Is it better to rent a car?

Usually, no. Unless you are visiting remote villages, the train network in Europe is faster, cheaper, and safer than navigating foreign city traffic with kids.

How do I handle laundry?

Book apartments with a washing machine. Pack half as much as you think you need and plan to do a load of laundry every 3 days.

Planning a European Trip with Kids

Limit your itinerary to two major cities over 10 days to avoid travel burnout and exhaustion. Focus on one activity per day and prioritize central accommodations with kitchen access to manage nap times and picky eating habits.

Pick a hub-and-spoke model. Choose two base cities that have direct flight access from your home airport. Stay in each for at least 5 days. This avoids the stress of packing and unpacking every 48 hours.
Use the 'One Big Thing' rule. Schedule exactly one primary activity (a museum, a park, or a site) for the morning. Use the afternoon for unstructured park time or simply wandering. Kids need downtime to decompress from the sensory overload of a new city.
Map your transit. Download Citymapper or Google Maps for each city. Check if your stroller fits the local transit system; in older European cities with cobblestones and stairs, a lightweight travel carrier is often better than a bulky stroller.
Secure grocery access. Always book an apartment with a kitchen rather than a hotel room. Being able to make breakfast at home and keep snacks or milk in a fridge saves you two hours of daily 'where do we eat' negotiation.

Is it better to rent a car?: Usually, no. Unless you are visiting remote villages, the train network in Europe is faster, cheaper, and safer than navigating foreign city traffic with kids.
How do I handle laundry?: Book apartments with a washing machine. Pack half as much as you think you need and plan to do a load of laundry every 3 days.