Best European country/city to visit with kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Germans detest children. The French tolerate them if they are well-behaved. The Italians adore them.

If you don't speak foreign, I would go to London, which is the greatest city in the world. Lots of things to do with kids.

BS

We lived in Berlin and Munich. Our former hipster neighborhood, Prenzlauer Berg, has turned into yuppie central with strollers everywhere.

Munich was incredibly kid friendly. There has been a push against declining birth rates and maternity leave incentives and benefits--govt mandated have changed things.

[Anonymous]

Just took our 6 year old to Paris. She loved it! Lots of fun kid-friendly activities. Easy city to navigate with kids.

[Anonymous]

Then go over to Garmish area and see the fairy tale castles. Munich also has great museums. Don't worry about the language, all of Europe is prepared for English speaking tourists.

[Anonymous]

Left out a prior post. Start with Munich area and then go to Berchtesgarden and do the Eagle's Nest and salt mine tour. Go to Salzburg (watch Sound of Music before you leave.) Then head to Garmisch.

[Anonymous]

Tell me about Barcelona with kids...things to do etc.

[Anonymous]

When PPs talk about kid friendly activities, do you mean adult sites that kids may enjoy? Or literally kid activities likes playgrounds, parks etc. I wouldn't want to schlep all the way to Europe and spend the whole time at a playground.

[Anonymous]

Germans may like children, but they hate Americans. Just sayin'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Germans may like children, but they hate Americans. Just sayin'.

I wouldn't say they hate americans or children. They do have a similar disdain for both of them, though.

[Anonymous]

Liechtenstein.

[Anonymous]

A PP re: Paris and kid-friendly activities.

Our kid loves art and museums so she enjoyed all the adult-oriented activities that we enjoyed, though we made these visits shorter than if we had been there without her. She loved climbing up Notre Dame Towers and Sacre Coeur dome, and going to the top of the Eiffel Tower. We did do some specifically kid-friendly things there, like rent a toy sailboat in the Luxembourg Gardens, and go to the great play area there. Also went to the temporary summer amusement park in the Tuileries. But other than that, 90% of the time did normal Parisian tourist activities, mixed in with lots of walking around the city taking breaks for gelato and crepes. When we visited museums, we talked about what we were going to see first, and showed her pictures of special works of art or other things to look for at that museum. She loved getting the museum maps and looking for the highlights that we had talked about. And she really liked looking at the metro map to plan out our trips every day.

We also let her man our little inexpensive digital camera, and she loved documenting the trip through her own view of what she thought was interesting.

And we taught her a few simple phrases, which she loved using. The French people we interacted with were lovely to her.

Of course every kid is different and this is just what worked for our kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell me about Barcelona with kids...things to do etc.

We visited Parc Guell, and Sagrada Familia, went to a soccer game, visited the maritime museum, walked around the Ramblas and other neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell me about Barcelona with kids...things to do etc.

We visited Parc Guell, and Sagrada Familia, went to a soccer game, visited the maritime museum, walked around the Ramblas and other neighborhoods.

Just got back and I regret not taking our 4 year old. This is a GREAT city for kids! We did all of what was previously listed but the maritime museum, plus we went to the Fegueres for a day trip to see the Dali museum which lots of kids were at and seemed to be loving. The train is super easy to maneuver through, and the people are just so damn friendly. Menus are almost always available in English and wait staff are more than happy to speak English, so you always know what you're ordering. Kids were everywhere, including outside cafes at 11 pm a night. We commented that, at least in the area we stayed in, near Universitat metro, there were no "kid friendly" restaurants. Kids are welcomed everywhere. There's a beach that's quite active/crowded, and really, pretty much everywhere we went, there were kids. I would so highly recommend this city to go to. No stress!

[Anonymous]

I would suggest London too and maybe a few days in Edinburgh. We did this over spring break and my DD LOVED Tower of London so much we did the tour twice. She also loved Edinburgh castle and there was so much to do in general.. Everyday was jam packed. There was no language barrier and easy flights. I would recommend some of the other major cities around -ages 10+. Have a great time!!

[Anonymous]

Spain (a variety of cities could be good) or Paris.

[Anonymous]

Regarding London with kids, for all the posters that recommend, what do you specifically recommend as activities? I have been to London many times pre-kid, and just do not see it as a place with many kid activities. I would be interested in going with my 3 year old, so would love some recommendations!