1. London, UK
London is an excellent destination for the whole family at any time of year, but summer has to be the best time to visit this fantastic city. The weather is warmer and the parks are in full bloom, meaning you won’t have to drag your complaining brood from attraction to attraction as they freeze their little hands-off.
However, this year a trip to London will be even more special as all the covid-19 restrictions have been lifted which have been placed for almost the last two years.
Travellers will find a huge number of attractions for kids throughout the city during the summer that will keep you busy for many days. Here are some of the top ideas for things to keep the whole family entertained this summer:
See a Show in the West End: There are plenty of excellent shows to check out in London’s West End, many of which are ideal for kids. There’s The Lion King at Lyceum Theatre, Matilda at Cambridge Theatre, and Shrek at Theatre Royal for a start, so you’ll be able to take your pick during your stay here.
Visit a World-Class Museum: London boasts some top museums, many of which are designed with families in mind. The Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the Horniman Museum, and the Museum of London are just a few to start you off, and all of them will provide you with hours of entertainment.
Go to the Zoo: London Zoo is one of the best zoos in the world, and you can easily make this into a fun and adventure-filled day trip. With new exhibits constantly opening and a huge variety of exotic animals to discover, it is the ideal way to spend a day in London.
Head to the Aquarium: The Sea Life London Aquarium is one of the best aquariums in the UK, and your kids will be fascinated by the mysterious sea creatures on display here. This is a journey of discovery to the bottom of the ocean, with interactive exhibits, a floating walkway, and plenty of sharks.
Discover London This Summer
If you are looking for an ideal destination for a summer break in 2022, London could well be it.
2. Croatia
Located in South Central Europe and across the Adriatic Sea east of Italy. The nation is counted as one of the best Tourist destinations in Summer. There are over 1,000 islands along the 1,000-mile coastline for you to enjoy on your Croatia vacation. Many national parks are spread throughout the country; which provides plenty of rural things to do in Croatia. The Danube River, Europe’s second-longest, runs along Croatia’s eastern border, at the city of Vukovar; a great place to see when you visit Croatia.
Travelling is easy and means of transport are readily available. Croatia has three international airports and a number of regional airports, some on the islands.
On your Croatian vacation, you can see ancient cities and ruins, museums and art galleries, modern hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs. When you visit Croatia you will have the pleasure of enjoying beautiful mountains with pine forests; white sand beaches with palm trees and crystal clear blue water. These are all reasons why a vacation in Croatia is such a popular tourist decision and one of the Best places to visit in Summer.
3. ITALY
When you plan your Travel to Italy for the summer vacation, take note that you will be going to one of the most visited countries in Europe and worldwide. During summers Italy is usually packed.
The beaches are crowded, lots of traffic in the cities and lines at the entrance of the tourist attractions. But this is what everybody loves about Italy. It is a warm country with great people and great food; and above all, a vast history that opens up before our eyes as we walk its trails and cities.
Some of the main attractions of Italy are:
Florence Italy vacations
Piazza Della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio – The heart of the Historic Center of this former Italian Capital
Il Duomo and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
The Baptistery of John the Baptist is Florence’s oldest building dating to the 11th Century.
Campanile – Bell Tower – The first story was designed by Giotto and it is commonly called Giotto’s Campanile.
The Ponte Vecchio – In English old bridge, built-in 1345, was Florence’s first bridge across the Arno River
Galleria Degli Uffizi – It holds the world’s most important collection of Renaissance art
Venice Italy Vacations
Venice Grand Canal – Venice’s main water thoroughfare, lined with great Renaissance palaces.
La Laguna – Large body of water located between Venice and the Adriatic Sea.
Campanile di San Marco – Visitors can take the elevator to the top for incredible views of Venice and the Alps
Piazza San Marco – St Marks Square is spectacular. Hundreds of pigeons will come to your hands to be fed.
Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) – The Doge’s Palace is the most impressive non religious building in Venice.
Rome Italy Tours
Basilica di San Pietro – The main cathedral of the Vatican is visited by millions
Galleria Borghese – This is a museum in a house in the park, with sculptures by Bernini.
Colosseum (Colosseo) – The most important of the ancient ruins of Rome
Basilica di San Clemente – This church is not one, but three built one above the other.
Travel to Tuscany
Stroll around Siena a town dating from medieval times
Go for a wine tasting in Chianti where you may taste the wine from the vineyards of the region.
