I have spent a LOT of time looking into what is the best travel stroller for Europe. And having done the research and taken the trips, I have many thoughts to share!
First, don’t let the notion that you need all kinds of fancy gear or special strollers hold you back from taking your dream trip as a family. If a new stroller is not in the budget, travel with what you have! I have traveled with several different strollers at very different price points throughout many countries and cities for various lengths of time. And while I have thoughts on what strollers are best suited for Europe, ultimately it is a matter of personal preference and budget.
When trying to pick the best travel stroller for Europe, there are several things to consider. In this post I discuss these considerations and give you my recommendations, along with pros and cons of some of the options out there.
5 Reasons to bring a stroller to Europe:
I highly recommend bringing a stroller to Europe if you have young kids. Sure, if you have one small child, you could carry the child in a front pack or backpack. But there are other reasons to bring a stroller, beyond just transporting your child.
Here are the reasons I ALWAYS travel with a stroller when I am in Europe with my young kids:
1. Strollers help us and our stuff get through the airport.
The diaper bag can go in the basket underneath, my children and their things are contained, and I don’t arrive at the gate a sweaty mess from carrying everyone and everything. Strollers just make getting to the plane so much easier.
2. Strollers help keep my kids safe as we navigate congested areas and child hazards.
I am all for letting my kids walk. I usually encourage them to walk as much as their little legs can before getting back in the stroller. But sometimes, for their safety, I need to strap them in. For example, in Amsterdam I worry about trams, bikes, and canals. In London, cars drive on the left side of the road, which can be confusing even for adults crossing the street. With my kids strapped in a stroller, I can look down at a map without worrying that my toddler is going to chase a pigeon into the street.
3. We walk a lot more in Europe than we do at home.
Europe trips usually involve a lot of walking and we are usually out and about all day. The stroller gives tired legs a break. We use the standing board attachment to our stroller for older kids who are too big for or don’t want to be in the stroller.
4. The stroller carries MY stuff.
The stroller isn’t just for the kid’s stuff. It carries my things too! A water bottle, extra layers, an umbrella, snacks, guide books, etc. I joke (but I’m actually serious) that I don’t know what I am going to do when my last child grows out of the stroller. I do not know how I will go back to carrying everything myself!
5. Strollers allow us to do naps on the go.
Having a stroller that your children can nap in on the go is so helpful! During a month long trip in Europe we did not once go back to our accommodations for naps. Instead, we brought our stroller (the Bumbleride Indie Twin) that our young kids could nap in comfortably. We always plan to take naps on the go so that we do not have to sit in a hotel room every day during nap times. Our kids take fantastic naps in our stroller.
Now keep in mind that just because you bring a stroller to Europe does not mean you need to use it all day, every day. We also bring carrying packs for days that we want to go on a hike or explore a castle ruin.
5 Things to Consider when Picking out the Best Travel Stroller for Your Family’s European Adventure:
When picking the best travel stroller for your family, so much of it comes down to your travel style and planned activities.
1. How do you like to spend your time when you are traveling?
Are you looking forward to time in the rugged outdoors? Do you envision yourself strolling through a charming medieval town? Or are you excited about all the shopping and fine dining?
I am a big fan of taking all-terrain or jogging strollers to Europe. These strollers let me do just about anything with my family and hold up well to the bumpy, cobbled European streets (more on all terrain strollers below).
But you may not want to roll your sleeping baby into a fancy restaurant in a jogging stroller (although we have brought ours into some fairly nice places and left it near the door). And if you are going to spend most of your trip popping into boutiques and high-end clothing stores, the large all-terrain stroller may not be your best option. In this scenario, a more compact stroller may work best for you. Especially if you plan to spend most of your time in modern commercial districts. So think through how you plan to spend your time.
2. Will you be mostly walking, renting a car, or riding a lot of public transportation?
If you are walking long distances, you want a stroller that is easy to push, offers a smooth ride for the children, and that will hold up on bumpy roads and cobblestone streets. You don’t want to be pushing a rickety umbrella stroller over cobblestones for hours a day, praying that a wheel does not snap off.
