Vacation with a Baby: 13 Best Places for Your Holiday with a Small Child

Refuse to stay home with a baby? Don’t worry, a child is definitely not an obstacle to travel. With Jonáš, who is now a year and a half old, we’ve traveled over 20,000 km and visited a large part of Europe. And he doesn’t like sitting in a car seat and isn’t the easiest child. You just need to know how to plan well and improvise, and anything is possible. In this article Vacation with a Baby: 13 Best Places for Your Holiday with a Small Child, I’ll tell you not only where to go on vacation with a baby, but also how to do it.

TL;DR

• You can travel anywhere with a baby if you adjust your pace and expectations – it’s best to plan travel during the child’s sleep.
• For your first vacation, it’s best to travel within the Czech Republic (Šumava, Ore Mountains or Beskids) to see what it will be like.
• If you want to go to the water, with a small child we most enjoyed Poland (Baltic Sea), Austrian Lakes, or off-season Spain and Portugal.
• For accommodation, choose apartments with a kitchenette or hotels with apartments and breakfast included.
• The most important thing is flexibility and adapting to the child’s routine – don’t try to cram too many activities into your vacation.

How to Travel with a Baby

Traveling with a baby requires a slightly different approach than a vacation for two, but it certainly doesn’t mean you have to stay home. If someone tells you “it’s all about the baby, it’s not possible with some,” don’t be discouraged. If you have a healthy child, it’s possible. Our Jonáš is one of the most demanding children around, and on top of that, we travel with two dogs.

He never wanted to sit, nor be in a stroller or a carrier. Until he was 8 months old, before he started crawling, we had to carry him facing forward non-stop and couldn’t even stop or stand still, or he’d immediately start screaming. Even so, we traveled. How? Simply during naps.

And one more thing: The older he gets, the easier it is with him. And by one year old, he already loves traveling. He tolerates car rides more than loves them, but he enjoys discovering new places and can even last a while in the stroller.

Traveling During Naps

It’s best to travel during naps. Jonášek has a fairly well-established daily routine since he was a baby, which not only helps him sleep well at night but also makes him quite predictable for daytime naps. Since he absolutely hated the car seat when he was awake (and today he tolerates it for a maximum of an hour), we only traveled during naps.

We always set off before he was too tired, because overtiredness can cause even bigger problems, and let him fall asleep for his nap. This way, we even managed the trip to Portugal (yes, a 3,000 km journey… but it took a week). Personally, I didn’t venture into flying, mainly because we have two dogs (who travel with us) and because I feel it’s time to explore Europe.

If you were to choose flying, I recommend choosing flights of up to 2 hours for your first trips with a baby. However, planes are less predictable due to possible delays and other complications. I would only consider air travel if you have a very calm and adaptable child who handles changes and new situations well.

How to Choose Accommodation with a Baby

When Jonáš was smaller, we always chose only apartments with a kitchenette so we could cook for him anytime, and for ourselves too, because he went to bed earlier than we wanted to go to dinner. Hotels with apartments where we could go for breakfast were ideal.

Jonáš wasn’t a very easy baby and couldn’t handle sitting or standing still when awake (we had to carry him facing forward and be constantly on the move), so we didn’t really eat together unless he was asleep, and it was great when someone else prepared breakfast for us.

The older he gets, the more fun it is for us when we’re in a hotel and can go for breakfast and dinner. Jonáš likes people and he likes food, so now it’s much more flexible. We like to combine traveling by camper van, hotels, and apartments. Many people think that if we have a camper van, we only stay in it, but in reality, when we want to stay somewhere longer, we go to a hotel or apartment, and we like the camper van for transfers and road trips.

Where to Find Accommodation

It depends on the length of stay; if we’re going on a trip for up to 14 days, we look for accommodation via Booking. For longer stays of a month or more, we always choose Airbnb.

What to Pack for a Vacation with a Baby

Regardless of the destination, there are some things you shouldn’t forget:

• Baby First Aid Kit – don’t forget fever medication, a nasal aspirator, something for a sore tummy, for teething (even if they’re not teething yet, it might happen), and especially for diaper rash (because even if they don’t usually get it, diaper rash might appear exactly when you’re on vacation and the pharmacy is closed).
• Car Toys – they should be small so the child can easily manipulate them in the car seat; all interactive and flashing toys are great once the child can press buttons. For babies, high-contrast rattling toys. Don’t forget books you can look at together. Sensory books were also a hit with us.
• Puffs – Does your child eat puffs? Take a supply. Especially to Italy, they are impossible to find there.
• Plenty of diapers, wet wipes, and clothes – I pack 2-3 sets of clothes per day. If we’re going for longer than a week, I plan to do laundry once.
• Lightweight and Compact Travel Stroller – ideally one that can recline fully; we chose the Joolz Aer and are satisfied.
• Carrier, Wrap or Hip Seat – our Jonáš was never really keen on carriers or wraps, but the hip seat often saves us even now when he doesn’t want to be in the stroller, or when we go somewhere a stroller can’t.
• Travel Cot – if you know it’s not available at the accommodation.
• Foldable Travel Bathtub with Recliner – if your child doesn’t like showers or can’t sit in a regular bathtub.

