Mountains, beaches, historical cities to pristine countryside, you can find it all in Europe …often within only a few hours of traveling. Here’s our list of Amsterdam Mamas-recommended family-friendly hotels and holidays spots in Europe, sorted by country.
| Andorra | Cyprus | Greece | Portugal |
| Austria | Finland | Ireland | Spain |
| Belgium | France | Italy | Switzerland |
| Croatia | Germany | Malta | Turkey |
Andorra
Ski Resort Grandvalira offers ski lessons and kids club programs.
Austria
Großarl:
Family Nature Resort Moar Gut is surrounded by meadows and forest with a large assortment of activitiies (arts, sports, giant slides, theater) children will love, as well as horseback riding, tours with Icelandic horses, sleigh rides, and tennis.
Salzburg:
Gut Wenghof Family Resort is an alpine, all-inclusive resort that caters to adults and children alike.
The Alpina in Salzburg offers plenty to keep the children happy and unlimited golf for adult guests.
Feriendorf Holzleb’n is a resort with trampolines built into the ground, playground, tricycles, slides, farm animals, free pony rides, and campfires.
Innsbruck:
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is a “kinderparadise indeed”, according to one Mama, replete with “amazing playgrounds up the mountain, themed trails (think huge bears that start snoring when you sit on them, slides across the part of the trail that bends), 2 rodelbahns, snow tobogganing in summer.”
Kinderhotel Galtenberg is a children’s hotel in the Alps with excellent child care, adult spa, and swimming pool with giant slide. Ski schools are also provided during the winter season.
The Mooshaus winter resort in the Kühtai is a family run hotel with activities that cater to children as well as their Endless Sky Pool which is the highest infinity pool in the Alps.
Belgium
Brugge:
Van der Valk in Oostkamp (about 15 mins out of the city) comes with big family rooms equipped not just with a TV but also a Playstation!
Novotel in the heart of the city has cots available, a small play area, a pool, and TV with cartoon channels playing at the main restaurant.
The Pand Hotel and Absoluut Verhulst are also highly recommended.
Ghent:
The Monasterium is an old monastery right in the city centre, with clean rooms and a delicious breakfast.
Sandton Grand Hotel Reylof is a lovely designer hotel in the city centre.
Harmony Hotel in the centre comes with an outdoor heated pool.
Croatia
Brač:
Blue Sun Resort is on Brac island, famous for the Zlatani beach.
Gava Waterman Milna Resort is a beautiful beachfront property with plenty to do for the family.
Sibenik:
Amadria Park Hotel Andrija is Croatia’s first sea-inspired children-centric hotel with a huge waterpark and minigolf. While the children play, the adults have plenty of options for relaxation and quiet.
Zaton Holiday Resort is a beachfront campground and park with plenty of playmates and water activities. Accommodation options include mobile home spots, caravan parking spots, glamping and cabins.
Cyprus
Aphrodite Hills offers great food and a fabulous kids club, ideal for a super relaxing vacation.
Tui Family Life Atlantica Aeneas Reosrt & Spa offers many on-site activities for the entire family and only a two minute stroll to the beach.
Elysium Resort offers scuba diving expeditions and training, adult only pools, spa services, as well as children’s activities.
Mediterranean Beach Hotel in Limassol has impressive pools and a kids club.
St Elias Resort has a waterpark and all inclusive packages.
Finland
Lapland:
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort is a must-go for the Northern Lights and sleeping in glass igloos. During the daytime the family can take a dogsled ride, pick berries, and walk its many trails.
Levi Ski Resort is packed with year-round activities for adults and children.
France
Huttopia is a France-wide database of camping areas, from rustic DIY to glamping options.
Octon:
Country Kids is a luxury family-focused resort in a green countryside and includes a petting farm.
Grand Massif Samoens Morillon is a Club Med alpine location just over an hour from Geneva. It caters to all ages!
Germany
Various:
Landal Parks have camping grounds with cabins, caravans and plenty for children to do all day long.
Near Berlin:
The Adagio is a centrally located, clean, and friendly apartment hotel with a cosy kitchen, and hotel facilities.
Sana Residence, near KaDeWe and the zoo/aquarium, has been a big hit with the Mamas.
Greece
Corfu:
Kinderzonvakanties is run by a Dutch/Serbian couple, and offers apartments equipped with all the necessities for babies and children, including lots of books and toys. They also have a swimming pool, and bike rentals (with kid seats) available.
At Atrium Platinum the staff is reported to go above and beyond to accommodate your needs. Also, homemade baby food is available every day!
Dassia Chandris is another great option – children’s pool and kids club.
Costa Navarino:
The Westin on the Ionian Sea is inspired by old Messinian mansions. This resort has a waterpark, two kids’ clubs, sport facilities, golf course, and spa.
