22 Amazing Places in the World to Travel with Toddlers
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To help you plan your next memorable family vacation, we decided to reach out to other family travel experts for their suggestions for the best place in the world to travel with toddlers.
They answered with the best international travel destinations with toddlers. Traveling as a family with young ones is different than traveling by yourself.
Toddlers are fun to travel with because you get to experience the excitement and wonder of discovering the world through the eyes of your children (or grandchildren).
Young children can be a challenge though and need plenty of activities to keep them busy. You can’t just grab any list off the internet. So choosing the right location is key to an amazing vacation.
These kid-friendly destinations are recommended based on personal experience by families that have actually visited with their own toddlers. They all have in-depth travel guides and reviews on their own blogs. So don’t forget to check out some of the links for each location.
I know you will find something to add to your bucket list.
I know you will be inspired by this article. Let us help you get going, whether it’s saving enough money or packing for your vacation!
We want to help you plan smooth travels to your next vacation with toddlers. Check out our resources on this blog
- The step-by-step guide for planning a family vacation
- Tips from our large family to help you find cheap flights.
- How to find toddler-friendly accommodations for your vacation
- The ultimate vacation packing checklist for families
Valais region, Switzerland
The first recommendation for a toddler-friendly destination is from Corina, founder, and writer at Packed Again. She wrote “Having twin toddlers, I feel it is a must to choose your destination where the kids can be outside in nature, and there’s no better place than Switzerland to find this.
The Valais region is in the heart of the Swiss Alps and there is no shortage of picnic places near a stream, playgrounds or even a great lake. Just perfect for our toddlers to get dirty, throw as many stones in the water as they can and build bridges with branches. On top of all, we might be able to spot one or two mountain animals in a magnificent and safe surrounding. For me, it is the perfect toddler destination.”
Etosha National Park, Namibia
Jenny from Travelynn Family has experience traveling in Africa with kids. She tells us “Yes, you can take toddlers on safari!”
Earlier this year we traversed Africa in a Land Rover with our boys (our youngest was 2) for almost 4 months. We took them on a lot of safaris, but Etosha National Park, Namibia, was definitely the best one for his age group. Firstly it’s very affordable (kids are free!), and wildlife spotting is easy due to the vast open plains, lack of vegetation, and an abundance of wildlife. In fact, the entire country is a fantastic family destination and you may like to read our 10 reasons to visit Namibia with kids.”
Family Travel Fever Note: Want to travel to Namibia? Find cheap flights by setting an alert for Windhoek, Namibia (NA)
Colorado USA
We couldn’t help but include our beloved state of Colorado. Although the entire state is beautiful, we suggest Glenwood Springs for Toddlers. Situated just 3 hours from Denver, this little town at the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Colorado River is a perfect place for families.
Hot Springs, waterfall hikes, roller coasters, and skiing all in one area. You can combine this with a trip to Aspen or Vail. The best way to experience the town is to stay at the historic Hotel Colorado or in an RV. You can even rent easily nearby at Outdoorsy with this $50 off coupon.
You can check out our whole series on Glenwood with 17 Exciting Things to do in Glenwood Springs and our Visitors Guide to Glenwood Springs.
Nice, France
Shanna from There and Back Again Family Travel Blog suggests families with toddlers should visit Nice, France.
“Nice is a cute as a button town in the south of France on the Mediterranean Sea. It is a perfect escape for a family with toddlers because of its manageable size, easy public transport options and abundance of easy, kid-friendly day trips.
We loved shopping at the Cours Saleya market in Nice for goodies, having picnics and playing at the Promenade du Paillon (a huge park, playground and green space at the heart of the city) and exploring Nice’s narrow, cobbled streets and alleyways.”
Family Travel Fever Note: Want to travel to Nice, France? Find cheap flights by setting an alert for Nice, France (NCE) at Kiwi.com
Barcelona, Spain
Traveling with a baby and toddler, Diana from The Elusive Family, was able to recommend Barcelona, Spain based on personal experience.
“Sitting on the coast of the Mediterranean, Barcelona offers toddlers the opportunity to run amuck on La Rambla or explore the majestic L’Aquarium Barcelona, our top pick for toddlers. Boasting the largest sea tunnel in Europe, L’Aquarium is a perfect place to spend the afternoon watching sharks, sea turtles and hundreds of species swim in a vast Oceanarium.”
