Let yourself be disappointed: if you are planning a family trip, choosing a destination for your next vacation in Europe does not have to be a daunting task. The Old Continent is full of perfect places for travelers of any age. And to prove it to you, we propose a review of the best European cities to travel with children. You'll see: it will cost you to choose just one!
1. Amsterdam (Netherlands)
The main Dutch city is one of the best destinations to travel with children. Among the many things to do in Amsterdam , it is worth mentioning the Tropenmuseum, an anthropology museum located on the outskirts of the city, and which combines permanent and temporary exhibitions with samples of old photos that the whole family will like. By the way: in summer, your roof is transformed into a beach. Can you imagine it?
Special mention deserves the Vondelpark , the largest and most famous park in Amsterdam, where the little ones can swim in a pool and play in a playground.
2. Barcelona (Spain)
You don't have to go far to find family tourism destinations with excellent value for money. A good example of this is Barcelona, the Catalan capital, a city full of plans to share with your children. To begin with, many of Barcelona's museums focus a large part of their offer on younger visitors. For example, the CosmoCaixa , where you can visit a small recreation of the Amazon jungle in which there is no lack of exotic animals and, above all, perform fun experiments. Or the CaixaFòrum, with a room that adapts the theme of the temporary exhibitions to the needs of the little ones, with proposals and activities that include crafts and other games. And what about the Chocolate Museum,where they can participate in tasting workshops.
You can also take a fun ride aboard the Golondrinas , a traditional boat that runs through a part of the port of Barcelona, or spend a day full of emotions in the Tibidabo Amusement Park , one of the oldest in Europe. Another ideal park to rest is in Ciutadella, where the zoo opens its doors .
Likewise, Barcelona has theaters with a program designed fundamentally for family audiences, such as the SAT! Sant Andreu Teatre, the Teatre Gaudà Barcelona or the Aquità nia Teatre.
3. Berlin (Germany)
Berlin is a city that not only convinces lovers of nightlife, but also families with children. One of its main attractions is the Legoland Discovery Center, a children's park covered with five million Lego blocks, two attractions, 4D movie projections and beautiful views.
For those who want to discover aquatic fauna, nothing better than the AquaDom Sea Life , located under the Radisson hotel —near Museum Island, the Royal Palace and Alexanderplatz— and considered to be the largest cylindrical aquarium on the planet. On the other hand, the old Kurfürstendamm district is home to the famous Berlin Zoo, one of the largest zoos in Germany and with the largest number of captive animal species in the world. The Tierpark, Berlin's second zoo, does not disappoint either. Now, if zoos aren't your thing, you can also visit the Berlin Natural History Museum with the kids. If your little ones feel like running around to their heart's content, take them to Kollwitzplatz, in the Berlin district of Prenzlauer Berg and with 6,000 m². We also recommend the Labyrinth Kindermuseum, which is more of a children's park than a museum, and which is firmly committed to the motto of learning by playing.
4. Brussels (Belgium)
The Belgian and European Union capital is also one of the best European cities to travel with children. Reasons for this are not lacking. To sample, one button: a place that they will love will be Mini Europa, near the emblematic Atomium . Inaugurated in 1989, this venue brings together some 350 models made on a 1/25 scale and which recreate 80 cities in the European Union. You can also go to the Brussels Comic Museum, where more than 6,000 original works are exhibited, and where Tintin, the most international Belgian comic character, is the star attraction.
To play outdoors, we recommend opting for Brussels' majestic Cinquantenaire Park, which occupies more than 30 hectares in the European quarter. At the end, do not hesitate to introduce the little ones to Belgian gastronomy with two specialties that will suck their fingers: waffles and exquisite Belgian chocolate.
In addition, they will surely be left with their mouths open when they come across the most photographed bronze statue in Brussels: the Manneken Pis, a boy who urinates and who has a custom wardrobe that any monarch would like for himself. For something it is one of the local monuments that most attract the attention of tourists.
5. Copenhagen (Denmark)
The Danish capital stands out for being one of the cities in the world with the best quality of life. Why not explore it with those crazy shorties ? Among the places that can be visited with children in Copenhagen, we should mention the Tivoli Gardens, where the second oldest amusement park in the city is located. Also not to be missed is Blue Planet, opened in 2013 and considered to be the largest aquarium in Northern Europe. If you visit it, do not forget to contemplate its overwhelming sharks. Other places to see wildlife include the Copenhagen Zoo, with more than 3,000 animals and 264 species from around the world, and the Bakken Deer Park.
