Our top European destinations and itineraries
Planning a trip to Europe with kids can feel exciting—but also a little overwhelming. We have been fortunate enough to have visited some amazing places in the last few years. We even spent 3 months living in London last summer. With so many incredible destinations, it’s hard to know where to start, how to piece together an itinerary, and which places are actually worth it for a family trip. After traveling throughout Europe multiple times as a family, we’ve learned that not every “must-see” destination is created equal when you’re traveling with kids.
In this blog, we’re sharing our favorite European destinations and itineraries for families—all based on places we’ve personally visited, tested, and truly loved. These are the spots that stood out to us for being not only beautiful, but also easy to navigate, full of memorable experiences, and genuinely enjoyable with kids (for both them and us).
We wanted to share our go-to itineraries, the best places to base yourself, and practical tips to help you plan your own trip with confidence. Whether you’re looking for a Swiss Alps adventure, a beach escape in Mallorca, or a city itinerary that actually works with kids, these guides will help you figure out where to go in Europe with kids—and how to make the most of your time once you’re there.
1. Annecy, France
If you have never heard of Annecy, it is a picturesque town in the French Alps that offers a mix of outdoor adventure, culture, and storybook scenery, making it an ideal destination for families. We walked through the historic town center, cross charming bridges like Pont des Amours, and enjoyed the lively markets and cafés along the canals.
The city is built on Lake Annecy and is often nicknamed the “Venice of the Alps,” Annecy is known for its canals, pastel-colored houses, and cobblestone streets that make wandering the old town feel like stepping into a fairy tale.
There are also plenty of activities that make Annecy especially fun for families with kids. Visitors can bike along the famous lakeside cycling path that loops around the lake, walk the peaceful riverside trails along the Thiou River, or relax in park where children can play and ride a historic carousel.
We loved visiting Château d’Annecy, which had exhibits and panoramic views over the town and lake. With its combination of easy outdoor activities, historic streets, and stunning scenery we loved exploring this town.
We stayed at the Rivage Hotel and Spa and LOVED the feeling of a little bit of luxury but was not too fancy for kids.
Read all about our dreamy trip to Annecy in the French Alps.
2. Swiss Alps
We have spent time a lot of time exploring the Swiss Alps and our favorite place to stay is Wengen! It is all of my kids and mine favorite and hands-down one of the most magical places we’ve ever experienced as a family. Read Why Wengen is the best place to stay in the Swiss Alps with kids.
Since Wengen is completely car-free and perched high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, it feels incredibly peaceful (and safe!) for kids—so I have plenty of recommendations. We started our days with scenic train rides and gondola lifts up the mountains, taking in views that truly don’t feel real, before heading out on easy family-friendly hikes like Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg—one of our favorites thanks to the panoramic views and fun playgrounds like the infamous cow playground along the way.
From there, we’d stop for lunch at a mountainside restaurant while the kids played, then spend the afternoon exploring spots like the charming village of Mürren or heading down into Lauterbrunnen Valley to see the waterfalls up close.
We spent our evenings grabbing dinner with a view of the Alps and letting the kids run around the open green spaces. Even though you’re in the mountains, everything is incredibly well-connected by trains and lifts, which makes getting around with kids surprisingly easy (and honestly part of the adventure).
You can download our Full Detailed 10-day Switzerland itinerary! This kid-friendly guide is based around staying in Wengen and includes several full days of exploring the Jungfrau region, with built-in downtime, our favorite places to stay, and tips to avoid common mistakes (like overpacking your schedule or underestimating travel times in the mountains). Of course the guide includes other parts of Switzerland that we recommend to visit if you have the time!
We also share the best ways to navigate the Swiss train system with kids and what to do on cloudy or rainy days—because in the Alps, the weather can change quickly, but there’s still plenty to enjoy no matter what.
We love the Alps so much, in fact my kids repeatedly tell me that Wengen is their favorite place to visit (and we have visited some of the most amazing all over the world LOL). These are the things I wish I would of known ahead of our first trip to Switzerland.
We have stayed at multiple rentals through Wengen Apartments. We have a few favorites, The best place to stay in the Swiss Alps -Wengen depending on how large or small your group is. You can find the best fit for you!
Other resources for visiting Switzerland:
- Where to base yourself in the Swiss Alps
- The best playgrounds in the Swiss Alps
3. Lugano, Switzerland
Located between the Alps and the Italian border, Lugano is a beautiful lakeside destination that blends Swiss scenery with Italian charm, making it a fantastic place for families to visit. It is often known as the Italian side of Switzerland. Set along the water of Lake Lugano, the town offers plenty of relaxed outdoor activities and stunning views.
We spent multiple days exploring the palm-lined promenade, historic center, and spend time in lakeside parks and playgrounds.
There are also plenty of fun and memorable activities for children. You can ride the funicular up to Monte San Salvatore to see 360 views of the lake and surrounding mountains or do the kid friendly hiking trails.
On warmer days, Lidos are a great place to swim or relax by the water. We did the walk from Gandria to Lido San Domenico and spent the day swimming here.
