These budget family city breaks are perfect for your next escape with the kids

Got curious kids that love to explore? Consider a family city break for your next trip and introduce them to cultural treasures, historic sites, urban parks and street food. And while filling a weekend with FUN THINGS TO DO might sound expensive, there are ways to keep costs down and that starts with picking the right city. Ideally one that is cheap and easy to get to, offers good value accommodation and plenty to see and do for free. Luckily, our holidays forum is packed full of recommendations from city-break loving Mumsetters that have pounded pavements across Europe with kids in tow. 

Choose a compact city and you’ll be able to cover a lot of ground in a few days, even with little legs. And although it might be tempting to tick all the sights off in one go, your kids will probably appreciate a few playground pit stops and some strategic snack breaks along the way. Explore at leisure rather than attempting to cram everything in like you did pre-kids. 

To take the stress out of planning a trip, consider booking a family city break with TUI where you can book flights and accommodation in one handy package. Once you’ve decided where to go, it’s easy to select your preferred airport, board basis and hotel star rating to find the best options without having lots of tabs open and hopping between airline and hotel sites. There’s a useful price filter that lets you set a maximum price per person and we love the fact that you can sort by lowest price and biggest saving to find the best deals. 

So where to go? Here are six budget city breaks that are perfect for families.

1. Berlin, Germany

What to do in Berlin with kids

Berlin is a fun place to visit - Science Museum, Zoo, Aquarium, Bundtstag (you can go up the dome), DDR Museum, Checkpoint Charlie, lots of other WW/post WW sights.” yoshiblue

My teens loved Berlin - there are some great museums, history, boat trip down the river, lovely parks and a cool urban feel to the place.” Lordofmyflies

It might not be an obvious choice for a summer holiday but Berlin makes a brilliant warm weather city break. It’s full of urban parks where you’ll find playgrounds, open-air theatres and beer gardens, and when temperatures rise you can cool off in one of the many outdoor pools or swimming lakes. Of course, there’s plenty of history to take in too, with outdoor landmarks to explore including Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg Gate and graffitied chunks of the Berlin Wall. It’s a very walkable city but the public transport system is also cheap and efficient if your mini adventurers need a rest. Fuel up on bratwurst (or currywurst for an extra kick). 

2. Valencia, Spain

What to do in Valencia with kids

Check out Valencia, loads to do with kids, you can cycle most places and a lovely beach!” Geranium1984

The ‘must-dos’ with kids are the Bioparc, science museum, aquarium, the beach, Gulliver Park, toy soldier museum and Turia Gardens. Our favourite was the aquarium.” Fivemoreminutes1 

Coastal cities are perfect for families as you can soak up culture and sea views in one sunny trip and it’s easier to coax the kids into one more museum/gallery/shop if they know there’s an ice cream waiting for them at the beach afterwards. Not that children would get bored exploring the Spanish city of Valencia with its futuristic architecture, fun museums, 25-acre Bioparc zoo and epic science centre. Kids will love exploring the six-mile-long Turia Garden which follows one of the city’s old riverbeds and is now home to playgrounds, ponds, cycle paths and football pitches. A promenade connects the city to sandy beaches including Cabanyal and Malvarrosa.

3. Budapest, Hungary

What to do in Budapest with kids

Budapest is great for little kids. There’s a model train track centre on Andrassy ut, the children’s railway, outdoor pools. Outdoor dining in summer. Oh it is a wonderful destination! Great for families.” BlueKittens

I liked Palatinus lido on Margaret Island as it was more child friendly than the spas but still had hot pools. There is a park with a zoo (we didn't go in the zoo but enjoyed the park). There were also fountains little ones could play in and cool down.” BendingSpoons

On the banks of the Danube, beautiful Budapest is a fun city to explore with kids. There’s impressive architecture at every turn, from the majestic parliament building to the hilltop castle, as well as family-friendly parks, fountains to run around in, boat trips and a scenic tram route. Don’t miss the funicular railway up to Buda Castle where you can explore the area’s pretty cobbled streets and grab a gelato or a kürtőskalács (chimney cake) depending on the season. Head to Margaret Island for a swim in the lido or to cycle around the gardens, or just to take in the peaceful car-free surroundings. While the city’s thermal baths might not be suitable for young kids, teens will no doubt love soaking in the mineral-rich waters and entry is far cheaper than treating them to a spa day in the UK. 

