The Best Areas to Stay in Rome With Kids
Deciding on the best areas to stay in Rome with kids? We’re sharing our favorite neighborhoods in Rome to enjoy as a family!
Convenience, safety, and access to family-friendly activities are likely at the top of your priority list when it comes to choosing among the best areas to stay in Rome with kids. As you navigate the Eternal City, you’ll want a place that offers not only comfortable accommodations but also proximity to major attractions, public transportation and local parks where your children can play and unwind.
Whether you prefer staying in the historic heart of the city or opting for a quieter residential area, Rome has something for every family. You can trust us; we’ve visited Rome with our daughter numerous times and have discovered our own favorite neighborhoods.
Join us as we share the best areas to stay in Rome with kids, ensuring that your visit is as enjoyable and memorable as possible.
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Quick List: Best Areas to Stay in Rome With Kids
Piazza Navona (Where to Stay: Casa Magiuli’ Navona)
Trastevere (Where to Stay: Residenza San Calisto)
Villa Borghese / Flaminio (Where to Stay: Boutique Hotel Anahi)
Monti (Where to Stay: Central Lodge Hotel)
Regola (Where to Stay: Boutique Hotel Campo de’ Fiori)
Prati (Where to Stay: Hotel Roma Vaticano)
Appio-Latino (Where to Stay: Dea Suite Roma)
The Essentials for Families Visiting Rome
🤔 Decide what’s more important to you: location and convenience or value. This is the best starting point to help you determine which area of Rome is best for your stay.
⛔️ Avoid staying near Roma Termini or popular landmarks like the Trevi Fountain. These areas can be noisy, and the constant crowds may detract from your experience.
🚊 While the metro and tram systems aren’t ideal within the historic center, they are convenient for reaching it. You can save hundreds on accommodations by opting for a less central location that is just a quick 10-minute subway ride away.
🌳 Rome boasts many large green spaces. If your kids need access to playgrounds, be sure to check a map to see if your desired hotel is nearby.
👶🏻 When browsing for accommodations, filter for hotels that don’t charge extra for children up to a certain age. This can easily save you a lot of money!
7 Best Areas to Stay in Rome With Kids
1. Piazza Navona: Best Central Location
We love Piazza Navona for its large, picturesque space, free from car traffic. For parents with toddlers who love to run around, it’s absolutely ideal!
The expansive square is lined with restaurants and bars and is just a short walk from Rome’s top sights. In terms of convenience, it doesn’t get better than this as one of the best areas to stay in Rome with kids.
Price Range: A comfortable family-room in a well rated hotel near Piazza Navona will cost between $200 – $300/night.
👍 Top Hotel Pick Near Piazza Navona: Navona Theatre Hotel
2. Trastevere: Most Charming Scenery & Good Food
It’s impossible not to get swept away by the allure of the Trastevere neighborhood. Each street corner resembles a postcard of Rome, adorned with vines, illuminated by twinkling lights, and lined with narrow cobblestone streets.
Although its location is on the opposite side of the river from the historic center, Trastevere is not the obvious choice; but ironically, it’s one of the most scenic corners of Rome.
The neighborhood is widely known for its food scene, featuring an extensive list of some of the best restaurants in the city. If you’re a family who loves to eat – this is hands down the best area to stay in Rome.
Price Range: While the neighborhood is known as the trendiest area in Rome, prices aren’t budget-friendly, but they aren’t excessive either. You can expect to pay an average of $150 per night for a well-rated hotel or apartment.
👍 Top Hotel Pick in Trastavere: Residenza San Calisto
3. Villa Borghese / Flaminio: Best Access to Green Space
This area is primarily defined by the gardens and huge public park of Villa Borghese. If you’re interested in staying near one of the best green spaces in Rome, try to simultaneously book a hotel near the Flaminio metro station. This way, you can easily travel across the city to reach other major landmarks.
Villa Borghese is a stunning park featuring numerous ruins, statues, and fountains along its walking paths. It is one of the best areas to stay in Rome with kids, especially for families who enjoy or need a slice of nature to escape to within the bustling city.
Price Range: The Flaminio neighborhood lacks major tourist attractions, making it relatively unfrequented among visitors. As a result, accommodation prices are reasonable, and you can book a hotel for between $100 – $200 per night.
👍 Top Hotel Pick Near Villa Borghese: Albergo Etico Roma
4. Monti: Best Mix of Everything
Mostly known for its close proximity to the Colosseum, the Monti neighborhood is one of the best areas to stay in Rome with kids for several reasons. We might even go so far as to say it offers the best of all worlds!
Although it isn’t located in the heart of the historic center, Monti is very well connected by three different metro stops. Parents with children will greatly appreciate Parco del Colle Oppio, a hillside park featuring a fantastic playground and basketball court, which also boasts the best viewpoint of the Colosseum.
Additionally, the area has many authentic Roman restaurants, convenient takeaway eateries, vintage clothing shops, and historical landmarks.
Price Range: Since most tourists choose to stay in Monti for the chance to have a view of the Colosseum from their bedroom window, accommodation tends to be slightly pricey. Top-rated hotel rooms typically start at $200 per night.
👍 Top Hotel Pick in Monti: Hotel Centro Cavour Roma
5. Regola: Best Quiet Part of the Historic Center
Tucked away behind some of Rome’s flashiest tourist spots, Regola’s central location provides easy access to major attractions while still retaining a more local and relaxed vibe.
It’s perfect for families and travelers looking to experience authentic Rome amid quaint piazzas, boutique shops, and traditional restaurants—without the sight of cheap souvenirs sold on every corner.
