Amsterdam: the quick and easy city break with toddlers

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Flat, compact and buggy-friendly, the centre of Amsterdam is made for a city break with toddlers.

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Swap museums for the city's many parks: legendary Vondelpark has masses of safe space for running around and paddling areas in summer. Then change the pace with a peaceful canal boat ride that can doubles as a nap spot. This is also a great city for hungry toddlers, big on cute cafes and the European pancake capital.‍

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Where to eat with toddlers in Amsterdam

‍PANCAKES Amsterdam is beloved by tourists, but even the locals give it attention. Open all day from 8am to 5pm (8pm at the weekends), there are five in the city and they serve a mix of Dutch and American pancakes. Good choice for breakfast and PANCAKES Amsterdam Centraal is just across from Central Station.

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Where to stay with toddlers in Amsterdam

Five minutes from Central Station, Kimpton de Witt is a good choice for a short city break with toddlers. Apart from an outstanding choice of family rooms, it happily provides all sorts of essentials from nappies and cots to step stools and bottle warmers. Family bikes are just one of the thoughtful extras laid on here too, and cute kids' bathrobes and NAIF products add to the cosy, comforting vibe.

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Direct UK flights to Amsterdam from 1 hour, 20 minutes - airport to city centre from 16 minutes. Eurostar London to Amsterdam from 4 hours, 16 minutes

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Copenhagen: intro your toddlers to the world's happiest city

Denmark is one of the world's happiest countries, and Finland might have pipped it to the top spot in 2026, but its capital still holds pole position as the world's happiest city.

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Put it to the test with toddlers and you'll quickly find that the city synonymous with Christiania Bikes, talks the talk and walks the walk when it comes to family-friendly.

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Always make time for Tivoli Gardens and its fairytale rides (not for nothing was this historic theme park Hans Christian Andersen's favourite and Walt Disney's inspiration). If you're here in summer the city beaches are a must, although if you just want a quick cool down with toddlers, the city's many Harbour Baths are clean, safe and a great place to meet the locals. It's also a magical city round about Christmas time with dozens of child-friendly markets, lights everywhere and plenty of places for little first time skaters to find their feet.

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Where to eat with toddlers in Copenhagen

Your toddlers will love pretty Café Bopa in Østerbro and the good news is, it loves them right back. Apart from its sweet square where they regularly BBQ, this relaxed family restaurant has a huge outdoor terrace, children's playground and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Though, if you're around at the weekend, Sunday brunch is a must-do.

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Where to stay with toddlers in Copenhagen

Sticking with Østerbro, Hotel 9 små hjem (Hotel 9 little homes) is as cosy as it sounds and the mix of hotel rooms and family apartments makes it just about perfect for a city break with toddlers. Of course, having your own kitchen is a big advantage, as well as the best excuse to find out why breakfast is an artform in Copenhagen restaurants. Then there's the cost which, in this famously pricey city, is very reasonable.

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Direct UK flights to Copenhagen from 1 hour, 45 minutes - airport to city centre from 15 minutes

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Vienna: great for a long weekend city break with toddlers

The best city break with toddlers is a short-ish one, and that’s why we like Vienna.

The city’s Inner Stadt alone has more than enough to fill a long weekend, gives you a hefty dose of the city’s undeniable grandeur but keeps it real by being very walkable too.

You might not want to wander round art collections with under-threes, but the Museum Quarter delivers on art as street furniture, always has something to watch outdoors and clusters plenty of cafés for refuelling.

If you do want to stretch your horizons a bit, city trams are exemplary here and a nice break from walking. Slightly older kids will enjoy Vienna Wurstelprater amusement park. It’s home to the world’s oldest Ferris Wheel, but does a nice line in little rides and colourful stalls too, as well as lots of cheerful spots to stop and snack. Also, Vienna makes an enchanting winter break with markets all over, endless ice skating opps and a glittery, fairytale vibe that's hard to match anywhere else - it's an Austrian thing.