Vacation with a Baby: 13 Best Places for Your Holiday with a Small Child

In this list, you’ll find places where we’ve been with our small child or where we arranged vacations for friends who just had a baby, so we know the location is suitable for parents with little ones.

1. Šumava with a Stroller

Our very first vacation with Jonášek, when he was just a few weeks old, was to Šumava. Since he still slept a lot during the day, we could easily go on shorter hikes and didn’t have to stress about him not liking the stroller.

Šumava is an ideal first destination for families with babies. You’ll find many stroller-friendly routes here, such as Jezerní slať from Kvilda, Chalupská slať, or the route from Borová Lada to Knížecí Pláně. Most of these routes are on paved paths, so you can manage them even with a stroller.

For accommodation, you can choose, for example, Apartmány U Sjezdovky in Kvilda, which is an excellent starting point for excursions in the area. Thanks to the peaceful environment and clean air, the baby will feel great, and you’ll relax from the city hustle.

2. Ore Mountains for Families

The Ore Mountains are another great tip for a vacation with a baby, especially if you’re looking for peace and beautiful nature. You can go to Boží Dar or even for a walk through the local peat bog with a stroller.

In the Ore Mountains, you can visit, for example, Boží vyhlídka, which is accessible via a paved path, or walk along the Mythical Ore Mountains Trail near Plešivec. If you also have older children, you can send them with their dad to Aquacentrum Agricola in Jáchymov.

As for accommodation, we recommend Hotel Testa in Boží Dar or Gentle Hide Designhotel.

3. Beskids and Wallachia

The Beskids are among the most popular destinations for families with small children, and I’m not surprised. Green hills, folk architecture, and numerous cycling and hiking trails will be loved by all family members. And most importantly, there are many wonderful wellness resorts where you can stay. I recommend Miura Hotel.

The best starting point for exploring the Beskids is Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, where you can visit the Wallachian Open-Air Museum, which is divided into three parts: Mlýnská dolina (Mill Valley), Valašská dědina (Wallachian Village), and Dřevěné městečko (Wooden Town). The Wooden Town is smaller, but you can easily move around here with a stroller.

Another great place is Pustevny, which you can reach by cable car from Trojanovice. At the top, you can see the famous Jurkovič shelters and go for a walk to the statue of Radegast. The path is also suitable for strollers.

4. South Bohemia with Little Ones

South Bohemia is one of the most beautiful and culturally rich regions of the Czech Republic. With a baby, you can visit, for example, Český Krumlov or Hluboká, but less known locations like Landštejn Castle, the Renaissance chateau Nová Bystřice, or Český Rudolec are also interesting.

The Czech Canada region, which stretches along the Austrian border, is known for its ponds and vast forests. For me, it’s ideal to stay in Jindřichův Hradec; we personally recommend Penzionek JH.

5. To the Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea is a great alternative for those who want to go to the sea but don’t want to travel too far. The Polish coast is closer than Croatia, and a big advantage is that it’s not too hot here in the summer.

The Baltic coast is ideal with an older baby who can already sit and play. You’ll find plenty of playgrounds everywhere, restaurants with play areas, and great cafes. Polish Sopot, nicknamed “the Polish Monte Carlo”, will charm you not only with its majestic wooden pier extending into the sea but also with an atmosphere that is a mix of spa nostalgia and modern seaside life.

6. Austrian Lakes

The Austrian Lakes are an ideal destination for families with children. They are close to our borders, it’s not hot there in the summer, and you’ll find accommodation with facilities for children. You can go on stroller-friendly routes around the lakes.

We went to Austria when Jonáš was 3 months old, and we enjoyed it to the fullest. If you have older children, combine it with a visit to Salzburg, where there’s also a toy museum suitable even for children from 6 months old.

In Salzburg, we recommend visiting the Mirabell Gardens, where the famous scene from the film “The Sound of Music” was filmed, or Hellbrunn Palace with its water features, which will entertain children of all ages. For accommodation, you can choose Boutiquehotel am Dom or Hotel Wolf, both of which are family-friendly.

7. Southern Spain – Costa Del Sol

Southern Spain, specifically the Costa del Sol region, is a great destination for families with small children. It’s a bit further, so you’ll have to fly (unless you’re crazy like us and go by car or camper van), but anyone who wants warm sea and about 10 km of continuous promenade along the beaches, which can be navigated with a stroller, will try to manage it.

It’s no wonder that Spain is popular with small children; it’s warm here even outside the main season (which you should avoid with a baby), and Spaniards are great and friendly. Just be careful when choosing accommodation; check reviews to see if there’s any noise that could disturb your baby during sleep.

Areas like Marbella or Estepona offer quieter beaches and are ideal for families with children, while livelier resorts like Torremolinos are more enjoyable with older children.

