The best family friendly hotels in Rome
Family friendly hotels in Rome
I always go to Rome whenever I go to Italy, as I have family there. I also like to go with my friends when they are in town, and many of them have families. As they know we are there quite often, I have had to look into the best family-friendly hotels in Rome, so they have a great experience.
Why visit Rome for a family trip?
Rome is an awesome destination and a must-visit with the family due to all the history, things to do, and also all the restaurants. Some key experiences are the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and heading to the Pantheon. You can even take the family to gladiator school.
As a family, you can also check out cooking classes or go to some of the parks, like the Villa Borghese, where you can relax, but also check out the museums. Rome is also very alive; you can see street performers, and they have lots of local festivals. Because there are so many things to do and see, there is actually an influx of family-friendly hotels in Rome compared to other towns I have visited in Italy.
How we choose family-friendly hotels in Rome
So how do we actually choose the best family-friendly hotels in Rome? Well, the main part of our family lives in this city. So they gave us most of the top recommendations when they were doing staycations. Friends and family had come over to see them. And as a local, you just know. A lot of families also have children. So they know what to look for. The location is very important. Think about how close it is to some of the major places like the Pantheon or the Colosseum.
They also told us the room sizes. If you want a family-friendly hotel room in Rome, check the configurations. The configurations are something you really want to look into. Do they have family-sized rooms or connecting rooms? Ideally, you have a connecting room that you leave open. This is true especially if you have young children.
Look for babysitting services. These are the top things to have. It is helpful, especially if you want to go out without the children. Reviews from other families who stayed at the hotels were also very important.
Amenities to look for in the best family hotels in Rome
Let us look at the amenities to look for in the best family hotels in Rome. We looked into whether they had kids' clubs. You could leave the children there or use the playrooms. Also, did the hotels have children's menus from the restaurants? That definitely makes it easier. Luxury hotels in Rome have Michelin-style restaurants. But sometimes you just want a simple spaghetti or some chicken nuggets.
Also Rome is quite far away from a beach. Did they have swimming pools? You can go in the morning or after a day outside seeing things with the children.
Something I really did not think about before was refrigerators. The family told me about this. Do you need to keep milk for young children? A refrigerator allowed you to have snacks and other kinds of drinks.
Lastly in the rooms, do they have cribs or roll-away beds? Were they free, or did you have to pay for them?
Where to stay in Rome with a family
Now I am going to talk about different areas in Rome and staying with a family. I think the neighbourhoods are really important. There are some funky areas that you may want to avoid. So here are some of the best areas when looking for where to stay in Rome.
Centro Storico
First of all, you have the Centro Storico. This is the centre of Rome. This is rarely if you want to stay right next to all the major attractions. Like the Fontana Di Trevi. You actually find most of the family-friendly hotels in Rome in this area. You will also be very close to the restaurants and shops.
You can see all the street performers. Transport is also easier. You will just get more family-friendly hotels in Rome to choose from.
Prati
Then you have the area of Prati. Prati is very close to the Vatican. What you will probably get is a little bit more of a quieter atmosphere. It is not as busy as the centre. So it is a little bit more laid back. You will still be close to a lot of areas like the Vatican City and St Peter Basilica.
You can still do touristy things. But I would say it is just a little bit less crowded. You also have a lot of tree-lined streets. They are perfect for strolling. There is also a lot of good shopping, local markets, and family-friendly restaurants. You still have the metro, so it is very easy to get to the other areas.
Trastevere
There is also the Trastevere area. This is your choice if you are looking where to stay in Rome. This is more your authentic Roman experience. It is just south of the city. You will not get as many hotels in Rome around here. But it is a lot more peaceful.
You are going to get a lot of family-friendly restaurants around here. You still get the cobblestone streets. But you get a lot more quieter piazzas for the children to play. It is very close to the Villa Farnesina and the Botanical Gardens.
You get really authentic street musicians around this area. Plus you are still on the tramline so you can get into the centre quite easily.
Map of the best family friendly hotels in Rome
I have put a map of the best family-friendly hotels in Rome and the areas. You can see where Prati is and where Trastevere is. This is just to get an idea where it all is.
