Looking for what to see and do in Rome with teenagers?

With its history, architecture, art and culture, experiencing Rome with teenagers is always a good idea. We have been twice to Rome: once before our son was born and once when our son was a teenager. And we definitely had a better time seeing this ancient city with our teenager.

With so much to see and do, the planning your time in Rome be overwhelming.

Our post has a 3-day itinerary with the 12 top things to see in Rome with your teen or tween. If you have more time, we have 18 other suggestions for things to do in Rome with teenagers.

So let’s get started.

Our 3 Day Itinerary with 12 Things to Do in Rome with Teenagers

Rome has so many things to see, we left wishing we had more time. Below is a 3-day intinerary which includes 12 of the best things to do in Rome with Teenagers. 

After our 3-day itinerary, we have 18 other great suggestions for things to in Rome with teenagers.

Our list is a 3-day itinerary, but you could certainly rearrange our itinerary if you only have one or two days in Rome. Or give yourself a bit more breathing room if you are in the Eternal City for longer. 

1. Colosseum

Right off the bat, take your teen to the Collosseum and Forum.

The top things to experience with your teen is definitely the Colosseum and Forum. And like all other guides (hey, we read hundreds of blogs as well when we plan a trip), we set out for the Colosseum first thing on our first full day in Rome.

There are a million sites selling you tickets to the Colosseum, promising to skip the line. But we bought our tickets through the official site. And recommend you do the same. 

2. The Forum

The standard ticket that gives you access to the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill for 24 hours costs €18. 

We actually paid a little more, €24, for a full experience ticket because it has access to a lower level of the Arena within the Colosseum complex. The full experience ticket also allows you two days to come back into the site.

We opted for the more expensive ticket because this was our teenager’s #1 thing to see in Italy.  And we thought he might want to go in multiple times. 

However, even though the access to the lower viewing area of the area was cool. We would not opt for the full experience ticket again.

In the end, the standard ticket would have sufficed. And even though we had two days to go in and out of the area, there was so much to see and do in Rome, we never made it back into the site. 

3. Piazza Navona

After a full 4-5 hours at the Colosseum and Form, it is time for a well deserve meal before heading off to two major Roman sites: Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon.

Our apartment was blocks away from the Piazza Navona so in truth we walked or cycled by this piazza every day. But a good itinerary would include these three sites as a lovely evening trio.

An Aperitivo at Piazza Navona

We recommend starting your early evening at the Piazza Navona. There are so many adorable cafes that line the square. And the late afternoon is an ideal time to have a sit as a family at one of the cafes. Order an Aperitivo and discuss all that you experienced at the Colosseum.  

4. Marvel at the Pantheon

After the Piazza, we recommend a visit to the Pantheon.

If your teenager is a mathematician like ours, you can marvel that the height from the floor to the oculus and the diameter of the oculus are the exact same 43.2 meters. 

The Pantheon is open daily from 9 a.m.-7 p.m., with the last entrance at 6:45. The Pathenon is a church so entrance is free but it also means that there can be long lines to get in.

5. Make a Wish at Trevi Fountain

Your final stop of the night should absolutely be Trevi Fountain. While this site can be crazy busy during the day, we found it to be very pleasant in the evening. And the lights of the fountain make it even more enchanting.

The tradition to throw a coin into the fountain became popular with the 1954 movie Three Coins in the Fountain.

You can tell your teen that throwing a coin in the water not only ensures good fortune, but also a fast return to the Eternal City. 

6. Take A Bike Tour Through Rome

Rome has so many opportunities to learn from the past, but one of our best tips for traveling with teens is to add some adventure with all those museums.

Our second day in Rome was one of our all-time family favorites because we did it on bike.

If you follow our adventures, you know we often take on European cities, like Antwerp, on two wheels.

We spent our full second day in Rome on a self-guided bike tour with bikes from Bikeology, a true Roman family business. And we can’t recommend it enough. 

Bikeology is just blocks from the Piazza Navona. And we have all the details from our one day bike tour on this unique way to see the Eternal City. 

Or if prefer a guided bike tour, ours was self led, this bike tour that begins near Piazza Venezia is a great choice.