Needless to say, a trip to Copenhagen would not be complete without stopping in front of the iconic statue of The Little Mermaid, the most famous fairy tale character ever to grace the pen of Dane Hans Christian Andersen.
6. Valletta (Malta)
Valletta, the vibrant capital of Malta, is another of the best European cities to travel with children. In addition to having a pleasant pedestrian center, this small city is also home to the Toy Museum. Also not to be missed is the new science center at Esplora, with play areas and exciting interactive exhibits.
And what about the possibility of taking a boat trip through the port: we guarantee that it will be a sure hit. The same could be said of the beaches of Malta, being those of Ghajn Tuffieha Bay, Ghadira Bay, Gnejna Bay and Paradise Bay some of the most advisable, for being of fine sand. From Valletta, you can also make a trip to the Popeye Village Fun Park , in Mellieha Bay, the place that hosted the filming of the movie Popeye.
7. London (UK)
Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, Paddington Bear, Harry Potter, the 101 Dalmatians, Willy Fogg... There are not a few children's characters that are closely linked to the British capital. Shall we head to this destination, another of the best European cities to travel with children? If you feel like running around freely, Saint James Park, Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park , three of the city's green lungs, will have more than enough space. They will also have a great time going up the London Eye, a giant Ferris wheel from which exceptional panoramic views are obtained.
In turn, inside the White Tower, in the Tower of London , you can see an important collection of armor and the impressive jewels of the British Crown. It is also an excellent option to get tickets for the Natural History Museum in London , where an impressive dinosaur skeleton is exhibited, or Madame Tussauds, the most famous wax museum in the world (yes, this plan is not exactly cheap).
Have we convinced you? Then check out our guide to visiting London .
8. Milan (Italy)
Another of the best European cities to travel with children is Milan, the Lombard capital, the second Italian city in population (after Rome) and an ideal destination to have a great time with the family. One of our recommendations is to visit the Planetarium Civico, the largest planetarium in Italy, located in the Indro Montanelli park. Also recommended are the Acquario Civico di Milano, inaugurated in 1906 for the Universal Exhibition in Milan, and the Natural History Museum, where you can see a vast collection of prehistoric animals, one of which still has its fossilized internal organs.
Also visit the Leonardo da Vinci Museum, which exhibits wooden models that reconstruct the inventions of one of the key figures of the Renaissance. The same can be said of the MUBA Museum, whose motto, NO TOUCHING, is a declaration of intent. Undoubtedly, the little ones will enjoy numerous sensory experiences, while they will be able to give wings to their creativity.
Are your kids soccer fans? In that case, what could be better than taking them to see a match at the legendary San Siro stadium ?
9. Oporto (Portugal)
We've talked about Harry Potter before. Is it one of your children's favorite characters? If so, don't hesitate to book a flight to Porto, where Livraria Lello and Irmão, the magnificent building that inspired the writer JK Rowling to describe the Florish & Blotts bookstore, opens its doors. Opened in 1869, it is one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world.
In any case, the plans in Porto for children do not end here. Strolling through the colorful Ribeira , you will see the traditional rabelos, typical boats that were used in the past to transport Port wine and that today are used to take walks along the Douro or Douro river. Do you sign up with yours?
You can also take a cable car in the nearby town of Vilanova de Gaia , a means of transport that travels about 600 m in six minutes and offers unparalleled views.
10. Paris (France)
The most visited city in Europe also deserves a place on our list. In addition to climbing the Eiffel Tower and seeing the City of Light from above, children can play in the Luxembourg Gardens , where they can take part in sailboat races and ride their historic merry-go-round.
In addition, Paris is a perfect place to visit some theme parks that will delight children: Parc Astérix , Playmobil Fun Park and, of course, Disneyland Paris , the first Disney resort outside the United States. Few experiences will be more fondly remembered as adults than being photographed with Mickey, Donald or the Disney princesses, or seeing a fireworks display next to Sleeping Beauty's castle.
