The World’s Best Children’s Museums

If you’re a traveling family with an elementary-aged child, you’ve likely been to your fair share of children’s museums. As such, you probably know not all are the same and some are far superior to others. Looking for the best of the best to explore during your travels? Here are the top children’s museums around the world.

Children’s Museum Indianapolis

A must-visit if you’re even remotely in the area, the Children’s Museum Indianapolis is the largest in the world. It offers 472,900 square feet of fun on nearly 30 acres, with loads of exhibits that include hands-on learning surrounding some of your kids’ favorite topics, from dinosaurs to rocket ships.

Les Musee des Enfants, Brussels

While many children’s museums try to get kids’ attention through technology, touchscreens and tablets, Les Musee des Enfants in Brussels takes things back to a simpler time with a philosophy of learning and fun through tactile experiences. The beautifully designed space will be fun for parents as well, as you use your five senses and imaginations to explore the world around you.

Boston Children’s Museum

The Boston Children’s Museum is more than a century old and is known for its eco-friendly, “green” space. There’s something for every child around the huge museum, including activities based around science, art and music, among others. For kids not yet in elementary school, there are play zones for toddlers and even a mock kindergarten classroom so those getting ready to brave the big world of all-day education can see what they’re in for.

Boston Children’s Museum in Boston, Massachusetts © Sandra Foyt | Dreamstime.com

V&A Museum of Childhood, London

Show the kids what you enjoyed before tech overran the childhood experience. The V&A Museum of Childhood in London is filled with nostalgia and displays on children’s games, toys and clothes over the decades. Kids get some hands-on fun as well, of course, with lots of interactive workshops and displays.

Seoul Children’s Museum

The Seoul Children’s Museum blends indoor and outdoor learning spaces, all with fun activities that inspire young imaginations. Plus, the entire museum is created with eco-friendly materials totally safe for kids and the environment. There’s always something new to see every time you make a trip back to Seoul as the exhibits rotate.

Children’s Museum of Houston

In Houston, kids run the show in Kidtropolis. It’s a huge, make-believe city with real-life brands, only pint-sized. Kids get a chance to try their hand at a variety of adult jobs, roles and tasks, whether they dream of enacting change at city hall, helping pets at a vet’s office or delivering the news on television.