Best European cities for families

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Our girls have been lucky to visit a lot of European cities during our travels, including what we think are some of the best European cities for families.

We’ve got a few under our hats now including super popular Italian cities that have amazing symbology for kids to spot and Spanish places that could not be more family-friendly if they tried. However, we’ve also tried and tested some less obvious destinations, like Budapest.

In this post I’m sharing our experiences of what we think are the best city breaks for families in Europe as well as tips on where to stay and what to see.

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Budapest city break with kids

Our most recent European city visited was the capital of Hungary. Now, if you know anything about Budapest you might think of it more as a destination for hen and stag dos or couples’ getaways.

I get it. The famous Ruin Bars and heavy post-Second World War history might not scream ‘family-friendly’, but hear me out!

We had a brilliant multi-generation holiday in Budapest spending a full week seeking out its best view points, visiting attractions and enjoying its cafe culture. It’s also really easy to get around either on foot or by Bolt taxi.

We loved relaxing at Széchenyi Thermal Bath. Sadly the children’s age limit has risen since we went but it’s still open to families with teens aged 14 and up. There are alternatives for families with younger children.

Other highlights for us included shopping at Central Market Hall, climbing St Stephen’s Basilica and a walking around the Parliament and Jewish Quarters.

Take a look at our full seven day Budapest itinerary to find out more about what we did, where we stayed and our top tips for city breaks in Budapest including those family-friendly Budapest baths.

Or skip to the best parts in my guide to fun things to do in Budapest with kids.

Where to stay in Budapest with kids

We checked into a city centre apartment on Krúdy U in an area with plenty of Southern Pest bars and cafes below and with rooms for our whole multi-generational group. It was a lot quieter than the Jewish Quarter but still gave us plenty of options for places to grab a drink and something to eat.

If you prefer a hotel then BasiliQ Hotel gets great reviews and has junior suite for families of four. Or Three Corners Avenue Hotel has connecting rooms and is close to attractions like St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Dohany Street Synagogue.

London with kids: days out and city stays

Good old London. We’ve now been lots of times with the kids but I always leave wanting more.

Aside from the famous sights like the London Eye, Buckingham Palace and Tower of London, there’s so much more to see with kids.

The Cutty Sark at Greenwich is an excellent family-friendly attraction and we’ve loved visiting the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum and the parks for free.

Here’s what we got up to during our first London city break with kids and an easy London weekend itinerary that we did a few years later.

In recent years the kids have had more energy to do day trips to London. Most recently we took them to Madame Tussauds. It’s one of those attractions we’d known about forever, so I was ready to be underwhelmed. But it was actually a lot more impressive than I expected. The girls loved seeing famous faces in wax and the Spirit of London taxi ride and 4D cinema experience were good fun.

If you are looking for more free things to do in London (albeit you’re bound to be stung with some souvenir shopping) Leicester Square is a brilliant place to head with the largest LEGO Store on the planet and Europe’s biggest sweet shop, M&M’s World. The girls always ask to go here.

You can also catch a West End show on a budget if you plan ahead. If you’re after a thoroughly British treat while in London then I can recommend afternoon tea at The Waldorf Hilton Hotel. They even do kids teas.

Here’s some more inspiration on how to see London and things to do in London with kids.

Big savings on London attractions

If you’ve got a few days to spend in London, or are visiting on different occasions, why not take advantage of the London Eye’s Multi-Attraction ticket offers?

These give you access to the London Eye and some of the city’s most iconic attractions for a discounted rate. Pick from a combination of attractions that suit you from Madame Tussauds to SEA LIFE London Aquarium or a river cruise.

You can book any combination and use it within 90 days of visiting the London Eye.

Family-friendly places to stay in London

If you’re looking for somewhere central to stay with great public transport connections then we can recommend Hampton by Hilton Waterloo. It has family rooms with a sofa bed for the kids and breakfast is always a hit. We have also stayed at the Hampton by Hilton at Bristol Airport before flights to Europe so rate this brand.

Weekend breaks: Bath

I can’t let London get all the UK city break glory as there are many more worth a mention among our best European cities for families.

We love visiting Bath in Somerset. It’s very close to us in the South West of England and there are good transport links from London and the north.

Bath is a UNESCO city famous for its Roman Baths, hence the name.

