Holidays with children: five magical routes in Europe to do by car or motorhome

Planning your summer vacation now? If you are looking for a different and fun holiday, in which to enjoy nature, city tourism and the beauty of lots of corners to discover, venture out to do some of the routes we propose.

They are Five routes around Europe that you can do by car or motorhome. In our proposals you will find attractive cities to visit and a wide range of leisure offers, as well as accommodation ideas. Surely your family vacations are unforgettable!

Route through the northern half of Portugal

Porto city

Portugal is a beautiful country that has a lot to offer. Its climate, the proximity to our country and its beautiful beaches make it a perfect tourist destination for Spanish families. In addition, Portugal has a careful network of camping sites and motorhome parking lots that will make our trip more enjoyable if we opt for this means of transport.

If a year ago we proposed a route through the southern half of Portugal, this time we propose a travel through the northern half of the country, starting from the beautiful city of Viana do Castelo and ending in the medieval Leiria. In total, more than 400 km that will not leave you indifferent and that you can do in a comfortable and relaxed way, setting your own pace.

In Diario del ViajeroPortugal takes the title of Best Tourist Destination in the World

Viana do Castelo is one of the most beautiful cities in northern Portugal, with an important maritime tradition. From the mountain of Santa Luzia you can see its privileged situation and views of the city that will dazzle us.

In Viana do Castelo there is much to see, because the city has emblazoned palaces, churches, convents, chafarices and fontanares that constitute a heritage worth visiting. But in Viana not everything is architectural and cultural tourism, and also sports-loving families will find a wide range of activities to do with children, such as cycling, hiking, surfing, sailing, rowing or canoeing on the Lima River.

75 km from Porto is the beautiful and colorful city of Aveiro, which is worth visiting

100 km from Viana is Porto, the second largest city in Portugal declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. Porto catches the visitor with its history, its stately neighborhoods, its commercial areas and its colorful and labyrinthine streets on the banks of the Douro river.

And right in the center of Portugal, 130 km from Porto, we find the city of Viseu that stands on a plateau surrounded by mountains and rivers. You will love Viseu for its medieval atmosphere, its palaces and stone constructions and its lush gardens.

At 140 km, continuing our trip to the southwest, we will arrive in Coimbra, known as "the city of the students" by its famous university. Coimbra is a World Heritage Site of Unesco, and has important architectural monuments to visit. Our trip will end in the medieval city of Leiria, just 75 km away.

Beautiful Espinho beach, where you can also enjoy our route through Portugal

On our way through Portuguese lands we will have been able to enjoy your rich gastronomy, its climate and its beaches of fine sand. If we have chosen to travel by motorhome, we can choose from more than 100 campsites registered in the ACSI Association for our accommodation. Among them we will surely find those that best suit our needs.

Route through the south of France

Stunning view of the photographed city of Carcassonne

If you travel by caravan or motorhome you should know that France is a country perfectly prepared for campers, with lots of magical routes to discover. On this occasion, we begin our tour with a journey through the most beautiful villages in the south, with places that will leave you speechless.

The route that we propose will depart from the Regional Natural Park of the Catalan Pyrenees, where we recommend you spend some days enjoying nature, hiking and outdoor sports.

From there we will travel north to the city of Carcassonne, considered the largest medieval fortification in Europe and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Children will be fascinated by this walled city, where it seems that time stops between architectural jewels.

In Babies and more Family vacations: five magical motorhome routes to do with children in Europe

From Carcassonne we suggest you reach Toulouse, 93 km northwest. Toulouse is known as the "Pink City" by the dominant color of the facades of its old buildings. In Toulouse we can stroll through its narrow and winding streets, admire the romanticism impregnated in many of its monuments and discover its most beautiful places.

Beautiful city of Montauban

And from there we will head north, to the city of Montauban, located just over 50 km from Toulouse. This beautiful city has a strategic enclave and some original constructions, which have earned it the title of "prototype houses and new villages". In addition to architectural tourism, in Montauban you can enjoy nature and the conditioned areas for children's games, outdoor picnic and walks on foot or by bike.

Our route through France continues in the city of Agen, 75 km from Montabaun. Agen is a cozy and familiar city, with emblematic places and important architectural buildings among which the Museum of Fine Arts stands out.

