On a family of two adults and two children aged 3 and 7, the difference between a zoo that charges children from age 3 and one that charges from age 5 is the cost of one child ticket. Across a two-week holiday with 10 paid attractions, knowing which operator charges from which age saves £80 to £150.
This is not a small saving. It is the cost of two additional attraction visits.
Airlines worldwide follow a standard structure:
| Age | Classification | Ticket Type |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 years | Infant | 10% of adult fare (no seat); free US domestic |
| 2 to 11 years | Child | 75% of adult fare on most full-service carriers |
| 12 and over | Adult | Full adult fare |
The critical rule: Your child must be under 2 on the return journey date, not the outbound date. If your child turns 2 during the trip, you pay child fare for the return even if you booked an infant ticket for the outbound.
Budget airline exception: Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air charge full adult fares for children aged 2 and over on most routes. There is no child discount on budget carriers for most European routes.
Family and Friends Railcard: Reduces child fares by 60% for up to 4 children travelling with card holders. The 60% discount often brings child fares to under £2 for short journeys.
| Country | Free Age | Child Discount Age | Adult Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| France (SNCF) | Under 4 | 4 to 11 (50% off) | 12+ |
| Germany (DB) | Under 6 | 6 to 14 (50% off) | 15+ |
| Switzerland | Under 6 | 6 to 15 (50% off) | 16+ |
| Italy (Trenitalia) | Under 4 | 4 to 11 (50% off) | 12+ |
| Spain (Renfe) | Under 4 | 4 to 13 (40% off) | 14+ |
| Netherlands (NS) | Under 4 | 4 to 11 (50% off) | 12+ |
Swiss Family Card: Children under 16 travel free on all Swiss public transport when accompanied by a parent with a Swiss Travel Pass. The Family Card is free with any adult Swiss Travel Pass.
German DB Spar: Children under 15 travel free on DB trains when accompanied by a parent or grandparent, on all ticket types. No booking required for the child.
Enter your transport operator, attraction or destination to get the exact child age cutoffs, discount percentages and free travel rules. Get specific answers before you buy.
Check Child Fare RulesCalculate Family FareMost major theme parks worldwide set their free entry age at under 3:
| Park | Free Entry Age | Child Discount Age |
|---|---|---|
| Disney World (Florida) | Under 3 | 3 to 9 (same price as adult) |
| Disneyland Paris | Under 3 | 3 to 11 (discounted) |
| Universal Studios | Under 3 | 3 to 9 (same as adult, no discount) |
| Legoland (UK) | Under 3 | 3 to 15 (discounted) |
| Alton Towers (UK) | Under 3 | 3 to 11 (discounted) |
| Europa-Park (Germany) | Under 4 | 4 to 11 (€5 off adult) |
| Singapore Night Safari | Under 3 | 3 to 12 (SGD $38 vs $55 adult) |
Disney World note: Disney does not offer a child discount on its theme park tickets. Ages 3 to 9 pay the same daily price as adults. The only saving is under-3 free entry.
The Legoland advantage: Legoland charges a genuine child discount (approximately 15% less than adult). Combined with the Merlin Annual Pass for families, Legoland represents better per-visit value than Disney for children aged 3 to 10.
Free entry age for children varies enormously across museums:
The most important check before visiting any museum or gallery: Look up the specific institution's child policy. In many European cities, children under 18 enter state museums free. Paying a child ticket at these museums means you missed reading the free entry policy.
Before buying individual tickets, always check whether a family ticket (typically 2 adults plus 2 children) is cheaper than the sum of individual tickets.
Tower of London example:
The family ticket saves money at almost every major UK and European attraction. Check the official website's ticket page for the family rate before completing any individual ticket purchase.