Rome: Top Free Sites to See on Your First Day

Rome has been on our family bucket list for years. When I began my Rome trip research, I did not find a lot of current information for families that travel abroad. I prefer to do my own research through websites like Expedia.com or Tripadvisor.com. I’ll most likely split this trip into different blogs, because there’s a lot of information that I need to share. Also, we went to other cities (Frascati, Naples, Sorrento, and Montepulciano in Tuscany).

All of the places I’m going to list for the first day in our itinerary are FREE to visit. We stayed in Rome for seven days and rented a car from the airport. When we checked into out Airbnb, we went for a walk to visit some sites.

TIP#1- STAY CENTRALLY LOCATED- Our apartment was located near Piazza Navona. This area is close to most sites and everything is within walking distance. As soon as we settled in, we started our own walking tour.

TIP #2- LEAVE STROLLERS AT HOME- In my opinion, Rome is not stroller friendly. If you have a child that does not walk yet I would suggest a carrier. I bought our toddlers safety wrists on Amazon and that worked out great for us. I paid $8.99 for each of them and it was definitely a great investment.

First stop is Piazza Navona. Piazza Navona is one of the most beautiful piazza squares in Rome. We arrived around 2:00 and it was not very crowded. The kids were able to run around and join the fun of popping bubbles from a man that had a giant bubble maker in the middle of the square. Bernini’s Fountain of Rivers at the center is definitely on the checklist of places to see in Rome.

After you take all of your family pictures you can shop or eat at a restaurant nearby or walk five minutes to our next free destination The Pantheon. The Pantheon is also free. There was a 10 minute wait to get through security check. Once inside you can take pictures of the domed cella and the oculus. Very beautiful inside.

Tip #3- Carry a small backpack- My husband walked around with a small backpack, not a hiking one. We were able to pass through security everywhere we went that had free admission.

The next stop on our free walking tour was Trevi Fountain. From the Pantheon, it was about a 10 minute walk. Do not get intimidated by the crowds. There will always be a crowd at the fountain. It doesn’t matter the time or day. Make your way through the crowd and find your spot by the fountain. Throw a coin in and get those Instagram worthy pictures. You will not regret it.

Tip #4- Pack a reusable water bottle in your carry on or luggage. You can save a lot of euoros by carrying a water bottle that you fill up every time you see a drinking fountain. As you are walking, you will see them all over Rome. It’s safe, fresh and ice cold. So fill up every time you see one.

After the Trevi fountain we headed back to the apartment for a siesta. While traveling with kids, I found from experience that you don’t want to cram too much in one day. If it’s convenient go back to your hotel or apartment and rest for a couple hours, especially during siesta time, between 3-6.

Is there a site that is on your must-see list in Rome? Comment below.