Travelling with preschoolers: trips that work from 3 to 5
Three to five is the age of strong opinions and short legs. Plan one real activity a day, put a playground next to every sight and keep food simple.
The short version
- One main activity a day, done before lunch, is the right amount.
- Pair every adult sight with a playground, a boat or an ice cream.
- Bring a stroller or buggy board even if they stopped using one at home.
- Skip long guided tours and queue-heavy attractions. They will not last.
What this age is good at
A four year old is thrilled by things you stopped noticing: a tram, a fountain, a lift with glass walls, pigeons. That is good news for your budget. Transport counts as an attraction, and so does a harbour or a market.
What they cannot do is wait, walk far or stay quiet in a museum for an hour. Plan with that in mind and the trip gets much easier.
- Boats, cable cars, funiculars, trams and double-decker buses
- Zoos, aquariums and farms, in short visits
- Beaches with shallow water and a toilet nearby
- Castles and ruins where they can run and climb
- Science and children's museums with things to touch
- Any playground, anywhere
Pace: one thing a day
Plan one proper activity each morning, when everyone is at their best. After lunch, go back for a rest even if they dropped the nap at home, because travel days are longer and hotter than normal days. Use the late afternoon for something with no goal: a park, a pool, a walk to get ice cream.
If you fit in a second sight, treat it as a bonus.
- Out of the door by 9am, before queues and heat
- Main activity done by lunchtime
- Quiet time in the room from about 1pm to 3pm
- Playground or pool before an early dinner
- One full rest day in every four or five
Flights and long transfers
From age two a child has their own seat, which helps. The US Federal Aviation Administration recommends an approved child restraint for small children on board and lists a harness-type device as an option for children within its weight range. Check your airline's policy page for what it accepts.
At this age the hard part is the two hours of airport before the flight. Let them walk and run before boarding rather than sitting at the gate.
- Board last if the airline allows it, so they sit still for less time
- A small backpack they pack and carry themselves
- Sticker books, a magnetic drawing board, new crayons
- Tablet with downloads and child-sized headphones, tested at home
- Snacks handed out one at a time
- Spare clothes in the cabin bag, including for accidents
Food without a fight
A holiday is a bad time to work on fussy eating. Find the two or three local things your child will eat and repeat them without guilt. Plain pasta, rice, bread, grilled chicken, fruit and yoghurt exist almost everywhere.
Eat your main meal at lunch. Restaurants are quieter and your child is not yet exhausted. In countries where dinner starts late, an apartment kitchen solves most evenings.
- Carry snacks and water every day. Hunger causes most meltdowns.
- Order the child's food the moment you sit down
- Choose places with outdoor tables next to a square or playground
- Bring a small colouring kit that only comes out at restaurants
- Markets and bakeries make an easy picnic lunch
The stroller question
Bring one. A child who walks everywhere at home will walk for about half of a sightseeing day and then stop. A light, foldable stroller gives you a place for the afternoon rest and somewhere to hang the bags.
The exceptions are places built on steps and steep cobbles, where a stroller is dead weight. There, plan shorter loops and use taxis or public transport between them.
- Light umbrella-fold stroller rated for your child's weight
- Or a carrier rated for preschoolers if you hike
- Check whether metro stations on your route have lifts
- A buggy board helps if you also have a baby
What to book and what to skip
Book anything with a queue. Standing in line for 40 minutes uses up the whole morning's patience before you are even inside. Timed tickets for the first slot of the day are worth paying for.
Skip what depends on a child being still and silent. You will pay full price and leave after fifteen minutes.
- Book: timed entry to zoos, aquariums and popular towers
- Book: short boat trips, under an hour
- Book: accommodation with a pool or a garden
- Skip: guided walking tours longer than an hour
- Skip: fine dining and late shows
- Check first: theme park rides have minimum heights, listed on each park's official site
Getting around
Stay central. A cheaper hotel 40 minutes out costs you the midday rest, and the midday rest is what keeps the afternoon pleasant. Pick a neighbourhood where the main sights, a park and a supermarket are a short walk or one direct ride away.
For cars and taxis, sort the car seat before you land. Rules differ by country and not every taxi carries one.
- Choose direct routes over faster ones with changes
- Avoid rush hour with a stroller
- Pre-book airport transfers with a child seat confirmed in writing
- On trains, reserve seats together with a table
Day bag for a 3 to 5 year old
Common questions
Is a city break realistic with a 3 or 4 year old?
Yes, if you choose a compact city with parks and plan one sight a day. Flat cities with good public transport and playgrounds in the centre are the easy ones. Cities where the sights are far apart or mostly indoors and quiet are harder.
Should we bring a car seat or rent one?
Bringing your own means you know it fits your child and how to install it, but check it is approved in the country you are visiting. Renting is lighter, though quality varies, so ask the rental company for the exact model and weight group in writing.
How do we handle a lost child in a crowd?
Agree a simple rule before each busy place: if you cannot see us, stand still and we will come to you. Put your phone number on them, dress them in a bright colour and take a photo each morning so you can show what they are wearing.