Traveling as a family is the perfect opportunity to immerse kids in new cultures, fostering curiosity and broadening their horizons through hands-on experiences and local traditions.
Not sure where to begin? We’ve rounded up cities known for interactive museums, cultural festivals, and kid-friendly heritage sites — along with some practical tips for engaging children in cultural exploration while balancing downtime.
How To Engage Kids in Cultural Exploration
Here’s how to introduce cultural experiences to your kids, so they’re just as excited to pack their bags as you are:
- Introduce culture before you go. Explore a new culture before you even leave for the airport through movies, books, music, and food. If your destination is India, sit down to watch The Blue Umbrella as a family. Planning a trip to South Korea? Put together a playlist of K-pop.
- Let kids lead. Give your kids some autonomy in picking an activity. Older kids can research online to see if there’s a market, museum, or other sites they’d like to explore.
- Have an open dialogue about respect. Depending on where you travel, kids may find a culture very different from their own. Discuss being respectful of cultural norms and heritage sites, such as not touching culturally significant artifacts, dressing appropriately, and keeping their voices down in a temple.
READ MORE: Finding Educational Destinations for Kids
Cultural Destinations for Families
Experiencing other cultures is truly one of the highlights of travel. But with so many places to explore, how do you choose the right vacation for your family?
Here are five destination ideas to get you started!
Kyoto, Japan
With its picturesque gardens, stunning temples, and world heritage sites, Kyoto is synonymous with Japanese culture.
Tour the historic Kiyomizu-dera Temple, where your family can receive a fortune slip and get your fill of good karma (literally) by drinking from the temple waterfall.
Kyoto is also home to the tea ceremony. There are plenty of opportunities for kids to learn how to make their own matcha and sample Japanese sweets. Kids can also dress up in a rented kimono and take home a souvenir photo.
Visit the Kyoto Zoo to see Japanese animals, like the red panda, or pick up a local souvenir in the preserved historic district of Higashiyama.
Getting there is also part of the fun. The bullet train (Shinkansen) covers 280 miles in just over two hours.
Istanbul, Türkiye
A visit to Turkey is a great way to expand your family’s horizons. And there’s no shortage of family-friendly cultural sites.
The Blue Mosque and nearby Topkapi Palace are must-sees to learn about Turkish history. At Miniatürk, kids can learn more about the country and its history in miniature form.
Or visit the Sunay Akın Toy Museum, where kids can sign up for a wood painting workshop or watch a magic show performed by an illusionist.
Other family-friendly activities include watching a Whirling Dervish performance, taking a perfume-making workshop, sampling Turkish ice cream, and spotting cats napping throughout the city.
Boston, USA
For something closer to home, Boston is rich in U.S. history and cultural activities that should appeal to kids and teens.
Take a walking tour specifically for families with kids under 12 and retrace the steps of the Freedom Trail, or walk through Beacon Hill and uncover the story of Boston’s African-American community on the Black Heritage Trail.
When it comes to museums, you’re spoiled for choice. While the Museum of Fine Arts is vast, don’t shy away from visiting. Drop-in programs for kids and activities such as Art Connection Activity Cards make it more accessible.
If you have little ones, visit the Boston Children’s Museum, where kids under three can engage in sensory play.
Teens may also appreciate the whimsical Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The museum is like stepping into a Venetian palazzo, complete with a central courtyard filled with plants and flowers.
Or visit the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and take part in a historical reenactment.
Rome, Italy
With a mix of architecture, museums, and delicious food, the eternal city of Rome offers something for everyone.
Book a tour of the Colosseum and walk in the footsteps of gladiators and lions. Explore the Terme di Caracalla, a vast collection of Roman baths, with the help of technology. VR headsets help kids see how these ruins, including shops, gyms, and libraries, looked over 1,800 years ago.
Snack on slices of pizza and gelato between cultural sites. Then give kids the opportunity to burn off that food at Villa Borghese. Considered Rome’s Central Park, you’ll find playgrounds, a miniature train, and bikes available for hire.
Remember to toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain before you go to ensure you’ll return to Rome!
Reykjavik, Iceland
Chances are high that Iceland will captivate the family. While it’s known for its rugged landscape and midnight sun, there are also plenty of cultural activities to engage the kids.
If you’re not able to go whale watching, families can still learn all about them at the interactive Whales of Iceland museum. At Aurora Reykjavik, experience the northern lights with the help of a 360-degree VR experience.
Discover what life was like in Iceland in the 19th and 20th centuries at the Árbær Open Air Museum. Guides in period costume, animals, and traditional crafts help bring the past to life for kids.
There’s more history to be had at the Saga Museum, where kids can learn about the dramatic history of Iceland, from Vikings to the Black Death. Bonus: They can pose for a selfie dressed as a Viking.
Be sure to make time to visit the kid-friendly Blue Lagoon geothermal pool before you leave.
READ MORE: Best Family-Friendly Destinations
Interactive Cultural Activities for Kids
Staring at paintings or touring ancient ruins can get boring fast. Keep kids engaged with fun activities while still exposing them to the richness of other cultures.
Cooking classes and food tours
Cooking classes are a fun way to connect to new cultures, meet other families, and take back recipes to make at home.
