Recommendation for European city break with a toddler and baby

[PSL1990]

I'm considering booking a weekend away in September as a birthday present for my husband. We'd be with a 2 year old and 6 month old baby. Can anyone recommend a destination within a couple of hours that would be suitable? I don't want to take car seats so train travel from the airport to destination is quite important. Thanks

Lille is ridiculously quick and easy to get to. It's on the Eurostar line from London to Brussels. There's good public transport with trams etc. And there is a nice family park in the centre with rides and a zoo.

Gothenburg would be good, I dont know about train from the airport to the city but there is a bus so you could just have toddler in the pushchair and baby on your knee? It's really easy to get around on the tram, you can take the ferry to the little islands (same ticket as the tram) it's very child friendly.

Where are you travelling from?

Travelling from London, ideally Stanstead @DreamingofSunshine

Just personal opinion @AnotherEmma but I found Lille a bit dull (though it is easy to get to for sure!). It was a very rainy and grey weekend we went though so perhaps I’m not doing it justice!

We did Eurostar to Paris when DD was 18 months old and that was very simple and Paris always has something new to offer. Bologna when she was 2 was also great - it’s not huge and easy to navigate with a buggy. It’s a very attractive city and the food is great. Italians love small children and everyone was very kind. We did a day trip to Modena which is like a mini Bologna. Don’t know about flights from Stansted but you can definitely get flights from Gatwick!

Fair point, Lille is rather boring compared to Paris! don't know why I didn't just suggest Paris actually.

Barcelona is great with kids.

Amsterdam also

:-) as above, Lille might be a lot nicer than I remember! Pushing a buggy around in almost horizontal heavy rain in a strange city doesn’t make the best of memories!

Amsterdam! I think you can get a direct Eurostar there now.

Germany is great for kids, they're totally integrated into every day life. By which I mean, the beer gardens have play parks! Munich is fab for a weekend. Also the Netherlands - Delft is gorgeous and doable by train, Amsterdam is also great for kids. Both countries have great parks, great public transport, easy-going food, it's just easy.

Munich - v easy transport, family friendly. The Fairytale Forest is amazing for little children and I have so many happy memories of taking my DS there. Google “Freizeitpark Märchenwald”.

Or what about Nuremberg? It’s fab for sightseeing, lots of history and easy to get around. The Playmobil Funpark is a short taxi ride away, your 2 year old would love it.

We have a toddler and after much research have decided on Barcelona and Amsterdam this year. They both look amazing and full of activities for little people!

@MaryShelley1818 thanks! Do you know how you plan to get from the airport to your hotel? Is it easy?

Copenhagen is really family friendly. Great public transport around the city. Parks/gardens everywhere. We spent a week there with our 4 yr old last July.

Train from Amsterdam airport is easy.i've caught the bus from Barcelona ; also straightforward.

We did Barcelona with 9mo & 2yr old - it was great. There are lots of little parks in the city for the toddler to let off steam - one right outside segrada familia (sorry no idea how to spell!) we didn’t go inside just admired from the outside!
Got the bus from airport to city centre - quite easy even with double buggy. Then also got the underground to the beach, zoo - remember having to carry buggy down steps a few times but only because we chose stops with no disabled access
It was a lovely holiday

We've just come back from Lisbon with three under 5s and had a great time. Lots to do and brilliant transport options. No need for car (we didn't want to take car seats either).

Stockholm or Amsterdam. We've done both with buggies and slings.

Stockholm particularly nice but more expensive. Train from the airport is amazing, 20 mins straight into the centre of town.

There are 2 airports in Stockholm, Arlanda and the other one (who’s name escapes me!) which is mainly a Ryan Air hub. It’s further out than Arlanda but there is an airport bus which takes about an hour.

Most airports have trains or buses that go into city centres but if you want to book an airport pick up, Hoppa are good.

Was coming on to say Stockholm. Skansen is wonderful for children and train from the airport is very easy.

Do consider getting the Eurostar though as it's a much more pleasant journey with children as you can get out of your seat any time you need to, and you don't have to worry about liquids in handbaggage or checking luggage. It is better for the environment too.

If you can manage to carry the baby in a sling/carrier and be buggy free you will have a much nicer time in any city. We took our to Brussels and Nice at around similar ages and have never taken a buggy away with us