Our 4-Day Family Itinerary Featuring Great Food, Guided Tours, and Gelato Galore
We just got back from the most magical long weekend in Rome—our first big international trip as a family of six! Traveling with three older kids and a six-month-old might sound ambitious, but with the right planning (and plenty of gelato breaks), and the best travel stroller (check out my full review here), it turned out to be a trip we’ll never forget. Here’s a peek at our Rome itinerary, including the spots that worked wonderfully for a family.
Dress // Bag // Sweater // Travel Stroller
Thursday: Arrival + A Cozy Roman Dinner
After settling into our apartment (we stayed in the three bed two bath) in Trastevere—a charming, cobblestone-filled neighborhood that’s lively but family-friendly—we kept things simple for night one. We walked to Da Enzo al 29, a beloved Roman trattoria tucked down a side street. The wait can be long, but it’s absolutely worth it for the cacio e pepe and cozy atmosphere. Baby snoozed in the stroller while we enjoyed our first glass of Italian wine and some seriously good pasta.
Friday: Vatican Tour & Sweet Treats
We kicked off our day with breakfast and coffee at Barnum Roma, a chic but casual café with room for strollers and some of the best pastries we had all trip.
From there, we made a quick stop at Forno Campo de’ Fiori to grab sandwiches—perfect to take on the go for our big outing: a guided tour of Vatican City, including the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. We booked through Araceli Cardenas at Rome Today Tours, and I can’t recommend her enough. She was so kind, so informative, and completely understanding of our baby’s nap and nursing schedule. Her storytelling truly brought the art and history to life in a way that even our older child found fascinating.
After the tour, we strolled back through the city and stopped at Gelateria del Teatro for our afternoon gelato fix. The flavors were incredible—everything is made in-house with seasonal ingredients. A little sugar boost for the parents, a fun adventure for the kids.
Dinner that evening was at Ristorante Le Mani in Pasta back in Trastevere. We lucked out with a table tucked in the back, perfect for spreading out with a stroller and coloring books while we devoured fresh pasta.
Saturday: St. Peter’s, Pantheon, Colosseum & More Gelato (Naturally)
This was our big sightseeing day. We arranged for a car pickup from our apartment that morning and started with a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica. Seeing it in person—especially on a quiet morning—was breathtaking. Our guide helped us skip the lines and showed us hidden gems we wouldn’t have noticed on our own.
Next, our driver took us over to the Pantheon for a short guided visit. We kept things moving with a quick lunch and gelato at Giolitti (yes, again—we were on a gelato tasting tour of Rome, basically). If you go, request a table inside so you can cool off and reset before the afternoon.
Our last big stop of the day: the Colosseum. Walking in with a guide made all the difference with kids—shorter lines, better stories, and way less stress. While our big kids were wide-eyed at the gladiator tales, our baby happily snoozed in his stroller.
We headed back to the apartment to regroup before dinner, then walked to La Cabana, a charming spot with a neighborhood vibe. Afterward, we took a long evening walk—first to the Trevi Fountain to toss in our coins, then to the Spanish Steps, with a quick gelato stop at Fatamorgana Croce (so good, and stroller-friendly).
Sunday: Easter Mass & a Beautiful Send-Off
Our final morning in Rome happened to be Easter Sunday. We made our way bright and early to Saint Peter’s Basilica for Mass, which was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The energy was peaceful, reverent, and somehow still welcoming even with little ones in tow.
After Mass, we walked across the river to Ristorante Santa Lucia for a celebratory lunch, followed by—of course—gelato and a slow wander back to the apartment for naps and packing.
We squeezed in one last adventure: a golden hour walk up to Janiculum Hill. The views of the city were unreal, and we made a quick stop at Fontana dell’Acqua Paola, one of the prettiest (and less crowded) fountains in Rome.
We ended our stay in Rome with a casual dinner at Hostaria del Roody in Trastevere—nothing fancy, but totally satisfying—and one last gelato under the stars.
Dress // Hat // Sunglasses
A Few Takeaways for Traveling Rome with Littles:
- Book guided tours that are kid- and baby-friendly. Having a guide who’s flexible and knows how to keep things moving makes all the difference.
- Use a mix of stroller + baby carrier. Rome’s cobblestones aren’t always stroller-friendly, but having the option helps.
- Don’t overpack your days. We stuck to 1–2 major sights a day and made space for long lunches and downtime.
- Gelato is a parenting superpower. Enough said.
We’ll be dreaming of this trip for a long time—and already plotting our next European adventure. I will be sharing our tuscany itinerary on the blog in a bit!
What to Pack for Spring in Rome
For this trip, I kept my suitcase light and easy with a spring capsule wardrobe built around classic, mix-and-match pieces. I packed a few breezy dresses, simple tops, lightweight sweaters, jeans, a raincoat (a must for spring showers!), and comfy shoes (flats and sneakers) for all the walking. Accessories like a straw tote, crossbody bag, and sunglasses pulled everything together, and I made sure to toss in pajamas, a swimsuit, and a good book for downtime. Keeping the palette fresh and neutral made it so easy to pull together outfits quickly—and made getting out the door with kids that much smoother.
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