Travelling with kids can be quite a challenge, from finding family accommodations to train rides, to dealing with restless kids. So if you’re planning to visit Europe with kids, then you’re probably exhausted from just the thought of it, and you’re already assuming the worst. But, it will surprise you that travelling with kids is more fun than you expect, cos you get to see the world through their eyes.
From Disneyland in Paris to Legoland in Denmark, your kids will make you explore places you won’t have ordinarily gone to, but you’re bound to enjoy. But not every city is good for kids, so how do you find out which countries you can visit with your kids? For you, this guide provides the top 10 European countries to visit with kids.
10 Best European Countries To Visit With Children
1. Denmark
One of the best European countries to visit with kids is Denmark. It has numerous entertainment centers, fairy castles, and children’s museums that your kids will love to explore. Most tourist attractions in this country even have reduced prices for kids, which will make it cheaper for you to explore. You might not see it yet, but taking your kids to Denmark will be their best European family vacation.
If you’re traveling with young or older kids, your first stop should be LEGOLAND. This is where the first LEGOs were invented. This museum is a fun time for everyone with rides, live shows, and interactive exhibits. From here, you can go on a fun family adventure to the Faroe Islands, where you can go on sea excursions and discover Viking villages.
To crown your European family vacation, you should also stop at Copenhagen, the country’s capital. From the amusement parks to the free playgrounds and the Tivoli garden, you’ll be able to see that this city was designed for kids to have fun. As you make your plans, you can also stop at the Experimentarium Science Museum and the Den Bla Planet aquarium, which also has a learning center for kids.
2. Netherlands
The Netherlands might not be a big country, but a European family vacation here is one your children won’t forget in their lifetime. Your kids can’t be bored here because this country was specifically built for families and kids to spend their time outdoors. The kids can go biking or horseback riding in any of the national parks while you relax and unwind.
And if they want to visit the beach, that’s even better. Cos the beaches in the Netherlands are some of the most beautiful in Europe. The sand is soft and perfect for the kids to build sandcastles and play without getting injured. From the Dutch Wadden Sea in the Wadden Islands to Zeeland, there are so many fun activities to do with the kids, like swimming, diving, snorkeling, or kayaking.
Then you can end your vacation by taking a trip to the capital city, Amsterdam, where your kids can ride the pirate ship at the Maritime Museum. The older kids can go on their own to the Van Gogh Museum or the Anne Frank Museum to learn more about the Netherlands’ history. Once they’re done, you can all go to the Klimpark Fun Forest, where you can have a fun, adventurous experience.
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3. Sweden
If you’re visiting Sweden with your kids, then you won’t even need to stress yourself, cos there are several family-friendly destinations to explore. During the winter, this country becomes a winter wonderland, so your kid can enjoy water activities, particularly skiing. And if they don’t know how to ski, areas like Åre, Idre, Sälen, and Riksgränsen have very good ski coaches for children. It’s also helpful to keep a few European Travel apps on hand to quickly check the weather, local guides, or even find nearby attractions on the go.
Visiting Sweden can’t be complete if you don’t take your kids to Stockholm, where there are so many amusement parks with adventurous roller coasters for them to enjoy. You can also take them to the Universum Museum Science Center, where they can learn through the interactive exhibits. If there’s still time, you can take the kids to the open-air zoo in Skansen, where they’ll see wolves, reindeer, moose, bison, brown bears, and even an aquarium.
It doesn’t matter which cities in Sweden you plan to explore with your kids, just know that they’re bound to have the best European family vacation. And after a long time of exploring, there are so many children’s meals for the kids, from the meatballs to the reindeer, and delicious local sweets. Eating out might be expensive if you have a large group, but there are still some cheap pizza places you can explore.
4. France
Visiting France with your kids is like making their dreams come true, cos there’s no way you’re not stopping at Paris. Here, they can climb the Eiffel Tower and take pictures of the amazing city view. And let’s not forget about Disneyland Paris, where the inner child, even in you, can come out to play.
