Recommended Family-Friendly Hotels in Rome

My friend Amie O’Shaughnessy is back with another article to help those of you traveling to Italy with kids find the best options as far as accommodation goes – and this time she’s here to help with Rome. It’s a big city, and it can be exhausting, so finding a place to stay that’s not only in a good location but that can serve as a place of refuge when you need a break is important – whether you’re traveling with kids or not! Here are Amie’s recommendations for where to stay in Rome from her Ciao Bambino website (each property listed has a link where you’ll find more details about it).
Location is everything in Rome. The city is massive and where you stay in critical for ease-of-use with kids. Although public transportation is abundant, walking and exploring the neighborhoods is a big part of the tourist experience.
Once you figure out where you want to stay, the next challenge is finding accommodations that can accommodate 3 or more people. Like many cities in Europe, hotel rooms in the historic center are small and they do not have the American “standard” set-up of a room with two double beds. This means that families must find properties with connecting rooms or suites, and these larger configurations are expensive.
Noting that hotels in Rome are notoriously pricey (like New York and London), even a moderate property will run $300-600 per night during peak travel months for a configuration that supports a family. Apartments are available, but I’ve found that options of decent quality in appealing locations are rare (or at least I have yet to find many of them).
Outside of Tuscany, Rome is Ciao Bambino’s most popular destination and we have significant experience booking families at the properties in our portfolio. Here’s our list of tried and tested accommodation options.

Recommended Family-Friendly Hotels in Rome

• Hotel Ponte Sisto
  The Hotel Ponte Sisto is a typical Italian 4-star hotel situated between Piazza Navona and the Trastevere neighborhood. It’s clean and comfortable and has the amenities you want, but don’t expect anything too stylish here. Hotel staff are helpful and friendly, and the overall atmosphere is warm. The hotel’s Family Suites work well for groups of 4 and 5 people. A few rooms have a private terrace – it’s worth asking if one is available. Also note that some of the units face a busy road, so if someone in your group is sensitive to noise be sure to request a quiet room.
  >> Ciao Bambino Age Rating: baby ready, toddler fun, school age action, cool for teens
  >> Price: Rooms for 2-3 people start at 200€ per night
• Internazionale Domus
  When researching hotels in Rome, you may notice how many of them claim close proximity to the Spanish Steps. Internazionale Domus is one of those hotels, but they can actually back up the claim – the hotel is right on the Piazza di Spagna, and some of the units even have one of the coveted views of the steps themselves. One thing I like about this property for families is that they offer apartment-style units with kitchenette facilities and separate sleeping areas – which is ideal when you’re traveling with young children! Families do need to consider that this is not a traditional hotel, so amenities are limited (no lobby, room service, 24-hour front desk staff, or onsite restaurant). The trade-off is the fantastic location and space for the money.
  >> Ciao Bambino Age Rating: baby ready, toddler fun, cool for teens
  >> Price: Rooms for 2-3 people start at 205€ per night
• Residence Barberini
  The Residence Barberini isn’t a typical hotel, but it is fairly standard for a European apart-hotel. The available apartments have kitchenettes, and a few of them will even work for groups of 4-5 people (although these are still one bedroom units with sofa beds). The neighborhood around the hotel isn’t particularly appealing in and of itself, as it’s a bit more commercial and less touristy, but it’s well-positioned for public transportation and easy to get to Rome’s major sights. Decor in the apartments is modern and sparse, and it’s important to note that the owner is an avid art collector – there are, for instance, nude photographs in public areas and hallways. Families also need to remember that because it’s not a traditional hotel, onsite amenities are limited (small lobby, no onsite restaurant).
  >> Ciao Bambino Age Rating: baby ready, school age action, cool for teens
  >> Price: Rooms for 2-3 people start at 230€ per night
• Albergo Santa Chiara
  The recommendation for Albergo Santa Chiara came from one of our community members as an excellent choice for families. The hotel enjoys a fantastic location behind the Pantheon in the center of historic Rome, and the surrounding area is ideal for exploring on foot. Rooms in the hotel are clean and comfortable (although for famlies who need lots of space the number of large rooms is limited), and there’s a buffet breakfast included. If you need a crib, remember to request it when you book your room.
  >> Ciao Bambino Age Rating: baby ready, toddler fun, school age action, cool for teens
  >> Price: Rooms for 2-3 people start at 310€ per night
• Raphael Hotel
  One of my favorite places to hang out with kids in Rome is Piazza Navona, where there is an enormous car-free space for kids to run around – so I love that the Raphael Hotel is on a quiet street adjacent to the piazza. As is the case with the Albergo Santa Chiara, this hotel is in a perfect neighborhood for walking and exploring. The hotel is covered in ivy and boasts a rooftop terrace from which you can see many of Rome’s landmark sights. The bad news is that only a handful of the hotel’s suites are big enough to accommodate families, and those rooms do not come cheap. If you have room in your budget for it, this is a Ciao Bambino favorite!
  >> Ciao Bambino Age Rating: baby ready, toddler fun, school age action, cool for teens
  >> Price: Rooms for 2-3 people start at 280€ per night
• Hotels with Swimming Pools
  Visiting Rome during the hot summer months can be brutal, so it’s not surprising that many families want to stay in a hotel with a swimming pool to help the kids (and the parents!) cool off. Two hotels which have been recommended to me by clients over the years as good options are the Aldrovandi Palace (in a residential area near the Borghese Gardens) and the Rome Cavalieri Hilton (near the Vatican). I’m not crazy about the location of either hotel for overall sightseeing in Rome, and both are expensive, but if a swimming pool is a must then they’re worth looking into.

To review our complete list of recommended accommodations in Rome, use our Extended Search feature to quickly narrow down a list of the best options. See the Ciao Bambino Blog for my recent post on creating the best family-friendly itinerary in Italy.

---

Amie O’Shaughnessy is the Editor of Ciao Bambino, a family travel blog and guide to the best accommodations for families.

photo at top by Nancy Solomon and may not be used without permission, jumping into pool picture by Andy Hay, the rest were provided by Amie of Ciao Bambino and may not be used without permission