But there is so much more to see here than the impressive spa complex left behind by the Romans.

We can also recommend a visit to the American Museum – the biggest collection of American cultural artefacts outside the US.

Other things to do in Bath with kids include the city farm, a visit to Royal Victoria Gardens and The Fashion Museum.

Check out more things to do in Bath including free days out.

Here’s more of the best UK city breaks with kids.

Where to stay in Bath with kids

I’ve got a couple of tried and tested recommendations for places to stay in Bath when you’re visiting as a family.

Bath YHA is located just outside the city centre and right on a bus route, so makes a handy budget base for exploring. I stayed here with the girls and was really impressed by our first youth hostel experience. You can read more in my full review.

During another visit to Bath we stayed at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat which has gorgeous self-catering lodges where you can feel a world away from the bustle of the city.

If you prefer a city centre hotel then check out Apex City of Bath Hotel which has family rooms with two proper large double beds – ideal for families with teens who’d prefer not to use a sofa bed.

Family city breaks: Venice

This is not a European city break for the faint-hearted as Venice never has an off season. Expect crowds and very few budget accommodation or dining options. However, this is Venice, so we will let it off.

We spent a day visiting Venice as part of a summer holiday in the Italian Lakes.

In seven whirlwind hours it was possible to see St Mark’s Square, the Bridge of Sighs, the Rialto Bridge, go for a ride on the Vaporetto and take a family-friendly guided tour the Santa Croce residential area of the city.

The girls still chatter about their day in the floating city – it really captured their imaginations.

Read my tips for visiting Venice with kids.

Family-friendly places to stay close to Venice

We visited Venice from our base on Lake Garda at Camping Eden – a holiday park overlooking the lake. However, if you want to stay closer, here’s some options if you’d like to pop into Venice for a day and be sipping something cool at your accommodation by tea time:

• We spotted Camping Fusina right next to the ferry terminal. This would be a good budget option for families wishing to visit Venice.
• Casa Isa is a two bedroom apartment on the mainland from where you can get the train to Venice.
• And if you’d prefer a resort Villa Carlotte Jesolo Lido is close enough for easy day trips to Venice with family attractions like Lido di Jesolo beach and the Aquafollie Waterpark close by.

Florence with kids

Florence is a city brimming with art, architecture and Renaissance atmosphere. I’ve now been four times – twice with the kids.

So what can I recommend doing in Florence with children? Our girls were one and three when we first took them to Florence.

Wandering the streets at our own pace was the ideal way to see sights like the Duomo, Pont Vecchio and Pizza Signora.

When we returned in 2019 we took a family-friendly guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery.

If you’re a fan of Italian food, it’s also possible to tour the city’s markets and learn how the very best gelato is made here. Here’s the Florence gelato and sightseeing tour I went on last time I was in the city solo.

Take a look at my full guide to visiting Florence with kids including what to see and lots of options for places to stay.

Where to stay in Florence for families

Depending on the type of accommodation, location and budget you have in mind, I have a few recommendations on places to stay in Florence and Tuscany.

During my first trip to Florence I stayed at the 4 star Hotel Londra. It’s a short walk from Florence’s main train station – Firenze Santa Maria Novella Train Station – which connects you with Rome, Pisa, Milan and Venice. It also has family rooms and is a short 15 minutes walk from the Duomo.

More recently we stayed at the family-friendly campsite Norcenni Girasole Club, which is a one hour drive outside Florence. This is a great place to stay with kids if you want to dip into Florence and explore more of Tuscany. It also has excellent facilities with two pool complexes, an adventure park, exercise classes, clubs for kids and teens, plus evening entertainment.

If you’re planning a multi-generation or multi-family getaway you’ll want to check out this villa in Tuscany. It’s 40 minutes outside Florence. I got a chance to stay here with friends and highly recommend it for a girls getaway too!

Visiting Lisbon with children

Lisbon is a truly family-friendly city with play equipment in open spaces and an urban beach across the road from Commerce Square and the statue of Dom José I.

In terms of things to do in Lisbon, there’s an aquarium, the iconic trams, a cable car and zoo to enjoy as a family.

If you are short on time I can recommend hiring a tuk tuk for a whistle-stop city tour – my kids loved this.

Here’s a bit about our day in Lisbon as part of a Western Europe cruise.

If you have more time than us you’ll want to check out these things to do in Lisbon with kids.

