Easter 2024 city breaks with kids: Rome, Lisbon and Prague

For Easter 2024, Rome, Lisbon and Prague are three of the best city breaks with kids in Europe: easy to reach, full of family sights and lively in spring. Easter Sunday falls on 31 March this year, and many schools have holidays around it. Here is what to see with children in each city, how to get there, where to stay and eat, and what to do if it rains.

Why now: Easter 2024

Easter is early this year, on 31 March, so the weather is spring-like but not hot, and parks are starting to bloom. Flights and family rooms for the Easter week fill up fast, so book now if you have not yet. If you can, travel a few days before or after the Easter weekend, when prices and crowds are lower.

Each city has its own Easter traditions. In Rome, the Pope celebrates Easter Mass in St Peter's Square. In Prague, colourful Easter markets fill the old squares. In Lisbon, bakeries sell folar, the traditional Easter bread.

Top 3 city breaks with kids at Easter

Lisbon is best for warm weather and an aquarium, Prague for value and Easter markets, Rome for history and parks.

Price level for a family day of sightseeing: budget = under about €80, mid-range = about €80–150, premium = over €150. Approximate, prices change.

See family attractions in Rome on the Kid.ooo map

Rome

Rome is a giant open-air history book. The Parco archeologico del Colosseo with the Colosseum and Roman Forum is a must for school-age kids, but book timed tickets well in advance. In the big park of Villa Borghese, the Bioparco di Roma is one of the oldest zoos in Italy, and Explora is a hands-on children's museum for kids up to about 11. On Easter Monday, Romans traditionally go out for a picnic, so parks get busy.

Lisbon

Lisbon is sunny and colourful, with trams, viewpoints and river walks. The Oceanário de Lisboa and the science centre Pavilhão do Conhecimento are both in the modern Parque das Nações district, ideal for a full day with kids. The Jardim Zoológico de Lisboa has a cable car over the animal enclosures.

Prague

In Prague, the Easter markets on the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square sell painted eggs, wooden toys and sweet trdelník. Zoo Praha is one of the best zoos in Europe, with a chairlift and a children's zoo. The National Technical Museum has trains, cars and planes under one roof.

Find kid-friendly restaurants in Prague on the Kid.ooo map

Getting there with kids: car, train and stops

Rome and Lisbon are easiest by plane; Prague is a good train or car trip from much of Central Europe.

• By plane: book seats together, pack snacks and a change of clothes in hand luggage, and use the airport trains or buses into the centre.
• By train: Prague has direct trains from Berlin, Vienna, Munich and other cities, often with family-friendly compartments.
• By car: parking in old towns is expensive and limited, so book a hotel with parking or use park-and-ride.
• In the city: in Lisbon, trams and lifts save tired legs; in Rome and Prague, a compact pushchair copes better with cobbles.

Where to stay: family-friendly stays

Stay in a central but quiet area, so you can walk to the main sights and go back for a nap. In Rome, areas near Villa Borghese or Trastevere work well. In Lisbon, Baixa and Parque das Nações are flat and practical. In Prague, Malá Strana and the Old Town are close to everything.

An apartment with a kitchen is useful for breakfasts and simple dinners. Ask about lifts, because many old buildings have steep stairs.

Where to eat with kids

All three cities are easy for families: pasta and pizza in Rome, grilled chicken and soup in Lisbon, dumplings and pancakes in Prague. Eat lunch as the main meal and keep dinner simple. In Rome and Lisbon, dinner starts late, so an afternoon snack helps.

For Easter sweets by country, see our guide to Easter treats across Europe. Kid-friendly cafés and restaurants are on the Kid.ooo map.

Rainy-day plan B

Each city has at least one big indoor attraction for a rainy day. In Lisbon, the Oceanário and Pavilhão do Conhecimento can fill a whole day. In Rome, Explora and the many museums are good options. In Prague, the National Technical Museum and the zoo's indoor pavilions work well. More ideas are in our list of Europe's best indoor attractions for kids.

Packing checklist

Pack for spring: sunny afternoons, cool evenings and possible showers.

• Light rain jackets and a warm layer for each child
• Comfortable shoes for cobbles and hills
• A compact pushchair or baby carrier
• Sun cream and hats, especially for Lisbon and Rome
• Snacks and refillable water bottles
• A small Easter surprise for the hotel morning

For more family travel ideas, follow @globetotting on Instagram. And if you are thinking ahead to quieter months, our shoulder-season guide explains why September is great value too.

Save your Easter city break in Kid.ooo

Kid.ooo is a free kid-friendly places map where parents share playgrounds, cafés and attractions across Europe. Use it as your family travel app for Europe: save the zoo, a playground and a good gelato stop before you fly.

Plan your Easter city break on the Kid.ooo map

Missing a place you loved? Add it to Kid.ooo and help the next family planning an Easter city break.