Used to love city breaks in your pre-child life, but now worry about what it will be like with littles in tow?
Don’t.
City breaks can be truly amazing for the whole family, providing you with pretty much endless opportunities for entertainment, experiences and fun –from museums to parks, playgrounds, visitor centres, food markets and sights, cities pretty much come with a new adventure around every corner.
When travelling anywhere with children the trick is just to make sure that both your itinaray and accomodation work for you and your crew. Get the kids involved in planning your break, get out the guide books, bookmark things everyone wants to see and do, talk about where you are going, get them excited for trying new food and seeing the local sights, and we think you are in for a holiday everyone will remember forever.
As for accomodation, sure hotels can be a nice treat, but we think these super-child-friendly home rentals from Kid & Coe are even better – often coming fully kitted out with toys, books, bikes, high chairs and everything else you might need for a perfectly relaxing and amazing family break:
1. Barcelona
We love how Barcelona in the summer offers you the best of both worlds; city and beach, both right there for you to explore and enjoy.
And should you dream of exploring the Catalan capital this summer, we think you’ll love this duplex penthouse apartment right in the centre of the Sant Antoni area of Barcelona.
Not only is the apartment itself totally gorgeous (and comes complete with toys, high chairs, baby baths etc.), it is also only a short stroll away from Las Ramblas, Barcelona’s vibrant and amazing main street, as well as also having the beach and a park and with a playground only ten minutes away.
Oh, and did we mention that the Sant Antoni market and Parlament area, which are full of tapas bars, shops and restaurants, are a mere 2-minute stroll away…?
Or, you know, you could just kick back with some sangria and relax at the apartment’s gorgeous terrace too…
For more information and to book, click here
2. Oslo
Sure the Norwegian capital is cold in the winter, but during the summer months the temperatures could easily reach the high 20s and even 30s, which comes in handy, as this fjord-city is choc-a-block with gorgeous beaches to take a dip at.
It is also the perfect destination for a fun city break with the family – we bet the kids would love to explore the viking museum, climb ot the top of the famous Holmenkollen ski-jump or go island-hopping in the Oslo-fjord – to menion a few.
And should you fancy a trip, we can’t think of anywhere chicer to stay than this gorgeous city-centre apartment, situated in the beautiful and leafy Lindern area of the city.
The house is fully kitted out with books, toys and bikes, and is in a kid-friendly green oasis with plenty of other families nearby. The backyard is grassy and has a playground, small soccer pitch, trees to climb and berries to eat. Oh, and you have gorgeous bakeries, shops and restaurants pretty much on your doorstep.
For more information and to book, click here
3. Berlin
When it comes to cool things to see and do, few European cities will beat Berlin.
There are parks and playgrounds everywhere, and plenty of sights the whole family will love to discover. And don’t even get us started on the amazing food scene – you will pretty much want to eat every meal out just to explore all this capital city has to offer.
As for accomosation, we think this family-friendly apartment in Berlin Mitte is pretty much perfection. It includes plenty for younger children and is just 10 minutes’ walk from playgrounds, an outdoor pool and Museum Island. Located in a diverse and central area of the city often compared to Soho or The Village, it is also within walking distance to plenty of attractions.
For more information and to book, click here
4. Brighton
Fancy a city break at the English seaside this summer? Then Brighton might tick all your boxes.
Beaches, the pier, charming eateries, parks, playgrounds – and you could even hop on a train to London (it only takes an hour) for a day-trip should you fancy even more hustle and bustle.
If this sounds like something your family would love, we think this cool apartment in Hove, just outside Brighton, would be perfect. It comes complete with toys, books and a sunken trampoline in the garden to keep the kids entertained, and rest assure that fun is just on your doorstep, with lots of pubs, cafés, restaurants, museums and shops a short stroll away.
For more information and to book, click here
5. Rome
Bella Roma. This ancient city has history and adventure around every corner, and we think adults and children alike will love exploring this truly jaw-dropping location. From the Colosseum to the Vatican, the charming piazzas, the flower markets, the tiny coffee shops, the fountains, the museums, the parks, we will never stop dreaming of yet another visit to Rome.
And if you decide to go, this charming apartment (perfect for a family of 4-5) is kid-friendly, full of toys and has the dreamiest long dining table, perfect if you want to whip up your own pasta or pizza while in the homeland of Italian cuisine.
Not only do you have parks and playgrounds on your doorstep, but Rome’s stellar attractions, including the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Roman Forum, are all under 20 minutes away by bus or the tube.
For more information and to book, click here