If, on the other hand, you are going to be on and off of public transportation, look into accessibility. In most major European cities and even many smaller towns that we have visited, stroller accessibility on public transportation has not been a problem. Usually it is as simple as standing at the designated stroller/pram spot on the platform or locating the stroller/wheelchair train car, and pushing the stroller on.
But in London, for example, while the trains are all accessible, the Tube stops are not all accessible. Many of the Tube stops do not have elevators and the only way underground is by folding up the stroller and walking down or up the stairs. Londoners are very helpful and often offer a hand, but if you are going to be on and off the Tube all day, I would consider a light, compact stroller. We usually opt to walk most of the time when we are in London, or hop on a bus (which we can push our stroller right on to).
If you will be renting a car, make sure that whatever size stroller you bring will fit in the trunk. European cars are more compact than cars in the USA.
3. Will you be in big cities or small towns/rural areas?
Smaller towns often have more bumpy brick or cobblestone roads. The commercial hubs of big cities, on the other hand, may have smoother sidewalks.
4. Will you run into a lot of stairs/steps?
Europe’s old architecture and mazes of historic streets weren’t built with wheelchair or stroller accessibility in mind. Cities and towns have added lifts and ramps to many sites, but not all. When my husband and I encounter stairs, we usually just lift the stroller (with the kids and our stuff in it), up the steps. But if it is just me, I will often need to get the kids out and collapse the stroller. For this reason, if we are going to do something that I know will involve a lot of stairs, I will usually leave the stroller behind at our accommodations. We always bring carrying packs as well when we go to Europe to give us options.
5. What do other parents who have been to that destination with their kids have to say?
What works well for one place in Europe may not work well for another. It can be helpful to learn what a place is like from other parents who have been there. Ask an online forum (Facebook groups like Traveling With Babies And Toddlers, Fodor’s Travel Talk, Trip Advisor, Rick Steves Travel Forum, etc.) about exploring that destination with little kids. People are usually happy to talk about their travels and offer some tips.
Types of Strollers and their Pros and Cons:
1. Umbrella Strollers
An umbrella stroller would be my last choice for traveling in Europe. I would only consider bringing an umbrella stroller if you plan to stick to modern urban centers.
Pros: Cheaper than most other stroller options. Ok for modern urban centers or when you will be hopping on and off of public transportation, popping into shops, and dining indoors.
Cons: Not very durable. Will struggle on cobble stones (and may break!). If you plan to be out all day, it can’t carry as much stuff. Not a great option if you will be covering a lot of distance on foot.
2. Compact City Strollers
Think the Nuna Mixx, Ergobaby Metro, Doona, Zoe, etc. These compact strollers are a big step up from the umbrella strollers in terms of quality (and certainly in terms of price).
Pros: Great if you will be on and off of public transportation a lot or are worried about the stroller fitting in a car trunk (cars in Europe tend to be smaller than in the USA). The compact frame is better for congested city streets.
Cons: Do your research. Not all of these will do well on bumpy sidewalks, cobblestone streets, or unpaved park paths. The Doona solves the carseat dilemma when traveling by car, but does not have the storage that I really need when I am traveling with my kids.
3. Strollers That Fit In The Plane’s Overhead Bin
Strollers like the Babyzen Yoyo, Bugaboo Ant, Joolz Aer, etc. These could be a great option if you are concerned about airplane travel, if you will be on public transportation a lot, and if you plan to spend most of your time in congested, modern urban environments.
Pros: Light weight and compact, making them great for hopping on and off public transportation. Some of these very compact strollers, like the Yoyo, are designed to be durable enough for bumpy streets and cobblestone roads. I question, however, how smooth the ride would be for the child and whether it would hold up to prolonged bumpy walks.