If you want to get a feel for the city before you go, browsing a few Paris travel books can give you great ideas on what spots are fun and manageable with kids. At the end of the day, the kids can try out delicious snacks like crêpes, croissants, and chocolate chaud.
If you visit during the summer, then you should take out time to travel to southwest France so the kids can explore the sandy beaches here. You can even decide to stay in a countryside villa with its own pool, so the smaller kids will have more fun. From cycling, pony riding, canoeing, hiking, and nature exploration, this European family vacation is packed with activities that you can enjoy even in winter.
You can also decide to stay at Club Med Grand Massif Samoëns Morillon, a family club in Samoëns that has a pool and a kids’ club. Here you can take the kids on the treetop high rope course or even a hiking excursion to the nearby mountains. And if you love the magic of Christmas, a visit to the Christmas market in Strasbourg is like the icing on the cake. You can get many varieties of wine here while the kids shop for wooden toys that look like they were made by elves themselves.
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5. Italy
Italy is one of the European countries you visit with kids, and you know, yes, you made a good decision. This country is filled with kind people, delicious meals, beautiful towns, and natural attractions. The major form of transport in some cities here is by boat, and this is something the kids will enjoy. Even after they leave, they’ll still be talking about the views from the water taxi, communal ferry, and even the Venetian gondola.
Taking the kids to Venice should be your next plan, cos this city has so many artists and historical buildings to explore. But if your kids are very young, then head instead to Doge’s Palace to see the spooky dungeons. When you’re done, just take a walk through the canalside alleys and stop at any restaurant to get pizza, pasta, and gelato. Don’t worry, this is Italy, so it’s going to be delicious.
You may have been to Verona for a romantic vacation before, but this city is also a good place to bring your kids. You can take them to explore the Roman ruins and even see the museum dedicated to Romeo and Juliet. But if they’re too young, take them to the Children’s Museum or the Museo Nicolis, where they can be amazed at the vintage cars collection. If your trip takes you further south, there are also plenty of things to do in Palermo that mix history, food, and seaside charm, perfect for both kids and adults.
6. Germany
Traveling for a European family vacation is a good enough reason to visit Germany with your kids. There are so many natural adventures the kids can have here, from exploring the Black Forest to having fun water activities at the Baltic Sea beaches. To make it even more comfortable, you can book a room at any of the health resorts where you can even go for a spa and massage relaxation.
If you have younger kids and they love fairytale castles, you’re in luck, cos some of the best fairytale castles are found in Germany. You can take them to Neuschwanstein Castle, Eltz Castle, Lichtenstein Castle, Drachenburg Castle, or Hohenzollern Castle. These are popular spots, but you can also explore the hidden gems with your kids. And even better, the kids can have fun participating in the jousting tournaments, castle festivals, and costume parties in these castles.
Then you can round up this vacation with a visit to Berlin, where the kids will have fun plus also learn a lot of things. From the Berlin Zoo, where there are over 1000 species, to the Deutsches Technikmuseum, the kids will be completely amazed and mindblown. You can even plan your visit during the festival period, so the kids can also experience the popular Oktoberfest and Christmas festivals.
7. Spain
A European family vacation in Spain is bound to be fun and colorful, just like the Spanish people. You can start by visiting Madrid, the country’s capital. Here, the kids can visit the Prado Museum and the Railway Museum, which have fun interactive children’s exhibits. Then, if they want to run around, take them to the Parque de Atracciones, the popular amusement park, or to Retiro for a fun boat ride.
This country also has some of the finest beaches in Europe, where you can take the kids just to have fun. You can stop at the Costa Brava, not just for the beaches but to explore the Dali Museum and hike the trail at Cap de Creus Nature Reserve. Then you can go on a relaxing picnic on the beach, where the kids can have fun swimming and building sand castles.
