Yet the Irish capital is also full of kid-friendly activities — if you know where to look.

From encountering wild animals to climbing to the top of the city’s biggest stadium, here are some ideas on how to keep the kids entertained during a trip to Dublin.

Top family activities in Dublin

1. Dublin Zoo

Located in Phoenix Park, Dublin Zoo is home to more than 400 animals. This is the most popular family attraction in the city, with fun daily activities such as feeding the sea lions. Kids will love to see giraffes, elephants, rhinos, and more.

2. Viking Splash Tours

The best tour for kids in Dublin is the Viking Splash Tour. This tour not only provides an overview of the main sights in the city, but is operated in a vehicle that drives on land and on water. Kids will also love the fun Viking hats and entertaining tour guides.

Let your little vikings have fun at Dubliinia, the Viking Museum. Photo: Fhwrdh

3. Tours of the Glasnevin Cemetery

Parents can soak up some history while kids poke around the historic Glasnevin Cemetery. Free walking tours are one hour long and cover important figures in Irish history that are buried in the cemetery.

4. Stadium Tour of Croke Park

The largest stadium in Dublin is Croke Park, home to both concerts and sporting events. A new attraction here is the skyline tour, bringing visitors along the rooftop walkway with five viewing platforms. Audio guides are available that highlight key attractions in the Dublin skyline.

5. Climb the Sugar Loaf Mountain

For another fantastic view of Dublin, climb to the top of the Sugar Loaf Mountain located in County Wicklow, south of Dublin city center. Kids will enjoy the one-hour walk (more of a walk than a climb), but might need a little help for the last few steep steps to the top of the mountain. Bring a picnic for a family lunch at the summit.

6. Dublinia – the Viking Museum

Kids will learn about the Viking past of Ireland at Dublinia, a museum focused on medieval Dublin. Everything from Viking war ships to Viking clothes are on display at this family-friendly museum in central Dublin.

7. National Wax Museum

On a rainy day, the National Wax Museum will keep the kids occupied for hours. With a Children’s Zone of Discovery and a section dedicated to the top scientific inventors in Ireland, this fun museum also has an educational side.

Also in our guide: Looking for a family-friendly, affordable place to stay in central Dublin? Stop by our city guide to read reviews of the best budget hotels in Dublin.

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Still, there are many things to do with children in Venice that will make their holiday one to remember. The following suggestions have been tried and tested with children of all ages and backgrounds: from tiny toddlers to bored teenagers, from wild primary school boys to young girls.

Vaporetto ride on the Grand Canal

As you arrive in Venice the first thing you should do is to take a vaporetto (water bus) ride on the Grand Canal. Get yourself and your child (children under one meter do not pay transport fees in the city) a daily pass. (A 12-hour pass costs €16 per person—it allows you unlimited rides within the allotted period.) For more information, visit ACTV, Venice’s transportation Web site.

The Palazzo Ducale

Take vaporetto line 1 and admire the beautiful palaces, gondolas, roaring boats and the innumerable seagulls and pigeons flying above you. I have not met a child who does not enjoy the ride.

To get the best views, sit outside either at the front or at the back of the vaporetto. The journey from Piazzale Roma to San Marco Square takes about one hour.

The Palazzo Ducale
San Marco 1, 30124 Venice
Tel.: +39 (0)4 12 71 59 11
Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (April 1st to May 31st), 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. (June 1st to October 31st), 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (November 1st to March 31st)
Getting there: With vaporetto, line 51 or 41 to San Zaccaria
Admission: €13 (adult), 7.50 (reduced)

Once you arrive in San Marco, visit the Palazzo Ducale (the Doge’s Palace). To avoid the crowds, go during lunchtime or toward the end of the afternoon.

For children, the main attractions are likely the weapon and armor collection and the dungeons. If you take part in the guided tour of the dungeons, you will be sure to have a very happy kid when you come out.

