Fascinating museums, educational tours, the craziness of amusement parks, lovely parks, Europe has all you can imagine when it’s about fun in the city. Nature doesn’t stay behind: sunny islands, enchanting lands covered with snow, pristine lakes, rivers, and mountains protected by national parks or reserves. These attractions are fun for grown-ups, but even more for children. Besides, most of Europe is wonderfully developed, so moving around is safe and comfortable. In case that’s not convincing enough, here a list of 7 best travel places with kids to inspire your travels.
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Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen’s compact, cozy and easygoing. Even at first glance the city’s friendly; its colorful houses, cobbled streets, and charming cafés make a lovely impression. It’s also modern and chic, not in an overwhelming way, though. Its glamour is perfectly balanced. Copenhagen simply knows how to mix the style with simplicity. There’s no boredom in this town. Countless shopping centers, museums, restaurants, and historic sites can keep the whole family busy for several days.
Top attractions: The Tivoli Gardens amusement park is a great place to visit. It’s Not only fun, but also conveniently located right in the city center. North of Copenhagen, in a beech forest, you’ll find one more park called Bakken. It’s the oldest amusement park in the world, quieter and less touristy than Tivoli Gardens. If you have younger kids, don’t miss the Children’s Museum in Copenhagen. Experimentarium City is entertaining and educational, both for children and adults. For science enthusiasts, there’s also the Tycho Brahe Planetarium and the Blue Planet Aquarium.
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Paris, France
Paris is iconic; it’s a dream of travelers from all over the world, even the little ones. Reasons to visit this captivating city are endless, from the world’s most famous museums, art galleries, and historical monuments, to the magical atmosphere and delicious cuisine. Everybody knows about the Eiffel Tower, of course. Everybody also knows how romantic Paris is and that grooms-to-be take their sweethearts there to propose right in front of the mentioned tower. Considered the capital not only by French people but also artists from the whole world, it’s as artsy as it gets. There’s one more reason Paris is worth visiting. With numerous attractions, it’s very family-friendly.
Top attractions: Eiffel Tower is the city’s landmark, and it simply can’t be missed. The museums of Paris are so captivating even children can enjoy them. In case they don’t have much fun in Louvre, at least a visit to the world’s most public galleries will make it easier for them to pass history exams at school. For a more relaxed time, visit The Cité des Enfants, a museum designed especially for the little ones. Parc de la Villette is a large park with museums, theaters, concert stages, and futuristic playful structures. For many children, holidays aren’t full without an amusement park, but luckily, Paris has the Jardin d’Acclimatation.
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Lapland, Finland
Lapland is where Santa lives; that’s already enough to make small children super excited about the trip. Even if your kids don’t believe in the adorable old man with an overgrown beard, no problem, Lapland has much more to offer. It’s a winter wonderland. Have you seen those favorite Christmas films all TV stations keep showing each December? There’s a reason they continuously show them and people never get bored of it. Winter is magic. So is Lapland.
Top attractions: Try to spot the Northern Lights; it’s going to be an unforgettable view. Stay in small cottages, go ice-fishing, watch reindeer races or enjoy dog sledding adventures. In the summer, explore Lapland’s stunning national parks. Another attraction that can’t be missed, the most obvious one: Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. He lives there, seriously.
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London, United Kingdom
Few cities are as vibrant, multicultural and diverse as London. It’s a European must-see and one of the best travel places with kids. There’s something for everyone, big, small, young and old, interested in culture or science, architecture or cuisine, politics or fashion. Whether you want to relax and play or take a variety of lessons, it’s all doable. London is immersed in history, but incredibly modern at the same time. Visiting London is like having a glimpse of the world in its entirety. The number of immigrants and tourists instantly arriving in this city affects it in thousands of different ways.
Top attractions: You can’t miss the classical London’s highlights, such as Big Ben, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square or London Eye. When you’ve already seen those, move on to the attractions designed especially for little tourists. If your children (or you!) are fans of J.K. Rowling’s imagination, take the Warner Bros Harry Potter Studios Tour. On a sunny day, St. James Park is the best place to visit.
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Sardinia, Italy
Whatever is your favorite water sport, be it swimming, kite-surfing, scuba diving, windsurfing or watching waves from the beach and sunbathing, Sardinia in Italy is one of Europe’s best places to practice them. It’s also one of the best travel places with kids, for this reason, and a few more. Sardinia’s nature is stunning, both for adults and children. The coast, gorgeous beaches, white sand, clear blue water and spectacular cliffs are breath-taking. The interior is captivating too, wilder and more secluded. Culturally, Sardinia is unique. Eccentric festivals, traditional costumes and unique monuments dating back to the Bronze Age, it’s a perfect place for venturesome explorers.
Top attractions: Teach your kids how to dive, surf or swim. Sardinia has a long tradition of horseback riding, so that’s another sport you may try out. A trip around the island and visiting various historical monuments would be fun; they’re original enough to make children interested.
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Iceland
Nothing is quite like Iceland; no place on the Earth can compare with this magical island. It’s extraordinary in so many different ways; its geographical remoteness and natural uniqueness inspire cultural individuality. People of Iceland are incredibly creative. No wonder they are, being surrounded by geysers, volcanoes, and glittering glaciers must affect the minds (and hearts). Icelandic nature is compelling. As soon as you step on the ground, you’ll surely feel it. Then, as you go on exploring, you’ll get more and more astonished.
Top attractions: Spot aurora borealis if you visit Iceland in winter. Dog sledding is great; children will be happy to see both the cute huskies and the tons of fluffy snow. In the summer, camping and staying in nature is a beautiful thing to do. You can rent a car or bikes and travel all around the island. In Reykjavik, visit NauthólsvÃk, the geothermal bath. Nearby the Iceland’s capital, you’ll also find two theme parks run by Skemmtigarðurinn.
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Vienna, Austria
Vienna is like a living room in which you can spend lovely afternoons, invite friends over for dinner or listen to music from the comfort of your couch. Small and cozy, designed with a sense of style, even though a bustling metropolis, Vienna feels welcoming. With the history of genius composers, the city is a paradise for musicophiles. In many churches and venues, you can still hear the melodies written years ago by such notable individuals as Bach or Händel. Live rock, jazz, and other genres are also commonly played around the city. Besides, Vienna’s simply an attractive town to live. Even if it’s for a few days only, it’s pleasant to enjoy its conveniences: make use out of the bicycle tracks, look around and see how neat and well-organized everything is, get comfortable in modest coffee houses and dine in great restaurants.
Top attractions: History of music lesson is obligatory. Luckily, the Haus der Musik is a modern and fascinating museum. With its interactive expositions, children shouldn’t feel bored. Schönbrunn Palace has gorgeous gardens, and a museum made especially for little tourists. Belvedere is also prepared; you can get the “Art Detective on the Trail of Masterpieces” booklet thanks to which learning about arts becomes an adventure. Don’t forget about the Prater amusement park.