But, if you don’t want to travel by bike, you can experience both of these areas of Rome either by foot or even better, by using the metro. 

7. Spanish Steps

Take that Instagram Shot at the Spanish Steps

Very few places are as photographed as the Spanish Steps. If you do have an Instagrammer in the family, you’ll need to get here pretty early to avoid the crowds.

There are 135 steps and 3 platforms to symbolize the Holy Trinity. At the top of the Spanish Steps is the Trinità dei Monti, a Roman Catholic church, that overlooks the Piazza Spagna. (Spagna is also the metro stop for this site).

8. Take A Picnic Lunch to the Borghese Gardens

Very near to the Trinità dei Monti is the Borghese Gardens. The gardens are considered the lungs of Rome and are a wonderful place to get away from the business of the city. 

If you have time, we definitely recommend visiting the Borghese Gallery that has artwork from all the Italian masters including Raphael, Caravaggio, Rubens, and Botticelli. 

Or if you just want one of the best views of Rome, check out Pincio Terrace for great views of the Piazza del Popolo and the city beyond.

9. Take in the Egyptian Obelisk at Piazza del Popolo

Back down Pincio Hill from the Borghese Gardens, you will find Piazza del Popolo. Once the northern gateway to the city, Piazza del Popolo is known as the people’s square. 

The piazza is also home to a 118 foot obelisk called the Flaminian Obelisk. The Flaminian Obelisk dates back to 1550-1070 BCE Egypt (1550-1070 BCE). In 10 BCE, Augustus ordered the obelisk be taken to Rome. It was moved to Piazza del Popolo in 1589.

The Piazza is also home to a cathedral, the Santa Maria Del Popolo. And many people visit the church to see its two famous Caravaggios. 

On our bike tour, we also spent the late afternoon at the Camp de’ Fiori. But the market is really best seen in the morning with the market buzzing with fresh produce and baked goods. So we recommend you save that until your last morning. 

However, if your feet are exhausted, we recommend taking the metro from the Piazza del Popolo to the Colosseum.

From here, you will explore Rome’s most famous monuments, the Altare Della Patria, affectionately known as the “wedding cake.” 

10. The Piazza Venezia

If you are staying in the historic center, the late afternoon would be a great time to explore the Piazza Venezia. The Piazza Venezia is the central square of the city where four major roads meet.  

At the center of the Piazza Venezia is the Altare della Patria. The Altare della Patria, also known as “the big white Piazza Venezia building” or ” Vittoriano” is one of Rome’s most famous monuments. 

While not all of the Romans appreciate the size and gaudiness of the monument, the view from the terrace can not be beat. There is no fee to enter the museum, but there is a fee to take the elevator to the terrace for beautiful views of all of Rome. 

We think this is the ideal spot to take in your second Roman sunset. 

11. Campo de’ Fiori,

Start off day 3 with your teen or tween in Rome at Camp de’ Fiori.

There is no metro near Campo de’ Fiori. But since it is the beginning of the day, you and your teen should have fresh feet to walk to the market. The daily market is open from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. And it is a great place to get some baked goods to make it through your long Roman day.

At night, the Campo De’ Fiori becomes a great spot for young Romans to enjoy a drink and some community.

Depending on the age of your kid, you may want to steer your teen towards the Campo as a great place to experience some authentic Roman life away from their parents for a few hours.

 12. Castel Sant’Angelo

If you are interested in touring the Castel Sant’Angelo, the afternoon of Day 3 would be the afternoon to do it — on your way to the Vatican.

The castle is known as the tomb of Emperor Hadrian. It served as a papal fortress and prison.

If your teen is not a historical buff, don’t take the time to go into the castle. Instead marvel at its architecture from across the river.

Another way to enjoy the Castel Sant’ Angelo is to walk the grounds, which are hardly ever crowded.

13. The Vatican

From late April through the end of October, the Vatican is open on Friday and Saturday nights. And if you can get a ticket to visit during one of these night times, we highly recommend it. Please note that the Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays.

We went into the Vatican in late September on a Friday night. We spent the early evening exploring Vatican City, and then went into the Vatican Museum around 6:30 p.m. 

