Europe

Europe’s out-of-this-world wealth of attractions are its biggest single draw: the most famous acropolis in the world in the centre of Athens; one of the world’s most baffling remaining mysteries at England’s Stonehenge; the mix of gothic, belle époque and renaissance architecture in Paris; the centuries of art and history crammed inside the Vatican City; the romantic canals of Venice; and the cathedrals and castles of Germany. Less obvious but no less incredible attractions include the fascinating East-meets-West blend of Istanbul, the cobblestone alleyways of storybook Bruges, the imperial palaces of Russia, Valetta’s imposing harbour in up-and-coming Malta… truly, the list is endless. And little ones are just as spoilt for choice as parents, with stops along the way to break up a long day of touristing, such as Disneyland Paris, candle-lit Christmas markets, city parks such as Amsterdam’s Vondelpark and Jardin du Luxembourg in central Paris, Italian cooking classes in Naples, or a ride on the London Eye.

The scenery is just as diverse and inviting, from the immense Fjords of Norway to the snow-capped peaks of the Italian and Swiss alps, the rugged glens and lochs of the Scottish Highlands to the vine-lined valleys of Tuscany, Bordeaux and La Rioja. Whether your family prefer to get back to nature among mountains, beaches or scenic countryside, there is the perfect holiday here for you.

Once you’ve ticked off some of the world’s most famous landmarks, what is there left to do? Eat, eat, eat, that’s what! Whether its arancini balls in Sicily, souvlaki in Santorini, a doner kebab in Turkey or scotch eggs in London, it is once again Europe’s medley of cultures that is it’s biggest allure.

Check out our family-friendly guides to Austria, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, France and Spain