Five-Star family friendly hotels in Rome
I am going to go ahead and start off with some of my recommendations. I am going to start off with the 5-star family-friendly hotels in Rome. These were the best hotels in Rome. They had a lot of amenities. They had a lot of touches that went into families. See here my top recommendations.
Baglioni Hotel Regina
First of all, you have the Baglioni Hotel Regina. This hotel is one of the best family-friendly hotels in Rome. It was built in 1892. It really has more of an Art Deco style to it. In terms of the rooms, I put an example above there. One has a balcony so you get really nice views. It is very comfortable. But there is a lot more, such as 2 bedrooms. They also have free cribs so you do not have to pay for that. They have a really great policy. You can have one child up to 17 years old staying for free. If using an existing bed, that is.
They also have babysitting services and bicycle rentals. This is good for some of the older children. And it is very close to the Spanish Steps. It is about a 10-minute walk to get to all the other sites in Rome. It is in the northeast of the old town. So it is a little bit quieter in the area. Then, after all the sightseeing, they do have an on-site spa to relax at. If you do not feel like going out they do have a restaurant where you can have Italian food.
View prices & availability for Baglioni Hotel Regina.
Hotel Splendide Royal
Very close by is the Hotel Splendid Royale. What I liked about this is that it is very boutique. It has a great service and is in a 19th-century palace. I have got a picture of the front desk. Just look at all that marble. It is just beautiful. Inside, there is a lot of artwork and incredible architecture.
In terms of the rooms, I love the character inside. They have premium bedding. You can request the rooms to be next to each other. Just do that when you are booking. Or you can choose a suite for up to four people. Also, for the children, they have children's slippers. They really put a lot of thought into the family. Plus, you can get babysitting services.
On-site, they have the Mirabelle Restaurant, where you can get all kinds of food. If you do not want Italian all the time, they do have international cuisine. They offer alfresco dining, which is quite nice to have, especially on a summer day. It has a great location and a lot of thoughtful amenities. They also have a spa. It is one of the best family-friendly hotels in Rome.
The First Roma Arte
Now, on the other side and right a little bit closer to the centre is The First Roma Arte. This is a luxury boutique hotel in Rome. This was built in a 19th-century Roman palace. What I like is that it only has 28 rooms. They are just so stylish, and you can see the picture. They have some carpet on there so it is really nice. The couch is great.
What I really like is the amenities for the family. They have no tear soap for children, bottle warmers, or babysitting services. So again, there are a lot of little touches for the family. They also have a gym in there. They have personal shopping services to make it easier for you. They have a changing bed that you can request for your room.
They also have parking if you are bringing your car. However, last time I checked, it does cost 55 euros per night. In terms of dining, they actually have a restaurant called Aquilina. It is a 2-Michelin-star restaurant. Maybe you can take your family or go by yourself. For breakfast, they have a panoramic rooftop, which is quite cool. It is one of the best family-friendly hotels in Rome.
View prices & room availability for the First Rome Arte.
DOM Hotel
Next up, if you are looking for space, there is the Dom Hotel. This is just south of the old town. It is very close to Prati and also Trastevere. This is a 17th-century palace that has been renovated. It is very close to the Pantheon.
For the family they have bicycle rentals and babysitting services. Last time I checked, they have free infant beds, which is quite good. In terms of the rooms, there are only 18 rooms. But look how large they are. It is really great for families.
They have a really nice terrace with views of the whole city on the rooftop. They also have the Verve Restaurant which is really comfortable. It is a very intimate and personalised hotel.
Check out the prices & availability of the Dom Hotel.
Portrait Roma
I will start off with the Portrait Roma. This is right in the centre of the Old Town. I am talking a 2 minute walk to the Spanish Steps. It is a 9-minute walk to the Trevi Fountain. So it is very well located.
In terms of the rooms, I have got a picture here. They are very large and modern. You could fit the whole family in that bed if you wanted to. There are lots of really nice rooms. They also have the penthouse, which is a little bit larger.
