Where to go in Europe with kids

The 44 countries that make up Europe offer so many different, wonderful, exciting things to do with kids that it’s hard to choose where to go! Whether you prefer visiting charming towns with weekly markets or some of the most dynamic cities in the world or hiking through stunning scenery, you can find the right spot for your family trip to Europe.

After ten trips to Europe with kids (plus an extra few months of bouncing around the continent while traveling full-time), our top piece of advice is to slow down. You’ll see more and experience deeper by spending a few weeks exploring a single country than trying to cram in 7 cities in 10 days. Read on for some of best places to go in Europe with kids to get inspired for your trip.

And if you’re new to traveling Europe with kids, check out this episode of Family Travel Unpacked to get you thinking about all of the important considerations for planning a great trip:

You can also listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube.

Table of Contents

England with kids

We finally made it to London with kids and I can’t believe it took us so long! While it might be less culturally unique than some of the other countries in Europe, there are so many fabulous things to do that we can’t wait to return again.

Plan your trip to England with kids

France with kids

We’ve taken two family trips to France: once just to Paris and the other on a three-week road trip all over the country. We also did a completely different three-week road trip around the country before kids! The country has a ton to offer, especially for history buffs. Read on for some of our favorite things to do in France with kids:

Plan your trip to France with kids

Spain with kids

We love love love visiting Spain with kids! It’s laid-back, family-friendly and offers every experience you can imagine. It’s also a heck of a lot more affordable than some of its other European counterparts, letting your Euro go further.

Plan your trip to Spain with kids

Ireland with kids

Melissa and Jacob in Dingle

Ireland might just be the best first trip to take to Europe with kids. The stunning scenery of the west coast’s Wild Atlantic Way will take your breath away, but when you settle down for dinner and a craic at the local pub your kids will be welcomed by familiar foods and menus in English. There’s plenty of open space to roam but lots of fascinating history to add context to your journey.

Plan your trip to Ireland with kids

Want to skip all the wondering and planning? Get the perfect 10 Ireland itinerary, ready for you go book from start to finish.

Greece with kids

Greece was so high on my personal bucket list for years and it fulfilled all my dreams! The historic sites are incredible, the food is delicious, the beaches are (mostly) sandy and the people are lively. There are plenty of options to fit every budget. What more could you want?

Plan your trip to Greece with kids

Iceland with kids

Ready for adventure? Iceland is one of the most accessible destinations in Europe for families thanks to the short flight, multiple gateway airports and relatively small time change. But it punches above its weight in terms of what you’ll find there: otherwordly landscapes, fun hot springs, hikes of all levels and unique wildlife encounters.

We just visited Iceland as a family in summer 2024 and I’m busy writing up our experiences to share with you!

Plan your trip to Iceland with kids

Italy with kids

Plan your trip to Italy with kids

If you ask our daughter her favorite place on our family gap year, surely it’s Italy. Why? Pizza and gelato. She’s not wrong. We’ve visited Italy three times with kids and there’s still so much more to explore!

Want to skip all the wondering and planning? Get the perfect 10 Italy itinerary, ready for you go book from start to finish.

Portugal with kids

Plan your trip to Portugal with kids

Do you want to visit a place where you can balance fascinating history, beautiful architecture and relaxation in the outdoors? There’s nowhere quite like Portugal! It’s also one of the most budget-friendly countries in western Europe.

Croatia with kids

For families looking to get a little more off the beaten path and spend plenty of time outdoors, Croatia is a great place to visit. The waterfalls are epic, the people are welcoming beyond compare and the local kuna currency (named after a local carnivorous mammal) makes most areas outside of touristy Dubrovnik a good choice for visiting Europe on a budget. Between the more limited public transportation options and the abundance of wonderful spots off the beaten path, Croatia is best explored with a rental car – get the best deals here.

Plan your trip to Croatia with kids

Finland with kids

For a truly unique experience, plan a family trip to Finland in winter! You’ll enjoy Christmas markets and a visit to the Arctic circle to see Santa Clause Village.

What to bring to Europe with kids

You can find most things you’ll need anywhere in Europe, though maybe not the exact brand and price you were hoping for. Plan to pick up your consumables (baby food, diapers, wipes, snacks) at almost any major store along the way.

