Best Places to Visit in Europe with Kids

Top 10 Family-Friendly Cities

Planning a family trip across the continent? This guide gathers the best places to visit in Europe with kids, from seaside cities to storybook capitals. It helps parents choose the best places in Europe to visit with kids in any season, whether you’re dreaming about spring blossoms, long summer days, cozy autumn colors, or twinkling winter markets.

You’ll find inspiration for school holidays and weekend escapes alike: the best places to visit in Europe with kids in summer, ideas for the best places to visit in Europe in October with kids and in April with kids, and even the best places to visit in Europe with kids in December. If you’re eyeing peak sunshine, we touch on the best places to visit in Europe in July with kids and the best places to visit in Europe in August with kids; for quieter travel, we note family favorites for February and May too.

Each city below explains why it made the list of the best places to visit in Europe for kids, what kind of families it suits, and 3–5 activities that mix culture and play. Use the contents to jump straight to your top picks.

Contents

1. Budapest — the city of thermal baths and riverside charm
2. Prague — fairy tales come alive
3. Venice — gondolas and hidden islands
4. Lisbon — trams, castles, and ocean breezes
5. Barcelona — beaches and Gaudí wonders
6. Paris — parks, pastries, and magical museums
7. London — museums, markets, and double-decker fun
8. Rome — ancient adventures for young explorers
9. Edinburgh — castles and legends
10. Krakow — dragons and medieval charm

1. Budapest — the city of thermal baths and riverside charm

Budapest blends monumental sights with easy-going family fun, making it one of the best places to visit in Europe with young kids. Tram rides, island parks, and creamy cakes in grand cafés keep little travelers engaged while parents soak in the city’s belle époque glow.

It suits families who like culture with downtime: castle courtyards to explore, playgrounds to pause, and river views to enjoy between museums. Whether you plan the best places to visit in Europe in February with kids for steamy baths or a sunlit July ramble, Budapest adapts beautifully to each season.

Don’t miss a scenic Danube cruise, where bridges and the Parliament shimmer like a movie set. Add funicular rides up to Buda Castle and lazy hours on Margaret Island for a balanced, memory-rich break.

Family activities

• Soak at Széchenyi or Rudas thermal baths
• Castle District walks and Fisherman’s Bastion views
• Bike or pedal-cart around Margaret Island
• Evening river panorama by boat

2. Prague — fairy tales come alive

Prague feels designed for families: puppet shops, storybook towers, and swans drifting past stone bridges. It’s one of the best places to visit with kids in Europe if your crew loves legends and hands-on history.

Expect gentle walks between marvels: the Astronomical Clock’s hourly show, candy-box lanes below the castle, and leafy parks with playgrounds and views. Parents get café breaks and classical music; kids get knights, alchemists, and castle courtyards.

Seeing the city from the water on a family-friendly boat tour keeps little legs happy and cameras busy. Come in April or May for blossom, October for cozy colors, or December for lights and markets.

Family activities

• Prague Castle and Golden Lane treasure-hunting
• Letná Park playgrounds and views
• Hands-on museums and puppet theatres
• Vltava river cruise for a fresh angle

3. Venice — gondolas and hidden islands

In Venice, transport is the adventure: boats, bridges, and narrow alleys that turn every errand into a quest. That’s why it ranks among the best places to visit in Europe for kids who love exploring new worlds.

The city suits stroller-age travelers and curious tweens alike. Compact distances, frequent gelato stops, and car-free lanes make it surprisingly easy. Parents can relish art and architecture without long detours.

A classic gondola ride is the showstopper, while island-hopping to Murano and Burano adds color and craft to the day. Visit in summer for lagoon breezes or in February for quiet canals and mask-making fun.

Family activities

• Gondola glide through secret canals
• Murano glass demos and Burano’s rainbow lanes
• St. Mark’s Square pigeons and campanile views
• Doge’s Palace tales of bridges and prisons

4. Lisbon — trams, castles, and ocean breezes

Lisbon is sunshine with training wheels: friendly, scenic, and full of simple thrills. Families ride vintage trams, nibble pastéis, and climb to castle walls that turn cityscapes into storyboards.

It’s ideal for spring and autumn breaks, yet breezy summers and mild winters also shine. If you’re mapping the best places to visit in Europe in May with kids or planning an October escape, Lisbon checks every box.

Seeing the skyline on a family-ready Tagus cruise pairs perfectly with the Oceanarium and hilltop viewpoints. Even short days feel full here thanks to easy transit and compact neighborhoods.

