Europe is a fantastic family friendly destination with everything from lively cities to ancient castles and snowcapped mountains to sun drenched beaches. Whatever your dream family holiday might be, Europe has something wonderful to offer.
Families can relax by the sea, hike mountains, explore museums and historical sites, try water sports and other adrenaline filled adventures, visit volcanoes, world leading theme parks, and so much more!
The weather can be changeable in Northern Europe, but there’s still plenty of adventure to be found at any time of year!
Here are some of the best family friendly European holiday destinations that you’ll love!
The Ultimate European Escapes for Families
For the History Fans
If you’re family loves history, Europe has some great options.
Rome, Italy
Head to Rome for great food and a real life history lesson. Kids can walk in the footsteps of gladiators, explore ruins and a city that’s over 2000 years old. There’s even a real Gladiator School experience!
Rome is a busy city, but there are places to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Kids can run off steam in Villa Borghese, a beautiful park where you can cycle, row a boat, picnic and generally relax. Piazza Navona is a bustling, traffic free area with fountains and street artists, and the animal lovers will enjoy a visit to the Cat Sanctuary, a square on ancient ruins that is also a cat sanctuary.
Italy is famous for delicious pizza, gelato, and other great foods. You can even take a family cooking lesson. Don’t forget to toss a coin in the Trevi fountain and test your bravery at the Bocca della Verità.
Athens, Greece
Fans of the Greek Myths will love Athens. A guided tour around the Acropolis is a must do experience. The tour uses interactive games to make it appealing to kids, bringing Greek Myths and legends to life.
Athens isn’t just about mythology, kids can run on the site of the first modern Olympic Games, head to the top of Mount Lycabettus on a funicular and take a train ride around the main sights of the city.
Beautiful Beaches
The Algarve, Portugal
The Algarve in Portugal is home to some of the best beaches in Europe with impressive cliffs, hidden coves and plenty of family friendly resorts. Kids love Zoomarine, a water park, amusement park and oceanarium, and there are lots of organised boat trips to see dolphins and other marine animals. The Algarve is known for friendly locals, great food and amazing scenery. It’s a great location for a family adventure.
Patmos, Greece
Patmos might not be the island that first comes to mind when you think of a family holiday to Greece, but it’s a great destination for a relaxing family holiday. Patmos has amazing beaches with fine, golden sand and clear, shallow waters. The port of Skala is a lively town with plenty of restaurants and shops, while Chora is a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its labyrinth of whitewashed alleys.
Families often choose to stay in Patmos villas for a relaxing getaway, with numerous great options available around the island.
Take a cruise
A cruise is a fantastic way to see a lot of Europe in one go. Try one of the popular Croatia cruises for a fun, slightly off the beaten track option that the whole family will enjoy. Luxury cruises on motor yachts allow guests to swim in the crystal clear waters in secluded spots that bigger ships can’t reach, and even include the chance to try SUPS and jet skis.
Croatia boasts ancient cities and stunning islands with miles of coastline, making it an ideal family getaway.
For Theme Park Fans
Europe has plenty of theme parks for families to enjoy.
- Disneyland, Paris is perhaps the most famous theme park in Europe and just as magical as other locations.
- Puy du Fou is a historical theme park in the Pays de la Loire region of France, which, instead of having rides, has live shows that reenact parts of French history.
- Efteling in the Netherlands is a brilliant theme park, filled with roller coasters and fairy tale wonders. We visited a few years ago and loved every second. The onsite hotels are fantastic too.
- Legoland in Denmark is every LEGO fan’s dream park, and definitely somewhere I’d love to visit one day.
Do you have any more recommendations for a fun family European getaway?
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