Travelling in later life doesn’t have to mean slowing down – it simply means choosing destinations that prioritise comfort, safety, accessibility and enjoyment. With our previous research revealing that nearly three-quarters (74%) of parents wished the different generations of their family spent more time together, this got us thinking – where in the world is most suited to those travelling later in life?
If you’re over 70 and planning a city break this year, we’ve crunched the numbers to reveal the world’s most grandparent-friendly destinations to travel to this year.
What makes a city ideal for senior travellers?
To identify the world’s most ‘grandparent-friendly’ cities, we focused on the features that make travelling later in life more pleasant. Rather than action-packed itineraries or vibrant nightlife options, our analysis prioritised walkable streets, comfortable environments and ease of sightseeing.
To calculate a score for each destination, we analysed 175 cities across eight factors, which included:
- Walkability – total elevation changes in metres across the city, and the average elevation
- Crime and safety statistics
- Healthcare access and quality
- Levels of noise and light pollution
- Quality of green spaces
- Culture access – total number of attractions (e.g. museums and theatres) per square mile
- Mean annual temperature
- The percentage of accessible hotels
The world’s top 30 most grandparent-friendly cities
SWIPE TABLE
|
Rank |
City |
Country |
Walkable /15 |
Safety /15 |
Health Care /15 |
Peace & Quiet /10 |
Green Space /15 |
Culture Access /10 |
Climate Comfort /15 |
Accessible Stays /5 |
Score / 100 |
|
1 |
Valencia |
Spain |
8.2 |
7.3 |
11.8 |
5.3 |
12.0 |
9.1 |
14.8 |
5.7 |
74.2 |
|
2 |
The Hague |
Netherlands |
11.8 |
11.7 |
12.9 |
6.1 |
11.7 |
9.9 |
4.2 |
5.1 |
73.4 |
|
3 |
Amsterdam |
Netherlands |
12.0 |
9.9 |
11.6 |
5.2 |
11.2 |
11.3 |
4.9 |
5.5 |
71.4 |
|
4 |
Rotterdam |
Netherlands |
11.9 |
9.8 |
13.3 |
6.1 |
10.6 |
6.9 |
4.4 |
6.7 |
69.8 |
|
5 |
Copenhagen |
Denmark |
11.1 |
9.8 |
9.7 |
4.9 |
9.5 |
11.1 |
2.8 |
8.6 |
67.3 |
|
6 |
Porto |
Portugal |
7.6 |
7.7 |
10.1 |
5.1 |
10.0 |
11.7 |
10.6 |
2.3 |
65.0 |
|
7 |
Munich |
Germany |
3.3 |
11.4 |
10.3 |
4.7 |
11.3 |
10.9 |
2.8 |
9.6 |
64.3 |
|
8 |
Helsinki |
Finland |
11.0 |
10.0 |
11.0 |
7.1 |
11.5 |
3.4 |
1.0 |
8.9 |
63.9 |
|
9 |
Geneva |
Switzerland |
5.5 |
8.8 |
7.2 |
4.2 |
11.3 |
11.9 |
4.9 |
9.7 |
63.4 |
|
10 |
Lisbon |
Portugal |
8.6 |
7.9 |
7.1 |
4.0 |
5.5 |
11.6 |
13.2 |
4.5 |
62.3 |
|
11 |
Sacramento |
USA |
11.4 |
4.1 |
5.2 |
3.4 |
7.9 |
6.5 |
12.8 |
10.5 |
61.7 |
|
12 |
Taipei |
Taiwan |
2.0 |
13.0 |
15.0 |
2.7 |
4.2 |
7.4 |
10.1 |
6.0 |
60.4 |
|
13 |
Vienna |
Austria |
3.6 |
9.1 |
11.8 |
5.7 |
10.8 |
8.7 |
4.9 |
5.8 |
60.4 |
|
14 |
Perth |
Australia |
10.6 |
5.6 |
7.3 |
4.6 |
9.0 |
0.3 |
14.8 |
8.1 |
60.2 |
|
15 |
Washington |
USA |
9.1 |
2.4 |
6.4 |
2.4 |
8.4 |
10.1 |
10.6 |
10.7 |
60.2 |
|
16 |
Madrid |
Spain |
1.4 |
9.0 |
10.7 |
4.4 |
8.9 |
8.4 |
10.6 |
6.8 |
60.2 |
|
17 |
Sydney |
Australia |
7.3 |
7.5 |
8.2 |
4.1 |
9.3 |
0.5 |
14.8 |
8.3 |
60.1 |
|
18 |
Buenos Aires |
Argentina |
11.1 |
2.1 |
5.4 |
2.4 |
5.7 |
10.6 |
14.2 |
8.4 |
59.9 |
|
19 |
Vancouver |
Canada |
9.7 |
5.4 |
6.8 |
3.7 |
10.9 |
10.5 |
4.9 |
7.4 |
59.3 |
|
20 |
Adelaide |
Australia |
3.9 |
7.8 |
7.4 |
5.3 |
10.3 |
0.7 |
14.2 |
9.5 |
59.1 |
|
21 |
Tallinn |
Estonia |
10.7 |
11.1 |
7.6 |
5.5 |
8.8 |
9.6 |
1.4 |
4.3 |
59.1 |
|
22 |
Boston |
USA |
9.7 |
6.1 |
6.9 |
3.1 |
8.9 |
9.5 |
4.9 |
9.8 |
58.9 |
|
23 |
Orlando |
USA |
10.4 |
4.3 |
3.8 |
3.2 |
7.9 |
4.9 |
12.0 |
12.0 |
58.5 |
|
24 |
Jacksonville |