Why not book a cooking class and try tossing pizza dough in Naples, learn how to make dim sum in Hong Kong, perfect Portuguese custard tarts in Lisbon, or go shopping for the ingredients to make tacos in Mexico City.
Hands-on arts and crafts workshops
Finding hands-on workshops that will keep kids entertained may take a little more effort.
Look online for activities before you go — whether it’s a dot painting class led by an Indigenous artist at Ayers Rock in Australia, or taking a pottery class in Istanbul.
Viator also offers family-friendly experiences, including learning to play the Marimba xylophone and drumming in Johannesburg, South Africa, or making paper lanterns in Hoi An, Vietnam.
Storytelling and theatrical performances
Many cultures share a rich history of storytelling.
Introduce your kids to Bali’s history through dance, watch water puppet theater in Hanoi, or enjoy an evening of Irish folklore at a traditional pub where kids are welcome.
Experience festivals and celebrations
Planning your vacation around festivals and local celebrations gives your family an opportunity to experience other countries in a unique way.
During the cherry blossom festival in Japan each spring, families can join in the tradition of hanami and gather under the cherry blossom trees for a picnic.
Celebrate Mexico's Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, by watching the parade in Mexico City, then hit up the food fairs and concerts in local neighborhoods.
The St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin is another unmissable event with family-friendly activities.
READ MORE: Cities with Kid-Friendly Activities
Exploring Historical and Heritage Sites with Kids
Bring history to life when travelling by visiting sites that kids and teens will enjoy.
Castles and palaces
Did you know the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany was the inspiration for the castle in Sleeping Beauty? While that should be reason enough to visit this enchanting castle, there’s also a playground, bumper cars, and a zip line to keep kids entertained.
The Tower of London is steeped in history, and it’s all brought to life by Yeoman Warders who provide tours and recount engaging and hilarious tales of kings and queens.
Ancient ruins
Kid-friendly guided tours help make ancient ruins more accessible for families.
Learn the history of Pompeii, Italy, with an archaeologist, explore kid-friendly temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia, or book a family-friendly tour of England’s Stonehenge and learn how to decipher the secrets that Neolithic ancestors left behind.
Living history experiences
Historical reenactments are a memorable way for your family to experience the past, at home and abroad.
Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia is a living history museum where families can travel back to 1700s America. They’ll be able to watch historical tradespeople and participate in the colonial courthouse.
At the Ribe VikingeCenter in Denmark, kids have the opportunity to cosplay as a Viking.
Tips for Balancing Cultural Activities with Free Time
Even the youngest culture vultures need a break from touring museums. Here’s how to introduce some free time into your travels:
- Mix structured and unstructured experiences. Pair guided tours with a visit to a local park or a leisurely walk through local neighborhoods.
- Schedule downtime. Pace your activities, especially for younger kids who may feel burned out. Build in time for rest and naps, and alternate intense activities with more relaxing ones.
- Find playgrounds and kid-friendly spaces. While some cities are known for their parks (think Hyde Park in London or Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris), a search on Google Maps or asking the concierge at your hotel should direct you to a local playground. Staying at a kid-friendly hotel means kids can splash around in the pool or play in a supervised area.
- Take a break from cultural activities. Break up sightseeing with activities your family would normally do at home. Think 10-pin bowling at a local alley, catching a new release at the local movie theater, or visiting a local toy store.
FAQs About Family-Friendly Cultural Destinations
How do I find cultural activities that are engaging for toddlers or preschoolers?
Look for activities that will specifically appeal to kids, such as children’s museums or science centers that facilitate hands-on learning and play. Many museums and art galleries offer kid-friendly activities on weekends.
Cultural festivals usually offer programming for families, or visit a local market where new sights, sounds, and foods will keep them engaged.
Are there guided tours tailored specifically for families with kids?
Yes, many tour companies offer family guided tours and activities. Tours can range from a couple of hours to a full week or two.
Guided tours for families also provide an opportunity to meet other families and participate in activities that are safe and accessible for children.
How can I make historical sites interesting for older kids or teens?
If your teen thinks ancient ruins are “just a pile of rocks,” here are some ways to bring historical sites to life:
- Use augmented reality apps like Xplore for an immersive experience
- Introduce storytelling through an engaging tour guide
- Listen to an audio tour
- Ask them to document what they’ve learned through film
What should I pack to help kids enjoy cultural trips?
Pack items that will keep your kids entertained when you travel. Provide your kids with a journal, markers, and stickers, and encourage them to keep a record of their trip. Digital cameras or instant cameras are another way your kids can capture a new destination.
Also consider loading up an iPad or smartphone with apps that will enrich their experience, like a language app, AR (augmented reality) apps, or educational games that also teach them about other cultures.
Travel-sized games or a pack of cards are an easy form of family entertainment in downtimes.
TL;DR: Planning Cultural Travel as a Family
Cultural destinations provide a unique way to create meaningful travel experiences for families.
Cities like Kyoto, Istanbul, Rome, and Reykjavik are all great overseas destinations with lots of rich, family-friendly cultural experiences. In the U.S., Boston is packed with history that kids will love.
No matter where you go, choose hands-on activities, balance structured plans with free time, and let kids lead to make the trip both fun and enriching.
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