Visit Lucca the Tuscan Town bounded by the Romans 1,900 years ago.
Take a Tuscan Cooking Class and learn how to make authentic Tuscan dishes
Travel to Sicily
Mount Etna – In Catania is the tallest active volcano in Europe and the second most active in the world.
Taormina – Enjoy the beautiful sight of the Bove Valley.
Temple of Segesta – This is an unfinished fifth century Doric temple with no roof and no interior.
Italian lakes attractions
Visit the most beautiful villages surrounding the lakes
Enjoy breathtaking views of the Italian lakes such as Lake Garda, Lake Como, Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano.
4. Prague, Chez Republic
Beer aside for the moment, Prague has so much to offer its visitors. This city mostly escaped undamaged during both world wars. Prague’s buildings and architecture span hundreds of years.
Hradcany
The Hradcany area is where you can find the magical Prague Castle. This is the most visited of Prague’s attractions. This complex site has been growing since 870AD, with beautiful chapels and exquisite buildings. Golden Lane is in the castle estate, a tiny street lined with colourful wooden houses. Goldsmiths lived here in the 17th century – hence the name!
Mala Strana
Mala Strana (Little town), is a picturesque district which lies at the foot of Prague castle. Many beautiful churches, quaint shops and traditional Czech pubs. The Mala Strana Bridge Tower leads you thru to the infamous Charles Bridge. Built-in the 13th century the Charles Bridge was predominantly designed as a public walkway linking the castle and the old town. Originally it was built with no statues – later 30 Baroque statues were added. Great atmosphere here, with street vendors and street entertainers keeping the tourists happy.
Old Town
Across the bridge, you will enter the old town. This old market square is lined with beautiful buildings. Here you can find St Nicholas Church and the astronomical clock tower in the town hall. As the clock strikes every hour a little parade of the 12 apostles, Christ and a skeleton ringing a bell entertain the people below.
Jewish Quarter
To the north of the old town is the Jewish Quarter. Ironically, had Hitler been successful in WWII he once planned to open a museum here dedicated to the intended extinct Jewish race. Thankfully that never happened, although many of the originally collated artefacts are housed in the magnificent Jewish museum. Wenceslas Square is in the new town of Prague (although in Prague new means circa 1348!) The statue of St Wenceslas sitting on his horse dominates this square, also famous for its Christmas market
5. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam conjures up many different thoughts in many different people. Old buildings towering over old canals is the image that most of us think of, but once you get past the superficial splendour you find that there is so much more to the city.
Best attraction to see in Amsterdam.
Amsterdamse Bos
Amsterdamse Bos located just a few kilometres from Amsterdam has everything anyone could ask for in a park. In addition to the lush forest cultivated here, you can find a petting zoo for kids, a sports park for getting in a bit of recreation, there is also a rowing course where you can rent boats, and a pancake house to refuel when you’re done having fun.
Amstelpark
Located as the name implies along the Amstel river in the suburb of Buitenveldert, this large park was created in 1972 as part of the second world garden fair. The city maintained the park after the fair ended and it is now one of the two most popular parks in Amsterdam. With everything from a petting zoo to art galleries to mini-golf Amstelpark has something to suit all tastes
Anne Frank Huis
The Anne Frank House is something that every visitor to Amsterdam should see whether they have read the story of Anne Frank who was forced into hiding by the Nazis in the very house that is now a Museum. There is no description that can give you the same feeling as being in the actual house.
Artis Zoo
Want to experience wildlife from around the world without the soles of your shoes ever having to touch dirt? If you’ve seen one zoo you definitely have not seen them all the old buildings constructed in the 19th century give the Artis Zoo a feel that is completely different.
Electrische Museumtramlijn Amsterdam
Electrische Museumtramlijn Amsterdam (or EMA if that is too much of a mouthful) the tram museum is not just any ordinary museum. They don’t just exhibit old trams from different parts of Europe, they fix them up and let you ride them! And there are few better ways to experience the city than to see it from a tram.
6. Greece
Greece, located in South-eastern Europe was one of the most visited nations in Summer in Europe.
Rhodes
Rhodes Island near the southern coast of Turkey, between Greece’s mainland and the Island of Cyprus, is one of the most visited of the Greek Islands, It is the largest of the Dodecanese Islands and some say it is the sunniest place in Europe, therefore Rhodes beaches are the ideal place for vacations.
