City Breaks with Kids to Europe in May

In one of our articles, we discussed a May seaside holiday with a few excursions. We're willing to concede that it's a relaxing holiday more about doing nothing. However, if you want an action-packed trip, choose one of Europe's cities for your family.

For the May holidays, Europe is quiet at home:

• Christmas parties are long forgotten.
• Easter celebrations are over.
• Skiers have gone home.
• European capitals live their lives in anticipation of the summer tourist season.

And there's no telling how many "wondrous discoveries" they have in store for children. So take advantage of the mild but sunny beginning of May and the low tourist season to indulge in city walking. The options we offer can help you plan your itinerary.

• Best Family-friendly Destinations

The best way to get to know the capital of the Czech Republic is to take the historic tram #41 through the main streets. From there, the possibilities are endless.

Weather permitting, you can visit the Prague Zoo, one of the largest and most beautiful in the world. There is a daily programme of events where you can see the animals and learn about their habits. You can sign up for a nocturnal tour to see how animals live at night. And in Star Alley, your child can compare the size of their feet with the footprints of famous animals.

Next to the zoo are the Botanical Gardens and Stromovka Park. In the latter, you can take a walk and visit the planetarium (with real moon soil) and the aquarium.

If there is a chance of rain in May, take a trip to one of the museums, such as the Railway Kingdom (Království Železnic), the Lego Museum (a whole world built from parts of a child's favourite building block) or the Toy Museum.

If your child wants to be active, why not take a trip to AQUAPALACE water park, Majaland Park, Superland Praha or Children's Island, which can be reached by ferry?

Denmark's capital, the city of fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen and the home of the Little Mermaid is as enchanting as a true fairytale. The story begins with a double-decker bus ride through the streets of old Copenhagen or a boat trip along the canals and colourful houses.

It continues at the Andersen Museum, located... in the attic of a house. And next door is two more unusual museums: the Guinness Museum of Records and Inside The Exploratorie, an exhibition of fears and terrors that will tickle the nerves.

The National Museum has a separate Children's Museum that shows how children lived, played and were interested in the past.

Few fairy tales can do without a palace, and the Danish capital has several: Amalienborg (the changing of the guard is a sight to behold), Christiansborg (on an island in the middle of the city), and Rosenborg.

And Royal Park is a lovely place to walk on a sunny day. And he's sure to have his share of challenges: the Experimentarium, Planetarium and Zoological Museum offer plenty of them.

Your hero will also need helpers: you can find them at the Zoo or the Aquarium (where you can touch sea urchins, crabs and other underwater creatures). The reward for overcoming the obstacles is a fun-filled holiday at Tivoli Park, Felledpark or the Himmelhoj nature playground.

The list of sights in the Hungarian capital alone is dizzying. The list of attractions in the Hungarian capital is overwhelming. For walkers and nature lovers, there is the Zoo and Botanical Gardens and the Tropicarium, a jungle inhabited by crocodiles, poisonous frogs, turtles and other animals exotic to our latitudes.

For those who like to travel by different means of transport, we recommend the cog-wheel railway, then the children's train (11 km long), the collection of the Transport Museum, a boat trip on the Danube and a ride on the cable car to see Budapest from above.

From the cable car's top station, you can climb up to the Erzsébet Tower — the view of the city from there is stunning.

The Palace of Wonders is a must for geeks of all ages, with experimentations that allow them to understand the laws of physics, chemistry and mathematics.

There's also an educational and playful area for the youngest explorers. Don't miss the Buda Labyrinth (a natural catacomb under the Buda Fortress) and the Palvöldi Stalactite Cave for extreme entertainment.

And if the usual outings aren't enough for the restless little ones, let them burn off some energy at Aquaworld or the AQUARENA water park.

The Austrian capital is only superficially stiff: children are welcomed with open arms, surprised and entertained. For example, the Zoom Children's Museum is a museum of life and practical skills that offers children of all ages a game through which they can acquire new knowledge and skills. The House of Music offers a wealth of information on the origin of sound.

