome across the year. In the peak summer months, Rome can feel very hot (with temperatures regularly pushing into the mid-high 30s) especially in July and August.

January: High 13°C, Low 4°C
February: High 14°C, Low 5°C
March: High 17°C, Low 7°C
April: High 20°C, Low 10°C
May: High 25°C, Low 14°C
June: High 30°C, Low 18°C
July: High 33°C, Low 21°C
August: High 33°C, Low 21°C
September: High 28°C, Low 18°C
October: High 23°C, Low 14°C
November: High 18°C, Low 9°C
December: High 14°C, Low 5°C

Venice, Florence or Rome?

If you’re wondering whether to visit Venice, Florence or Rome, it’s actually quite a tricky one to answer because they’re all so different. Florence is my personal favourite, we loved the more relaxed pace, and it’s such a beautiful and interesting city to explore with kids. That said, Venice is somewhere I think everyone should experience at least once. It’s completely unique and there’s something really magical about getting around by boat. And when it comes to history, Rome is in a league of its own, packed with incredible landmarks and places you won’t see anywhere else. If you’re planning a wider trip, you might also find my guide on the 5 best cities in Italy to explore with kids helpful.

Want to know more about our road trip?

Hopefully my itinerary and tips will help you to have a fabulous time in Rome with the kids – a 1 or 2 day visit will be plenty. If you want to find out more about our Italian Road Trip then make sure you check out my full guide. I’ve included everywhere we went, where we stayed, how much we spent and what we got up to whilst exploring Italy with the kids on a budget – this article covers it all: 3 Week Italy Itinerary with Kids: Budget Eurocamp Road Trip.