But Rhodes is not only for beachgoers. It also offers historical and archaeological treasures worth a visit like the Acropolis at Lindos a beautiful beach town not far from downtown Rhodes. Rhodes is also famous for the “Colossus of Rhodes” one of the Wonders of the World.
Santorini
Santorini is definitely one of the most beautiful and spectacular islands in the Aegean Sea. It is a member of the Cycladic group of islands, located between the Ios and Anafi islands. It is by far one of Europe’s top tourist spots.
This is an island of incredible contrasts. You may see the white and blue-domed houses falling from the hill near Thira, the capital, but once inside the town the streets are heavily developed with costly cafes, restaurants and high fashion shops and boutiques.
This is what I mean when I said contrasts. Because of the amazing beauty of Santorini, many singers and artists have chosen the island as a background for their videos and movies.
7. Mallorca, Spain
Whether you’re looking for peace or adventure this summer then Mallorca is the perfect place. It’s ancient and it’s modern, it’s tranquil and it’s exciting, it’s got mountains, it’s got the sea, it’s got great food and great shops – there’s something for everyone in Mallorca.
If a sandy beach is essential to your holiday fun, you’ll find some stunning ones in Mallorca. Puerto Pollensa has a long, peaceful beach, running more or less around the whole bay. It’s comfortable for sunbathing and convenient for shops and restaurants, which are just across the road – and the sea there is wonderful for swimming in. The mountains behind the town are also interesting to explore.
The Sierra de Tramuntana provides some extraordinary landscape. Some of it is rocky and primaeval, while other parts are covered in trees and home to wild goats. Mallorca is also a rich seam for bird-watchers. There are several nature reserves around the island and there are some fascinating underground caves too.
8. Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul is an excellent summer destination for travelling. Every year millions of tourists visit Istanbul in Summer Season.
Istanbul is also the capital of art and culture as well as being a synthesis of eastern and western cultures. The atmosphere is always excellent with its old crumbling architecture, street vendors and stockbrokers, department stores, ultra-modernistic shopping centres, bazaars and skyscrapers.
Istanbul has two well-known sides; the European side and the Asian side. The European side is divided in two by the Golden Horn or Halic, which roughly divides the historic part of old Istanbul, encompassing the areas of, Sultanahmet and Laleli, from the new city.
9. Algarve, Portugal
The Algarve is one of the leading Summer holiday locations in Europe owing largely to the all-year sunshine and wonderful sandy seashores.
There are numerous official campsites to decide on from all throughout the Algarve from East to West and central Algarve, most of which are close to the seashores and important cities. Quite a handful of these internet sites include playgrounds, eating places, bars, swimming swimming pools, mini markets and a range of sporting activities this kind as tennis, bike rental and adventure sports activities.
10. Slovakia
Slovakia has now a day become more open to Summer tourism, travel to Slovakia is picking up, and the hospitality industry is bound to grow by leaps and bounds.
Some of the most amazing creations in all the world may be found in this relatively small country in Central Europe.
High Tatras
The snow-topped mountain range is the only alpine mountain in Eastern Europe. It climbs up to a height of over 8700 feet, with an area of 100 square miles, which makes it one of the smallest mountain ranges in the world.
Mala Fatra
The serenity of the area in Mala Fatra is a spectacle of valleys and peaks with a lot of forests and mountains around. Here, it looks like time stood still because it seems that nature was allowed to just grow and blossom here – almost untouched in its beauty. For many, seeing Mala Fatra is like being in a paradise with a grand variety of flora and fauna, birds and animals, and blissful natural beauty.
Low Tatras
This is a more accessible version of the High Tatras except it is a bit more extensive in reach. It is also less visited which lends a better, but more dangerous visit. A hike up these peaks might reward you with a glimpse of the wild animals that roam the area like the bears, lynx, wolves and chamois
Pieniny
If mountains are not your idea of a great vacation, you can visit Pieniny which is a rocky landscape that scans the Polish border. You can go rafting here with tour guides dressed in traditional costumes.
Ochtinska Aragonite Cave
Of all the numerous caves in Slovakia, this might probably be the most unusual. It was discovered in 1954 and has blue limestone walls
Slovakia is really a hotspot of natural wonders. It’s no wonder that tourists from all over the world come here for the “miracle waters” of Slovakia. The spas here have been known to alleviate medical conditions such as respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive conditions.
