How to Spend 4 Days in Barcelona with Family

If you have 4 days to spend in Barcelona with your family, I would stay in either Gracia or in L’Eixample for family-friendly and conveniently located accommodation. 

The first day is about getting situated and taking it easy. After you’ve made it into the city, start at Parc de la Ciutadella and Arc de Triomf. The rest of the day is spent exploring the city on foot. Wandering through Gracia, visiting La Boqueria Market, or meandering through the Labyrinth Park.

On your second day in Barcelona, start at Sagrada Familia (and the playground next door!), and end the day with exploring the Gothic Quarter. For some more excitement in the same area, you can also head to the Aquarium, go for a cable car ride, or take a relaxing boat ride.

The morning of Day 3 is spent exploring Gaudi’s Park Guell. After some lunch, make your own mosaic masterpiece at a kids’ mosaic class. End the day with a traditional tapas meal or paella and some gelato.

On the 4th day in Barcelona with family, don’t miss the kids’ walking tour! After the tour, grab some lunch and maybe choose something from the Alternative Activities list (like Cosmocaixa), and then end your last day in Barcelona with a flamenco show.

Where to Stay in Barcelona with Kids

What is the best area of Barcelona for families?

Gracia

We absolutely fell in love with the neighborhood of Gracia. It is a hip, family-friendly area of Barcelona that has easy public transportation to all the tourist sites. Expect to find unique restaurants, independent shops, and plenty of playgrounds.

It feels more authentic than the main tourist areas that tend to have either tourist-bate shops and restaurants or chain stores and eateries. Gracia is a place where I could see our family staying for a few months.

Where to stay in Gracia with a family

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Gracia, we loved staying at Espais Blaus Apartments. They are clean, incredibly spacious, modern, and in a fantastic location. It’s a family run business, and that’s reflected in the care they put into the upkeep of the apartments and with the personable communication before your arrival. 

We had a studio apartment, which is more like a one-bedroom with a sliding door to separate the space. The sofa bed was actually comfortable, and despite being on the first floor in a central area, the apartment was quiet. I also love that they have luggage lockers available if needed on check in and check out day.

Espais Blaus will definitely be my top choice of accommodation for our next trip to Barcelona.

L’Eixample

As a runner up to Gracia, L’Eixample is another area that is great for families. It’s central, easy to navigate with wide sidewalks, well connected with public transportation, and safe. It has more of a “big city” feel than the neighborhood of Gracia, but still a great option if that’s more your vibe.

We stayed at Hotel Indigo Plaza Catalunya. The front desk staff were incredibly friendly and went above and beyond to help, even when it wasn’t asked of them. They have spacious rooms, and some nice amenities like a pool and a gym.

I would caution you, though, about the sofa beds. They’re horrible! I felt bad making my daughter sleep on it, but she managed. So if you have the option, get a room with two double beds. The bathrooms are also quite rundown, which isn’t a huge deal, but for the price, you’d expect more.

Luckily, I was able to pay with IHG points, which is one of the reasons I chose to stay there. Because Barcelona can be expensive!

If you’re looking for another place to stay in L’Eixample, it could be worth checking out Eurostars Barcelona Central for a modern, central hotel in L'Eixample. Or Murmuri Residence Concepcio offers kitchens in all of their rooms. And Primavera Hostel is a more budget-conscious option. It has family rooms with private bathrooms and a shared kitchen available for you to use.

4 Days in Barcelona with Family

Day 1: Barcelona Itinerary for Families

Step 1: Arrive in Barcelona

I’m assuming that your “Day 1” starts with an early international flight arrival. 

If this is the case, the first thing you’ll want to do is activate your eSIM. I love using Holafly because of their unlimited data option. I’m just not a fan of having to worry about using up too much data, connecting to wifi at every cafe, etc. Their connection is always fast, it’s easy to set up, and it’s affordable. Check out Holafly’s options here.

The next thing you’ll need to do is go to your hotel to drop your bags. If you’re staying at Espais Blaus apartments, don’t forget to book a luggage locker with them ahead of time. If you’re staying elsewhere that doesn’t have luggage storage, check out Radical Storage. It allows you to book luggage storage just about anywhere in any major city (including Barcelona).

How to get to Barcelona from the airport

Public Transportation from BCN to the city

You can take public transportation into the city from the airport. But with kids and suitcases, this isn’t the most recommended option. Not all metro stations in Barcelona have lifts, plus it’s not exactly a door to door service, so you’ll be hauling suitcases down sidewalks for sure. If you travel super light, maybe this is an option for you.

Taxi from BCN to the city

We decided to take a taxi from the airport taxi queue to the hotel. It was around 50usd including tip. If you can, try to have cash on hand for tip, as there’s no option to tip with the credit card machine in taxis. For more information about how to tip in Spain check out Tipping in Spain: Who Are You Even Supposed to Tip... And How Much?.

Welcome Transfers from BCN to the city

Another option is to book a ride ahead of time with Welcome Transfers. The price would be about the same as a taxi, depending on how much luggage you have and if you choose to add child seats or not. But same as with a taxi, try to have cash on hand for tip. But with this one, the driver will be waiting for you in the terminal after immigration.

Cabify from BCN to the city

Uber doesn’t exist in Barcelona, but you can use Cabify. Like Uber in other cities and airports, you’ll need to locate the pick up location depending on your terminal. But the benefit with Cabify is that you can tip in the app. You can also book a ride ahead of time. 

If you’re planning to use Cabify in Barcelona, make sure you set it up at home. They’ll want to text you to confirm your account when you set it up. If you’re already abroad, and only using data, this won’t be possible.

Step 2: Buy your T Card for Public Transportation

One of the first things you’ll probably need to do after you’ve dropped your bags is buy a T card. Public transportation in Barcelona is easy to navigate, safe, and reliable. Plus, it’s the most affordable way to get around the city.

Where to buy your T card in Barcelona

You’ll need to buy your card at a metro station, which you can find on Google Maps, or around town they are always marked with a big red “M” at the entrance.

You can also buy one at the major bus stations, but I found heading to one of the numerous metro stations more convenient.

In the station, look for the red kiosks to buy your tickets. There is an English language option to help you navigate the menu. And you’ll need to enter your passport number in order to buy the card. 

What type of T-card to buy

First of all, kids under 4 are free. So if you have littles, you won’t need to buy a ticket for them.

The most affordable option for travelers is probably the T-casual card. It is a 10-ticket pass, with each “ticket” being valid for 75 minutes. You can also top up the card with more tickets as necessary.

I found the T-usual card to be the most convenient option. The T-usual card allows for unlimited tickets for one month. The cost is equivalent to about 18 rides with the T-casual card. Did I use 18 tickets in our visit to Barcelona? Probably not. But did I appreciate not having to count our tickets and worrying about needing to top up? Absolutely!

Step 3: Eat!

After you’ve gotten through customs, taken the taxi to your accommodation, and dropped your luggage - you’re likely going to be hungry. Grab some brunch to fill your bellies so you have some energy to start exploring.

If you’re in the area, we ended up returning to El Petit Princep multiple times for brunch during our stay in Barcelona because it was just that good. And it places you in a good position to start exploring the city.

Step 4: Arc de Triomf and Parc de la Ciutadella

Okay, you’ve made it! Luggage dropped and bellies full. If you’re jet lagged and just “slept” on an airplane, it’s important to (a) stay awake as much as possible and (b) have low expectations for moods and what you’re going to see.

A lot of people recommend a hop-on, hop-off bus for day one. I don’t. Is it an easy activity that introduces you to the city? Yes. Is it a recipe for children falling asleep on your lap and messing up any chance of staying awake till evening? Definitely.

My rules for Day 1 of any trip abroad are (1) nothing with a pre-purchased ticket and (2) especially nothing with a specific time slot.

I suggest heading toward Parc de la Ciutadella. If you ate at El Petit Princep, on the way, you’ll pass through Arc de Triomf. Snap a few photos before continuing your walk to the park.

Parc de la Ciutdella is one of those large, sprawling parks that has a little something for everyone. For the Gaudi fans, there’s a famous fountain that Gaudi helped to design. There are a few playgrounds for the kids. There are row boats you can rent on a small pond. There are plenty of picnic areas. And it houses the entrance to the zoo.

There are public toilets, but BYO toilet paper. Before our trip, I bought these mini wet wipe packs that were perfect for messy eating and melty gelato emergencies as well as emergency toilet paper.

Step 5: Check in to your hotel

At this point, it’s probably time to check in to your room. Head there, get unpacked and settled, but don’t nap!

Step 6: Do something active

Go for a swim at your hotel or find a nearby playground. Something active to get you through until dinner and bed time. Also something with low behavioral expectations (no museums), and something easy.

If you’re wanting to sight see more instead of having “normal” time, you could visit Gaudi’s Casa Batllo or Casa Mila (buy your tickets ahead of time), stroll down La Rambla and pop in to La Boqueria market (hold on to your purses in this area), or head to Parc del Laberint d’Horta (Labyrinth park) with more playgrounds and picnic areas. 

For additional activity ideas, check out this section below. I’d avoid the cable cars (recipe for sleep) and the CCCB Archive (an indoor cultural center that isn’t tantrum-friendly), though.

Step 7: Easy Dinner

This is not the night to sit down at a multi-course meal or enjoy a slow-paced tapas meal. They eat dinner late in Spain, too. This is probably not the night to join in with the local culture, though. 

Grab some takeaway from someplace like Honest Greens (a build your own bowl chain around the city), or order pizza delivery from a place like Pizza Natura Sense Gluten (if your body doesn’t like gluten like mine). 

I ordered pizza delivery directly through their website. By the time we took the metro back to the hotel, the pizza was arriving. Don’t forget to tip the driver. I tipped 2 euros because that’s the change that I had on hand, and the driver acted like he won the lottery! 

For more information on what tips are actually expected in Spain, check out this article.

After dinner, allow sleep, tv, and whatever your family needs to happen at this point. Rest up, and get ready for Day 2!

If you're also going to Malaga on your family trip to Spain, you may find this article helpful: 11 Things To Do in Malaga With Kids - No Car Necessary!

Day 2: Barcelona Itinerary for Families

Okay, Day 2. I’ll let you handle breakfast on your own. If I don’t include breakfast with my hotel, I usually hit up a grocery store and buy supplies for some in-room breakfast. Cereal, fruit, nut butter sandwiches, etc. All these things can easily be prepared in the room, especially if there’s a mini-fridge.

I always travel with a cutting board and a travel chef’s knife for easy breakfasts and lunches. But you do you.

AM: Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia is a still unfinished basilica that was designed by Gaudi. You’ll want to buy your tickets before your trip for the Sagrada Familia. 

With my kids, I didn’t have high expectations for how long we would spend there, but it was still a must-do activity for the trip. It’s well worth even a short visit!

To keep it interesting for kids, you can also purchase the option to climb one of the towers. Kids under 6 aren’t allowed, so we weren’t able to go. But it could be a fun option for older kids that would rather do something than just look at something.

If you have kids that want to learn and not just marvel at the beauty of Sagrada Familia, there’s an audio guide included in your ticket through their app. I’d recommend listening ahead of time so you can pick out the important bits that your kids would find interesting. 

That way, you aren’t stuck at all of the checkpoints trying to listen to the guide, explain it to your kids, look at it yourself, and hear your kids complaining that they’re hot, hungry, or want to see the next spot already.

Go to a playground with a view

After your visit, head over to Placa de la Sagrada Familia. There’s a small playground with a pretty great view of the basilica. 

Let the kids burn off some steam and just be kids while you make plans for where to eat lunch.

PM: Visit the Gothic Quarter

On your wander through the Gothic Quarter, you’re sure to stroll past the Catedral de Barcelona and the famous Bishop’s bridge. You’re also sure to stroll into some souvenir shops, so it may be time to allow your kids to make a purchase.

My girls chose to buy some fans, which actually came in handy as both entertainment and air conditioning throughout our trip.

There’s also the option to take a boat ride from Las Golondrinas. On the day we visited, outside of the harbor had pretty rough seas, so we chose to stick to the shorter tour that stays in the harbor. It was pretty boring, to be honest. But my girls had fun seeing a cruise ship up close and marveling at the fancy yachts.

Maybe it would have been more interesting if it had been a better day to actually go out into the sea. But it was a cheap and easy activity.

If moods are good, it could be a nice afternoon/evening to enjoy a tapas meal. Or head to El Bosc de les Fades Cafe. Nothing cultural or historic about this one, but a fun place for kids. This cafe is themed like an enchanted forest for fairies. So if you’re looking for a place for a meal, or even a sit down with a drink and some snacks, it could be the perfect place to check out.

Additional Activity Options: Cable Car or Aquarium

If you’re in the Gothic Quarter, and especially if you’re going for a boat ride, Barcelona’s aquarium is right there. To be honest, we didn’t go. But it’s meant to be a really nice aquarium, and you likely don’t need to buy tickets ahead of time.

Alternatively, the Montjuïc Cable Car is down that way as well. There are actually two cable car options in Barcelona. The other one allows you to get higher up, but it’s also older, has longer lines, and crowds multiple groups into each car.

The Montjuïc Cable Car is newer, has shorter lines, and allows you to set in a car with just your group. There’s also a castle at the top that’s included in your cable car ticket. And there are some huge kids’ slides at the top as well. If you want, you can buy tickets ahead of time on their website.

As you're planning your 4 Days in Barcelona, don't forget about travel insurance! My favorite is Hey Mondo - they offer affordable, comprehensive coverage for the whole family. Check out more information here.

Day 3: Barcelona Itinerary for Families

AM: Park Guell

Park Guell is one of the most photographed places in Barcelona, maybe behind the Sagrada Familia. It’s a public park designed by Gaudi and features unique architectural tunnels and walkways, intricate mosaic benches, and the famous dragon staircase.

It’s a very easy place to visit with kids. It’s all outside and essentially you walk around and explore. Kids’ imaginations can run wild. They don’t have to be hushed, and there’s even a playground at the top.

Bring your own food and water, as I didn’t see any vendors inside. 

Especially in the summer, you’ll want to visit Park Guell in the morning. It’s all outside and you’ll be walking around a lot. But it should definitely be a priority somewhere in your 4 days in Barcelona with your family.

PM: Kids’ Mosaic Class

Mosaicos Barcelona offers mosaic classes for adults and kids. The kids’ version is one hour long and it was the perfect amount of time for my 8 and 3 year old. It is was enough time to finish a project (myself included!) and just short enough that my 3 year old was content doing her project and then eating a snack.

You’ll learn the different types of mosaic styles, and get to select from a number of projects that they know are doable within an hour. My kids chose jewelry boxes and I chose a picture frame. They really know what they’re doing there, and I appreciated that even though it was a kids’ class, they allowed me to use the adult technique for my project.

Make sure you sign up ahead of time. And if it’s a priority for you, don’t save it for your last day! After you finish the project in your class, they keep it overnight to grout it for you and allow it to dry. This means you’ll need to pick up your projects the next day. That doesn’t work so well if you’re leaving the next day.

Their afternoon offerings are at 2pm and 4:30pm, but if a morning works better in your schedule, you can also take a class at 10am.

Check out their current pricing and scheduling options here.

If you’re looking to fill your day a little more, if you’re looking for any alternative activities, don’t forget to check out the Alternative Activities List below.

Day 4: Barcelona Itinerary for Families

AM: Kids’ walking tour

The Runner Beans Kids’ Walking Tour only happens on Saturdays all year long, and also on Wednesdays during the summer. But if one of those days aligns with your trip, I highly recommend making it a priority in your 4 days in Barcelona! It was fantastic for both of my girls (8 and 3) and would have also been appropriate for kids a bit older.

The tour starts at 10am and lasts for 2.5 hours. Your kids will learn history, culture, and see some of the major sites of Barcelona. All in an interactive and engaging style. Plus, they’ll meet a few friends along the way!

Seriously, if you can, you don’t want to miss it. Book your tour here.

And don’t forget money for tip. It’s well deserved with this tour. For more information on when and how much to tip in Spain, check out Tipping in Spain: Who Are You Even Supposed to Tip... And How Much?

PM: Flamenco show

If you’re in Spain with your kids, a Flamenco Show is kind of a must. But many shows are quite late in the evening. Luckily, if your kids aren’t on the Spanish schedule yet, there are a few options in Barcelona with earlier showtimes.

We went to Flamenco Palau Dalmases. The setting is a cool old theatre and was really nice. If you do go to this show, make sure you book the front row, as the back rows could have difficulty seeing, especially for short bodies. 

To be honest, it wasn’t my favorite flamenco show in Spain, but it was still good and in a unique setting.

Other flamenco shows that I was considering that have earlier start times include this flamenco show at City Hall with shows at 5pm and 6:45pm. And Tablao Cordobes that has a show at 7:15pm with an optional dinner at 6pm beforehand.

Okay, not in Barcelona. But my absolute favorite flamenco show so far in Spain is in Granada. This one is in a historic cave home, is very intimate (we could feel the women’s dresses brushing our legs!), and felt like a very authentic experience. We were mesmerized the whole time, including my 2 year old!

And then that's it! The end of your 4 Days in Barcelona. 

But keep reading for a list of Alternative Activities in Barcelona for kids and families. And also for Additional Tips for Traveling to Barcelona with Family and some FAQs.

Alternative Activities to Fill Your 4 Days in Barcelona with Family:

Take a Cable Car Ride

There are two options for cable car rides in Barcelona. The older option is Telefèric del Port. It gets you higher up (so possibly a better view of the city), but it tends to have longer lines. And you’ll be in a cable car with multiple groups of people.

The newer option is Telefèric de Montjuïc. You’ll get a cable car for just your group. And although you don’t go up as high, there is a castle at the top. Entrance to the castle is included in your cable car ticket price. There are also some tall slides the kids can ride for free at the top. If you want, you can buy your tickets ahead of time here.

Cosmocaixa: Barcelona’s Science Museum

Learn about anything from nature to space to electricity at Barcelona’s science museum, called Cosmocaixa. There is also an interactive area specifically meant for little ones. And they often have shows and workshops that you could look into on the day of your visit.

Kids under 16 are free, and tickets for adults at the time of writing this are only eight euros. 

You can buy your tickets ahead of time if visiting the museum is a priority for you. Check out the Cosmocaixa official website here.

Poble Espanyol: A Spanish Cultural Craft Center and Open Air Museum

Poble Espanyol is an open air village that was designed to represent all of the types of architecture across Spain. 

There are a number of craft shops to peruse while you admire the architecture. There’s an art museum to explore, and there are often special events and concerts occurring in the space. 

With your entrance ticket, you can also select add-ons like going to a craft workshop and creating your own souvenir. Plus, you can ask at the information area for a family treasure hunt to complete together while you’re exploring.

Check out their current offerings, ticket options, and events on their official website here.

La Rambla and La Boqueria Market

La Rambla is the main pedestrian street that has shops, souvenirs, restaurants, and all things aimed at tourists. You’re likely to walk along or through it while exploring Barcelona anyway, since it’s centrally located. 

The internet will warn you about keeping a close eye on your purse on La Rambla. And also to not accept any gifts from mimes or street vendors, as they will return to collect money. 

I did observe one such mime giving balloon animals to children while the parents were distracted, like when listening to their tour guide! The mimes are quick and sneaky with that move! They then circle around and return demanding payment from said parent… who now has to keep track of this balloon animal all day. You can return it or refuse it, so just be prepared for certain schemes like this in main tourist sections of Barcelona.

La Boqueria Market is a large market in the area as well. Expect to find everything from fruits and vegetables to meats and spices to full on sit down restaurants!

Go to the Beach

Barceloneta is the main beach in Barcelona that everyone talks about. It’s certainly the most central beach. But it can get crowded. So if you’re looking for a relaxing beach day to get away from that city vibe, you may want to venture just a tiny bit further away.

For quieter beach options, check out beaches such as Nova Icaria beach or Bogatell beach. And try to aim for weekdays.

Tibidabo: Amusement Park with City Views

Tibidabo comes highly recommended from locals for families visiting Barcelona. It offers phenomenal views of the city, but there’s a full amusement park with a ferris wheel, a carousel, and other traditional amusement park rides.

L'Aquàrium de Barcelona

Barcelona’s aquarium is centrally located near the Gothic Quarter and Barceloneta beach, which makes it an easy add-on activity to one of your 4 days in Barcelona. 

In addition to all of the usual aquarium findings, Barcelona’s aquarium also offers some interactive areas for families as well as a family treasure hunt. You can find more information on their official website here.

Museu de la Xocolata: Chocolate Museum

Even though Barcelona isn’t exactly known for cacao trees and chocolate production, this museum could be an interesting stop for chocolate lovers of the family. It’s centrally located so it's easy for a quick stop during your 4 days in Barcelona.

The museum teaches you about the history of chocolate in Europe and how chocolate is made industrially. And kids will have fun studying the chocolate miniatures of Barcelona’s most famous buildings. Of course, there’s chocolate available for purchase at the end for everyone to enjoy.

Parc del Laberint d’Horta: The Labyrinth Park

If getting lost in a full-size maze sounds like a fun adventure for your kids, the Labyrinth park could be a fun visit for your family. There are also gardens and picnic areas for relaxing once you’ve found your way out of the maze. Plus, there’s a playground for your kids to just be kids for a bit.

Take a Day Trip

In my opinion, when you only have 4 days in Barcelona, it would be a bit hectic to try to fit in a day trip out of the city. But if you’re interested in exploring out of Barcelona, here are a few day trip options you could consider.

Montserrat for hiking, funicular rides, and beautiful mountains.

Sitges for water sports and chill beach time.

Figueres to learn about Salvador Dali and to visit a toy museum.

Tarragona for a Roman amphitheater and family-friendly parks

Explore More Gaudi Architecture

After Sagrada Familia and Park Guell, Casa Batllo and Casa Mila are probably the next most famous Gaudi attractions in Barcelona. And luckily, they’re just a short walk from one another. View them from the outside, or buy tickets to explore inside. 

Kids under 12 are free and you can buy tickets ahead of time online if visiting these two buildings are a priority for you during your 4 days in Barcelona.

Visit the Maritime Museum

The Maritime museum is free on Sunday afternoons. And for kids, there is a large ship that you can embark and explore. It could be worth a stop if you’re in the area or if there are any ship-loving members of your family!

Visit the Family Space at The CCCB Archive 

The CCCB Archive is the Contemporary Cultural Center. They often have dedicated family areas and events. During our visit, there was a family summer exhibit called “Little Middle Big” that had an area for families and kids to draw, interact, and play. And on occasion they had movies playing as well.

Check out their current offerings on the CCCB official website.

Additional Tips for Your 4 Days in Barcelona with Family

Eating Out in Barcelona

In Gracia especially, with all of the “hip” restaurants, you needed a reservation for dinner - even before Spanish dinner time! If there’s a specific restaurant that you really want to try, make sure you book ahead of time. Many restaurants allow you to do this easily online.

The Language in Barcelona

Yes, the official language is Catalan. And many signs will be in Catalan. But everyone also speaks Spanish, and the majority of the people we came across also spoke English.

Siesta Time in Barcelona

In more residential areas (including Gracia), don’t forget that siesta time will impact opening hours of shops and restaurants.

Siesta is usually around 2pm until 5 or 5:30pm. In more touristy areas, you will probably run into this less. But just check ahead of time if you’re wanting to go somewhere during siesta hours.

Walking in Barcelona

Although you will want to get a T Card, as I discussed at the beginning of the article, Barcelona is a very walkable city.

You will likely come across many of the main sites just by walking from your origin to your destination. That’s actually how we saw things like the Bishop’s bridge, the Arc de Triomf, the cathedral, and even La Rambla.

Tipping in Barcelona

When and how to tip is different in Spain than in the United States. For a full guide on tipping culture in Spain, check out Tipping in Spain: Who Are You Even Supposed to Tip... And How Much?

Frequently Asked Questions about Spending 4 Days in Barcelona

Is 4 Days too long in Barcelona?

Definitely not! 4 Days in Barcelona allows you the time to not only see all of the major sites, but also to sit back and experience the culture a bit. Any less, and you may not have time to visit the Sagrada Familia and sit down for a nice tapas meal. 

Especially with kids, you’ll want to leave room for a bit of playtime, for things to not go smoothly, for a night with early bedtimes, or for kids to not be in the mood for another restaurant where they have to “behave”.

Is Barcelona worth visiting with kids?

Absolutely! Barcelona not only has playgrounds in almost every Plaza, but there are a number of kid-specific activities the whole family can enjoy during your 4 days in Barcelona. Things like the kids’ mosaic class and the kids’ walking tour. 

Plus, don’t forget all of the other activities in Barcelona that are inherently kid-friendly. Things like the aquarium, the beaches, and the science museum.

As far as big cities go, I found Barcelona extremely easy to visit with kids and would not hesitate to return as a family.

What is the best area of Barcelona for families?

Gracia would be the top choice for families visiting Barcelona. There are a lot of families living in the neighborhood, so there are plenty of playgrounds. It’s central and easy to get to the main attractions of Barcelona, so you won’t be spending all day on public transportation. 

If you stay at a place like Espais Blaus, you’ll have a kitchen. And there are plenty of local shops around to stock your kitchen. If you don’t feel like cooking, Gracia has some of the best cafes and restaurants in Barcelona. And despite Espais Blaus being in the heart of Gracia, it’s quiet at night so everyone will sleep well. 

Final Thoughts on Spending 4 Days in Barcelona with Family

There is a lot to see and do in Barcelona with kids. That being said, 4 days in Barcelona will allow your family to see most of the major sites, experience the culture, do some kid-specific activities, and still be able to visit a few playgrounds.

With 4 days in Barcelona, you’ll want to prioritize seeing the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and a flamenco show. You’ll want to explore Parc de la Ciutadella and the Gothic Quarter. And don’t miss kids’ activities like the mosaic-making class and the kids’ walking tour.

The rest of your time can be spent at local playgrounds, eating a tapas meal, or checking out other museums and sites of Barcelona like the science museum, the amusement park at Tibidabo, or taking a cable car up to Montjuic castle.

My favorite travel resources you’ll want for spending 4 days in Barcelona with your family:

• Holafly - The eSIM you'll want for unlimited data, staying connected seamlessly while abroad, and affordable plans.
• Hey Mondo - For travel insurance that is affordable, allows long-stay insurance, and has an easy claims process.
• Welcome Pickups - For reliable and affordable airport transportation that you can book ahead of time in most major cities.
• Surfshark - For keeping your information safe on public WiFi with a VPN that allows for unlimited devices.

What to do in Jujuy, Argentina and Tips and Tricks for Visiting Tilcara as a Family

Jujuy, Argentina is in the northwest part of the country, and it’s definitely a bit more off the beaten path. The town is called San Salvador de Jujuy, but most people refer to “Jujuy” as the entire region surrounding the city. 

The main attractions in Jujuy, Argentina include admiring the gorgeous landscape of multicolored desert mountains, the indigenous culture, and the “Salinas Grandes” salt flats.

Before traveling to Jujuy (when we were in Buenos Aires and Iguazu), every Argentinian that we talked to raved about Jujuy. And now we see why.

We found the ability to be outside in wide open spaces, the laid back markets and towns, and the slow pace of life of Jujuy to be perfect for traveling with young kids. After a week of fast-paced “go go go” of Buenos Aires and even Iguazu, Jujuy and Tilcara was just what our family needed!

If you're headed to Iguazu Falls on your family trip to Argentina, make sure to check out this travel guide and itinerary for Iguazu Falls.

Is Jujuy, Argentina safe?

Okay, let’s start here. I was a little nervous traveling to Tilcara and Jujuy as a solo mother with two young children. There isn’t a ton of information about the area online. And I’m usually one to overprepare and overplan. But it just wasn’t possible for this trip! That, to me, was a bit unsettling. 

But once I arrived, I easily relaxed into the area. I felt incredibly safe, even as a solo female traveling with kids. The locals are welcoming and very used to seeing tourists. But I never felt taken advantage of like in other tourist areas in the world.

Although petty theft does occur, it is rare. You don’t need to be concerned with pushy vendors, and you can expect to easily stroll down the streets of the small towns.

The main safety aspect I was warned about was driving at night. And that’s because animals will wander onto the roads at night, and it can become dangerous driving. I saw a number of dead dogs on the side of the road during the day, and I even passed by a horse that had been involved in a roadkill incident. 

And if you go off the major roads, especially in the rainy season, road conditions can be a bit rough. Without cell service outside of the towns, this could potentially create some unsafe circumstances. That being said, I never needed to go off the main roads for what we did as a family with kids traveling in Jujuy.

According to this website for solo female travelers, Tilcara is the #3 safest part of Argentina. It’s only behind Ushuaia and Iguazu… Buenos Aires is all the way down at #13 for some perspective! 

Don’t let the remoteness and rawness of the region deter you from visiting Jujuy and Tilcara. It’s a beautiful and magical place.

If you're looking for another safe place to visit in Argentina with kids, do not pass up the opportunity to visit Iguazu Falls! Check out all my tips and recommendations for visiting Iguazu Falls in this article.

What to do in Jujuy, Argentina

The region of Jujuy is huge. A lot of people make a roadtrip out of it in order to more easily see the entire area. We chose to base ourselves in Tilcara because being able to unpack and have a “home” for a few nights with the kids with the same beds for a few nights is always easier.

Because of its size, I’ve broken down what to do in Jujuy, Argentina by the towns in the area and what there is to do in each of the towns.

Especially with kids, you will not be able to do everything! I was a bit overly ambitious in my planning of our Jujuy visit. 

Some places require a long, windy road that motion-sick prone kids won’t be too keen on. And some hikes may be a bit long and tedious for kids that just want to play at the play structure back at your accommodation. And some tours are only available in Spanish. So when only I speak basic Spanish (and have to simultaneously listen and translate for my kids), this is overwhelming to me and boring for the kids.

I definitely dropped a lot of plans once we arrived. Instead, we settled in, slowed down, and just enjoyed the incredible nature that was surrounding us everywhere. I encourage you to do the same. Jujuy is less about doing things, and more about just being there and enjoying.

I had an eSIM from Holafly with unlimited data. Even in Jujuy, Argentina I had amazing service in all the towns. Check them out here.

What to do in Tilcara - Jujuy, Argentina

Caravana de Llamas

Meeting the llamas and taking a little walk with them was one of our favorite activities in Tilcara and Jujuy overall!

With just adults, you can go for a whole hike or trek with the llamas. This would have been a fun activity, but it isn’t available for young kids.

So an alternative activity they have is a 45-60 minute visit with the llamas. At the beginning, the guide explains the history of llamas (in both English and Spanish). Like, did you know that llamas originated in the Rocky Mountains? I sure didn’t. 

