Exploring Europe with Kids

Families have many options when it comes to choosing kid-friendly accommodations, and apartment rentals are exploding in popularity.

Without a doubt, Italy has certainly taken center stage in many of my own wondering thoughts. Recently, my daydreams finally became a reality as my family joined Adventures by Disney on the Italian tour of a lifetime, their nine day Viva Italia experience.

Exploring the cities of Europe is easy on foot or through public transportation, but if you really want to get into the hill towns and countryside you need to rent a car.

Are you planning a trip to Europe with kids? Get started here with our best tips for exploring Italy with your children in tow.

Though Amsterdam is the country’s most popular tourist destination, and surprisingly family-friendly, there are also many other cities in the Netherlands worth venturing to for a fun and memorable family vacation.

Within an one-hour drive of historic Girona lie pretty Mediterranean villages offering quiet sandy coves, family activities, excellent seafood, and a wealth of seafaring history. I was surprised by unspoilt nature of the coastline and how well the medieval villages had been restored. I had imagined coastal Spain to be full of overbuilt beaches and tacky towns but this trip was a revelation. Here’s a taste of what Costa Brava offers.

Basel, Switzerland is centrally located in the heart of Europe, with both Germany and France within walking distance or a short tram ride away. If you are thinking about traveling to Basel, do what the travel guides suggest. However, some of the best things for kids are hidden within the local landscape of Basel.

As a small city with approx 100,000 inhabitants, Girona is an ideal size for a family visit. Pedestrian-friendly, liberally scattered with tiny playgrounds and quiet squares; it’s clean, charming and sedate. I would recommend two full days here to enjoy its sights at a leisurely pace before heading to the coast for beaches, biking and exploring.

One of the perks of being married to a Brit is the occasional trip to England to visit family. Here is a slightly more “insider” view of 5 things we did with our 5-year-old son on our last trip to London.