Short break for myself and 13yo ds ?

[Bartg]

My best idea so far is Copenhagen
i would like to go somewhere that feels safe as it’s just the two of us. Easy to negotiate travel around etc. we will go for four nights and do a bit of sightseeing. I just wonder if Copenhagen isn’t that interesting/cool a destination. Just hoping for a few other ideas if anyone has.

Paris. Berlin. Ibiza. Rome. Cape Town. Hemel en aarde valley for the wine tour - stay in Onrus. Johannesburg. Pilanesberg - black rhino game reserve.
All places I would go with my children
Without a partner (& have been in some cases).
And all would be fun.

In fact I (british, not South African) lived in South Africa with one of my kids on my own for a couple of years. Was fantastic. Great food. Great countryside. Very family friendly. Highly recommend. Also took my child to Harare in Zimbabwe. Also fabulous.

blackrhinogamelodge.com/

Took dd to Oslo a couple of years ago. Wine is eye wateringly expensive, but otherwise it wasn't that bad - under 16s are practically free for museums and public transport. Lovely and clean. We went to the viking ship museum, the ski jump, the cultural history museum filled with old buildings and the Northern Lights experience. And the Aker fortress and resistance museum. Food at the Mathallen and Hard Rock Cafe and Akker Brygge Public transport is good. We went in Feb and it was a bit bracing. Would like to go back in the summer to do boat trips. We've also done Prague, Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, and Munich.

Paris is our favourite. In UK, Glasgow is fabulous. Lots of free stuff.

Amsterdam is great with kids. dd loved it when I took her when she was in y4.
Also suggest Paris and Edinburgh

Thanks. I think I am veering towards Amsterdam now. Or perhaps Rome. It’s much easier for us to go to Amsterdam as it’s a direct flight so just wondering if time is worth the extra journey or maybe leave for another day

@Bartg
Oslo is very expensive! What interests your DS? Stockholm has the Vasa and good museums. Copenhagen similar. Both are safe. I have taken DDs to Rome, Amsterdam and Paris. Iceland has limitations in April. Any city in Spain or Italy is great. Certainly Florence, Madrid and Barcelona are fab. Also Bologna should be on your list for access to Ferrari museum. All safe and easy. Lisbon too.

Ealing would be brilliant for 13 year old. Loads to do and very safe/easy to.get around with a Berlin card.
Budapest is also excellent and has much to recommend it.
I love Copenhagen, but not sure its ideal for a 13 year old.
Amsterdam is definitely not too adult. Just avoid cannabis and red lights. So much more to the city than those.

He likes history and museums generally and nice places to walk around - rivers etc. I think rome would possibly interest him most. I am reluctant to offer that unless I feel sure I could do it as I think he would be super keen

@Bartg
Rome is easy to navigate. You just need to research how you will get into the city from the airport. We used a shuttle service. Then look at hotels in an area near to an underground station. Try and stay quite close to somewhere you want to see, eg the forum, colosseum, Trevi fountain etc. I really rate Lonely Planet guides for help with planning.

If he likes football Barcelona would be great and could visit Neu Camp. Did this with teens and also Rome both of which they loved.

One of DDs favourite trips was to Edinburgh and Glasgow (not a great option if you already live there though) super easy to navigate, public transport was fantastic. Science centre, sledging at Intu Braehead, Edinburgh zoo, castle, day trips, into the highlands etc loads of things we didnt have time for and would love to go back soon. You wont lose time on a short trip to travel and hanging around an airport either.

We’ve been to Copenhagen and Amsterdam with our children (but when they were younger than 13).
Copenhagen was amazing. We went to Tivoli, Experimentarium (a Science museum crossed with The Crystal Maze), Little Mermaid and Rosenberg Castle.
Amsterdam- great for kids. We just avoided certain areas. We visited Anne Frank’s house, had a canal trip, Nemo museum and the Hermitage Art museum.

Barcelona- we’ve done recently. If he likes football, Camp Nou is impressive. Also lots of art galleries and history.

I haven’t done Rome since I’ve had children but if he likes history, I’m sure he would love it too.

I think you have mentioned some great cities and you’ll have an amazing time in any of the above. Wherever you choose, happy travels!