After that, your family is assigned a llama. We got Eva, who was mother to a 25 day old llama, Argentino. Then, everyone in the group leads their llama on a walk together. My kids loved it, and even my youngest got into saying, “Vamos vamos vamos” to encourage Eva along. Plus, there were gorgeous views along the way.

Tours occur at 11am and 4pm, and you need to book your visit ahead of time. Contact them via WhatsApp a few days before you’d like to visit. I tried contacting them months in advance, and never received a response. But when I contacted them once I had arrived in Jujuy, I received a response and was able to book our visit.

If you pay online ahead of time, you can pay with a credit card. But if you’re paying in person, you will need to pay in cash. When we visited in June 2025, the cost was 19k pesos per person. 

To get there, it’s a bit of a tiny, rough dirt road. Nothing scary, but you’ll need to take it slow. And you may start to question if you’re even going the right way. If you’re following Google Maps, you are. Just keep going.

Find more information on the Caravana de Llamas website.

Shop for Produce and Souvenirs in Town

We were staying at an accommodation with a kitchen, so when we arrived, we needed to stock up on some grocery items. For produce, it’s best to head to the main market, “Mercado Municipal de Tilcara”. There, you’ll find anything from potatoes to avocados to olive oil and spices. 

A select few vendors accept credit cards, but it’s best to come with cash. Because even when I did pay with a credit card, the machine had trouble working and it almost wasn’t an option.

For additional grocery items, there is a small supermarket in town. There, you’ll be able to find things like coffee (which is surprisingly hard to find since Argentina is so mate focused!), wine, and even frozen veggie burgers. The supermarket accepts credit cards with no problem.

For souvenirs, head to the town square just across the street from the municipal market. There, we purchased some slippers (it’s cold on winter mornings in the desert!) and small dolls for my girls. You can also find your typical souvenirs of the area like blankets, jewelry, stuffed animals, mate mugs, magnets, keychains, etc.

Pucará Ruins

The Pucará was a pre-Incan fortress that protected the surrounding land. When you visit, you can see remnants of the old structures and how people used to live. You’ll see llama corrals, homes, and ancient ceremonial areas. All with a stunning mountainous backdrop, of course.

Kids can imagine what life would have been like, as well as admire the enormous cacti that are found on site.

Guided tours are in Spanish only, and you’ll need to reserve your ticket ahead of time at this website. Alternatively, you can explore Pucará on your own and pay the entrance fee upon arrival.

Altura Botanical Gardens

Speaking of cacti, for a relaxing experience, you could head to the Altura Botanical Gardens in Tilcara. To be honest, we didn’t go. We had cacti and other native flora right in the backyard of our accommodation. So I didn’t feel like paying money for my kids to be bored.

But if you’re staying in town and haven’t seen some of the giant cacti, or if you’re really into native plants, or if you just want an easy walk in nature, it could be worth a visit!

Garganta del Diablo Waterfall and Hike

You can walk to the entrance to Garganta del Diablo from town, but expect it to take a good portion of your day. Alternatively, you can drive up a windy road 20-30 minutes to the entrance, park, and spend a half hour to an hour exploring the trail and falls.

With kids, I’d recommend the latter option. It’s a small waterfall. Especially if you’ve come from Iguazu like we had. But it’s a nice destination and a doable hike for little legs and little bodies that may still be acclimating to the elevation. And the hike is a loop, so you don’t need to be worried about getting lost.

You’ll need to pay an entrance fee, so like many places in Argentina, bring cash! 

Folk Music at a Peña

We did not end up visiting a peña with folk music while we were in Jujuy. Argentinians stay up late, so the music doesn’t start until 9pm. That’s pretty late for my little ones.

Plus, we had a kitchen to cook our own dinner. After a day of being out in the sun, relaxing at the house was much more our vibe by the time evening rolled around.

But before our trip, I had done some research and I had earmarked La Peña de Carlitos as my top choice, with La Peña de Chuspita as a backup.

Archeological Museum

Right in town, it’s easy to pop into the Archaeological museum of Tilcara. It has a number of artifacts from the indigenous culture like bowls, vases, and other everyday items. They’re dated from pre-Hispanic times and interesting follow up to the Pucará ruins.

Wayra Cave

You’ll need to go with a guide to the Wayra caves, which you should book at the tourism office in Tilcara. And it will be a full day activity. And I’ve heard it isn’t a hike exactly suitable for young kids. That being said, with my 3 year old and 8 year old, we didn’t attempt the hike. But older kids could be okay with the hike.

The caves and the views from the caves look spectacular, though. So if you’re physically able and have the time, the Wayra Cave could be a fun activity in Jujuy, Argentina!

What to do in Humahuaca - Jujuy, Argentina

Driving north from Tilcara, there are a couple of quick stops you could take if you want to break up the drive to Humahuaca.

The first stop is at a slightly hidden monument to represent the Tropic of Capricorn. It was fun to explain what it meant to the kids, snap a quick photo, and head back to the car.

The second stop is Paseo Arte Guanaco. The main draw really is a giant llama (maybe guanaco?) outside of the shop. For kids, it’s fun to take a photo.

Inside, there is a restaurant that looked pretty deserted. And some additional artisan crafts and souvenirs. Some of the artisan crafts actually seemed authentic. But for us, it was a nice way to break up the drive. And we found some cookies to buy for a  snack in the car.

Hornocal

Hornocal aka The 14 Colored Mountain is the biggest draw to the town of Humahuaca. It’s arguably the best viewpoint in all of Jujuy. And it’s no wonder you can see so much - at Hornocal you’re sitting at over 14,000 feet in elevation!

You’ll need to drive up to the entrance from Humahuaca. You can either drive it yourself or hire a 4x4 in town to take you up there. The drive itself is manageable, especially in good weather. But it is a gravel, winding road. And you’ll be at high altitude so you want to make sure your body is acclimatized enough to drive safely.

When you enter the town, you will be waved down by the group selling you 4x4 rides to Hornocal. They almost make it look like they’re an official government stop point. They aren’t. But they can smell a tourist a mile away. 

These “officials” will try to convince you that it isn’t safe (or that you aren’t allowed) to drive up to the entrance of Hornocal yourself, and try to sell you a ride. This is the closest scammy, taking advantage of tourists situation I came across in Argentina.

If you don’t feel comfortable driving up by yourself, I’d recommend going to the tourist office in town to get a ride to the top. And if you do feel comfortable driving yourself - go for it! It’s about 25km and will take you around 45 minutes one way.

At the top, you’ll need to pay an entrance fee. Then there are a few short hikes to check out the views. Remember, you’ll be at over 14,000 feet! So set your expectations accordingly. And bring water and anything else you’ll need to help with the elevation.

Shop for Artisan Goods and Souvenirs

The Plaza and main square in Humahuaca is lined with artisan and souvenir stands. Some of the artisan stands in this town felt a bit more authentic. Some of the goods actually seemed hand made compared to Purmamarca and Tilcara. And there were some unique items I hadn’t seen at the other markets. Especially some jewelry that was tempting.

I had read before visiting that a shop in town named Manos Andinas was the place to shop for authentic, hand made, fair trade artisan souvenirs. I came prepared with plenty of cash, ready to shop for something that would last. But, despite the “Abierto” sign in the window, the shop was definitely closed while we were there.

While in the main plaza, you can climb the steps to the Monumento a los Heroes de la Indepencia and admire the views from the top. And there are some nice restaurants in town. We especially enjoyed Pachamanka Restaurante for a nice meal out that also felt child friendly.

What to do in Purmamarca - Jujuy, Argentina

Purmamarca is the one place where I did pay for parking in Jujuy. Right when you enter town, there are cars lining the wide, main road. A sign indicates that it’s paid parking. I decided to park here rather than navigating the narrow streets of town and hoping to find a spot. 

You need to find the parking attendant in the yellow vest. When we visited, it was 800 pesos. You didn’t need to put the ticket in your car or anything so I don’t know how heavily it’s regulated. But at less than 1 USD, it was worth the peace of mind for me.

Paseo de los Colores

The Paseo de los Colores is my top pick for a hike in Jujuy with kids. It’s a 3km hike with very clear signage and very little elevation gain. The views along the way are spectacular, and you can start and end the hike right in the town of Purmamarca. 

You will need to pay a nominal entrance fee in cash, but it’s worth it for the views and ease of this family friendly hike. On Google Maps, this hike is labeled as “Paseo de los Colores”, but it has also been called Cerro de los Sietes Colores. They are one in the same, just so you don’t get confused.

Artisan Markets

Purmamarca is another town that is lined with artisan and souvenir stands. There are also a number of permanent shops with souvenirs for sale. In many of the shops, you’re able to pay with a credit card. Plus, you can find some unique goods that aren’t available at the typical outdoor stands. 

Visit the Small Playground in the Town Square

In the middle of the main plaza in Purmamarca, there is a small playground. My kids loved being able to just be kids for a while. And I enjoyed listening to the folk music that was playing at a nearby restaurant and people watching. Overall, it was a really pleasant way to relax and soak in the atmosphere of Purmamarca.

Live Folk Music at a Restaurant

Unlike in Tilcara, some restaurants in Purmamarca have folk music playing for lunch and not just after 9pm. If you want to listen to some live folk music with your kids, I would prioritize Purmamarca over Tilcara because of this.

When we were there, Pasakana Resto Bar seemed to have the most reliable music playing at lunch time. They had a relaxing, shaded upstairs patio for dining and that’s also where the band was playing. But when in doubt, you can just follow the music.

Salinas Grandes - Jujuy, Argentina

The Salinas Grandes salt flats are different from any other attraction you’ll see in Jujuy, or in Argentina for that matter. 

It takes a bit to get there, and once you’re there it is really unique and interesting. But the novelty can wear off quickly with little ones. So decide for yourself whether or not it’s worth it for your family to visit Salinas Grandes.

It’s about a 1.5 hour drive (one way!) from Purmamarca up to Salinas Grandes. Along the way, you could break up the drive a teeny bit by stopping at the Abra de Potrerillos sign - where you’ll be able to snap a photo showing that you are at 4170 meters in elevation (nearly 13,700 feet!). 

There is also a restaurant just before you reach the entrance to the salt flats called La Pekana. The restaurant has views of the surrounding mountains and of the salt flats in the distance. They have traditional Argentinian food, and even coca tea if anyone is struggling with the altitude. Plus, they have bathrooms if anyone needs to relieve themselves before entering Salinas Grandes.

Once you arrive at Salinas Grandes, you will register and pay in the parking area. A guide will either come in your car or lead your car (and maybe a couple others) on a motorbike through the salt flats.

You’ll have the opportunity to get out, snap some fun photos, and marvel at all that salt! You’ll spend 1-2 hours at the salt flats before making the 1.5 hour journey back down to Purmamarca.

Make sure you bring sunnies, plenty of water, and wear sunscreen!

Where to stay in Jujuy, Argentina

Tilcara, Jujuy Argentina

If you’re wondering where to base yourself for a few days in Jujuy, I recommend Tilcara. Especially if you’re staying at a self-catering house or apartment. 

Tilcara is centrally located between Purmamarca and Humahuaca, it’s where the main gas station is located (this is important in Jujuy!), and it’s where the main produce market, grocery shops, and other daily conveniences are located.

We stayed at Cabaña La Nochera just outside of Tilcara and it was the most fantastic spot for kids. Plenty of space to play, a small play structure, modern conveniences, and friendly hosts.

Purmamarca, Jujuy Argentina

If you’re staying at a hotel and plan to eat out for meals, you could consider staying in Purmamarca. Especially if visiting Salinas Grandes is a top priority for your family. 

Purmamarca is definitely more of a town made for tourists. But I did really enjoy the feel of the town with its folk music, playground, and laid back atmosphere.

There are zero supermarkets in Purmamarca. There are a few small food shops, but I had difficulty even finding a bag of rice. Luckily, a shop owner was really helpful and told me which store to check and how to find it.

Colores de Purmamarca vacation rental home could be the perfect happy medium for your family. It has a full kitchen but you can have breakfast included. Plus, there's a pool if you're visiting in the warmer months!

What to Consider When Deciding Where to Stay in Jujuy, Argentina

Parking

The streets in the towns of Jujuy are narrow. If you are at all concerned with your car getting side swiped (yes, there are reports of it happening at certain accommodations I was considering), make sure there is dedicated parking for your accommodation.

Alternatively, choose a place that is out of town a bit more, where the streets are a little less trafficked. 

Noise level at night from the Peñas

As I mentioned earlier, the folk music at Peñas in Tilcara doesn’t start until 9pm. I don’t know about your kids, but mine are usually in bed or at least on their way at 9pm. We just aren’t on the Argentinian sleep schedule.

If you’re concerned about noise at night, pay attention to reviews. And take a look at what businesses and restaurants are nearby your accommodation.

Wifi Reviews

A few places I looked at did not have good reviews for the Wifi quality. If this is important to your family, don’t assume that having Wifi available means having streamable Wifi available in every room. 

In town, I did have service consistently with my eSIM. And with unlimited data from companies like Holafly, unreliable Wifi may not be an issue for you.

Especially if you’re staying out of town, though. Make sure Wifi gets good reviews at the places you’re considering!

Space for Kids

If having space to relax or play after a day of exploring and being in the car, pay attention to the living room areas. One place I was considering seemed great… until I realized the only relaxing furniture was a hard bench. For five nights, this wasn’t ideal for our family.

And most places in town won’t have outdoor areas for your kids to play. If this is important for your family, consider staying out of town. Or maybe in Purmamarca where there is the playground in the main plaza.

Food Availability

As I mentioned earlier, Purmamarca doesn’t really have any supermarkets or produce markets for gathering groceries. All towns are going to have restaurants. But if you have a kitchen, just make sure you have a plan for stocking that kitchen.

Why I recommend staying at Cabaña La Nochera

We chose to stay at Cabaña La Nochera, which is 7km outside of Tilcara. It was absolutely the perfect place for our family for the five nights we were in Jujuy. This wasn’t a sponsored stay or anything, I just really loved this accommodation so much… especially with kids! 

La Nochera offered phenomenal views of the mountains. I almost didn’t feel like we had to go to different viewpoints, because we had them right in our own backyard! And front yard for that matter.

It’s remote and you’re connected to nature. But you have all the modern conveniences and comforts. And you’re only 10-15 minutes from Tilcara. Parking also obviously isn’t an issue. You have your own driveway!

There is a small play structure available for the kids, friendly dogs to play with, occasionally the owner’s son comes over to play, there’s a horse to pet, and there’s space to play - inside and out! And the Wifi is fast. 

There were extra touches like the tasteful artwork and nods to the indigenous culture. There was a basket of fruit waiting for us. They had universal adapters available to use. And they came and cleaned once during our 5 night stay.

As an upside, they accept credit card payments (which becomes important in Argentina!). As a downside, they charge an extra 10% - which wasn’t disclosed to me until after I had arrived. But what was I going to do then? I just didn’t have the cash with me.

The only downside was that when the power goes out (this happened twice during our stay - but only briefly), I didn’t have cell service there. I had to drive 1.5km down to the main road to get connected. Since I was traveling alone with my kids, not being connected was a bit unsettling. But like I said, both times it was resolved quickly and didn’t become an ongoing issue.

How to get to Jujuy, Argentina

The easiest, quickest, most convenient way to get to Jujuy, Argentina is by flying into the Jujuy airport - Gobernador Horacio Guzman International Airport (JUJ).

It’s about a two hour flight from Buenos Aires. Alternatively, you could fly into the Salta airport. But if you’re only planning on exploring north of Salta and Jujuy, this just adds hours on the road.

For perspective, from the Jujuy airport, it’s a 1hr20min drive to Purmamarca, and 1hr35min to Tilcara. From the Salta airport, it’s 2hrs45min to Purmamarca, and just over 3 hours to Tilcara.

But if you plan on exploring places south of Salta, like Cafayate, you may want to consider flying into Salta instead of Jujuy.

P.S. Did you know nearly all airports in Argentina have kids play areas?? It's a game changer while waiting for your boarding time.

How to get around Jujuy, Argentina

Rent a Car

Especially with kids, I really encourage you to rent a car. 

A lot of young backpacker-style tourists take the buses around. And they seem reliable and convenient. But to be on your own schedule, your own itinerary, and in the comfort of your own music, movies, and talking space, just rent a car.

If you stick to the main roads, you won’t run into any dangerous road conditions. I was just warned not to drive at night because animals are likely to be crossing or wandering on the roads. And when we were there, I did see a number of dead dogs, and even a dead horse, on the sides of the roads.

Jujuy is definitely not walkable. Everything is a drive. And a number of the roads wind around the mountainsides. If any of your kids struggle with motion sickness, make sure you bring motion sickness meds with you! We used these homeopathic motion sickness meds for a non-drowsy option. And they seemed to work better for my daughter than Dramamine. 

If you're headed to Iguazu Falls, skip the car rental! Read about how to get around Iguazu Falls in this article.

Getting Gas in Jujuy, Argentina

Gas stations aren’t necessarily hard to come by. But when you see one, especially a major chain, just make sure you fill up. For us, we were 7km from Tilcara. And Tilcara has one of the main gas stations in all of Jujuy.

And as a side note, we had a nice car that had a lot of modern conveniences like navigation, CarPlay connection, back up cameras, etc. But the fuel gauge was just off and inaccurate. It said I was 80% full when I was really only 50% full. Pay attention to how far you’ve gone and just fill up. I wouldn’t want to be stuck between towns with no cell service and an empty tank.

I had read reports of some gas stations running out of gas in Jujuy. But I think if you stick to the main gas stations (like the YPF in Tilcara), I don’t think it will be an issue.

There is often a line for the gas pumps. So if you’re in a time crunch and need gas, leave early!

Pump attendants do everything for you. You’ll need to tell them what type of gas you want and how much gas to put in your tank. Yes, they are happy to fill it up. I don’t think it’s exactly the right terminology for cars, but I always requested “hasta llenar”. And through sign language, they were able to confirm that they understood. They’re used to tourists in Jujuy.

In my experiences, you can even pay with a credit card right from your car. They will bring the card reader to the window. If you’re at a smaller gas station, it’s a possibility that cash is the only option.

Other Tips for Driving in Jujuy, Argentina

Police Stops

When we were leaving Humahuaca, they were doing breathalyzer tests on all the drivers leaving town.

And there were a number of police checks along the route. I was always waved through. But even the car rental agent was surprised that I never had to show my registration during my five day rental.

Driving at Night

I’ve mentioned not driving at night a few times, but I think it deserves a space in this section, too. Driving at night isn’t advised, mostly because of the animals that wander onto the road. Drive with caution if you end up driving after dark.

Speed Limits

Locals just don’t abide by the speed limits. And you’ll piss them off if you abide by every speed limit. I found this out the hard way. 

When you see a speed limit decrease, it is a sign that either a windy road is approaching. Or maybe some speed bumps. So proceed with caution and maybe decrease your speed a bit. But in general, I learned to follow what the locals were doing, decrease by at least 10km/hr, allow everyone to pass me, and I was fine.

Road Conditions

The main roads are generally in good shape. There’s the occasional dip or random bump so you need to stay alert. 

You will end up driving on dirt or gravel roads in Jujuy. It’s unavoidable. Just go slowly and you’ll get there. All the towns are unpaved, or have cobblestones at best. To get to all the major attractions, though, the roads are generally in good shape.

Parking in Jujuy

Streets in towns in Jujuy are tight. Sometimes there is restricted parking, so pay attention to signs and utilize your Google Translate photo feature to understand what the signs are indicating… or just park somewhere with no signs.

Some people park on the sidewalks to move to the side more and avoid getting side swiped. Like with speed limits, just follow what others are doing. But know you may drive around the towns a bit before finding a parking space you’re comfortable with. I generally chose to park on the outskirts of town a bit more to find wider or less trafficked street parking.

In Purmamarca when you first enter town, there is a main paved road with paid parking. When we visited, the cost was 800 pesos (at the time less than $1). I chose to park there over trying to find something on the narrow dirt roads with a lot of foot traffic in town. Just find the attendant with a bright yellow vest, and he’ll give you a ticket indicating that you paid.

Do you need a 4x4 in Jujuy, Argentina?

In my experience, I never felt like I needed 4WD in Jujuy. But we were there in the dry season (safer roads), and we generally stuck to the main roads. Even on the dirt and gravel roads, it wasn’t necessary.

If you plan on venturing off the major roads, or if you’re visiting when roads may flood, you may want to consider 4x4. But for a general kid-friendly trip to Jujuy, a 4x4 isn’t needed.

When to go to Jujuy, Argentina

We visited Jujuy in June and would 10/10 recommend visiting Jujuy in winter. So in Argentina, that means June to August. 

The weather we experienced in winter was dry (i.e. safe roads!), cold in the evenings (think 30s), and in the 70s and sunny during the day. That meant cool enough for hikes but warm enough to wear a tshirt. We had to pack a lot of layers of course. But also during winter, crowds are lowest.

We also really enjoyed visiting Iguazu Falls in the winter months. You can read about why in this article.

Other times to consider visiting Jujuy are in Spring (September to October) or Autumn (April and May). 

In spring and autumn months, you’ll still have mild temperatures, but it won’t be so cold at night. Meaning you can probably leave the puffy jackets and gloves behind. There’s a bit more of a chance of rain than in winter, but you’re unlikely to experience bad road conditions due to the rain in spring and autumn.

Visiting in the summer (November to March) could be interesting. It’s hot. And it rains more, which means some roads become flooded and unusable. And all of your outdoor hikes could be a bit wet with limited views.

What to pack for Jujuy, Argentina

In addition to all of your regular travel items, here are some things you’ll specifically want to pack for a trip to Jujuy, Argentina.

Sun Protection

That high altitude sun is intense. So you’ll want to protect yourself with sunscreen, hats, and sunnies. If you've never tried a sunscreen stick with kids, now is the time! So many fewer arguments getting sunscreen on faces ever since I started using them!

Layers

Being at a high altitude desert means that the temperature can fluctuate a lot throughout the day. In the winter when we visited, it would be in the 30s in the morning, but quickly climb to the 70s as the sun heated the land.

But with any cloud cover or wind, and if you climb higher in altitude, the real feel could once again change drastically.

We had t-shirts, sweaters, and puffy jackets. And wore them all at different times of the day! Since it got so cold overnight, we ended up buying slippers at one of the markets because the floors were so cold in the mornings.

I have a few different recommendations on what to bring along if you're also planning on visiting Iguazu Falls on your family trip to Argentina. You can find those items in this article.

Flashlight

In our 5 night stay in Tilcara, the power did go out twice. Both times, it was resolved quickly. But I still was happy to have a flashlight with me… just in case.

I always travel with a small flashlight in my suitcase. And I like how this one is rechargeable so I don't have to mess with carrying spare batteries.

Motion Sickness Meds

Roads are windy. They’re bumpy. You have to drive to do anything. If anyone in your group experiences car sickness, make sure you’re prepared!

My daughter found these homeopathic motions sickness meds to work better than even Dramamine. And they didn’t make her drowsy at all. For adults, I also love Bonine.

Hydration

Water bottles and electrolytes if you can. That dry, high altitude air makes it easy to get dehydrated. Come prepared and be proactive with hydration.

My kids love LMNT electrolytes, but anything will do!

Moisturizer

My skin was dry in Jujuy. Especially because we had just come from tropical Iguazu. I found myself putting on moisturizer daily.

Cash!

You can find places that accept credit cards in Jujuy. But there are some things that only have cash as an option. Or that credit cards are kind of a hassle. At markets, entrance fees for hikes, and on some tours you’re going to need cash.

I luckily brought enough cash with me from Buenos Aires where I picked some up from a Western Union. And I’m glad I did. The line in Tilcara for the bank was always at least 30 people deep. And I’ve heard that Western Unions in the area can easily run out of cash and they may charge additional service fees.

Just do yourself a favor and pick up enough cash in Buenos Aires before heading to Jujuy.

Final Thoughts: Visiting Jujuy, Argentina with Kids

Jujuy, Argentina is a beautiful piece of the country with vast, open landscapes, beautifully unique mountains and views, and vibrant indigenous culture. 

My top tips and recommendations for visiting Jujuy, Argentina include bringing plenty of cash, renting a car, being mindful of the altitude, and slowing down and being realistic with what you can achieve in your time there.

Do these things and you’ll have a magical and memorable trip to Jujuy, Argentina.

My Top Resources for Planning a Trip to Jujuy, Argentina:

Get unlimited data with an eSIM from Holafly.

Consider staying at Cabañas La Nochera in Tilcara for a fantastic kid-friendly experience.

Compare prices for rental cars on Rental Cars. It allows you to compare prices across rental car companies, filter for car size, automatic transmission, company reviews, and price.

Don't forget travel insurance from a company like SafetyWing.

When you're leaving or arriving in Buenos Aires, do yourself a favor and arrange transfers with Welcome Pickups. 

If you're also planning on visiting Iguazu Falls on your family trip to Argentina, make sure to check out this massive article I wrote with everything you need to know to maximize your time in Iguazu Falls!

Iguazu Falls is one of those places that is worth the hype. And it’s worth being surrounded by crowds of tourists to see. 

That being said, is 2 days enough in Iguazu Falls?

Definitely. A full 2 day Iguazu Falls itinerary allows you to see Iguazu Falls from the Argentinian side and the Brazilian side. It also provides enough time for a few additional activities in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina. Things to do other than visit Iguazu Falls include learning how to drink mate like the locals at Yerba Mate Club, spotting wildlife at Parque Das Avas or Guira Oga, and enjoying a tango dinner show at El Quincho del Tio Querido.

If you're also planning on visiting Jujuy and Tilcara on your trip to Argentina with kids, make sure you check out my Jujuy travel guide here!

I’ve outlined how I think you should prioritize your two days in Iguazu Falls, Argentina. I’ve based the Iguazu Falls itinerary from Argentina, so if you’re staying on the Brazilian side, your activities outside of the falls will look different, but my tips and tricks for visiting Iguazu Falls will remain the same. 

Important Note: American citizens now need a visa to enter Brazil!!

Getting the visa is quite the process (especially if you have kids) and is almost necessary to do ahead of time. You’ll need to upload documents like passports, passport style photos, birth certificates, and marriage certificates. If both parents are not traveling with your kids, you will also need a notarized document signed by the other parent.

Two Day Iguazu Falls Itinerary

The best Iguazu Falls itinerary for families includes a visit to both sides of the falls as well as a few activities in the town of Puerto Iguazu, Argentina.

I provide a lot of tips and tricks for visiting Iguazu Falls in the following sections, so be sure to check them out! I also provide plenty of alternative activity options for Puerto Iguazu. So if something isn't of interest to you, I've got you covered!

Day 1 of Your Iguazu Falls Itinerary:

1. Visit the Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls
2. Learn how to drink Mate at Yerba Mate Club
3. Enjoy an easy buffet dinner at El Arbol Real

Day 2 of Your Iguazu Falls Itinerary:

1. Visit the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls
2. Get up close with tropical birds at El Parque das Aves
3. Enjoy a tango dinner show at El Quincho del Tio Querido

Day 1 of Your Iguazu Falls Itinerary:

• Visit the Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls
• Mate Tea tasting at Yerba Mate Club
• Easy Dinner (Ideas in post) in Puerto Iguazu

Visit the Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls

Buy your tickets ahead of time if you can.

If you can, buy your tickets ahead of time to avoid the lines when you arrive. When we were there in the winter, the lines weren’t too bad. But I was still glad not to have that one extra step to do when we arrived. 

Before our trip, I had some difficulty buying tickets online ahead of time. I kept trying, and eventually it worked. 

I think it had something to do with the credit card payment wanting me to input my “cardholder document”. I tried my passport number, but I have a new passport that starts with a letter. I think eventually I placed a “0” in its place or something, or it just decided to work.

My point is that if buying tickets online doesn’t work at first, keep trying. Or try it again but a little differently.

How to get to the Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls.

You can buy tickets from the bus terminal and take a bus to the falls. This is certainly the most economical way to get to the falls. 

If you’re renting your own car, it’s an easy drive to the falls. I discuss later that renting your own car may not be worth the money in Iguazu. I paid less hiring a private driver every day than I would have to rent my own car.

I discuss later in the article that we chose to hire a private driver. Especially when we had multiple early mornings in a row, having him pick us up and not bothering with buying tickets and timing the buses just right was worth the extra cost for me.

I highlight our driver and the reasons we continuously hired him below, but if you want his contact information, please email me! (thebeckhamsabroad @gmail.com)

If you aren’t traveling with young kids, taking the bus could definitely be a good option for your family! Especially on the Argentinian side when you aren’t having to deal with immigration lines.

What to bring to the Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls.

I talk about what to bring when visiting the Iguazu Falls below. But as a quick recap, you’re going to want ponchos, umbrellas, bugspray, layers of clothing, waterproof shoes, your passport, waterproof pouches, changes of clothes for kids, snacks, and waters.

We were there for 6 hours and walked about 6 miles during our visit to the Argentinian side of the falls. So pack food and clothing accordingly.

Arrive early.

To avoid the crowds, the earlier the better. Plus, this gives you the opportunity to take breaks when kids need them, and to not feel like you need to hurry everyone along. We spent 6 hours at the park without taking too many breaks.

In the summer months, the earlier the better. Avoid that afternoon heat. Explore the falls in the morning and early afternoon, and enjoy the pool at Hotel Saint George in the afternoon heat.

Get your train ticket to Garganta del Diablo.

Garganta del Diablo is where you go to feel like you're standing at the edge of the falls. It’s powerful. It’s intense. It’s loud. It’s misty. And it feels like an adventure.

This is where you’re going to need your poncho. And where you’ll need to fight the crowds the most.

To get to Garganta del Diablo, unless you want to walk a lot more, you’ll want to get your family a train ticket. Tickets are free, but you’ll be assigned a designated time slot (for going and returning) that they take pretty seriously. Just head to the main train station and follow the signs (and the people) to get tickets.

Once on the train, it takes about 25 minutes to reach the Garganta del Diablo train station. It’s the second stop - so don’t get off at the first stop!

Visiting Garganta del Diablo

Once you get off the train, you’ll have about a 1km walk on a boardwalk to get to the main viewing platform. Between the walk there and back, and some time at the viewing platform, we spent between 45 minutes to an hour at Garganta del Diablo.

The problem was that your return train ticket is set for 2hours after your departure. And they take this time slot seriously. So we had about 45 minutes to kill, and we weren’t alone. There were a lot of people just sitting around waiting for their train time.

There are bathrooms by the train station, and some tables and chairs outside of a shop. We decided to go to the bathroom and have a snack. Well we weren’t the only ones. And the coaties knew it.

