Surviving Italy with a Toddler: 10 tips

1. Cobblestones, particularly in Rome, are no joke. You will see posts on social media about avoiding bringing a stroller because of the cobblestones. THIS IS A BAD IDEA, especially in the summer. There is a lot of walking involved, and even the most active kid is going to get worn out quickly. And even if you have a little kid that you can carry, you will be carrying a hot sticky furnace in the heat. Our friends brought their 7 and 5 year olds, and they ended up carrying them A LOT. Just bring the stroller; your kid may feel like they are off roading for a bit, your stroller will get worn out (ours broke and had to be duct taped back together. Pro Tip, they called duct tape “American tape” in the hardware store we went to), but it’s worth it for everyone’s overall comfort. 

   
   

2. There are a lot of stairs which also make having a stroller difficult. However, one way to make it easier is to use Google Maps to plan your walks to make them more stroller-friendly. Set the setting to “wheelchair accessible” and it will guide you to streets/ramps that can bypass stairs and warn you if it is not possible.

   
   

3. Stroller fans are a must. We actually had 2, one of which sprayed water. Adults and children were both jealous. 

   
   

4. For any non-tourist trap restaurant, you will need reservations, especially during peak season. Keep in mind, a lot of the smaller restaurants have a limit of 6 people. Restaurants welcome kids, but don’t expect a kids menu. High chairs are also limited.

   
   

5. Have a lot of snacks; lunch service rarely starts before 12:30pm, and expect restaurants to open for dinner after 7pm. We did a lot of gelato. 

   
   

6. There is no car seat requirement in taxis in the major cities. We mostly walked everywhere but if we had any longer journeys, we did bring our Wayb Pico carseat.

   
   

7. Uber does exist, but will be more expensive. However, they are all black cars so they are larger and more comfortable. 

   
   

8. If you’re not renting a car, it is worth pre-arranging transportation to and from the airport. Welcome Pickups is a good option, but in the summer, oftentimes the service is just not available. We used Airport Taxi Transfers, which was fantastic. You prepay so you don’t need to worry about being overcharged. The drivers are also timely, professional and courteous. 

   
   

9. Buy tickets for all major attractions and museums ahead of time. The timed-entry tickets are clutch. Popular things are popular for a reason, and without tickets, you will be waiting for hours. In the summer, that means hours in the hot, hot sun. Kids under 3 are usually free, but you still need to have a ticket for them. And you need to bring your passport; all tickets have your name on them, and they verify using your passport. The Vatican city tickets were ok with a photo of our passports, but they asked for actual passports at the Coliseum and at the Uffizi museum. 

   
   

10. I love a good hotel, however, when travelling with a toddler, having an Airbnb was amazing. He got his own room, we all had more space, and there was a kitchen so we didn’t always have to eat out and could store leftovers, milk, and all the snacks. Also clutch for the summer: air conditioning and laundry. You will sweat through your clothes by noon.