United States |
11.3 |
3.1 |
5.9 |
3.3 |
7.1 |
1.4 |
14.8 |
11.3 |
58.2 |
|
25 |
Tampa |
USA |
11.3 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
3.9 |
5.6 |
3.6 |
12.0 |
11.7 |
58.2 |
|
26 |
Tokyo |
Japan |
4.7 |
10.1 |
10.1 |
3.3 |
4.5 |
8.0 |
12.8 |
4.4 |
57.9 |
|
27 |
Singapore |
Singapore |
9.2 |
10.9 |
6.9 |
2.9 |
9.7 |
6.0 |
3.1 |
8.8 |
57.4 |
|
28 |
Hamburg |
Germany |
9.8 |
6.0 |
8.9 |
3.7 |
11.6 |
6.8 |
3.5 |
7.0 |
57.3 |
|
29 |
Stockholm |
Sweden |
10.2 |
4.6 |
4.6 |
6.2 |
11.1 |
9.5 |
2.0 |
8.9 |
57.0 |
|
30 |
Atlanta |
United States |
6.3 |
1.9 |
4.7 |
3.6 |
7.6 |
7.6 |
13.8 |
11.2 |
56.7 |
1. Valencia, Spain
‘Grandparent-Friendly’ Score: 74.2/100
Taking the top spot, sunny Valencia offers tourists plenty of attractions, fresh sea air and stunning coastal views. Its flat cityscape, plethora of green spaces and balmy Mediterranean climate (scoring an impressive 14.8/15) make it a joy to explore at any age, but particularly so for older travellers. From the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences to the sandy shoreline, spend your time here strolling around the quiet Spanish neighbourhoods, sampling paella Valenciana, shopping at Mercado Central or relaxing in Turia Gardens.
2. The Hague, Netherlands
‘Grandparent-Friendly’ Score: 73.4/100
With the second-highest score of 73.4 out of 100, The Hague in the Netherlands earns the silver medal in our study. The Dutch healthcare system gets it a strong score of 12.9 out of 15, contributing significantly to its high ranking and offering added peace of mind for those travelling with pre-existing medical conditions. In conjunction with peaceful parks, charming canals and the Scheviningen beach where you can go for a relaxed stroll, the city offers impressive museums such as the Mauritshuis (where you can see Vermeer’s famous Girl with a Pearl Earring) as well as the Passage, a 19th century glass-domed shopping arcade – all perfect for a slow-paced yet rewarding break.
3. Amsterdam, Netherlands
‘Grandparent-Friendly’ Score: 71.4/100
One of Europe’s flattest and most walkable capitals, back in 2024 we actually named Amsterdam as the world’s most walkable city. The Dutch city is perfect for gentle exploring and takes third spot in our grandparent-friendly ranking. Nearly all major cultural attractions sit within close reach of each other, and its leafy canals, quiet residential pockets and abundance of museums offer a relaxing and culturally rich break for grandparents and grandkids alike.
4. Rotterdam, Netherlands
‘Grandparent-Friendly’ Score: 69.8/100
The third Dutch entry in our top five, Rotterdam is known as the “gateway to Europe” and has a distinctly modern look due to being almost entirely rebuilt after WWII. The city secures some of the highest scores in the study for its quality of healthcare, as well as garnering one of the lowest levels of light and noise pollution. Its compact layout and plentiful culture, from the Markthal’s foodie scene to the quirky Cube Houses, means tourists find it easy to explore without breaking a sweat or navigating complex public transport.
5. Copenhagen, Denmark
‘Grandparent-Friendly’ Score: 67.3/100
Denmark’s capital city takes fifth place. Copenhagen is very easy to navigate, with quiet neighbourhoods, generous green spaces and peaceful canals which are perfect for a slow stroll. The whole family, and grandparents especially, will love experiencing the ‘hygge’ the Danish capital is known for (a Danish word which refers to a ‘warm and cosy atmosphere’) as well as visiting the royal palaces and seeing world-class design at Designmuseum Denmark.