The coaties around the Garganta del Diablo train station are intense. They have no fear and will check out anything remotely resembling food. After some scares with the coaties, we packed up our snacks and waited to eat on the train.

Explore the upper and lower loops.

Once you’re on the train and leaving Garganta del Diablo, you’ll want to get off at the first stop (the “Estacion Cataratas”) to explore the “inferior” and “superior” loops.

The “inferior” or lower loop provides vast views of the falls from further down the cliffsides. These panoramic views were probably some of my favorites of the whole park. The lower loop is about 1.4km, but you’ll also need to factor in a bit of time to walk to the start of the loop.

The “superior” or upper falls loop provides more powerful overlooks from the tops of the falls. The superior loop is about 1.5km from start to finish.

In between the two loops, there is a small food shop. Outside of this store, there is a caged area where you can eat safely away from any coaties. You do need to buy something at the shop, so my girls each enjoyed a popsicle.

That being said, the crowds weren’t really there. So neither were the coaties. We probably would have been safe from the coaties at that point. But it was a good excuse to sit down and relax between loops.

Don’t forget to look for wildlife.

In addition to coaties, we spotted a number of butterflies, a capybara and even some monkeys swinging through the trees! Oh, and a wild passionfruit plant. Not exactly wildlife, but I’m not sure if I had ever seen one growing in the wild before!

Bathrooms and Souvenir Shops

Bathrooms are plentiful at Iguazu Falls, so it isn’t something you’ll need to worry about. So are the food shops along the route. So if you forget water, or someone needs a pick me up, you’ll be fine.

And especially toward the entrance, there are a number of souvenir shops to choose from. We perused the shops and bought a magnet while we waited for our driver to arrive. That being said, I was much more impressed and tempted with what was available at the souvenir shop on the Brazil side of the falls. So if you plan on visiting Brazil, maybe wait on souvenirs for now.

Important Note: Don't forget to get yourself set up with an eSIM (my favorite is Holafly because they offer unlimited data), so you have a way to contact your driver to pick you up when you've finished at the falls!

Yerba Mate Club

After you return to town and everyone has changed out of their wet and sweaty falls clothes, if your group is anything like mine, they’re going to be a little beat from a long day of exploring. It’s the perfect opportunity to sit down before dinner and soak in some of the ever-prevalent mate culture of Argentina.

Head to Yerba Mate Club to experience a tutorial about the history of mate, the different varieties, and how to properly prepare and drink mate. This was one of my favorite experiences, because without it, I wouldn’t have felt confident to prepare mate myself.

There is often a man that can do the tasting with you in English. He wasn’t there when we arrived, but I managed to get the message in Spanish. And she made sure I was understanding along the way, and was happy to explain things in a different way if I wasn't understanding.

Mate is caffeinated, so I just let my daughter take a few sips. And they provided us with some cookies that the girls were happy to enjoy while I sipped my mate. 

They let you keep your straw from the tasting, but of course that wasn't enough for me! I walked away with my very own mate mug, and a small bag of leaves.

Buffet dinner takeaway or eat at the hotel restaurant

After exploring the Argentinian side of the falls, we were beat. It’s a lot of walking. It’s a lot of time in the elements. We just wanted to relax. Especially because we had to prep our bags and bodies for the next day’s adventures on the Brazilian side of the falls…. With another early start.

So for dinner on night 1 of your Iguazu Falls Itinerary, I recommend taking it easy. There was a really good pay-by-weight buffet a two minute walk from Hotel Saint George. It’s called El Arbol Real, and I love that everyone could get what they wanted, the girls could eat theirs while zoned out in front of a show, and I could eat my meal and peace and organize ourselves for the following day.

If that isn’t your jam, Doña Maria is the restaurant attached to Hotel Saint George. It’s a bit on the pricey side for Argentina, but the food was good and there was plenty of variety for the whole family.

If you aren’t ready to be in for the night after dinner, your kids could spend some time at the play area at Hotel Saint George. Or you could grab some dessert at one of the gelato shops like Cremolatti Heladeria. Or you could peruse the souvenir shops in town.

In general, though, plan to take it easy on that first night. You have another day of exploring to do!

If you're also headed to Tilcara and Jujuy (Argentina's Northwest), make sure you check out my Jujuy Family Travel Guide here!

Day 2 of Your Iguazu Falls Itinerary:

• Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls
• Parque Das Aves
• Tango Dinner Show

Visit the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls

(Maybe) Buy Your Tickets Ahead of Time

You can buy your tickets online before your trip for the Brazilian side of the falls. That being said, the tickets for Brazil have a time slot designated to them. When planning your Iguazu Falls itinerary, you may not know exactly when you’ll want to arrive, how late everyone has been sleeping, etc.

Buying tickets online does allow you to skip the lines once again, though. When we were there in June (which is winter and the off season), there weren’t really any lines to buy tickets. But other times of the year, this could become an issue.

I bought tickets with a 9:30am time slot. With this timeslot, and to allow for time to get through immigration, our driver recommended that he pick us up at 8am. We arrived to the falls at 9am, but that was with zero lines for immigration. Later in the day, there would be more lines to cross the border and you definitely want to allow more time to arrive at the falls.

How to Get to the Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls from Argentina

Especially for this trip, I highly recommend having a driver take you to the falls. Is it more expensive than a bus? Sure! But on a bus, every single person is going to have to clear immigration before you can move on to the falls.

And if you choose to drive yourself, the line of cars into Brazil can get really long. And in your rental car, you’ll need to purchase a special pass to allow you to drive the car into Brazil. But taxis and drivers have an express lane they can use.

Our driver also walked us through the entire immigration process. He knew what documents we needed and when. When entering Brazil, you park the car and walk inside. He knew which door to go through, and could translate any Portuguese for us when needed. The whole process was as quick and smooth as it could be.  

If you would like the name and contact information for our driver, please email me thebeckhamsabroad @gmail.com

What to Bring to the Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls

In addition to the same items I listed for the Argentinian side (ponchos, umbrellas, bugspray, layers of clothing, waterproof shoes, your passport, waterproof pouches, changes of clothes for kids, snacks, and waters), do not forget your Brazilian visas!

The printed copy of your visas along with your actual passport are required for entry into Brazil.

Don't forget your eSIM

On another note, I purchased my eSIM to only cover Argentina. In hindsight, I should have added Brazil onto my plan. Once I was in Brazil, I didn’t have cell service.

Holafly is incredibly reliable and easy to use, so I know if I would have just selected Argentina AND Brazil to my plan, it wouldn’t have cost anything extra, and I would have had service on that day.

There is Wi-Fi at the national park, but it wasn’t working properly when we were there. I was a little nervous that I wasn't going to be able to contact our driver to pick us up. Luckily, the Parque Das Aves had Wi-Fi that I was able to access.

Explore the Falls

Once it’s your entry time, you’ll be loaded onto a double decker bus that will take you to the entrance of the falls. Once there, you have a short walk to the main viewing platform. It’s crowded, the water is strong and powerful, it’s misty, and it’s just an intense experience.

My youngest wasn’t the biggest fan of the Brazilian side of the falls… except for the popcorn we got at the food stand after we were done exploring. But I still recommend going.

Consider a boat ride

On the Argentinian side, the minimum age for boat rides is 12 years old. But on the Brazilian side of the falls, there is no age limitation for boat rides. They offer a “dry” option that isn’t dry, but doesn’t put you directly under the falls. There will still be crazy mist, though, and you will get wet. So we opted out of the experience because my youngest would have been miserable.

If you do decide to do a boat ride, you buy tickets for the boat rides at the entrance. Our driver is able to get you a discount if needed. On the bus ride back, you’ll get off at the bus stop for the boat experience.

They say to allow 2 hours for the boat experience. It starts with a guided walk through the jungle. After that, there are lockers available to store anything you don’t want to get wet or to change clothes if needed. Then there is a 27 minute boat ride, and make sure you ask for the dry option when embarking!

On your way out of the Brazilian park, don’t forget to check out the souvenir shop. They have some more quality looking souvenirs and things you may actually not regret buying once you’re home.

Parque Das Aves

The Brazilian side of the falls is a much shorter experience than the Argentinian side. So to make the whole Brazilian visa process worth it, I’d recommend heading to Parque Das Aves after the falls. It’s right across the street from the national park, so you can walk to it easily.

Parque Das Aves is a bird park with a variety of birds like toucans, hummingbirds, owls, macaws, and even cassowaries. It’s a bit of a tourist trap, but the kids really enjoyed it.

Though not necessary, you can also buy tickets for Parque Das Aves online before your trip. 

Tango Dinner Show

Since the Brazilian side of the falls requires a lot less walking, and is a bit of a shorter experience, you’re likely to have a little more energy when you return to town in the afternoon. Which means your group might be feeling up to a more exciting dinner that includes a tango show.

El Quincho del Tio Querido has dinner shows every night at 7:30 (much reasonable for kids than the folk music in Tilcara that starts at 9pm). You can make a reservation before your trip via WhatsApp to ensure they’ll have a table for your group.

What to Pack for a Day Exploring Iguazu Falls

Ponchos

Even on the clearest of days, if you choose to go to Garganta del Diablo, you will get wet! The mist coming off of the falls is intense. And don’t forget, the mist is coming up from the falls. An umbrella just won’t cut it.

I bought these disposable ponchos that come with both adult and kids sizes, and they were perfect for our needs.

Brazil Visa

Do not forget to get your Brazil visa before your trip. It’s a bit of a process, but if you’re going all the way to Iguazu Falls, you might as well do it thoroughly and just go through the hassle of getting the Brazil visa. Plus, once you have it, it’s good for 10 years. So maybe a good excuse to plan a trip to Brazil in the future?

And do not forget to bring printed copies! They recommend you bring two printed copies of everyone’s visas with you. We only needed one copy. But I guess the other is for backup. I printed ours at home, so I’m not sure if there’s even a place to print them in town.

Passports

When you purchase your Iguazu Falls tickets, they say you will need to have your passport with you when you enter the park. They didn’t ask for ours, but I would bring them anyway.

Waterproof pouches

Speaking of passports… You don’t want to end up with a soggy passport when the mist from the falls seeps into your purse or backpack. And in such a cash-based society, you don’t want your cash getting soggy and ripping, either.

I bought these waterproof pouches that are fanny-pack style. I didn’t wear it like a fanny pack, but it was nice to have the strap and they were efficient in keeping the water out.

Having a two pack was perfect. I used one for my phone, since I knew I’d be taking it in and out more. And the other was for passports, money, and credit cards.

If you're headed to Argentina's northwest, you likely won't need waterproof pouches and ponchos! But for a list of everything you will need in Jujuy and Tilcara, head over to this article.

Baby Carrier

My “baby” was 3 when we visited Iguazu Falls, and I was so happy I brought the carrier. In total that day we walked nearly 10 miles. I’m impressed my 8 year old did it with minimal complaining. I don’t think my arms would have survived carrying my 3 year old every time she didn’t feel like walking.

I did see some couples with a stroller, but there are often small sets of steps along the paths surrounding the falls. There may be ways around, but if you can, a carrier is definitely the more efficient way to go.

Snacks and Water

There are snacks and water available for purchase in the parks, but if you want to save a bit of money and have more flexibility, it’s best to pack a few things.

Beware of the coaties! Especially in the area after Garganta del Diablo in Argentina, when everyone is waiting for their turn on the train and has nothing to do but eat, the coaties are a bit aggressive for my liking. They will jump up on your table, climb on your backpack, and in general have zero fear in their search for food.

In other portions of the park, you can purchase something at the store and eat in a cage, safe from the coaties. The coaties also weren’t as plentiful or aggressive in other parts of the park.

Cash

Like all places in Argentina, you don’t want to be walking around with zero cash. You likely won’t need a lot of it when visiting the falls, but you’ll at least need it to pay or tip your driver.

Waterproof Shoes

If you don’t like walking around all day with wet feet, try to wear waterproof or water resistant shoes. Even on a clear day, that mist is thick.

I like these because they're lightweight, have a decent grip, and are waterproof. Plus, I just love all things Xero Shoes! 

Kids’ Change of Clothes

If your kids complain about wet clothes as much as mine do, you’ll want to bring along a change of clothes for them. And layers are always a good option as well. Even when it’s cooler, you’re doing a lot of walking and may want to remove some layers. 

I made sure to bring some gallon-sized Ziploc bags for both packing the spare clothes, and for a place to put wet items other than straight into the backpack.

Umbrellas

If it is raining when you’re there, and you’re away from the mist, you may want to consider bringing umbrellas. Ponchos can get hot when you aren't right next to the falls. And with all that walking, umbrellas could be the better option for exploring the upper and lower falls loops.

Before my trip, I bought this umbrella because it's lightweight, sturdy, and fit nicely into my suitcase. I liked it so much, I now have it set aside in my "travel" box so it doesn't get used between trips!

Bugspray

When we visited in winter (June), there was no need for bugspray. But you are in the jungle. Especially if you’re visiting in the rainy season (October to March), make sure you bring bugspray with you.

Additional Activities for Families in Iguazu, Argentina

If you have extra time, or want to substitute one of the above activities from the above Iguazu Falls Itinerary, here are a few additional activities your family may enjoy in Iguazu, Argentina.

Guira Oga Animal Sanctuary

Guira Oga is an animal sanctuary that helps to save animals like birds, monkeys, pumas, coaties, and turtles. All the animals have stories of how they came to arrive at the sanctuary, and they make efforts to show you that they really have pure intentions… rather than just trying to get tourist’s money.

When you go to Guira Oga, you first go on a truck tour through the sanctuary. It seems like it’s a bit of crap shoot whether or not your guide will speak English. It could be worth messaging them ahead of time if English is necessary for your family. After the truck tour, you’ll end with a short walk (less than 1km) to see some more animals.

Gelato

I mean, you can’t really go wrong with gelato after getting some serious miles in while exploring the falls. There are a few gelato shops in town, and we enjoyed some gelato at Cremolatti Heladeria because I know they always have at least one dairy free option.

You don't exactly need to add gelato to your Igauzu Falls Itinerary, but just know that it's definitely an option and should definitely be considered!

Souvenir Shopping

You won’t have difficulty finding a souvenir shop in town. And if you go into a few, it’ll start to feel like deja vu. But it can be fun to look around and let the kids pick something out. We found a magnet for our fridge back home, and both of my girls picked out a Capybara souvenir.

You're bound to find yourself in a souvenir shop, whether or not you officially add it to your Iguazu Falls itinerary.

Jungle Fly

Jungle Fly offers zip lining through the jungle as well as tree climbing and rappelling. My kids weren’t old enough to participate, so I didn’t try it out for myself. And reviews online are very mixed. It sounds like in general it could be a fun experience, but it isn’t a must-do activity, and that management and organization are a bit lacking.

Guarani Tribe Visit

Don’t get me wrong, I love learning about indigenous cultures, and cultures that are different from my own in general. But the visit to the Guarani Village seems pretty contrived and just set up as a show for the tourists. That being said, you will learn about ways of life of the Guarani Tribe.

They offer half day tours both in the morning and in the afternoon. And tours are available with English translation, but you’ll need to request the English option and it may come with an additional fee.

Igauzu River Miradores

Along the river on the north end of town are some overlooks that are a nice destination for a walk. One of them, Mirador Alvar Nunez, has a few play structures for the kids. It’s the only hint of a playground I found in town. So if your kids are missing their climbing equipment, it could be worth the walk over there.

The Bottle House

The Bottle House is a house made entirely of recycled plastic bottles and their caps.

I mean, is it unique? Yes. Is it fun to look at and see how it was constructed? Sure. Do I think it needs to be a top priority for your family trip to Argentina? Not really. But if you’re looking for a way to pass some time in Iguazu, it could be a fun destination. And it’s close to Guira Oga, so you could tie the two destinations together for an afternoon.

What to Skip on Your Iguazu Falls Itinerary

Jardin de los Picaflores

This hummingbird garden was continuously listed as an activity to do in Iguazu. But to be honest, for the price, it just isn’t worth it. I had to convince my kids to stay for 30 minutes before allowing us to leave. 

The hummingbirds are pretty, but it’s a small area. You need to be quiet. And there’s just not a lot to do. And the gate was locked when we first arrived, and you supposedly had to make a reservation. But how to do so (or that you even need to do so) isn’t posted anywhere.

Plus, if you’re planning to go to Parque das Aves in Brazil after visiting the falls, they have a whole hummingbird section included that is much larger than Jardin de los Picaflores. And when we went in June 2025, the price for the bird park in Brazil was about $15 per person (ages 8+), and the Jardin in Argentina was about $10 per person.

Biocenter 

The Biocenter is supposedly a place to see native flora and fauna in Igauzu, Argentina. But the reviews on all platforms are pretty horrific, saying that the animals aren’t well cared for and the facilities are run down. I’m not even sure why this place keeps showing up on lists of things to do in the area.

If you want to see local flora and fauna, head to the animal sanctuary, Guira Oga instead.

How to Get Around Iguazu, Argentina

Hire a Driver

Taking taxis or hiring drivers is the best way to get around Iguazu as a family. We arranged transport from the airport with our hotel (Hotel Saint George), and I liked the driver so much that I ended up using him to get us around the entire time we were there.

The benefits of hiring a driver include him knowing where to go and how long to allow for you to get there. Drivers and taxis can go in an express lane when entering Brazil (don’t forget your visa!). And he was even able to get us a discount sometimes with some sort of tour guide number.

If you want his contact information, please email me! (thebeckhamsabroad @gmail.com)

He was reliable, friendly, patient with kids, informative with timing, and helpful with translating and the whole process of immigration when entering and exiting Brazil. 

He only speaks Spanish, but he definitely knows how to speak Spanish to foreigners! He was very easy to understand. If you want to pay him with credit card, you can but it will be for an additional fee.

If you want a reliable driver, please email me! I’ll pass along his WhatsApp number.

Take the Buses

A lot of people take the buses, and the whole process seems like a well-oiled machine. Buses are reliable and affordable, and a great option if you’re looking to spend a little less money.

I chose not to take the buses because I wanted more flexibility with timing. And with two kids in tow, I frankly didn’t want just one more thing to figure out. And when entering Brazil, you’re definitely going to have a longer stop at immigration. That being said, make sure you get on a bus that will stop at immigration if you aren’t from Brazil or Argentina!

Rent a Car

You could rent a car in Iguazu, but it doesn’t always seem necessary. After you factor in the cost of the car, gas, insurance, and an exit permit to Brazil, you’re going to pay way more than if you just hire a private driver.

Plus, you can’t go in the express lane to enter Brazil. I saw it, and that line can get really long!! Like, waiting for hours long.

Everything in the town of Puerto Iguazu is walkable. And if you’re going slightly out of town to places like Guira Oga, there are plenty of regular taxis in town.

Where to Stay in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina

You’ll want to stay in town, especially if you’re not going to be renting a car. Everything in town is walkable, but I did look at a few places that were located out of the main town. That would have required a taxi any time we wanted to leave hotel premises.

You may also want to consider staying somewhere with breakfast included. To avoid crowds at the falls, and in hotter months to avoid afternoon heat, you’re likely going to be getting an early start during your visit to Iguazu. Having a breakfast buffet available right on hotel property is the easiest, most efficient way to fuel up before a long day of exploring.

If you're wondering where to stay when visiting Jujuy and Tilcara, Argentina, check out my tips and recommendations in this article: How to Best Visit Jujuy, Argentina: A Family Travel Guide to the Tilcara Region

Hotel Saint George

We stayed at Hotel Saint George and I 10/10 recommend doing the same! This is not a sponsored blog or stay or anything. I think I just really chose the best spot for our family. And I think Hotel Saint George is the perfect hotel in Iguazu for all families.

Right out of the gate, they hooked me up with an incredible driver from the airport. If you missed it above, I ended up using him to get us to both sides of the falls and back to the airport on our final day. If you want his contact information, email me and I’ll send it along.

They have a large breakfast buffet, so everyone can find something they like. And it’s enough to fuel your bodies before a lot of walking around the falls.

There is a small kids play room that was perfect for after a day of exploring. Before dinner, when I needed to do some research, message people (like our driver!), or catch up on emails, my kids were happily entertained playing (and not in front of a screen).

In the warmer months, there is a gorgeous pool area, complete with a kids splash area. When we were there in June, even though the air was 70 degrees, the water was freezing. But my daughter going for a quick doggie paddle was a fun adventure for her, at least!

There is an onsite restaurant called Doña Maria. It’s a bit expensive. But the food was good, and they had a large enough variety to please everyone.

The hotel is also a 2 minute walk to El Arbol Real, where there is a “pay by weight” buffet that you can take back to your hotel room with you. The variety of food was incredible, the price was fair, and some nights it was the best way to enjoy a meal in the room after a long day exploring.

Final Thoughts: 2 Day Iguazu Falls Itinerary for Families

Two days is plenty of time to fully experience Iguazu Falls as a family.

On the first day, spend almost your entire day at the Argentinian national park. After a day of a lot of walking, you’re going to want to relax more in the evening. Have a tasting experience at Yerba Mate Club and then plan an easy takeaway dinner or eat at the hotel restaurant.

On the second day, make the journey to Brazil to see the other side of Iguazu Falls. It’s a shorter experience, so afterwards you can head to Parque Das Aves. After returning to Puerto Iguazu in Argentina, you’ll likely have more energy than the first night. Head out to a tango dinner show at El Quincho del Tio Querido.

If you’re looking for additional activities in Puerto Iguazu, you can eat some gelato, visit the animal sanctuary at Guira Oga, tour the Guarani Village, or go ziplining at Jungle Fly.

The best way to get around Iguazu Falls is with a private driver. Other options include buses and renting a car.

If you want a centrally located hotel made for families and kids, you’ll want to stay at Hotel Saint George. Plus, they have breakfast available, making getting out the door early in mornings easier for everyone.

Resources to Help You Plan Your Iguazu Falls Itinerary:

HolaFly for your eSIM. Why? Because of their unlimited data options.

Welcome Pickups for airport transfers in Buenos Aires. Why? Because they are reliable, speak English, and introduced me to my favorite driver in the city.

Surfshark for a VPN. Why? Their plans include unlimited devices. Perfect for a whole family.

Hotel Saint George for a place to stay. Why? They are centrally located, have large clean rooms, are family friendly (including a play area for kids), and have a large buffet breakfast.

A Complete Guide to Tipping in Spain - Who, What, and When to Tip

Tipping in Spain is a little bit different than in the United States. But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complicated. Here is a quick summary of when and how to tip in Spain:

I go into detail for each of these categories below. So if you're looking for any clarification, be sure to read on!

Transportation

Local Taxi Rides: Round Up or leave 1Euro

Longer Taxi Rides (like Airport Transfers): 1 Euro up to 10%

Local Ride Share Rides: Round Up or Leave 1 Euro

Longer Ride Share Rides (like Airport Transfers): 10% (no bag fee applied to fare)

Private Drivers: 10 Euros (Airport Transfer) or 10%

Eating Out

Fine Dining: 10%

Standard Restaurants: 10% if a service charge is not already included

Cafes and Casual Restaurants: Round up, no tip, or a small cash tip for exceptional service

Food Delivery: 1 Euro for a standard order

Tours

Small Group Tour: 3-5 Euros per person

Large Group Tours: 1 Euro per person

Private Tours: 5-10% of the Tour Cost

Free Walking Tours: 5-20 Euros depending on quality and duration

Hotels

Bellmen and Porters: 1-2 Euros per bag

Housekeeping: 1-2 Euros per night

Room Service Delivery: 1-2 Euros

Concierge: 5-10 Euros for a booking

For a more detailed rundown of each of these categories, keep reading! Or, if you’re looking for a Tipping in Spain Cheat Sheet to carry while traveling in Spain with your family, save this photo to your phone.

If you’re headed to Spain with your family, you may find these articles helpful:

• 11 Things To Do in Malaga With Kids - No Car Necessary!
• Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps 
• A Complete 4 Day Barcelona Itinerary that’s Perfect for Families with Kids
  

Transportation: Tipping Taxis, Drivers, and Ubers in Spain

Getting around Spain with kids in tow means using a variety of transportation options. Whether it’s hiring a private driver for the jet-lagged ride from the airport or grabbing a quick taxi for tired feet after a traditional late-night Spanish dinner.  You’ll want to know how to tip accordingly, so you have one less thing to think about on the journey.

Tipping in Taxis in Spain

Tipping in a taxi in Spain isn’t expected but is certainly appreciated. 

For standard rides, round up to the nearest euro if you’re paying in cash. 

If you’re paying with a credit card, you likely won’t have the option to add a tip on the card reader. In that case, you can either skip the tip altogether or hand over a 1 euro coin.

Of course, if the taxi driver provides exceptional service, I always like to tip a euro or two for their extra efforts. This includes things like giving local insights, somehow giving my kids extra attention or care, or managing to get me somewhere on time in congested traffic situations.

For airport pickups (or any longer rides) with my jet-lagged children and multiple suitcases, I typically add around 10%. Some taxi drivers have even helped me to get the suitcases all the way inside the door of our accommodation, not just to the curb.

Some sources say that taxis charge an additional bag fee from the airport, so tipping still isn’t necessary. But in my case, I usually require extra help because we have additional bags with kids, and fewer helping hands. So I still like to show my appreciation with a 10% tip.

Headed to Malaga and don't feel like relying on taxis? Check out my list of 11 Things To Do in Malaga With Kids - No Car Necessary!

Tipping in Ubers in Spain

I love using ride-sharing apps. Especially when I’m traveling solo with my two daughters. Nothing beats the convenience of knowing the price, paying in the app, and not having to physically hail a cab. And for safety concerns that come with traveling solo, being able to see the driver’s rating? Game changer.

Regarding tipping in an Uber in Spain (and similar services like Cabify and Bolt), the expectations are the same as traditional taxis—it's not required but always welcomed.

The app conveniently offers tipping options after completing your ride. This feature makes it easy to add a small tip (around 1 Euro for standard rides) without fumbling for change while managing kids and all the stuff that comes with daily mom life.

Of course, similar to taxis, if your Uber driver helps with multiple pieces of luggage, it's considerate to add about 10% as a tip. Especially because Uber doesn’t add a bag fee (like taxis do) when you have suitcases.

Tipping Private Drivers in Spain

I love the comfort of knowing that when I land in a foreign country (after an overnight flight), I have a ride waiting for me.

I don’t care how easy and reliable the taxi queue is. Not having to figure out that one thing when you land, and the driver already knowing the address of your destination, is worth the extra cost to me.

The tipping expectations for private drivers are notably higher than for taxis or ride-shares. For a standard airport transfer with our family, €10 is usually an appropriate tip for a private driver. This tip reflects the personalized service and convenience of having someone waiting specifically for you and your jet-lagged kids.

For extended services like half-day or full-day tours, the standard is to tip approximately 10% of the total fare.

Some private drivers do more than just drive. They may recommend certain bathroom stops that are clean and convenient, interact with your kids, or share certain facts and information about the area. In that case, you may want to think about adding some additional tip on top of the standard 10%.

Tipping in Spain at Restaurants and Cafes

If you’ve traveled a bit, you know that almost no other country expects tips at restaurants like the United States does. That’s because, in other countries, servers and wait staff are actually paid at least minimum wage!

Tipping doesn’t make the difference between servers being able to pay rent or not. But tipping in Spanish restaurants and cafes is still appreciated. And in some cases, it’s expected. Read on to know when and how much to tip at restaurants and cafes in Spain.

When to Tip at Restaurants in Spain

As a quick note, you will need to request the bill at a Spanish restaurant. Simply make eye contact with your server and say, “La cuenta, por favor.” Aka, “the check, please.”

Before leaving anything extra, I always check if "servicio incluido" (service included) appears on the bill. This means a service charge has already been applied. In this case, you would only tip if the service is exceptional.

The menu should also state when a service charge is going to be included in the bill.

The above restaurant is located in La Herradura, about an hour outside of Malaga. If you're headed there (or to Malaga), you may find these articles helpful:

• What to Do in La Herradura, Spain With Kids - When You Don’t Have a Car!

• Free Activities for Families in La Herradura, Spain

• 11 Things To Do in Malaga With Kids - No Car Necessary!

Tipping in Spain at Different Types of Restaurants

With young kids, you don’t find me frequenting upscale dining restaurants. But if you’re traveling sans kids or have found yourself a babysitter for the evening, 10-15% tip is appropriate at fine dining restaurants.

At standard restaurants (like what you tell your kids is a nice restaurant), if the service fee isn’t already included, you could leave up to 10% for good service. Especially if the servers are extra patient with your kids, any messes they make, or special requests you have to make.

Let’s be honest, you’re much more likely to find me dining out with my two kids at a casual cafe than at a sit-down formal restaurant. I eat out for breakfast or lunch. Dinner times can be unpredictably feral with toddlers and preschoolers.

At a casual cafe, if the server takes our orders and delivers the food, I either don’t tip at all or round up if paying in cash. Of course, unless there’s exceptional service. Which is kind of what tip is for, right?

If you’re paying with a credit card, there’s no need to tip. Or you can leave a small tip on the table in cash.

For places that we frequent often and become “regulars”, I make it a point once in a while to bring some cash to leave a small tip. They’ve gotten to know our orders and greet us with a smile. I appreciate the extra effort and personalized service.

As far as bars go, I don’t exactly have a lot of first-hand experience. Kids, remember? But from what I’ve read, if you order at the bar, no tip is necessary. If table service is provided, you would treat the tipping situation the same as restaurants and cafes.

Using Cash vs Credit Card to Tip at Restaurants in Spain

I pretty much always pay my restaurant bills in Spain using a credit card. But it’s a different story leaving tip at a restaurant.

Whenever possible, tip in cash. This ensures your gratuity reaches the server rather than potentially going to the restaurant owner.

If you prefer tipping by card, simply tell the waiter the total amount you'd like charged, including the tip. Spanish checks don’t typically have a designated space for adding tips.

So if your bill is €68 and you want to leave a 10% tip, just ask the server to charge €75 instead. You can say it’s “para propina”, which means “for tip”.

The most convenient way to get cash in Spain is through an ATM. I have a debit card that waves ATM fees and allows for foreign transactions. Make sure to check your card's policies! For a full list of everything you'll want to do before your trip to Spain, check out Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps.

Do You Tip for Food Delivery in Spain?

After sightseeing all day with tired children, ordering delivery to our accommodation is sometimes a lifesaver. While not mandatory, delivery drivers appreciate a small tip of about one euro for an average order. If using Uber Eats or a similar service, you can do this right on the app.

Consider the circumstances when deciding what to tip—factors like holidays, flights of stairs they need to climb, bad weather, and order size matter.

