Best European Cities to Visit with Babies

Looking for where to travel in Europe with a baby? Worried that you can’t do European city breaks with babies? Well fear not – we are here to tell you that city breaks with a baby are not only possible but enjoyable too! In fact, it is a great age to do a city break and much easier to do than European city breaks with toddlers! In this guide me and some of my favourite family travel bloggers round up what we think are the best European City breaks with baby to take! 

Updated: July 2019

Best European Cities to Visit with Babies

Best city breaks with baby in the Benelux Area 

Brussels Weekend Break with Baby 

What a Christine has to say about a Brussels Weekend break with baby

We went because we really wanted to see the Carpet of Flowers. We love the city because  It’s so open, multicultural, they speak French and English so communication was easy, and everything was close enough that we could walk to it if we didn’t want to bother with Public transit. The trains were a little rough to access with a stroller but the busses took us to the same place so I wasn’t too bothered by it.

All the activities we wanted to do had stroller access such as Mini Europe, Natural History Museum, Comic strip museum and Grand Place which in our opinion makes it one of the most stroller friendly cities in Europe!

Snacks and toilet breaks are a plenty so I wasn’t too worried about Brussels for that. Most restaurants had a child’s menu but they didn’t have much place for the stroller inside the building so they asked that we fold it up and store it in the main office. All the attractions were very family friendly, stroller access, free under 3 and most importantly, therewas so much to do within walking distance that we didn’t even use public transit the first time we visited. It really is one of the most baby friendly European cities!

Family Friendly Hotel Suggestions:

Budget: Train Hostel

Midrange: Aris Grande Hotel

Luxury: Hotel Metropole

To read more about the Tapped Out Travellers in Belgium check out her website here

Haarlem with a baby!

most baby friendly European cities.

If you are travelling to Europe with a baby then you really should consider stopping in Haarlem! Haarlem is a great city to visit with children of all ages and really is of the most baby friendly European cities.

There are a lot of kid-friendly restaurants, nice petting farms and there are numerous museums that offer kids programs. Haarlem is easy to reach by train from Amsterdam, it has a good public transport network and the city center is compact enough to cover by foot. Combine a visit to the impressive Grote or St. Bavo Church on the Grote Markt, the city’s main square, with lunch at Meneer Paprika (Koningstraat 19-21) or Pippa’s (Stationsplein 64) and then take your kids to playground Het Paradijsje (Witte Herenstraat 36, open Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-17:00, entrance fee €1).

Haarlem has won awards for Netherland’s best shopping destination anumber of times. Fun shops for kids stuff are Meneer Paprika(Koningstraat 19-21), Minimarkt (Kruisstraat 11), Krokodil (GedempteOude Gracht 84) and Tante Steef (Zijlstraat 66). It really is one of the best European Cities to visit with baby in tow!

You can read more about their adventures here

Luxembourg City Break with baby 

Best city breaks with a baby in Germany and Switzerland 

Berlin With Baby 

Katie went to Berlin with baby when it was 18 months old! She thinks it is one of the most baby friendly city breaks you can take – read on to find out why!

Berlin Weekend Breaks with Baby

“We chose Berlin because we were looking for somewhere to travel in early December, and what could be more festive than wandering around Christmas markets in Germany?  The wonderful Chistmassy atmosphere in December – my daughter was totally entranced by all the lights, Christmas trees and market rides. There was a lot of enthusiastic pointing.

The fantastic public transport system in Berlin makes it really easy to get around with a small person, even one who refuses to use a stroller and insists on being carried everywhere or walking VERY SLOWLY.

Top tips:

* Get the Berlin WelcomeCard, which you can get to cover anything from 48 hours to 6 days. It gives you free travel on all public transport, plus discounts in musuems. The Popple absolutely loved riding on the tram, which she insisted was a choo-choo. The underground was also a choo-choo. Basically, everything is a choo-choo these days.

* Don’t miss the Computerspielemuseum, which covers the history of computer and video games and includes lots of old games you can actually play. Your toddler may need some help to figure them out, but even an 18-month-old can see how great Pac-Man is.

Family Friendly Hotel Suggestion:

Adina Hotel Apartments – For those that like a kitchen!

Grand Hyatt Berlin 

Ritz Carlton

All of the above have great swimming pools for littles!

Overall we found that this one of the best European cities with a baby that you can visit and you can read more about our time in Berlin here.

Bern City Breaks with Babies 

By  Rashmi and Chalukya who took there 18month old to Bern

BERN CITY BREAKS WITH BABIES

We were based out of Geneva in Switzerland. We had heard a lot about doing Bern city breaks with babies and wanted to check it out for ourselves!

The historical city can easily be explored on foot which makes it one of the most baby friendly cities in Europe. On top of that the city has a good frequency of transportation.

There are numerous gardens in Bern. Then there is the bear park along the river. It should definitely be fun for the kids to watch the bears frolicking in the water and around the shores.

