Family-Friendly Getaways in Europe
The shift from traveling as single and independent beings to having small wee ones tagging along can make for wondrous fun but can also put a cramp in the travel style we knew and loved.
Don't feel bad if you're not into holidays involving splash parks, cartoon characters, and child-friendly chain restaurants. We aren't either. But we also don't want to deprive our kids of the major fun that a holiday should be. So finding accommodations and destinations that are welcoming and entertaining for families and highly appealing to our adult selves is a major bonus.
We've rounded up some stays across western Europe––from rustic to luxury, rural to urban––that we love for their adult vibe with added kid appeal. Here are 9 of our favorites.
Menorca Experimental – Menorca, Spain
Salty, sea breezes and warm Mediterranean sunshine? Menorca Experimental on the Spanish Balearic Island of Menorca is one of our most versatile and loved properties.
The restored property, set on 30 hectares of land overlooking the Balearic sea, has the rare privilege of easy access to the beautiful Menorcan coastline…a rarity on this island that prizes its natural preservation.
Forty-three meticulously designed rooms--courtesy of Dorothée Meilichzon--are adorned throughout with the Experimental Group’s signature minimalist, art-deco touches and are ideal for families, friends, lovers, and singles (not kidding...it's a special talent of the Group to create hotels that work for just about everyone).
Location: Menorca, Spain
Nearest Airport: Mahon (MAH)
Prices from: €210
What makes it great for the family?
Nine villas are available to book
Babysitters are available for an hourly rate with notice
Kids under 3 are free
Embark on the Mahon Express train
Meet a Farmer's Family
Cook and savor your own family paella
Learn how to be a horse trainer & assist with a horse show
Be a young archealogical adventurer with a Jeep Safari
Pool
Play at the beach
Read more about this property and find booking incentives here.
Monaci delle Terre Nere – Sicily, Italy
An innovative wine resort on the slopes of Mount Etna that prides itself on creating experiences for all ages and inspired by an extraordinary territory. Stepping onto the 25-acre property feels like entering a Garden of Eden, rich in lush vegetation and historic walls built from volcanic rock.
Family-friendly villas are scattered throughout the estate and are nestled among rolling hills of orchards and vines, with stunning views of Etna’s high peaks and the crystal waters of the Mediterranean below. And your kids will surely get a kick out of watching Etna spew and spurt just as their (likely) first science experiment did.
Right outside the gardens of the estate, you and your loved ones can enjoy dramatic trails in the slopes of Mount Etna by foot, bike, or horse. Just a short drive away, the beaches of the Ionian Sea await. Or, if your family prefers more leisurely activities, exploring Sicily's diverse towns nearby is a fun option.
Location: Sicily, Italy
Nearest Airport: Catania (CTA)
Prices from: €230
What makes it great for the family?
Cooking classes
Hiking
Biking
Play at the beach
Garden walks
Pool
Private villas
Read more about this property and find booking incentives here.
La Paulowna – The Hague, Netherlands
La Paulowna is a historic gem in the heart of The Hague. This city is a perfect family stop for those traveling to Holland and La Paulowna is a true family affair.
Designed, built, and run by a young family, it has adult style with a casual and child-friendly vibe. Don't be surprised if you see the family cat, Moppie, walking to work with the owners to lounge and greet guests in the beautiful stairwell, and you might also catch the youngest daughter keeping the restaurant staff entertained downstairs after her school day.
The Dutch certainly know how to create places and spaces that appeal to kids and adults, making it a wonderful country for family travel. In The Hague with kids, visit countless museums, beach pavilions, urban forests (with some of the world's best playgrounds, no doubt), and Madurodam –– an outdoor park filled with miniature recreations of Dutch landmarks, just to name a few.
Hotel TIP: We love the Executive Chocolate suite for the bubble bath–– a winner with the kids.
Location: South Holland, The Netherlands
Nearest Airport: Amsterdam (AMS)
Prices from: €145
What makes it great for the family?
Adult style but casual, family-friendly vibes
Hosts that have the best kid-fun recommendations for the city
Murphy beds in several rooms to accommodate families
Friendly family cat available for petting :)
Great sound-proofing
One of our favorite cities to visit with kids just outside your door
Read more about this property and find booking incentives here.