6. Porto, Portugal
‘Grandparent-Friendly’ Score: 65.0/100
Porto earns its place in the top 10 with a ‘grandparent-friendly’ score of 65 out of 100. The Portuguese city scores well for having lots of culture per square metre, as well as a year-round warm climate. Don’t miss the chance to explore the Douro riverfront, a location known for its colourful buildings, iconic bridges, boat tours and stunning sunsets. While some neighbourhoods in Porto are hillier to explore, areas such as Cais da Ribeira offer more manageable and relaxed sightseeing if accessibility is top priority.
7. Munich, Germany
‘Grandparent-Friendly’ Score: 64.3/100
Munich, the capital of Germany, has a rich cultural heritage with outstanding safety and green space scores, helping it secure seventh place in our rankings. While the walkability score is low due to its relatively high elevation, the city has excellent public transport and a very compact core, meaning it has a high number of cultural attractions per square mile. From historic beer halls to huge public parks like the English Garden, Munich is an excellent choice for older travellers or families heading on multigenerational trips.
8. Helsinki, Finland
‘Grandparent-Friendly’ Score: 63.9/100
Helsinki lands in our top ten thanks to its flat landscape being incredibly walkable, and incredibly low levels of crime, noise and light pollution compared with other cities in our study. It may not score very highly for its chillier climate, and the density of culture isn’t quite as high as other cities, but the uncrowded streets and slow daily rhythm of the Scandinavian lifestyle is perfect for older travellers wanting a calm pace of travel. Its coastal setting means many attractions sit along scenic waterfront routes, and travellers rave about the saunas and museums.
9. Geneva, Switzerland
‘Grandparent-Friendly’ Score: 63.4
Geneva has some of the highest scores in our global rankings for access to culture, and the ease of finding an accessible hotel. The old town is practically brimming with picturesque charm, and travellers will love boat trips on the lake (with an Alpine backdrop), as well as tasting delicious local chocolate and cheese. Don’t miss the flower clock, a functional clock located in the English Garden, made up of beautiful seasonal flowers.
10. Lisbon, Portugal
‘Grandparent-Friendly’ Score: 62.3
Lisbon is Portugal’s second entry in our top 10 and secures its place largely thanks to its high scores for both cultural density and climate comfort. The Portuguese capital is older than Rome and is famous for its iconic yellow trams as well as its intricate, vibrant architecture. It is home to one of the world’s most expensive chapels, in the São Roque Church, and travellers of all ages will enjoy the panoramic views from Miradouros, sampling the delicious Pastéis de Belém and visiting the nearby fairy-tale town of Sintra.
To us, this data makes one thing abundantly clear – getting older doesn’t mean avoiding travel, it means choosing destinations that make exploration easier, safer, and more enjoyable!
Around the world, there are older travellers who continue to show us that you can travel at any age, proving that an appetite to explore does not come with an expiration date…
Celebrating travel at any age: launching the search for the ‘World’s Oldest Jetsetter’
To celebrate those who embody this spirit, we’re launching a global search for the ‘World’s Oldest Jetsetter’.
We’re inviting people to nominate themselves, a parent, grandparent or someone they know who proves that age is no barrier to adventure – whether they opt for short city breaks every few months or jet off for regular long-haul adventures!
Our winner will receive vouchers and spending money up to the value of £1,000, to cover travel expenses for them and a travel companion of their choice this year, helping to continue their travel story and inspire other travellers to continue exploring the world in their golden years.
Who can apply?
To be in the running for the trip and title of “World’s Oldest Jetsetter”, travellers must:
- Be over 70 years old at the time of entry.
- Have a valid UK passport.
- Be willing to travel on a getaway to Valencia with £1000 vouchers and spending money provided.
- And, of course, have a passion for travelling – no official qualifications necessary!
All we ask in return is that the winner embraces their ambassador status by providing us with pictures and memories from their trip to Valencia.
If you know an older traveller who deserves to be crowned the oldest jetsetter, nominations are now open.
Methodology
- To identify the most grandparent-friendly destinations, we analysed 175 cities across eight indicators covering mobility, safety, healthcare access, cultural accessibility, environmental comfort and accommodation suitability.
- Each metric was normalised and weighted to reflect its importance, with flatter terrain, safer streets, stronger healthcare, greener and quieter environments, denser cultural areas, milder climates and a higher share of accessible hotels all contributing to better scores. A hybrid scoring approach ensured fair comparison between regions.
- All data reflects the most recent available sources as of December 2025.