8. Southern Portugal

With Jonáš, we spent almost three months in Southern Portugal; when we arrived, he was just 6 months old, and we even spent Christmas there. The Algarve has beautiful sandy beaches; in the winter months, it’s peaceful and relatively warm (18-25 degrees Celsius). Most importantly, it’s always sunny there; it rarely rains.

The most popular resorts are Carvoeiro, Albufeira, or Portimão. Carvoeiro is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Praia do Vale Centeanes or Praia da Marinha.

In Portimão, you can stay right by the beach in the Cozy beach front apartment or a bit further from the beach in the beautiful villa with a pool, Villa Moments – Guest House.

9. Dolomites

One of the places Lukáš and I return to almost every year, but where we’re only just planning to go with Jonáš, are the Dolomites. I recommend it mainly for less demanding children who can tolerate being in a stroller. But if you have such children, then the Dolomites are a clear favorite. But we know them like the back of our hand, so I’m taking the liberty of adding them here.

In the Dolomites, you’ll find many easy stroller-friendly routes, so you definitely don’t have to worry about them.

Recommended routes include:

• Rifugio Fuciade in Val di Fassa, where a wide and gentle path leads from Passo San Pellegrino
• Baita alle Cascate in Val San Nicolò, which starts from Pozza di Fassa
• Rifugio Città di Fiume near Borca di Cadore
• Malga Valparola from the Armentarola area

All these routes are relatively short (up to 90 minutes), with minimal elevation gain, and are suitable for families with strollers.

One of the top-rated apartments is Dolomiti Sweet Lodge, and Hotel Villa Gaia is definitely also worth mentioning.

10. Northern Italian Cities

Not tempted by the mountains? Go explore Northern Italian cities. Avoid big cities like Milan, but explore Verona or Modena. Italians love children and will accommodate you everywhere. Plus, if your child is starting to eat solid food, they’ll prepare plain pasta or pasta with tomato sauce for them anywhere, whether it’s on the menu or not.

Verona is known not only as the city of Romeo and Juliet but also as a city with rich history and architecture. You can walk around Piazza Bra, the largest square in Verona, or visit the Arena di Verona, the third-largest Roman amphitheater in the world.

Modena, in turn, is known for its gastronomy, especially balsamic vinegar and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. The historic city center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and you can admire the 12th-century cathedral here, and all tired parents will appreciate that good espresso can be found everywhere in Italy.

11. Southern France

The French are known for loving both children and dogs. In my opinion, traveling with children in France is one of the most relaxed countries for travel. It fascinates me that even at every larger gas station, they have a children’s corner and great food not only for adults but also for children.

With small children, the most popular destinations are Nice, Cannes, and Saint-Tropez, or you can go explore Provence. Nice offers beautiful beaches and the Promenade des Anglais, which is great for walks with a stroller. While Cannes is known for its film festival, you’ll also find beautiful sandy beaches here. Saint-Tropez is much quieter and also has beautiful, pleasant beaches.

Provence, on the other hand, is an area full of lavender fields, historic towns, and villages where time seems to have stood still. You can visit cities like Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, or Arles, where the famous painter Vincent van Gogh was born.

12. Lake Bled and Bohinj in Slovenia

An absolutely ideal destination for families with small children is Slovenia, specifically Lake Bled and Bohinj. It’s not far, it’s not too hot, and you can swim, enjoy cafes, restaurants, and the tranquility of the surrounding nature. I recommend choosing a hotel carefully to ensure maximum peace and service. If you don’t like hustle and bustle, I recommend staying by Lake Bohinj.

Lake Bled is known for its island in the middle of the lake with the Church of the Assumption of Mary. You can get to the island by boat, which is more suitable for slightly older children. However, there is a 6-kilometer long walking path around the lake, which is also suitable for strollers.

Lake Bohinj is the largest natural lake in Slovenia and is surrounded by mountains and forests. There is a 12 km long trail around the lake that you can walk or cycle. In summer, the water in the lake is warm enough for swimming, but it’s never too hot, which is ideal for small children.

For accommodation, you can choose Hotel Bohinj, which organizes programs for guests in the garden; one day there’s a barbecue, another day live music. Additionally, this hotel also has a wellness center, which you’ll appreciate after a day spent outdoors.

13. Switzerland and its Lakes

Switzerland is a more expensive destination, but it offers absolute peace, cleanliness, and perfect service, which you’ll appreciate when on holiday with a baby or small child. We were with Jonáš by the lake near Lucerne when he was just 4 months old, and it was an absolutely perfect holiday.

We stayed right by the lake, which turned out to be an excellent choice. Every day we could walk with the stroller along the shore, enjoying the beautiful nature and relaxing.

It was a big surprise for us that we managed a trip to Lucerne itself with Jonáš, which we hadn’t expected at all with our rather demanding baby. Lakes like Zurich, Geneva, or Lucerne are surrounded by beautiful cities that are pleasant for walks, even with a stroller. Thanks to excellent Swiss transportation, you can also easily move between cities and lakes without having to drive.

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