European city break

[Littlesticklebrick]

I’m wanting to do something different for our summer holiday this year. It’s only myself and my 12 year old son. Does anyone have any European city ideas? I’d considered Barcelona for a few nights as we could do a beach too? I’d try anywhere & would possibly like to link 2 breaks together?
If you have any ideas that would be great & if you’ve done with a similar aged child too. I do wonder if it would be too hot in August to have them going around a city?

Some of the websites say they're allowed into the complexes, but not the thermal pools. But I don't have the heart to spend an hour lolling around in a spa pool with DS1, with DS2 sitting on the side reading his book :(.

@MissyB1 i wondered if you might not mind sharing more info on how your doing this please?

@Shwish i wondered if you were able to give ideas on areas to stay? Travel? Thank you

We've done this type of holiday quite a lot over the years and I would recommend Berlin and then take a train to Amsterdam. Direct train, nice and easy. We loved this holiday and DD was just a bit older than your DS at the time. So much to see an do in both places, but they are so different.

Cascais and Lisbon. Stay in Cascais, easy train to Lisbon. We did this with teenagers. Can also visit Sintra from there.

Amsterdam and The Hague would be great too, as pp said, great beaches. But weather pretty much the same as UK, can be wet and always windy.

Hi I just researched Ghent hotels on trip advisor and chose one suitable for us, as we have a teen so needed the right room set up.b
Booked direct with the hotel. Then we booked our Eurostar tickets to Brussels, the Brussels to Ghent tickets we will get when we are there. Antwerp will be a day trip ftom Ghent.

Agree with others stick North! Even Paris is boiling in August!!

My kids at same age loved Copenhagen and still do as students. Loads to do and very safe - if expensive!

I have recently visited Bordeaux for a couple of days city break with friends and it was gorgeous and felt very safe. Loads of stunning countryside plus little beach resorts nearby. My friend and her daughter stayed at the hotel Burdigala which was lovely and they had a two floor room with downstairs double sofa bed plus two loos ideal for sharing. Preferred its modern friendliness to our bang in middle old classy hotel.

Bilbao ( fabulous city) with a couple of beach days in San Sebastián

How about Gdansk in Poland?

The “Old” Town of Gdansk is vibrant with its colourful buildings, shops (especially Amber) outdoors restaurants and Museums. You could take a boat trip to Westerplatte (start of invasion of Poland and WW2), climb St Mary’s Church Tower (over 400 steps), see the Neptune fountain, etc. There are also two really good museums, one of the Second World War and one dedicated to the solidarity movement.

The city of Sopot (12km away) has a great beach with a range of water sports and a pier. If you have time you can take a day trip by train to Malbork Teutonic Castle (largest brick built castle in Europe).

Public transport is very good and reasonable. Accommodation and flights are not too expensive.

@TeamGeriatric
I wondered if you could tell me a little more about Bled and how you travelled.
Did you fly in and out of Ljubljana? Did you stay in Bled and then Ljubana?

We went interrailing a couple of years ago, and it was a brilliant holiday, we did so much! DD says it was her favourite holiday we’ve had. It was quite tiring though 😂.

We all really loved the Germanic regions, everything worked perfectly, lovely outdoor pool complexes to cool down in, and amazing history and architecture. Highlights included Munich (really cool surfing in the river in the middle of the city), Salzburg, Vienna and Budapest.

Recently back for a weekend in Dubrovnik, which I adored! There’s not tonnes to do, but such a beautiful city, beach walkable and crystal clear, fascinating history (both recent and beyond), lovely people.

My main criteria is air conditioned accommodation wherever you go - Europe is hot in July and August (and June …)