Gondola and traghetto rides

Another kid-pleaser is a nice gondola ride (if you do not mind the cost—a whopping €80 for a 30-minute ride). If you want a cheaper alternative, try hopping on a traghetto.

Inside the Museum of Natural History

Traghetti are big gondolas, also called barchette (small boats). You can use a traghetto to cross the Grand Canal at various points. A ride costs just €0.50 and the crossing lasts about 10 minutes. The catch is that passengers have to stand up during the journey, and this can be a bit tricky with the waves rolling around the boats. In any case, it’s definitely an exciting, if short, experience!

Natural History Museum
Fontego dei Turchi-Santa Croce, 1730
Tel.: +39 (0)4 12 75 02 06
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Wednesdays), 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Saturdays and Sundays)
Getting there: With vaporetto, line 1 or 52 to Riva de Biasio
Admission: €4.50 (adults), €3 (reduced)

Children will also enjoy the Museo di Storia Naturale—the Natural History Museum. Just recently refurbished and reopened, the museum hosts a very interesting collection of fossils and finds from all over the world.

The most interesting (and scary) exhibition is the stuffed animal collection, which the museum has been displaying for over 100 years.

Don’t forget gelato!

No list of kid-friendly activities would be complete without mentioning gelato. For a nice break between traghetto rides and museum visits, seek out one of the gelaterias mentioned in this post.

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Glass Tunnels and Sharks: The Aquarium

Right on Barcelona’s central Port Vell, a visit to the aquarium makes for an interesting afternoon activity. As you walk towards the aquarium, take in the enormous cruisers, wooden sailboats and million-euro yachts bobbing in the port.

The aquarium is located in the Maremagnum complex, an area with a shopping mall (the only one in the city opened on Sundays), many restaurants, a movie theater, and an iMax theater which shows 3D movies. (Movies here could also be a good family option for rainy days, though films are sure to be in Spanish.)

To tell the truth, I have been to some killer aquariums, and this one did not knock my socks off when I visited. However, the glass tunnel leading through a watery world filled with sharks was impressive (and a bit scary!).

Website
Admission: €16.50, free under 4 years
Metro: Barceloneta: L4; Drassanes: L3

Hands-On Science: CosmoCaixa

CosmoCaixa. Photo: Mataparda

The CosmoCaixa science museum, the city’s best science museum, is not in the center, so getting there takes some planning. Take the old trolly (that, incidentally, is said to have run over the architect Guadi) up Avinguda del Tibidabo and then walk ten minutes to the museum. Or take the bus 196 right to the front door. (Or, of course, you could take a cab.)

However, the journey up Avinguda del Tibidabo is half the fun (the street is full of once-exquisite mansions) and the museum, with its many family-centered exhibitions, is worth the effort it takes to get there. Kids will enjoy “Toca Toca!”, a tactile exhibit where visitors are encouraged to touch the displays.

Website
Admission: €3, free for 3 years and under
Bus: 17, 22, 58, 196

Surfs Up: the Beach

Some people try to surf along Barcelona’s Mediterranean shores, but unless there is a storm brewing, there are few waves. This makes for the perfect sea for small swimmers. Most of the city’s beaches are sandy and shallow, and there are lifeguards stationed throughout the summer. A day at the beach is a great way to spend an afternoon from June to September. Beach umbrellas and beach chairs can be rented for the day once at there.

(Note: I recommend Marbella Beach – though it is a nude beach – and do not especially recommend Barceloneta Beach for swimming. Keep an eye on your possessions while at the beach, there are many pickpockets who will run off with your bag while you take a dip!)

Metro: Barceloneta: L4; Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica L4

Lions, Tigers and Bears: the Zoo

Situated right in the center of the city off Parc de la Ciutadella, visiting Barcelona’s zoo is a cinch. See dolphins, penguins and Iberian wolves. The zoo often has activities for families during the week.

