Last Updated on June 9, 2026
I spent the better part of a week in Rome with my son and my parents. I went in with low expectations and a lot of snacks. My son, meanwhile, was mostly interested in church bells (“ding dongs”), fountains, and gelato.
He was pleased as punch that Rome delivered on all three—plus some stuff I didn’t see coming.
I spent way too much time obsessing over reservations and transportation. Turns out, my parents were happiest just lingering, while my son spent the week marveling at giant buildings, “magic” drinking fountains, and church bells that never seemed to stop.
1. The “Big Bike” in Villa Borghese
📍 Pedal-assist “Bici Pincio” bike rental in the Borghese Gardens
This was the highlight for everyone—three generations rode together through the shady park on a giant quad-style electric bike with steering and pedals for the grownups. He held the tiny steering wheel on his kid seat, shouting “faster!” every few minutes. And I got a full report on every dog and fountain we passed.
His favorite moment is likely the ditch—we drove straight into one, and I had to haul us back out. Otherwise he just loved the breeze as we flew down the park’s wide shady lanes. We got out to explore a corner or two and grabbed a snack at one point, but mostly just rode.
At €25 for the hour on the four-seater and €15 for the two-seater—it was cheap, honestly, for three generations of entertainment. We should’ve booked two hours.
2. The Magic Fountains You Can Drink From
📍 Rome’s public drinking fountains (nasoni)
He first spotted a teen plugging the main stream on a fountain to make a thin stream of water arc out of the small top hole—and instantly became obsessed. Every time we saw one (and there are a lot in Rome), he begged to stop and try again.
He got soaked more than once perfecting his “water trick,” but it was pure joy (and a great way to cool off in early May). He was disappointed to find that Spain’s fountains don’t have that same drinking spout.
3. The Churches That Went Bong
📍 Pantheon, St. Peter’s, and basically all of Rome
Before the trip, my son was already obsessed with church bells. Rome did not disappoint.
Every few minutes he’d stop and ask where the ringing was coming from. Always a new theory about where the bells lived.
It was my parents’ first trip to Rome. My mom read nearly every plaque in the Pantheon while my son tested the acoustics. Eventually, one of those activities earned us a fairly aggressive shushing.
4. The Colosseum “Treasure Map”
📍 Colosseum with a printable scavenger hunt
Let’s be honest: without this, the Colosseum would’ve lasted five minutes. But another blogger’s free printable scavenger hunt completely saved the experience. He spent most of the visit asking why everything was “all broken.” Then he eventually clutched his “map,” declared himself an explorer, and gleefully ticked off lions and gates and a “big, big cross.”
The scavenger hunt got us through the museum section on the second floor—I did it with him while my parents read every.single.plaque. But he really came alive circling the ring itself, looking down into the underground chambers while I gave him the PG, bloodless version of Gladiator: tigers kept in rooms below the floor, lifted up into the arena to fight. He didn’t care about the gladiators. He wanted to know more about animals living under the floor (and why we weren’t allowed down there for the far-more-expensive tickets!).
📌 Parent Tip: Print something interactive before you go. The Colosseum is big, crowded, and mostly rubble—a tough sell without a toddler-friendly hook. Same goes with the Roman Forum, but there’s also a printable for that. Oh, and the Colosseum has an elevator if you bring a pram or large stroller.
5. Trevi Fountain Chaos
📍 Trevi Fountain
We happened to be at Trevi Fountain when the bells started—not one church, all of them, all over the city at once. People stopped, started checking phones, talking fast. White smoke. A new Pope.
My son was less interested in the historic moment than he was in throwing coins into the fountain. He threw six coins and couldn’t resist trying to touch the water every time we passed by, despite the many signs (and glares).
The fountains at the Spanish Steps also get a shout-out because there are entry-points into the fountain where the kids can lean over and touch the spray—and no one gives disapproving looks.
Bonus joy: Grandma almost always volunteered to push the stroller, even when I insisted he walk. He quickly figured out which adult was the easier mark.
🗣 “Can I throw just one more money, just one more last time?”
Would We Go Back?
Absolutely. I spent a lot of time before (and during) the trip worrying about logistics. Timed-entry tickets felt too rigid, the bus schedule didn’t cooperate, and a city-wide marathon entirely derailed our transportation plans one day.
By now? Nobody talks about the reservations. We talk about the giant bike, the fountains, the bells, the treasure map, and throwing so many coins into Trevi Fountain. We talk about stopping for pizza and gelato, wandering into churches, and spending afternoons in shady parks while my son napped in the stroller and my dad napped on a bench nearby.
Parent Notes: Small Wins for a Smooth Day
- Where We Stayed: Our hotel near Campo de’ Fiori had a communal kitchen and two double rooms with a connecting door. Il Tempio Della Capitale made a great base for mid-day rests.
- Breakfast Win in Trastevere: Mammò Trastevere on Piazza di Giovanni della Malva was a favorite. Good coffee, affordable Western-style breakfast. The plaza next door gave my squirmy kid room to burn off energy while we waited.
- Don’t Over-Plan: Timed-entry tickets at places like the Colosseum make the day feel rigid enough already. Leave room to wander—and leave room to slow down. Everyone has their own agenda on multi-generational trips, so leave time for those small joys. My mom, for example, wanted specific souvenir sweatshirts for my nieces and nephews, and hunting them down turned into an afternoon of shopping all over the city, parts of it we might not have otherwise visited. My dad, who fights clutter as a matter of principle, even bought a couple of things himself. We traded off kid duty, and gelato plus the promise of gnocchi for dinner kept him going.
- Skip the Vatican Museums unless they’re a priority. The Conclave was underway during our visit, so the Sistine Chapel wasn’t an option anyway. We chose to wander St. Peter’s Basilica instead, and for our family it was the right call. The bells, the scale, and the open spaces held his attention far longer than a long museum route would have. If you’re determined to visit and your toddler still naps, that would be the best way to make it through the museums with time to enjoy.
- Treats near the Spanish Steps: Fresh roasted chestnuts from a vendor near the Spanish Steps made an excellent snack before riding the elevator to the top. And while most of the gelato shops near the Spanish Steps are overpriced and gimmicky, La Strega Nocciola (now apparently called Gelateria Della Papessa) is worth seeking out.
- Stroller Reality: Rome was one of the roughest cities we’ve visited with my lightweight travel stroller with small wheels. Either bring something with large wheels and good suspension—or prep for carrying it over rough bits. A lot. It did come in handy though on long days out—he regularly napped in cool, echoey churches or shady parks to top up for the rest of the day. (I used the mesh Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier for many years—I recommend it for babies and small toddlers.)
- Looking for a great toddler-friendly day trip from Rome? We took the train to Ostia Antica and it was a surprising hit—easy to get to, plenty of room to explore, stroller and all. You can read the full post on my main blog: A Toddler-Friendly Day Trip to Ostia Antica