We had been in January and it had snowed only last night. The city was beautifully painted in white color. We explored the historical center of Bern and then had fun at the ice rink set up near the parliament. Chhavi had fun playing with the snow in the park behind the gorgeous Bern Cathedral. Few minutes before the clock struck four the figurines in the clock tower Zytglogge twirled and turned which makes for a great show which was enjoyed by Chhavi too.

Irrespective of the forecasted weather we always carry warm clothes with us. We carry an extra pair of clothes, diapers, and her favorite toys. We ensure that her feeding and sleeping time is not disturbed. Take breaks when you could allow your kid to run around and play on their own. It really is one best places to travel with a baby in Europe!

You can read more about the go beyond bounds trip to the city on their website

Munich with a Baby 

Munich is one of the best places to travel in Europe with a baby because of the unique mix between intriguing glimpses of Bavarian culture and compelling modern attractions. Munich in addition to these, also has exceptional green spaces, playgrounds and child friendly attractions. Amongst the attractions we particularly enjoyed the Deutsches Museum. The best thing you can do in Munish is just get out, walk around and explore. A Munich weekend break with baby is a sure fire hit with all the family!

You can read more about the Imps and Ramblers adventures in Munich here

Best European City Breaks with Baby in Greece 

Looking for gadgets to make a city breaks with baby easier? Then check out this post! !

Athens City Break with a baby! 

An Athens city break with a baby is in our opinion the best city break with a baby you can take!

When my wife and I visited with our 9 month old son we took in as many sites as we could, including the Acropolis, Syntagma Square, Plaka and Monastiraki (shopping). Some other notable places we visited were the Olympic Stadium, Lykabettos (the hill opposite the Acropolis) the Acropolis Museum, and the gardens behind Parliament. All of these places are easy to get to by public transportation, which despite Athens’ street network, is super easy to use. The Metro especially is incredibly easy to ride and can take you pretty much anywhere. If you leave the city center, things can get a little more challenging using a stroller but a well planned excursion can save you the hassle. It’s doable.

The nightlife is also very family friendly in Athens. In fact, I recommend staying out late with your child. People watching is a past time in Greece and kids love it. You’ll see plenty of Greeks and their children out and about as late as 12 am and beyond, enjoying breezy warm evenings and nights in the company of friends in local squares and dining outdoors at taverns. The music is also fantastic and really puts you in the mood.

All in all, Athens is really one of the best city breaks with a baby that you can take!

Family Friendly Hotels In Athens: Intercontinental Athenaeum  

You can read more Citykliks travels in Athens (and other travels and topics) here.

Italian city breaks with babies

Florence Weekend Breaks with Baby 

Erica took her baby daughter to Florence when she was traveling in Europe with a one year old. Here’s what Erica has to say about her experience of Florence Weekends Breaks with baby:

FLORENCE WEEKEND BREAKS WITH BABY

When I booked my trip to Italy, I knew that I couldn’t miss stopping in the Renaissance city of Florence, Italy. The moment my toddler and I stepped out of the train station into the city streets I instantaneously fell in love. The atmosphere in Florence still felt serene even with the hustle and bustle of the city. Florence is one of the most toddler friendly city breaks Europe has on offer as it is easy to navigate compared to most larger cities.

From the architecture to the art to the food- there is something for everyone! Make sure you visit the Florence Cathedral and Duomo and take a walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the best view of the city! And let the little ones have some fun on the famous antique carousel in Piazza della Repubblica!

Family Friendly Hotel Suggestions: 

Luxury: Four Seasons Firenze

Mid Range: Farina Apartments  

Best European City Breaks with Baby in Spain and Portugal

Barcelona City Break with Baby 

We took a Barcelona with baby at 6 months old and we went for a long weekend!

BARCELONA CITY BREAK WITH BABY

Barcelona is a perfect destination for a city break with a baby with plenty of attractions for parents and child. We loved how green the city was – our favourite places include parc guell and montjuic. The cable car ride to the top of montjuic would delight most!

The pretty much guaranteed nice weather and variety of outdoor activities mean it is a great city for families of any age! We enjoyed walking the parks, visiting art museums, the aquarium, Barcelona zoo and botanic garden. The only place we struggled with was the bocqueria which was difficult with both stroller and carrier. We however found great respite in the Catalan Cultural Centre which offered great peace from the hustle and bustle of Las Ramblas.

Overall Barcelona is one of the best European cities to visit with babies!

