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Itinerary suggestions - First family Europe trip (young kids)

Our family is likely spending a month in Dublin this summer, and will have two weeks in late July to travel somewhere else in continental Europe (in-Ireland excursions are another post for another day). 3-city itinerary suggestions to help us get started researching? (Yes, just 3, excluding day-trips.)

Kids will be 7 & 4.5, so we want to show them another culture, but don't expect them to remember much. We traveled pre-kids in Europe, so London, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Prague, and Budapest are all out for now. We have always enjoyed being based in one place for 4-5 days to wander around in depth, and also incorporate a day trip, and with little ones, that pace will still be fine. One 3-stop option would be an Alps area tour (say Munich, ??, Venice). Another is some 3-city combination of Belgium, Netherlands, Western Germany, Copenhagen and/or Oslo (or other suggestions). We will fly in from Dublin and can fly or train between cities - train patience level is probably a 3-4 hour ride. No jet lag factors, so a Friday afternoon flight means we can hit the ground running on Saturday.

It's been a long time since I researched a trip like this, and it's hard to tell how close everything really is, so I appreciate your suggestions to help me get oriented.

Posted by
8269 posts

You could see Helsinki, overnight ferry to Stockholm and fly to Oslo inexpensively on Norwegian Air Shuttle..
Or, Munich, Western Tirol and Venice by train.
Either would be great experiences for your family.

Posted by
11507 posts

Just three.. um.. very few of us would say "just three" lol .. makes sense with young kids and only 2 weeks.

Have your children travelled with you much before.. ? If not.. perhaps sticking to somewhere you have been might not be a bad idea.. you will be more comfortable with place and then can spend more energy in dealing with the kids,, and btw.. I still remember stuff from my first trip to Europe. and I was 7.. so don't discount how this trip will impact the kids.

I will say this though.. take it easy.. I was all " kids aren't going to change us " blah blah blah.. but found with three kids.. yup , we did have to adjust our travel style. I think you idea of minimum of 3-4 nights is right on.. and keep in mind , 3 nights is only 2 full days..

You would of course be flying in and out of Oslo or Copenhague as you already stated 3-4 hours is your train time limit.

Posted by
7175 posts

Amsterdam > Berlin > Munich (could throw in Dresden)
Belgium (Brussels) > Amsterdam > Copenhagen (could throw in Hamburg)
Rhine (Frankfurt) > Munich > Vienna (could throw in Salzburg)
Helsinki > Stockholm > Oslo (could throw in Bergen)
Munich > Swiss Alps > French Riviera (Nice) (could throw in Milan/Italian Lakes)
Venice > Florence > Rome (could throw in Cinque Terre)
Croatia & Greece