There is so much to see at the Vatican Museums that it can quickly become overwhelming for anyone. So we first enjoyed some time in the galleries of the Vatican Museums before heading to the Sistine Chapel around 9:30 p.m. 

We certainly weren’t the only people in the Chapel even so late at night. But the Chapel was far, far less crowded then when Matthew and I had seen it during the day in the summer. 

Regardless of your religious beliefs, there is something truly moving about being in the Sistine Chapel. Even as I write this I can picture our teen looking up with wonder and amazement at its famous ceiling. 

It was one of those moments when you feel so privileged to be seeing the world with your child. And to have this moment with a teenager, who appreciates the talent, beauty and significance of the space.

Well, that is just everything. 

18 More Fun Things to Do in Rome with Teenagers

Got more time than our 3-day itinerary. Here are 18 more things to do in Rome with teenagers. These activities are also great if you are in Rome with tweens.

14. Take a Cooking Class

What better to learn in Rome than how to make pasta. So take a pasta making class.

Classes are held a local restaurant near Piazza Navona. You and your teen will learn to mix, roll and cut the dough into delicious pasta. And the best part, you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

15. Rome’s Street Food

What teen doesn’t want to eat their way through Rome. This street food tour begins at Campo di Campo de’ Fiori and goes through the Jewish Quarter tasting all the way.

16. Borghese Gallery

While there are so many museums we could recommend, the Galleria Borghese is truly perfect for your art loving teen. The museum is so manageable and houses beautiful master works, most notably the sculptures of Bernini.

The museum, like many in Rome, is free on the first Sunday of the month. Otherwise it is 15€ for adults, but just 2€ for children 18 and under.

17. See a Soccer Game

In Rome there are two professional soccer teams, Lazio and Roma. And both teams play out of Stadio Olimpico, just north of the city.

18. Go Surfing

Most people don’t think beach when they think Rome, but the city is only 16 miles from the beach.

One of our day trips is to day trip to Ostia Lido, Rome’s closest beach. But if you want to have a bigger adventure with your teen, why not try a surf lesson.

19. Trace the Steps for Percy Jackson

Is Percy Jackson the nostalgic hero of your tween’s childhood. If so, why not take a Percy Jackson: Hunt for Heroes Tour.

In truth your tween is really just learning about the history and mythology of Rome…but they don’t need to know that.

Tours are based out of Musei Capitolini.

20. Hunt for Ghosts

An ancient city is full of ancient things. Why not experience the dark side of the Eternal City with your teen on a walking ghost tour of the city.

We dare you.

Free Things to Do in Rome with Teenagers

21. Take a Free Walking Tour

We always recommend exploring a new city with a free city walking tour.

Walking tours are an excellent way to really get a feel for a city. And guides always encourage you to return to your favorite spots or have recommendations for other things to see.

Just remember that even though the tour is free, the guides are working for tips. A good rule of thumb is €10–€15 per person.

22. Explore Rome’s Street Art

Rome is home to much more than classical art. And one of the best places to see street art in Rome is in the neighborhood of Tor Marancia.

Street art in Tor Marancia is the product of the collective work of Big City Life, an artists collective and the City of Rome. The goal of the project was to revitalize an area of Rome that is primarily public housing. Since 2015, the art has flourished as has the area.

23. Wander the Trastevere

Located on the opposite side of the Tiber from most of the city’s tourist spots and south of the Vatican, the Trastevere is the perfect place to wander.

The winding cobblestone streets of this once working class Italian neighborhood is the perfect place to soak up all the atmosphere you can. It is also very Instgrammable.

24. Hit Up All Those Instagrammable Places

Okay, so there is actually a most instagrammable tour of Rome for this. But in truth, most of the instagrammable spots in Rome are already on your list of “must see places.”

So this is a gentle reminder to allow those moments for the perfect shot.

26. Explore the Market at Campo de’ Fiori

The market is the oldest in Rome. Since 1869, every morning except for Sundays, the square fills with stalls of vegetables, fruits , flowers, and Roman specialties.