Tipping Tour Guides in Spain

I’m often a bit of a “DIY” type traveler when it comes to exploring new cities and sites. But sometimes, it’s just worth the money to have someone else showing you where to go. And providing facts about a site that are actually interesting for your kids!

I hired a private tour guide when we went to Alhambra, and it was so worth the added cost. Traveling solo with two kids, she helped me carry my bag sometimes and made sure we got the best family photo opportunities.

She gave me interesting facts and stories intermixed with interesting nuggets of kid-friendly information. Like that 43 cats were living at Alhambra. Finding all the cats was my 2 year olds’ main entertainment. But that also meant I could enjoy, learn, and marvel in (relative) peace!

She made the whole trip enjoyable, stress-free, and fun for all parties… which was all reflected in her tip.

If you want to book this same private tour for Alhambra, Anna was our guide with this tour. I would highly recommend it!

Tipping in Spain for Group Tours

Unlike restaurant servers, tour guides may depend on tips in order to make a liveable wage in Spain. 

For large group tours in Spain (25+ people), tipping 1 Euro per person is considered pretty standard. 

For small group tours in Spain, tipping 3-5 Euros per person is acceptable, and obviously depends on the quality of the tour given as well as the duration of the tour.

Tipping in Spain for Private Tours

For private tours, tipping amounts can depend greatly on the duration of the tour, the quality of the tour, and the number of people that were in your private group. In general, tipping 5-10% of the tour cost will adjust for quality and duration factors.

When I took that private tour of Alhambra, my youngest was free because she was so little. But Anna, our tour guide, made the extra effort to make the tour interesting for her as well. And entertained her enough to allow me to enjoy the tour. That wasn’t reflected in the total tour cost, but I tipped as though my daughter had been a paying participant.

Tipping in Spain on Free Walking Tours

For free walking tours, typically 5-20 Euros is the tip range you’ll be working with. I know this is a huge range, but quality levels on these free tours can vary greatly. Pay the amount that you feel reflects the value of the tour you were provided.

As a general rule for tipping tour guides in Spain, tip in cash! Many tour guides won’t have any way of accepting card payments, especially if you paid for the tour online ahead of time.

Tipping at Hotels in Spain

We tend to be more of a vacation rental family. Having a kitchen and a living room is pretty much essential to everyone’s mental health on an extended trip. But there are times that we find ourselves in a typical hotel room. 

Tipping at hotels in Spain is more commonly expected than in other situations like taxi rides and eating out. Have some Euros handy when you arrive to be prepared for these hotel tipping expectations in Spain.

If you're headed to Spain with your kids, you may find these articles helpful: 

A Complete 4 Day Barcelona Itinerary that’s Perfect for Families with Kids

Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps

11 Things To Do in Malaga With Kids - No Car Necessary!

Who to Tip at Hotels in Spain

Bellmen and Porters

In my opinion, anyone who helps with suitcases deserves a tip. Having someone take care of luggage for me after handling it all through airports and taxis is priceless. You’ll typically find bellmen and porters at higher-end hotels. But you can also consider this category as “luggage helpers”.

The general rule is to tip around 1 Euro per bag.

Housekeeping Staff

Everyone knows how quickly a small hotel room can get messy. Three people sharing a small bathroom, hotel meals and the associated crumbs that are bound to happen, and hotel towels that are used to clean up spills. It adds up quickly. A tip for housekeeping will be greatly appreciated.

A general guideline is to leave 1 Euro per night, on a nightly basis.

Room Service Delivery

When the kids have gone to sleep before dinner time and you’re hungry, room service can come to the rescue. Tipping for room service in Spain isn’t necessary, but is appreciated. Especially if they are extra cautious about not waking up sleeping little ones. 

1-2 Euros is an appropriate (optional) tip for room service delivery.

Concierge Staff

If the concierge makes bookings for you, arranges tours, or finds you that perfect kid-friendly restaurant for dinner, a tip is appreciated and expected. How much you tip could depend on the service provided.

If the concierge handled the research and the booking for you, 5-10 Euros is an appropriate tip to leave.

Doormen

If the doorman simply opens the door for you at the hotel, a tip isn’t necessary. But if they help with strollers, shopping bags, or getting you a taxi in the rain, a small tip of a euro or two can help to show your appreciation.

Final Thoughts on Tipping in Spain

In general, tipping in Spain isn’t as prominent or expected as in the United States. For the most part, if you’re observant, you can copy what the locals do. The exception is in tourist hotels and for tour guides, of course. 

Always keep some cash on hand, though. Tipping in Spain almost always occurs via cash. And when in doubt, a tip won’t be offensive in Spain like in some other countries. Tipping is welcomed and accepted in restaurants, taxis, hotels, and on tours.

FAQs About Tipping in Spain

Q1. Is tipping expected in Spain? No, tipping in Spain is not expected or required in many situations. Unlike some countries, service workers in Spain receive regular salaries and do not rely on tips for their income. Leaving a tip is entirely optional and seen as a gesture of appreciation for exceptional service in most situations.

Q2. How much should I tip at restaurants in Spain? If you choose to tip at restaurants in Spain, 5-10% of the bill is considered generous. For casual meals, rounding up the bill or leaving small change (€1-2) is common. At upscale restaurants, you might tip 10-15% for outstanding service.

Q3. Should I tip taxi drivers in Spain? Tipping taxi drivers is not mandatory in Spain. Most locals simply round up the fare to the nearest euro. If the driver assists with luggage or provides exceptional service, you might add an extra euro or two as a gesture of appreciation. The exception fo this guideline is extended taxi rides, in which case you can consider tipping up to 10% of the fare.

Q4. Is it appropriate to tip hotel staff in Spain? Tipping hotel staff is appreciated for good service. Consider leaving €1-2 per day for housekeeping, €1-2 per bag for porters, and €5-10 for concierge services if they've been particularly helpful during your stay.

Q5. How do I tip if I'm paying by credit card in Spain? If you want to tip when paying by card, ask the server if it's possible to add a tip to the card charge. Many restaurants don’t have this option, so it's a good idea to carry some cash for tipping. 

My Favorite Travel Resources for a Family Trip to Spain:

Accommodation: Booking.com because you can view reviews across multiple platforms, find hotels or vacation rentals, often find free cancellation policies, and frequently find sales.

Travel Insurance: Hey Mondo because it's affordable, comprehensive, and allows for long-term travel.

Tours: Viator because of the wide range of tours, upfront reviews and pricing, and its one stop platform for tours across multiple cities and locations.

eSIM: Holafly because of its unlimited data, affordability, fast connection, and straight-forward installation process (even for the technologically challenged).

Digital Protection: Surfshark because of its affordability, ease of use, and ability to connect it with unlimited devices (which is especially important when factoring in kids!).

When it comes to a London Packing List, if you take away one thing, it’s - Pack Layers! London weather is unpredictable and varied… even in summer months. Beyond that, read on for more London-specific items to add to your suitcase. 

London-specific items to pack include things like... your printed Buckingham Palace tickets, water-resistant shoes, and a purse or bag that meets the size requirements for certain sites.

As a note, this is not a list of what to bring on an airplane. So I won’t be putting items like a passport holder or any neck pillows on this London Packing List for Families. 

I’ll be creating another article for overnight flights with kids… stay tuned if that’s the type of information you’re looking for

In the meantime, if you're planning a trip to London with kids, you'll want to check out these other helpful articles:

• Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps
• London With Kids: Tips and Tricks You’ll Need to Know
• A 6 Day London Itinerary for Families With Kids: Activities That are Fun for Everyone
• Free Things to Do in Central London With Kids: Family Fun on a Budget
  

Printable London Packing List for Families With Kids

Download the PDF Here

Download the Printable PDF Here

Toiletries to add to your family's London packing list

I’m going to breeze through most of these toiletry items, as most of them aren’t specific to your family London trip. They’re just common sense… but you also really don’t want to forget your contacts or EpiPen. So I’ve included everything.

Wash cloth

In the UK, it isn’t a given that a washcloth will be included at your accommodation! If this is something you require for your everyday routines, make sure you pack your own.

Melatonin or Other Sleep Aid

If you plan on using melatonin to help with jet lag, make sure you test it out before your trip! In a select few individuals, melatonin has the opposite effect and can make you wired rather than tired! And for some people that struggle with restless legs, it can make restless limbs worse!

Pro packing tip: When packing vitamins and supplements, you don’t need to pack the whole bottle! You could buy a pill dispenser (like this one) and siphon some of each bottle off into the separated sections. Or, (what I do), just label plastic bags like you see below.

Small First Aid Kit

You can get anything you would need in London if someone gets sick or hurt. But it’s always a good idea to have enough to at least get you started until you can make it to a chemist (aka pharmacy).

Things that could be helpful to include in your first aid kid are antihistamines, band aids (aka plasters), ibuprofen, and an EpiPen if needed.

Also, if your kids are prone to ear infections, I recommend getting a Digital Ear Scope. This saved me on a recent trip, when my daughter’s ear drum burst. I was able to verify the issue, take photos, send them to a virtual doctor at Doctorsa, and get a prescription all from my hotel room.

Laundry Sheets

Laundry sheets are a great way to do a quick sink wash when needed. Or if you have access to a washing machine, laundry sheets take up zero space and weight in your suitcase.

Hair Tools

This could be as simple as a comb or a brush. But if you plan on bringing heated hair tools, keep in mind that the voltage is different in the UK than in the US. If you absolutely require your specific hair tools, make sure you bring a power converter, not just an adapter!

Soap

Depending on where you’re staying (and how particular you are with what you use), this may not be needed. Check with your accommodation if soap is provided!

Glasses

Contacts and Contact Solution

Makeup, Facewash, and Other Skincare

Feminine Hygiene Items

Shampoo and Conditioner

Razor

Toothpaste, Toothbrush, and Floss

Sunscreen

Hair Product

Hair Ties, Etc.

Deodorant

Jewelry

Outerwear to remember to put on your family's London Packing List

When it comes to London, be prepared for anything! We were in London in early September (still technically summer)… we definitely needed our warm jackets and rain gear!

Purse

You’ll want to bring a purse that you have easy access to, but pickpockets don’t! I’m a fan of the crossbody, especially one that has zippers you can clasp shut.

This anti-theft crossbody has zippers that lock and is RFID blocking to protect your credit cards. It’s compact, but large enough to fit your phone, any tickets you have, passports, etc.

Museum Bag

If you’re going to be visiting Buckingham Palace (and a few other places), and you’re a mom like me that needs to be prepared with more than just credit cards… Think diapers, waters, umbrellas, snacks, maybe a change of clothes, etc… you’re going to want to make sure your “gear” bag isn’t too big!

For more information on everything you'll need to know about going to Buckingham Palace with kids, check out this article: London With Kids: Tips and Tricks You’ll Need to Know.

My regular trusty backpack is too big to bring into places like Buckingham Palace. Plus, if you have a backpack, you have to wear it on your front.

I bought this larger crossbody bag that fits an incredible amount of gear, and is still within the size limitations of Buckingham Palace… and it has even become my regular everyday purse back home!

Backpack

For all the other days, when you want to bring it all, having a comfortable backpack is key. You’ll want to allow space for everyone’s rain jackets, umbrellas, snacks, diapers, changes of clothes… you get the picture.

Umbrellas

London lives up to its reputation as far as rain goes. But unlike places like Seattle, it doesn’t seem offensive to carry an umbrella when it starts raining in London. Bring along a compact umbrella that can easily fit in your purse or backpack and just have it on you at all times.

In London, your accommodation may have umbrellas available for your use. They likely won’t be as portable, though. So you can choose to take up more room in your suitcase, or more room in your purse while in London.

Waterproof shoes

No one likes soggy feet. Even if it isn’t currently raining, there will be puddles if it has rained recently. Your feet will get wet. 

My favorite waterproof travel shoes are Lems. These boots are stylish, waterproof, and weigh just 9oz! Plus, they fold down incredibly small into your suitcase. 

Rain Jacket

For days when it’s going to be raining all day, or when you’re going to be outside all day, you’ll be grateful to have a rain jacket. 

Umbrellas don’t keep you completely dry. Plus, you have to hold them all day (obvious, I know). So when juggling kids’ hands, bags, and keeping track of your payment methods, an umbrella isn’t always the most convenient option for the entire day.

Consider a rain jacket like this one that has its own pouch for easy packing and carrying around. And make sure whatever you bring is waterproof (seams and all) and not just water repellent!

Comfortable Walking Shoes

London is big. You’re going to be doing a lot of walking. Make sure you have comfortable walking shoes. No one wants some blisters or to trigger an old foot injury to ruin your day out in London. 

Above I talked about my love for Lems waterproof travel boots. But I also love their lightweight tennis shoes while traveling!

To minimize walking in London, taking public transportation is essential. For all the ins and outs of taking public transportation in London with kids, check out London With Kids: Tips and Tricks You’ll Need to Know.

Sunglasses

Okay, so the sun does actually come out sometimes in London. When it does, you may want to have your favorite pair of sunnies with you! Add a pair to your London Packing List just in case.

Light Jacket (Spring, Summer, Autumn)

Even in summer, you’re going to want to have a jacket with you. For the cool mornings, or even some overcast afternoons, having this layer available is a necessity to pack for your family trip to London.

Winter Jacket (Autumn, Winter, Spring)

Bundle up! You don’t want the cold to stop you from seeing all that London has to offer. Bonus points if your winter jacket is waterproof!

Hats, gloves, scarves, etc.

For the colder months, sometimes a hat can make the difference between getting chilled to the bone and being ready to go all day. It’s small. It’s easy to throw in a bag. Just bring it. 

And don’t forget about gloves! Bonus points if they’re the type that still allow you to use touch screens. That way, you can continue using your CityMapper app without taking them off.

For a full list of all the apps (like CityMapper) you're going to want to download before your trip to London, check out Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps.

Clothing to bring to London with your family

The clothing you bring to London will greatly depend on the season you’re planning to visit. But no matter what the season, you’re going to want to bring layers! And clothing that will dry quickly.

And how much you pack depends greatly on how long your trip is, and if you’ll have access to laundry during your family’s visit to London.

I’ll let you check out the forecast for your specific trip, but here are a few items to get you started.

Shirts

Both long sleeved and short sleeved shirts are a must no matter the season in London.

Sweatshirts or Sweaters

Yes, even in summer. Pack something to keep you warm.

Nice Outfit

With kids, you likely aren’t eating at fancy restaurants in London. But you may find yourself getting some last minute tickets to West End Shows. There isn’t a dress code, but you may want to level up your outfit for this or an Afternoon Tea.

Having Afternoon Tea with your little "princess" (or prince) is one of the family-friendly activities I've included in this 6 Day London Itinerary for Families With Kids.

Base Layers

In the winter, you may want to consider bringing some long underwear to keep warm while checking out Christmas markets or ice skating at Hyde Park.

Watch

When traveling, I love wearing a watch. That way, I don’t need to pull my phone out every time I want to check the time. This is the watch I have.

It’s simple, has a bit of style, and it’s waterproof enough for snorkeling! Obviously, not in London. But it will certainly withstand London's precipitation.

Slippers

Obviously, this is optional. But I love having something warm to slip on my feet after being out in wet, chilly weather. These travel slippers are lightweight and incredibly cozy looking.

Swimsuits and Towels

If you plan on visiting in the summer and think your kids may want to explore some of the splash parks and fountains, you may want to bring along some swimsuits and travel towels.

Travel Towels like this pack down really small and can easily be stashed in a purse or backpack.

For a list of more than 20 free activities in London for kids (like splash parks), check out Free Things to Do in Central London With Kids: Family Fun on a Budget.

Pants

Shorts

Dresses

Pajamas

Socks, Underwear, and Bras

Electronics you won’t want to forget to add to your family's London Packing list

Headphones

Include headphones for each kid in your family to your London Packing List. Not just for some peace and quiet if you’re using screens in the hotel room. A lot of museums have kid-friendly audio guides. But the audio guide headphones are still adult-sized! Especially for really little ones, constantly readjusting headphones can get annoying.

Make sure the headphones you bring are wired and not Bluetooth for these audio guides! This pair fit toddler heads and come in some cute designs. 

Power Adapters and Converters

A power adapter simply allows you to have the correctly shaped plug. It is a definite necessity when traveling outside of the United States.

A power converter allows you to use devices that require a specific voltage to work. Check your devices before deciding if you need one or not. I once destroyed a baby monitor, not realizing it required a power converter to use abroad.

Necessary Headphone Connectors

Things I always travel with are the connectors to allow my iPhone headphones to connect to regular headphone jacks and a headphone splitter (so two people can connect their headphones to the same device).

I also always bring a car charger if I’m renting a car and I’m not sure if there will be a USB connector in the car. Usually, they do. But just in case. I don't recommend renting a car for Central London, but if you're traveling elsewhere in the UK and renting a car, you won't want to forget a car charger!

eSIM

You’re going to want to stay connected on your trip to London. Although it isn't a physical item for your London Packing List, "bringing" an eSIM is essential for London.

Whether it’s figuring out whether to take the bus or the tube, finding the nearest kid-friendly restaurant, or finding last minute West End tickets - you’ll want data to access the internet on the fly.

I recommend using Holafly for an eSIM. They offer unlimited data, affordable plans, fast connectivity, and step by step instructions that make the process foolproof.

Apps

Okay, you don’t actually pack apps. But I would recommend downloading all necessary apps before your trip.

Especially because for certain apps like Gett (the taxi app for London), they wanted to text me a confirmation code to activate my account. I would not have been able to receive that code had I been trying to activate my account after I was already in the UK.

For everything you're going to want to remember to do before your trip to London with kids (like activate the Gett app), check out Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps.

Here are some apps I would recommend downloading before your trip to London with kids:

• Google Maps
• CityMapper (to help you navigate public transportation)
• Gett (London Taxis)
• Holafly (to activate your eSIM)
• Surfshark (VPN to protect your digital information on Wifi)
• WhatsApp (to communicate with London businesses and people back home)
• Radical Storage App (if you’re going to need to store your luggage on your arrival or departure day)

Portable charger

If you’re going to be out and about all day using all that unlimited data from Holafly, you may end up needing a portable charger. 

A way to keep your phone dry

Most phones are now water resistant enough to handle some rain. But know your phone’s limits, and come prepared for London weather.

Phone Charger

Tablets and Chargers

Baby and Kid-Specific Items that you’ll want to pack for London with your family

Sound Machine

My kids usually sleep with a box fan for white noise. But when we’re traveling, we use this cute penguin sound machine. It’s simple, but it does the job of creating that familiar white noise. Plus, it helps to block out strange noises in new places and hotel rooms.

A Travel Crib

Check with your hotel, but obviously you’ll want a plan for how your little ones will sleep. I love the Baby Bjorn travel crib because it is incredibly easy to use, durable, and lightweight.

A Travel High Chair

Some restaurants may have high chairs available. And your hotel likely has high chairs available for breakfast. 

But if you’re self catering lunch, getting takeaway for your room, at an Airbnb, or going to restaurants without high chairs, I would strongly consider bringing a travel high chair.

I love having my Inglesina Travel High Chair with a tray. The tray is a game changer for containing messes. It packs down really small into a suitcase. And even though it says handwash only, I’ve always washed the fabric in the washing machine with no problem (no dryer, though!).

I’ve attached my Inglesina Travel High Chair to restaurant tables, AirBnb tall eating counters, and even hotel room desks. Don’t forget the splat mat and bibs! You can also use one of those disposable bed pads that I mention below as a travel splat mat.

Stroller (Maybe)

If your little one is okay with a carrier, this is probably the better option for your London trip. Not all tube stations and hotels have elevators, strollers are clunky to get on and off of buses, and not all cafes and restaurants will have space for strollers.

If you are going to bring a stroller, make sure it’s easily collapsible. I love my Baby Jogger Citi Mini GT2. It is so so so easy to collapse. And it can handle cities along with light off-roading. Or you could go for a stroller that you can gate check at the airport easily.

Baby Carrier or Sling

Like I said above, a carrier is probably the better option for carting little ones around London if your shoulders and back can handle it. 

I'm sure you already have your favorite carrier, so just don't forget to add it to your London Packing List.

Wet Bags

Wet Bags come in handy for dirty or wet clothes. You don’t want to be changing your kids’ dirty outfits and then putting them straight into your backpack next to your snacks. I also use Wet Bags as travel laundry bags. 

I like when wet bags like these have separate sections for clean and dirty items.

Baby Monitor (Maybe)

If you’re staying in an Airbnb with separate bedrooms, don’t forget to add a baby monitor to your London Packing List! 

Also, don’t make the same mistake I did. I destroyed a baby monitor by not using a power converter with the receiver. Luckily, it was only this affordable V-Tech monitor that I always travel with. So it was easily replaced once I was back home.

Diapers and Wipes

To save room in the suitcase, only bring what you need to get you started. Then, you can head to the local supermarket and restock your supply.

Disposable Bed Pads

I always travel with a few disposable bed pads. Whether your kid is potty training or at risk of leaking diapers, I like knowing that I won’t destroy a hotel bed.

I also use them as travel change mats and splat mats for eating in the hotel room. Add some to your London Packing List and I'm sure you'll find a use for them.

Hotel and Restaurant Activities

Some quiet activities other than screens are always a good idea for confined spaces. Think things like coloring, stickers, Polly Pocket, travel Legos, etc. For older kids, you could also consider some card games like Uno or Spot It.

And in London, don’t forget you can always head to Hamley’s - the oldest and largest toy store in the world. Pick out a new toy at the beginning of your trip. You have both a novel toy for the hotel room and a souvenir to take home.

That's why I put Hamley's toward the beginning of your trip in this 6 Day London Itinerary for Families With Kids.

Lovies and Comfort Items

Obviously, like on any trip, you don't want to forget any lovies or comfort items for your kiddos (like "Old Ted" seen on the bed in the above photo. Jet lag is hard enough. You don't want to be doing it without the lovies.

Do yourself a favor and just add Lovies to your London Packing List so you don't overlook this very important item!

Food Related items to pack for London with your kids

Whether or not you bring these food items along with you to London depends on your eating plan, of course. I like to eat breakfast at the hotel, self-cater lunches, and eat out or get takeaway for dinner.

For a fantastic hotel breakfast (and affordable rates), I highly recommend Premier Inn Waterloo. You can read more about why I love this hotel in this article (not sponsored). 

For the self-catered lunches, you’re going to want some basics like a cutting board and knife, basic cutler, and something to eat out of or a way to carry the food with you.

Even if you get takeaway for dinners, some extra napkins and plates could also be helpful.

Napkins

You can obviously pick these up at a London grocery store. But if you're on a quick trip, and don't want to bother with stopping at a store, you add napkins to your London Packing List.

Straws

I like to bring some reusable straws to more easily share drinks with little ones that haven’t quite mastered the cup yet. And for little ones that like to crush disposable straws with their first sip, I bring metal straws. I like the straws with silicone ends to protect little teeth like these.

Bibs

I'm sure you have your favorites, but I'm always a big fan of the bibs with food-catching pockets. Anything you can do to minimize messes at restaurants and in hotel rooms.

Grocery Bags

Reusable, packable grocery bags come in handy for carrying lunches around, or if you head to the grocery store and need an additional bag to put everything.

Cutlery

If you're self-catering lunches, you'll probably want some cutlery. Use the knife to spread peanut butter on sandwiches, use the spoon for that microwave cous cous, and use the fork for a grab-n-go potato salad.

If you really want to go lightweight for packing purposes, look for camping sets made from titanium like this cutlery set.

If you're looking for some hotel-friendly meals (that only require a microwave) check out Vegan Travel Food: Pro Tips and Easy Meals You Can Make Anywhere.

Stasher Bags

If you're going to be packing snacks and sandwiches, something like Stasher Bags are your perfect reusable option. You don't need to find room in your suitcase for bulky containers, you don't need to worry about all that single use plastic, and stasher bags are leak free!

Knife and Cutting Board

I don't know about yours, but my kids would be perfectly happy with a meal of veggies and hummus. Of course, I'd throw in some more variety. But still, to keep you from having to search out pre-cut veggies, bring along a knife and cutting board!

I have a "travel knife" that is simply a chef's knife with a sheath (so it doesn't cut my clothes in the suitcase). And then any lightweight cutting board will do.

Plates

You'll need something to eat off of in your hotel room or at your picnic lunch! You can always buy some disposable plates once in London, though.

Water Bottles

Leak-free water bottles are key! My favorite kids water bottle that is leak-free and mostly plastic-free is the Hydroflask kids water bottles that have the rubber bottom.

Bottle Opener

For most bottle openers, make sure they're in your checked bag, or it will be confiscated at security! So far, I've lost two bottle openers because I’ve completely forgotten they were in my “food bag”, which of course goes in my carryon on plane days.

Don't be like me. Either pack it in a checked bag, or buy a TSA Compliant bottle opener like this one.

Disposable Placemats 

Not only do these help with mess, but you can get disposable placemats that are like big coloring pages. This is perfect for waiting at restaurants - just don't forget the markers!

Travel Related items to pack for London with your kids

Your Itinerary

You’re going to want a plan coming into your trip to London with kids. Some activities need to be booked months in advance. And you don’t want to spend your entire trip researching what to do next.

For an example 6 Day London Itinerary for Kids, check out this article.

Contactless Credit Cards

Make sure your credit cards don’t have foreign transaction fees. And if you’re going to have multiple paying adults or kids older than 10 riding public transportation, you’re going to want a separate card for each of them.

For more information on how to navigate public transportation in London with kids, check out this article.

Debit Card with ATM Reimbursement

Double check on your debit card’s foreign transaction fees as well. You probably won’t need any cash in London. But just in case, make sure your debit card will work abroad. And bonus points if you have one that reimburses you for ATM fees.

Hotel Safe

I stash backup credit cards, keys for home, and passports in this portable safe that can be attached to something permanent in the hotel room.

Ski Lock

If you’re going to be doing any train travel and juggling a lot of suitcases. Or if you need to be killing time at a cafe with all your luggage, you could consider bringing along a ski lock.

Thieves will sometimes grab one bag, tempting you to run after them and leave the rest of your bags unattended. If you attach all of your luggage together with a ski lock, it would take a lot of effort for them to get away with any of your suitcases.

Printed Buckingham Palace Tickets

If you’re visiting Buckingham Palace on your London family trip, print your tickets!

Upon exiting, you can get your tickets stamped and they become an annual pass. That way, if you missed anything or want to return during your trip, you can do so for free. But you need that printed ticket!

Also because of this perk, make sure you plan your trip to Buckingham Palace earlier in your trip. Which is why I have Buckingham Palace scheduled on the first full day in this 6 Day London Itinerary for Families.

Set Up Your VPN

Okay, so this is more something you’ll just want to set up on your phone and other devices before your trip. But a VPN protects your digital information when you’re on public WiFi. Plus, you can set the VPN to be from the USA so your kids can stream all of their familiar shows while at your hotel in London.

My favorite is Surfshark. It’s incredibly affordable, easy to use, and allows for unlimited devices! Perfect for a family with multiple phones, laptops, and tablets.

For everything you're going to want to remember to do before your trip to London with kids (like set up a VPN), check out Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps.

A List of Resources and Emergency Contacts

Having all the "just in case" information in one place can be a game changer when something doesn’t go to plan. Emergency contacts, travel insurance information, and even resources like Doctorsa. 

Doctorsa is a service that (very affordably) provides virtual appointments with a local doctor. That’s important because (if needed), they can provide a prescription script that can easily be fulfilled at a local pharmacy in London.

Luckily, in London I didn't need to use Doctorsa. But it was a life saver when my daughter had an ear infection in Spain. I could speak (nearly immediately) to an English-speaking, in-country doctor who was able to provide the appropriate prescription (nearly immediately) that I could fulfill just down the street.

Travel Insurance

Sure, your credit cards have some travel protection. But if something were to happen medically, credit card insurance coverage tends to be pretty limited. 

I love using SafetyWing for their comprehensive coverage and affordability. For every paying adult, a child is covered for free!

Passports

Obviously, don’t forget your passports!

Also, don’t forget to have copies of everyone’s passports available. This is best done virtually. Store the photos somewhere you can access online, just in case something happens to your phone.

Luggage Scale

After all that souvenir buying, and the inevitable suitcase explosion (seriously, how do things seem to double in size throughout your trip??), you’re going to want to make sure you still fit within the airline’s weight limitations before you get to the airport. Bring a luggage scale.

AirTags

I always travel with AirTags in all of my suitcases, purses, passport holders, etc. I keep them in multicolored AirTag holders. Then, on my phone, I can note which color corresponds to which suitcase or item. 

Some families also choose to attach an AirTag to each child. Especially in busy places with distractible attentions, this could come in handy for the just-in-case moments.

IDP

I definitely wouldn’t recommend renting a car for London. But if you’re going elsewhere in the UK, an International Driving Permit is necessary to bring along. Get one at your local AAA. If you don’t have a AAA near you, you can apply via mail.

An IDP is valid for one year. So if you had one for a previous trip, make sure you check the expiration date!

What NOT to bring on your London trip with kids

A Lot of Cash

It just isn’t needed. Nearly everywhere accepts credit cards. Buses, taxis, restaurants, markets, etc. Instead of bringing cash, bring a debit card you can use abroad just in case you need cash.

Bulky Stroller

Sure it may be more comfortable than your everyday stroller, but like we discussed earlier, not everywhere has elevators (aka lifts) and not every cafe has room for a large stroller!

Uncomfortable Shoes

I don’t care how cute they are! London requires a lot of walking. Do yourself a favor and find a happy medium of comfort and style. 

Unrealistic Weather Expectations

If you’re visiting in the summer, sure you’ll want to include some cute sundresses. Maybe even a bathing suit. But please also pack layers for the inevitable cold morning or rainy afternoon.

If you’re planning a trip to London with kids, don’t forget to check out these articles:

• A 6 Day London Itinerary for Families With Kids: Activities That are Fun for Everyone
• Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps
• London With Kids: Tips and Tricks You’ll Need to Know
• Free Things to Do in Central London With Kids: Family Fun on a Budget

My Favorite Travel Resources for a Family Trip to London:

Accommodation: Booking.com because you can view reviews across multiple platforms, find hotels or vacation rentals, often find free cancellation policies, and frequently find sales.

Tours: Viator because of the wide range of tours, upfront reviews and pricing, and its one stop platform for tours across multiple cities and locations.

eSIM: Holafly because of its unlimited data, affordability, fast connection, and straight-forward installation process (even for the technologically challenged).

Travel Insurance: SafetyWing because of its comprehensive coverage, affordability (kids are free with each paying adult!), and easy claims process.