And if you travel to this city during the last weekend of August, you will be surprised by the Grand Plum Festival, where you surrender tribute to the famous Agen plum through a great party with tasting, concerts and shows.

And from Agen we will travel again to the south, to the city of Saint Gaudens located just 50 km from the border with Spain. Saint Gaudens surprises with its history and its medieval past, being a cultural reference of the entire region.

Sailing on the Canal du Midi, declared a UNESCO world heritage site, is another of the fun activities you can do during your trip

The route that we have proposed covers approximately 500 km of travel, which you can adapt or adjust according to your needs and your pace. To accommodate you, we share the following informative pages with hotels, inns, cottages and campsites:

Netherlands route

One of the typical images of the Dutch canals

Holland is a country with multiple leisure alternatives, because it perfectly combines green and flat landscapes, with museums, architectural tourism and family leisure activities. In addition, the whole country is perfectly prepared to enjoy with children, and there are many cities that offer children's activities, amusement parks and other unforgettable enclaves for children.

In Babies and moreThe 19 best theme parks in Europe to go with children

Our route through the Netherlands will begin in Amsterdam, where we can arrive by car or motorhome from Spain or neighboring countries (if we are doing a long route that covers several areas of Europe). Another option is to get there by plane, thanks to the direct flights that connect the capital of Holland with various cities in Spain. There we propose to rent a car or a motorhome, to discover the country at your own pace.

In Amsterdam there is a lot to see. So much, that it would take several days to discover the city in all its splendor. Museums and canals are the strong point of the city, although you will also be fascinated by its green parks and bike rides.

Rotterdam is an industrial and cosmopolitan city

From Amsterdam we will continue our journey to Rotterdam, stopping in Gouda, a city known for its delicious cheeses and, where we can enjoy its traditional cheese market. Upon arriving in Rotterdam, we will immediately realize that it is a very industrial city, although many of its contemporary buildings have a great architectural interest.

And from there we will embark on our trip to Dordrecht, a city ​​with a rich historical and cultural heritage, nestled in a region with abundant water, with rivers such as Merwede, Noord and Oude Maas.

From Dordrecht to Breda, our next route suggestion, there are only 35 km, but it is worth stopping to admire this beautiful city embodied in Velázquez's impressive painting, "The surrender of Breda". The region has an interesting monumental and cultural heritage, as well as a wide range of activities leisure and water sports to practice in its channels.

Den Bosch is considered "the most welcoming city in the Netherlands"

From Breda we head to Den Bosch, capital of the province of North Brabant, in the south of the Netherlands, and cradle of the great painter El Bosco. Den Bosch is a medieval city with little tourist traffic, but highly recommended to visit. Not surprisingly, it is considered "the most welcoming city in the Netherlands".

And before returning again to Amsterdam, we will make a must stop in The Hague, one of the most important cities in Europe, as it is the headquarters of numerous international organizations. The Hague is a small city, but very pretty and curious, where historical, modern buildings, port area and beaches are mixed.

Holland offers a wide variety of accommodations; from hotels to cottages, holiday complexes, hostels or campsites. Be sure to check the Holland Tourism website to access its wide offer.

Belgium route

Royal Palace of Brussels

Belgium is a small country that offers us a lot of wonderful possibilities. For this route that we propose we have been inspired by one that we have seen in the AutoC portal, experts in motorhome trips.

We begin our trip in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. As in the previous route, we can travel there by direct flight from Spain (an option that is usually very economical), or by car or motorhome, linking even other routes through France, the Netherlands or Germany.

Brussels is a small and cozy city, but it has the special touch of a large city that is also the capital of Europe. The city has a great history, an important number of museums, and is the cradle of the best chocolate in the world; What else can we ask for?

From Brussels we can travel to other nearby towns, such as the mythical Waterloo, where Napoleon was defeated, or to Mechelen, a perfect city to travel with children, because there you can enjoy its famous Toy Museum.

In the Diario del Viajero Summer Escapes: Mechelen (Belgium), one of the least known cities in Flanders

Other cities near Brussels that we cannot miss are Leuven and Antwerp. Leuven is a multifaceted city, with a rich cultural heritage and vast green and natural areas. Thanks to its university, Leuven is a young town, where bars and student atmosphere are not lacking.

