looking for a city to visit with 13 year old

Gdansk obviously has a very rich history, a lot of which would be easily accessible within the city itself. There are all sorts of interesting historic military/cold-war sites scattered around NE Europe, but I think a lot of them (most?) might require a car to get out of town to reach them.

I'm headed for the Baltic countries in a couple weeks (will post a trip report when I get back). I have a long list of possible historic cold war-era sites to check out, including more than a few abandoned Soviet facilities, although most are not right in the big cities themselves. But one in particular might possibly work for your son: interested in Soviet and Warsaw Pact aircraft from the cold war era? If so, there's an "air museum" right on the Riga Airport. It's a private effort without a lot of funding, and the planes are parked outside in the elements, described as being in various states of disrepair, so it's not like a beautiful facility you might see in a more developed country (with funding to preserve everything). Poking around old derelict Soviet military jets rotting in the weather is not everyone's idea of a fun vacation (except to me), but they do seem to have quite a collection of cold war era east bloc aircraft, things that most of us in the West have never seen.

Just one option to consider. I'll be back in late July and will post a report then.

What a great list of cities! I haven’t been to any of them yet, but will be in Gdańsk is a few weeks. I’m not sure about Cold War sites, but I’m super-excited about the new WW II museum.

Please post an update!

Lviv doesnt exactly exude Cold War History, but it a great town with exceptional architecture that hasnt been totally over run with tourists. I haven't been to Krakow, but those that have been to both favorably compare the two.

Kyiv (Ukrainian spelling) is a magnificent place to dive into the cold war. Excellent war museum, They also have some outside museums full of tanks, artillery, and all sorts of aircraft from the period. Every 13 year old dream to climb and play on. You can also do things like shoot an AK if you are into that. Since military is a thing. This is a country currently at war against the Яussian invasion and the presence of military is everywhere. Dont worry, its far enough from the front to be more than safe. Wonderful people.

There are direct flights to Budapest and just outside of Budapest you can drive a cold war Яussian battle tank.

Some Movies
Break Point (about the current war with Яussia)
Winter on Fire (about the Euromaidan Revolution)
Bitter Harvest (about the Яussian imposed forced starvation of Ukraine prior to WWII)

Thank you for your replies and thank you James for the link to your pictures, very nice!

Unfortunately all the flights for Kiev have gone for the dates I was looking at so that strikes that one off the list. Gdansk is looking good but now my youngest wants to come with us which means moving away from October half term and bringing it back to late August. However, considering that we return from Florida on the 18th August it does seem a bit excessive to go off on another jaunt a week later!

I then looked at Krakow (both would like to go) which I've been to and think they'd both enjoy flying from Bournemouth which is much more palatable than Stansted however Ryanair only operate flights on Mondays and Fridays. Five days in Krakow for two children would seem too much. Nothing's easy!

I like Łódź, but you won't find many (if any) people on this forum who have been there...it's way off an American tourist's radar and appears in no guidebook (that's a bit of a blessing). It has a great former manufacturing town feel to it, really neat old buildings, as well as a cinematography museum (may be too Polish-focused for some). Great food and a nice long pedestrianized street to walk on. Not sure if it would appeal to a 13 year old as much as an adult, but worth trying. I'm almost sure there are no direct flights there, so you'll have to take a quick train from Warsaw. Gdańsk is great too but it's well-covered in all the tourist literature. The two cities look nothing alike though for obvious reasons (Baltic geography, different history, etc).

Of all the towns you originally listed, I've only been to Gdansk. The only time I didn't walk in Gdansk was from the airport to my hotel. The Solidarity Museum is one of the best museums I've ever been in. I missed the WWII museum (which also gets raves reviews) - I didn't realized it was closed on Mondays until I left it to Monday, sigh. One more reason to return.

I liked Gdansk more than Krakow.

I support James's suggestion of Kiev for anothe trip. In addition to the war museum with all the materiel outside, there are two other 20th-century history museums with English-language information: the famine (holodomor) museum and the Chernobyl Museum. Of the three, the Chernobyl Museum does the most comprehensive job on its English audio guide. The WWII museum is weakest on the English front (though not bad), but you have all that hardware to look at.

I'm almost sure there are no direct flights there, so you'll have to take a quick train from Warsaw.

We're in the UK, Ryanair flies direct to Lodz and Gdansk among many others.

Of all the towns you originally listed, I've only been to Gdansk. The only time I didn't walk in Gdansk was from the airport to my hotel. I liked Gdansk more than Krakow.

Thank you, that's interesting to note.

Thanks Acraven, unfortunately Kiev will have to wait until another time (pesky school getting in the way!). I'm intrigued by the Chernobyl Museum, sounds right up our street.

I like Gdansk. There is cold war history there but you can also take a train (very cheap) to Malbork Castle, the capital of the Teutonic Knights when they were crusading against the pagans here. I think the castle fell about 1310. Can't recall when it was built? Poland is very affordable if that makes a difference.

Thanks Brad, that castle sounds great, we're both very interested in The crusades so a good recommendation. I've been to Poland a number of times so I know how realtively inexpensive it is and, Warsaw in particular, how good the food is. I'd be interested in seeing if Gdansk has followed suit.