Craveiral – Alentejo, Portugal
Located in the flats of Baixa Alentejo, Portugal––a region that sits between Lisbon and Algarve–– is Craveiral, a blissful Portuguese countryside hotel. The property has all the things you might look for in an all inclusive resort, only on a smaller, more intimate and thoughtful scale.
The 38 casitas are fully equipped so you can choose to be totally independent while here (great for the family), or be completely pampered by the Craveiral team. We’re talking dining with Michelin star chef, Alexandre Silva, bike rides through the countryside, farm activities for the kids, horseback riding on the beach (a 15-minute drive), yoga, a wellness center and spa, an indoor pool that will take your breath away, and so on. Even your pets are invited in your luxurious, yet casual getaway.
Owner, Pedro has thoughtfully created eleven casitas that are adults only––no kids allowed. That leaves 27 others that will welcome you and your fam with open arms. Two and a half hours south of Lisbon and miles away from worry, we adore Craveiral. Seriously, this place is magic.
Location: Alentejo, Portugal
Nearest Airport: Lisbon (LIS)
Prices from: €170
What makes it great for the family?
Family-friendly villas
Separate adults only area (don't worry about disturbing the romantic couple next door)
Farm activities for the kids
Horseback riding
Bike riding
Wood-fired pizzas!
Pool
Play at the beach, 15-minutes by car
Read more about this property and find booking incentives here.
Haus am Turm – South Tyrol, Italy
Family owned and operated for over a century. The current owners literally grew up in this hotel and have always welcomed children to join them at their abode here in the Italian Dolomites.
Cradled in the picturesque peaks and valleys of the Alps, Sterzing-Vipiteno is the northernmost town in Italy. The small village will give your kids a nice cultural hit, complete with Austrian facades, Gothic towers, and Italian piazzas of Sterzing's city center. You'll enjoy wandering the historic stone streets, marveling at how adorable it all is. Who needs Disney when you can walk through a fairy tale! :)
But what the kids will be waiting for is just steps from the center of town–– a wide range of activities at one of the world's best and most picturesque playgrounds. Sterzing–Vipiteno is a paradise for snow lovers with multiple ski slopes and a toboggan run over 9km long that sleds you right into town (yessss!). In warmer months, trails for hiking or biking through the green meadows are just as jaw-dropping.
All seasons are beautiful here and offer plenty to keep you, and all the generations of your family with you occupied, whether you're just passing through or staying for a while.
Location: South Tyrol, Italy
Nearest Airport: Bolzano (BZO) 45 min, Innsbruck (INN) 1hr, Verona (VRN) 1.5hrs, Munich (MUC) 2.5hrs
Prices from: €136
What makes it great for the family?
Minimalist design features
Family owned and run for generations (they're used to it)
Winter wonderland of outdoor activities, toboggan anyone?
Summer mountain outdoor activities
Charming small / safe village to explore
Read more about this property and find booking incentives here.
La Donaira – Andalucia, Spain
An all-inclusive luxury farm in the Andalusian hills is for the whole family? Yep. It exists, and we're sure you'll want to stay forever. Finca La Donaira sits on 1500 acres and has activities including bathing in natural springs, exploring an organic medicinal garden, or meditating over a bee bed.
If you seek a more adventurous stay, fret not. La Donaira offers its visitors the chance to paraglide, hike, and horseback ride over miles of rolling hills and plains. If all of this sounds great but not realistic with your kids in tow, don't worry. La Donaira will have your kids learning permaculture and farming techniques while you get yourself pampered at the spa or take some (many) moments of zen.
La Donaira makes sustainable, luxurious, and adventurous travel easy. Carefully protected herds of endangered cows maintain their organic plantations, vineyards, and orchards, and there are also the mules, donkeys, and an in-house-bred herd of Lusitanian horses. Most of the food served at La Donaira's restaurant is produced on the estate, from peaches and apricots to eggs, bread, and honey. It may be that your child helped to harvest the products served on your dinner plate.
Location: Andalucia, Spain
Nearest Airport: Seville (SVQ)
Prices from: €680 (all inclusive)
What makes it great for the family?
Hiking
Horseback riding
Farming / permaculture education
Connecting with animals
Farm tours
Pool
Small villages nearby to explore
Read more about this property and find booking incentives here.