As for Antwerp, - chosen a year ago as one of the 10 best tourist destinations in the world -, it is a city ​​full of historical riches, art and design In all its expressions, it is worth discovering.

The city of Bruges seems taken from a children's story

Our route through Belgium ends with a stop in Ghent and Bruges, two cities with a special charm that will catch you.

Ghent is a Flemish jewel, where you can enjoy its museums and its old churches, get lost in its cobbled streets, admire its canals and bridges, and surprise yourself before the imposing Gravensteen Castle and the bell tower, recognized by Unesco.

For its part, When you visit Bruges you will feel that you are entering a children's story. It is one of the best preserved medieval cities in the world, and although it is very small and can be visited in one day, it is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Ghent, the medieval Flemish jewel of Bavaria

If you travel Belgium by caravan or motorhome, on the AutoC website that we have suggested at the beginning you will find all the information related to rest areas, parking and campsites where you can stay.

And if what you are looking for is another type of accommodation, as well as suggestions to enjoy the cuisine of the country, we advise you to consult the pages recommended by the Belgian Tourist Office.

Route through Germany (Bavaria area)

Emblematic Neuschwanstein Castle

The State of Bavaria, in southern Germany, is one of the most prosperous regions of the country, with a multitude of wonderful destinations worth knowing. Therefore, we want to focus our route in this region, starting in the beautiful municipality of Oberammergau.

In Babies and moreFive wonderful airlines that will make the flight with children an unforgettable trip

Oberammergau is a mountain village with a special charm, where a large part of their houses have frescoed facades, providing a picturesque and artistic touch to the town. This town is characterized by its religious tradition, since every ten years the Passion of Christ is staged, an event that brings together thousands of visitors.

From Oberammergau we will travel to the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, located just 50 km away. Children will be fascinated with this work of art, which has always been said to be the Walt Disney's inspiration to create Sleeping Beauty's castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle was a whim of King Louis II of Bavaria, who had it built at a time when castles and fortresses were not necessary. It is, therefore, a medieval castle with a romantic touch that makes it one of the most photographed buildings in all of Germany.

Views of the English Garden Park in Munich

Y from there we will head to Munich, capital of the state of Bavaria, which has essential places that we have to visit. As our companions of Diario del Viajero advise us, they are a must-stop, Marienplatz that constitutes the center of the city, with the new town hall, from the 19th century, and the Santa María Column that gives its name to the square.

The other two main attractions of the capital of Bavaria (in addition to the Bavarian statue of Theresenwiese) are Frauenkirche Cathedral, Nymphenburg Palace, English Garden Park or Olympiapark, where the 1972 Olympic Games were held. There are also numerous museums , located in the Kunstareal area.

80 km from Munich is the city of Augsburg, one of the oldest in Germany. From an architectural point of view, it is a very rich and varied city, as it has important historical buildings such as the Town Hall, the Perlach Tower, the Santa María Cathedral or the house where Mozart's father was born. For the little ones we recommend visiting the Puppet Theater, with puppet shows and a museum about the history of the theater.

Strolling through the beautiful town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, will be like entering a postcard

Two hours away from Augsburg we arrive at the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a beautiful medieval town famous for its exceptional state of conservation and its peaceful and quiet streets. And from there we will head to one of the most attractive cities in Bavaria, the famous Nuremberg.

As it happened to the city of Wurzburg, which we also recommend you visit, Nuremberg was ravaged in the bombings during World War II. But the Germans managed to rebuild both cities and return much of their charm, so there are many important monuments that we can admire.

And we do not want to end our tour of the beautiful region of Bavaria without recommending you to visit the city of Bamberg, which is not only famous for its beers, but for its charm and its magic, as many of its enclaves seem taken from a children's story.

Total, over 600 km of route where we will have enjoyed the charms of Bavaria, its natural landscapes and its monumental buildings that will delight the whole family. To stay we can choose thematic hotels, other types of accommodation, or camp in one of the almost 200 campsites located in this region.

In Babies and more Family vacations: five motorhome routes to do with children in Spain! We hope that one of the proposed routes will inspire you to plan your summer vacation, and you can enjoy an unforgettable family trip!

Video: How to travel the world with almost no money. Tomislav Perko. TEDxTUHH (March 2024).