Europe is a great place to visit for summer vacation or winter break not only by yourself, but with your whole family, as the continent is filled with family-friendly attractions and things to do. Countless parks to stroll through and a whole range of different museums to visit - Europe has got them all. While traveling with family, you can often find discounts and special packages allowing you to pay less, and in some places, you do not have to pay for your kids at all! To make it easier on you to realize some of the best tours of Europe you can have with your family, we have prepared for you this Bucket List Tours of Europe for Families, which lists the most family-friendly locations and attractions to visit while on your trip to Europe!
Capital of Netherlands
While Amsterdam might have some bad connotations when you think about the red light district, the capital of Netherlands is actually so much more than that, and definitely a place worth visiting. With colorful paddle boats that make the city a second Venice and an enormous amount of bike paths, the city makes for some of the best tours of Europe for families. If you care about the environment, you will be happy to know that the Netherlands has severely limited their car usage, especially in Amsterdam, where most of the city can not only be reached either by boat, bike or on foot. If you can't figure out what to do in Amsterdam, we recommend visiting the Vincent van Gogh museum, which hosts one of the most extensive collections of van Gogh’s paintings in the entire world.
Museums
If you are traveling with your kids, there is no better destination for your family tip than Paris. Not only is it extremely easy to navigate with the city’s convenient metro system, but it is also the home to many monuments and attractions. Museums such as the Louvre are definitely worth the time to visit, though we recommend visiting the city off-season to avoid heavy crowds since the Louvre attracts over 10 million visitors every year. However, what your children will be probably most thrilled about, is Disneyland Paris - a world-famous theme park with characters and rides from the favorite shows and movies of Disney. If you value your time, make sure to get a Fastpass, which will allow you to skip the long lines and use the priority ones instead!
Culture and history
The capital of Italy is a very common tourist destination, especially in Europe, and one of the reasons is that it makes for one of the best tours of Europe for families available! Take your kids on a trip to the ancient Colosseum, where they will be able to witness for themselves the famous grounds on which gladiators fought. The city is filled with rich culture and history, perfect to be explored together on a family trip. Moreover, when you are on a trip to Rome, make sure to stop by the Vatican City where the Pope himself resides. You can take a guided tour through the Pope’s home as you are escorted by uniquely-uniformed guards. Finally, when in Rome, spare some time to try the famous Italian cuisine!
Tower of London
If your kids are Harry Potter fans, there is no better place to take them on a summer vacation trip than London, as you show them the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studios. Your teenage kids will love Madame Tussaud's wax figure museum, filled with idols from all time, including both Freddy Mercury and the One Direction members! For great family time, make sure to go on a trip to the Tower of London, where you will be able to explore the dungeons where some of the most notorious English criminals once were held. If you want to get a great view of the cityscape of London, head to the London Eye, which boasts one of the most unique sights you will ever see! As an additional tip, we recommend looking for free museums, since there are many of them all over the city.
National Museums
Colorful and majestic, Dublin is among the most popular tours of Europe destinations for families who want to show their kids a perfect example of gorgeous architecture. The city is filled with numerous parks, in which you can arrange a relaxing picnic with the whole family. Moreover, there is a couple of interesting museums to visit when you’re in the city, such as the National Museum of Ireland, which hosts a huge display of taxidermied animals, paid as tribute to the native wildlife of Ireland. However, since your kids might probably prefer to see live animals instead, we recommend visiting the famous Dublin Zoo, located in Phoenix Park, filled with rare species of animals from all over the world.
Nightlife
While you may want to skip the nightlife part of the Barcelona experience, the rest of the city will definitely prove a worthy trip for your entire family. The city features some of the prettiest feats of architecture in the entire world, including the famous Sagrada Familia, which has been under construction for more than a hundred years and still is not finished! Take your kids on a walk through the Gothic Quarter to show them how cities used to look during the 18th and 19th centuries. If you want to educate your kids and show them around some art galleries and museums, we recommend visiting the MACBA contemporary art museum, as well as some of the gorgeous street art sprawled throughout the city.
Tropical animals
Frequently voted among the best places in Europe for kids, Stockholm is the perfect destination for a family excursion if what you’re looking for are great museums and gorgeous art galleries. One of the most interesting museums of Stockholm is the Vasa Museum, in which your children will be able to observe for themselves the original remains of a capsized ship. In case you want to experience a relaxing walk through the city zoo, the Stockholm Zoo offers a wide range of various exotic and tropical animals. Finally, we fully recommend taking a trip to Djurgarden Island, which is filled with tons of activities in which both kids and adults alike can partake.
Beautiful Tuscan
Experience the slow tides of the Arno River on a boat trip through Florence, one of the more picturesque cities of Italy, filled with colors and a unique atmosphere. The bridges of Florence are filled with life and are a perfect destination for a family photo. If you want to explore the art and history of the city, we recommend seeing the Statue of David, sculpted by the famous Renaissance artist Michelangelo, as well as the Duomo Cathedral which hosts the famous dome painted by Brunelleschi. Don’t forget to try some of the local cuisine, which varies from usual Italian cuisine, including wild-boar pasta and steaks with sweet fruit sauces. For a relaxing day trip with your family, we recommend taking a ride through the beautiful Tuscan countryside, filled with vineyards and picturesque towns.
Summer Festival
If your kids love swimming, they will surely like it at the thermal baths of Budapest, which are not only a fun activity to do in your free time, but actually possess medicinal qualities, making for a perfect family destination. Traveling on the budget and worrying about the expenses? Don’t worry, Budapest is one of the cheapest holiday destinations not only in Europe, but in the entire world! If you happen to be visiting Budapest during Spring or Summer, make sure to take part in either the Budapest Spring Festival or the Summer Festival, which are two of the biggest cultural events in the country, hosting many activities and providing an opportunity to learn about the culture and history of Hungary.
Tours of Europe
Take your whole family on a historical trip to one of the most important city-states of Ancient Greece, Athens. Filled with such important monuments as the streets of Plaka or the grand Temple of Zeus, Athens makes for one of the most informative tours of Europe destinations. Go on a stroll through one of the city’s many flea markets, where you will be able to find tons of memorable souvenirs to bring home from your trip. If you’re after the Mediterranean climate and want to experience the hot Greek sun, Athens has plenty of great beaches to swim in the water and sunbathe as your kids play in the sand. Finally, give Greek cuisine a try with such delicacies as taramasalata or baklava!
