European city with DC - unusual recommendations welcomed

[Sparklyblues]

I'm looking for half term end of Feb. Having looked at flight/hotel deals I can do a few nights to many places under £800 for all of us.

Tempted by Florence. I think DC will enjoy wondering around pretty sights, they always love hotel stays, tiny manageable bit of art, lots of pizza and pasta. But they could also be bored.

I looked at all the main cities but there might be lesser known destinations that could work.

Should add that we usually do child centered trips, holiday parks, camping etc. Would like to do something a little different. But of course I want them to still enjoy it.

How old are the DC?

The problem with Feb is that most European cities will still be cold and possibly rainy. The charm of many Southern European cities is diminished when you can’t sit outside in cafes etc. Having said that we had a lovely Feb half term in Lisbon once which was just getting warm enough to sit outside.

On that basis I’d choose a city in Northern Europe that is designed for lots of cold weather. We have had lovely family breaks to Berlin and Copenhagen.

They will be 10 and 6.

Yes, good point re weather. I considered Copenhagen but I recalled it being expensive when I went years ago (loved it). Will check out both thanks.

Of course it's because it's cold/wet at that time that places are affordable. Once it warms up I wouldn't be able to afford the trip

Copenhagen will be very chilly.
I'd do somewhere with lots of museums etc. - Paris, Amsterdam?

Vilnius?
Munich?

Budapest. The “baths” are essentially massive swimming pools,they are heated. Loads to do there. Loads of street food,quirky places,park where bikes can be rented etc

Have you considered going by train? Eurostar goes direct to Amsterdam now, or you could interrail to anywhere (your children would get a free global pass, which includes eurostar and UK train travel to get there, with your adult pass - you just pay reservation fees). I did it this summer and it was fantastic, my similar aged children loved it. Seat61 website is very useful for finding out more.

My city recommendatiin that hasn't already been mentioned would be Vienna.

Gothenburg

Will check all these out thanks. I've been playing around with ideas this week and I think the "biggies" like Paris and Amsterdam were difficult to do within budget location wise and flight times. Did a short trip ideally want to be somewhere Central and flight out morning, back afternoon.

I love the idea of train travel but getting to North London and then doing the journey by Eurostar works out quite long for a short trip. I love the idea for a longer trip though and haven't heard of the free global pass.

Porto?
Nice is good. We went in a December a few years ago, it was 20’c during the day. Though I wouldn’t go in the water. The old town area’s lovely.

Seville? Shouldn’t be too cold.

Or Naples for Pompeii?

Athens

I would second Vienna. Beautiful and very child friendly

We went to Berlin this Feb half term. It was cold but loads on things to do, many sights, aquarium, Tecknik/Transport Museum, Reichstag.

I'd say Florence is boring for kids, mainly galleries and the Duomo to see. It's also a massive tourist trap, I think one of the busiest Italian cities I've been to.

If you want somewhere more authentic look at Bologna, but I'm not sure I'd go in Feb. I went in early April with work and the weather was nice, warm with a light coat on.

Nijmegen in The Netherlands.

Sevilla is beautiful & weather may be kind.

Florence is amazing if you're into art galleries and museums (and hordes of tourists at all times- end Feb will coincide with public holidays here too, so all the tourist hotspots will be rammed)
With children that age I'd go to somewhere like Berlin. Or, you know what- we had the best 3 days ever in Brussels (don't laugh!) I hadn't been for over 20 years and it was bloody great Lots to do and see, lots of it free, and we spent a whole day at the European Parliament which has probably the best and most interesting museum I've ever been to.
I second the idea of going somewhere that's supposed to be cold, as places that are cold and damp when we associate them with heat can be miserable.

Yes, on reflection somewhere with museums better than art.

I've been to write a few of the places mentioned... But a long time ago and before DC. If the weather was bad we just drank coffee/wine and chilled out. Different factoring in kids!

I'm busy looking up recommendations.

Seville. We took ours theres recently albeit in the summer but there's just so much for them to do. They felt quite free there being able to run around everywhere with lots of open spaces and play parks.

Have you looked at Spain? Valencia is brilliant for kids and the weather can be sunny if not hot in feb. Or Malaga, good train links to elsewhere ....Granada, Seville etc

Istanbul - so much to see, fantastic food and although cold it won't be bitterly cold (and warmer than the UK) so perfect for walking and sightseeing. The Turkish people love kids so all it's a lovely place to visit with them at any age.

Nuremberg. Castle tower, toy museum, train museum amongst others. Excellent transport so you can day trip other places - we went to Rothenburg ob der Taur, which is stunning and where there's a slightly grizzly crime and punishment museum, but there's loads of other places in easy reach. Flights were super cheap as it's not a big UK holiday destination.

Gothenburg is lovely, so is Stockholm (but it's nicer in the summer). We've had nice family holidays to Barcelona and Rhodes Town.