Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read this whole thread, but if OP is talking about deliberately taking a kid to Europe who is eight I think she’s crazy. The kid will have no interest and will not remember it.

???

Wow.

Italy.

In a heartbeat.

As a parent, you will never have to worry about food. Go to Venice, you got glass blowing, gondolas and a small beach area. Go to Amalfi - you got boat rides. I would not take an 8 yr old to Florence, Tuscany or Milan however. I would take them to Rome and you can work your way up to Venice with a day trip or Orvieto.

Trondheim. See the Northern Lights.

The posters saying an 8 year old won't remember anything are delusional. Of course they will. My kid is 8 and has been to Europe a few times and remembers, in detail, the trips we took starting from around age 5. I remember things I did when I was 8. Not that "memories" are the main point here, but this isn't an 8 month old.

Anyway, for 4-5 days I'd just stay close to Sweden. Copenhagen is the obvious answer and I do think there's loads to do; as mentioned, Tivoli Gardens, the beaches in the country, and lots of walking.

If you really want to get out of those Scandinavian countries, I'd do Poland or Berlin and I'd fly there from Copenhagen. Either would be a quick nonstop flight and would give you a totally different experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking to spend 4-5 days. We will be in Sweden first. Looked into Copenhagen but it doesn't look super interesting. We don't travel a lot and it's my DC first time traveling international so trying to get more bang for our buck (as far as "seeing" things) on this trip.

OP here - going in May and we'll be out of Malmo in Sweden

Would definitely recommend Copenhagen/Denmark since it’s so close. You can take a boat ride (Hey! Captain is great) in the canals. There’s Tivoli Gardens. Just a lot to do walking around. If you are more adventurous, you could drive to
Billund and spend a day/night at Legoland.

I think an 8 year old would be happy anywhere.

So OP, I'd just choose a place you're interested in.
My DS loved all forms of city transportation and amazingly would remember details of the LRT in Barcelona, the minibusses in Quebec City, the green city busses in Seville etc etc as an elementary school kid.

It isn't just the sights but the challenging of navigating new environments, the language, different payment systems. Even if you don't think they "remember", there are a lot of life skills that are gained. There's also something fun about seeing a place on a map, or looking at a map of the subway stations or the layout of the city, and then actually experiencing it.

My DS ended up choosing to study civil engineering in college and I think having spent a lot of time in different cities around the world helped shape his decision.

I recommend staying away from the crowded cities with the kids. We love beach towns of coast of Italy or south of France.

Anonymous wrote:Norway is very pretty.

Do you really think an eight-year-old would care?

Norway is very pretty.

I haven’t read this whole thread, but if OP is talking about deliberately taking a kid to Europe who is eight I think she’s crazy. The kid will have no interest and will not remember it.

London

I’d pick whichever ones I want to go to. From Sweden I’d pick somewhere with a direct flight there and then a direct flight back to the US.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another thought is to ask your child. I asked my son and he said Paris.

I asked my son last year and he said New Jersey. What am I doing wrong lol.

haha!

Anonymous wrote:I took my kid to various cities between the ages of 8 and 9. It doesn't matter where you go OP and Copenhagen is fine. I didn't do the Louvre for example with an 8 year old. We did these things
An afternoon at a playground or park
A boat / river cruise
A cafe for some hot chocolate or whatever
A museum of some sort (the modern art museums usually have something more interesting for them to see/experience)
A bike ride

I guess my kids aren’t that sophisticated, because no way an art museum makes the cut.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another thought is to ask your child. I asked my son and he said Paris.

I asked my son last year and he said New Jersey. What am I doing wrong lol.

Yeah, eight year olds don't get to pick family vacation locations in our family.

For real, mine would choose Ocean City every time.