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Where to eat with toddlers in Vienna

OK, you really don't need an excuse to visit Vienna's Schönbrunn Zoo (it's the world's oldest and, needless to say, loved by kids) but if you did, the bright and airy Café Restaurant ORANG.erie would be a good one. Along with its orangutan-adjacent appeal, it's very chilled and has a wonderful, sunny terrace, as well as children's menus and a playground.

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Where to stay with toddlers in Vienna

Family-run Henriette City Hotel is close to Prater Park and really couldn't be more thoughtful for younger kids. As well as providing all sorts of equipment (you just have to ask) its family rooms have separate sleeping and living areas - if you don't want to go to bed at 7pm sharp - and breakfast is all-organic and served early and late, which is a very toddler-aligned concept.

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Direct UK flights to Vienna from 2 hours, 10 minutes - airport to city centre from 16 minutes

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Lisbon: almost nowhere in Europe loves kids more

Between its beautiful, big squares and chirpy trams, enormous river front and friendly people, Lisbon is a lovely city to get to know with your toddler.

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Little legs might find the hills a bit of challenge, but most everywhere is doable with a buggy, though if you want to explore Alfama you might want to think about bringing a baby carrier as well.

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Alternatively you can save extreme sightseeing for a later date and give the River Tagus your full attention: the riverside is open with huge pedestrianised areas and home to quite a few of Lisbon's big ticket sights like the Torre de Belem, Jerónimos Monastery, Oceanário Aquarium and Pastel de Belém (not the best Pastel de Nata in the city - that's Mantegaria in our opinion - just the most famous).

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Head to Lisbon in summer and it's also perfectly possible to put a bit of beach into a city break with toddlers. Costa da Caparica is a 16 minute drive from the city, but an hour by bus. If that seems like a bit of a hike during a short stay, you get the pay off from 26km long, golden sand, Atlantic beaches and the sun shines in this part for Portugal from April until October.

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Where to eat in Lisbon with toddlers

One of the best things about a city break in Lisbon is being an adult without boring your toddler to tears. Head for lunch at Time Out Market Lisboa for the best proof of that. With 26 restaurants, a family-style eating set up and heaps to look at, it's iconic for a reason, but definitely not too cool for kids.

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Where to stay in Lisbon with toddlers

We love Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts pretty much anywhere in Portugal, including Lisbon. Not only does Martinhal Chiado have a blissful central location, it comes with family rooms designed for older and younger kids, along with resident Baby Concierges, a kids club from 6 months, plus childminding services and the friendliest staff.

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Direct UK flights to Lisbon from 2 hours, 35 minutes - airport to city centre from 20 minutes

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Stockholm: the island hopping city break with toddlers

Stockholm gives you green space, islands and lots of reason to sail away for the afternoon, show us the toddler who doesn't like that type of action.

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Catch one of the Stromma Cinderella Boats from May to October and head for the pretty island of Grinda. There’s lots to do here from kayaking to wild swimming, but a toddler-size hike or a cool drink in the sunshine and some yacht spotting might be more your speed. There are ice-breaker trips during winter too, with wrap-up-warm blankets on deck to keep you all cosy.

Grona Lund theme park comes good on white knucklers but also some sweet, pint-size nostalgia rides that suit littler thrill seekers.

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Then there's Skansen, the world’s oldest outdoor museum and another Stockholm great that works the magic for younger kids. Or if you want to really slow the pace, Princess EstelleSculpture Park is gently interactive and fun to explore with toddlers.

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Where to eat in Stockholm with toddlers

Hit Hötorgshallen in the centre of Stockholm (close to the legendary shopping streets like Drottninggatan) and you'll never be sniffy about food halls again. This one is a work of art, packed with produce to buy and over 30 places to sit in and eat with the pickiest of toddlers. The atmosphere is very laid-back and it's open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm.

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Where to stay in Stockholm with toddlers

Save your pennies for playing in Stockholm and take advantage of great value home grown Swedish brand, Scandic. It has quite a few properties to choose from in the city, but we like central Scandic Klara with younger kids for its peaceful vibe and good size family rooms. Also, it's a rare month when Scandic aren't offering some kind of deal so keep a watch on this one.

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Direct UK flights to Stockholm from 2 hours, 10 minutes - airport to city centre from 18 minutes

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