We look a kid-free one week vacation a few years ago. I hate the heat and had some extra frequent flier miles so we went to Munich (United flies there direct) and then spent a couple days there (we liked the city a lot) and then spent a couple days in Saltzburg (easy trip via train) and then a few days in the alpine lake town of Tegernsee. Trip was great, although we went in early July. I think August would have been much more expensive and crowded in Tegernsee.

Combine London with either:

Amsterdam
Paris
Edinburgh and Glasgow
Copenhagen

Or Seville area

Under 10 hour flight gives you a lot of options. Most of Western Europe could be reached in under 10 hours of flight with a direct flight - Munich, Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna, London, Dublin, Frankfurt, Brussels, Madrid, Helsinki are all under 10 hour flight.

Probably even Rome and Athens though less sure about those as they may be around 10 hours.

Morocco is within the 10 hour limit.

Mexico City also has the urban / museums vibe and is direct flight.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lisbon
Brussels

Brussels is probably the second most boring city in Europe after Frankfurt.

+1. Brussels is so mid. Go somewhere else.

But Belgium has lots of great history and art…

Anonymous wrote:Lisbon
Brussels

If going to Belgium, please don’t stay in Brussels.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lisbon
Brussels

Brussels is probably the second most boring city in Europe after Frankfurt.

+1. Brussels is so mid. Go somewhere else.

we loved our recent trip to Madrid

Anonymous wrote:Lisbon
Brussels

Brussels is probably the second most boring city in Europe after Frankfurt.

Lisbon
Brussels

Anonymous wrote:I'd just do the Portugal idea - spend a few days in Duoro Valley and Porto, which really doesn't have many kids activities and then a few days in Lisbon and/or along the coast. It'll be hot, but unless it's a heatwave, probably will be OK, especially in Duoro.

Portugal is also super cheap once you get there! And isn't really a destination that your kids will be like, "OMG, why did you go without me!" But is an amazing country if you like food and wine. Or really anything.

Portugal is a good call
Rarely gets unbearable
Better for time zone change
Nonstops from phl on American and Dulles on United

Denmark is always cold and often cloudy in my experience even in summer

Also whether it’s August or July makes a big difference as many European cities are dead in August which could be good or bad depending what you want to do

I'd just do the Portugal idea - spend a few days in Duoro Valley and Porto, which really doesn't have many kids activities and then a few days in Lisbon and/or along the coast. It'll be hot, but unless it's a heatwave, probably will be OK, especially in Duoro.

Argentina? Or are you trying to avoid all of South America? If so, that probably means only Europe - flights to Asia would be longer and might be complicated by the Iran situation.

How do you feel about English,Scottish history?
Tons of museums large and small all over. Castles, cathedrals, ruins. Walks.

Ideally less than 10 hour flight (given the short time)- focus on history / museums / cities / good food. Not a nature focused trip.

We were looking at Colombia, but recent events are giving us pause.

We’ve been to CDMX, which would’ve been perfect for this amount of time.

Cheaper flights to Copenhagen (we have been before, but maybe can tour around Denmark)?

Portugal- flights are expensive and could be hot.

Prefer not domestic (travel a lot for work so no US city is that interesting).