It's worth spending a whole day at Schönbrunn Palace — it's one of Austria's most iconic sights, and it's interesting to learn how the descendants of the imperial family lived, what they wore and what they studied.

Schönbrunn also offers a walk through the Green Maze, a visit to the world's oldest zoological garden and, as a bonus, a playground with original attractions. Nature lovers will also enjoy the Natural History Museum, the Butterfly House and the Sea House.

Traditional attractions abound in Vienna, and not to be missed is the antique Ferris wheel in Prater Park. The Inner City, Vienna's historic centre, can be visited at the end of your trip. Atypical? Well, yes. But after all your adventures, you'll feel like you're visiting your beloved grandmother.

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The Dutch capital has no sea but is famous for its canals, an excellent place to explore the city. As you sail past the old mansions and churches, you can admire the unique facades or the contours of the roofs against the clear May sky.

Then suddenly remember — tulips! — and make your way to Köckenhof Royal Flower Park, where fields of these beautiful flowers bloom at this time of year.

And then it's up to you to decide whether your child is a dreamer or a realist. If you're a realist, head to Nemo, an interactive museum where you can experiment in physics and chemistry.

If you have an imaginative child, don't hesitate to visit the fabulous Efteling Park near Amsterdam. But if your child is an artist, the Van Gogh Museum is the place to be.

Even children who've never been interested in art will love it, as they'll be given a quest card at the entrance that turns a visit to the museum into an actual quest.

You can visit the Amsterdam branch of Madame Tussauds or instantly step onto another continent by wandering through an Arabian quarter, an Indian city or being transported to South America in the Tropical Museum.

You can meet famous seafarers at the Maritime Museum and experience a real (albeit virtual) maritime adventure.

The best way to get to know old Tallinn is to wander its streets on foot and listen to its stories and legends — about the waterman who threatens to flood the city and keeps asking children if the city walls are complete, the apothecary's apprentice who accidentally makes marzipan instead of medicine, and of course Old Thomas (Estonian: Vana Toomas), the symbol of the Estonian capital.

You can take the same route by double-decker bus or the cheerful Toomas electric train. Without leaving the historic centre, you can visit the Kiek in de Kök Tower, the upper part of which houses a historical museum. At the same time, the underground bastions offer an unforgettable tour.

There is also the Nuku Puppet Theatre in the centre of Tallinn, which houses a vast museum of theatre puppets - some of which can be moved.

A visit to the Ahhaa Science Centre and the Energy Centre will satisfy a child's interest in learning about the laws of nature. And the Miia Malla Manda Museum not only teaches children new things but also provides a range of entertainment. Seafarers should not miss the sea and the maritime centre, Hydro Harbour.

On a clear day, head to the open-air Ethnographic Museum, where folk architecture from all over Estonia is displayed.

Is it possible to see Asia without leaving Europe? You can — in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city. And if you're looking for the exotic, this is it.

Forget the museums; go to the Oriental Bazaar and immerse yourself in the noise and bustle, smell the spices and condiments, be tempted by the fantastic sweets and delicious dried fruits; choose a traditional Turkish amulet or other memorable souvenir.

Get into the oriental spirit and treat your children to Miniature Park, a great way to see the sights of Istanbul and other parts of Turkey with its replicas of some of the country's most famous buildings.

Then visit the giant landmarks of Topkapi Palace, the main building of the Ottoman Empire, and the Basilica Cistern, an ancient underground water reservoir where the semi-darkness and enchanting music make for an extraordinary sightseeing experience.

The Rahmi M. Koç Industrial Museum, dedicated to the industry's history, displays valuable and decorative items. Enjoy the beauty of nature at the Bayramoglu Zoo and Aquarium. Take an evening boat trip on the Bosphorus.

We hope that the city walks we offer will give you nothing but pleasant fatigue and positive emotions! And to make your holiday even more comfortable, we recommend that you choose a family-friendly hotel from our Kidpassage collection.