Ideas for 2/3 centre European City break plus relaxation with 8 and 10yo?

[noonar]

Hi. DH and I are a bit bored with the beach and euorcamp type holidays that we've had in the past. Inspired by a recent child free trip to rome, we'd love to take the Dc aged 8 and 10 on a city break this summer as part of our summer holiday.

we have 2 weeks and a budget of up to £2k for flights, transport and accommodation.

So... any ideas for an itinerary of a 2 or even 3 centre holiday that combines culture, history, beautiful scenery and relaxation in a rural, lakeside or even beach setting? (we don't mind beach if its combined with something else)

maybe we could combine 2 different countries, but it would need to be somewhere not to far south for the city part, due to the august heat...

any ideas?

TIA

sorry , thread title didn't make much sense! I meant 'a 2 or 3 centre summer holiday to include a city and a more relaxing location'

How about Barcelona? It ticks most boxes by itself as it is by the sea and has a beach. Fab

thanks....will take a look.

But you know what, i find myself thinking that i'd prefer Italy to Spain!

Or maybe Prague... hmmm

Paris would probably be my first choice for a city with DC of that age (although I have never been to Barcelona so that could be equally as good).
How about Paris/French Alps - Lake Geneva or around Chamonix is good
Paris/Ile de Re, La Rochelle area
Paris/Loire Valley
Paris/Cote d'Azur

I am going to Munich with DS (age 7) in the summer which looks good for a few days city break - could be combined with Lake Constance which is a really nice family holiday place.

Rome and Italian lakes is another option but Rome is usually very, very hot in August

thanks! keep the ideas coming! am processing all your suggestions...

Budapest and Lake Balaton?
Salzburg/Insbruck and the Tirol/Zell am Zee?
Venice/Verona and Lake Garda
Genoa/Portofino and the Cinque Terre villages.

Prague and Karlovy Vary/Brno lake

portofino, you seem very well travelled! tell me more about the prague option please

I have been to Prague about 5 times I think. It is lovely - but not necessarily the most child friendly place I ever went. It is very big with Americans and hen/stag night parties. There is lots to see, but probably, hand on heart, I would recommend it as place for a grown up weekend.

The other places I mentioned would be better for kids, or one I missed - Krakow and Zakopane in Poland.

Last year we did Athens and Naxos with two toddlers and loved it all. Sounded horrendous on paper with riots and little planes but was fab!

Tripdvisor map as to where I have been....

Copenhagen? Very easy to navigate and most things are close by in walking distance, so legs won't get as tired. Loads of Viking/historical stuff, grand buidlings, museums such as art and Danish design, zoos and Tivoli in case you fancy a bit of a change. Also a good base to use trains to head out to places such as Roskilde (more Viking stuff) or Sagnlandet Lejre, which is brilliant if your kids like outdoorsy stuff. Or take the train North to the beaches near Hornbaek (about an hour?), then make your way south down to Mon (but you'd need a car I think for this). You could even take a day trip or longer to Sweden, or take an overnight ferry to Oslo as part of the 2-3 centre bit. The only spanner is that (IMO) it very much depends on what you're wanting with the beautiful scenery. A lot of Denmark is rural and relaxing but it's not a place which has the highest mountains, deepest lakes etc. If you wanted to combine a city experience with a bit of 'country' then I would head over to Bornholm, or Aero/South Funen.