Crete:
Minoa Palace has lots of kids activities during the day, a great pool, and an artificial sand beach.
Stella Palace Resort and Spa boasts its own water park! ‘Nuff said.
Euphoria Resort at the seashore of Kolymvari has swim-up rooms, waterpark, and the usual accoutrement of resort style living.
Apollonia Beach Resort & Spa. According to a Mama, “It was a 20-minute drive from the airport, direct flight from Amsterdam and all inclusive option available. On a private beach, 5 pools and 3 restaurants, kids club, tennis courts, and so much more!”
Dimitrios Village Beach Resort & Spa is on the beach of Missiria, not far from picturesque old towns, the Venetian harbor with its exquisite fish-taverns, the fortress “Fortezza”, as well as Ottoman-era mosques.
Creta Palace is another oft-recommendation from Mamas. Kids’ Clubs by age, cooking, Greek dancing, mini-disco and more.
Kos:
Blue Lagoon Resort is so fantastic that one Mamas’ son liked it even better than Disneyland!
Gaia Garden is another great option.
Astir Odyseuss is a beautiful family-friendly resort with Mini Club, sports, spas.
Paros:
Poseidon of Paros Hotel & Spa offers tours to neighbouring islands and has great Kids’ club.
Santorini:
De La Mere Hotel, Astro Hotel, Lilium Villa, and Smaro Studios were all highly recommended for families.
Ikos Olivia was a highly praised luxury resort, catering to families.
Thessaloniki:
Sani Resort is a very popular recommendation from the Amsterdam Mamas – upscale, all inclusive, and beach-front.
Aquila Rithymna Beach is located on a 500m long sandy beach; it has four pools, four restaurants, five tennis courts, diving lessons, and there is a water sports centre with jet skis, canoes, and water skiing. A tennis court for children is available and tennis lessons are provided. The hotel’s animation team organizes theatre plays and a variety of activities, and a children’s restaurant is also featured.
Ireland
Kerry:
Parknasilla Resort & Spa offers villas, lodges, and family hotels rooms. They cater to children’s needs with supervised play, games rooms, archery, and kayaking, as well as babysitting services for the very young.
Wexford:
Kelly’s Resort Hotel & Spa is a luxury resort beachfront hotel with kids club, a riding school, hair salon, a top rated SeaSpa, and golf.
Galway:
Delphi Adventure Resort will satisfy the adventurous spirit of big and small kids, as well as psa services to pamper everyone aged four and up.
Italy
Bimbo in Viaggio is a great resource for learning about holiday options with young children all over Italy.
Dolomites:
Post Alpina Family Mountain Chalets is set in a remote village in the beautiful Italian Alps and comes with Mini Club too!
Cavallino Bianco is a child-first, family-focused hotel in the beautiful Dolomite Alps.
Venezia:
Pra’ delle Torri provides camping and a hotel in Caorle, suitable for families with children. Equipped with a great water park for adults and children, restaurants, playground areas, sport fields, green spaces, a golden sand beach, and clear sea. A short walk away there is an 18 hole PAR 72 golf course.
Camping Bella Italia is situated in Peschiera del Garda. These camping bungalows are located near the beach and provide kids clubs and entertainment for all ages.
Genoa (Genova):
Grand Hotel Alassia is a beautiful beachfront resort with kids club, spas, restaurants, a gym, a private yacht service for ocean exploring, as well as a helitaxi service!
Lake Como:
Sole Mio, a small-scale holiday park located directly at the lake that is great for children.
Southern Italy:
Villagio il Gabbiano in Tropea has family-friendly apartments, and fabulous food.
Turin:
Bardonecchia is an all-year round resort with plenty to do for all children of all ages. An article in The Telegraph paints a very clear picture of the resort.
Tuscany:
Il Grande Prato offers both rooms and apartments, and is ideal for babies and toddlers.
South of Florence, Voltrona Farm is a unique farm and winery experience. It produces wine and olive oil, as well as … Icelandic horses?! There are plenty of things for adults and children to do: extensive gardens, wine tastings, farming activities for children, Vespa rentals, and excursions on horseback.
The Farmhouse il Poggiarello (Agriturismo il Poggiarello) in Siena includes a garden on two levels, an 18-meter pool with baby pool, and 60 hectares of cultivated fields, a lake, and woods.
La Pieve Farmhouse is a rural farmhouse with views to the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Le Pale Agriturismo is situated in the hills of the village of Bogliasco and in the heart of the “Gulf Paradise” in a panoramic position, with sea views and groves of olive trees. Offers a swimming pool, solarium, gym, sauna and large playground. Children are entertained with a large playground. You can browse the farm’s greenhouse production of orchids, roses and gardenias – you can also purchase them at the farm shop.
Relais Riserva di Fizzano is a medieval village resort. The Relais consists of six buildings, including 19 apartments, gardens, large green areas, a chapel, two swimming pools, a bar, a restaurant and a small store where you can buy wines, oil and honey produced by Rocca delle Macie.