One of Regola’s best highlights is Campo de’ Fiori, an outdoor market featuring local fruit and vegetable vendors.
Price Range: As one of the most desirable areas in Rome for tourists with a flexible budget, accommodations tend to be on the higher end, with an average nightly cost of $300 to $400.
👍 Top Hotel Pick in Regola: Boutique Hotel Campo de’ Fiori
6. Prati: Most Underrated for Tourists
Prati is one of the most popular places to stay for those looking to be close to Vatican City. Primarily consisting of residential buildings, it offers a wide selection of restaurants, gelato shops, and grocery stores, making a visit to Rome interesting and convenient for families.
Situated on the west side of the Tiber River, Prati may seem far from Rome’s historic center, but in reality, it only takes a quick walk across any of the bridges. For families looking to save time, you can hop on the metro at Lepanto station.
The neighborhood also lies behind Parco della Mole Adriana, the garden complex surrounding Castel Sant’Angelo. Prati is one of the best areas to stay in Rome with kids for families who don’t want a touristy environment and don’t mind a little travel.
Price Range: Hotel rooms and vacation apartment rentals will cost around $150/night on average.
👍 Top Hotel Pick in Prati: The Boutique Hotel
7. Appio-Latino: Best Value
This neighborhood is definitely not on the radar for typical tourists. Located well outside the historic center and away from Rome’s most famous landmarks, Appio-Latino is purely residential. No fuss, just surroundings of what real every day Roman life is like.
Therefore, it’s unquestionably the best area to stay in Rome with kids if you’re on a budget and don’t feel the need to be in the thick of things.
For families specifically, staying near parks like Parco dell’Appia Antica or Villa Lazzaroni is a great choice if you want to be close to green spaces. Nearby subway stations, including Colli Albani and Furio Camillo, can get you to the heart of Rome in just 15 minutes.
Price Range: While it’s unheard of in central Rome, you can actually book accommodation around Appio-Latino for less than $100/night.
👍 Top Hotel Pick in Appio-Latino: Dea Suite Roma
FAQs Visiting Rome With Children
Which neighborhood or area in Rome should you avoid?
Deciding on the best area to stay in Rome with kids really comes down to convenience and budget. Choosing between neighborhoods based on having a bad or good reputation is rarely a major factor.
That said, if a family-friendly environment is a priority, we recommend avoiding the area near Roma Termini train station. Like most major train stations, it lacks charm and the atmosphere after dark isn’t particularly inviting.
Secondly, while staying close to major landmarks like the Trevi Fountain or the Pantheon might sound magical, you may want to reconsider. In reality, these areas can get quite noisy, which isn’t ideal for families with young children who need some sleep.
Is Rome safe to visit with young kids?
Rome is a very safe destination for families with children of all ages. We’ve walked through parks and alleyways at night while visiting Rome with our daughter and never felt unsafe.
Most of Rome’s crime statistics involve pickpocketing, scams, or petty theft (violent crimes are very rare). Fortunately, these common issues can be avoided, so parents can feel confident about their safety while visiting.
The key to not falling victim to pickpocketing is to not give yourself away as an easy target. For parents traveling with multiple children and juggling many belongings, it’s easy to lose track of personal items.
Discuss a plan with your partner ahead of time to make sure that someone is always keeping an eye on your belongings so nothing is left unattended.
How many days do you need for a family trip to Rome?
Families should consider planning a trip to Rome that goes beyond just the major sights. When you dig deeper, you’ll find many enjoyable activities specifically suited for kids.
For instance, if you plan to visit only the main landmarks in two or three days, there won’t be time for a fun family activity like a pasta-making class. You may be surprised to find that your kids remember an experience like making pizza more fondly than just seeing the Trevi Fountain.
For a family-friendly trip, five or seven days in Rome is ideal—enough time to explore comfortably without feeling rushed and to throw in some memorable activities.
Can you bring children to restaurants and bars in Rome?
If you’re visiting Rome from the U.S., especially in the summertime, you may be surprised by Italy’s family-oriented bar and restaurant culture.
Young children—from babies to toddlers—are regularly out with their parents for dinner or drinks, often late into the night. This is completely normal, so the good news is you won’t get any strange looks if you’re out with your child at 10 p.m. on a beautiful summer evening while enjoying your vacation.
In Italy, kids go wherever their parents go. It’s as simple as that!
Is Rome stroller-friendly?
Opinions vary on this topic, and that’s because there’s no simple answer—it really depends!
We’ve visited Rome with a stroller, and honestly, it was stressful to constantly watch out for uneven cobblestones and plan where and when we’d need to carry the stroller up stairs. However, a stroller can be extremely helpful if you plan to be out all day, allowing your baby or toddler to nap on the go.
If you’re traveling to Rome with a baby, we’d personally recommend opting for a baby carrier instead of a stroller while exploring. This can be especially convenient if you’re staying centrally and can return to your hotel room midday for a break.
TL;DR: You can bring a stroller to Rome, but expect a bumpy ride and some stairs to navigate. Strollers with larger wheels will handle the ancient city streets much better than compact travel strollers.
Are there many kid-friendly attractions in Rome?
Given how family-friendly Italy is overall, most of Rome’s major attractions are welcoming to both kids and adults. Staff at museums and other sites are friendly and engaging with children, and many of Rome’s attractions offer free admission for kids.
Additionally, Rome has several kid-focused attractions, including a zoo, a science amusement park, interactive hands-on museums, numerous outdoor playgrounds, and more.
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