Rome or Barcelona for a February trip with an 11-year-old?

Uncle Pierre

Thinking of booking a few days away (European city break kind of thing) next February mid-term for myself, my wife, and our son, who'll be just turned 11 years old then.

Have more or less narrowed to Rome or Barcelona. Wife and I have been to both in the past, before the young lad was born. Just wondering if anybody has any opinions on what might suit best with an 11-year-old boy this time - e.g. fun things to do with a child of that age, outside of seeing the usual sights? He'd have an interest in the historical sites of Rome or the Gaudi-esque stuff in Barcelona, but like any 11-year-old, is likely to get bored of it pretty quickly too.

Any suggestions for alternate destinations also welcome, as we're fairly open on where to go. The main thing will be to just get away for a few days!

Thanks in advance.

yagan

Have been to both, but I got to say February is an excellent time to see big sites of Rome without the hoards.

The last time I went to Ostia antica, just outside Rome and easy to get to by train. It's an ancient seaport of Rome that was abandoned as the empire declined. The last time I went was in December and the weather was fine.

I mention it because if you're worried about getting around crowded places with an 11 year old then you'll have this gem of a site all to yourself. It might whet the appetite for visiting Pompeii in the future.

Jim_Hodge

Rome, without a doubt for an 11 year old.

naughtysmurf

Rome & stay in the historical centre

endofrainbow

Rome but if he's a footie fan , a trip to Camp Nou would be unforgettable.

Aglomerado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122529881#Comment_122529881

Ostia is great I've done it in November. Would recommend spending a day there. Do some of the creepier stuff too like the catacombs/ underneath basilica of San Clemente.

Marcusm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122540458#Comment_122540458

isn’t it being rebuilt? Barcelona seems to get increasingly poor reviews with excess tourism. Rome would be great for an inquisitive child, Coliseum etc.

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122540458#Comment_122540458

isnt it currently a building site?

NIMAN

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122540458#Comment_122540458

Not much to see.

Rome for me too. Wouldn't be rushing back to Barcelona. Been in both twice, and would go back to Rome again easily. Not so much Barcelona.

yagan

The great thing about Rome is that there's anough to keep you going back repeatedly.

The last time I was there I stumbled upon the tomb of Hugh O'Neill.

The next time go back I want to go to the aquaduct park which is easy to get to.

Uncle Pierre

Thanks to all for the replies. It's fairly clearcut here in favour of Rome!

And yes, the young lad is a soccer fan all right, but Camp Nou in Barcelona is a building site at the moment. There's some sort of "immersive museum" experience on offer there, but insofar as seeing the stadium, all they have is a vantage point from where you can see the construction work.

We're veering towards Rome all right. All that remains is trying to find a "fun" activity or two for an 11-year-old, so that it's not all "just looking at boring old ruins and buildings" (as spoken when looking through a child's eyes, not mine!). Again, any suggestions welcome.

Thanks again.

con___manx1

I went to Rome at the end of Feb last year with my other half. The weather was great late teens to early 20ths. It was a bit chilly at night. The crowds were not so bad for all the attractions like the colleseum and the Vatican. The only thing I would say is I hope you like walking because the public transport is not the best. We walked over 20 k some days but we didn'timd at all. It also crazy to cross the roads there. The traffic just drive through red lights. You get used to that after a day or two.

NIMAN

Go to the stadio olympico in Rome if you want to visit a stadium.

You should be able to get into the Lazio or Roma game easily enough, if you are visiting over a weekend.

Uncle Pierre

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122542125#Comment_122542125

We'd be going the Monday to Friday of the February mid-term week.

As it happens, Lazio are currently listed to have a home game on the Thursday night. Roma would be away. Lazio tickets starting around €40.

However, both Barcelona and Espanyol are also listed to play at home that Thursday night, with Barcelona tickets starting around €60 and Espanyol from about €25….

Lord Baron Lane 8

Rome for sure being in both . Barcelona never again full of pickpockets 2 people in my group got robbed .

Tomw86

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122542262#Comment_122542262

I'd say those fixtures might be subject to change due to European involvement also so be conscious of that (although you may be already). I don't know off-hand if there would be European games fixed for that Thursday night but Lazio are in the Europa League so if they qualify through the group they may have fixtures moved around to accomodate that - be wary.

Same with Barcelona and Champions League matches….just something consider on both counts.

Would think the Stadio Olimpico would be a better spectacle than Espanyol and the Barca reserve team stadium (even though it does still look impressive).

Uncle Pierre

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122544822#Comment_122544822

Yes, well aware that fixtures are subject to change, but thanks anyway.

In any event, wouldn't be banking on organising the whole thing around a soccer match. Would be more a case of it just being a bonus if there happened to be a match on during that week.

Tomw86

Ah yeah, completely understand - used to the same with my own Dad on trips to places with catching a game if there was one on.

Just know that kids at that age can be upset if promised a match while there and one doesn't materialise.

naughtysmurf

in fairness, Rome is. full of pick pockets too, just don’t make it easy for them & if going around with a backpack, wear it on your front

billyhead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122545238#Comment_122545238

Especially around the airport, train stations and on public transport.

Ohmeha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122544822#Comment_122544822

Definitely no midweek Serie A or La Liga matches are scheduled in February, the midweek games any of Barcelona/Roma/Lazio could have a chance to play in would be in Champions League or Europa League knock-out phase play-offs scheduled for midweek dated February 11th-13th and February 18th-20th

Both Serie A and La Liga schedule their games very late about 2/3 weeks beforehand due to TV coverage so you have to plan date spans if booking flights/accommodation in advance if you're intending to catch football games in those cities

Uncle Pierre

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122555751#Comment_122555751

Silly me.

Turns out I was looking at a calendar for January 2025 while looking at fixtures for February. So when I saw fixtures listed for February 23rd, the 23rd I was looking at on the calendar was Thursday 23rd January. But the fixtures are actually for Sunday 23rd February, which obviously wouldn't be part of a Monday to Friday trip!

Ah well, as I said above, a match being on would just have been a bonus. We wouldn't be planning the whole trip around it.