At night Camp de’ Fiori is a hub for Roman night light. Remember that the legal age for drinking in most of the world, including Italy, is 18. Just something to be aware of if you send your teenager out into a Roman night.

Day Trips from Rome For Teenagers

27. Ostia Antica

One of the best examples of an ancient Roman City, Ostia Antica is a great day trip for your history buff teenager. Travel back in time to how ancient Romans lived.

And its closeness to Rome is especially perfect if your time Italy does not include a trip to Pompeii.

You get to Ostia Antica the same way as Ostia Lido, the beach. Just take the metro (line B) and get off at Piramide. At Piramide, take the Roma Lido commuter train to Ostia Antica.

It is a 10-minute walk away for the station.

28. Ostia Lido

Even if you don’t want to take the surf lesson, a relaxing day at Rome’s beach is always called for. The closest beach to Rome is Ostia Lido. In less than an hour by public transit, you can be at the beach.

Just like Ostia Antica, take the metro line B to the Piramide stop. And there grab the commuter train, the Lido, to the beach.

29. Naples

While a day trip is really not enough to explore either Naples or Florence, it is a good start. Going to Naples means you are only scratching the surface of the Amalfi Coast, but hey, all good things start someone. And even if you just go for the pizza, you won’t regret your travel time.

Naples is only1 hour and 10 minutes by high speed train on TrenItalia.

You can book tickets directly on TrenItalia. But you have to use the correct names of the stations so instead of Rome, “Roma Termini.

Or you can use ItaliaRail, the official North American booking partner of TrenItalia. The prices are the same.

Trains leave every hour and more often during peak travel times.

30. Florence

Home to Renaissance art, architecture and culture, Florence is a great day trip for your teenager, especially if they are interested in art.

The seat of the powerful Medici family, Florence has one of the most famous art museums in all of Europe, the Uffizi.

It is also in the Tuscany city that you can see Michaelango’s famous sculpture, David, located in The Accademia.

Note that Florence is a very popular Italian city. So if you are visiting during peak season in the summer, be sure to get your tickets to both museums in advance.

Like a day trip to Naples, trains leave every hour and more often during peak travel times. TrenItalia high speed trains means that a day trip to Florence is just 1 hour and 30 minutes away.

How to Visit Rome 

Most families will fly in and out of Rome through Leonardo Di Vinci-Fiumcino airport. If you read our blog regularly, you know we always prefer public transit. But because of our very early morning flight and the cost, we even used a private transfer to get between the airport and our flat in central Rome. 

However, depending on how many people are in your party and if your flight leaves at a reasonable hour, the train may be the cheapest way to get from Rome. 

The train, called the Leonardo Express, leaves daily from 5:35 a.m to 10:35 p.m. Trains run every 15-20 minutes. Direct from Rome’s Termini Train station to the airport, the train takes 32 minutes. There are no stops.

The train cost €14 for anyone over 13 years of age. Kids under 4 are free and between 4-12 ride for free with one fare-paying adult.

Cost of A Private Transfer

In general, a private transfer between central Rome and the airport cost around $45.

So in our case, since we were traveling with a teen (and you probably are as you’ve chosen this blog), even if we didn’t have an early flight, there was very little cost saving taking the train rather than a private transfer. 

Since the train charges the teens above 12 a full rate, our cost to take the train would have been $42. And we would have had to get to the Train Station, which was a short bus ride. So in the end, it would have been a wash. 

Of course, traveling by public transit with kids has other advantages. And we certainly try to travel as sustainably as possible. But in the end, it just didn’t make sense for us. 

Using Public Transit in Rome

Our time in Rome was a part of our larger 7 day Italy Itinerary with a Teen. And we used public transit to both travel by train from Venice to Rome, with a full-day stopover in Florence.

In the city center of Rome, we traveled by bus from the main Termini train station to our flat when we arrived by train from Florence. 

All public transit in Rome is run by ATAC. Rome’s public transit system includes bus, light rail and a metro.

The metro is like an X with Termini station at the center. The bus and metro station are both easy to use and very inexpensive. 