Digital Protection: Surfshark because of its affordability, ease of use, and ability to connect it with unlimited devices (which is especially important when factoring in kids!).

Is London Good For Kids?

London is one of the most kid-friendly cities I’ve visited. There’s a seemingly unlimited number of sites and activities to visit with kids. Nearly every museum has kid-specific activities available to make it less “boring”. Public transportation is easy and fun for kids. Playgrounds are plentiful, and people are friendly toward kids. 

But there are still some tips and tricks for visiting London with kids that will make your trip that much more seamless and enjoyable. 

Tips like how to navigate public transportation (trust me, you don’t want to be taking taxis everywhere!). How to best see the Changing of the Guard (without being smashed against the gates of Buckingham Palace). And where all the best playgrounds are in London. 

And if you’re looking for more specific information as you’re planning your family trip to London, these articles will come in handy:

• Free Things to Do in Central London With Kids: Family Fun on a Budget
• A 6 Day London Itinerary for Families With Kids: Activities That are Fun for Everyone
• Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps
• A (Printable) London Packing List for Families: Everything You’ll Need With Young Kids in London
  

Public Transportation Tips for Visiting London With Kids

Is Central London walkable?

Yes, Central London is walkable, in that it is safe and has sidewalks. But London is a very big city. Even adult legs shouldn’t count on walking everywhere. 

The easiest way to get around Central London with kids is with public transportation. Taxis can get expensive, plus (like buses) get stuck in busy London traffic.

How to Navigate Public Transportation With Kids in London

Before your trip, be sure to download the CityMapper app. The CityMapper app is your best option for planning your route using public transportation.

CityMapper gives you details on how to get to your best bus station or train platform, what train or bus to get on, how much it will cost, any transfers you’ll need to make, how many stops until you get off, which exit to take, how to walk to your final destination, and how long it will all take from start to finish!

CityMapper also continues to tell you directions when your screen is locked (when you enable this feature), so you’ll never miss your stop!

You could also use Google Maps on your phone, but I found CityMapper to be more accurate and comprehensive in its directions.

If you're planning on using CityMapper all around London, you're going to need a way to access data on your phone! I always use Holafly for eSIMs abroad because of their unlimited data options, fast and reliable connection, affordability, and ease of use.

How to pay for public transportation in London

Use Contactless Payment

The easiest way to pay for public transportation in London is with a contactless credit card (I call it a “tap” card), or with contactless payment on your phone. With an iPhone, that's ApplePay. Or with an Android, you're likely using Google Wallet.

You do not need to buy physical tickets or cards for any public transportation in London if you are an adult or a child under 11.

Older kids can get discounted fares with a zip Oyster card, but if you’re just visiting for a short time period it may not be worth getting.

Make sure to use the same payment method on all buses and Tube rides during your trip. That way, the system will know when you have reached your daily or weekly cap. 

Before your trip, make sure your credit cards don't have foreign transaction fees! For a full list of everything you'll want to do before your trip, check out Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps.

Tips for Taking the Tube in London With Kids

How to pay for The Tube in London With Kids

Use a contactless payment credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Wallet. There is no need to purchase a ticket or a pass. 

The Tube is free for kids under 11, and up to four kids can travel for free with each paying adult.

When entering the Tube station, the paying adult and all children with that adult will go through the large, handicapped accessible gate together.

When exiting the Tube station, you will want to tap the same card that you used to tap in… and look for the large accessible gate when exiting as well if you are with kids.

Is The Tube in London Stroller Friendly?

Not all Tube stations have escalators or elevators. If you’re traveling with a stroller, be sure to have one that folds up easily. 

If you want to avoid steps completely, the CityMapper App has a “step free” filter at the bottom. It will only show you Tube stations with lifts and buses.

Tips for Riding the Tube with kids

Some people find that the doors to the Tube close quickly and they don’t make it out in time at their stop - I didn’t find this to be a problem, but maybe keep it in mind if you have easily distractible kids.

Try to keep feet off the seats if possible. This means no standing for toddlers to see out the window. Try to avoid eating or drinking on the Tube as well. Save the snacks for later.

In general, fellow passengers will be kind and give up their seats for your children if it’s a crowded ride. So don't be nervous if you see a crowded car.

Tips for Navigating the Tube Station with kids

Teach your kids to stand on the right side of the escalators so that passengers in a hurry can scurry forward on the left.

Make sure you’re getting on the correct line and you’re headed in the right direction. You don't want to be on the right line but headed in the opposite direction when you have that timed ticket entry to make! City Mapper should tell you all of this information, but don’t overlook it.

And don’t forget to use the large accessible gates when entering and exiting the Tube station with kids that are traveling for free.

Tips for Taking the Bus in London With Kids

How to pay for London’s Double Decker Buses

There is no need to purchase a ticket or a pass to ride the double decker buses in London. Like the Tube, use a contactless payment credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Wallet.

Tap your card or phone when entering the bus. No need to tap off of a bus, as tapping on gives you a one hour unlimited ride slot. If you tap when disembarking, you may be charged extra.

Buses are free for kids under 11, and up to four kids can travel for free with each paying adult. Kids 11-15 could get a discounted fare with an oyster card. But it may not be worth the hassle if you’re only visiting for a short time.

For a list of more than 20 activities that are free for kids in London, check out Free Things to Do in Central London With Kids: Family Fun on a Budget.

Tips for Getting On and Off the Double Decker Buses in London with kids

Embarking a Double Decker Bus in London

You likely won’t need to wave down the bus when embarking on your journey if you’re in Central London. The buses are busy enough that they are probably stopping at every bus stop. But just in case, you may want to step forward and give a little wave when your bus is approaching.

Enter the bus through the front door. Tap your card and quickly head to the steps - because there's no way kids are letting you sit downstairs on a double decker bus!

Disembarking a Double Decker Bus in London

Exiting through the back and middle doors is easiest. That way, you won’t run into passengers that are getting on the bus through the front door. There are a set of stairs at the back of the bus as well for accessing the back door.

Your kids are going to want to sit at the top. It can take a minute for little ones to navigate the steps when exiting. Try to move downstairs one stop earlier than your departure stop.

You’ll want to push the indicator button (located on the poles between rows) when your stop is approaching. This is an excellent job for kids that like to push buttons (just be prepared to break up arguments over whose turn it is).

Unlike the Tube, there is no need to scan your card when you get off the bus. If you do this, you may be charged more.

Tips for Navigating the Buses in London

As fun as double decker buses are, buses get caught in traffic during rush hour. Use the CityMapper app to make sure the bus is still your best choice. Even if it was your best choice earlier in the day, it may not be anymore due to changed traffic conditions.

Multiple buses go to each stop. Make sure you’re getting on the right bus number and in the right direction. CityMapper makes these details very clear for you, though.

Don't forget to have a plan for staying connected in London - so you can do things like get directions from CityMapper! My personal favorite is Holafly - it's affordable, they offer unlimited data, and it's incredibly easy to use.

Tips for Taking an Uber Boat in London With Kids

What is the Uber Boat in London?

The Uber Boat is the public transportation available to travel on the River Thames. On the CityMapper app, the Uber Boat routes will be seen under the “ferries” option.

Traveling on an Uber Boat is an excellent, affordable option for seeing the sites along the Thames. It isn’t a tour, so you won’t learn fun facts along the way, but then you don’t need to shush the kids to listen.

How to Pay for the Uber Boat in London

The Uber Boat is more expensive than the Tube and the buses, but it can be a very affordable way to get on the water and see some iconic sites of London from the Thames

Kids under 5 years old are free. Older kids travel for half the price of an adult ticket.

You can still use contactless payment to purchase a ticket. But you’ll either need to visit a kiosk on the dock, or an attendant walking around with a card reader machine to purchase a ticket.

Prices will vary depending on how far you are traveling, so you will need to know what stop you are getting off at when purchasing your ticket.

Tips for Riding the Uber Boat in London

If it’s raining or cold, there is a small indoor waiting area available at the dock.

There are bathrooms on the boat, and you can sit inside or outside. Sitting outside allows for better views of the sites on shore. But if it's raining or cold, you have an option.

There is a cafe on the boat to purchase coffee, soft drinks, alcohol, and snacks.

Museum Tips for Visiting London With Kids

Tips for Getting Tickets for Museums in London

Most museums are free, but many require pre-reserved entry tickets with a timeslot.

You can find more information on the museum options in London, which museums in London are best for kids, and which ones you’ll need to book a ticket in advance for in this article.

If you want to visit a specific exhibit, double check that it’s open on the day and time of your visit. We went to the Science Museum on a Monday, and the main kids/toddler area with water play was closed on Mondays. 

Take the Tube Directly to Many London Museums

There is very clear signage to all the main museums from the Tube station. Follow the underground tunnels and they will bring you to an exit right next to the museum entrance.

Especially if it’s raining, you will really appreciate these underground walkways when you’re headed to the Science Museum or the Natural History Museum.

Kid-Specific Tips for Visiting Museums in London

Many museums offer activities, backpacks, scavenger hunts, etc. for kids to make it more engaging for them. 

Some museums offer special events for kids and families. Check at the front desk, or search “families” on the museum’s website for special kids’ activities and events.

Changing of the Guard Tips for Visiting London With Kids

Where to Watch the Changing of the Guard with kids

The front gates of Buckingham Palace gets very crowded during the Changing of the Guard. Your kids likely won’t be able to see around all the taller bodies. Either arrive very early, or prioritize seeing the Guard in transit from different viewpoints.

You can see the Guard in transit at multiple locations other than Buckingham Palace, including St James Palace and Wellington Barracks. I found this guide helpful in planning out places to spectate.

You don’t need to see the Guard at all the locations to really appreciate it and soak in the experience! Trying to hit all the viewpoints will have your whole family feeling stressed and chaotic. Pick a couple of key viewpoints, relax, and enjoy.

When to See the Changing of the Guard in London with Kids

The Changing of the Guard doesn’t happen every day, but it usually occurs late morning. Check out the current schedule here.

Starting times are not always precise, and they can be early! You’ll need to be flexible when viewing the Changing of the Guard.

If it’s raining too hard, the Guard will not play music. They usually play music much like you hear a marching band in the United States. If it’s a priority for your kids to hear the Guard play music, wait for a dry day.

Other Things to Know About Seeing the Changing of the Guard in London with kids

I don’t recommend booking a tour to see the Changing of the Guard with kids. Tours are very fast moving and the information shared isn’t particularly interesting for kids.

There are a lot of pickpockets in the area. Secure your belongings carefully.

Every viewpoint is going to be crowded. Be prepared to claim your spot and then be swarmed by people. But if you aren’t right in front of Buckingham Palace, that swarm will move away quickly.

There are bathrooms in St James park, but get there early after the Changing of Guard because it becomes popular! The bathrooms do cost money, but they accept contactless payment. When I visited, it was 20p per person. And yes, I charged that to a credit card.

Follow the Changing of the Guard with a walk through St James park to see the various species of birds and the friendly squirrels.

If you’re looking for other free activities for kids in London, check out this article, where I list more than 20 free things to do with kids in London!

Tips for Visiting Buckingham Palace With Kids in London

Tips for Getting Tickets for Buckingham Palace With Kids

The State Room tours only operate in summer months. Check out their upcoming schedule and pricing here.

If you aren't visiting in summer months, check out some alternative activities that are perfect for kids in London in this article: A 6 Day London Itinerary for Families With Kids: Activities That are Fun for Everyone.

You will want to purchase your ticket well ahead of time in peak season! If you’re picky about days and times, I’d purchase tickets to Buckingham Palace months in advance. At the time of writing this, even some time slots 5 months out are already sold out.

If you bring a printed copy of your ticket, you can get it stamped at the end of your tour. This stamp enables you free access for a year (subject to availability). That way, if you missed something or want to go back, you can pop in at a less desirable time slot later in your trip.

Tips for Preparing for Your Visit to Buckingham Palace with Kids

There are no bathrooms available for the public inside the palace. You (and your kids) will have to wait until you are outside in the gardens at the end of your tour. Visit a bathroom before your tour.

If you (or your kids) need to empty their bladders just before your entry time, some of the closest public toilets include those at Victoria Station and in St. James Park (costs a small fee).

Watch some YouTube videos about Buckingham Palace before visiting to give your kids some context and to talk it up a bit.

Make sure your bags fit the size requirements. I ended up buying this bag because my regular backpack would have been too big. It was still able to fit waters, diapers, and a few snacks while staying within the size requirements set by Buckingham Palace.

Backpacks need to be worn on your front. This would not have worked for me while also scooping up my toddler throughout the tour. Another reason I bought this bag.

Tips for Entering Buckingham Palace with Kids

Even with a pre booked ticket, there will likely be a long line snaked around the corner to get in. 

As you wait, look up at the flag atop Buckingham Palace. If the Union Jack flag is flying (looks like your regular blue, red, and white UK flag), the king is not there. But, if the Royal Standard flag is flying (with four squares, two of them red and yellow), the king is in the palace on the day of your visit! Discovering that the king was in the palace on the day of our visit made our tour extra special for my daughter.

Your ticket has a time slot on it, but they will let you in 10-15 minutes ahead of your ticket time.

If it’s raining and you’re early, at the front of the line there is a small, covered waiting area. You can wait there and stay dry until it’s your time slot. So feel free to make your way through the line, even if you're more than 10-15 minutes early.

You’ll need to go through security and scan your bags like at an airport. Be sure to check what items are allowed and not allowed inside Buckingham Palace during your visit. Things like large bags, scissors, and folding bikes are prohibited. For a full list, see this page.

Tips for When You’re Inside Buckingham Palace with Kids

There is no photography allowed inside the palace! You can take photos once you’re in the gardens and family pavilion.

It may be warm and stuffy inside the palace despite being cold outside. Especially with the number of tourists inside. You’ll want to dress in layers and have a plan for what to do with your coat when it’s too hot to keep it on.

Make sure to leave time to visit the Family Pavilion once you’re outside the main palace. Your kids can dress like a guard, design a gown, and engage in learning activities along the wall. Plus, there’s seating for parents. 

It is someone’s sole job to keep all the clocks at Buckingham Palace accurate, and there is at least one clock in every room. My kids found it fun to find the clock in every room. Kind of like a scavenger hunt.

How to Best Use the Audio Guide in Buckingham Palace with Kids

All of the audio guide devices are the same, but there is a “family” setting you can select to access the kids’ audio guide.

The audio guide looks like an iPhone with headphones. It’s worth getting one even for the littlest ones. They can tap on the images and watch some of the visual elements.

The headphones for the audio guide just don’t stay on little heads. If your kids are wanting to listen to the audio guide themselves and they have little heads, you may want to consider bringing their own headphones with you.

For a complete list of everything you're going to want to remember to pack for your visit to London with kids, check out this article. 

It helped me to listen to the next room’s guide when we were still in the previous room. That way, I knew just what to point out to my kids as soon as we entered a room. It saved me from the million questions, “Mommy, where are we? Mommy, what’s that? Mommy, can we keep going?” I already had the answers.

Tips for Other Kid-Friendly Sites and Activities in London

Visiting Hamley’s Toy Store in London

Hamley’s is the oldest and largest toy store in the world - be prepared to spend some time there!

I recommend visiting Hamley's early on in your trip. That way, your kids can pick out a new toy to play with in your hotel room throughout the duration of your trip. For more recommendations on how to best schedule your itinerary for London, check out A 6 Day London Itinerary for Families With Kids: Activities That are Fun for Everyone.

There are seven floors at Hamley’s. You can find a guide on what you’ll find on each floor near the lift and escalators. It is organized into brand name sections. Sections include brands like Barbie, Disney, Sylvian Critters, Playmobil, Lego, etc.

You may want to prioritize which floors you’re spending time on. For example, we skipped right by the fourth floor with Marvel, Transformers, and Star Wars. That allowed us more time on the second floor with Barbie, Sylvanian Critters, and Disney princesses!

There are toilets and changing stations on the top floor.

There are some interactive areas that your kids may want to spend some time in. Playmobil specifically had a lot of toys out available for playing with. There was also a large Sylvian bus your kids can “drive”.

Sometimes, your child will be offered free things like nail painting, temporary hair coloring, etc. Afterwards, the employee will of course try to sell you these products. So when you say “yes” to the nail painting or hair coloring, make sure you’re prepared to say “no” (or yes if that’s your choice) to the purchase.

The nail paint they are trying to sell you with the nail painting experience probably isn’t worth it. It was supposed to glow in the dark (it didn’t), and it chipped off very quickly.

Seeing West End Shows in London with Kids

All West End Shows in London have a minimum age! I didn’t know this ahead of time, which is why I didn’t end up seeing a show with my kids in London.

With my 2 year old, we were not allowed into any of the theatres. The Lion King show didn’t allow anyone under 3, Frozen was 4 and up, and Wicked didn’t allow anyone under 5 years.

If your kids are old enough, you may have luck finding last minute tickets. Last minute tickets generally cheaper and by then you’ll also know how your kids are handling jet lag and what time show might work best for you.

Accommodation Tips for Visiting London With Kids

Why I Recommend Staying in Central London with Kids

Staying in Central London minimizes transport times to all of the major sites. 

Staying close to the main sites allows you the flexibility to easily go back for a break, have a quiet lunch in your hotel room, change clothes, etc. With a toddler who still naps, this was essential for me!

What to Look for When Searching for Accommodations in London for Families

The Location

Take a look on Google Maps or the CityMapper app before booking. How far are your top priorities as far as sites go on public transportation? Is there a tube station nearby? How many bus stops are nearby? Are there a lot of different bus number lines available?

Think about the day-to-day practicalities with kids. Where’s the nearest playground for a quick run around? How about a grocery store?

I always recommend making a Google My Maps personalized trip map when you're preparing for your trip. It allows you to see the locations of your hotels, sites and attractions, and food places you have picked out all at once. For more recommendations on what to do before your trip, check out Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps.

The Room

Pay attention in reviews about how quiet the hotel is. With napping kiddos and kids that go to bed earlier than young 20s out on the town, this could make or break your trip.

Not all hotels have air conditioning. If you’re visiting in the summer and air conditioning is important to you, make sure you check before you book.

The Beds

Look carefully at what “2 beds” means. In some cases, "Two beds" means two twin beds! If you’re traveling with three or more people, you’re going to want more space than that!

Make sure you’re booking for the correct number of people when making your hotel reservation. If you show up with too many people for a room, they will make you pay for another room… if there’s availability!

The Hotel

It’s not a guarantee in London to have an elevator (aka a lift). Especially if you’re traveling with a stroller, you’ll want to take this into consideration when booking your stay.

Having breakfast available at your accommodation (or a way to make it yourself) is ideal. It allows an easy and predictable routine for the mornings - which helps you get out the door on time!

If you plan on connecting to WiFi in your hotel room (aka public WiFi!), don't forget to protect your digital information with a VPN from Surfshark. As a bonus, your kids will be able to stream shows with a VPN from the United States - so no fears that they can't get their usual shows when needed!

Why Premier Inn Waterloo was the Perfect Hotel for My Kids

The Location

I highly recommend the Premier Inn London Waterloo for an affordable, central hotel option. Not sponsored at all! I just had a really great experience and wouldn’t hesitate to stay there again.

It was incredibly convenient to access buses, the Tube, and everything South Bank has to offer.

If you’re concerned about your kids having green space to run around, it’s close to Jubilee Park playground near the London Eye.

It was quiet - exactly what I needed with two little ones! If you’re looking for something a bit more central to bars and restaurants, I’d look for a different location.

The Room

We got a family room that included a queen bed and a sofa bed.

The rooms were clean and quiet. Even with a window overlooking a busy street, traffic and pedestrian noise was never an issue.

The Staff

The staff was above and beyond helpful and friendly. They always greeted my children upon entering and exiting. 

During breakfast, they saw that I was traveling by myself with two children. The staff anticipated my needs and offered to help with plates, occasionally gave my children things like coloring activities, biscuits, or candy, and they even remembered our specialty order at breakfast!

I never felt like my children were a nuisance. Quite the opposite, actually. And I would return to this specific location for that very reason.

The Breakfast

Breakfast at Premier Inn hotels is extremely convenient (and delicious!) for people with special dietary requests!

I am a gluten-free vegan and I felt like I was eating better than I do at home. I didn’t have to scrounge around for the typical banana and Jif peanut butter packet, just to be hungry in an hour (I’m looking at you, Holiday Inn Express!).

They had veggie sausage, veggie bacon, dairy free milks, hash browns, baked beans, mushrooms, vegan butter, porridge made with soy milk, etc.

Kids eat free for breakfast with a paying adult! Since I was traveling with just myself and two kids, this was a huge bargain for me!

General Transportation Tips for Visiting London With Kids

How to Take Taxis in London with Kids

Get the “Gett” app if you plan on hailing black cabs in the city. It works a lot like Uber but you can book official London taxis.

For a list of all the apps you'll want to have downloaded on your phone before your trip, check out Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps.

It costs around 110-120 pounds for a black cab to and from the airport. Expensive? Yes. Are there cheaper options? Yes. But when you’re traveling with young kids and their suitcases and want to be delivered door to door after a long flight, is it worth it? To me, absolutely!

In general in cabs, round up for a tip. Or add 10% if it’s a long journey. Coming to and from the airport, if the driver helped with bags, made the long ride somehow more enjoyable for my kids, etc. I would add a bit more… but maybe that’s just the American in me?

Tips for walking in London with kids

London is not the most stroller (aka buggy) friendly city. If your young ones are okay with a carrier or with walking, this is the better way to go. Tube stations, buses, museums, etc. will limit your pram pushing abilities.

At the very least, make sure your stroller is easily collapsible. That way, when you encounter a set of steps or an escalator, you can navigate those steps more easily. Something like this packs down small and has a one-handed collapse.

London is very easy to walk. Sidewalks are everywhere. Crosswalks are clear. But London is big. Don’t count on walking everywhere, especially with kids!

Don’t forget to look right for immediate oncoming cars when crossing the street! They drive on the opposite side of the road as the US, remember?

Other London Transportation tips for London

Do not rent a car unless you're headed out of town! Public transportation is convenient and affordable. Plus, I wouldn’t want to attempt navigating the city, unfamiliar traffic laws, and London traffic.

For more information about public transportation, check out the above sections.

Packing Tips for Visiting London With Kids

Clothing Tips for Visiting London With Kids

We didn’t see sunshine until our 4th day in London. Pack layers and raingear! Even in early September, when it’s technically still summer, you may need warm jackets! 

Think about footwear, not only for comfortable walking, but also for keeping your feet dry. If you’re visiting in the summer, and if you plan on visiting splash parks, you may want to consider bringing swimsuits!

Electronics to Pack for Visiting London With Kids

Bring kids’ headphones if little ones with little heads plan on using audio guides at sites like Buckingham Palace.

When you’re packing your plug adapters, don’t forget that certain electronics (like baby monitors!) may need a power converter as well. This one is both an adapter and a converter. Plus, it provides USBc and USBa ports, plus four regular outlets.

If your kids are prone to ear infections, you may want to consider buying a digital ear scope. On a recent trip, I was able to take photos of my daughter’s ear drum. I shared those photos at my virtual appointment with a doctor at Doctorsa. Because of the photos, he was able to confidently provide me with the necessary prescriptions that I could fill at the local pharmacy.

Speaking of medical issues while traveling, don't forget about getting Travel Insurance! SafetyWing is incredibly comprehensive, they cover so much more than credit card insurance coverage, and one kid is covered for free with each paying adult.

Other Gear to Consider When Packing for London With Kids

Don’t forget to pack a bag small enough to bring into Buckingham Palace, but large enough to hold waters, diapers, etc. I ended up buying this one last minute and it was perfect for what I needed!

If you’re packing a stroller, make sure it’s easily collapsible for when you will inevitably come across an unavoidable set of steps. This stroller packs small for airplanes and still has a one-handed fold.

If you want a little help with jet lag and getting to bed at a reasonable time, consider bringing kids’ melatonin. I like this one because in addition to melatonin, it has other calming herbs like chamomile, passionflower, and lemon balm.

A few activities for the hotel room are always a good idea. Sticker books, coloring, even a deflated balloon (that you blow up when you arrive of course). You may also want to consider visiting Hamley’s earlier in your trip. Have your kids pick out a new toy. Then, they can play with that toy in the hotel room during your visit.

I always bring a travel knife and cutting board with me. It helps for easy hotel lunches or snacks for things like veggies and hummus. Don’t forget a few containers, sandwich bags, or stasher bags if you’re packing them to go!

Even if you won’t have access to laundry facilities, laundry detergent sheets are a lightweight option in case you need to do a quick sink wash for the inevitable ketchup or ice cream spill.

For a comprehensive list of everything you'll need to remember for your family London trip, check out A (Printable) London Packing List for Families: Everything You’ll Need With Young Kids in London.

Itinerary Planning Tips for Visiting London With Kids

I provide even more tips for planning out your schedule in London in this article: A 6 Day London Itinerary for Families With Kids: Activities That are Fun for Everyone. So be sure to check it out!

Consider putting a “down day” in the middle of your trip. This day can be used to have a more relaxed wake up, or to catch up on sites that may have been missed earlier in the trip due to jet lag, poor moods, or poor weather.

London is big, make sure you leave time for getting around!

Plan a mix of kid-friendly adult attractions and kid-centered attractions. Not every activity needs to be a museum, but you don’t have to spend your whole trip at playgrounds, either!

Balance your days with both pre-booked activities and on-the-fly activities. I like to have planned activities for the morning, and then have a list of possible activities for the afternoon. That way, weather, moods, and energy levels can dictate afternoon activities.

Consider staying in central London for the ability to take a break in the middle of the day. See above for more accommodation tips.

Don’t expect little legs to walk everywhere - plan on taking public transportation! See above for transportation tips for London.

Expect rain, even in summer. Have indoor activity options or prepare yourself (and your clothing) to be out in the rain!

Consider visiting in September. During the summer months, many attractions have extended hours and special events. In September, the weather is still decent, summer hours will still be in effect, but the crowds will be down due to kids in the United States returning to school.

Do not forget to book tickets in advance for activities that are a top priority for you! Some attractions will sell out.

Consider getting the London Pass. With my kids, it didn’t make sense for me because I have little ones that still nap and I have low expectations for the number of attractions we can visit per day. But if you have older kids and move at a quicker pace, it could be worth it for you. Check out the options and do the math for your family here.

For a full list of everything you'll need to do before your trip to London, make sure to check out Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps.

Tips for Playgrounds in London

All playgrounds that I came across in London were free. So a quick play was definitely doable - if you can tear your kids away after a few minutes, that is. 

A playground in London you have to visit with your kids is the Princess Diana Memorial Playground. It has a guarded gate and they will not unlock the gate unless you have kids with you. Plus it has clean, free bathrooms! It can be a bit of a maze in the playground, so if you have enough adults with you to divide and conquer with multiple kids, bring them along!

The Hyde Park playground is very crowded and quite small. I wouldn’t prioritize it. Also, a picnic at Hyde Park by the lake sounds idyllic… but be prepared to chase away the pigeons for your entire meal.

Other playgrounds to check out could include Jubilee Gardens in South Park (with views of the London Eye), Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park playground, Battersea Park, Horseferry Playground (with views of Westminster Abbey), Marylebone Green Playground in Regents Park, the Causton Street Playground near the Tate Britain, and the Alf Barrett playground near the British Museum.

For more specific information on some other playgrounds in Central London, check out my article Free Things to Do in Central London With Kids: Family Fun on a Budget.

Tips for Eating with Kids in London

You have to go outside of Central London for pubs, cafes, and restaurants with kids’ play areas. 

Many restaurants will have kids’ menus, though, which to me says they welcome families with open arms.

Plan to do some meals takeaway or self-catered in your hotel room. Convincing kids to “behave” for 3 meals a day gets exhausting! If doing this, don't forget to pack any kitchen tools you'll need. I always travel with a chefs knife and cutting board and some travel cutlery.

Bring small activities you know they’ll love while waiting for food at restaurants. Sticker books, coloring, etc. Plus, don’t forget about games like hangman and tic tac toe. Or you could buy postcards and write them out at the restaurant.

Stay at a hotel with breakfast available. Everyone can get into a predictable routine, not everyone has to eat at the same time if wake-up times are different or if some people are showering, and where to eat breakfast is one less decision you have to make every day.

I've already talked about how much I loved the breakfast option at Premier Inn Waterloo. In case you missed it, read more here.

A service charge of 12.5% is usually added at restaurants. If that is added to the bill, there is no need for extra tip. If the service charge isn’t included, you can add on 10-15% tip.

If you plan on connecting to the WiFi in restaurants and cafes, don't forget to protect yourself from scammers! I always use SurfShark - it's affordable, easy to use, and offers protection on unlimited devices.

Tips for Money and Expenses When Visiting London With Kids

Once you’ve arrived and accommodation is paid for, London doesn’t have to be expensive. I wrote an article with more than 20 free things to do in London with kids. Check it out here.

One of the biggest money saving tips you can use every day is to utilize public transportation! See more about that in the above section.

To make meals more affordable, I made sure to book a hotel with breakfast included. We would eat a big breakfast at the hotel, buy food at the grocery store for lunch, and only have to eat out for dinner.

I did not once have to use cash when in London. Bring along a credit card with no international fees and you’ll be fine. Just in case, I also brought a debit card with no international fees and that reimburses ATM fees.

A service charge of 12.5% is usually added at restaurants. The bill will reflect this charge. If no service charge was included on the bill, you can add on 10-15% tip.

For tipping in a cab, it’s normal to just round up or to add around 10% tip.

Bonus Tips for Visiting London With Kids:

If you have young kids, knowing where the nearest free restroom is can be a necessity. Luckily, there’s a website for that called Toilet Map. Check out the London map here, and keep it in a convenient tab on your browser!

Speaking of phones, you’re going to want to stay connected and have access to data when in London with your family. That way, you have access to the Toilet Map at all times, plus you’ll be able to easily access your CityMapper App for live navigating of public transportation.

The easiest and most affordable way to stay connected is with an eSIM you can purchase before your trip. I always use Holafly for its affordability, flexible offerings, and reliable access to quick data on my phone.

If you’re planning a trip to London with kids, you will definitely want to check out these articles:

• Free Things to Do in Central London With Kids: Family Fun on a Budget
• A 6 Day London Itinerary for Families With Kids: Activities That are Fun for Everyone
• Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps
• A (Printable) London Packing List for Families: Everything You’ll Need With Young Kids in London
  

Visiting London With Kids FAQs

Is London worth visiting with kids?

Yes! There are so many kid-friendly activities in London - both indoors and outdoors! Nearly every museum has at least some activity catered toward kids. There are plenty of free playgrounds. And in general I found Londoners to be extremely welcoming to families with kids.