Barcelona Family Friendly Hotel Suggestions:

Casa Fuster

W Hotel 

Lisbon with a baby 

Annabel at a Smudged Postcard took her son to Lisbon when he was 18months old. Here’s what Annabel has to say:

Who doesn’t love a Portuguese custard tart

If you looking for baby friendly Europe destinations then look no further than Lisbon! Aside from being delightfully pretty in a slightly dishevelled way, Lisbon offers great value, delicious food (Portugal’s custard desserts are one of my weaknesses) and a location within daytrip distance of the seaside. Known as the “City of Seven Hills”, families shouldn’t be put off by Lisbon’s undulating terrain; pushing a buggy up to trendy Bairro Alto justifies indulging in a custard tart (pasteis de nata) in one of the many enticing cafes.

For our stay with our 18 month old son, we opted for an apartment in Lapa, one of the less hilly districts. If you have a tiny baby, Lisbon lends itself well to idle wandering along its famous crazy-paving avenues and picturesque lanes, and lazy lunches with abottle of refreshing Vinho Verde.

For infants on the move, head to the brilliant, spacious and relatively crowd-free aquarium, located next to a pedestrianised waterfront, ideal for little people to explore. Despite not being one of the most stroller friendly places in Europe we think it really is one of the best places in Europe to travel with a baby or toddler!

Family Friendly Hotel Suggestions:

Luxury: Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Family Suites

Mid Range: Altis Lisbon

Fo more suggestions on what to do in Lisbon check out this guide

Baby friendly city breaks in Uk and Ireland 

Dublin City Break with toddler and baby!

Dublin city break with toddler and baby

If you are looking for the best city breaks with a baby to take then look no further than Dublin!

We did a Dublin city break with toddler and baby in June. Our children were 4.5yo and almost 2yo, at the beginning of a long holiday in the country. Dublin was the natural choice to begin our trip, as it is the only location in Ireland to which we could book a non-stop flight.

Dublin is a wonderful city to visit with babies and kids! We walked the entire city – no taxi or public transit needed. Strolling is my favorite way to explore the nooks and crannies of a city, and with the added bonus that I don’t have to fight the kids to get in their car seats.

Some of our favorite attractions in Dublin were Trinity College and its famous library, the Guinness Storehouse (go upstairs to see the great section of cheeky ads from the company’s history) and St. Stephen’s Green. Our favorite experience was spending a Sunday evening at Legends Bar at The Parliament Hotel listening to traditional music – sessions start early on Sundays, so it’s perfect for families with young children! They were even so kind as to bring bowls of ice cream for the kids to enjoy while we had a few drinks. In our opinion this is one of the most baby friendly European city breaks you can take!

Family Friendly Hotels in Dublin

Luxury: Intercontinental Dublin

Mod-Range: Camden Court Hotel

Apartment: Staycity Apartments

London Weekend Breaks with Baby

If you are looking for one of the best European cities with bay to visit then you really should be considering London! As any parent will tell you – toddler friendly city breaks are harder to find than baby friendly ones butI think London is great for both! There are lots of activities aimed specially at toddlers and babies which means they will find plenty to amuse themselves!  Lots of the museums are really toddler friendly and have activities specifically designed for this age bracket! This is especially great if you are visiting London on a particularly rainy week! There also are loads of other kid friendly activities in the city! On top of that London is actually one of the more stroller friendly European cities and is very easy to navigate!

You can read more about things to do with toddlers and babies in London here as well as out kid friendly London itinerary!

Weekend breaks with baby in Scandinavia 

Copenhagen Weekend Breaks With a Baby

Joesfine loves taking Copenhagen Weekend Breaks with a baby and first took her son their when he was 10 months old!

Copenhagen Weekend Breaks With a Baby

Copenhagen is filled with opportunities and beautiful architecture and so much history – so much to see and do and all in walking distance making it one of the best European cities to visit with a baby!

Lifts at every public transport hub, plenty of room for buggies on train and buses and generally just an atmosphere that welcomes families with a lot of baby friendly areas, plus lots of playgrounds in and around the city.

We went to the Tivoli Gardens a magical park that takes amusement park to the next level! Lots of atmosphere and also plenty for a child to enjoy, even the babies! Elliot was absolutely mesmerised by the lights in the park!

Research play-brakes and “safe havens” before going! There is so much to see and do, but sometimes with a little one it’s good to know where you can go and catch a breather – free of charge if you’re child isn’t playing ball. In our opinion this is one of the best places to visit in Europe with a baby!

Family Friendly Hotel Suggestions:

Luxury: Copenhagen Marriott

Mid-Range: Savoy

For a complete Copenhagen itinerary check out this post!

You can read more about the DANGLISH Families adventures in Copenhagen here

If you are looking for the baby travel essentials you will need to do this weekend breaks with baby check out our guide! 

Have you done any European City Breaks with baby? What do you think are the most baby friendly European cities? 

 If you think we missed a city out and would like to share your baby travel experiences send me an email or comment below to take part.

Looking for more inspiration for city breaks with toddlers or baby inspiration? Then check out

European City Breaks (N-Z) with baby

Middle East and North Africa city break with baby inspiration

European city breaks with babies