Hotel des Grand Boulevards – Paris, France
Set in the lively 2nd Arrondissement of Paris, Hôtel des Grands Boulevards sits tucked away from the city's hustle. The hotel was built just before the French Revolution and will be a favorite for those who love the classics and contemporary design. While one of our largest hotels consists of fifty rooms, it maintains an intimate setting and a great sense of privacy smack in the middle of the city.
It may seem strange to have an upscale city escape on this list, but it's just as important (perhaps more) to have an accommodation welcoming to children while you're visiting urban destinations. A lively and uber-hip scene at the reputable cocktail bar plus a fancy restaurant might make you think it wasn't the best idea, but fear not! With notice, the hotel provides trustworthy sitters, and they've built in some great sound-proofing––good if the hotel is a little more energetic than you would like, or if the inverse––your children are being too dang wild.
Location: Paris, France
Nearest Airport: Paris (CDG)
Prices from: €210
What makes it great for the family?
Children under 3 are free
Babysitters are on the ready with some notice
Sound-proof rooms
Art deco design inspo–– many round and cushy corners, if you know, you know ;)
Read more about this property and find booking incentives here.
Casas Benali – Valencia, Spain
Surrounded by nature as far as the eye can see, Casas Benali is set on 68-hectares in what was once a traditional rural Spanish settlement. Several accommodation types are offered, from the standard room to a home for 10 to the most darling glamping tents.
Enjoy well-styled rustic-chic interiors, glamping, swimming, good wine, delicious food (don't mind the chickens pecking around your feet), and good company. Owners, Daniël and Martine, have created a warm environment where everyone is welcome. So whether you bring your small family or the whole crew of twenty, you'll be right at home—nothing fancy here, folks, just good vibes.
Things are casual at Casas Benali. There's an honesty bar where you can pick up wine and beer anytime. Say hey to Pesto and Tomás, two adorable orange tabbies, and try to find the elusive Norma, the pig. Then, hang out in the hammock under the trees by the pool and have your kids make you an organic, wood-fired pizza with the chef in the evening.
Location: Valencia, Spain
Nearest Airport: Valencia (VLC)
Prices from: €62
What makes it great for the family?
Casual and laid back
Wood-fired pizzas made by your kids!
Large capacity dwellings and glamping tents available
Farm animals
Pool
Hiking
Fresh water swimming holes near
Read more about this property and find booking incentives here.
Baixa House – Lisbon, Portugal
At times, hotels can be challenging when you have children. And short-term apartment rentals often don't provide enough services. However, the Baixa House apartment hotel is a fab option for families who want just the right balance of the two.
At the Baixa House in the center of one of Lisbon's historic neighborhoods, you'll get the best of both worlds––the independence and privacy of an apartment and the standard services common in a hotel. Swiss-trained hospitality guru Anabela is your host and is waiting to make you feel right at home.
The building has 13 units ranging from one to three bedrooms, each equipped with full kitchens, living rooms, dining areas, and balconies so you can settle right in. Freshly baked bread and homemade jams brought to your door each morning? Yes, please! There is no restaurant on the property, but not to worry, breakfast is covered, and you've got the whole city of Lisbon and the lively Baixa neighborhood waiting outside.
Good to know: this is an historic building and the walls can be thin…so you may hear your neighbors and the street ambiance.
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Nearest Airport: Lisbon (LIS)
Prices from: €150
What makes it great for the family?
Furnished apartments with fully-equipped kitchens and other amenities
Washing machines in most apartments
Breakfast delivered to your door each morning
Quieter rooms available
Rooms with street ambiance also available to balance the joyful sounds of a family
Historic Lisbon at your doorstep
Read more about this property and find booking incentives here.
Packing it Up…
Traveling with your family doesn’t have to mean you have to sacrifice quality, comfort, sustainability, or the adult things you love to do. Enjoy an accommodation and destination that pleases all ages, like any of those above, and you’re bound to make more beautiful memories together.
DON'T FORGET to use the booking codes found on each hotel’s linked page for special incentives as a Good Trips traveler.
Katy Hoogerwerf
Katy is a New Orleans native who grew up shaped by the art, design, music, and famously good food her hometown is known for. Her passion and expertise lie in finding design-led conscious businesses for all ages. She lives in Holland with her Mexican hubby and their two spirited boys.
The Good Trips editors only endorse hotels we genuinely love. If you end up booking at one of our member hotels, we may earn a commission.