Which part of London is best for kids?

Central London is where all of the main activities for kids will be. All the best museums, Hamley’s Toy Store, the London Eye, Big Ben, etc. It’s all there. There are even city farms and sprawling gardens for kids that need to be more connected to nature. 

If you stay in Central London, you are sure to be easily (and quickly) connected to all of your top priority sites with public transportation. 

What to do in London, England with kids?

No matter what your child’s interests, London has something for you. 

If your kids are into the royal family and being “proper”, you can visit Buckingham Palace, the Royal Mews, or enjoy an afternoon (kid-friendly) tea. 

If your kids are into movies, check out all the landmarks around town from movies like Harry Potter, Mary Poppins, Paddington Bear, and even The Parent Trap.

For kids who can’t sit still, there are plenty of parks and gardens all around London. Plus, there are even city farms with animals to pet.

For transportation lovers, not only are there double decker buses, but there’s a whole interactive London Transportation Museum.

You can find an entire list of free London activities for kids in this article. 

And if you want to see an example 6 Day London Itinerary for Families With Kids, you can find one here.

Is 7 days too much for London?

Not at all! Seven days could be the perfect number of days to really be able to see the main sites of London, while also allowing time for kids to be kids at places like playgrounds and city farms.

This 6 Day London Itinerary for Families with kids has a whole list at the end of it of additional activities and sites. You could easily extend the itinerary by a few days!

What is the best way to get around London with a family?

Public transportation will always be your best option for getting around London. The double decker buses are convenient and a fun way to watch the city go by. During times of high traffic, the Tube allows you to bypass rush hour.

No need to buy a ticket for buses or the Tube in London. Just bring along a form of contactless payment. And remember, kids under 11 travel for free. 

Make sure to download the CityMapper app, which is the best way to navigate the public transportation system of London.

Is London a kid-friendly place?

London is one of the most kid-friendly large cities I’ve visited. Every museum has some kids activities available to make it more fun for the whole family. Playgrounds are free and plentiful. Public transportation is easy and affordable for families. Sidewalks are wide and people are generally very friendly toward children.

That being said, London is not a stroller-friendly city. Just bring along the carrier, and you and your kids will have a blast exploring this kid-friendly city.

My Favorite Travel Resources for Visiting London With Kids:

Accommodation: Premier Inn Waterloo because of its central location, affordability, clean and quiet rooms, fantastic breakfast, and child-friendly staff.

Tours: Viator because of the wide range of tours, upfront reviews and pricing, and its one stop platform for tours across multiple cities and locations.

eSIM: Holafly because of its unlimited data, affordability, fast connection, and straight-forward installation process (even for the technologically challenged).

Travel Insurance: SafetyWing because of its comprehensive coverage, affordability (kids are free with each paying adult!), and easy claims process.

Digital Protection: Surfshark because of its affordability, ease of use, and ability to connect it with unlimited devices (which is especially important when factoring in kids!).

London is huge. There is so much for families to do that it can be overwhelming to prioritize what to hit and what to miss on your family London visit. This 6 day London itinerary helps you to select a realistic schedule of how to approach London with young kids.

If you're going to London with kids, make sure to check out these other articles that will help you in your planning process:

• Free Things to Do in Central London With Kids: Family Fun on a Budget
• Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps
• London With Kids: Tips and Tricks You’ll Need to Know
• A (Printable) London Packing List for Families: Everything You’ll Need With Young Kids in London
  

What to Expect With This 6 Day London Itinerary for Families

You may have heard of the London Pass. You buy the pass and get free entry to many of the main attractions around London. For this itinerary, though, the London Pass isn’t worth the money. But if you plan on packing more in to your schedule, you could consider buying a London Pass.

My general approach is to have ticketed, time sensitive events in the morning. Then, the afternoons are for more flexible plans, which is why I’ve provided multiple options for the afternoon plans. This allows for you to assess how moods (and weather) are playing out for the day. 

If everyone has a lot of energy, maybe tackle both afternoon activities! Or I’ve included some additional options at the end of the article if you need more to do, or if you’d like to replace one of the activities I’ve included in the 6 day itinerary.

Also, for most days, I leave eating up to you. I generally like to have breakfast at the hotel, self- cater lunch from the grocery store (especially because I still have a napping toddler), and either get takeaway or go to a restaurant for dinner (depending on moods).

Day 1 of 6 - London Itinerary With Kids

1. Arrive in the Morning
2. Explore and Eat Lunch at Borough Market
3. Check In to Your Accommodation
4. Explore South Bank
5. Eat Dinner
6. Sleep!

1. Arrive in the Morning

If you’re flying into London from the United States, your flight will most likely arrive in the morning.

Activate Your eSIM

When you land, don’t forget to activate your eSIM. You'll want to be connected from the start, especially when it comes time to navigate public transportation or locate your luggage storage.

My favorite service to use is Holafly. It's way more affordable than going through your phone carrier, they offer unlimited data, and I've always had great connection with their eSIMs.

Plus, Holafly is incredibly easy to use, even for the technologically challenged. You set most of it up before your trip. When you land, just go to your settings, activate the already installed eSIM, and turn on “data roaming”. You’re instantly connected and can start using necessary apps for London like Google Maps, CityMapper, and Gett.

Head to the City

Once you’ve cleared customs, you can easily (and affordably) get to Central London on the Tube. But if you’re traveling with kids and luggage, it may be worth it to skip the Tube and head to the taxi cue. 

London black cabs are incredibly spacious and clean, and the drivers have to pass some pretty exclusive tests to have the job. Plus, if riding in a London black taxi is on your “to do” list for the trip, this could be a good time to tick it off the list.

A black cab is more convenient than heading to the Uber meeting place (in short term parking), but depending on the time of day, an Uber could be more affordable.

Usually with taxi rides in London, you can just round up for tip. But since it’s such a long ride (60-90 minutes) and if the driver helps with luggage, you should consider tipping 10-15%. And yes, you can pay and tip with a credit card in London taxis.

Drop Off Your Luggage

If your accommodation has luggage storage, head straight there and drop off your bags.

For an affordable, family-friendly hotel in Central London (that also has luggage storage!), I highly recommend Premier Inn Waterloo.

Kids eat free for breakfast, their breakfast is incredible for people with dietary requirements, it is centrally located and quiet, and they are beyond friendly and understanding with kids.

If your accommodation doesn’t have luggage storage, you can book luggage storage ahead of time (or in the moment) using a tool like Radical Storage. This tool helps you find the closest luggage storage, book and pay online or in their app, and ensures secure storage of your suitcases while you explore for the day.

2. Explore and Eat Lunch at Borough Market

The key to Day 1 exploring is to not do anything that allows for sleeping. Sleep inducing activities like bus tours, boat rides, etc. You also don’t want to do anything that requires too much energy. 

Everyone will be tired and sleep deprived, but the more you can wait until a “normal” bedtime to sleep (and not nap), the better!

I also don’t recommend doing anything that you’ve booked with a timed entry. First of all, moods might get interesting on Day 1 due to jet lag. Second of all, this gives you a bit of a buffer in case of delayed flights.

So for the first activity on Day 1, hop on a double decker bus or the Tube and head to Borough Market…. Unless it’s a Monday. They’re closed on Mondays. As a backup, head to Camden Market, which is open 7 days per week.

For more information about how to navigate public transportation with kids in London, check out this article all about tips and tricks for visiting London with kids. 

Why Visit Borough Market?

Borough Market is an indoor and outdoor market that dates back to the 1700s. You’ll find stalls with fresh produce, coffee, gourmet goods, and cooked lunches. Take in the market and the people, and grab some lunch. 

There will be an option for everyone for lunch. You’ll find Greek eats, falafel, Spanish food, French food, vegetarian food, Italian, Mexican, Asian, Indian and yes, even English food.

There are free toilets near Humble Crumble and Borough Kitchen Cook Shop. 

Anytime you’re in London and need a public toilet, check out this handy website that maps out all the public toilets wherever you are in London.

3. Check In To Your Accommodation

Is it time to check in to your accommodation, yet? Now could be a good time to head back to your hotel, grab your suitcases, and get settled in a bit. That way, when it’s time for bed later, you’re already set up for an easy transition to bedtime.

I cannot say enough good things about our stay at Premier Inn Waterloo as a family with two young kids. I don't have experience with other Premier Inn locations, but I wouldn't hesitate to try!

4. Explore South Bank

The southern bank of the River Thames offers activities and sites for all ages and interests. 

• You can check out the artwork in the Graffiti Tunnel. 
• Snap some photos of Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.
• Listen to music from the numerous buskers along the bank.
• Have a play at the Jubilee Gardens playground.
• In the summer, cool off at Jeppe Hein Appearing Rooms fountains.
• If it’s a clear day, check out the sites of London from atop the London Eye. 

What is the London Eye?

In case you didn’t know, the London Eye is the huge ferris wheel in Central London. For perspective, the London Eye is 443 feet tall while the huge ferris wheel in Seattle is just 175 feet tall. 

Is the London Eye an expensive option? Yes. For a grown-up experience, is it worth it to me? No. But to see the excitement of my kids paired with a first look at the sites of London? I don’t regret it one bit.

You can likely buy tickets on the day of your visit. If they happen to be sold out and it’s a top priority for your family, chances are you can book a ticket for a day later in your trip. 

5. Dinner

If you want something casual for dinner, there are plenty of food stalls and options all along South Bank. For Day 1, I would recommend either doing this option or heading toward your accommodation and finding somewhere to eat near there.

Everyone’s going to be getting tired. Don’t plan a fancy sit down meal for dinner on Day 1 of your London trip.

It may be a good idea to even get takeaway for your hotel room. Or grab some quick grab n’ go options from a grocery store. Or for something really English, grab a sausage roll (vegan options available!) from a Greggs - a convenience store chain in London.

6. Sleep!

If you made it the whole day without napping, everyone is going to be ready to head to bed early on Day 1. Let it happen, and hopefully everyone sleeps all night and wakes up for Day 2 feeling refreshed.

Day 2 of 6 - London Itinerary With Kids

1. AM (Summer) Buckingham Palace State Rooms
2. AM (Fall, Winter, Spring) Natural History Museum
3. PM Indoors - Hamley’s
4. PM Outdoors - Princess Memorial Playground or Hyde Park

AM - Day 2 - Buckingham Palace State Rooms (Summer)

You will need to book tickets for Buckingham Palace months before your trip! In 2025, State Room tickets are available for the months of July through September.

For more information on what to book months before your trip to London with kids, check out Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps.

When you book your tickets for Buckingham Palace (and for other activities in London), make sure you keep jet lag in mind. When going from the US to London, the tendency will be to stay up late and to sleep in.

Also make sure you leave time for eating breakfast and the commute to your activity. We booked our tickets for 10:30, which allowed for a morning that required us to constantly make forward movement, but wasn’t completely rushed.

Don't forget to pack your printed tickets for Buckingham Palace

If you bring the printed tickets with you, you can get them stamped on your way out. This stamp gives you a 1 year pass for visiting Buckingham Palace whenever you want (when they aren’t at full capacity, that is). 

So by visiting Buckingham Palace on Day 1, this allows you to return later in your trip if you happened to miss anything. Or if moods didn’t allow you to fully enjoy the State Rooms. Or if your preschooler all of a sudden had a bathroom emergency and you had to race to the end of the tour where the bathrooms are. You get the picture.

For more information on what to expect and how to plan ahead for your visit, check out the section titled “Tips for Visiting Buckingham Palace With Kids in London” in this article. 

AM - Day 2- Natural History Museum (Fall, Winter, Spring)

Visiting the Natural History Museum is free, but you do need to book a ticket with a timeslot ahead of time. If you plan on visiting the dinosaurs section, the earlier the better. It’s the most popular section of the museum.

For more information on visiting the Natural History Museum with kids, check out the section “Natural History Museum” in the article Free Things To Do in London With Kids. 

PM Options - Day 2: Hamley’s Toy Store - Diana Memorial Playground - Hyde Park

Indoor Option: Hamley’s Toy Store

Hamley’s is the oldest and largest toy store in the world. There are seven floors of toys alongside some interactive experiences. 

I put Hamley’s earlier in the trip in case you want to allow your kids to pick out one (packable) toy that can also provide entertainment in your hotel room, at restaurants, etc.

Outdoor Option 1: Diana Memorial Playground

Diana Memorial Playgrounds is located in Kensington Gardens. It’s massive. There’s a guarded gate that only allows adults with children to enter. There is a pirate ship, sand, climbing structures, swings, spinners hidden in the forest, etc.

Oh, and did I mention there are clean (free) bathrooms? 

If you’re looking for more information about playgrounds in London, check out this article about free things to do in London with kids.

Outdoor Option 2: Hyde Park

Right next to Kensington Gardens (where Diana Memorial Playground is) lies Hyde Park. You can visit the Rose Gardens, rent a paddle boat on The Serpentine Lake, or grab a snack and a drink at Serpentine Bar. If visiting around Christmas-time, don’t miss the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. 

If you’re looking for a playground, though, I’d stick to Diana Memorial Playground. The Hyde Park playground is crowded and lacking in space and equipment.

Day 3 of 6 - London Itinerary With Kids

1. AM Changing of the Guard
2. PM Indoors: Science Museum
3. PM Outdoors: Spitafields City Farm

AM - Day 3 - Changing of the Guard 

The Changing of the Guard is when you get to see the King’s Guard changing shift. They march down the streets, play marching band music, and create quite the spectacle. 

It does not happen every day!! In general, you can see the Changing of the Guard on Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays, and Sundays. So check this website before your trip for the current schedule. Make sure your Day 3 in London falls on one of these days! If not, swap out days.

I don’t really recommend smashing your face against the gate of Buckingham Palace. You’ll have to get there very early, and you’ll have a lot of people crowding around you and invading your personal space.

Instead, I recommend seeing the Changing of the Guard in transit between Buckingham Palace, Wellington Barracks, and St James Palace. I’ve written some really useful information in the section “Changing of the Guard” in this article about free London activities, and “Changing of the Guard Tips” in this article all about tips for visiting London with kids. 

PM Options - Day 3: Science Museum - Spitafields City Farm

Indoor Option: Science Museum

The Science Museum is free to visit, but you will need to book entry tickets ahead of time. The Science Museum is a great option if you have toddlers and little ones, as the entire section downstairs has the Pattern Pod with water play. 

The Pattern Pod is not open on Mondays, though! Make sure Day 3 is not falling on a Monday for you. If it does, swap out days for visiting the Science Museum.

For more information about visiting the Science Museum, check out the section “Science Museum” in this article about free things to do in London with kids.

Outdoor Option: Spitafields City Farm

Spitafields City Farm has farm animals to pet, puzzles and games, and a garden to visit. It’s free to enter, but you can also visit their organic farm shop and the farm cafe. This could maybe be a lunch option for the day!

The farm is near Shoreditch and all the street art you’ll find there. So on your way to or from the farm, be sure to take a stroll past the artwork. Check out the Shoreditch Street Art Map here. Shoreditch also has plenty of dining options, so you could grab dinner while you’re in the area.

Day 4 of 6 - London Itinerary With Kids

1. AM - Tower Bridge Tour
2. PM - (Indoor) Covent Garden
3. PM - (Outdoor) Uber Boat to Greenwich

AM - Day 4 - Tower Bridge Tour

You will want to buy tickets to Tower Bridge before your trip. You can book tickets here. Occasionally, there are special family events. You can see if one of these events is occurring during your family’s visit to London here.

In the tour, you walk up the north tower, walk across the bridge, walk down the south tower, and then head over to the engine room. The whole tour usually takes around 90 minutes.

It is filled with fun, kid-centric activities. The main event is a scavenger hunt, where your kids answer questions and collect stamps along the way. There’s also a cat that can be found hiding all along the tour path.

The bridge has sections with glass floors, which my kids found fun. You end up looking down on the traffic passing over the bridge. There is a path around them, though, if that sort of thing makes your heart beat too quickly.

If you want to time it just right, you could finish your tour and then head to Potters Field Park and watch the bridge open for a boat after your tour. You can check the Tower Bridge lift schedule here.

PM Options - Day 4: Covent Garden or Uber Boat to Greenwich

Indoor Option: Covent Garden Markets

Covent Garden is a whole neighborhood in London. But what I’m talking about are the Covent Garden Markets. You can pick the Jubilee Market, Apple Market, and East Colonnade Market. They are mostly covered, so in my mind count as an indoor activity!

The Markets of Covent Garden - Which one to go to?

The Jubilee Market features antiques on Mondays. From Tuesday to Friday, you can find anything from souvenirs to beauty products to gardening goods. On the weekends, it turns into an arts market, with local sellers of all kinds setting up shop on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Apple Market is also home to antiques on Mondays. All other days of the week, it’s home to handmade goods of all kinds… soaps, jewelry, paintings, and more.

The East Colonnade Market seems to be a bit of a hodge podge. It has crafts alongside candy and home goods.

Outdoor Option: Uber Boat to Greenwich

The Uber Boat is a form of public transportation that happens to take you for a boat ride down (or up) the Thames from one part of London to the other. It’s the most affordable way to actually get out on the water and to see the sites of London from the Thames.

The actual boat has an indoor section, but I don’t know how much you would see of the sites from the inside. For more information on how to take the Uber Boat in London with kids, check out the section “Tips for Taking an Uber Boat in London With Kids” in this article. 

Head to Greenwich

One possible destination is Greenwich. There is a small part of town with cute shops and some nice dining options.

There is also Greenwich Park that houses a playground so kids can let off some steam. If you climb to the top of the observatory on a clear day, you’re bound to get some fantastic views of London. Plus, the Ranger’s House on the west side of the park is home to the Bridgerton House!

Enjoy an afternoon exploring, and then head back on the Uber Boat, or opt for the Tube this time.

Day 5 of 6 - London Itinerary With Kids

1. AM Option 1 - The Royal Mews
2. AM Option 2 - Movie Tour
3. PM (Outdoor) - Regents Park
4. PM (Indoor Option 1) - Afternoon Tea
5. PM (Indoor Option 2) - Young V&A

AM - Day 5 - Royal Mews or Movie Tour

AM Option 1 - Day 5: The Royal Mews

The Royal Mews option is for the horse lovers in your family or the fans of the royal family. 

The Royal Mews is the stables of Buckingham Palace. It also houses all the famous carriages that are used in processions and celebrations. See the carriages that have transported the royal family in the past and some that still do today!

You and your family will get the chance to see real royal horses, engage in kid-friendly interactive activities like tacking up a wooden horse, and even climb aboard a carriage for a quick photo opportunity.

You will want to book tickets ahead of time here.

AM Option 2 - Day 5: Movie Tour

If anyone in your family loves Harry Potter, there are so many tour options available in London. But you cannot go wrong with this Harry Potter London Tour for Muggles. It’s kid-friendly, the tour guides are trained actors, and it’s two hours long - perfect for kid attention spans.

In addition to Harry Potter, it’s also possible to see sites from Paddington Bear, Mary Poppins, and even the Parent Trap! For more information on finding sites for these movies, check out the section “Check Out Landmarks From Movies” in this article.

PM - Day 5: Regents Park - Afternoon Tea - Young V&A

Outdoor Option: Regents Park

Regents Park is home to the London Zoo. It also has a fantastic playground called the Marylebone Green Playground. There is a rose garden to admire. And you can climb to the top of Primrose Hill for fantastic views of the London skyline.

Plus, you’re just a short walk to Camden, home to fantastic unique dining options. And also home to the best vegan pizza and mac n’ cheese I’ve ever had at Purezza.

Indoor Option 1: Afternoon Tea

Can you get more English than afternoon tea? If you have little ones that would appreciate dressing up and acting “proper” for an afternoon, afternoon tea is a fun option. 

The Shard has an afternoon tea that is Peter Pan themed. Complete with a pirate ship serving platter, a treasure chest bread box, and of course, fantastic views of London. 

This article features other kid-friendly afternoon options in London. Tea with themes like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, dinosaurs, and Mad Hatter Tea.

Indoor Option 2: Young V&A Museum

The main Victoria and Albert Museum is a museum featuring art, design, and performance pieces. It does have some family-specific activities to keep it interesting for kids. But the Young V&A (Victoria and Albert) Museum will probably capture your kids’ interest a bit more.

The Young V&A is filled with interactive exhibits featuring building and creating, imaginary play, as well as art and design. You don’t need to book tickets ahead of time for this museum, either. So it could be a last minute decision if needed.

Day 6 of 6 - London Itinerary With Kids 

Your sixth and final day of your London trip is a flex day.

Is there anything that you missed because the weather wasn’t cooperating? Is there something you want to go back to? Do you need a morning to pack and the afternoon to enjoy one final day in London?

If you need help filling in the blanks, here are a few additional activities that would be fantastic activities in London with kids.

Additional Kid-Friendly London Activities

If you're looking for all free activity options for kids in London, check out Free Things to Do in Central London With Kids: Family Fun on a Budget.

Additional Indoor London Activities that are Kid-Friendly

Westminster Abbey

• Westminster Abbey is a famous church most known for housing royal events like weddings and coronations. You can buy tickets to Westminster Abbey here.

A Show at the Opera House

• If your kids would be down for some opera, there are sometimes free lunchtime shows. Check out availability here.

Last minute tickets to West End Shows

• You can buy affordable, last minutes tickets to shows like The Lion King, Frozen, or Wicked on sites like TodayTix.
• Note: All shows have an age minimum! My two year old was not allowed into any West End shows! Check the details of each specific show for details.

Harrod’s

• Harrod’s is a famous, huge, luxury department store in London. There will be a store for everyone, plus free toilets!

Other Museums

• Read more information about London museum options for kids in this article. But some other museums you may want to consider with kids include the National Maritime Museum (and playground!), the London Transport Museum, or the Tate Modern.

Sky Garden

• The Sky Garden is a free place to get a fantastic view of London. You do need to book tickets three weeks to one month out, though!
• For more information about Sky Garden and other free London viewpoints, check out the “Sky Garden” section of this article.

Additional Outdoor London Activities that are Kid-Friendly

Camden Market

• Head to Camden Market for unique shopping, inspired restaurants, and walks along the canal

Other Playgrounds

• London is filled with fantastic, free playgrounds. You really can't go wrong with a playground visit when kids need to just be kids. Check out more information about playgrounds in London in this article.

Other City Farms

• In addition to Spitafields City Farm, you could also head to Hackney City Farm, Mudchute Park and Farm, or Vauxhall City farm. If your kids are animal lovers or need a bit more "nature", any of these could be a great option!

Cool Off at a Splash Zone

• Summer is short in London. But if you're visiting when it's hot, there are a surprising number of splash zones and fountains for cooling off. For more information on where to find these, check out this article.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

•  Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park was home to the 2012 summer Olympics.
• Today, visitors can explore the gardens and playgrounds, visit the aquatics center, cool off in the splash pad, or rent a bike and enjoy a leisurely stroll or have a go at the Velopark.

Final Thoughts: 6 Day London Itinerary for Families With Kids

Hopefully I've provided you with enough direction and enough flexibility in this 6 day London itinerary for kids so you can plan the perfect trip for your family! From museums to playgrounds to historical landmarks and markets, there is something for everyone to enjoy in London.

If you’re planning a trip to London, you’ll want to check out these other helpful articles:

• Free Things to Do in Central London With Kids: Family Fun on a Budget
• Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps
• Tips and Tricks for Visiting London With Kids
• A (Printable) London Packing List for Families: Everything You’ll Need With Young Kids in London
  

My Favorite Family Travel Resources

And finally, here is a list of my favorite family travel resources - tools and companies that I use all the time when traveling with my own kids!

• Accommodation: Booking.com because you can view reviews across multiple platforms, find hotels or vacation rentals, often find free cancellation policies, and frequently find sales.
• Tours: Viator because of the wide range of tours, upfront reviews and pricing, and its one stop platform for tours across multiple cities and locations.
• eSIM: Holafly because of its unlimited data, affordability, fast connection, and straight-forward installation process (even for the technologically challenged).
• Travel Insurance: SafetyWing because of its comprehensive coverage, affordability (kids are free with each paying adult!), and easy claims process.
• Digital Protection: Surfshark because of its affordability, ease of use, and ability to connect it with unlimited devices (which is especially important when factoring in kids!).

London can be known as being an expensive city. But once you arrive and have your accommodation paid for, there are plenty of free things to do in central London with kids. And even more activities in London that are free for kids with a paying adult.

It can take a bit of planning ahead, as many free activities in London still require you to book a ticket in advance. But from museums to viewpoints, and limitless parks and playgrounds, London can be an affordable family vacation destination!

Click these links to jump to the section that you're most interested in:

• Free Indoor Things to do in Central London with Kids
• Free Outdoor Things to do in Central London with Kids
• Activities in London that are free for kids, but adults have to pay

Nothing will bust the budget more than unexpected costs like... lost luggage, medical emergencies, or sick kids that need to see a doctor while you're traveling! 

That's why I always use SafetyWing for travel insurance. Plus, for every paying adult, a child is covered for free! Their coverage is incredibly affordable and their coverage is extensive.

If you're planning a trip to London with your kids, be sure to check out this article for a list of everything you need to do to plan and prepare:

• Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps
  

Free Indoor Things to Do in London for Kids

London isn’t exactly known as having the most appealing weather in the world. In our experience, London lives up to this reputation. One time, it took four days before we finally saw the sun. I was grateful to have free indoor activities for kids in London when the weather wasn’t looking so great. 

Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum is one of the most famous museums in London. You know the one with the image of the dinosaur in the entrance? Yep, that’s this museum. 

Whether you want to get up close with dinosaurs, experience volcanoes and earthquakes, or awe over a blue whale model, your kids will find something inspiring to learn about.

Like all the museums in London, you’ll want to book free tickets ahead of time that allows you access during a certain time slot. Also like all other museums in London, they will ask for a donation with an adult ticket. You of course can opt out, though.

Additional tips for visiting London’s Natural History Museum with kids:

• The dinosaur area gets busy quickly. See the dinosaurs first thing in the morning.
• You can’t bring a stroller in. They will ask you to check it for a fee at the cloak room.
• The museum offers a self-guided family-favourites tour.
• If you take the tube to South Kensington, there’s an underground tunnel with very clear signs that direct you to an exit point right next to the museum entrance.
• If your kids still have excess energy, the Science Museum is right next door.

Sky Garden

The Sky Garden is a free spot to get some fantastic views of London. You do need to book tickets around 3 weeks prior, and you can do that here. 

Your ticket is valid for one hour, and when booking your time slot, keep in mind that children under 16 aren’t allowed after 6pm on weekdays and after 9pm on weekends.

It’s recommended that you arrive 30 minutes prior to your booking to allow time for security and for the elevator ride to the 35th floor.

At the top, enjoy views of London. And if you want, you can grab a drink or a snack at the bar. But of course, that wouldn’t be free.

For backup locations for London views, you could check out the public viewing platform on the 8th floor of OXO Tower or The Gardet at 120, or One New Change.

Science Museum 

The Science Museum has some areas that are specifically meant for young children. So if you have toddlers or preschoolers, this is the museum for you!

For Little Ones

The Pattern Pod is a five senses area for little ones. There was a projection on the ground of fish that rippled when you touched it. A computer drawing screen for making mirror image shapes, some magnetic shapes, and a few other sensory activities.

There’s also a toddler area downstairs with water play. It looked really cool and much more extensive than the Pattern Pod, but it’s closed on Mondays… and we of course were there on a Monday! Don’t make that mistake.

For Older Kids

For older kids at the Science Museum, there are exhibits all about space and transportation vehicles that could be interesting. And there are some additional exhibits for older kids that you have to pay for.

Additional Tips for Visiting the Science Museum in London With Kids

Like other London museums, you must book a ticket ahead of time, and they ask for a donation with an adult ticket. The museum was essentially empty at 10am when we arrived (at opening), but by 11am was filling in. If you want the place more to yourself, earlier seems better.

Also, like the Natural History Museum, if you take the tube to South Kensington, there is an underground walking tunnel that will lead you right to the entrance of the Science Museum. Just follow the very clear signage.

For an extended list of free museums in London that could be fun for kids, check out the list at the end of this article.

Hamleys

Okay, Hamleys most likely won’t end up being free. But it is free to enter. We went there early in our visit to London. That way, the girls could pick out a new toy and have it to play with whenever we had some hotel time.

Speaking of hotels, we loved staying at the Premier Inn Waterloo! It is incredibly affordable for being in Central London. 

I love Premier Inn Waterloo because it's clean, quiet, they were very kind and patient with my children, kids eat free with a paying adult for breakfast (which was fantastic with plenty of options for people with dietary restrictions), and it was so close to bus stops and tube stations!

Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that Hamleys is a toy store? Some sources state it as the oldest and largest toy store in the world! Whether or not that’s true, it does have 7 floors of fun. You’ll find a guide that states which sections you’ll find on each floor. 

For example, there’s a Barbie section, Disney section, Calico Critters section, London section, etc. (Check out the photo below).

There are also plenty of interactive elements throughout the store. There were employees  blowing bubbles. My girls got their nails painted and my daughter got her hair colored. There’s a life-sized bus in the Calico Critters section, and plenty of Playmobil sets to play with in the Playmobil section. 

Of course, when they got their nails done there was a sales pitch at the end. But I’m glad we didn’t purchase. The nail polish came off really easily and the glitter that was supposed to glow in the dark just didn’t. But it was a fun activity for them. 

And not to worry, there are toilets on the top floor. So you can spend plenty of time there without ever needing to leave!

Need help figuring out how to fit all these puzzle pieces together? First of all, check out my free 6 Day London Itinerary for Families. And if you're looking for something specially curated for your family's needs, check out my Trip Planning Services.

Free Outdoor Things to Do in London for Kids

Changing of the Guard

The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is definitely a fun activity for the whole family in London. The free event starts around 10:45, usually on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. But make sure you check the ceremony schedule before heading out.

You’ll see the guards march down the streets, change locations, and play music like a marching band. Plus, there are mounted police for any horse-loving kids.

Where to Watch the Changing of the Guard With Kids

If you want to see the guards change right in front of Buckingham Palace, you’ll need to get there very early to secure a spot. And be prepared to be squished as everyone tries to get a good view.

Especially with kids, I prefer to catch the guard en route from various spots. You can see them marching between St James Palace, the barracks at Buckingham Palace, and Buckingham Palace itself. You can see the full route at this website.

Additional Tips for Changing of the Guard With Kids

If it’s raining, certain aspects of the ceremony may be altered. For example, they may not play music. Or sometimes the guards may even get a lift between locations! So even if you’re willing to brave the rain, the ceremony may not be the best activity for the day!