They also have a lot of other family-friendly amenities such as bicycle rentals and babysitting services. What I like is the free cook-to-order breakfast. Hopefully, they still do that as it is great for fussy eaters. They also have an awesome rooftop terrace.
View prices and availability for the Portrait Roma.
The Rome EDITION
One of the best family-friendly hotels in Rome is The Rome Edition. It is a 5-star hotel just east of the city. It is really good for families. It has 74 rooms, so you can usually find a room which is good. In terms of rooms, they are very modern. You can get cribs for free, or you can actually pay for a rollaway bed, which is quite good. And if there is an existing bed, children can stay for free.
They have a roof area where you can relax. They also have a really nice pool. There are not many places in Rome with a pool where you can swim up and down. So it is great for children because there is no beach near Rome. They also have all their dining, and it is at their restaurant called Anima. You really get some authentic Italian dining. It is very green, so it is really nice to take the family.
View the prices for the Rome Edition
Four-Star family friendly hotels in Rome
Now I am going to get onto some of the 4-star family-friendly hotels in Rome. You can still get some absolutely awesome places to stay. But you get them at a better price point. You might not get all the amenities. But you still get a lot of items that are tailored to the family. So I had a good look at these.
Hotel Dei Mellini
Next up, and this is in the area of Prati, so close to the Vatican. This is one of the best 4-star family-friendly hotels in Rome. That is Hotel dei Mellini. They have a free children's club that has supervised activities. This is really good for the family. They have babysitting services, a playground and an arcade. So you can go there with the family and just spend hours there. It is really well catered for the family.
In terms of the rooms, I have a picture here. There is lots and lots of space plus comfortable. They have airport transfers and have an on-site restaurant. So it is a really great option if you are looking for a family-friendly hotel in Rome.
They also have a specific family room for 7 people. It is basically just 3 bedrooms that have been put together behind one door. So you know that area is for you. This is my top pick for one of the best family-friendly hotels in Rome due to this.
View availability and prices for Hotel Dei Mellini.
9Hotel Cesari
If you want something a little bit more modern and 4 star, you have 9Hotel Cesari. That is about a four-minute walk away from the Trevi Fountain. It is right in the old town, so it is a great location. You do not have to travel far with the family.
It has been around since 1787. So it had a lot of charm to it. But you can see the rooms are pretty modern inside and very spacious. They also have quadruple family rooms and triple rooms.
The hotel can also provide baby cots, bottle warmers, high chairs, and babysitting services. So it is a great recommendation.
Find out prices & availability for 9hotel Cesari.
Babuino 181
Next stop is Babuino 181. This is just north of the old town in a really beautiful Roman palace. They have triple rooms and also suites. I just love the bed in the picture. You can just imagine the children hopping into bed in the morning.
They have babysitting services and also laundry services. I think this is just really important when looking at family-friendly hotels in Rome. There are many artisan shops and a lot of restaurants around this neighbourhood. In the evening, they have a rooftop bar before dinner where you can enjoy some wine.
Check out prices & more details for Babuino 181.
Best transport options from Rome Airport
Now I am going to talk about transport from Rome Airport to the city. I think it is really important to get some of these details right. It helps to make it easier when travelling with a family.
1. Private Transfer
First of all, you have private transfers. This means pre-book transfers from the airport to your hotel. Most of the best family-friendly hotels in Rome will have this option. Make sure to check when you are booking. I just think it is easier and less stress.
It helps when you have someone who is holding your name at the airport. They can take you there. Also, they are usually recommended by the hotel. They get a lot more details, like that child seats can be arranged.
Language barriers are usually not there. You get a lot of flexible timing. Sometimes you pay a little bit extra. But if your flight is a little bit late, they will be waiting there for you. So I find it easy to get a private transfer from the hotel.
2. Taxi
Then you have a taxi. There are small cars and big cars. Getting a taxi from the airport to the city centre is a lot better than public transport. Especially with tired children and lots of luggage, having a taxi is just great.
