Updated: September 3, 2026
By Santorini Dave • dave@santorinidave.com
My Top Picks for Families
-
Best Luxury & Apartments:
Internazionale Domus (Spanish Steps) -
Best Value & Midrange:
Hotel Grifo (Monti) -
Best for Summer (Large Pool):
Parco Dei Principi Grand Hotel (Villa Borghese) -
Best for Large Groups:
Vanity Apartment (Sleeps up to 10)
The Roman Forum is fun to explore with kids of any age. Our favorite hotels near Ancient Rome and the Forum are the Cosmopolita, Grifo, Villa Spalletti Trivelli, and Palazzo Manfredi.
Rome Family Hotels: My Advice
My boys and I having some fun in Rome.
- Best Area: The best area to stay in Rome with kids is the Centro Storico, especially around the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. You can walk to most of Rome’s major sights and there are plenty of restaurants close by. Monti is my runner-up, with easy access to the Colosseum and Forum. Termini and Repubblica are less charming but practical, with good-value family rooms and easy train and airport connections.
- Best Hotel with a Pool: Parco Dei Principi Grand Hotel has the best outdoor hotel pool in Rome. It is beside Villa Borghese rather than in the middle of the main sightseeing area, but in July and August the pool can easily be worth the trade-off.
- Public Transport with Kids: Children up to age 10 travel free on Rome’s ATAC buses, trams, and Metro when accompanied by a fare-paying adult. Older children need their own ticket or fare.
- Strollers: Rome’s sampietrini cobblestones are brutal on small stroller wheels. Bring a sturdy stroller with large wheels if possible. A baby carrier is much easier for the Forum and Palatine Hill, where the rough ground, steps, and uneven paths are the bigger problem.
- Early Meals: Many Roman restaurants get going later than young kids want to eat. Pizza al taglio is the easy solution: rectangular pizza sold by weight, inexpensive, fast, and available throughout the day.
- Free Water: Bring reusable bottles. Rome’s small drinking fountains, called nasoni, provide cold, safe drinking water throughout the city.
The Best Family Hotels in Rome
1. Internazionale Domus – luxury
Hotel phone: +39 06 6919 0237
Excellent suites and apartments in a fantastic location at the Spanish Steps. The 100-square-meter Pierret Deluxe Suite has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchenette, and views over Piazza di Spagna.
Nearby: Spanish Steps, Via Condotti, Piazza Barberini
Nearest Metro: Spagna2. Parco Dei Principi Grand Hotel – luxury
Hotel phone: +39 06 854421
The best outdoor swimming pool in Rome. There’s also an indoor pool and excellent spa and fitness center. Beautiful grounds, luxurious rooms, and air conditioning that really works. The outdoor pool has an extra charge.
Nearby: Villa Borghese, National Gallery of Modern Art
Nearest Metro: Flaminio (about a 15-minute walk through Villa Borghese)3. Westin Excelsior – luxury
Hotel phone: +39 06 47081
Large rooms, a heated indoor pool, and a good Via Veneto location between Villa Borghese and the Spanish Steps.
Nearby: Via Veneto, Villa Borghese, Spanish Steps, Piazza Barberini
Nearest Metro: Barberini4. Villa Spalletti Trivelli – luxury
Hotel phone: +39 06 4890 7934
A stately mansion with manicured gardens in the center of Rome. Grand Deluxe Suites are large enough for a family of 4.
Nearby: Quirinal Palace, Forum
Nearest Metro: Barberini5. Palazzo Manfredi – luxury
Hotel phone: +39 06 7759 1380
Classic luxury hotel with a great rooftop terrace. You can practically reach out and touch the Colosseum. Quadruple rooms are good for a family of 4; larger family accommodations are also available.
Nearby: Colosseum, Trajan’s Market, Forum
Nearest Metro: Colosseo6. Villa Agrippina Gran Meliá – luxury
Hotel phone: +39 06 925901
Excellent 5-star hotel with a spa and outdoor pool, convenient to the Vatican. Suites and villas work well for families.
Nearby: St. Peter’s Basilica, Botanical Garden of Rome
Nearest Train: Roma San Pietro. Taxis and buses are more useful than the Metro from here.7. Cosmopolita Hotel Rome – midrange
Hotel phone: +39 06 997071
Very convenient Piazza Venezia location for walking to the Forum, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and Pantheon. Quadruple rooms work well for families.
Nearby: Piazza Venezia, Trevi Fountain, Forum
Nearest Metro: Colosseo or Cavour (about a 10-15 minute walk)8. Hotel Canada – midrange
Hotel phone: +39 06 4457770
Clean, comfortable, and spacious rooms. Quadruple rooms are good for families of 4. Convenient for Termini Station and the Leonardo Express to Fiumicino Airport.
Nearby: Termini railway station, La Sapienza University, National Museum of Rome
Nearest Metro: Castro Pretorio9. Hotel Fontana – midrange
Hotel phone: +39 06 678 6113
Small, simple hotel directly across from the Trevi Fountain. Best for families of 3; you’re paying for the unbeatable location more than the rooms.
Nearby: Trevi Fountain, Quirinal Palace, Pantheon
Nearest Metro: Barberini10. iQ Hotel Roma – midrange
Hotel phone: +39 06 488 0465
Modern hotel with spacious rooms, complimentary minibar water and soft drinks, laundry facilities, and a rooftop restaurant and bar. Triple and quadruple rooms suit families of 3 to 4.
Nearby: Termini Station, Piazza della Repubblica, Museo Nazionale Romano, Santa Maria Maggiore
Nearest Metro: Repubblica11. Hotel Des Artistes – midrange
Hotel phone: +39 06 445 4365
Comfortable 3-star with triple and quadruple rooms; quads can have a queen and two twins or four twin beds. Rooftop terrace.