But you won’t want to buy everything abroad- that’ll get pricey. Make sure to bring these essentials from home to start your epic Europe family vacation off on the right foot:

Stroller and baby carrier

If you’re visiting Europe with a toddler or younger, we recommend bringing both a travel stroller and a baby carrier (or toddler carrier if your kid is 3 or older). Why both? For long days trekking around the city you probably won’t want to carry your kid the whole time. However, there are some sites for which a stroller is either impractical or forbidden. Cobbled hill towns in Tuscany are a beast with strollers, as are mountains in Switzerland. Come prepared!

The latest generation of travel strollers is so compact that you can fold it up and put it in a backpack when you don’t need it, which is pretty amazing to those of us whose kids were born even five years ago.

Read more: Choosing the best baby gear for travel

Travel car seat

If you plan to ride in cars in Europe, you’ll need a way to keep your kids safe. We’ve heard of so many issues from fellow travelers with renting seats – from older-than-dirt seats to boosters being given for babies to reserved seats just not being there – that we prefer to bring our own travel car seats. That also gives us the flexibility to take a taxi from the airport when we’re jet lagged and loaded with bags. Find out everything you need to know about traveling with car seats or get help choosing the best convertible car seat for travel. If you don’t plan on driving yourself and just need airport rides, Welcome Pickups can provide you with clean, age-appropriate car seats.

Europe power adapter

Your US devices won’t plug into European outlets, and the UK uses a different plug from continental Europe. The easiest fix is one universal travel adapter with built-in USB ports — it charges multiple devices off a single wall socket without a pile of separate adapters. I use mine constantly, even at home.

Universal travel power adapter plug in regular devices like a laptop as well as several USB devices without a dozen different USB wall adapters. Score! We grabbed one of these midway through our family gap year and it was a game-changer.

Europe-ready SIM card

Skip the physical SIM card — the easier (and often cheaper) option now is an eSIM: a digital SIM you install like an app, no swapping tiny cards or hunting down a local shop. I use Airalo. A 10-day unlimited data pass covering all of Europe runs about $35, with cheaper options if you don’t need much data. As long as your phone supports dual eSIM (which the iPhone started doing in 2021), your regular US number stays active the whole time for calls and texts.

Airalo eSIM — use code MELISS0517 to save $3 on your first eSIM

Great travel camera

You may not want to lug a huge DSLR on your relaxing vacation, but what if you want better photos than your cell phone can muster? The best solution these days is a so-called bridge camera. It has many of the features of high-end cameras like some manual controls (only if you want them!) and plenty of zoom, but comes in a compact package and doesn’t require swapping lenses.

Shop our favorite travel essentials here

A visa waiver

<insert record scratch>

A what?

Americans used to be able to show up in Europe as tourists with zero advance paperwork. That’s changing. The UK now requires an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for most visitors, including Americans and Canadians — a quick online application, not a full visa. The EU’s equivalent, ETIAS, has been delayed multiple times and is now expected to launch in early 2027. Keep an eye on the timeline as your trip gets closer and apply as soon as it’s live — it only takes a few minutes, and there’s no advantage to waiting once applications open.

Getting around Europe with kids

Getting around Europe with kids these days couldn’t be easier! We’ve done it every way imaginable and they all work.

Flying in Europe

Europe has an incredible network of budget airlines – far beyond well-known Ryan Air. Newer discount carriers like Easy Jet provide a completely reasonable, if basic, experience.

Pros of flying in Europe:
-Flights are short, even all the way across the continent
-Flights are cheap – think $5-30 if you catch the right sale, but rarely over $100
-Flights are prices as one-way segments, which makes it easy to visit multiple cities or countries on a single trip

Cons of flying in Europe:
-Airports are usually far from the city centers, so make sure to factor in the cost and time for ground transportation
-Baggage allowances are generally smaller than in the US – save money on luggage by reading our best tips to pack light with kids

Check flight prices here

Trains in Europe

Trains in Europe are amazing. Taking trains in Europe with kids can be just as memorable for them as the sites they’ll see in each city!

Pros of taking trains in Europe:
-Train stations are centrally located so there’s no ground transportation cost or time
-High-speed trains are incredible fast – often twice as fast as driving with a lot less stress
-The scenery on many routes is stunning
-Low-stress experience from beginning to end – security, dining options, space to roam and color
-Kids often travel free or at steep discounts
-No strict luggage size/weight limits

Cons of taking trains in Europe:
-Some of the high-speed trains are just as expensive as flights (or even more!)
-Rail passes can be confusing and may not always save you money
-Not ideal if you want to travel extremely long distances with kids

Check train schedules here

Driving in Europe

If you’re doing a few weeks of travel in a single European country, often driving is a great option because it gives you the flexibility to explore deeper and farther off the beaten path. And when you’re traveling as a family it can be a more economical option since the cost doesn’t depend on the number of passengers.

