BEST EUROPEAN CITY FOR YOUR FAMILY TO VISIT?
Do you ever fancy taking your family on a city break or holiday but haven’t got around to it because you don’t know which destinations will thrill your children and which will leave you knee deep in complaints of “I’m bored Mum!” or “I want to go to the beach!”. Would it would be easier to choose if you could save doing some of the research because you already had recommendations from real families who could tell you just what a place is like as they’ve personally experienced the destination? Yes? Then this is the guide is for you.
I’ve teamed up with a group of top UK family travel bloggers to bring you a useful guide to our favourite European cities, based on places we’ve actually visited and enjoyed with our families.
First up, I bring you Benidorm. I know, I know – it might sound like an unusual choice for a family holiday, but if you still think Benidorm is only the domain for drinking holidays, then please read on as our family has loved going there and I’m determined to show you a very different side to it!
BENIDORM – IDEAL FOR FAMILIES
We’ve had two fabulous family holidays in Benidorm now, but before we went the first time I’d pictured tightly packed skyscrapers, rows of bars boasting happy hours and sunburnt groups of worse for wear English stag and hen parties trawling from one pub to the next for yet another cheap pint.
So why would I urge you to visit with family? The reasons are plentiful: guaranteed Spanish sunshine for most of the year; comprehensive range of high quality fun family activities; top notch local cuisine including fresh seafood and paella and miles and miles of the Costa Blanca’s finest blue flag golden sandy beaches.
WHAT TO DO IN BENIDORM?
Read this Top Ten Family Activities in Benidorm guide which features child-friendly beaches, boat rides, six amusement parks including water parks, animal parks and theme parks for an idea of some of the exciting things you can get up to in Benidorm.
Watch our short daily video diaries to see places to visit, days out and activities, places to eat and the popular music themed hotel where we stayed.
WHERE TO STAY IN BENIDORM?
Have a look at this written and video review of the popular music themed all inclusive Marconfort Benidorm Suites Hotel where we stayed in Benidorm. The hotel is in the heart of Benidorm, just a kilometre away from Levante Beach and within easy reach of Benidorm’s six theme parks. Holiday-makers like this hotel so much they go back year after year!
Hopefully I’ve persuaded you that Benidorm does have a lot to offer families. Now for more inspiration, let’s take a look at the cities my fellow travel writers are recommending.
BEST EUROPEAN CITY FAMILY HOLIDAYS
ACCORDING TO TOP FAMILY TRAVEL BLOGGERS
LISBON, PORTUGAL
Karen from Mini Travellers tells us all about why she loved travelling to Lisbon with Children and why she is seriously considering a return trip later this year.
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Samantha from North East Family Fun has visited
Barcelona on numerous occasions with her three children and highly recommends the Catalonian capital as a fantastic city to visit with the kids. Did you know that Barcelona is one of the few cities in the world with it’s very own beach? Find out why Samantha rates Barcelona so highly and recommends as the perfect option for a family city break.
FUNCHAL, MADEIRA
Lisa from Travel Loving Family shares her five must see sights in the capital of
Madeira, Funchal. Her recommendations include a scenic cable car ride to a view point at an incredible 1,800 feet overlooking the whole island, a thrilling toboggan ride in a wicker basket and a visit to Blandy’s Wine Lodge to taste the famous Madeira wine.
ROME, ITALY
The Wandermust Family LOVE
Rome and think it is the perfect European City Break for families. Over on their blog find out their top 6 reasons why!
BOLOGNA, ITALY
Over on Space in Your Case Penny visits
Bologna, few people realise is it is the foodie capital of Italy. Bologna also has lots to keep children entertained, as Penny discovered on a weekend break courtesy of Bolgona Welcome.
BERLIN, GERMANY
Check out POD Travels if you’re looking to visit
Berlin in the near future. Charly shares the top 30 places to visit with kids and where you can explore without them. With posts on the Berlin Wall, East Side Gallery and Wall Museum, a round up of the top Christmas markets in the city and a look at the Berlin street art scene, there’s more than enough to keep you occupied.
MUNICH, GERMANY
Emma from A Bavarian Sojourn is well qualified to recommend a family trip to
Munich having lived there up until recently for the past five years. This city is surprisingly child friendly, and really does have something for everyone. Explore Munich’s green spaces (look out for the surfers in the Englischer Gartens!), visit a local museum, swim in a nearby crystal clear lake, or explore the biggest science museum in the world. Emma’s list of things to do and see here goes on (and on)…
AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND
Penny from Parentshaped shares a treasure hunt in
Amsterdam, a city packed with invitations to play and new things to discover and learn as a family.
BRUGES, BELGIUM
Daisy over at Dais Like These Family Travel Blog shares a few ideas on how to keep kids entertained during 24 hours in
Bruges, Belgium.
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
Joanne and the eldest take you on a tour of
Brussels, Belgium and show you the essential stuff to do, what to eat, and where to stay.
OSLO, NORWAY
Nell Heshram will revisit
Oslo, one of her favourite cities, this summer. On her blog the Pigeon Pair and Me she’s put together a round-up of the top family-friendly museums in the Norwegian capital.
REYKYAVIK, ICELAND
Ting from My Travel Monkey spent a week exploring snow covered Iceland and discovered there was so much to see and do in
Reykyavik – even for young children…
BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND
Pop over to
Mums do travel to find out why Gretta Schifano and her teenage daughter think that
Belfast is a great place for a family city break.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND
If you are planning to visit the UK during your European break, Zena talks about why her family loved their visit to
Liverpool and why it’s worth visiting if your looking for a vibrant and cultural city outside of London.
If you have visited all of the bigger
London icons and are looking for Alternative things to do, hop over to Like Love Do. Donna share’s 10 hidden gems in London’s big city.
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What a great selection but of course it’s not a comprehensive list and I’d love to hear your favourites too? Do you have any great European city family holidays to add to this list?
DISCLOSURE:
OUR BENIDORM PRESS TRIPS WERE MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO OUR FANTASTIC SPANISH HOSTS. ALL OPINIONS ARE OUR OWN.
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