Website
Admission: €15.40, €9.30 3-12 years, free under 3 years
Metro: Barceloneta: L4; Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica L4

Cycle Tours: Bike Barcelona (with older kids)

See the city by bike! Rent your own bikes and ride by the seaside (there are bike lanes), or sign up for a bike tour of the city.

Barcelona By Bike offers Modernista architecture and Tapa bike tours in many languages. Born Bike also rents out quality cycles. Note that there are no helmet laws in Barcelona and hardly anyone uses them. All bike shops should provide helmets and other gear if asked for.

Futbol! the Barca Stadium

Camp Nou, FC Barcelona’s stadium, is a must-dvisit for young (and old) soccer fans (or “futbol” fans, as it is called here). Take the guided tour to check out the President’s Box, the players’ tunnel, dugouts, locker rooms and more. There is also a museum at Camp Nou where 100 years of FC Barcelona history is on display.

Website
Admission: €8.50; guided tour is €13
Metro: Collblanc: L5; Maria Cristina L3 Avinguda Aristides

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At the Porte de Vanves Flea Market

So in celebration of freedom of choice and “seizing the day,” here’s a grab bag of activities for kids in Paris that not only would have captured my imagination at age 10, but still holds magical appeal today.

So play on, Cheapos!

1. 400 bows: The Doll Museum

Got a broken doll or a one-eyed sock monkey? Schedule an appointment with Dr. Véronique Derez at the Le Musée de la Poupée. La Docteur Miracle is usually on call on Thursday afternoons, and will gladly mend eyeballs, replace lashes and repair heads. Permanent collection feature the 400 historic French dolls.

Check out the clothing for the dollies in the gift boutique. Looking for a vintage doll to call your very own? Skip on over to the Porte de Vanves Flea Market any weekend morning.

2. Day for knight: the Army Museum

Nestled in what was once Louis XIV’s military hospital, the Musée de l’Armée is a definite hit not to be missed. Watch out for Catherine de Médici’s stone bow and Henri IV’s sword, dripping in mother-of-pearls. See Charles de Gaulle’s leather bomber jacket, and Napoleon’s tent, hat and little dog too!

Up in the attic, model railroad bugs can feast their eyes on the military model collection. On either end of your visit, picnic down the street on the grassy Champs de Mars. This former marching grounds is my favorite spot for gazing up at the Eiffel Tower, sun soaking and people-watching.

3. A real scoop: The new Chocolate Museum

Around St. Valentine’s Day 2010, Le musée Gourmand du Chocolat opened its doors in the heart of Bonne Nouvelle. The museum serves up 4,000 years of history, along with free chocolate samplings. Signage is in both French and English, and at a kid’s eye view, to boot

Inside the Chocolate Museum

After your tour, stop by the shop for cookbooks and molds, along with chocolate lipsticks, candles and bags of chocolate from all over the globe. Ooh, la la. Also, Cheapos, discount bookstore Mona Lisait and Le Grande Rex movie palace are located just a few blocks away.

4. Right round like a record: The carousels

The Sun King set the French love affair with the carousel in motion when he installed a wooden one in his amusement park at Versailles! Today nearly every square in Paris boasts one. My favorite carousel is deep in the Jardin du Luxembourg (where kids try to spear brass rings with tiny lances), designed by Opéra architect Charles Garnier.

My pet merry-go-round spins at the Place des Abbesses. The difference between a carousel and a merry-go-round? The latter features a variety of animals and transports, while the former only wild horses!

5. Send in the clowns

But think seasonal. During the fall and winter, warm-up with the clowns at Cirque d’hiver Bouglione. Imagine! Degas, Seurat, and Toulouse-Lautrec all sat tight on the same velvet seats at this old one ring circus.

Chaumont’s Théâtre Guignol Anatole

Tips: Stop by the nearby Clown Bar for a pre-show nibble. Its circus memorabilia-covered walls and frites will help get the party started. Pack your camera because there’s usually a photo-op with the troupe during intermission. For the love of Bozo, just do it.

