Background During Thanksgiving week 2025, our family took a trip to Italy! November is a tricky time to travel with weather, but the combination of great prices and fewer crowds convinced us to go. Ben and I had been before without the kids (Italy without kids), but this time we decided to bring them along! We loved spending a few days in Rome with some history and museums and then took the train down to the Naples/Amalfi Coast area, where we explored the cities, including an epic visit to Pompeii. We love European travel as it always offers family-friendly towns, easy navigating with trains, and so much history and beauty. Traveling internationally with kids can be daunting, but with a little preparation, research, and tips from other travelers, we had a successful trip! This post covers our days in Rome. For more on our Italy Adventure, see our posts here Italy Adventures with Kids- Rome and Amalfi Coast Itinerary and Logistics 3 days in Rome with Kids 3 days Amalfi Coast Itinerary for Families Arrival in Rome from Airport We flew from Nashville to Rome with a short layover in Iceland. There is a new non-stop on Iceland Air to Reykjavik, and this opens up several cheap options throughout Europe. (On the way home, we had an overnight layover in Dublin.) We arrived in Rome around 2 PM and took a train to our apartment. Transportation in Rome In Rome, we mostly did a lot of walking with a few bus and train rides. In-City Transit: When we needed to use the city transport (buses or the inner-city Metro), we used the tap-to-pay feature with our credit cards on the buses and at the Metro turnstiles.  Kids under 10 are free but policies can vary, so always check the latest rules! Longer Trains: For our pre-planned longer journeys (Frascati, Salerno), we booked the tickets ahead of time at trenitalia, which simplified those specific transfers. Uber/Taxi: Uber is used as a taxi-hailing app but is not widely used. When leaving Rome, we did choose to call an uber to help us make our way to the train station. Walking: Make sure you have a powerbank since having maps open often drains battery. Hotel Our home base was the Hyatt Rome The Tribune. We are loyal Hyatt fans, and for this trip, we booked a Family Room (around $350/night), which was big enough to comfortably fit a queen bed for us and two separate single twin beds for the kids. Having that separate sleeping space is a non-negotiable for happy travel! More about sleeping in hotels linked here.  Because of our status, we had free breakfast which was great. Omelets, pastries, and good coffee meant we could fuel up without having to make a decision before 9AM. Our hotel was near the Borghese area. Many bloggers recommend staying in the Historic Center or Trastevere for the easiest walking access, but we found our spot was still very central and a great location for us. We were near a street that often had sirens nearby, but I’m not sure how one would avoid that while still being close to the action Our 3 day itinerary in Rome Day 1: Sunset Views, Trevi Fountain, and a Gorgeous Church Our first afternoon was a classic Roman walk, checking off some of the biggest icons right away. Spanish Steps to Trevi Fountain Walk We used the Rick Steves audio guide (read from the transcript!) as we walked the cobblestone streets. Spanish Steps: Gorgeous at sunset, but very busy. (Quick Tip: Sitting on the steps is prohibited, so just admire the view from the bottom or the top!) Trevi Fountain: Again, packed with people, but still completely magical. (Other blogs advise getting here right at sunrise to beat the crowds, but the sunset crowds have a special energy.) Sant’Ignazio di Loyola Church Before trips, I rely on guidebooks and social media posts for suggestions. Near the Pantheon, we made a stop at the Church of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola that has a famous “fake dome.” Because the original builders ran out of money, a painter created an incredible optical illusion dome on a flat ceiling. It was such a fun stop and the first of many beautiful churches that we loved Dinner at Peroni Brewery For dinner, I had pre-selected some options that were recommended by other bloggers and guidebooks. I save them to google maps so that when we’re hungry, I can say “We’re a few blocks from this spot” or “Nothing near here, let’s wander”. Near the Pantheon/Trevi Fountain area, we chose the Peroni Brewery for dinner, a decent, inexpensive spot a little off the main walking track. The food was good, the service was fast, and it was a perfect way to settle into Rome life. After dinner, we took a bus back toward our hotel, stopped at a grocery store for some snacks and drinks, and stayed up late back at the Hyatt watching an awesome Vandy football game. Time-zones don’t matter when you’re a true fan! Day 2: Classic Roman History and Pasta Class! Morning at the Roman Forum & Palatine Hill We pre-booked our combo tickets online €18 adults, kids free. (Pro-tip: Don’t line up at the main Roman Forum entrance. Instead, walk through the Arch of Constantine (with the Colosseum on your left) and walk a little ways down toward the Palatine Hill entrance, which had virtually no line! Starting at the Palatine Hill area, you can see where Rome was founded and then work your way back toward the Forum. The ruins are so expansive, and the history is incredible. I did some “mild history teaching” from the Rick Steves audio guide about the different sites. My daughter kept finding spots to do some ballet posing for a photo op! Afternoon Colosseum Visit We had a pre-booked 1 PM entry time for the Colosseum. (The Forum combo ticket can be used 24 hours before or after the specific Colosseum time.)