The advent of low cost airlines has made getting to Rome both easy and cheap for many Europeans. And while Ciampino, the airport of choice for cheap flights, may not be easily accessible by train there is a bus service at all hours of the day. Taxis are also at hand. The trip from Ciampino Airport to the center of Rome is roughly 30 minutes except in rush hour (7:30-10:00 and 17:00-20:30) when it is more than double that. Families flying from the other side of the world will arrive/depart Fiumicino Airport (also called Leonardo da Vinci). Trenitalia offers a direct a service from Fiumicino to Termini, the main train terminal in Rome, as well as a commuter service, which stops at smaller city stations including Ostiense, Trastevere and Tiburtina.

The one thing you don't want in Rome is a car. Not only is driving a nightmare, unless your accommodation has a garage, parking will test your patience more than ten kids can. The metro and bus are cheap and easy ways to get around. Single fares, valid for 75 minutes, cost €1 and entitle the rider to unlimited bus but only one metro ride. A day pass (BIG) is €4, a three day pass (BTI) €11, and weekly (Settimanale) €16. All entitle the cardholder to unlimited travel. Of note, bus and metro tickets must be stamped on first use. Walking is great way to explore the Eternal City yet hiking Rome in day may be too much for the kids in the hot summer heat. Roam Piazza Navona, Campo dei Fiori and the Pantheon on one day. Wander the back streets from Fontana di Trevi to Piazza del Popolo on another. And when you cross city streets big and small remember that pedestrian rights aren't analogous everywhere. In Rome, zebra crossings (crosswalks) are an opportunity not an entitlement. Don't step off the curb until the traffic stops. Biking Rome is the latest trend in tourism and bike rental shops have mushroomed to meet demand. But there are no bike lanes and only a few bike trails. Unless you plan to cycle the Tevere or neighborhood known as Parioli a bike tour of Rome may provide more adventure than your family desires. Cobblestones streets and tram tracks, not to mention horrendous traffic, are big obstacles for small cyclists. Of note, Roma'n'bike - bike sharing program - is open to Rome residents only.

Travel to Rome is ideal year round. Winters are mild and summers, while hot, are rarely uncomfortable. Expect showers in spring (March-May) and fall (October-November) and pack to dress in layers. Italian public holidays (April 25, May 1, June 2, August 15, November 1 and December 8) and school vacations (December 24 - January 7 and Easter Week) as well as the months of April, May and June are often packed with snaking queues at historical sites and museums. But there's a benefit to visiting Rome in the peak tourist season. A variety of special events, many of them free, make a holiday in Rome a unique experience for the family.

The biggest travel risks in Rome are pickpockets and purse snatchers. At outdoor cafés, restaurants and bars don't sling your handbag or daypack over the back of the seat. Instead wear your purse over your shoulder and wedge it firmly between you and the chair. Put your daypack on the ground, between your legs, and slip a strap under the leg of the table. Particular attention is warranted when traveling by metro and bus. Most travelers are pickpocketed on crowded public transport. Hold your daypack where you can see it and wear your purse over your head so that the strap crosses your chest.