Travel News

Family-friendly guide to a Rome city break: Top sights and best hotels

Simon Calder’s Travel

Most primary school children will learn about Ancient Rome at some point in the curriculum, coming home with tales of gladiators, emperors and what occurred in the Colosseum. Completed in AD80, the ancient epicentre of the Eternal City holds a magical appeal for everyone who’s ever been told about the spectacles that occurred in the arena.

While only one of my four children is old enough to have learned about the Romans, such was his enthusiasm for the subject that I found myself searching for flights to Rome over half term. I also figured that my six-year old, four-year old and two-year-old would study the same subject at some point, and could approach it with first-hand experience of having seen the Colosseum walls for themselves. I couldn’t believe the price: during school holidays, when flights are notoriously higher, the figure in front of me was £40 per person, return, on WizzAir.  At that point, I hit book.

From the ancient Pantheon to the beauties of Michaelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and Salvi’s Trevi Fountain, there’s beauty and history at almost every turn in Rome. I was cautious about navigating these turns, and the ancient cobbled streets, with a large double buggy containing my two youngest children, but I figured that finding a hotel within walking distance of some of the main attractions would cut down on how far I had to push my double chariot, and that it would be a good way of working up an appetite for some of the city’s pasta dishes. And to cut down – and in most cases avoid – queuing up with four impatient children, we booked slots for the majority of tourist attractions in advance.

With some advance planning, it’s easier than you might imagine to have a budget-friendly family break in Rome that will please travellers of all ages.

Zoe and her family booked a budget-friendly family break to Rome

Zoe and her family booked a budget-friendly family break to Rome (Zoe Griffin)

Read more: Villages, vineyards and volcanic lakes – the delights beyond Rome’s borders

When is the best time to travel to Rome?

If you want to avoid the crowds but still want pleasant conditions to walk around Rome, September and October, and February and March, tend to be sunny and not too busy. The temperature regularly tops 30C in July and August, but most hotels are prepared for this with rooftop bars and outdoor swimming pools.

Best…

Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Independent Travel…