How to See Rome Without the Crowds

Rome is a magnificent city with so much to offer families. However, it has a downside. Huge numbers of tourists flock there every year, making sightseeing somewhat difficult when travelling with kids.

Being a capital city, Rome will always be busy, no matter when you go there. During our six week trip through Europe, we spent a wonderful four nights in Rome. From this experience and previous holidays to Rome, we have discovered ways to see the city without having to push your way through crowds.

Here are three things to consider for your next family vacation to Rome, Italy.

Best time for sightseeing in Rome

There is a definite bonus to having kids who wake early when you’re in Rome. You can get going before everyone else does. Having flown in from Australia and trying to get over the eight hour time difference, everyone was awake early. So we’d start sightseeing before 7.00am and come home around lunch for a rest. Rome has a special charm during the quiet of the early morning, and it’s well worth experiencing.

Getting to actually see places like the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Villa Borghese with little more than a handful of people around is absolute magic. Unfortunately, when it comes to visiting the Colosseum there are restricted hours, but book a family tour and you’ll skip the lines (well most of them) and you learn so much more in a fun way. This is the review of the tour we went on and loved.

Best days of the week to visit Rome

Rome is generally at its busiest on the weekend. Monday to Friday are your best options for a less crowded city. If you want to look at museums and art galleries, they are usually closed on Mondays. Checking opening times for anything you are interested in visiting before you arrive, to avoid dissapointment.

Pick your month to visit Rome

July and August are by far the busiest months in Rome. They are also the hottest with the average temperature in July being 32C / 90F. Most sightseeing in Rome can be done walking, and when it is hot, and you are surrounded by stone, it’s not that fun.

If you have school-aged kids like we do, it’s a bit harder to visit out of peak times, but it is well worth it to reduce costs and crowds. May, June, and September are a much better option if you can travel then.

There’s so much more to Italy than Rome. Check out this 10 day Italy itinerary from Travels with the Crew for ideas.

I hope this has given you a few ideas for planning your trip to Rome, Italy. Let me know if you have any questions.