6 European hotspots for family friendly holidays

Family holidays are a rare chance to spend time together without the daily distractions of normal working life. When you get the opportunity to go away with your family, you’ll want to choose a destination that’ll keep everyone – no matter their age or interests – entertained and happy. To help, we’ve picked out six family-friendly European hotspots. Check them out:

1. Amsterdam

Known for a bike-friendly and laid-back atmosphere, Amsterdam is a family-friendly city break. There’s loads to keep older kids busy – My Little Nomad recommends visiting one of Amsterdam’s beautiful parks. Amsterdamse Bos is home to cheese farms and the chance to do water sports or horse riding as a family. Vondelpark is great for a stroll after visiting nearby Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum or Van Gogh Museum. You can also hire kid-carrying trailers if your little ones get tired easily.

2. Crete

If your kids are a bit younger, you might want to use your holiday as a chance to relax on a beach. Europe has loads of beach destinations to choose from – amongst the best is Crete.

The largest island in Greece, it’s home to many fantastic beaches and calm waters, as well as historical sites and small traditional villages to visit, once you’ve had enough of the bucket and spades. To get around all the island of Crete to see all of its fantastic sights, renting a car from Rental Center Crete can make it much easier and save time. Other amazing Greek islands include Corfu, Naxos and Santorini.

3. Portugal

It would be hard to talk about amazing beach destinations in Europe without mention of Portugal. The temperatures are mild throughout the year and, in the summer heat, your family will be refreshed by the Atlantic breeze. What’s more, the country has the highest number of hours of sunshine in Europe. If you’re feeling more adventurous, there are great cycling opportunities along the entire Algarve coast.

4. Rome

Although kids might initially groan at the thought of a holiday “history lesson”, the Secret Traveller says, if you take advantage of one of the family-friendly guided tours available in Rome, they’ll quickly change their tune. You can explore the likes of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum with a knowledgeable guide delivers content that’s engaging and exciting for both kids and parents.

5. Nice, France

France has been a family-friendly holiday destination for some time. Nice, with its miles of coastline beaches, is a favourite location. Just make sure you bring some flip-flops, as many of the beaches are pebbly beaches. Head away from the shore and visit the old town for a local experience.

6. Kent, UK 

Last but not least, we’ve got an unexpected destination – the UK. Kent was top of the Lonely Planet’s best places for family holidays in Europe back in 2015, and for good reason. Seaside destinations like Margate have seen a resurgence of popularity in recent years due to developments like the Turner Contemporary gallery in 2011 and the reopening of Dreamland in 2015.

7. Spain

If you are hitting Europe on your travels then one place you really must stop is Spain. There are so many amazing sites to see, if you like theme parks they even have several of these. Spain is a beautiful country and the people are kind to tourists. They respect you far more if you can speak some of the lingo. Get yourself and your children some lessons from a 1:1 online spanish tutor before you go. This way you will know what to ask for in restaurants and supermarkets or even ask directions to the nearest beach. 

It’s got a real sense of nostalgia with a revamped wooden roller coaster (the UK’s oldest), a Big Wheel, a 1920s helter-skelter and a carousel, is a grand example of nostalgia reinvented. Kent is also close enough to head into London for a day trip.

Where have you visited as a family? Share your suggestions with us.