In most European countries, you’re technically supposed to carry an International Driving Permit in addition to your local drivers license. The IDP is just a translation of your drivers license into other languages; on its own, it does not serve as legal ID or permission to drive. The main official IDP sourced for Americans is AAA – you can even get it through the mail if visiting a branch is inconvenient. Don’t be deceived by fake websites, and if anyone is offering an “International Drivers License” close the website immediately because that’s not a real thing.

You may also find that many European countries require lots of specialized add-ons in cars – think flares, hazard vests, road signs. Don’t worry, those come with the rental car. Also be sure to check your routes in advance so you aren’t surprised by tolls or border crossing fees.

Make sure to download a navigation app in advance. We like Waze, but Google Maps will work just fine as well.

Pros of driving in Europe:
-Roads are usually in good condition (though it can vary by country and region
-You can access smaller locations that are hard to get to with public transportation
-May work out cheaper than flying or taking the train

Cons of driving in Europe:
-Gas is much more expensive than in the US
-Automatic transmission cars are pricey
-Navigating unfamiliar road signs in a foreign language can make “vacation” more stressful

Check rental car prices here

Ferries in Europe

Ferries can be a fun way to get around Europe with kids, and they aren’t just for islands! If you’re traveling between different Mediterranean countries ferry is sometimes more direct that trains or cars.

Pros:
-Ferries in Europe are usually huge boats with cushy recliners, cafes, observation decks and even sleeping compartments
-You’ll “check” larger bags upon boarding, but without limits like on planes
-Ferry rides can be just as memorable for kids as the destinations
-Many ferries can accommodate cars (check with your rental car provider to make sure they’re ok with the country you’re visiting)

Cons:
-Some ferry routes are very expensive
-Fast ferries can make some people seasick, but slow ferries can be S-L-O-W
-The schedules are sometimes just rough approximations, so be sure to allow enough time if you’re trying to make a connection

Check ferry destinations here

Our favorite travel resources

After years of travel planning, including handling the logistics of two years of full-time travel all on our own, there are a few websites we always go back to thanks to their affordable pricing and easy-to-use interfaces.

Family-friendly places to stay in Europe

When we aren’t staying in a vacation rental, we book our hotels through Booking.com. They have a great rewards program and I make sure to book through the eBates/Rakuten portal to get cashback. You can get a $10 bonus after your first purchase and they offer rewards at nearly every merchant (even Amazon!). Booking also offers a great mix of private rental apartments along with hotels and bed and breakfasts. Learn more about ways to save money on Booking.com, or start searching now.

Rental cars in Europe

Whenever we rent a car in Europe, my first stop is always RentalCars.com – and it’s often my last. The rates are extremely competitive since they buy days in bulk, and the user interface is extremely easy. Win-win. Over the summer I managed to book a minivan rental for $500 less than the next cheapest website. So why would I book anywhere else? Check prices for your rental car dates here.

Be sure to read up on how to save on rental cars every single time.

Family travel insurance for Europe

One of the most important things to do as you’re planning your family trip to Europe is arrange travel insurance for your family. While some US medical insurance plans offer some international coverage and some credit cards offer something, it’s hard to beat a full-fledged travel insurance plan.

We’ve used and had a great experience with Allianz. We had several claims during our Europe trips and Allianz handled them all quickly and easily. We can’t recommend them enough and some plans even cover kids for free! Get a quote for your trip today.

Tell us about your Europe travel plans in the comments!

1 thought on “Where to go in Europe with kids”

  1. The detailed breakdown of family-friendly destinations, must-see attractions, and travel tips makes it much easier for parents to plan a stress-free vacation. Traveling with children comes with unique challenges, and this guide does a great job of highlighting destinations that cater to families, ensuring a fun and memorable experience for all ages.

    The recommendations for kid-friendly cities like Paris, London, and Rome are particularly helpful, as these destinations offer a mix of history, culture, and entertainment for both adults and children. The tips on transportation, accommodations, and food options are essential for making the trip more comfortable and enjoyable. Additionally, the insight into activities that keep kids engaged, such as interactive museums, outdoor parks, and theme parks, is invaluable for parents.

    Reply

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