After watching the Changing of the Guard, walk through St James Park to see all the birds and friendly squirrels. There are bathrooms at the entrance to St James Park that cost 20 pence to use (don’t worry, you can still use contactless payment). The line for these toilets gets crowded and chaotic very quickly after the changing of the guard ends!

Hyde Park

While I don’t recommend the Hyde Park playground (it’s quite small and was very crowded when we were there), we did enjoy a walk through the Rose Garden and a picnic by the lake. If you do a picnic, though, be prepared to shoo away the pigeons!

You can also pay to rent paddle boats on the lake, visit the cafe, and of course stroll through more of the park. 

For a much larger and nicer playground, head over to Kensington Park to the Princess Diana Memorial Gardens Playground.

Covent Garden and the Street Performers

Covent Garden can be a good area to stroll, check out the street performers, and do some window shopping. As a note, though, it can get a bit rowdy even in the early evening on the weekends. I’d check it out earlier in the day or on a weekday with kids.

The London Transport Museum is nearby as well, which is free for kids but adults do need to pay entry. A lot of people like to find unique and quality souvenirs at the shop at the London Transport Museum as well.

Kensington Gardens

The main attraction at Kensington Gardens for kids is the Princess Diana Memorial Gardens playground! The Diana Memorial Gardens Playground is seriously a must-see in London with kids.

An enormous pirate ship surrounded by sand is the first thing you see upon entry. Beyond the pirate ship, there is so much to explore. There’s a little kid area. Another wooden play area, hedges that act like mazes leading to different play equipment.

A few notes to keep in mind - the hedges and “maze” aspect of the playground is fun for kids, but a bit stressful when I had just myself to keep track of two kids… one of them a toddler. When the toddler went around a corner, I didn’t know where she would end up. The more adults, the better!

Speaking of adults, they must be with a child to be permitted to enter the playground. This is fantastic for safety! There is a gate, and they simply unlock it if you have children with you. I did notice the attendant refuse entry to a few people. So good to know they take it seriously!

There are also clean bathrooms inside!

Millenium Bridge

The Millenium Bridge is a pedestrian only bridge across the Thames. But honestly, any bridge will do. I was also partial to Westminster Bridge, which provided fantastic views of Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. A was also partial to this bridge because it was so close to our hotel - Premier Inn Waterloo.

Check out landmarks from movies

Take your family on a self-guided tour of the “sets” from your favorite movies! As a quick note, you’ll likely need to take public transit to get from location to location because London is huge. Kids are free on buses and the tube, but adults will need to pay.

Paddington Bear

If your family likes Paddingon, you could follow a free written guide like this one or this one. It takes you to places like Paddington Station, Leicester Square, and helps you find the Paddington Bear statues throughout London.

The Parent Trap

If your kids are fans of the Lindsay Lohan Parent Trap, you can see the outside of Annnie’s house from the movie. In the movie, it is called “7 Pembrook Lane”. In real life, the address is 23 Edgerton Terrace. 

It is quite a small residential street, so honestly a bit awkward to take photos. But it was still worth the trip for my 7 year old. Plus, it’s very near South Kensington and all of the free museums there.

Harry Potter

Whether you want to see Platform 9 ¾ at Kings Cross Station (get there early to avoid a long wait for your photo!), or Diagon Alley (Leadenhall Market), or Gringotts Bank (Australia House), there are a lot of places around London to set you in the scenes of your favorite Harry Potter movies.

There are plenty of affordable paid tours available on sites like Viator. But you can also find a self-guided Harry Potter walking (plus bus and tube) tour here.

Mary Poppins

Whether your kids are fans of the original Mary Poppins movie or the newer version, there are a few sites around London to check out. You could check out the steps at St Paul’s Cathedral (Feed the birds…), the Bank of England, or even the Royal Exchange Building.

Borough Market

Borough Market is a historic market that dates back to the 1700s. Nowadays, it’s a free-to-enter market that offers up everything from food stands to produce vendors to coffee shops. It features gourmet goods alongside street food, and cooked lunches alongside fresh fruits and vegetables.

The stands are both indoors and outdoors, so Borough Market is a good option any day of the year. Plus you may even see some buskers during your visit.

Yes, you’ll need to buy anything you want to eat or drink. But if you’re already planning on grabbing some groceries for meals at your accommodation, this could be a fun place to shop. 

South Bank

South Bank is the part of London along, you guessed it, the southern bank of the The River Thames. Just taking a walk along the river provides for a few hours of free entertainment in London. 

• Stroll through the Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel (complete with a bar inside!). 
• Spectate the skaters at the skatepark. 
• Enjoy gorgeous views of Big Ben. 
• Eat at one of the many food vendors along the Queen’s Walk. 
• Stop and watch one of the numerous buskers. 
• Have a play at the Jubilee Gardens playground (with the London Eye in the background). 
• On a hot day, head over to the Jeppe Hein Appearing Rooms. It’s a water exhibit, though, so bring a change of clothes for the kids!

South Bank is filled with fun, free things to do in London with kids. So plan to spend a bit of time there!

Big Ben Photos

I mean, it’s kind of hard to miss Big Ben when you’re in London. But you’ll want to get at least one perfect shot of it with your family during your trip. 

One good place to take photos of Big Ben is on Westminster Bridge. It does get busy later in the day, so I’d recommend heading there earlier in the morning right after brekkie.

A lot of people also take photos by one of the famous red phone booths across from Parliament Square Garden. This also provides a pretty iconic photo opportunity. Just take the photo from outside the booth! Rumor has it that some people repurpose the photo booths as urinals on their late night stroll home from the bars. 

Watch the Tower Bridge Open to let a boat through

Pack a picnic and relax on the grassy steps of Potters Field Park. You won’t be alone in sitting around and waiting for the Tower Bridge to open. Yes, it’s watching a bridge open and shut. But my kids loved it, and I thought it was pretty fun, too.

You can check out the schedule for lift times on the days you’re visiting here.

Get Wet at a Splash Zone

If you happen to be in London when it’s hot (and your kids are starting to complain about it), it could be a good time to check out one of London’s splash zones.

I already talked about the Jeppe Hein’s Appearing Rooms in South Bank. 

But you could also check out the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park fountains, which also features multiple playgrounds, gardens, a BMX park, and even the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide.

Or consider the Granary Square Fountains at King’s Cross. Plus, while you’re there, you may as well check out Platform 9 ¾ if your kids are into Harry Potter.

The Kensington Memorial Gardens has a fantastic playground in addition to its seasonal splash zone. 

For a full list of places to get wet in London, I found this article to be really helpful.

Shoreditch Street Art

If your kids are into art and colorful things, checking out Shoreditch Street art could be worth a visit for your family. According to this map, the entire walk would be over three miles. But you certainly don’t need to do the whole thing to get a good taste for the area. 

Plus, it’s close to Spitafields City Farm, which is another fun, free thing to do with kids in London that I talk about below.

Spitafields City Farm

Spitafields City Farm is a fun way to see some animals and feel a bit more connected to nature without actually leaving the city. 

There are farm animals to pet, a play area, a garden, and an “eco hut” with puzzles and books for the kids. At times, there are kid specific activities. And if you don’t mind spending a bit of money on this free activity for kids in London, you can also visit the farm cafe and organic farm shop. 

Other city farms in London that are also free include Hackney City Farm and Mudchute Park and Farm. Vauxhall City Farm is even closer to central London, but isn’t technically free as it has donation-based entry.

St James Park

St James Park is the perfect green space to check out after watching The Changing of the Guard (another free activity that’s perfect for kids in London). 

It’s actually packed with an incredibly large variety of species of birds. I’m not really into birds, but I even loved watching the swans elegantly swimming beneath the parakeets flying overhead. 

Some people also brave feeding the friendly squirrels by hand. I prefer to spectate that one, though. 

Other Playgrounds

There are obviously more playgrounds in London than just Jubilee Gardens in South Park, the Princess Diana Memorial Playground, and the playgrounds at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. 

Another large playground includes the one at Battersea park near the children’s zoo. This also happens to be next to the Battersea Power Station, which has (for a fee, of course), fantastic views of London from the top of a chimney stack. Just look for signs for Lift 109.

You could also hit up Horseferry Playground with views of Westminster Abbey, Marylebone Green Playground at the bottom of Primrose Hill (see below), the Alf Barrett playground near The British Museum (which is also free), and the Causton Street Playground near the Tate Britain (yep, free as well) also has a splash zone in the summer.

No, these are not all the playgrounds in Central London. You will likely stumble upon a few more on your way to or from other activities. So build in a bit of play time for every day!

Regents Park and Primrose Hill

Regents Park is massive and has something to do for everyone in your family.

The Marylebone Green Playground has three different themed areas: The Traditional Zone, the Art Zone, and the Natural Zone. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area. And if your kids happen to get bored, there are three more playgrounds within the park and Primrose Hill.

There are multiple gardens to explore in Regents Park, including a rose garden (with over 40,000 roses!) and a Japanese garden. 

For a fantastic view of the city, head up to the top of Primrose Hill on a sunny day. If your family is anything like mine, that means you’re relaxing at the top while your kids are running up and down the hill on repeat… only to complain later that their legs are tired

I have to admit, visiting Primrose Hill was a bit of a highlight of our trip. It was one of the first times we had sustained sunshine. And after soaking in the views and breathed the fresh air, we went into Camden for dinner and had the best vegan pizzas and mac n’ cheese of our lives! (If you’re interested, it was at Purezza.)

Not-so-free activities within Regents Park include visiting the London Zoo, eating at one of the eight cafes featured in the park, rent a paddle boat, or check out a concert at the Open Aire Theatre.

Planning a trip to London with your family? Here are some of my favorite resources that I always use when traveling with my kids:

Accommodation:Booking.com because you can view reviews across multiple platforms, find hotels or vacation rentals, often find free cancellation policies, and frequently find sales.

Tours:Viator because of the wide range of tours, upfront reviews and pricing, and its one stop platform for tours across multiple cities and locations.

eSIM:Holafly because of its unlimited data, affordability, fast connection, and straight-forward installation process (even for the technologically challenged).

Travel Insurance: SafetyWing because of its comprehensive coverage, affordability (kids are free with each paying adult!), and easy claims process.

Digital Protection: Surfshark because of its affordability, ease of use, and ability to connect it with unlimited devices (which is especially important when factoring in kids!).

Things to Do in London Where Adults Need to Pay But Kids Are Free

Ride a Double Decker Bus

You can’t get much more iconic than riding a legitimate double decker bus in London. When we entered our London trip, riding a double decker was on our “to do” list. Little did we know that we would ride one every single day!

Except when traffic was bad (when we would take the tube), the double decker buses were our preferred mode of transportation to get anywhere in the city.

They’re incredibly easy to navigate (get the CityMapper app), my kids loved watching the sites go by (something you don’t get on the tube), and kids under 11 ride for free. 

For a list of other apps you'll need during your trip to Europe with kids, check out this article.

Just tap your credit card or Apple Pay, hop on, and head to the top! After all, who would ride on the bottom of a double decker bus in London??

Pro tip: Make sure you’re tapping the same credit card every time you pay. The system will automatically detect when you’ve reached a daily cap for public transportation fees!

For tips and tricks on how to navigate public transportation in London with kids, check out London With Kids: Tips and Tricks You’ll Need to Know.

Uber boat

What’s better than watching the sites of London go by from a double decker bus? Almost nothing. But maybe watching the sites of London go by from a boat. 

The CityMapper app will include Uber boats listed as the “ferry” option to your destination when it makes sense. 

It’s a bit more expensive than the tube or the bus, but definitely an affordable way to get a boat ride on the Thames. Plus, kids under 5 are free. And kids aged 5 to 15 are half price.

Enjoy some of the most famous sites of London on your way to Tower Bridge, or maybe Greenwich park for a longer ride. There’s even a cafe on board if you get hungry or need a pick-me-up coffee!

London Transport Museum (free for kids)

If you want to enter the actual museum, adults need to buy an annual pass, but kids enter for free. I’ve heard of people coming here just for the store attached to the museum, though. It seems to be a good place to get some more unique (and a bit higher quality) London souvenirs.

Inside the museum, there’s a designated play area for kids called All Aboard. Kids can pretend to drive a real London bus, use tools to repair train cars, and climb aboard the Thames Nipper. There’s so much for kids at this museum, it’s worth the price of an adult ticket in my opinion.

The Tube

You’ll likely use the Tube to get around London to all of your other destinations, anyway. But what kid doesn’t love a train ride? Like the buses, kids under 11 are free. And like the buses, the Tube is incredibly easy to navigate, especially with help from the City Mapper app.

Also same as the buses, no need to purchase a ticket. Just tap your card or Apple Pay. If you’re traveling with kids, head to the handicapped gate so you can all move through together.

If you're finding this article helpful, don't forget to check out these other articles, all about traveling to London and Europe with kids:

• A (Printable) London Packing List for Families: Everything You’ll Need With Young Kids in London
  

• Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps
  

• London With Kids: Tips and Tricks You'll Need to Know 
  

• A 6 Day London Itinerary for Families With Kids: Activities That are Fun for Everyone!
  

Bonus List: More Free Kid-Friendly Museums in London 

British Museum

For kids that are into history, there are a lot of iconic artifacts at the British Museum. There you’ll find the Rosetta Stone, some Parthenon sculptures, and artifacts from Egypt, Greece, and Africa. Plus, artifacts from Roman and Aztec history.

Like other museums, it’s free to enter. But you’ll want to book a “free” ticket ahead of time, with a prompt for donation with each adult ticket.

To make the museum more fun for kids, in each room you’ll find QR codes that link to “museum missions” for the family to solve. On weekends, you can visit the Family Desk and get an activity backpack or a Museum Explorer Trail.

On certain dates, there are special “Little Feet” events for kids under five. And be sure to check their events page for other free kids events on school holidays or other special dates.

Victoria and Albert Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum is an art, design, and performance museum. There’s also the Young V&A Museum, which I talk about below.

At the main Victoria and Albert Museum, stop by the Learning Centre to pick up family specific activities to complete during your visit. Also be sure to check out the events page to see if there are any free family events happening at the V&A while you’re there.

Unlike other museums, you do not need to book free tickets ahead of time to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum. Simply show up during open hours!

Imperial War Museum

The Imperial War Museum features war exhibits from the First World War all the way to present day. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s appropriate for younger kids, but older kids into history may find some meaningful artifacts at the Imperial War Museum.

Tate Modern

The Tate Modern features contemporary and, yep you got it, modern art. Like other museums, it’s free, and you do not need to book a free ticket ahead of time.

For kids? Visit Tate Draw. A room full of digital sketch pads. Kids create their own art piece. When they’ve completed it, watch it be projected on the wall for all to see.

Grant Museum of Zoology

The Grant Museum of Zoology is part of the University College of London campus. It features skeletons and taxidermied animals from history and around the world. It’s also free, but not open every day. Check out their current schedule here.

National Maritime Museum and Playground

The National Maritime Museum is another free museum in London where you’ll want to book your tickets ahead of time. You’ll see famous captains’ jackets, a pocket watch from the Titanic, and other maritime artifacts from throughout history.

The biggest draw for kids, of course, is the “The Cove” playground. It features a pirate ship, a Kraken with his tentacles, and a shark slide.

The National Maritime Museum also holds regular free kids’ activities like art events, historical character encounters, and even story and music time for the littles. Check out their events page to see what’s happening during your visit! 

Young V&A

The Young V&A (aka The Young Victoria and Albert Museum) is full of interactive exhibits that are fun for all ages. It’s once again free, and you do not need to book an entrance ticket ahead of time.

There is a Play Gallery, which features building and creating activities. There’s also a special area for kids under 3. The Imagine Gallery features, yep, imaginary play activities. Things like a stage, doll houses, and puppets. The Design Gallery often allows you to watch a designer in action, and learn how design impacts every day life.

London Mithraeum

At the London Mithraeum, you’ll find artifacts and ruins from Roman London. You can find more information on their website. 

The National Gallery

The National Gallery is amazing, and features some very famous paintings. However, I wouldn’t exactly call it the most kid-friendly museum to visit. Which is why it’s this far down on the list. 

But if your kids are really into art history, it could be worth a visit. They also sometimes hold family events that could be worth checking out. Find more information on their website.

The National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery has family trails and sensory bags that help to make the museum more fun for little ones. So if this museum is high on your priority list, it’s certainly doable. Plus, it’s free. But it wouldn’t be a top priority if you’re looking for activities specifically catered toward kids.

The Wallace Collection

The Wallace Collection features decorative artifacts from the 15th to the 19th centuries all set in a historic home. Think artifacts like ceramics, paintings, furniture, etc. It’s free and centrally located so could be worth a quick visit.

The Bank of England Museum

The Bank of England Museum features coins, banknotes, gold, and other artifacts centered around finances and money. Find out more information on their website.

The Museum of London Docklands

The Museum of London Docklands is all about the history of London as a port city. Find more information on their website.

Final Thoughts on Free Things to Do in Central London With Kids

If the weather is telling you it's time to be inside, there are still plenty of free activities for kids in London.

For free indoor activities in London, you could visit a free museum every day for over two weeks and never have to visit the same museum twice! And a lot of these museums have kid-specific activities and sections to make the museums less... museumy. In addition to museums, don't forget about Hamley's, and of course, checking out some viewpoints of London.

If weather is cooperating, there is an abundance of free outdoor activities in Central London for kids to enjoy. From fantastic playgrounds and parks to historical sites to movie sets. You and your kids will have a blast exploring all that London has to offer - for free!

If you want a budget friendly place to stay in Central London, don't forget about Premier Inn Waterloo. Plus, kids eat free for breakfast! And trust me, the breakfast is good.

If you’re looking for more information about traveling to London with kids, you may find some of these articles helpful:

• Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids: Don’t Forget These Steps
• A 6 Day London Itinerary for Families With Kids
• London With Kids: Tips and Tricks You'll Need to Know
• A (Printable) London Packing List for Families: Everything You’ll Need With Young Kids in London
  

My Personal Favorite Resources for Traveling With Kids

And finally, don't forget to check out all of my favorite travel tools and resources. Yes, companies that I personally use whenever I'm traveling with my kids:

Accommodation: Booking.com because you can view reviews across multiple platforms, find hotels or vacation rentals, often find free cancellation policies, and frequently find sales.

Tours: Viator because of the wide range of tours, upfront reviews and pricing, and its one stop platform for tours across multiple cities and locations.

eSIM: Holafly because of its unlimited data, affordability, fast connection, and straight-forward installation process (even for the technologically challenged).

Travel Insurance: SafetyWing because of its comprehensive coverage, affordability (kids are free with each paying adult!), and easy claims process.

Digital Protection: Surfshark because of its affordability, ease of use, and ability to connect it with unlimited devices (which is especially important when factoring in kids!).

There's more to planning a trip to Europe with kids than just booking flights and making hotel reservations. There are a few things you'll need to do before your trip to ensure a smooth vacation for your entire family.

Months before your family trip to Europe, you'll want to check passport expiration dates, plan your itinerary (with kids in mind!), book tours and activities, apply for global entry, create a Google My Maps, and make a plan for meals.

Weeks before your family trip to Europe, make sure you apply for Travel Authorization, have a plan for getting cash, plan for jet lag, book luggage storage, measure your suitcases, get an IDP, prepare a list of resources, have a luggage travel plan, buy adapters and converters, watch YouTube videos with your kids, and think about your stroller.

Some things you can leave for days before your family trip to Europe (or do earlier) include buying Travel Insurance, getting frequent flyer numbers, buy a European eSIM, protect yourself digital information with a VPN, set up your AirTags, inform debit cards of your travels, check for credit card foreign transaction fees, take passport copy photos, and get all the right apps downloaded.

What's Your Destination?

If you're headed to Spain, these other articles may be helpful.

If you're headed to the United Kingdom, be sure to check out these articles.

If you're still in the planning phase of your trip to Europe with kids, here are some of my favorite resources that will make your life easier:

Accommodation: Booking.com because you can view reviews across multiple platforms, find hotels or vacation rentals, often find free cancellation policies, and frequently find sales.

Tours: Viator because of the wide range of tours, upfront reviews and pricing, and its one stop platform for tours across multiple cities and locations.

eSIM: Holafly because of its unlimited data, affordability, fast connection, and straight-forward installation process (even for the technologically challenged).

Travel Insurance: SafetyWing because of its comprehensive coverage, affordability (kids are free with each paying adult!), and easy claims process.

Digital Protection: Surfshark because of its affordability, ease of use, and ability to connect it with unlimited devices (which is especially important when factoring in kids!).

Months Before Your Trip to Europe With Kids Checklist

1. Check Passport Expiration Dates
2. Plan Your Itinerary with Realistic Expectations
3. Book Activity Tickets Early!
4. Consider Applying for Global Entry
5. Create a Google My Maps for Your Itinerary
6. Have a General Food Plan
7. Get an International Driving Permit
8. Check for Foreign Transaction Fees
9. Start a Working Packing List

Check Passport Expiration Dates

Your passport expiration date needs to be more than three months from the day you plan to leave Europe. Some airlines may require six months. 

So if you are traveling to Europe from June 1st to June 14th, your passport expiration needs to be after September 14th of that year.

Maybe I should even take it a step back and mention that, yes, everyone needs a passport to travel to Europe - even babies! Leave yourself enough time to get the applications completed and for your passports to arrive in the mail. 

Plan Your Itinerary With Realistic Expectations

When you’re preparing for your trip to Europe with your kids, keep in mind that your kids will still be kids when in a different country.

They’ll still need breaks. They may not be happy with museums every day. They still might take twice as long to walk somewhere as you would. They’ll still get hungry, and won’t necessarily be on their best restaurant behavior for three meals a day. You get the picture.

I like to plan one ticketed activity every day, and then have optional activities for the rest of the day. That way, you can see how moods are going, how the weather is cooperating, and how jet lag is treating everyone. 

For an example of what this looks like, check out this 6 Day Itinerary for London with Kids. 

If you’re overwhelmed by the process, but don’t see an itinerary online that fits your family’s wants and needs, I can help. I make customized itineraries for families that don’t have the time or desire to figure it out on their own. Find out more here.

Book Activity Tickets Early!

Especially if you’re preparing for a trip to Europe with kids during high season, like summer break, you’ll want to book tickets for certain attractions early! Plan out your priorities ideally six months in advance.

Some activities may not allow purchasing tickets that early, but at least you can mark on your calendar what day to book your tickets and guarantee your preferred time slot.

If you work with me to create your family’s customized itinerary, I provide a pre-trip checklist and itinerary that will include when to book all of these tickets! I do all the research, you just have to make the purchases on the scheduled day. Find out more here.

Consider Applying for Global Entry

Applying for Global Entry can be a long process - start early! It took six months for one of my daughter’s application to be fully completed. Something had gone wrong in the process, but it still took that long to sort out.

Global Entry allows you to take the “fast lane” in customs when re-entering the United States on your way home from Europe with kids. Every family member (including babies!) need to have their own Global Entry ID.

Global Entry also gives all ID holders access to TSA Precheck… aka the “fast lane” for security within the United States.

Many credit cards offer reimbursement for Global Entry applications. I happened to have a few credit cards that offered this, so I charged my application on one card, my daughter’s application on another, and my youngest daughter’s application on a third credit card. Look into your credit card benefits and see if this is an option for you.

Create a Google My Maps for Your Itinerary

Okay, this step in preparing for your family trip to Europe is completely optional. But it can help to make your entire vacation go more smoothly. 

On your computer, go to Google My Maps. You can create color coordinated pins for different attractions, sites, and even restaurants. On your phone, you can easily view this map on your Google Maps app. Just tap “You” at the bottom of the app, scroll down and tap “Maps”. 

That way, let’s say you’ve just finished the Changing of the Guard in London. It’s starting to rain, but your family isn’t ready for lunch yet. You check your map and see that Hamley’s Toy Store (another bucket list item on your trip) is just a 9 minute walk away. You don’t waste another second getting wet or listening to complaining kids wondering what you’re doing next. 

If you need help setting up your map, I found this YouTube tutorial that is specific for travel planning.

Have a General Food Plan

You don’t want to be scrambling for meals when everyone is hangry three times per day. It can be a bit harder to wing it with kids when it comes to finding a place to eat.

When I create my Google My Maps pins, I include one color dedicated to restaurants that I think would be good for our family. That way, wherever we are, I can easily find restaurants where I’ve already checked out the menus and the general vibe (and price!).

I also mark grocery stores nearby my accommodation. We tend to eat breakfast and lunch at our accommodation (even if it’s a regular hotel), or pack it to go. Because of that, I always make sure to bring along a knife, cutting board, stasher bags, and some cutlery. 

Then, I only have to decide if we’re going to eat out for dinner (good moods), or get takeaway (cranky, jet lagged, overstimulated moods).

Get an International Driving Permit (IDP)

If you’re going to be renting a car in Europe, you will want an International Driving Permit, available through AAA. If you’re unable to go into a AAA location, you can mail in the application. 

You will need passport photos to send along with the application. So, allow enough time to complete the whole process.

Check for Foreign Transaction Fees

Double check which of your credit and debit cards have foreign transaction fees… leave those at home.

I have this step early on in the planning process juuust in case you don't have any credit cards that can be used abroad! If not, it would be really beneficial to have a card you can use abroad with no hefty fees.

I also like to divide up my credit cards in my purse and suitcase. That way, if one goes missing or is stolen, I have a back up in a different location.

Start a Working Packing List

When you're in the depths of the planning process tends to be the best time to start noting down everything you'll need to remember for a seamless trip to Europe with kids.

As you're booking those Buckingham Palace tickets months ahead of time, you may read about their bag policy and realize your backpack is too big... Right then and there, add a correctly-sized bag to your packing list.

As you're making a food plan, you realize you're going to want to pack lunches some days... but will need a knife and cutting board to chop veggies in your hotel room. Write it down so you don't forget later!

This is just a preliminary running list - You can organize it later!

For a complete list of everything you would need to remember to pack for a family trip to London, check out: A (Printable) London Packing List for Families: Everything You’ll Need With Young Kids in London.

Weeks Before Your Trip to Europe With Kids Checklist

1. Apply for Travel Authorization
2. Have a Plan for Getting Cash
3. Plan Ahead for Jet Lag
4. Book Luggage Storage
5. Measure Your Suitcases
6. Prepare a List of Resources
7. Have a Plan for Traveling With Luggage
8. Buy Necessary Adapters and Converters
9. Get Your Kids Excited
10. Have a Plan for Carrying Little Ones

Apply for Travel Authorization

If you’re preparing for a trip to mainland Europe with your kids (and coming from the United States), you’ll need to apply for ETIAS. Adults under 70 years old will also need to pay seven euros each for the application.

Find more information about ETIAS here.

If you’re traveling to the United Kingdom, you’ll need to apply for an ETA. Find more information and a link to the app here.

Have a Plan for Getting Cash

You’re unlikely to need a lot of cash in Europe. But it doesn’t hurt to have a bit on hand. 

You can typically order foreign currency from your bank ahead of time and get a good exchange rate. But it can be hard to guess how much cash you’re going to need.

I like to have a debit card that I can use abroad and withdraw cash as needed. Does it get a great exchange rate? Not always. But that way, I’m not going home with hundreds of unused Euros that are useless in the United States.

I have a Charles Schwab debit card. There are no foreign transaction fees, and you are reimbursed for all ATM fees.

Another option I use is the Wise debit card. You can withdraw cash from ATMs for free twice per month. And there are no foreign transaction fees. I use this card as my backup in case something happens to my Charles Schwab account.

There are, of course, other options for debit cards that can easily be used abroad. These are just the ones that I personally use and recommend.

Plan Ahead for Jet Lag

When going from the United States to Europe, the tendency will be to stay up really late and sleep in. 

First of all, if you plan on using melatonin to help with an earlier bedtime, test it out before your trip. In some kids, it has the opposite effect, and they become wired instead of tired. If you don't want to use melatonin, there are some other herbal options to help calm jet lagged minds.

Keep in mind some other tips for handling jet lag on your trip to Europe with kids. Things like avoiding a nap on the day you land. This also means you'll need to plan activities for that first day to help keep everyone awake, but also keeping in mind they may be cranky and tired.

It also helps to get sunlight exposure to the skin first thing in the morning. And remember to limit screens before bed.

When booking tickets before your trip, keep in mind that kids (and you) may be slower moving in the mornings. Maybe aim for a 10:30 am time slot instead of that 9:00 am entry time.

Book Luggage Storage

Most flights entering Europe from the United States land in the morning. You likely won’t be able to check in to your accommodation until the afternoon. You don’t want to be babysitting your luggage all day.

Your accommodation may offer luggage storage, but if it doesn’t you’ll want a place to keep your bags on your arrival day.

A tool like Radical Storage helps you to find luggage storage near your accommodation and provides ratings and reviews for all of the luggage storage options in the area. You can book ahead of time, so there’s nothing to worry about on your arrival day.

Measure Your Suitcases

Especially if you’re taking flights within Europe during your trip, make sure your luggage fits within the airline's size regulations. Check within your airline’s specific guidelines for checked bags, carryons, AND hand luggage!

Don’t forget to bring your luggage scale to make sure you’re still within the weight limits after purchasing souvenirs!

On a related note, some museums in Europe have limitations on how large of a bag you can bring in. My backpack was too big, but I still wanted to be able to carry a water bottle, spare diapers, and a few other essentials. I purchased this bag and it was perfect.

Prepare a List of Resources

Store a copy of all necessary information somewhere offline. Even if it’s still a Google Doc that you’ve given offline access to.

Just in case you can’t get your phone to work, you’ll want the address and contact information for your accommodation to tell the taxi driver. 

You’ll also want to store emergency contact information somewhere offline. 

You may want a list of resources that could become helpful just in case. Like if someone gets sick, I highly recommend using Doctorsa. 

Doctorsa provides virtual doctor’s appointments with an English-speaking European doctor. If prescriptions are necessary, they can provide scripts for the country you’re visiting that you can easily take to the local pharmacy. The entire process is affordable, efficient, and easy to navigate.

Have a Plan for Traveling With Luggage

How are you getting all of your family members and their luggage from point A to point B? Who can handle what suitcases? Will you have access to elevators? Or does everyone need to be able to carry their own suitcase up flights of steps?

Don’t forget that many towns and cities in Europe have cobblestone walkways!

Are you taking a taxi straight to and from your accommodation? Will all of your suitcases fit in the taxi that you’ve booked? 

Are you traveling with suitcases on trains? Or on public transportation? What will that look like with suitcases?

You may even want to gather all of your family members and have a practice run with the suitcases around the house.