Dubai, UAE
Keri Hedrick from Family Travel in the Middle East responded: “Dubai is a city crying out to be explored by families. Toddlers will love the huge variety of waterparks and splash parks available across the city from Duplo Splash Safari at Legoland Waterpark to the Splashers area of Atlantis, designed specifically for smaller kids.
The beach and resort weather is great almost year around, however, in the absolute hottest summer months there are still plenty of indoor activities too. The huge Kidzania and Dubai Aquarium at Dubai Mall are always a hit, as is Mattel Playtown at City Walk ideal for youngsters.
Don’t forget to check out a desert safari during your stay which will include an opportunity to ride a camel – and top your visit off with the spectacular light and sound fountain show outside Burj Khalifa every night.”
Chicago, Illinois
Catherine from Traveling with the Littles suggests that “If the weather is agreeable the best places to take toddlers are Millennium Park and Maggie Daley Park.
Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, both places are great for small children to stretch their legs! Millennium Park boasts the ‘Bean’ which is an enormous reflective metal ‘bean’ in which toddlers can admire their reflections and scamper about. Also found in Millennium Park is Crown Fountain, an interactive five-story fountain that periodically shoots water out onto waiting children. Maggie Daley Park’s Play Garden is replete with a colossal playground, a ‘Watering Hole,’ a boardwalk, and an ‘Enchanted Forest.”
Family Travel Fever Note: Want to travel to Chicago? Find cheap flights by setting an alert for Chicago Midway (MWD) or Chicago O’Hare (ORD) at Kiwi.com
Sanur, Bali, Indonesia
Kate Comer from Rolling Along With Kids explains that “Exploring South East Asia with toddlers can be tricky.
Sanur, located on the island of Bali in Indonesia, is easy to navigate with toddlers and you can also enjoy the beautiful culture that Bali has to offer. The flat, paved beach path is easy to walk along with young kids. Our favorite way to spend time in Sanur is to visit one of the many beach clubs with pools and playgrounds located along the beach path.”
Family Travel Fever Note: Want to travel to Sanur, Bali? Find cheap flights by setting an alert for Bali Ngurah Rai Airport (Denpasar, Indonesia) (DPS) at Kiwi.com
Seattle, Washington, USA
I have to agree with Astrid from The Wandering Daughter when she recommends Seattle, Washington for toddlers. She wrote a guide on her blog and summarized the city for us.
“The city of Seattle, WA offers families with toddlers plenty of options to explore and play. With over 400 outdoor parks and play areas, as well as family-friendly museums, there is no shortage of things to do for families in Seattle.
By far the best spot for families to visit in the city is the Seattle Center, with its giant fountain for water play, art and music inspired playground, and the iconic Space Needle offering panoramic views of the city. Also not to be missed is the Children’s Museum, where toddlers can engage with hands-on educational exhibits.”
Note from Family Travel Fever: We love Seattle and have spent time visiting the city and surrounding area. We have even taken our RV on the Ferry across the water. If you are looking for places to stay in Seattle you will find great deals and reviews on our Booking link here.
La Paz, Bolivia
After 4 months of traveling around South America, Amanda at Great Big Family Adventure recommends La Paz, Bolivia as a perfect destination in South America for toddlers.
“For a 1 to 3-year-old, La Paz, Bolivia would be cool. It is a large city but connected by cable cars which are fun and cheap. There is a large Central Park with amusement rides and a large boardwalk over the city to Pipiripi, the local Children’s museum with lots of exciting hands-on activities for children of all ages and parents too!”
Note from Family Travel Fever: Bolivia has so many exciting places to stay. You can try a hotel, a B&B or private rental for your family. Get the best deals and reviews for La Paz at our booking link here.
Reykjavik, Iceland
With a roundup of their own, the Wandermust Family wrote that “Iceland is a really hot (well not literally) family travel destination right now! I was worried when we went that it wouldn’t live up to the hype but I can happily report that it did not disappoint!
