City breaks with kids - ideas pls!

[Firstworldprobs]

We have two boys aged 13 and 9. 13 is Autistic and 9 has ADHD. Tried a Majorca beach holiday this summer (first hol in 5 yrs) and 13 hated the sand/heat and 9 got bored!

Trying to think outside the box for future family experiences.

Any recommendations for Europe city breaks (3 nighters) that we can get to easily (we are close to London and LHR), where they can eat lots of lovely local food, and we can show them some awesome sites?

Definitely have Rome on the list… would be looking at 3* hotels. Any ideas??

Barcelona? Paris. Anywhere really.

Split is lovely. We did a Eurocamp this year in Croatia. Not too hot, lots to do, travelled about a bit. Beach but was rocky, no sand but need aquashoes.

Paris Eurostar. Less faff than flying. Quicker too as less waiting around.

Try and find out what they would like to do. Do they have any interests? Amsterdam is quick and easy. Ditto Berlin. However if they aren’t interested in culture and sightseeing, what then? So try and match cities to interests. Are they interested in food? Or is that what you want? Bologna in Italy is good for food. Ferrari museum isn’t that far away.

They are obsessed with cars / racing etc so Ferrari sounds perfect!

They love food - the 13 yr old especially has ridiculously adventurous tastes and loves trying new exotic things...

@Firstworldprobs
I would check out Bologna then as it has amazing food shops and see what Ferrari options there are. There’s one at Maranello and one at Modena. There’s also the Museo Lamborghini - can’t go wrong for super cars in this area.

@TizerorFizz Awesome - thanks!

Berlin. The Checkpoint Charlie Museum is brilliant. Also Tempelhof, the Technology museum, Fernseeturm, Zoo (if you are into that sort of thing), and Tiergarten for letting off steam. Loads more, much suitable for kids.

staying in the UK but York and Edinburgh are great for short breaks.

Cologne is the best city break we have ever done. Cathedral, roman mosaics, an amazing zoo (we are not zoo people but we loved it), chocolate factory museum. It's an easy change from the Brussels Eurostar, then you arrive straight into the city centre at the train station. Everything is nice and close together but you can ride the tram/trains out to Bonn if you want to

@deplorabelle

How much was the train to Cologne from UK? Fancy doing this but flights in school hols are always more expensive.

Barcelona! So many sights that are interesting to kids - Parc Guell, the musical fountain, cable car, football stadium tour, trippy looking buildings, beach. Haven’t taken my kids yet but it’s top of the list. It’s so colourful and cool.

Amsterdam. Loads of parks, museums, boat trips, loads of history...you can go on the Eurostar.

od Second both Barcelona and Amsterdam. Or maybe Nice and could get train along to Monaco and can walk the FI track and there are a LOT of v nice cars just driving about the streets!

Copenhagen got good reviews on a post that asked similar recently. I haven't been myself though (thanks to covid cancelling that plan!)

Copenhagen

www.eehbahmum.com/top-10-reasons-to-visit-denmark-with-toddlers/

Stockholm. The Vasa alone is incredible!

I'm sorry I can't remember but things have changed a lot since covid so probably not relevant.

Because aviation fuel is not taxed this effectively subsidises air travel so that the most environmentally destructive way of travelling is usually the cheapest. But you can look up fares and timetables on seat61.com and see how it compares. It's far nicer to arrive in the centre of the city by train and sometimes it can be cheaper you never know. Remember to factor in transfer from the airport when comparing prices

Split is good, we've just been there with 13 and 11 yo. Small, historical, there are 'manageable' beaches - I say this as a person who doesn't like beaches, but you can get chairs and shade (essential for me) and the beach is very shallow and safe, so less parental anxiety on that front.

Billund (for Legoland and the amazing Lego House).

Not really a city break, but a good activity break that can be combined with a day in Aarhus, or at Aqua in Silkeborg, or Okolariet in Vejle, or the nearby WOW-park or the Viking Museum at Jelling ...

The link earlier in the thread is not just about Copenhagen (also a good option) but about Denmark in general, and it is not just about Denmark for toddlers.

www.eehbahmum.com/top-10-reasons-to-visit-denmark-with-toddlers/

Barcelona, Madrid, Rome would be my first choices. Also Paris.

I'm considering a trip to Valencia as a friend recommended it with DC.

My siblings took their kids to Vienna and they all loved it. I haven't done it yet but it's on my list.

Some fantastic ideas - thank you all!

They are obsessed with cars / racing etc so Ferrari sounds perfect!

weekend in Warwick|Leamington

gaydon motor museum and Coventry (free)motor museum, Warwick castle, Warwick museum has a Healey display

There’s nothing like seeing a Ferrari or Lambo in Italy. When DD was in Bologna, 300 Lambos came into the main square on a tour to celebrate an anniversary of the company. DD said everyone was so excited. The noise!

Sometimes you just see super car exhibitions there. Last time we were in Milan was saw exotics in Sforza Castle. Around 30. Didn’t know they were there but millions of £ on show.