How a Pinocchio Tour Made Us Love The Colosseum
We’ve taken our kids to monuments before; The Pyramids of Giza, Ephesus, you name it! But I often wonder: Is the majesty of these historical treasures actually hitting home, or are the kids just counting down the minutes until gelato? This time, we tried something different so we booked a children’s tour through Pinocchio Tours for the Colosseum (which included the Forum) and it was the best decision we made!
Learning Through Play: The Pinocchio Experience
Our tour started with a bit of a stir. A parent in our group, clearly skeptical, voiced what many are secretly thinking:
"I didn't pay for games, I paid for learning!"
He was genuinely annoyed and ready to leave requesting a refund on the spot.
Enter Alexandra, our guide. As a qualified teacher, she didn’t blink. She knew exactly what she was doing. By the time we were halfway through, that same parent was leaning in, competing for points, and—dare I say—having more fun than the kids.
She had planned purposeful games for all of us to engage in with the day beginning with her introducing a tour-long competition between two teams; the parents and the children. Throughout the day, Alexandra awarded each team points for questions and answers - I had high hopes for the adults winning tour, but alas, no luck ;) We played ‘I spy…’ to find certain historical artefacts and Alexandra brought 3D printed pieces for the children to make a Roman arch that mirrored the one in the Roman Forum (that wasn’t part of the competition but it was cool!).
Most importantly, she was responsive to the children’s needs, especially when it became very hot; tailoring the tour so that we could learn in the shade. Although the tours may cost a little more, you’ll learn so much and, most importantly, so will your children!
As an educational leader, I'm always looking for ways to learn that don’t feel like learning; tools or people that engage us. This tour didn't just give us facts; it used gamification and 3D modelling to create an inquiry-filled environment where the children connected the Colosseum to the wider Roman world. When Archie poured the water through Alexandra’s model, we could see the light-bulb moment where he really understood how water in the Colosseum worked.
The Investment
For a small-group family tour that will take up 2.5 hours, it was an investment in education (that’s why we travel, right?), costing roughly 330 euros—worth every penny for a stress-free Colosseum entry.
Tip Alert
Choose an early morning session and
Pack hats, water-bottles and sunscreen - Rome in June is hot!
There are places in the Colosseum to fill-up your drink bottles.
We stayed in a gorgeous little hotel within walking distance so we didn’t need to fuss with public transport.
Our Roman Home Base
We stayed within walking distance of the Colosseum at Apartmenti MarcoAurelio49. It was a gorgeous little hotel that allowed us to skip the fuss of public transport or finding taxis in the heat. Having a sanctuary so close to the ancient centre meant we could head back for a quick "recharge" before dinner—a total lifesaver for family travel in the European Summer. See more about this fabulous hotel and other family-friendly restaurants here.
Where to Eat: A Roman Respite Near the Ruins
Once our brains were full and our tummies were empty, we headed our from the ancient Roman world to Angelino Ai Fori Dal 1947 right near the Colosseum. It was the perfect respite after a long and hot tour and the prices weren’t too pricey considering the location. Archie ordered pizza margherita, naturally! For younger families, there’s high chairs if necessary. The food was great and so were the drinks!