Family activities

• Ride Tram 28 through Alfama and Graça
• Oceanário de Lisboa and science museums
• Castelo de São Jorge walls and peacocks
• Sunset viewpoints and park picnics

5. Barcelona — beaches and Gaudí wonders

Beach mornings, art-filled afternoons, and playgrounds in between: Barcelona is one of the best places to visit in Europe with kids in summer. Wide boulevards, parks, and tapas-sized meals keep energy and moods just right.

Families split days between sandcastles and mosaics, cable cars and markets. Parents get architecture and food culture; kids get parcs, puppets, and seaside rides. Spring and autumn bring calmer crowds, while December glows with lights.

A harbor cruise turns the skyline into a moving postcard, and Park Güell makes color a playground. From July festivals to October chestnuts, the city stays fun year-round.

Family activities

• Park Güell and Gaudí treasure trails
• Beach time and cable car to Montjuïc
• Boqueria market fruit hunts
• Harbor or coastal boat trip

6. Paris — parks, pastries, and magical museums

Paris pairs grand museums with green oases where kids can run and play. It’s among the best places to visit in Europe with kids in December for sparkling lights, yet April and May bloom with carousels and garden boats.

Families balance art with playgrounds, pâtisserie stops, and bookshops. Parents savor cafés and river strolls while children pilot toy sailboats and chase merry-go-rounds under plane trees.

Plan a flexible itinerary with ideas from Paris, mixing icons with pocket parks and hot chocolate breaks. The city’s rhythm adapts to little legs and big imaginations.

Family activities

• Luxembourg Gardens boats and playgrounds
• Eiffel Tower climb and Trocadéro views
• Museum mornings, carousel afternoons
• Seine strolls and crêpe tastings

7. London — museums, markets, and double-decker fun

Free, world-class museums and sprawling parks make London a family favorite, especially if you’re choosing the best places to visit in Europe in August with kids or planning a winter sparkle trip.

Children hop between dinosaur halls, science demos, and playground cafés; parents add market tastings, theatre nights, and riverside walks. Transport is entertainment: Underground puzzles, river buses, and those iconic red double-deckers.

Map your days with family-forward picks from London and keep plans flexible for weather swings. With so much indoors and out, London works in any month.

Family activities

• Natural History and Science Museums
• London Eye and riverbus rides
• Harry Potter studio pilgrimage
• Hyde Park playgrounds and pedal boats

8. Rome — ancient adventures for young explorers

Rome turns history into theater, making it one of the best places to visit in Europe in October with kids when temperatures are perfect for strolling ancient streets. Gelato is the reward after every chapter.

Families trace gladiator footsteps, whisper beneath domes, and toss coins for wishes. Parents savor trattorias and twilight piazzas while kids connect ruins with the myths they’ve heard.

Build your route with help from Rome and mix big icons with shady cloisters and fountain breaks. February’s quiet, May’s blossoms, and July’s long evenings all bring different charms.

Family activities

• Colosseum stories and Forum scavenger hunts
• Pantheon echo tests and piazza picnics
• Catacombs or Appian Way bike rides
• Trevi Fountain wishes and gelato stops

9. Edinburgh — castles and legends

With cliffs, closes, and a crown-topped castle, Edinburgh sparks imaginations instantly. It’s a strong pick among the best places to visit in Europe for kids who crave myths and open hills.

Families climb Arthur’s Seat for panoramas, duck into illusion museums during showers, and warm up with storytelling evenings. Parents find cozy pubs and indie bookshops between playground runs.

Plan a balanced schedule via Edinburgh, from Royal Mile discoveries to leafy river walks. July brings festivals; autumn adds golden light and calm.

Family activities

• Edinburgh Castle and cannon time
• Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
• Water of Leith and Dean Village wander
• Arthur’s Seat mini-hike with views

10. Krakow — dragons and medieval charm

Krakow layers legends over a wonderfully walkable Old Town. It’s one of the best places to visit in Europe in April with kids or in May when squares fill with music and flowers.

Children follow the Wawel Dragon story from cave to fire-breathing statue, ride carriages around the Main Square, and snack on pretzels in Planty Park. Parents enjoy cafés, concerts, and day trips beneath the city.

For easy planning, browse family ideas in Krakow and mix castle courtyards with salt-mine surprises. Winter brings markets; summer adds river breezes and festivals.

Family activities

• Wawel Castle quest and dragon cave
• Main Square carriage ride and trumpeter tale
• Wieliczka Salt Mine adventure
• Planty Park loops and ice cream breaks