Haribo street candy

During the warmer months, get punchy with the 202-year-old puppet Guignol and his rowdy entourage at the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont’s Théâtre Guignol Anatole. Before moving to the park in 1867, this same theater worked the crowds into laughing frenzies over on the Champs Élysées.

There are more than a dozen puppet theaters in Paris. For current show listings, pick up a copy of Pariscope (the weekly entertainment guide) at any newsstand or kiosk. Buttes-Chaumont’s temple, cliffs, cavern and waterfall lend a panoramic backdrop to any scene.

Additional Pick-me-ups

Best French supermarket cookies (for touring fatigue): Lu Biscuits
Best French soda pop (in a super cool bottle) to order in a café: Orangina
Best place to score the perfect snow globe: the shops at the Place du Tertre in Montmartre
Best street candy: Germany’s Haribo (another meltdown cure)

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So for anyone traveling with younger ones to Rome, what can the ancient city offer to keep everyone amused? Well, many things, as it turns out! Plus, many of the city’s kid-friendly attractions offer free admission to guests under 18.

Here are our top five ideas for visiting Rome with kids:

1. The Colosseum

Admission: €12; free for children under 18 (with ID)
Web site (in Italian)

With a history of gladiators, blood, exotic animals and vestal virgins, the Colosseum should get children’s imaginations running. (Did you know that during the opening ceremony over 5,000 wild beasts were slain and that crocodiles were brought to the 100-day event from all over the world to battle to the death? And what better way to rid yourselves of prisoners than get them to kill each other with ancient weapons in front of 80,000 spectators?)

Okay, so the fierce warriors and gory battles are no longer to be found, but a little story-telling and a gladiator costume or two go a long way in keeping the little ones amused.

2. Roman Bones, Ghosts and Ghouls at the Capuchin Crypt

Address: Santa Maria della Concezione Church, Via Veneto 27 (Barberini end)
Hours: 9 a.m-12 p.m. and 3 p.m.-6 p.m., closed Thursdays
Admission: By donation, with a minimum of €1
Web site

Prepare to be spooked at the sight of thousands of skulls and bones artfully arranged in the Capuchin Crypt under the Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappucini Church. Five vaulted chapels are filled with the remains of Capuchin Friars, with about 4,000 skeletons total. You’ll find complete skeletons (with skin) as well as lampshades, fireplaces and artwork made of bones. Go on, if you dare…

3. Castel Sant’Angelo

Address: Lungotevere Castello 50 (just next to Piazza Cavour and the Vatican)
Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (Tuesday to Sunday); closed on Mondays
Admission: €8; reduced entrance fee for visitors under 18
Web site

Made famous in the film Angels and Demons when Tom Hanks ran through the Papal corridor, the Castel Sant’Angelo has passages, stairways, cannons and ramparts that are just waiting to be explored. The castle offers a magnificent view over the Tiber River and the Vatican, so children won’t be the only ones eager to explore its ancient secrets.

4. The Time Elevator Experience

Address: Via SS Apostoli, 20
Hours: 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. daily
Admission: €9 (adults); and €7 (children under 12)
Web site

This virtual ride brings the story of Ancient Rome to life—beginning with the dinosaurs and culminating in a five-dimensional journey through time and space. The 180-degree screen, moving platforms, flight simulators and 3D effects are guaranteed to entertain both adults and children.

This is not the cheapest option in town (especially as the film is not that long), but check to see if your hotel reception offers discount vouchers.

5. Climbing St. Peter’s Dome

Admission: €6 (stairs); €7 (using the elevator)
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (April-September); 8:00 a.m.-4:45 p.m. (October-March)
Web site

Racing up the twisting spiral staircases to the top of the Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica should tire the little ones out. (There’s an option to take an elevator to the roof if you feel short on youthful energy.)

The Dome was designed by Michelangelo, and there is a total of 330 steps to get to the top. During part of the climb, you have to walk on a slanted platform to accommodate the Dome’s sloping walls. Stagger to the top for a well-deserved rest.

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