Europe with Kids |10 Most Amazing Family-Friendly Destinations in Europe
Planning a family vacation to Europe with kids can be a challenge! How do you plan activities and places to see that will keep everybody entertained? Europe is full of great destinations that are full of great history, food, and culture that you can share with your family members of all ages. Read on to discover the 10 best kid-friendly, family-friendly destinations for your next family vacation to Europe with kids!
Paris
Paris is a great destination especially if you are traveling to Europe with kids for the first time. Although it has a reputation for being a city full of romance, it’s also a city full of great food, public outdoor spaces, and more. Climb the stairs at the Eiffel Tower with your kids, and then enjoy a picnic on the Champ de Mars, a large public greenspace in front of the monument. Your kids will have fun browsing local fruit stands and other vendors to put together the meal, and relaxing in front of the giant tower they just climbed part way up will make for a memorable day.
Your kids may be interested in visiting the Louvre, but if an art museum wouldn’t hold their interest, skip it and explore the Palace of Versailles instead. Even if your kids don’t get too excited about history, walking the halls of this fabled palace and imagining what it might be like to live there may give them a new perspective. The expansive gardens are also a highlight,
Scotland
If your kids like Harry Potter, you’ll find many exciting sites to visit in Scotland. Author J.K. Rowling lived in Edinburgh when she was writing a majority of the series, and you can see the Elephant Room cafe where she wrote. Travel via the Jacobite Steam Train which you may recognize as the Hogwarts Express from the Harry Potter films.
Even if they are not interested in the Harry Potter series, Scotland is a great destination to visit on your next family vacation. There are many beautiful outdoor spaces that you and your kids can explore together.
The Netherlands
Netherlands is a great kid-friendly destination in Europe. Visiting Amsterdam is a unique experience, but if you are able to venture outside of the capital city you’ll be able to participate in more kid-friendly activities. Visit Kasteel de Haar to see a castle that looks like it’s from a fairytale. Stop in historic Kinderdijk, famous for its 18th-century windmills, before heading to Noordwijkerhout, the site of the Keukenhof and the surrounding iconic tulip fields.
London
There are many things to do in London that are common tourist pastimes, and the good news is your kids will enjoy many of them. Take them on the London Eye, the tallest ferris wheel in Europe. The experience is high up enough to be exciting, but smooth enough that kids who might be nervous about the height could still have a good experience.
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in London is a famed attraction for many reasons. Your kids might be interested in how the French Revolution indirectly led to the museum’s creation, but if that’s not enough to entice them, lifelike statues of their favorite celebrities might. Although the museum has historic roots, today you can pose with statues of Star Wars characters, Kim Kardashian, or members of the British Royal family!
Kids can also indulge in afternoon tea at St. Ermin’s Hotel London. This historic hotel offers traditional afternoon tea for the adults, and a modified version that is suited for a younger palate. The tea is often themed, but the theme changes periodically throughout the year.
Italy
Italy is full of unique experiences that will stand out to children and adults alike. If you’re traveling to Venice, the novelty of traveling via gondola on the city’s many waterways and canals won’t be lost on a child, and this is another experience they can remember.
That’s not the only city where you can experience a unique mode of transportation. When in Rome, you can rent a Vespa and if your kids are in their teens, they may be able to drive one on their own.
Naples, Italy is well known for many reasons, but there’s one big one that might pique your kids interest: this is the birthplace of modern pizza. Visit Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba for a slice of pizza and history: this restaurant is believed to be the world’s first pizzeria!
Spain
Spain is a large country with many different climates and landscapes with one thing in common: they are all beautiful and perfect for a family vacation! The northern coast of Spain offers opportunities for relaxing on the beach. Venture to the city of Segovia and see if El Alcazar de Segovia looks familiar. It might – this 12th century castle served as the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella’s Castle. Once you enjoy the exterior of this incredible structure you can take in the interior: tours are available to walk you through the history of this medieval castle.
Belgium
Belgium is the birthplace of many things that we know and love in our everyday lives such as french fries, waffles, and comic book characters. The Comics Art Museum in Brussels is a great place to take your kids. Belgium is home to iconic comic characters such as the Smurfs, and this museum offers workshops to help kids create their own comic book characters. If your kids love art, this is a wonderful opportunity for them to learn.
The Museum of Natural Sciences is home to one of the world’s largest collections of dinosaur bones. You and your kids can marvel at the size of these prehistoric creatures and learn about the world that they roamed.
Germany
German cities have plenty of walking paths and easy and safe routes to travel by foot, as well as robust transit systems. This makes it easy to get around while experiencing the country and getting acquainted with the land.
The fact that Phantasialand is a theme park will be enough to draw the attention of most kids, but if that wasn’t enough, the immersive storybook theme and the well placed children’s activities throughout the park make it a great experience for young and old.
Miniatur Wunderland is a unique destination in Hamburg that can appeal to all ages. It’s the world’s largest model railroad and village, and your kids will have fun walking through the different setups and observing the situations depicted.
Santorini
Santorini is a Greek island known for its whitewashed structures overlooking the ocean. A trip to Santorini with kids is great for relaxing and getting to know the local culture. When arriving in Santorini, you can travel up the pathway via donkey. This unique method of transportation has been used by locals for centuries, and your kids will get a kick out of being able to participate in it as well.
Boat tours of the caldera are also available and provide incredible views not only of the historic towns perched atop the cliff sides, but the natural coastline as well. While there are beaches to experience while you are there, you’ll want to pack water shoes as these beaches tend to be more full of rocks than sand. Even though it may not be the type of beach you are used to, the beaches in Santorini are gorgeous and relaxing places to visit.
Sweden
On your next family vacation, consider a stop in Sweden. The Scandinavian country is full of activities that are enjoyable to kids and adults alike. One great example is the Icehotel in Jukkasjarvi in Northern Sweden. The hotel is, as you may have guessed, built out of blocks of ice. Adults can appreciate the artistic elements and the elegant construction, while kids can enjoy the fact that they’re staying in a building made of ice.
Kids who are interested in pop culture and music might enjoy a trip to the ABBA Museum, a permanent exhibit at the Swedish Music Hall of Fame. Due to the musical Mamma Mia! and trends on social media, the popularity of ABBA’s music continues to grow, especially amongst younger generations. Sweden has a long history of providing the world with incredible pop music, and kids and adults alike can enjoy this museum.
Apart from that, there are other places to take the kids. There are many museums that have kid-friendly exhibits such as Skansen, an outdoor zoo and museum. Sites like that have engaging opportunities for kids to get involved and interact with their surroundings. These experiences can be fulfilling and are sure to help your kids remember their trip to Sweden.
Need help planning a kid-friendly vacation to Europe?
Want to plan your family vacation to Europe with kids but don’t know where to begin? If you find this type of multi-city trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!
At MultiCityTrips, multi-destination travel and complicated itineraries such as European family-friendly vacations and private trips to Europe with kids are our specialties. Contact us today to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists can personalize your multi-city European travel with kids and craft your European family vacation package (to the most amazing kid-friendly destinations in Europe of course!) at the best price.
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