Cons: Expensive as a secondary stroller if this won’t be your everyday stroller. Not all airlines allow strollers as carryons. Small storage basket.
4. The Larger All-Purpose Strollers
Think the UPPAbaby Vista, Mockingbird, Baby Jogger City Select, etc. If you already have one these strollers, I would consider taking it!
Pros: Larger storage baskets than the compact travel options. May handle bumpy sidewalks and cobblestone streets better than the more compact travel strollers. Some can accommodate multiple children with an additional seat and standing board attachments.
Cons: These strollers are bulkier and heavier than the more compact travel-specific strollers, making them harder to get up and down stairs. They may still struggle on bumpy sidewalks and cobblestone streets, although some strollers will do better than others. The UPPAbaby Vista, for example, would probably handle the bumps much better than the Mockingbird. They are very similar strollers, but the UPPAbaby Vista has a leg up due to it’s larger size and better suspension (I have tested both side-by-side). These larger strollers may not fit well in a car trunk.
5. Jogging and All Terrain Strollers
Think the Bob, Thule, Bumbleride. Baby Trend, etc. All terrain and jogging strollers actually make great all-purpose travel strollers. They are my favorite! We have found ourselves happy to have our all terrain and jogging strollers with us in Europe for the same reasons we love using them at home.
Pros: All terrain and jogging strollers will handle cobblestone streets better than other types of strollers. Even the cheaper brands! I have taken a relatively inexpensive Baby Trend Jogger on one of our trips to London. While this stroller is not my favorite stroller for Europe Travel and is not as helpful if you have more than one stroller-age child, it worked perfectly fine and we had great time exploring London on foot.
Cons: Bulky. Yes, all-terrain and jogging strollers are big and heavy. But don’t let the flight dictate what you take with you. For a little extra effort getting it down the jet bridge at the airport, you will have with you a stroller that can really handle all your adventures.
6. Double Strollers and Standing Board Attachments
You can go tandem or side-by-side. There are pros and cons to both. I like side-by-side double strollers because they make it easier to push the stroller and I can access both children equally. Plus both kids get an equally great view. But tandem strollers aren’t as wide as the side-by-side strollers, making them great for congested areas. Many stroller brands have their own standing board attachments. They are fantastic for older children who may not want to sit in a stroller. Make sure to bring a stroller bag when you fly with these accessories so that you don’t lose them on the flight.
7. Two Single Strollers
If you have two young kids, some people will recommend that you push two single strollers instead of bringing a double stroller to Europe. So many people online insist that double strollers are too big for Europe and that taking two singles is the way to do it.
But we have seen double strollers all over Europe. And not just tandem doubles with the kids stacked in a line, but side-by-sides, and even plenty of all-terrain double strollers.
My husband and I like to be able to split up from time to time on our trips. This allows one of us to pop into something that may not be very young child friendly (like an art museum or the Opera House in Vienna) while the other takes the kids to a playground or to have a snack. I also travel alone with our kids quite a bit. I need to be able to push, pull, and carry all of our stuff by myself.
A Few Final Thoughts
The best travel stroller for Europe, is the one that you can afford and that works with your travel style. That very well may be the stroller that you already have! You do not have to have a separate stroller designated just for travel. We don’t! We chose our every-day strollers (single and double Bumblerides) because they work for us at home and on the road!
If you are looking to buy a stroller for your next adventure or are purchasing a stroller for the first time, I highly recommend looking into all-terrain strollers or jogging strollers. You can go so many places with all-terrain strollers and they will be the workhorse of your family. All terrain strollers are, in my opinion, the best travel strollers for Europe because they hold up to the cobblestones, days in parks, and long distances. For a little extra effort getting it on the plane, you will have a stroller with you that can handle your adventures. But if you like to spend most of your time shopping and in restaurants when you travel and you won’t be covering a lot of ground on foot, a more compact stroller could work well for you.
If you are looking for packing tips, check out my post Packing A Family of 4 for 1 Month in Europe. Safe travels!
