Val Gardena, Italy | The Dolomites
Val Gardena, Italy, gets four stars out of four for being family friendly. Kids under eight can get a multiday Gardena Card for unlimited rides on local gondolas and lifts for around €5, and for ages eight to sixteen, there’s a youth card that’s deeply discounted from typical adult fares.
It’s a really fun spot too. Most of the huts in the area have elaborate playgrounds surrounded by tables and chairs where the rest of the family can eat and drink while the littles play. My kids especially loved the playground at Monte Pana, which also has a wooden ball drop, horse and pony rides and a kids’ adventure trail called the Pana Raida.
A short walk away is Hotel Cendevaves, where kids can rent inner tubes by the hour and ride them down a track the hotel made on their steep grassy hillside. Even better: There’s a magic carpet so kids can loop the track over and over again without getting tired out by the walk up.
If you’d like the kids to have some of their own activities during your time in Val Gardena—and make friends with kids from around the world—the Val Gardena Active program has drop-off camps and guided activities just for kids.
Berchtesgaden, Germany | The Alps
Berchtesgaden gets four stars out of four for being family friendly. There are many parks and playgrounds in the area, including at most mountain huts. A lot of other activities also appeal to kids: gondolas, trains, a variety of easy walks and, of course, Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden, a salt mine, which is suitable for kids of all ages.
My kids especially loved the traditional music we came across in Berchtesgaden—at one Hometown Night at Hofbrauhaus Berchtesgaden, they were even taught a traditional dance by children from the area. Berchtesgaden National Park’s website has helpful information on family-friendly places and events in the area, including guided hikes that are specifically for families.
Calella de Palafrugell, Spain | Coast Brava
Costa Brava gets three stars out of four for being family friendly. It’s relatively affordable compared to many other spots in Europe, and there are many parks and playgrounds for kids to explore. Their favorite feature will definitely be the beach—my kids spent hours and hours playing in shallow little coves, paddling around in a rented kayak and searching for tiny crabs under the rocks. Restaurants are well equipped with high chairs, and you’ll see many local families walking along the beachside promenade together, especially on the weekends.