A selection of family-friendly countries in Europe which are perfect for visiting with the kids this spring, by Mammaproof.
Here is a list of countries where we felt very welcome as a family and which have the best plans for kids.
1. Denmark: Copenhagen, Billund and Aalborg
Denmark is one of the most family-friendly countries in Europe. It’s a country where children are very welcome: amazing playgrounds, plans for the family, museums where you can touch and experiment, and more. One of the main reasons to choose Denmark is the new Lego House in Billund – a Lego museum designed for the whole family to have fun. It has rooms full of Lego pieces and a really fun interactive restaurant. A few other reasons to visit are Legoland, the Lego theme park, Tivoli in Copenhagen, and the chance to see seals in the wild in the north end of the country (Skagen), or on the island of Mando.
- Find cheap flights to Denmark
2. France: Bordeaux and Nantes
Out of all the places we could visit in France, we’ve chosen Bordeaux and Nantes, two cities that are lesser known than Paris.
From Bordeaux you can explore the Arcachon bay area, where you can see the largest dune in Europe: the Dune of Pilat. Climb up it and you’ll have a great time with the kids!
In Nantes you can go on a journey through the stories by Jules Verne: a visit to the Machines of the Isle of Nantes and the Puy du Fou theme park, where you can see spectacular shows with medieval warriors. Other interesting spots in the city are the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany, the Jardin des Plantes and the cultural centre at the old LU biscuit factory.
3. Italy: Rome and Florence
Italy is always a great destination for the little ones, as they’ll love the food! Pasta, pizza and ice cream are always a great hit!
You’ll be dazzled by Rome: the Colosseum, the Forum and the temples, and also the planetarium, Cinecittà World movie theme park, and the Children’s Museum.
If you travel to Florence, you can explore Tuscany: vineyards and rolling hills, manor houses and beautiful cities like Lucca, Siena and Pisa. Another interesting place to visit is San Gimignano, one of the most beautiful towns in the area, famous for its medieval architecture and especially its towers.
4. Germany: Hamburg and Bremen
Fly to Hamburg and discover two beautiful cities in Northern Germany.
Hamburg has an area where old warehouses have gradually been converted for use as offices and cultural spaces. Here you shouldn’t miss Miniatur Wunderland Museum – a museum with model railways, miniature airports and scenes from all over Europe, over three floors. There are 15 kilometres of railway, over 1,000 trains, and lights, mountains and volcanoes. Another place that the kids are sure to love is the planetarium.
And in 50 minutes by train we can get to the beautiful city of Bremen, home to the Town Musicians of Bremen. Here you can visit the Universum Science Centre, which has lots of interactive experiments.
- Find cheap flights to Hamburg
5. Iceland
This country truly has it all: wonderful waterfalls, gigantic glaciers, beautiful volcanic beaches, areas with small eruptions, cliffs that take your breath away... It’s a fascinating country to explore with kids, as it’s not very large, and especially because they can see whales and seals in the wild, as well as Icelandic horses, many, many sheep, and, if you’re lucky, puffins! The kids are also sure to love the hot springs and outdoor hot swimming pools with slides. You can find them in almost every town!
- Find cheap flights to Reykjavik (Iceland)
6. Germany: Nuremberg
One of the most beautiful cities in Southern Germany, where there is an important toy industry. There is a toy museum where you can learn about how toys have changed over the years, and the kids can also try a few of them out!
Another place not to be missed is the Imperial Castle, which has a magnificent display of armour, swords and crossbows. You can also spend a day at the Playmobil Funpark, which is just outside the city.
Nuremberg is a small city and can be easily explored with kids because it’s quite flat and the old town is a pedestrian area.
- Find cheap flights to Nuremberg
7. Norway: from Oslo to the Lofoten islands
Another very family-friendly country in Northern Europe is Norway. Come and discover the north of the country, over the Arctic circle: the wonderful Lofoten islands. This is Viking territory, with a museum where you can see a reconstruction of Viking life with actors, and one that studies penguins and seals living in these cold waters. There are a number of aquariums you can visit which study these animals. And in the Lofoten islands you’ll find amazing beaches, lakes and roads connected by spectacular bridges.
- Find cheap flights to Oslo
8. England: the Cotswolds
One of the most beautiful parts of England, which can be visited from London, is the Cotswolds, in the English countryside. Fairytale villages in the heart of the countryside. You’ll find a lot of farm parks with great facilities that you can visit with the kids. One of our favourites is Cotswolds Farm Park. As well as animals, there are many places for the kids to have fun – play barns, small tractors for them to drive, large play areas, activities to do with farming, and much more. Another farm park that is worth a visit is Fairytale Farm, which recreates fairytales like Little Red Riding Hood, and also has an attraction called Mouse Town, an indoor model village.
- Find cheap flights to London
9. Holland: Amsterdam and its surroundings
Holland is a small country that is great to explore with kids.
In Amsterdam you’ll find the Nemo Museum, where you can learn about science through play and experimenting. Canals, playgrounds like Vondelpark and Oosterpark, and streets where you can go cycling are some of the highlights in this city.
But there is so much more to discover in Holland: towns where they do cheese auctions, fields of tulips, farm parks, windmills and Efteling theme park, a magical world full of fairies, elves and gnomes.
- Find cheap flights to Amsterdam
10. Croatia: Dubrovnik and Montenegro
The last place on our list is Croatia. Explore it from Dubrovnik, a filming location for Game of Thrones. From here it’s very easy to cross the border to Montenegro, one of the Balkan countries that is becoming increasingly popular with tourists. In Montenegro you can swim in a fjord, in the Bay of Kotor. There are beaches with no waves that are perfect for kids. You can also explore Durmitor National Park, where there are easily accessible lakes, and you can do adventure sports like rafting and zip lining.
- Find cheap flights to Dubrovnik