The last time I checked, the rates were between 48 euros and 60 euros from the airport. So if it is more than that, you might be getting ripped off, so double check. The only thing is that child seats might not be available. So that can pose a problem. So maybe a private transfer is best before.
3. Train: Leonardo Express
Next up is Leonardo Express. The Leonardo Express is a non-stop train service between the airport and Roma Termini Station. If you are staying near the station this is fine. But I would not recommend it if you are travelling with family and staying far away. Rome Termini is located on the east of the old town.
So you probably have to walk, depending on where your hotel is located. If you do not mind walking and not travelling much, which is odd when you are a family. It is the most cost-effective way. The train journey only takes about 30 minutes, and it runs every 15 to 30 minutes. You also do not get all the traffic by taking a train.
Children under 4 can travel for free, last time I checked. Then they do have reduced fares for children. You can buy a ticket at the machine or at the kiosk. But then you just have to be careful about luggage and carrying it all onto the train. So I would say the best way to get from Rome Airport to the city centre is a private transfer. Get it from the hotel or book one yourself.
The best month to visit Rome as a family
In terms of the best months to visit Rome as a family, I will break it down.
Spring (April-May)
You have got April to May. This is a great time because it is not that touristy. Rome is a very populous city. So it is always going to be busy but it is not going to be that touristy. You can do a lot of the tourist attractions. The hotels will be a little bit cheaper as well compared to other months. Other attractions like the Colosseum or the Vatican will be less busy. You have more chance of getting in.
Fall (September-October)
You have got September to October. Again, this shoulder month is also a great time to visit. The temperature is also a little bit nicer. It tends to be hotter around that kind of September time to October.
I would say it is a little bit busier than April to May, just because of the weather. But you will be able to enjoy more alfresco dining. You can see the street entertainment and you still get the hustle and bustle of Rome.
Summer (June-August)
Then you have June to August. I would be careful about travelling with the family during this time. The family-friendly hotels in Rome will be air-conditioned. But it is going to be absolutely hot outside. It is also going to be super busy. You will be waiting in more lines when you go to all the places.
Winter (November-March)
Then you have winter. I have been here in winter before in Rome. It is a lot quieter, but it just feels a little bit more magical. Sometimes you get some snow in Rome. But you are going to find that some of the hotels may be closed in the area. The swimming pools won't be open. But you can still do all the tourist things.
It is also off-peak except for Christmas. That is always the most expensive time. But it is going to be off-peak, so you will be able to do all the things around. You will probably find lower prices for flights around November time and February and March time. So you could save some money, especially if you are going with a lot of the family.
So I hope you like my blog on the best family-friendly hotels in Rome. Have you stayed anywhere in Rome with the family and had really good service or amenities? Leave a comment in the box below. I would love to have a look and share them with my readers.
Family friendly hotels in Rome FAQ's
Best family friendly hotels in Rome with a swimming pool?
Palazzo Italia. It is actually part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World and a 5-star hotel in Rome. Now there are a lot of hotels in Rome that say they have a pool. It is actually just a spa. So, the Rome Edition in Rome actually has a pool where you can do some laps.
Best hotel in Rome for a family of four?
I would have to say it is the Hotel dei Mellini. They have a specific family room for 4 people where you can sleep in the same room. It has one double bed and then also 2 singles that they can put in the room. It is a 4-star, so it is a little bit less expensive. Rome can be quite expensive. But what they also have here is the playground and arcade room. They have a free children's club, last I checked, and babysitting services.
Rome hotels for a family of 5?
The Baglioni Hotel Regina, the Hotel Splendid Royale, and the Dom Hotel would be my top picks. But there are so many others in this blog.
Best area to stay in Rome?
The best area to stay in Rome with a family, I would probably say, is in the Centro Storico. But choose either the north or the east of it. The reason is that you want to be a little bit further outside of the city if you can. But you still want to be very close to all the things to do. Then you do not have to traipse around all the time.
I would also want to be close to a metro. So being near Barberini is quite good with the family, or the Spagna, or even Flaminio. If you stay at Flaminio and want to get to the Spanish Steps, it takes just 4 minutes on the metro to put it into perspective