Siena with kids

A visit to Siena is a must when you are in the Tuscan region of Italy. It’s particularly good with kids as you’ll find it has a lot of the charm of neighbouring Florence with fewer crowds.

During my visit last year I was wowed by the medieval architecture, its incredible yet unfinished Cathedral and the symbology on every street corner which speaks of the fierce neighbourhood rivalry that continues today.

Siena is easy to wander with kids as the city centre streets are pedestrianised.

I’d recommend visiting the beautiful unfinished Duomo and Piazza del Campo, where the famous horse race Il Palio takes place each July and August. 

Read more about my top things to do with kids in Siena.

Barcelona city breaks with children

Barcelona is a place that offers plenty of historic attractions families will love. We visited with our two pre-school girls in 2016. It really is a great place for a city break with babies and toddlers.

It’s very easy to get around on foot or by the Metro, and there are plenty of free things to do in Barcelona.

Our favourites were visiting the urban beach and Park Güell (not the inner garden, which you must pay to visit and book in advance for guaranteed entry).

Other things to do in Barcelona with kids include the Aquarium, which was a big hit with my girls, Spain’s oldest amusement park, Tibidabo Amusement Park, and the Montjuïc Magic Fountain.

Mr Tin Box and I saw the fountains in Barcelona before having kids and I’d love to take them to see it now they are old enough to stay up a bit later.

Read about more things to do in Barcelona with kids and if you have time to explore outside the city the Costa Barcelona is a brilliant European family holiday destination.

Where to stay in Barcelona with kids

Whether you want to stay in the city centre or somewhere a bit more rural I have a few recommendations for you.

During out first family stay in Barcelona we booked into Leonardo Hotel which is set back from the famous Las Ramblas. As well as beautiful family rooms, its staff are super friendly staff and the location is great – 45 minutes from Barcelona Airport with all the sights an easy walk or metro ride away.

Take a look at our full review of Leonardo Hotel Barcelona.

If you’d prefer to take advantage of Barcelona’s coastal position as well as sightseeing in the city, check out AC Hotel Gava Mar which would work well for families with teens.

Or for somewhere that younger kids would love Camping Bon Repos has direct beach access, pools and children’s entertainment.

More of the best European cities for families

We really can’t get enough of Europe and still have plenty of places we want to explore.

Paris with kids

I’ll hold my hands up and admit that we haven’t made it to Paris with the girls yet, but I’ve adored visiting with Mr Tin Box and on my own.

As well as being packed full of famous sights, like the Eiffel Tower and Louvre, there are plenty of parks to explore and free things to do.

Here’s my tips for visiting Paris with kids.

Other cities on our bucket list include Budapest in Hungary and Copenhagen in Denmark, particularly as there’s so many things to do in Copenhagen however many days you have to explore.

What to pack for a European city break with kids

I always try to pack light for city breaks with kids as there’s inevitably a point when you have to negotiate public transport with your luggage.

The thought of juggling multiple bags, paying for tickets and keeping an eye on little ones makes me break out in a cold sweat.

During our two-night short break in Bath, I packed a LittleLife wheelie suitcase with the girls’ essentials (see below), another hand luggage-sized suitcase for myself, plus a large handbag and two small ruck sacks for the girls.

Sadly the fun LittleLife bags have been discontinued, but if you are looking for something similar Trunki and it make fun and practical luggage for kids

These smaller bags contained our travel snacks and entertainment.

Kid essentials for a city break

Here’s what I’d recommend packing per-child for a two-day family city break:

• x1 pair of practical shoes for walking
• x1 pair of trousers or shorts
• x2 t-shirts
• x1 long sleeved jumper/cardigan
• x1 light rain coat
• underwear and socks
• sun hat
• toiletries and sun cream
• a paperback book
• Kindle or iPad
• Favourite cuddly toy

Top tips for city breaks for children

We haven’t always had successful city breaks with our children. Our first trip to London was a bit on the stressful side. However, it taught us lots of lessons.

Have a read of our tips for visiting London with toddlers and babies, which can be applied across numerous city destinations.

Here’s my top tips for stress-free city breaks with kids.

Read more of our tips for travelling with kids to help make more happy memories than drama.

Planning a city break with kids in Europe? Pin this post about the best European cities for families for inspiration.

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