I visited several European countries this year, and I was struck by how child-friendly everything was — especially when compared to the U.S.! There were playgrounds galore and play areas at restaurants and museums, and it just felt like kids were truly welcome everywhere we went. It’s no secret that Europe generally has very family-friendly policies and cultures.
While I typically avoid traveling long distances with my little ones, my recent trip — to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia — got me excited about other European cities I want to tour one day with my kids.
After lots of research, I created a must-visit list of family-friendly European cities. I took into account ease (and fun factor) of public transport, number of cool parks and playgrounds, proximity to kid-friendly attractions, stroller friendliness, cleanliness and safety, and, of course, how popular these destinations are with families of small children. Bon voyage!
London, England
Distance from Boston:
About a 6.5-hour flight
Why it’s great for families:
- Double decker buses and fun bridges
- Many museums are free of charge
Must-visit spots:
- The Natural History Museum, the London Transport Museum, Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall, the Science Museum, and the Sea Life London Aquarium
- Covent Garden Market
- Big Ben and the London Eye
- Diana Memorial Playground in Hyde Park and the Paddington Recreation Ground Playground
- For Harry Potter fans, the “wobbly bridge” featured in Harry Potter and The Making of Harry Potter at Warner Bros. Studio
Edinburgh, Scotland
Distance from Boston:
About a 6.5-hour flight
Why it’s great for families:
- High walkability and compact downtown area
- Can take a train there from London
Must-visit spots:
- Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile
- The National Museum of Scotland
- Hike up to Arthur’s Seat and the Scott Monument
- Inverleith Park Playground and the Royal Botanic Garden
- Edinburgh Zoo
- The Scottish Highlands and the famous Loch Ness
- For Harry Potter fans, the Potter Trail tour
To consider:
Cobblestone streets can be difficult for strollers
Dublin, Ireland
Distance from Boston:
About a 6-hour flight
Why it’s great:
- Plenty of castles, green space, playgrounds, and family-friendly pubs
- Fun for Viking lovers: Viking Splash Tours
Must-visit spots:
- Dublin Castle, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College
- St. Stephen’s Green park and playground
- Phoenix Park — a massive green space that’s home to Dublin Zoo
- Little Museum of Dublin
- Malahide Castle, playground, and fairy trail
- Merrion Square park and playground
Copenhagen, Denmark
Distance from Boston:
About a 7-hour flight
Why it’s great:
- Good for toddlers, really flat, super bike friendly, and has the coolest playgrounds (125 of them — nature themed, rooftop playgrounds, you name it!)
- Clean, safe, and packed with attractions like the world’s oldest theme parks
- Canal tours and lots of viking-themed fun!
Must-visit spots:
- National Aquarium Denmark, Copenhagen Zoo, Experimentarium, and Guinness World Records Museum
- Nyhavn area and port — visit the Little Mermaid statue
- Tivoli Gardens theme park in the heart of the city
- Check out all the incredible playgrounds (too many to name!)
- Brave the four-story slide in the Danish Architecture Center
- Travel to Billund to experience the original Legoland and Lego House
- Hunt for the Forgotten Giants sculptures in the woods outside the city
Stockholm, Sweden
Distance from Boston:
About a 9-hour flight
Why it’s great:
- English speaking
- Clean, safe, stroller and bike friendly, and easy public transport
- A beautiful city sprawling across 14 islands — think bridges, fish, kayaks, and an Ocean Bus amphibious bus tour!
Must-visit spots:
- Skansen (an incredible open-air museum that includes a historic village and a zoo)
- Vasa Museum (see an intact sunken ship)
- Junibacken — the world’s only amusement park dedicated to children’s literature
- Check out Uggleparken and Bryggartäppan playgrounds
- Visit the extremely kid-friendly Artipelag art museum and take a nature walk around the grounds
- Gröna Lund amusement park
Zurich, Switzerland
Distance from Boston:
About a 7-hour flight
Why it’s great:
- Clean and safe (though it can be expensive)
- Cost-effective travel options, including free tram rides for children under age 6
- Zurich has more than 150 playgrounds created just for littles
Must-visit spots:
- Zoo Zurich
- Focus Terra, a hands-on university museum (volcanoes, earthquakes, fossils, gems), and the super interactive WOW! Museum
- Take the railway up Uetliberg Mountain
- Lindt Home of Chocolate (check out the giant chocolate fountain)
- Sail on Lake Zurichsee
- Blatterwiese playground
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Distance from Boston:
About a 7-hour flight
Why it’s great:
- Getting around is so much fun! Hop on a bike, sail the canals, or take the tram
- Come in the springtime for the Tulip Festival
Must-visit spots:
- Maritime Museum (explore a real pirate ship) and the Rijksmuseum (for art)
- NEMO Science Museum, which offers spectacular views of the city from its rooftop
- ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo
- Walk around Vondelpark (it contains six play areas!)
