Best European Country?!

[AlvinSimonTheo]

Which European country do you love and why? Thinking of travelling for the summer holidays via rail, air etc next year with the kids 8 and 10 but I don't know where!

Too much choice. I'm thinking of including de Efteling but then I'm a bit stuck. Switzerland? Northern Italy?

I absolutely loved Corsica and the parts of Italy I've seen but it'll be august and hot.

Turning to MN for inspiration

No one?

Lol, well I've had a trip on google earth round Croatia/Sarajevo areas. Already been to Budapest.

Heading back north now (and also to trip advisor where I should've gone first)

My favourite Europeam country will always be France. I think if I could get on a train to Europe tomorrow I'd go from Paris to Vienna though. Then back home via Bavaria and the Rhine.

I really like the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal and Czech Republic.

I love Italy - in particular the Sorrento/Amalfi Coasts which are very easily accessible via train & bus. There are train stations at Pompeii, Herculaneum & Sorrento; then you can get the bus to Amalfi, Positano, Ravello & a ferry/boat to Capri.

I love Spain and Southern Germany equally

I love the Greek Islands, been to quite a few. The Greek people, the food, the beautiful scenery and the history, I can’t get enough of it all ♥️

I'd go to Southern Germany with them. Kids that age would love Europa Park! Or maybe Puy de Fou in France?

Denmark and Sweden. Dream plan for my 50th in a few years is to start in Stockholm for 3-4 days, sleeper train down to Malmo for a day or two, then cross to Copenhagen for the last few days.

@APurpleSquirrel

I love Italy - in particular the Sorrento/Amalfi Coasts which are very easily accessible via train & bus. There are train stations at Pompeii, Herculaneum & Sorrento; then you can get the bus to Amalfi, Positano, Ravello & a ferry/boat to Capri.

This for me.

Italy for me, too. We did a little tour when the kids were aged 8-12, we all loved it and would do it all again in a heartbeat. Would recommend the Naples area as a base for Pompeii, Vesuvius, Sorrento, Amalfi etc. Fabulous!

Iceland. It's the most beautiful place in the world.

Surely itdepends very much on the kind of activity you're looking to do with the kids: mostly theme parks / physical activities or adventures; or mountain hiking; or lounging on the beach/by the pool; or urban sightseeing, museums etc? I'd recommend different places for each of those things. You say you don't want it too hot in Europe in August, which sort of restricts you to the Scandi countries. - we're just back from Norway, and it was surprisingly warm even there. And do you have any financial restrictions - Switzerland or Norway will easily be three times the price of eg Slovenia or Greece.

Assuming you'd be happy with a few days in an urban centre followed by a few days being more active in the mountains I'd recommend:

Slovenia: Ljubljana for 4 days then bus to Lake Bohinj, either hiking and staying in huts or activities like rafting, canoeing, canyoning, high ropes.

Or

Norway: a few days in Oslo (fun city with fab museums) followed by train to Flam in the fjords (via Bergen train), where you can do all sorts of active stuff like mountain biking, zipline, visit a Viking village and throw axes, and -best of all - a glacier walk. Sunbathing along the fjord! Then fjord boat to Bergen and flyback from there. Fab holiday, but dammit so expensive.

We've done both of the above holidays with teenagers/adult offspring. When they were younger we weren't averse to chucking in a theme-park day between two hike days to keep them happy!

Italy all day long.
Beautiful scenery, weather and people.

2nd fave Belgium especially Bruges.

My absolute favourite is Italy as there are so many places there I would love to go. Me and DP plan on driving there and travelling one summer. I have been to Rome, Florence and Venice and all beautiful and different to each other.

Also desperate to go to Croatia as it looks beautiful!!

Spain: cheap, beautiful, very varied landscape and culture, millions of interesting places to see, delicious food, lovely weather, kind people, love of children, welcoming to tourists, easygoing lifestyle

Germany. If you go to Stuttgart you’re not too far from Legoland and Europa Park. You can get to France easily for day trips. Down to Munich and up to Cologne. It’s clean, safe, and very beautiful.

I have a real soft spot for Slovenia.

I'm fond of the Netherlands but I think to live there might be a different matter than merely holidaying. Like many Northern European countries it is pretty conventional which I think might be a bit irksome coming from Britain. A friend's father is Dutch, lived here for years. They went back for a couple of years for his work and he was so glad to leave. Everything has to be just so, your garden everything or there is a lot of teeth sucking and disapproval. Over stuff no one really fusses about here. I believe Germany and Denmark can be similar.

@RuleOfCat I love the sound of Flam! We're quite adventurous but at the same time like a beach day and the kids love theme parks too.

I don't mind it hot, much better than cold! But I remember Rome being an uncomfortable 45 degrees! I'm sure the coast is cooler.

Just reading all replies now

My favourite country is Belgium but 3 of the main interests of my life are cycling, chocolate and WW1 history so it's not altogether surprising!
It's a very interesting and much overlooked country though - not the dull place that people often imagine.

I love Germany, Croatia and Hungary.

France and Italy ❤️

I love Italy but in August all holiday spots are rammed!

UK
NI, Scotland, Wales, England. So much to see and do.

@MissyB1

I love the Greek Islands, been to quite a few. The Greek people, the food, the beautiful scenery and the history, I can’t get enough of it all ♥️

This 👆 🇬🇷 😍