Western Europe Spring Break Destinations for Families

The last part of my Spring Break Destinations series focuses on Western Europe. I asked bloggers to share their favorite spots and these were what people said. And yes, while some may be considered Southern, Northern, or other sections of Europe geographically, it’s ok. For the purposes of this post, this is what we have. Western Europe spring break destinations for families as recommended by bloggers.

One of the reasons I focused on Western Areas of Europe for Spring Break is because it doesn’t require as much travel time from the U.S. Which makes many of these destinations easy trips from many places. Perfect for a week.

Stockholm is one of the best places you can enjoy during your spring break. Sweden’s capital is bustling with amazing views and things to do for any kind of traveler and spring is just the perfect mix of warmer weather and fewer crowds. Families enjoy archipelago cruises and open-air theme parks, young and older visitors can dive deep into history, explore the Old Town, the many galleries and museums, attend shows and concerts. Let’s be honest – who would have fun being a Viking for a day or singing and dancing with the ABBA?
– The Magic of Traveling

Copenhagen, Denmark is a fantastic destination for a family spring break getaway. The city is vibrant and busy in spring and the energy is great with people frequenting street food grounds and picnicking around the waterfronts, royal gardens and city parks. There are plenty of fun activities and festivals like the reopening of Copenhagen’s famous Tivoli Gardens amusement park, a trip to Copenhagen Zoo and the perfect time of year for a canal boat tour of the city.
– Everything Copenhagen

My favourite spring destination is the Keukenhof Bulb Gardens near Amsterdam. The Netherlands is ideal for active families who like boating, cycling or camping, and the food is pretty good as well.
– The Platinum Line

Spring is an amazing time to visit Paris with kids! The weather is generally mild enough to enjoy time outside and sites like the Eiffel Tower aren’t nearly as crowded as in summer. Just make sure to include at least one crepe and one carousel ride each day for the perfect Paris family experience.
– The Family Voyage

One of the amazing places to visit in Europe in spring is Paris. In springtime, Paris awakens to a new glow, where the snow and Christmas decorations have disappeared, and the city is slowly gearing to longer hours of sunshine. Spring is an off-season in Paris, which means exploring most coveted landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Champs Elysses will be easier (as compared to peak seasons). If traveling with kids head to Disneyland Paris or enjoy educational museum tours. Still unsure when to visit Paris – read this useful guide to Paris in every month.
– To Someplace New

Come to Chamonix during Spring Break and you’ll find a stunning landscape, filled with the best of winter snow sports, beautiful conditions and activities for all of the family to enjoy!
– Veggie Vagabonds

Spring is one of the best times to visit the South Coast of Portugal! As the temperatures start to become pleasantly warmer relax with your family on one of the many beaches Lagos has to offer. Lagos is the perfect place to take scenic drives from and witness the beautiful colours of the Atlantic Ocean, amazing rock formations, and the thousands of orange trees starting to blossom!
– Sneaky Detour

Lisbon is a fantastic spring break destination for families because it has something for everyone and it won’t break the bank. It’s like an affordable version of San Francisco with European charm and better weather!
– Poppin’ Smoke

For Spring Break, Olhao in Portugal’s Eastern Algarve is a must, with its wonderful climate, Moorish architecture, and perhaps the best seafood anywhere – I’m biased, but I tell it how I see it! Perfect for families, it’s located within the Ria Formosa Natural Park, offering some of the most underrated beaches in Europe; a mini paradise, where you can swim (with seahorses if you want!), go dolphin-watching, walk, cycle, paddle-board and kayak to your heart’s content!
– Blinking Flamingos

We love Madrid for some Spring sunshine. It’s a very spacious, green city with loads of outdoor space for the kids to burn off energy, it oozes culture, history, and art, and everyone loves tapas!
– Little Green Globetrotter

Barcelona is a perfect place to visit with your family. The weather during the spring is amazing – sunny and not too hot. You can enjoy the beach and the refreshing water of the mediterranean sea. The waves here are usually not too big so it’s also perfect for swimming with (little) kids. Moreover, make sure to visit the Tibidabo Amusement Park where adults can admire the stunning views over Barcelona while their kids will have a lot of fun.
– Vicki Viaja

Bern is a perfect spring speak destination for the whole family as it offers a fun mix of activities. Switzerland´s capital is one of the most beautiful capitals in the world – allowing adults to enjoy the old town (which is as a whole a World UNESCO Site) before spending time at the Bear Park. Yes, in the middle of the city center you will find a small bear family with real bears living which is fun to watch for people of all ages.
– Arzo Travels

Freiburg, known as the ‘gateway to the Black Forest’, is the perfect spring break destination. It’s a natural playground for families – think theme parks, alpine coasters , castles and beautiful lakes to swim in. Not to mention the amazing ice cream stands and German food, for you and your children to try.
– Hannah’s Happy Adventures

Salzburg, Austria is a kid and family-friendly destination for spring break as there are lots of opportunities for the family to bond, be it through nature activities in the mountains, or cultural education in the excellent museums.
– Zip Up and Go

For Spring Break why not visit fashion city Milan in Italy! Milan is surprisingly family-friendly and spring is an excellent time to visit this part of Europe. Of course, eating real Italian pizza and gelato should be on anyone’s to-do list but there’s plenty more to enjoy in Milan. Such as climbing to the rooftop of the famous Duomo cathedral, visiting Milan’s awesome science museum, riding the historic trams across town and visiting impressive Castello Sforzesco.
– Flip Flop Globetrotters

My favorite spring break destination is Monterosso al Mare in the Cinque Terre, Italy. This is an ideal destination for families to spend their spring break without all of the summer crowds (and heat) and a great place to enjoy the fabulous culture, activities, and food.
– Designs for Travel

Rome in spring is spectacular. Wisteria and hanging baskets bloom into life bringing colour and delicious scents to the beautiful squares and pretty streets. It’s quieter too, so there’s more chance of falling in love with Rome’s fabulous architecture and history without the crowds of summer!
– The Gap Decaders

Thank you!

Thank you to all of the contributors. Spring is my favorite time to visit Europe. I’ve been to a handful of the places mentioned, and love them. The ones I haven’t seen are high on my list, and I even learned about a few new places, too.

Please take a moment to check out their sites and recommendations. I’ll be back later in the week with some children’s books that will help prep for Spring Break in Europe.