Buy Necessary Adapters and Converters

Likely these days, you only need adapters for most devices. But you’ll still need the necessary plug adapters to make electronics work. Don’t forget that mainland Europe has different plugs than the UK. 

If you get an adapter like this one, it has all the necessary plugs all within the device. Plus it has USB-A and USB-C sockets for charging phones, cameras, etc.

Some electronics do require power converters! Some things you typically hear about include hair dryers and curling irons. But some items you may not expect also require power converters… like baby monitors! Yep, I killed one of my baby monitors not knowing it required a power converter. Check your devices.

If you do need a converter for your travels, this one provides space for multiple devices to plug in. And it also includes USB-C and USB-A sockets. 

Get Your Kids Excited

One of the most important parts of preparing for your trip to Europe with kids, is to get your kids prepared! Watch videos or read books with them about things you’re going to see. This will obviously vary based on ages.

But for example, we watched videos about Buckingham Palace before going to London. We learned which flag meant the King was in, the number of rooms in the palace, the fact that it’s someone’s sole job to clean the clocks, etc. Different facts to get them interested in what they’re going to see.

For little kids, seeing photos of your accommodation helps to prepare them for the change. Show them pictures of their bed, where they’ll eat breakfast, where they’ll bathe, etc.

Have a Plan for Carrying Little Ones

In many parts of Europe, a stroller may be a great choice for pushing around jet lagged toddlers or for naps on the go. For other places, you may find elevators lacking and cobble stoned streets plentiful. 

Do a bit of research on where you’ll be going in Europe and decide if bringing a stroller is really the best choice.

For really little ones, a carrier or a ring sling may be your best option. And for toddlers that want up-down-up-down on repeat, you may want to swap out the stroller with a hip carrier.

Trust me, you want a plan for all the walking you're going to be doing. I am very familiar with how it feels when you have truly taken your bicep muscles to failure... at least it was a good workout?

Days (or Sooner!) Before Your Trip to Europe With Kids Checklist

1. Buy Travel Insurance
2. Frequent Flyer Numbers for Everyone in the Family
3. Purchase and Install an eSIM
4. Protect Your Digital Information
5. Set Up Your AirTags
6. Inform Debit (and Credit) Cards of Your Upcoming Travel
7. Passport Copies
8. Download Necessary Apps

Buy Travel Insurance

When you’re going on any trip, you’re going to want travel insurance. And when you’re preparing for a trip to Europe with kids, you’re going to want to make sure any unforeseen medical expenses will be covered - your regular medical insurance only applies within the United States!

Your credit card can provide insurance for lost luggage, flight delays, car rentals, and even some medical expenses. That is, if you booked your travel using that credit card. 

For medical expenses, many credit cards have a pretty low cap on how much they’ll cover. If something serious happens abroad, you could easily exceed that maximum amount.

Using travel insurance like Safety Wing can help to fill in the blanks. For example, Safety Wing covers 100x what my credit card would cover for emergency medical expenses.

Plus, kids are covered for free with each paying adult. I personally always use Safety Wing and wouldn’t ever use anyone else. Find more information about what is included in their coverage and how much Safety Wing costs here. 

And if you're already on your trip, it isn't too late! You can still purchase SafetyWing travel insurance once you're already traveling!

Frequent Flyer Numbers for Everyone in the Family

Yes, even kids can start accumulating frequent flyer miles with airlines!

So for your next trip to Europe with kids, sign everyone up for their own frequent flyer number! Don’t let those miles don’t go to waste. Many airlines don’t have an expiration date for their points, so it’s never too early to start!

Purchase and Install an eSIM

An eSIM is the easiest way to stay connected with data on your family European trip. It allows you to easily (and affordably) use navigation apps, look up information, pull up emails with tickets, and even communicate with people through apps like WhatsApp.

You'll want to avoid paying the daily international fee directly from your carrier if you want to get the best deal.

You do need to make sure that your phone isn’t locked by your carrier. This especially may be true if you purchased your phone through your phone carrier (instead of through Apple directly, for example). This article lays out the specifics much better than I ever could.

Use Holafly for Reliable, Affordable, Unlimited Data

Once your phone is good to go, head over to Holafly (my favorite eSIM carrier for Europe). They offer plans with unlimited data and I always get reliable, fast connection. Often times, it's better than the WiFi at my accommodation!

The process is very straightforward and they provide clear instructions for people (like me) whose head spins with anything technological. 

You install your eSIM before your trip. When you land, all you have to do is activate it . You can even do this when you’re taxiing to your gate. Don’t worry, installing and activating is incredibly easy to do and Holafly you the exact steps to activate your eSIM. 

Protect Your Digital Information

If you’re going to be connecting to public WiFi at your hotel, cafes, and airports, you’ll want to protect yourself from hackers and make sure your information stays safe.

Use Surfshark to protect your information

I love Surfshark because, first of all, it’s affordable. But it also allows for unlimited devices. Your kids’ tablets, your phone, your partner’s computer… you get the picture.

Plus, if your kids rely on certain shows for their calm down time, they may not be available to stream in the country you’re traveling in! But, if you set the VPN to a location within the United States, that problem is instantly solved and your kids can enjoy their favorite episode and maintain that bit of familiarity after a day of new and overstimulating.

If you click this link, you’ll get 1-3 months free depending on the length of your subscription. And trust me, I used Surfshark for years before starting to recommend them to my readers… and I of course still use them today.

Set Up Your AirTags

I always place an AirTag (or other tracker if you don’t have Apple devices) in each of my suitcases. It's the best way to keep track of potentially lost luggage. I also place one in my purse, my passport carrier, and even in my stroller. Some people sew them into their children’s socks!

I put each of my AirTags in different colored holders, and then write down what colored AirTag is in each suitcase. 

Rather than sitting at the carousel waiting for your suitcase that is never going to show up, you can check your phone and know if it made it to Europe or not. If for some reason it didn’t, you’ll know where it is and can start doing something about it sooner!

Inform Debit and Credit Cards of Your Upcoming Travel

If you’re going to be using debit and credit cards in Europe, you may need to let them know about your travels so they don’t lock your card when they detect foreign charges.

Personally, I no longer have to inform my credit cards of my travels. But I do need to let my debit card company know, or they will lock my card! Then I have no access to additional cash until I can call in and unlock it… which is very expensive to do from abroad.

Passport Copies

In the old days, it was recommended that you carry copies of your passports with you when traveling in Europe with your family.

These days, I just take a photo with my phone. I store that photo somewhere safe that I can access online. So if for some reason you don’t have access to your phone, you’ll still be able to pull up your passport details when needed.

Download Necessary Apps

When traveling to Europe with kids, you don’t want to be fumbling to download the right app while simultaneously getting your jetlagged toddler in appropriate clothing.

This is not a comprehensive list, as many destinations have specific apps that would be useful. But no matter where you're going in Europe with your family, you will find the following apps on your phone beneficial:

CityMapper

For big cities, you’ll probably find CityMapper helpful to help you navigate public transportation.

WhatsApp

A lot of businesses include their WhatsApp number and contact information, knowing that tourists don't typically have access to actual phone lines.

Holafly

If you’re using an eSIM from Holafly, download their app onto your phone. It’s the most streamlined way to activate your eSIM upon arrival.

Gett or Other Taxi Apps

Download any taxi apps you’re going to need. For London, I used the Gett app. But in order to create an account, they wanted to text me a confirmation code. I would not have been able to receive that text had I already been abroad.

Google Translate

Make sure you have Google Translate somewhere accessible on your phone. You can even use the camera for real time translation of written language. You can also download whatever languages you’re going to need to translate ahead of time. That way, you don’t have to rely on having service or Wifi to use the app.

Google Maps

Also, I’m sure you already have Google Maps. But it’s another helpful navigation app that can also help you with public transportation. You can even download whole sections of cities. So if you don’t have service, you’ll still be able to search for destinations and get directions.

Wallet

Your phone’s Wallet app is a great place to store airline tickets, entry tickets, and even credit cards for contactless payment. 

Airline Apps

Depending on your airline, you may want to make sure you have the airline’s app downloaded on all devices. Some airlines only offer in-flight entertainment via their app. I personally wouldn’t want to embark on a transatlantic flight with no shows for the kids to help pass the time!

Summary: Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids

Overall, some travel items you need to prepare before your trip to Europe with kids include applying for travel authorization, getting passports and passport copies ready, getting everyone frequent flyer numbers, applying for global entry, measuring your suitcases, preparing AirTags, and getting your IDP if necessary.

You’ll also want to prepare some things regarding money before your trip to Europe with kids, like having a plan for getting cash, informing your debit and credit cards of your travels, and checking for foreign transaction fees on your cards.

For your phone and electronics, you’ll want to make sure you have an eSIM ready to go, you’re protecting your information with a VPN, have downloaded the necessary apps for a trip to Europe, have prepared your Google My Maps, and have all the necessary power adapters and converters.

And for things to help make your trip go smoothly, you’ll want to consider buying travel insurance, preparing a list of resources, resetting expectations with kids in mind, planning ahead for jet lag, booking activity tickets, pre-booking luggage storage, reconsidering your stroller, getting your kids excited with videos, and planning ahead for food.

If you’re preparing for a trip to Europe with kids, you may find these other articles helpful:

• Free Things to Do in Central London With Kids: Family Fun on a Budget
• A (Printable) London Packing List for Families: Everything You’ll Need With Young Kids in London
  
• 11 Things To Do in Malaga With Kids - No Car Necessary!
• A 6 Day London Itinerary for Families With Kids: Activities That are Fun for Everyone!
• London With Kids: Tips and Tricks You’ll Need to Know
  

And finally, if you want to go on a trip to Europe with your kids, but the thought of actually planning it is too overwhelming… Where do you go? Where should you stay? What activities are kid friendly? 

I’m here for you.

Check out my travel planning services here.

A family beach trip comes with some unique packing requirements unlike any other trip. And if you’ve never gone to the beach with toddlers and young kids, it may feel overwhelming trying to anticipate everything you’re going to need!

First of all, I’ve got you covered with a Family Beach Packing List Printable PDF and I’ve also left space for additional items that are specific to your family or your beach trip. 

(Truth be told, I also created a really nice fillable PDF for you to use. But for the life of me, I cannot figure out how to share it with all of you easily! If you'd like me to try emailing you a copy, feel free to send me an email at thebeckhamsabroad@ gmail.com and I'd be happy to do so!)

Also, if you’re just headed to the beach for the day and you want to be as minimal as possible, check out the 10 toddler beach essentials you’ll actually need.

Finally, if you’re looking for additional family beach tips and hacks you’ll want to read 37 Toddler Beach Hacks and Tips for a First Timer. Things like hiding valuables in the sand if you don’t have a safe. Or lining your car’s trunk with a sheet to minimize a permanently sandy car.

And if you're impatient like me and just want to see the damn list already... see below

Psst... If you want help with more than just what to pack, but also say... Where to go? What to do? How to get there? I'd love to help! But really. My Virgo rising loves planning and organization. Check out my Travel Planning Services and let's get you to the beach! (Or anywhere else in the world)

Clothing for Your Family Beach Packing List

Swimsuits 

For the kids, I love a swimsuit that comes with a rashie. And if you’re worried about diaper changes, buy one with separates like this one from Carter’s.

Rashies

Rashies provide a lot of sun protection that doesn’t wear off throughout the day. Plus, when rashies are wet, they help to cool the whole body!

Coverup or Sarong

You may want something to throw on for your trek to or from the beach. Or maybe you’ll want an extra layer of sun protection at some point in your day.

Casual Around Town Outfits

If you can do laundry, you’ll only need a couple per person. But think about outfits for things like ice cream outings, putt putt golfing, and souvenir shopping!

Comfy Hotel Clothes

For when you first rip the swimsuit off and don’t want to put on real clothes yet, but it isn’t time for pj’s… enter this category. For me, this looks like some comfy, loose fitting athletic gear.

Socks

I don’t think this one needs an explanation

Undies and Bras

Yep, I think you can figure this one out, too. Just don’t forget!

Pajamas

Another obvious one you don’t want to forget. 

Shoes

You’ll want some shoes to go with your “casual around town” outfits. You may also want to consider some house shoes if you’re worried about walking around your sandy condo with bare feet.

Sandals

Seems obvious, I know. But water-friendly sandals also come in handy if you get a bit of rain or for walking down to the beach.

Water shoes

Protect those feet from hot sand! I like water shoes with no velcro like these. Velcro tends to get sand caught in it, and then it just doesn’t stick. 

Nice Outfit for Dinner Out

Obviously, this is optional. And with a toddler tired from a day at the beach every evening, definitely not something I brought on my latest trip. But still, worth considering for your family’s trip!

Sweatshirt or Light Long Sleeve

In the evenings, it could get chilly. Especially if you’re on a windy sunset beach walk. Probably only one is necessary, though.

Lightweight pants

See above. Pants are likely a “just in case” item. They can also act as a barrier for any evening bugs that come out biting.

Sun hat

Save your squinting eyes and sun exposed nose with a sun hat! And for little ones that don’t tolerate sunscreen application so much, you could try a sunhat.

I like this one because it doesn’t have the string around the chin that bothers some kids, but it stays on for a full day of play.

Rain Jacket or Umbrella

Rain happens, even at the beach. So if you’re headed into town on a rainy day, you’ll want some way to keep dry.

I’m a fan of umbrellas when it’s hot out rather than a rain jacket, but they are a bit clunkier to carry around. That's why you could consider a lightweight umbrella like this one.

Waterproof Watch

I love the flexibility of being able to check the time at the beach without having to get my phone out and risk exposing it to sand and water. I’m a fan of Armitron watches. They’re cute, durable, affordable, and most of them are waterproof-safe for snorkeling.

Jewelry

For those around town outfits or dinners out, don’t forget your bling!

If you're still looking for a place to stay at the beach, my new favorite tool is Booking.com. Yes - I think it has finally surpassed Airbnb on my travel planning top ten list! 

Why? Booking.com offers a mix of hotels and rental properties. Many of them have free cancellation policies. Cleaning fees are included in the price you see! And you’ll see reviews from across multiple platforms.

Pro tips for using Booking.com:

1. Create a free account and get an additional 10% off certain stays with their "genius" discount.

2. If you book through their app, you'll often get an additional "mobile only" discount. 

3. Once you click on a property, be sure to look below the bolded price. It will show you how much will be added for taxes!

Toiletries for Your Family Beach Packing List

Sunscreen

This one seems like a given. But forget the sunscreen and you’ll regret it. I’m a big fan of the Think Baby (or Think Kids) sunscreen. For a natural sunscreen, it’s less cakey and rubs in more easily than other options.

Sunscreen Stick for Faces

Want to avoid chasing your toddler down to put sunscreen on their face? Or getting it in their eyes on accident as they whip their head to the side, trying to get away? Enter the magic of a sunscreen stick.

I don’t know why, but it is so much easier to put sunscreen on faces when it’s a sunscreen stick. It looks and acts a lot like deodorant. And my kids even love putting it on each other! 

I love the Sun Bum Baby Bum stick. But to be honest, I haven’t tried any others because I like this one so much!

After Sun Like Aloe

If you’re prone to burning despite all the precautionary measures, don’t forget some aloe or something else soothing for your skin.

Toothbrush/Toothpaste/Floss

A standard to bring for any trip, yet very necessary to include on this list!

Shampoo and Conditioner

If you’re going to be in the pool a lot, you may want to consider a chlorine removing shampoo and conditioner like UltraSwim. 

And if you want to be proactive in protecting your hair from the sun or salt water, you may want to try a reef-friendly leave-in conditioner like the one from Stream2Sea.

Comb/Brush

Tangles seem to be extra tangly when salt water is involved. Throw in a bit of sand, and you’ll want a way to sort out the bird's nest that your child’s head will become.

Hair Products

Mousse, gel, hairspray, etc. You likely won’t need this as much for beach time. But for when you’re going into town, you may want your regular go-to products to look like a “normal” person again.

Makeup

Another way to make you feel like a “normal” person when you head into town is with a bit of makeup. Just don’t forget that some makeup washes off in the water. Avoid being mistaken for local wildlife (aka a racoon) and leave off the mascara on beach days.

Hair Ties

My daughter likes her long, thick hair to be allll down her back in the hot sun, and allll in her face as she’s playing in the waves. I don’t get it. For everyone else who has common sense with their hair, you’re going to want hair ties.

Facial Cleanser and Moisturizer

Skin gets dehydrated on beach days, too! And pores will get clogged from all that sunscreen application. Don’t abandon your face. Bring along that cleanser and moisturizer.

Body Lotion

Read above - skin gets dehydrated on beach days, too! No one wants scaly legs. Bring the lotion.

Body Soap

Depending on where you’re staying, this may be included. Armpits get stinky on hot days. You’ll want a way to wash them.

Deodorant

Speaking of stinky armpits. Don’t forget the deodorant. My all time favorite natural deodorant that actually works is from Little Seed Farm. 

Lip Balm with SPF

I’ve made this mistake one too many times. You put sunscreen all over your body and face, but somehow seem to think your lips are immune to the sun’s rays. They’re not. Keep one of these Sun Bum lip balms in your purse and beach bag.

Feminine Products

Whatever your preference and depending on the timing of your trip, do yourself a favor and pack this along, too.

Razor

I can respect a woman that goes natural. And mad respect to women that get waxed. Neither of those are me. I bring a razor. I’ve become a fan of the Joy Razor with refills.

Laundry Detergent Sheets

“Kids” is a synonym for “messes” and “dirty clothes”. If you’re going to have a washer available, I love these hypoallergenic ECOS laundry detergent sheets. They take up almost no space and no weight in your suitcase. Just toss a sheet in with your load and you’re good to go. 

Clothes Pins and Clothes Line

Beach days lead to a lot of wet swimsuits and towels. You may not have a space to hang it all. If you bring along a clothes line and some clothes pins, you can create an extra drying space.

This travel clothesline comes with clothes pins attached already. Plus, it comes in a handy little travel bag.

Glasses and Contact Lenses

You want to be able to see. Bring these obvious items along.

Contact Lens Solution

You don’t want an infected eye on vacation. Bring your solution and clean those contacts!

Tweezers and Nail Clippers

Splinters, hangnails, and an eyebrow hair that’s gone rogue can all benefit from tweezers and nail clippers. Bring them along. 

BandAids - Waterproof!

Non waterproof bandaids (aka plasters, bandages, etc.) are useless at the beach. And you’ll want some BandAids that seal all the way around to prevent sand from getting into fresh wounds.

Medications

I know you’ve got this. But I can’t leave it off the list. Bring along any everyday medications for all family members.

Bugspray

Your beach may or may not have mosquitos or sand flies. Especially in the evenings. Come prepared with some bugspray. For a more natural option, I like the Herbal Armor brand. They even make this convenient carry on sized option.

Kid Specific Items for Your Family Beach Packing List

Stuffies or Lovies

Luckily, I’ve never made this mistake (knock on wood). But forgetting my kids’ stuffies is a mistake I never want to make. And neither do you.

Diapers and Wipes

You can buy diapers and wipes anywhere, I know. But if you have a specific kind or don’t want to spend your vacation fighting traffic for some diapers, bring enough along. 

Swim Diapers

Especially if you’ll be spending time in a pool, you’ll want a swim diaper. 

I bought a lot of different kinds this past summer when we would be frequenting the pool multiple times per week. My top top favorite is this drawstring one from Charlie Banana. 

It fits really well, it’s comfortable, and it fits under swimsuits easily. Plus, it comes in either plain white, or in some really cute designs like mermaids and dinosaurs.

Disposable Change Mats

I always bring disposable bed mats along when traveling. I’ll put them on beds for the “just in case”, and they work perfectly for a hotel-friendly change mat. 

Quiet Toys and Activities for the Hotel

Everyone’s going to need a bit of peace and quiet once you’re off the beach. If your kids aren’t nappers, you can still reinforce some “FOB” time… aka “Feet On Bed”. 

They can do Legos, read books, color, play with small figurines, do puzzles, etc. But they get some chill time and you get some chill time!

Sound Machine

Whether or not your child uses a sound machine at home, you may want to consider bringing one along. Especially during nap times, they can help block out sounds of neighbors talking and shutting doors, unfamiliar birds calling, and family members making lunch on the other side of the wall. 

I love this cute YogaSleep penguin sound machine. It’s lasted me for years. It’s rechargeable, incredibly affordable, and small for easy packing.

Baby Monitor

If you’re staying in an apartment or vacation rental, you may want to bring a baby monitor. It’s amazing how loud the waves can be when you’re sitting on the balcony eating lunch and your toddler is inside napping. 

I’ve never had a fancy baby monitor, and I swear by this very affordable Vtech audio baby monitor. It’s reliable, small, and chargeable. Just don’t use it in Europe without a converter… oops.

Electronic Items for Your Family Beach Packing List

Chargers

You don’t want to run out of batteries and miss out on capturing precious beach vacation memories!  

Okay, but I’m serious. All devices need chargers! Phones, tablets, sound machines, cameras, etc.

Headphones

Small hotel rooms and apartments call for a number of opportunities to need headphones. 

Kids asleep and you want to watch something without waking them up? Headphones. 

Kids want to watch a show on the tablet and you don’t want to hear the Hot Dog Dance on vacation? Headphones.

Want to go close your eyes on the beach and zone out to your favorite podcast? Headphones. Okay, with kids, this is less likely… but still possible?

For bigger kids, I love these headphones. They’re comfortable and they fold up small(er) for packing. For younger kids, these are super cute and small enough to fit little heads. Plus, we’ve had them for over five years now, and they’re still in excellent condition!

E-Reader

Perfect for not having to pack bulky books. And for not fighting the wind from turning your pages when you’re at the best part! Sure, a regular tablet can work. But the anti glare of E-readers comes especially in handy on a sunny beach.

Waterproof Pouches

Keep those electronics not only dry, but sand-free! These will also come in handy for things like wallets and keys.

If you’re traveling internationally, I highly recommend getting some travel insurance! My top pick is SafetyWing for its affordability, flexibility, and comprehensive coverage. It includes things like…

• Doctor’s visits if you get sick

• Medical emergencies

• Lost checked luggage

• Motor accidents

• Delayed Flight Coverage

• Adventure Sport Injuries (Add On Option)

Food and Drink Gear for Your Family Beach Trip

Water Bottles

I prefer water bottles with straws that can close on the beach. It just seems to minimize the amount of sand that enters the bottle. 

For kids, I love this Hydroflask one. I love the soft bottom, that it doesn’t leak, and the bit of insulation it provides. Plus, the closable straw, of course! The only downside is it doesn’t fit into cup holders in the car. 

For a water bottle option that fits in cup holders, I really like the kids’ Klean Kanteen Narrow with a sports top, and many come with a little cover to place over the sports top to protect it from dirt and sand. It’s also leak free, but provides less insulation.

Some people freeze their water bottles. I prefer to just add a ton of ice to mine in the morning, and then it will slowly melt throughout the day.

Don’t forget a large water bottle for yourself!

Cooler

Soft side, hard side, rolling, backpack. There are so many cooler types out there. I don’t yet have a personal favorite. But you will want one for snacks and drinks. Not only to keep your food cool, but to keep the sand out of your food as well!

Snack Containers

Snack containers are necessary for dividing up full size snack bags that you don’t want slowly filling with sand. Or for things like grapes or berries that you don’t want getting squashed in the cooler. 

Stasher Bags

Sandwiches, salty snacks, leftovers from dinner… they can do it all. 

Stasher bags are leak proof and dishwasher safe. Yes, I even put frozen pasta sauce in a suitcase in them! Don’t worry, I add the ziploc “just in case” layer around it to protect my clothes - but it hasn’t been necessary!

Ice Packs or Plastic Bags for Ice

Coolers have a hard time staying cool if you don’t have ice packs or plastic bags filled with ice in them! Some people also freeze water bottles as their ice pack. Whatever you choose, make sure you have a way to keep everything in your cooler… cool!

Chef’s Knife

Maybe this is a personal preference. But I always travel with a chefs knife. I chop a lot of veggies throughout my days. And I don’t want to have to rely on the chance that my accommodation has sharp knives. 

Plus, if you’re staying in a hotel, just having a knife expands on your snack and meal options!

I like traveling with a knife with a sheath for easier transport. No need to go crazy fancy here. Even something like this OXO knife with a sheath that locks is perfect for family trips. If you’re flying, just make sure you put it in your checked bag!

Portable High Chair

Whether you’re staying at a hotel or at a vacation rental, you’ll want a place for your little ones to sit other than your lap for eating.

I love love love my Inglesina Fast Table Chair (with a tray!). If folds down small. It’s comfortable for little ones. You can easily bring it in the car for restaurants. And the tray helps to protect tables and surfaces that aren’t yours!

And despite the “hand wash only” recommendation, I machine wash mine all the time with no problem. The only downside is that if there’s a table with a long lip, it may not fit.

Beach Gear for Your Family Beach Packing List

Wagon

You’re going to want a way to get everything to and from the beach… including your children! We already have a Radio Flyer wagon with all terrain wheels and a canopy, so that’s what we use. 

I love the zip sides so kids can get in and out easily. And the canopy helps with some additional sun protection. It works perfectly for us for the beach, playground visits, farmers markets, etc.

But if you’re buying a wagon specifically for the beach, you may want to consider one with even wider wheels for easier handling on the sand. Something like this beach wagon also has additional weight capacity compared to the Radio Flyer.

Beach Bag

Speaking of getting things to and from the beach, I absolutely love my Bogg Bag. I know I know. It’s a decent amount of money for a piece of rubber. But it just does its job perfectly. It stands open and doesn’t collapse on itself. It has holes for easy drainage and cleaning. It holds a lot and withstands the weight of wet towels and water bottles.

Some other people love the Magg Bag, which is more affordable and automatically comes with a single shoulder strap and some waterproof pouches for phones, keys, wallets, etc.

Beach Towels

Your accommodation may provide beach towels. But if not, you definitely don’t want to forget to bring your own!

I’m a fan of turkish towels. Mostly because they’re soft and cute. I also love my DryFox towels for international travel, as they pack down to basically nothing and dry really quickly.

Sand Toys

As a bare minimum, you’re going to want a bucket with shovels! 

Some accommodations provide beach toys so before you go packing allll the things, check first!

Other beach toys you may want to consider include a kite (the Melissa and Doug one worked really well for us!), a volleyball or a soccer ball, or a body board. You could also bring some beach games for the whole family like cornhole or, our favorite, Finska.

Mesh Bag for Beach Toys

Sand toys get… sandy! Having a mesh bag that is easy to clean helps to carry it all and keep the sand separate from towels, water bottles, and sunglasses. 

Other people use a laundry basket. Either way, you’ll want somewhere separate for the sandy things!

Beach Chairs

This is another item your accommodation may provide. To be honest, with young kids, I barely sit in a chair. I’m either in the water or playing in the sand. But they still helped to stake out our spot.

Beach Umbrella or Tent

Shade shade shade. The more the better on hot beach days. Beach tents certainly provide a bigger area of shade. But some beaches ban tents in peak seasons. And they’re a bigger pain to set up. In those cases, an umbrella that drills into the sand will do!

Your accommodation may also provide beach umbrellas. And if you’re flying you may be able to rent some umbrellas. If you’re renting through the actual beach, book ahead of time! They may be sold out by the time you arrive.

Chair Umbrella

For portable shade, my favorite is a chair umbrella. First of all, it can be twisted and turned into all sorts of angles. Plus, you can move your shade just by moving the chair it's attached to. I have the Sportbrella version and have no reason to ever buy another kind!

Floaties and Life Vests

Even strong swimmers can be impacted by big waves and strong currents. Even strong swimmers get tired by the end of a long beach day. Bring a lifevest.

For little ones, even in shallow water, I still like having a floatie on them. Even if I’m holding them in the water, I like the assurance that if a waves takes me out, they’ll still float. Bring a floatie. I love this floatie that’s coastguard approved. 

Sunglasses

Have you ever sunburned your eyeball? I have. It isn’t fun. Sunglasses can help.

Snorkel Gear

Depending on where you are, you may want to bring your snorkel gear for fish finding and other underwater viewing adventures.

Baby Powder and a Sock

I don’t know how I didn’t know this for years, but baby powder is a magical sand remover! I put some in an old sock, rub the sock on sandy eyes and faces, and watch the sand disappear! Seriously, magic. I’m a fan of this Burt’s Bees Talc Free Baby Powder.

Toddler Camping Chair with Tray

A toddler camping chair doubles as a toddler-sized beach chair and as a place for them to eat. A place where if they drop their watermelon cube, it won’t come up covered in sand. A safe place for them to place their drink without it falling over. 

Beach Blanket

I love starting a beach day with a sand-free area to set down bags, etc. No, it won’t stay completely sand free. But it’s a good base for eating, catching some shade, etc. I like using one that is staked down with sand and have no complaints with my SunNinja Beach Blanket.

Portable Fan

Beaches usually create their own wind. But if you’re visiting on a hot, stagnant day, you’ll want a fan to keep cool. 

I’ve used this clip on, rechargeable fan for everything from beach trips to Disney trips to picnics at the park trips! The charge lasts for ages, and the clip is sturdy. 

Portable Safe

If you’re all going to be in the water at once, you may want to consider some type of portable safe. This safe holds up to two phones, plus a wallet and some keys. 

You could also opt for a more inconspicuous option like this water bottle safe. Though it’ll only be big enough for keys and some money.

Finally, some people just bury their valuables! Talk about buried treasure. But if this is your plan, don’t forget some plastic bags or containers for burying purposes. And don’t forget where you buried things!!

Beach Chair Clips

If you’re at the beach on a windy day, you don’t want your towels flying away. That’s where beach chair clips come in handy. They can also double as clothes pins once you’re back at your accommodation!

Wet Bags

I love bringing large wet bags that are meant for cloth diapers to the beach. Fill them with wet swimsuits, towels, coverups, etc. And they often come in two packs so when one is drying, you have the other one to use for the next day!

They’re waterproof. They hold a lot. And they can be emptied and washed along with all of its contents! But at the very least, bring a garbage bag for all your wet stuff.

Once again, if you want this entire beach packing list on a PDF, check out the link below. And if you're looking for an interactive fillable PDF, please email me! thebeckhamsabroad @gmail.com

If you want to plan a trip to the beach with your family, but just don't have the time to work out all the details, I can help! Find out about my Customized Travel Itineraries here.

If you're headed to the beach with your family, you may find some of these other articles helpful!

• 37 Best Toddler Beach Hacks and Tips for a First Timer
• Toddler Beach Essentials: The 10 Things You Actually Need For a Fun Day at the Beach
• Delicious Vegan Beach Food: Fuel for Your Fun in the Sun