8 Must-Visit Places to Take Your Kids on a European Vacation
Learning Opportunities Abound
Europe is mesmerizing. With centuries of interesting history, exciting cultural attractions, theme parks and gorgeous scenery, there’s something for travelers of all interests and ages. There are historical sites and museums at every turn, so most destinations double as educational trips as well!
However, narrowing down the list is no easy task. While you might know exactly how you’d want to spend a holiday in Europe, what will your kids get the most out of? What places are best for building lasting family memories? To help, here’s a list of the best places to spend European family vacations.
Jardin d’Acclimitation, Paris
This long-running theme park was opened in 1860 and has been offering a fun experience for locals and residents ever since. The park has cultural programming, landscaped areas and theme park rides. Your kids will delight in the pony and boat rides, the puppet shows and the miniature railroad, and you will be charmed by the nostalgia of it all.
Science Center NEMO, Amsterdam
The Science Center NEMO is one of the most popular museums in the Netherlands and it’s easy to see why. The museum offers hands-on science experiences that kids and adults both enjoy. During your visit you can learn about the structure of DNA chains, water cycles and how buildings are constructed.
Your kids will love the giant lab where they can perform science experiments. It’s so fun that they won’t even know they are learning.
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Edinburgh Castle
Your little princes and princesses will really feel like part of the royal family with a visit to one of Europe’s most popular castles. Edinburgh Castle in Scotland dominates the city skyline from its perch on Castle Rock. Make sure to stick around until 1:00 p.m. to hear the firing of the famous Mons Meg cannon from medieval times — just be sure to cover your ears!
For a deeper look at the war-torn history of Scotland, check out the National War Museum that is located in the castle. It’s one of three museums located on site. A full schedule of interesting events happen at the Castle each year as well, including the world-renowned Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
The London Eye
London is one of the most kid-friendly cities in the world. Europe’s largest Ferris wheel, known affectionately as The London Eye, tops the list of popular family-friendly attractions. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city that is even better at night when the lights of London twinkle as far as you can see.
After you see the city from the top, book a double-decker bus tour to get in on the action. The tours have plenty of kid-friendly sites and they will love the buses.
Bushcraft Camp
Want to get your kids out of the city and really experience nature? Join in a Family Bushcraft Camp to get a true back-to-nature experience. Campers will learn basic outdoors and survival skills as they make memories together as a family.
The camp is surrounded by deciduous forest and there is a beach nearby. Activities include nature walks, relaxing on the beach, wilderness skills classes, shelter building, camp cooking and much more.
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Reykjavik, Iceland
For those who love the outdoors, few destinations beat Reykjavik. There are scores of beautiful outdoor sites to keep your family active, happy and amazed. Seeing the Northern Lights is an unforgettable experience and enjoyable for both young and old. Public pools are everywhere in Iceland and since they are fed by thermal hot springs, you can enjoy them year-round.
For other unforgettable experiences in Iceland, go horseback riding, hiking or whale watching. As a bonus, Reykjavik is very safe for a capital city so you can feel comfortable taking your kids there.
Lisbon, Portugal
For another capital city destination that’s full of natural beauty, check out Lisbon. While it may not be the first city to come to mind when you think of a beach vacation, Lisbon has a gorgeous stretch of natural beach and the water is warmer here than many European destinations. The city’s aquarium is one of Europe’s largest and is very kid-friendly with many exhibits for youngsters.
If you enjoy dining out, it’s easy to find kid-friendly restaurants as many of them have special kids’ areas where the kids can play while mom and dad have a nice relaxing meal.
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Mini-Europe, Brussels
Of course, if you don’t have time to do a tour around Europe, you can experience the highlights on a small scale at Mini-Europe. The park is located at the foot of the iconic Atomium in Brussels and has 1:25 scale reproductions of many of Europe’s most famous sites.
There are approximately 80 cities and 350 buildings represented in the park, so there’s certainly plenty to see and the kids will enjoy exploring.