Whether you are traveling in Winter or summer, staying in Reykjavik or going beyond the Golden Circle there is just so much to do with kids! Our favorite thing was exploring all of the outdoor activities like chasing waterfalls, discovering black sand beaches and meeting Icelandic horses! It is a great outdoor adventure holiday for all the family”
Tokyo, Japan
When asked for a recommendation for destinations in Asia, Wisterian Watertree wrote “The biggest city in the world is also one of the toddler-friendliest. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of sights accessible with a stroller.
Everything from thousand-year-old temples to high-tech marvels like the tallest TV tower in the world all sits along trains and subway lines, which makes getting around an easy project, even on rainy days. And there are public parks and playgrounds dotting the cityscape everywhere. On top of that, this is the city in the world which has the most Michelin stars – but any everyday meal will be as tasty as a feast in a far more expensive Japanese restaurant in your home country.
One of our favorite things is going to see the different shrines of Tokyo, especially during a festival. Your kids can participate and there are typically lots of interesting foods and activities to try – from shooting ranges with actual cork guns to enormous griddles full of okonomiyaki in the making.”
Family Travel Fever Note: Want to travel to Tokyo, Japan? Find cheap flights by setting an alert for Tokyo airports Narita ( NRT) or Haneda (HND)at Kiwi.com
New York, New York USA
Based on their own time in the big city, Cath at Passports and Adventures recommends New York City.
“New York is a great city to visit with toddlers. We visited with our two-year-old son and found plenty of toddler-friendly activities to do. Such as a water ferry ride around the tip of Manhattan, a trip to the 86th floor of the Empire State Building and even a trip around Central Park.
The bright lights of Times Square will fascinate them, just be aware of the noise level for them. With museums, plenty of hotels, and restaurants and diners galore, New York is definitely a city that can be visited with toddlers.”
Note from Family Travel Fever: The Bronx Zoo is on our bucket list to take the kids. But finding a place to stay in New York City could be tricky. If you are planning a trip you can find the locations of places to stay, the best deals and tons of reviews on our booking link here.
Tuscany, Italy
When asked, Marta from Learning Escapes, replied you should pick Tuscany for a family vacation!
“A destination I loved when our kids were toddlers and that I recommend to all young families is the gorgeous Italian region of Tuscany. International visitors tend to know Tuscany for its cultural attractions and wineries but it is an incredibly family-friendly location and many Italian families vacation here, giving it a wonderful local feel.
The biggest attractions for families with toddlers here is the coast: it is beautiful, safe and well served, with a vast choice of hotels, campsites and resorts to suit all budgets. In terms of entertainment, the choice is endless too: you can relax making sand castles, go visit local farms for cute animal encounters, let the kids wander in car-free hilltop villages and even go to theme parks!”
Phuket, Thailand
After spending 10 days in Phuket with toddlers, Brandi from Toddler Abroad has a trustworthy resource for Thailand. Plus, we’ve been dreaming of taking our own kids there.
“Phuket has a number of excellent beaches and other toddler-friendly things to do. It’s incredibly cheap and Thai people love children. Our toddler’s favorite thing to do was ride tuk-tuks around the island.”
La Fortuna, Costa Rica
We loved northern Costa Rica, so I just had to add it to this list. The La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano area is an exciting holiday destination with toddlers. In we left Colorado and feet of snow behind to enjoy the beaches, hiking, and wildlife.
We hiked the Arenal Volcano and spent lunch watching the clouds and smoke dance along the top of the volcano. In the evening we soaked in the hot springs with the locals. The following days were spent enjoying the sloths, monkeys, toucans, iguanas, and Cayman at the Proyecto Asis animal rescue and Caño Negro Wildlife Reserve.
This 3-week multigenerational trip is how we developed our step-by-step checklist and toolkit to planning an unforgettable family vacation.
Note: We stayed at a combination of private rentals and hotels. If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica, we found the best deals at Booking.com to reserve as many places to stay as possible. Our link will take you straight to places to stay in La Fortuna.
Our favorite place to stay in La Fortuna and the Monte Verde area was a Tree House.
Moab, Utah USA
After visiting the area ourselves with 4 kids, we agree with Kristie from World is Wide, with her recommendation of Moab.
“Moab, Utah is a fantastic family destination for all ages. It’s our family’s favorite place on the planet, and it has been since our kids were toddlers. It’s got all the ingredients for an ideal toddler destination: two amazing national parks (Arches and Canyonlands), hiking trails galore, dinosaur tracks and remains, and lots and lots of sand. “
Note From Family Travel Fever: Based on this amazing recommendation by World is Wide – we have taken a couple of trips to the Moab Area. We now have a whole series on Moab with kids including 18 Things to do in Moab, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point.