Puglia:
Robinson Club Apulia is a beachfront favourite amongst the Mamas for family-friendly vacations; miniclubs and water sports are available. Spa will pamper the tired Mama.
Masseria Torre Coccaro will not leave any member of the family without something to do – including fishing!
Sardinia:
Hotel dei Pini is a Mama recommendation: “We’ve stayed… with our kids, 4y and 8mo… We had a superior room on the ground floor, with a big patio right on the grass meadow, 10m from the beach. We practically stepped from the patio onto the beach. The private hotel beach is the most beautiful part of the best beach in NW Sardinia (Le Bombarde). White sand, shallow crystal water, faultless. However, while it is quite expensive, the hotel is not luxurious, if that is what you are looking for. It is a good 4 Star hotel, with a long history (dating back to the 30s), with character and quite famous in that part of the island. We opted for breakfast only as our meal option, in order to be able to eat out in gorgeous Alghero.”
Le Spiagge di San Pietro Resort has activities for children 3-17 and archery is also offered!
Voi Tanka Resort is a child friendly, beachfront accommodation.
Le Dune Resort & Spa is recommended as child-friendly and unique in that it is 180° open to the sea. Also has a Kids’ Club.
Malta
St Julians:
The Westin Dragonara Resort is situated on a private peninsula and surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea.
Portugal
Porto Santo:
Vila Baleira is unique in that it is situated on an island. The family-friendly resort is surrounded by golden sand. Children and adults alike will have plenty to do with professional entertainers, including sports, competitions, gymnastics in and out of the pool, yoga, “poncha” classes and much more.
The Algarve:
Club Med is recommended as a great resort for small children. You get a baby bath, changing mattress, travel cot, bottle warmer and diaper bin in your room! They also have baby changing facilities everywhere and a special children’s restaurant with healthy kid food, jars, a microwave, and even a blender to make your own fresh purées! They also have a baby and kid’s club available.
Martinhal, Europe’s only 5 star family boutique hotel provides a dream holiday, one you would surely want to go back to.
Hotel Vila Galé Lagos is a beautiful location for the whole family. Equipped with a Satsanga spa with an indoor panoramic pool, three restaurants featuring a typical regional cuisine, children’s club, tennis courts, multi-sports field and a putting green.
Spain
Costa del Sol:
Marinas De Nerja has apartments with a small personal kitchen.
Gran Canaria:
Lobesan Baobab is an African-themed resort with excellent children’s facilities.
Miraflor Suites comes highly recommended for kids and all-inclusive holidays.
Lanzarote:
Gran Castillo Tagaro Fun & Family in Playa Blanca boasts 11 swimming pools and a kids’ Castleland. Adults are also very well pampered.
Mallorca (Majorca):
Protur Sa Coma has all the full resort offerings.
Club Mac is an all inclusive resort.
Tarragona:
Cambrils Park is located close to the beach with great pools and bungalows.
Tenerife:
Hotel Jacaranda from Costa Dr Adeje has all the mod-cons of a resort, plus a Mini Club!
Eliza Was Here lists 17 villas in Tenerife that cater to families with young children.
Roca Nivaria Gran Hotel is an all-inclusive resort. A Mama describes it as “a great place with kids club from 2 yrs, a lovely mini disco in the evening and the main restaurant has an indoor playground that adjoins, so kids can only come back through the restaurant—you can seat yourself next to the door and watch them play. Rooms are very spacious too and they have a baby pool.”
Valencia:
Hotel Las Arenas Balneario Resort also includes kids club from 4-12.
Switzerland
Villars sur Ollon
Villars sur Ollon Club Med is an all inclusive resort with ski classes.
Turkey
Antalya:
Titanic Beach Lara has a kids club in a pirate ship, amazing selection of food and drinks, and is spotlessly clean.
Royal Wings and La Fame Residence are recommended for a hassle-free, relaxing break.
Maxx Royal Belek Golf Resort, replete with waterpark, pools, beaches, spas and dining options. This resort has different activities for different age ranges: fairyland, mini club, junior club, and teenage club!
Barut Lara Hotel has a Mama gushing about the “unforgettable kids club”.
Liberty Hotel Lykia provides kids club from 6 months old!
Turquoise Hotel is surrounded with turquoise waters.
Bodrum:
Fethiye:
Psst! Find and book your stay at one of the recommendations above via booking.com/amsterdammamas and we’ll receive a portion of the reservation value. Find the perfect accommodation for your family and support Amsterdam Mamas at the same time!
Compiled by Audrey Coggins from recommendations given by members of the Amsterdam Mamas Facebook group. The information is current as of 20 May 2019. (Original 2014 article by Amal Shakeb.)
main photo credit: Freepik/senivpetro