Every city in Spain has the best kid-friendly activities and attractions to make this vacation a long-lasting memory. If you’re looking to map out the best stops in advance, flipping through a few Spain travel books can help you discover hidden gems and plan the trip around your kids’ interests. And if your kids are into soccer, then you can go watch a game at Santiago Bernabeu or instead visit the San Mames stadium.
8. Switzerland
As one of the best European countries to visit with kids, Switzerland offers a vacation filled with adventure, exploration, and celebration. For a country that has its own Chocolate Train, it really isn’t surprising that it makes a very good family destination spot with family-friendly sights, activities, workshops, tours, museums, and festivals.
If the kids prefer spending their time outdoors, then you can spend the holiday in Valais or Graubünden. These areas and their surrounding regions offer various outdoor activities, including skiing, hiking, cycling, mountain biking, kayaking, rafting, and other adventure sports. Then, for a winter wonderland, visit the Swiss Alps so your family can have a more peaceful vacation, riding sleds, horses, and having lots of fun.
If you only have a day left in your vacation and you didn’t visit Zurich, then you’ll just have to try to make it. Cos this is home to some of the best chocolate factories in the world, where the kids can eat and decorate their own freshly minted chocolate. And if you’re with inquisitive teenagers, then you should take them to unique museums like Chaplin’s World, Alimentarium Food Museum, and Lausanne’s Olympic Museum.
9. United Kingdom
Without a doubt, the United Kingdom is one of the best countries in Europe to travel with kids. Only London alone has various attractions that will keep the kids busy all day, from exploring Hyde Park to the Kew Gardens. And if your kids want to see some princesses and knights, then you’ll need to take them to the Tower of London and the Hampton Court Palace. When you need a quick bite between stops, the street food in London offers plenty of kid-friendly treats from savory snacks to sweet surprises.
You can also take them to several kid-friendly museums like the London Transport Museum or popular toy stores like Benjamin Pollock’s Toy Shop to get their favorite toys. You can spend this European family vacation only in London, but there are other cities, like Edinburgh, to visit with the kids too.
Edinburgh, the city of Harry Potter, is like a scene from a storybook, and the kids will be easily amazed by the soaring towers and grand squares. On a cool day, you can go on a family stroll through the Royal Mile, where you can stop at various churches, historical landmarks, and the Royal Palace. You can also take the kids on a free tour of the Potter Trail to see where the idea of Harry Potter was brought to life.
10. Austria
If you want a magical European family vacation, then you might want to bring your kids to Austria. No matter the season, a vacation here is an experience that can’t be explained. You can start your vacation by taking the kids to Vienna, where the oldest amusement park in the world is found. Here they can go on thrilling Ferris wheel rides, that is if they’re not scared of heights.
You can also take the kids to the Schönbrunn Palace, where they can explore the impressive rooms, beautiful gardens, and the city’s zoo. And if you visit during the winter, then you’ll need to take the kids for ice skating in front of the town hall or explore the Christmas markets to buy holiday handicrafts, and eat delicious meals.
You can also take the kids to Salzburg during the Christmas holiday, where they can explore holiday markets like Residenzplatz. Here they can go ice skating, and when they need a bit of warmth, you’ll take them to Cafe Tomaselli for hot chocolate. But if you visit during the summer, then the kids will love the Mirabell Gardens where the Sound of Music was filmed, and the Hellbrunn Palace where they can have a water play.
Conclusion
European countries have some of the best family-friendly activities and attractions to ensure you have the best vacation. But where you decide to take your family depends on your family’s preferences and interests. Whether you choose to explore big cities like London or small towns like Valais, there are so many interesting activities to make sure the kids don’t get bored. Before you go, it’s worth running through a solid travel packing list to avoid forgetting anything essential, especially when you’re traveling with kids.
Instead, at the end of every day, your kids will be tired from the excitement of exploring. And at the end of the vacation, they will have so many memories to share with their friends in school. So take the big leap today and start planning this fun family vacation to Europe.