There are many different types of passes, but we recommend purchasing a the single ticket, called the BIT. The single pass is perfect because unless you are heading out of the central Tourist area, you probably won’t have too much need for public transit. Rome is very walkable.

The BIT is usable for 100 minutes once activated. The pass costs €1.50 and allows you multiple bus rides, but only one ride on the metro.

You can buy the BIT all over the city through newsstands called tabaccai. Or you can use the app TicketAppy to purchase Tap and Go tickets on your smartphone. 

Again, Rome is a very compact city. And after we arrived at our flat near Piazza Navona, we used our feet or traveled on day 2 by bike (see below). 

Where to Stay in Rome 

We definitely recommend finding a place in the center of Rome to really enjoy all the city has to offer.

Over our 15 years of traveling as a family, we have always used apartment-style accommodations because they give our son his own space and allow us to cook most of our own meals, which is one of our huge budget saving tips.

In Rome, we stayed just a few blocks from Piazza Navona. The apartment was great for small, budget-minded families like ours in that it provided one bedroom and a loft space for our teen.

The apartment costs a very reasonable $123 per night. Very reasonable, indeed. 

Or if you are looking for a good mid-priced hotel, Hotel Modigliani is a great choice. Just minutes from the Spanish Steps, its location is hard to beat.

When to Visit Rome

We definitely recommend visiting Rome in the shoulder season of September-early November or April-early June. 

We have been in Rome both in late June and then with our teen in late September. And we definitely can not say enough about how lovely it was in autumn.

Rome in One Day: Itinerary with Teenagers

While we are always fans of slow travel, we understand that sometimes you only have a single day in a city. If you find yourself in Rome for a day, we recommend you hit the major highlights:

9 a.m.-12 p.m.: Colosseum, metro from the Colosseum to the Spanish Steps

12-3 p.m.: Walking Tour of the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Piazza Navona

3 p.m-6:30: Vatican City + Vatican Museums (on Friday/Saturday, save this for a little later and pick one of the other sites to explore in the early afternoon)

Tips to Exploring Rome with Teenagers

Eat More Gelato

We are super budget travelers, which means we don’t eat many meals out at all. And that was definitely true in all of Italy. 

And yet, even with our fairly firm budget travel rules, we definitely always allow for some treats to get even more of the local taste. And in all of Italy that was gelato, gelato, and more gelato. 

Near the Colosseum there is a great spot for delicious gelato called Gelateria Artigianle da Constanza. Good prices and great gelato.

Accept Down Time

When we travel, we like to experience a lot. But at some point, no fun is had by dragging your teenager to see one more fountain, one more church, or one more museum.

One of the reasons for using apartment style accommodations – beyond the economical advantages of cooking many of our own meals – is giving O (and his parents) space for some down time. We tend to leave fairly early in the morning, but we take a few hours break from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. 

During that time, we will return to the flat. Matthew and I will typically enjoy happy hour and cook dinner. And O will spend an hour or so plugged in. After dinner, we are all recharged.

Rome can be hot and busy during the day. So we recommend coming home in the heat of the day, relaxing, and then heading out again to see the city in all its nighttime splendor. 

Make a One Museum a Day Rule

Okay, in truth we broke this rule during our one-day stopover in Florence. But whenever possible, we really limit our plans to one museum a day. 

There are so many wonderful museums in Rome. But you won’t find much of any of them on this itinerary. And that is because Rome in itself is an amazing spectacle of history, architecture, art, and culture. 

The city is truly enough without ever going inside one of its remarkable museums. With the exception of the Vatican museum, that is a must see.

Rome is truly one of our favorite European cities to explore with our teenager. And we hope our guide makes it one of your family’s favorites as well.  

Time Your Museum Visits for Sunday

On the first Sunday of the month many of Rome’s most famous sites are free, including the Coliseum, Palantino and Roman Forum.

The Vatican Museums are free on the last Sunday of the month

FAQs about visiting Rome with Teenagers

Need gift ideas for your traveling teen. We have 60+ of the best travel gifts for teenagers.

Also heading to Venice with your teenager? Read about our how we kayaking the canals of Venice and made our own glass jewelry on Murano Island.