The Best European Cities to Visit with Kids

Europe has something to delight visitors of any age with its historic sites, architectural treasures, natural wonders, foodie delights, and more. The continent is begging to be explored at any stage in life, and there's no need to leave the young ones at home! Countless parks, museums, castles, boat rides, and other children’s attractions and experiences await for the kids to remember for the rest of their lives. And let’s not forget the delights of experiencing cities where their favourite fictional characters live! Madeleine in Paris, Paddington Bear in London, the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen...

The expert guides on ToursByLocals specialize in customizing tours and providing tailored experiences for a wide range of travellers, so that kids, parents and grandparents can all have a fabulous time. Please feel free to send your questions to any guide about the best options for your particular visit. They'll take the planning, organizing, and corralling out of your job as a parent, so you can sit back and enjoy your trip just as much as the kids.

Five of the Best European Cities to Visit with Kids

London, England

While its pub culture, nightlife scene, and business centre seem like a playground for adults, London also has an absolute abundance of children’s attractions. Visit the London Zoo, board a river cruise to sail the Thames, climb narrow stone steps to the dome in St Paul's, or ride the London Eye for a panoramic view of the city. Let them run free in the famous Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Garden that was inspired by Peter Pan, visit Crystal Palace Park, which has an excellent collection of life-size dinosaurs, tour the vast and awe-inspiring Natural History Museum, or take one of the Harry Potter tours that run through the town. London’s major museums are all free, so if the youngsters get fatigued quickly, you can always do a series of short visits, without worrying about admission fees.

Paris, France

Although famously known as the City of Love, Paris gladly welcomes the whole family. Not to be missed are visits to the Eiffel Tower (watch it sparkle!) and Notre Dame Cathedral (spot the gargoyles!), and take the popular boat trip on the Seine River when legs get tired. Race the mini sailboats at the Jardin du Luxembourg, take a bike tour past the city’s iconic monuments, or visit the French Mickey and Minnie at Disneyland Paris. Climbing the stairs into the marble dome high up in Sacre Coeur is an unforgettable experience, followed by a carousel ride at the foot of the steps. And don’t forget to fuel up on all the crêpes, macarons, croissants and other tasty French treats while you’re busy exploring — the kids will love the sugar high.

Copenhagen, Denmark

What child wouldn’t like to tour the city of Hans Christian Andersen's stories like "The Little Mermaid" and "The Ugly Duckling"? Families will enjoy an evening visit to the twinkling lights of the magical Tivoli Gardens amusement park and the Copenhagen Zoo. There is no shortage of spaces that combine fun and learning, such as the National Museum of Denmark, Experimentarium with its interactive science and technology activities, and the Hans Christian Andersen Museum. Other must-see places in Copenhagen are the iconic statue of the Little Mermaid, the Churchill Gardens and the residence of the Danish royal family, the Amalienborg Palace, where you can witness the changing of the royal guard. And few kids will want to leave Denmark without a visit out of the city to the country’s most beloved theme park: Legoland.

Berlin, Germany

Berlin has approximately 200 museums, giving children ample opportunity to discover the wonderful world of art and science. Visit the Museum of Natural Sciences, which has one of the largest dinosaur skeletons in the world, and the Labyrinth Kindermuseum, an interactive park where children can learn by playing, experimenting, and having fun through sensory tours. The little ones can also visit numerous playgrounds, the Berlin Zoo, the Aquadom & Sea Life Aquarium and the Ritter Sport "Colourful Chocolate World" where aspiring chocolatiers can make their own chocolate bars. For nature lovers, enjoy Berlin's various swimmable lakes such as Wannsee, Müggelsee and Grunewald and the well-known Plansche Park in Plänterwald, which has water jets, swings, pirate ships and rope pyramids for climbing.

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon has plenty of spaces to discover with children, from its incredible monuments such as the São Jorge Castle and Belém Tower to its educational entertainment centers such as the Lisbon Oceanarium and Pavilhão do Conhecimento (Pavilion of Knowledge). A short trip to the colourful palaces of Sintra is bound to fuel the imagination. Enjoy unique experiences such as bright yellow tram rides through the historic centre of the city, river cruises trips on the Tagus, and pasteis de nata tastings (an unforgettable sweet pastry you'll be hunting for back home!) One of Lisbon’s top spots among locals and visitors alike is “KidZania”, a children's theme park in which they can choose between 60 professions and play “grown-up” for the day in a fictional city created to scale.