Best Cities in the World for Kid-Friendly Museums & Interactive Exhibits
- TopTravelIndex
- Mar 14
- 4 min read
Traveling with kids doesn’t mean giving up on cultural experiences—the right museums can turn learning into an exciting adventure. From hands-on science experiments to dinosaur fossils and role-playing exhibits, these kid-friendly museums will keep children engaged, entertained, and maybe even a little smarter by the time you leave.
Here are the best cities in the world for museums that make learning fun, along with their must-visit interactive exhibits!
1. San Francisco, USA – The Ultimate Hands-On Science City
🧪 Must-Visit Museum: The Exploratorium
📍 Location: Pier 15, Embarcadero
The Exploratorium in San Francisco is one of the best science museums in the world, designed to encourage kids to touch, experiment, and play with science. This massive museum is filled with interactive exhibits on light, sound, physics, and biology, making it an ideal spot for curious young minds.
Kid-Favorite Exhibits:
Fog Bridge – Walk through a mystical, ever-changing fog environment.
Tactile Dome – Navigate a pitch-black maze using only your sense of touch.
Shadow Box – Create glowing silhouettes with special light technology.
Other Kid-Friendly Attractions in San Francisco:
California Academy of Sciences – Features a planetarium, rainforest dome, and an aquarium all under one roof.
The Walt Disney Family Museum – A must-visit for Disney-loving families.
2. London, UK – The King of Free Kid-Friendly Museums
🦖 Must-Visit Museum: Natural History Museum
📍 Location: South Kensington
London’s Natural History Museum is world-famous for its gigantic dinosaur skeletons, lifelike animal exhibits, and immersive educational displays. The best part? It’s completely free!
Kid-Favorite Exhibits:
Dippy the Diplodocus – A full-size dinosaur skeleton that wows kids.
Earthquake Simulator – Experience what a real earthquake feels like.
Butterfly House – Walk among free-flying butterflies in a tropical setting.
Other Kid-Friendly Attractions in London:
Science Museum – Features hands-on exhibits on space, technology, and medicine.
KidZania London – A miniature city where kids can try out different careers, from firefighter to pilot.
3. Tokyo, Japan – The Capital of Playful Learning
🎭 Must-Visit Museum: KidZania Tokyo
📍 Location: Toyosu, Tokyo
KidZania Tokyo is not your typical museum—it’s an entire miniature city where kids can role-play real-world jobs. This ultra-popular attraction lets children dress up as firefighters, doctors, chefs, and pilots while learning how the real world works.
Kid-Favorite Experiences:
Becoming a Police Officer – Solve mysteries and patrol the KidZania streets.
Working at a Sushi Restaurant – Make and serve real sushi to customers.
Piloting an Airplane – Fly a Boeing 787 simulator.
Other Kid-Friendly Attractions in Tokyo:
Miraikan (National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation) – Features robots, space exploration, and a giant Earth display.
Ghibli Museum – A magical world dedicated to Studio Ghibli’s animated films.
4. Chicago, USA – Home to a Museum Just for Kids
🚀 Must-Visit Museum: Chicago Children’s Museum
📍 Location: Navy Pier
Located on Chicago’s iconic Navy Pier, the Chicago Children’s Museum is designed entirely for interactive, hands-on fun. Every exhibit encourages kids to build, climb, experiment, and play.
Kid-Favorite Exhibits:
Dinosaur Expedition – Dig up fossils in a simulated excavation.
WaterWays – A giant indoor water play area with dams, pipes, and fountains.
Tinkering Lab – Kids can use real tools to create their own inventions.
Other Kid-Friendly Attractions in Chicago:
The Field Museum – Home to Sue, the world’s most complete T. rex fossil.
Adler Planetarium – Offers incredible space-themed exhibits and star shows.
5. Amsterdam, Netherlands – Where Science Meets Fun
🧬 Must-Visit Museum: NEMO Science Museum
📍 Location: Oosterdok, Amsterdam
NEMO Science Museum is one of Europe’s most hands-on museums, featuring interactive physics, chemistry, and engineering experiments that kids can play with.
Kid-Favorite Exhibits:
Giant Bubbles – Learn the science of bubbles and make your own giant soap bubbles.
Chain Reaction – Set off a massive Rube Goldberg machine.
Energy Floor – Dance on a floor that generates electricity.
Other Kid-Friendly Attractions in Amsterdam:
ARTIS Zoo & Planetarium – One of the oldest zoos in Europe, with a space exhibit.
Anne Frank House – A meaningful and educational experience for older kids.
6. Sydney, Australia – Where Wildlife and Science Collide
🌿 Must-Visit Museum: Australian Museum
📍 Location: Sydney, Australia
Australia’s oldest museum is packed with kid-friendly exhibits on dinosaurs, Indigenous culture, and Australian wildlife.
Kid-Favorite Exhibits:
Dinosaur Exhibit – Full-sized dinosaur skeletons and an interactive fossil dig.
Surviving Australia – Learn about the deadliest Australian animals and how they survive.
Kidspace – A play area designed just for toddlers.
Other Kid-Friendly Attractions in Sydney:
Taronga Zoo – Get up close with koalas, kangaroos, and wombats.
Powerhouse Museum – Features hands-on science and space exhibits.
7. Paris, France – The City of Science
🔬 Must-Visit Museum: Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie
📍 Location: La Villette, Paris
Paris isn’t just for art lovers—it’s home to one of the best science museums in the world, designed for kids to experiment, build, and explore.
Kid-Favorite Exhibits:
Planetarium – A high-tech space show with stunning visuals.
The Cité des Enfants – An entire science playground for ages 2-12.
Math & Games – Fun, interactive ways to learn mathematics.
Other Kid-Friendly Attractions in Paris:
Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle – Home to dinosaur skeletons and rare gemstones.
Jardin d’Acclimatation – A historic amusement park with rides and a petting zoo.
Final Thoughts: Museums That Make Learning Fun
Forget boring museum tours—these cities bring learning to life with interactive exhibits, hands-on experiments, and fun role-playing adventures. Whether your kids are into dinosaurs, space, art, or science, these must-visit museums will make any trip both exciting and educational.
Which of these museums would your family love to visit?
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