Lake Bled, Slovenia
My Dad’s heritage is from Slovenia and I visited with my grandmother when I was younger, so I was excited to hear Chelsea from Pack More Into Life choose the beautiful Lake Bled.
“If you are looking for a great vacation spot to bring your toddler. Look no further than Lake Bled, Slovenia. With its beautiful lake, castle crested cliff, cute playgrounds, and easy sidewalks to make pushing a stroller a breeze, it’s certainly got something for everyone!
Want to read all about the week-long trip with our 2-year-old son? Head over to our family-friendly blog: Pack More Into Life”
Family Travel Fever Note: Want to travel to Slovenia? Find cheap flights by setting an alert for Ljubljana Airport (LJU) at Kiwi.com
Gold Coast, Australia
Holly from Four Around the World responded that “The Gold Coast, Australia is a perfect family-friendly destination to visit with toddlers!
They have some of the most beautiful beaches for a family day out, as well as being the home to all of Australia’s best theme parks, all of which have areas dedicated to younger children. There are also some fantastic playgrounds and parklands, and several places to visit for native animal encounters, such as Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary or Fleay’s Fauna Park.”
London, England
Cath of Passports and Adventures has written specifically on their blog about things to do in London with a toddler.
“London might not seem like the sort of place to vacation with a toddler, but it has so much to offer. From visiting SeaLife and taking a ride on the London Eye, to exploring the Tower of London and more, it is a city that has it all for toddlers. Getting around London is easy with the Tube your best option, there are lots of family-friendly places to stay and the choice of cafes and restaurants on offer will please even the fussiest of eaters.”
Tel Aviv, Israel
The last and another unique pick comes from Melissa at The Family Voyage. “We’ve taken toddlers to Tel Aviv twice and it’s become a family favorite!
There’s never a shortage of activities, whether you like relaxing at the beach, sampling food at the open-air markets, strolling along the boardwalk and the leafy boulevards or even visiting the weekly craft fair in the middle of the city.
Kids are welcome everywhere and it’s easy to find common Western ‘kids menu’ food at restaurants. There are playgrounds throughout the city and even on many beaches, so fun is always just around the corner! Get the inside scoop on visiting Tel Aviv with kids right here. “
Final Thoughts on the best places to visit with toddlers:
I love how so many experts weighed in with their own experiences. All of the suggestions were submitted by families who have actually visited these places with toddlers.
Just compiling this list, I added a bunch of destinations to our family bucket list.
We want to help you plan smooth travels to your next vacation with toddlers. Check out our resources on this blog
- Tips from our large family to help you find cheap flights.
- How to find toddler-friendly accommodations for your vacation
- The ultimate vacation packing checklist for families
Great idea for a post! Although I do not have a toddler, I do have a teenager with needs and we are going to Italy this spring. I will be sure to look into Tuscany!
Thank you! Tuscany for kids had not occurred to me! I had so much fun working with these wonderful travel experts and I loved watching the responses roll in. I was surprised by the locations they chose.
Thank you for sharing such wonderful destinations to travel with toddlers. But sadly, I have just visited Dubai with my toddlers and loved it very much. There are so many things for kids to learn and entertain. Two of the destinations that I added to my bucket list are Nice, France and La Paz, Bolivia. I will seek for travel guides from those travel bloggers who have actually visited these places with their toddlers.
You’re welcome. I found ideas to add to my family bucket list, also
I had heard Ireland before – so it’s on our list. Any chance you’ve visited?
Actually, we have and it was wonderful. We traveled with 3 kids, the youngest a toddler and grandma. We have wonderful family memories. We moved a little too much though. We moved almost every day but it wasn’t necessary. I think we should have picked one or two central places to stay and done day trips. The highlights for us were waterfall hikes, the castles and a hawk walk by a local bird rescue.
I love continuing to add to my growing list of places to visit with my kids. I have yet to make it to the United Arab Emirates and think this would be a really interesting place to explore a different culture and environment to the places we normally travel. Thanks.
Thanks!UAE sounds wonderful.