4. Krakow, Poland

What to do with in Krakow with kids

Absolutely love Krakow and have been several times for holidays. A visit to the Salt Mines is a must, get there early. Wawel castle is huge, or take a boat trip. There is an amazing museum under the main square. Tricky to find but excellent. Eating out is incredibly cheap..which is why we have family holidays there!” dementedma

Park Lema has absolutely amazing physics inspired playground, there is a small fee to get in but well worth it. You can easily spend half a day in there. The rest of the park is free and huge, with playgrounds and so on.” Mozartinmyfanjo

This pocket-sized Polish city is easy to navigate and perfect for leisurely strolls as you take in its beautifully preserved medieval heart and lively Jewish Quarter. Kids will love listening out for the daily bugle call from St Mary’s Basilica, watching street performers in the Old Town and exploring the fairytale 14th-century castle. It’s really green too -  you’ll find meadows, forests and nature reserves to escape to. After a day of taking in the sights, head to Planty park to picnic on pierogi (Polish dumplings). Outside the city limits, it’s well worth visiting the subterranean salt mine in Wieliczka, just eight miles from Krakow’s Old Town. 

5. Amsterdam, Netherlands

What to do in Amsterdam with kids

I did this trip with a 13 and 10 year old. So much fun, Amsterdam is great for kids. The Anne Frank museum is incredibly moving and it was an amazing experience. As was the late night walk (10ish) as it feels so safe and the canals are so beautiful. The food street market was another highlight.” MamaNell

Vondelpark is good, there's loads of space to run around, several play areas and you can rent skates as well. Boat trips on the canal are always great and my daughter who is 6 really enjoyed the open top bus tour.” Phos

Quick and cheap to get to, Amsterdam may be best known for its nightlife but there’s plenty of daytime fun to be had and its compact walkable streets make it easy for kids of all ages to explore. For some kid-friendly culture take advantage of free entry (for under 18s) to the Rijksmuseum and sign up for the family treasure hunt or head to Nemo, a fantastic interactive science museum with a rooftop play area. Families flock to Amsterdam’s biggest park, Vondelpark all year round for its treetop playground, paddling pools and picnic spots. If your little ones tire of strolling, there are plenty of enjoyable ways to get around Amsterdam, whether you explore by bike, boat or tram. 

6. Prague

What to do in Prague with kids

Loads to do. The castle is great and Charles Bridge, Old Town Square etc. We are going in April too - my 7th trip I think. For kids - John Lennon Wall is quite cool.” MissAmbrosia 

It’s cheap to eat if you stick to Czech places off the main square. Loads of sites to see: Old Town square, St Vincius cathedral and the castle complex, Charles bridge, boat tours, the zoo is amazing (take the boat there), the main museum in Namesti Republicki is now open, Jewish museum as well.” DazedandConcerned 

It may be pretty established on the city break circuit but Prague is still a purse-friendly option for a family escape, particularly when it comes to eating out (in authentic Czech restaurants that is; away from the tourist trail). The city is home to 60+ museums so there’s plenty of culture and history to soak up. The city’s Children’s Museum is a big hit with small kids thanks to its colourful interactive exhibitions; older children will find lots to take in at the Jewish Museum. Getting around is simple thanks to an affordable and efficient public tram network and walkable centre so it’s easy to see Prague’s main landmarks including the Old Town, Prague Castle and Charles Bridge in one weekend. Travelling in summer? Don’t miss a trip to Zlute Lazne, a sports centre with a man-made beach on the banks of the Vltava river where you can hire bikes, skates and paddleboards. 

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About the author

Rachel Erdos is an Editor at Mumsnet where she commissions, edits and writes content with a focus on family travel.

She has written hotel reviews, features and destination guides for top publications including the Guardian, Four Seasons Magazine, Travelzoo, Visit Britain and Visit London. She loves nothing more than researching and writing about fun things for families to do in destinations near and far, as well as trawling the Mumsnet holiday forum for inspiration for her next trip away with her husband and two kids.