- A’Dam Lookout Tower
Florence, Italy
Distance from Boston:
About a 10-hour flight
Why it’s great:
- Florence is full of attractions but compact and easy to get around
- There is a fun high-speed train from Rome to Florence
Must-visit spots:
- The antique carousel in Piazza della Repubblica
- Leonardo Da Vinci Interactive Museum (perfect for science lovers and construction-loving kids)
- Climb the tower of Florence’s Duomo
- Florence Lookout at Piazzale Michelangelo
- Giardino di Borgo Allegri and other playgrounds
- Tour the beautiful Giardino Di Boboli (Boboli Gardens)
- Check out Parco delle Cascine, where you find a family-friendly swimming pool club offering day passes
Lisbon, Portugal
Distance from Boston:
About a 6.5-hour flight
Why it’s great:
- Tons of castles to explore
- Sunny and warm, lovely beaches
Must visit spots:
- Oceanário de Lisboa (Europe’s largest indoor aquarium)
- Pavilhão do Conhecimento (science museum)
- Explore Alfama District and São Jorge’s Castle for a view of the city
- Visit the Belém Tower
- Take a Tagus River cruise
- Enjoy a town beach, such as Cascais beach
- Take the train or a bus tour out to see all the Sintra Castles
To note:
Very hilly and with cobblestones, so not ideal for strollers — but riding the yellow trams around is fun!
Valencia, Spain
Distance from Boston:
About a 10-hour flight
Why it’s great:
- Warm weather, sandy beaches, flat, and bike friendly
- Tons of playgrounds scattered throughout the city
- Easy to navigate on public transport
Must-visit spots:
- Oceanogràfic de Valencia (huge modern aquarium)
- Bioparc Valencia (a safari park zoo)
- Turia Gardens, a sprawling park with playgrounds, recreational areas, and walking paths along the length of an old riverbed
- Gulliver Park (an amazing “Gulliver’s Travels”-themed children’s park)
- Boat cruise on Albufera Lake
Berlin, Germany
Distance from Boston:
About a 9-hour flight
Why it’s great:
- Flat, easy for strollers
- Moving around the city on public transport is easy and fun
Must visit spots:
- The Berlin Zoo and Sea Life Berlin
- Berlin Legoland Discovery Centre
- Explore the Labyrinth Kindermuseum
- Tierpark Berlin (features playgrounds and petting zoos)
- Boat tour on the Spree River
- The Berliner Dom
Reykjavik, Iceland
Distance from Boston:
About a 5-hour flight
Why it’s great:
- Offers an unforgettable mix of outdoor adventures, like lava fields, glaciers and ice caves, hot springs, northern lights, and charming Icelandic horses everywhere
- English speaking
- Closest to Boston!
Must visit spots:
- The Golden Circle (includes Pingvellir national park, Gullfoss waterfall, and Stokkur in the Geyser geothermal area)
- Blue Lagoon or Fontana Geothermal Baths (or try the Akureyri — one of the multiple heated pools all over the country)
- Hike the Langjökull glacier
- Go whale or puffin watching
- Visit a horse park or reindeer park (kids over 6 can ride horses)
- Chase the Northern Lights
Keep in mind:
If you’re visiting Europe with kids, you now need to apply in advance for an ETIAS Visa waiver. Learn more about the new requirements here.
Quick tips on traveling with children:
- Don’t over-schedule your days. Allow for free time to explore.
- When planning, combine sightseeing in the morning with a more kid-friendly activity in the afternoon, such as lounging by a pool, playing at a playground, or enjoying a picnic in a park.
- Check out this great article for one Boston mom’s recommendations of unique items that make international travel easier!
Bon voyage — and have fun!