Nearby: Termini Station, Museo Nazionale Romano
Nearest Metro: Castro Pretorio12. Hotel Grifo – budget
Hotel phone: +39 06 4871395
My favorite inexpensive family hotel in central Rome. Quadruple rooms have a king and 2 twin beds; triples have a king and single. Excellent Monti location for the Forum and Colosseum.
Nearby: Forum, Colosseum, Palazzo Venezia
Nearest Metro: Cavour13. The RomeHello – budget
Hotel phone: +39 06 9686 0070
Excellent hostel-hotel with exceptionally clean private en-suite rooms for families. Quadruple rooms sleep 4 with a queen and bunk bed or 2 twin beds and a bunk bed. Shared kitchen and laundry facilities are especially useful for longer stays.
Nearby: Termini Station, Piazza della Repubblica, Museo Nazionale Romano, Palazzo Barberini
Nearest Metro: RepubblicaFamily Apartments in Rome
The apartment with kitchen for families at Lata Luxury Apartment in Rome.
Good apartments for families who want more space and a kitchen.
- Lata Luxury Apartment
2-bedroom apartment with a double bed, bunk beds, and sofa bed; sleeps a family of 6. Air-conditioned.- Romance al Colosseo
3-bedroom apartment with 2 double beds and 2 single beds; sleeps a family of 6 and is steps from the Colosseum.- Vanity Apartment
Large 4-bedroom apartment with a private bathroom for each bedroom; sleeps up to 10. Air-conditioned and about a minute’s walk from the Metro.
Santorini Dave was started in 2011 when I posted a short guide to visiting Santorini with kids. Now, my site publishes regularly updated guides to 
Hi Dave! We always use your website for our trips. On our first trip to Italy we stayed at the Lifestyle Suites Rome near Piazza Navona. We LOVED it!!! This time we will have our 18 month old son with us. What hotel do you recommend for our small family to enjoy?
Rachel
Hi Rachel. Here are the places I recommend for a family wanting that luxury feel but with toddler-friendly practicalities:
1. Internazionale Domus (My Top “Luxury” Pick)
This is my favorite luxury choice for families right now. It’s located right near the Spanish Steps (very central). The key here is that they offer spacious apartments, and many have kitchenettes. With a toddler, having a fridge for milk and a way to prepare quick snacks without leaving the room is handy. It feels more like a home than a hotel.
2. Villa Spalletti Trivelli
If you want something that feels grand and special (similar to the vibe of Lifestyle Suites but distinct), consider this option. It’s a stately mansion near the Quirinal Palace. The big selling point for you is the manicured gardens. Having a private, enclosed outdoor space is nice.
3. Parco Dei Principi Grand Hotel
If you are visiting in the warmer months and want a resort feel, this is the spot. It has the best outdoor swimming pool in Rome and beautiful grounds. It’s located right next to the Villa Borghese (a massive park), which is great for stroller walks away from the traffic. It is a bit further from the main historic sites, but the trade-off is space and the pool.
A few tips for Rome with a toddler:
• The Stroller Warning: I have to mention this since you have a little one – Rome’s cobblestones (sampietrini) are brutal on strollers. If you bring one, make sure it has large, sturdy wheels. A lightweight umbrella stroller will get stuck constantly. For the Forum and Colosseum, a baby carrier is much, much better.
• Water: Don’t worry about buying bottled water constantly. Rome is full of small fountains called nasoni that dispense cold, safe drinking water. Just bring a reusable bottle (or a sippy cup) and fill up as you go.
• Dinner Time: Romans eat late (8 pm or later). If your son is hungry at 6 pm, look for a “Pizza al Taglio” shop. They sell pizza by the slice (by weight). It’s delicious, cheap, and you can grab a slice and eat it on a piazza bench.
Hope that helps you narrow it down.
Hi Dave! Your info is fabulous!!! We need to stay for three nights and I’m choosing between Hotel Santa Maria and the Hotel Adriano! It’s me and my husband and two teenagers! Any input is greatly appreciated!!!
I’d go with the Hotel Santa Maria in Trastevere for your family, primarily because I know it has decent-sized quadruples and suites for two adults and two teenagers. While the location is slightly removed from the central monuments, the Trastevere neighborhood is one of my favorite areas to stay and offers a charming, authentic Roman atmosphere with vibrant evening life and excellent casual dining options that should appeal to teenagers. If being smack in the middle of all the major historical sites is your absolute priority, the Hotel Adriano is a great choice; however, do confirm that their rooms can comfortably fit all four of you, as central boutique hotels often have smaller accommodations. For me, the Santa Maria offers better guaranteed space and a more unique vibe, making a few extra taxi rides worthwhile.
Hi there, thanks for the brilliant article. So many helpful tips in here that will make our first trip to Rome less daunting! I had a question about the very first picture in the article of your kids playing foosball. Could you tell me where that is? My kids love playing foosball so this looks like it could be an ideal stop at some point of our trip between the sightseeing.
That is on the Trastevere side of the River Tiber. There’s a stretch along the river where kiosks and games set up during the evening. Lots of fun to stroll along and eat, drink, and play.
This is a great resource! My family of 4 adults (2 seniors) and 3 children (ages 17-7) are traveling to Italy mid-July. We are planning 3 nights in Milan and 5 in Rome. What are your thoughts on Airbnb vs hotels in each city?
I’ll admit upfront that I’m not a big fan of Airbnb. I just hear of too many bad experiences and lousy places (even when they have high ratings and good reviews). So for me, staying in a hotel is all part of the fun and experience. Especially in big cities like Rome and Milan. Of course, many people love Airbnb and for them I’m sure Rome and Milan have plenty of good choices – though probably most will be a little outside of the city center.