Lugano is a destination where families can explore, unwind, and enjoy the beauty of southern Switzerland together. I have absolutely recommended visiting this place to lots of other families and friends over going to Lake Como! It is less crowded, less expensive (even though none of Switzerland is cheap) and more family-friendly!
We stayed at Novotel Lugano - A great budget friendly option that has generous family rooms, kid-friendly amenities, and superb location overlooking Lake Lugano. The hotel’s relaxed, contemporary style makes it easy to unwind after a day of exploring, while features like a children’s play area, outdoor terrace, and easy access to lakeside activities keep everyone entertained. Its location on the edge of Lugano means you’re close to the funicular, parks, shops, and restaurants.
You can download Our full detailed 10-day Switzerland itinerary.
4. Lucerne, Switzerland
One of our favorite cities in Europe - Lucerne is situated on Lake Lucerne. This is one of the most family-friendly cities we have visited.
We started by wandering through the colorful Old Town and crossing the iconic Kapellbrücke, a historic wooden bridge that stretches across the Reuss River and offers beautiful views of the city. From there, we walked to the peaceful Lion Monument, where the kids were fascinated by the giant lion carved into the rock and the story behind it. Then we spent some time browsing the shops and visiting famous ones like the chocolate and cheese shops.
One of our favorite experiences was taking a boat ride on Lake Lucerne and heading up to Mount Pilatus, where you can ride the world’s steepest cogwheel train and enjoy incredible Alpine views. With its walkable streets, lakeside adventures, and easy access to the mountains, Lucerne feels like the kind of place where every corner holds something magical for families.
We’ve stayed at a few places here. There are not many budget friendly options. We have stayed across the lake in Vitznau or Weggis and taken the boat over to here for the day. When we have stayed in Lucerne we made this our splurge of the trip and have stayed at Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern. My kids loved this place and still talk about this hotel.
5. Cala D’or, Mallorca, Spain
While living in London last summer, we were looking to getaway to a nearby beach and discovered Mallorca. This is an island off the eastern coast of Spain. We loved it SO much we ended up going 3x that summer after finding great cheap flights (sometimes for only $50 pp).
We stayed in multiple different parts of the island but our favorite of the places we stayed was the Cala d’Or area, and it quickly became one of our all time favorite family-friendly destinations. Read our Honest review of visiting Mallorca Spain with kids.
We started our mornings by swimming at the nearby calas. Calas are just hidden beach coves. The younger kids could swim in the calm, clear water and the older ones loved jumping off the small cliffs into the water! There was restaurants and drink stands located right on the beach for lunch, drinks or treats. We would switch up our days by sometimes letting the kids play at our pool for a few hours and enjoy the kids club, as the hotel we stayed at hosted free family friendly games and activities!
In the late afternoon, we loved visiting the town center for lunch and a little shopping before enjoying some downtime back at our hotel.
Most evenings we would drive over to the marina to have dinner along the waterfront. One of our favorite evenings was simply walking along the marina at sunset—there’s something so relaxed and magical about it, especially with kids. Even though Mallorca is known for its beaches, Cala d’Or in particular feels incredibly easy and family-friendly, with everything close by and a laid-back pace that makes traveling with kids feel effortless.
We stayed at Prinsotel Alba located right across the street from Cala D’or and absolutely loved it! It was walkable to both Cala D’or and Cala Esmeralda - both under a 5 minute walk. The town center with lots of restaurants, bars, shopping and entertainment is about a 10 minute walk.
6. London, England
We spent 4 months living in London last summer so I of course have so many recommendations on what to do here with kids. If you are coming here for only a few days or only have a day or 2 in the city, read Our perfect 2 day itinerary for seeing the major sites in London. We started our day seeing iconic sights like Big Ben and Westminster Abbey before walking over to Buckingham Palace to watch the famous Changing of the Guard. From there, we headed to Hyde Park where the kids could run around, play at the Diana Memorial Playground, and even hop on a pedal boat on the Serpentine Lake. In the afternoon we wandered through Soho for ice cream and ended the day at the legendary toy store Hamleys, which truly feels like toy heaven for kids. With so many famous landmarks within walking distance and plenty of parks, playgrounds, and sweet treats along the way. Even though London is a big city, it is actually VERY kid-friendly. There are so many free activities and things to do with kids.
If you want a longer, more in depth itinerary for more days - download Our London Itinerary! This kid-friendly version shares 5 full days in and around the city but mostly in central London but built-in down and play time for kids. We share our favorite palace to visit with kids and even share the best ways to get around the city with kids. Most importantly, what to do on a rainy day (cause if you know London at all - it’s more than likely than not, it WILL rain). This is what we did on A rainy day in London.
Our favorite place to stay in central London - St. Ermin’s Hotel - Autograph Collection. Read our full review onThe Best Hotel in London for Families Traveling with Little Kids - St. Ermin’s Hotel.
Another one of the biggest recommendations we have when planning a trip to London is not to skip the public parks. They are actually incredible! We lived a few blocks from one of the biggest parks in central London - Regents Park. We went here at least once a day! We would take the kids to play soccer, visit the playgrounds, have a picnic or just go for a nightly walk. Locals use these park as a third space because not only are they free, they are big and beautiful. This is the 10 things I wish I knew before coming to London.
