4 Hidden Gems In Europe For Family Travel
Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, and San Sebastián, Spain are the four destinations we send families who want a European vacation where fewer American travelers go. If you have read our guide for family travel in Europe, you already have Italy, Ireland, Spain's Andalusia region, France, and Norway on your list. This guide introduces you to the places you have probably not thought of yet, including a different part of Spain entirely.
Families ask us where experienced travelers go once they have seen the big cities. Below are four hidden gem destinations, plus one way to travel that works well for a family of any age range.
Slovenia rewards families who want mountains, lakes, and quiet without competing for a table or a trail.
Croatia pairs old European cities with islands that rival the Greek Isles, minus the crowds.
Austria works for palaces and Alps in summer, and turns into one of the best Christmas trips in Europe come November.
San Sebastián, Spain gives families beach days, big food culture, and an easy add-on to southwest France.
A European river cruise gives everyone their own daily activity and still brings the whole family together for dinner.
In no particular order, here is what makes each one worth the trip.
Slovenia: Mountains, Lakes, and Far Fewer Americans
Slovenia draws families outdoors: emerald rivers, glacial lakes, and a stretch of the Alps most travelers skip on their way to Italy or Austria.
Lake Bled anchors most Slovenia itineraries. A small island sits in the middle of the lake with a church on it, and a walking path circles the entire shoreline. A family can spend a morning on foot without any real climbing involved.
About 2.5 miles northwest of Bled, Vintgar Gorge cuts through limestone on the eastern edge of Triglav National Park. A wooden walkway follows the water for a mile. The path runs one direction only and requires a timed entry ticket, which we reserve in advance for our families.
Triglav is Slovenia’s only national park and covers 340 square miles of the Julian Alps. Families who want to kayak or raft the Soča River spend a day in the Soča Valley on the western side of the park, roughly two hours from Bled.
History and city time balance out the outdoor days. Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital, deserves a night or two on its own. The city center is walkable, with a river running through the middle and cafes along the banks. Families often add a stop at one of Slovenia's castles on the way between Lake Bled and Ljubljana.
A family can spend a full week in Slovenia on its own, especially with a private guide who plans a hike, a lunch in the mountains, and real context about the country's history along the way. Slovenia also pairs well with Croatia.
Hotels we recommend in Slovenia:
Grand Hotel Toplice, Bled
Vila Planinka, Zgornje Jezersko
InterContinental Ljubljana
Croatia: Old European Cities With Islands to Match
Croatia gives a family the Greek Isles most travelers have not gotten to yet, plus walled cities with centuries of history inside them.
Most Croatia itineraries start in Split, where a walking tour of Diocletian’s Palace gets you oriented before the boat days begin. From Split, head to Hvar Island on a boat day, stopping to swim, snorkel, and explore coves the captain knows and a map will not show. Hvar has hiking to viewpoints over the water and an old town on the harbor, with a marina, shops, and restaurants that stay open late.
Families spend a few nights on Hvar, then take another boat day to Korčula and then on to Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik still holds its original stone walls, and HBO filmed much of King’s Landing here. Walking the walls gives a family a full view of the old city and the water at once.
Expect Mediterranean cooking, fresh seafood, and restaurants run by families along the water.
Croatia works well for a family that wants city history and beach time on the same trip. Families consistently report back that the boat days become the best part of the trip.
Hotels we recommend in Croatia:
Split: Hotel Vestibul Palace. 4 star, Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Inside the walls of Diocletian's Palace, a few steps from the Peristil and the Riva.
Hvar: Maslina Resort, Stari Grad. 5 star, Relais & Châteaux.
Dubrovnik: Villa Dubrovnik. 5 star, Leading Hotels of the World.
Austria: Palaces, the Alps, and a Trip That Works Every Season
Austria works any time of year and gives a family more than one kind of trip in a single country.
Vienna anchors most Austria itineraries. The main streets through the old city center run pedestrian only, lined with shops and cafes. The Habsburg palaces sit within reach of all of them. Schönbrunn and the Belvedere draw the most families, and the Hofburg deserves a tour on its own. Inside the Hofburg, the Spanish Riding School trains the Lipizzaner stallions, and watching them practice or perform gives kids and adults the same thing to talk about at dinner. Vienna is also known for its coffee houses, and a coffee tour works like a food tour with a different focus.
Salzburg is Mozart's hometown. It adds music and history, along with a Sound of Music tour through the hills that inspired the film. From Salzburg, Hallstatt sits about ninety minutes away, a small town on a lake that works as a day trip or an overnight. Innsbruck sits in the mountains, with a cable car that carries families up for hiking in summer and skiing in winter.
Vienna, Salzburg, Prague, and Budapest connect by train, which makes Austria easy to combine into a central Europe trip. It works especially well for a family with older kids or college students who can handle a train platform on their own. Read more about why Europe works so well for families with older kids.
Christmas markets open across Austria in mid November. Most close on December 23, a few of the largest run through December 26, and the market at Schönbrunn Palace continues to January 6. That window makes Austria one of our top picks for a family holiday trip. And do not leave without ordering schnitzel. The classic is veal, and most menus offer a pork version too.
Hotels we recommend in Austria:
Vienna: Hotel Sacher Wien. 5 star, Leading Hotels of the World.
Salzburg: Rosewood Schloss Fuschl. 5 star, Rosewood. On Lake Fuschl, about 20 minutes from Salzburg.
Innsbruck: Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol. 5 star superior, Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Near Seefeld in Telfs, about 30 minutes from Innsbruck, with a children's club and a large spa.
San Sebastián, Spain: Beach Days and Basque Food Culture
San Sebastián sits on Spain's northern coast, on La Concha Bay, with the city running right along the water. Families who want beach time, big food culture, and an easy add on to France find all three here.
Walking the path around La Concha Bay is the first thing most families do, followed by kayaking on the bay or a full sailing day along the coast. For views back over the city, a funicular climbs Monte Igueldo, where a small amusement park has run since 1912 with a wooden roller coaster along the cliff edge. Coastal trails run along Monte Ulia toward the fishing village of Pasaia. Inland from the beach, San Sebastián's food scene runs on pintxos, the Basque take on small plates, and cooking classes give a family a hands on way to learn the food.
Outside the city, the Basque Highlands take a family into the countryside around towns like Urnieta and the Goierri region. A family run farm there raises native Latxa sheep, works with sheepdogs, and produces Idiazabal, the sheep's milk cheese of this region, paired with local cider for a tasting most kids remember as much as the parents do.
San Sebastián also makes an easy base for day trips. The Guggenheim in Bilbao gives a family a world class art museum about an hour away, without adding a hotel night, and Biarritz sits forty five minutes across the border in France. Families who want to combine countries often drive from San Sebastián into the French Basque country rather than choosing one or the other.
Hotels we recommend in San Sebastián:
Hotel Maria Cristina
Akelarre
Nobu Hotel San Sebastián
For a family drawn to beach days and big food culture in one trip, San Sebastián belongs on the same list as the destinations in our free guide, Tucked Away Treasures: A Guide on Where To Go.
The Travel Style That Works Well For Family Travel In Europe
A river cruise suits many families because everyone stays on the same boat and eats dinner together most nights, while still getting a full day apart if they want it. Mornings usually offer a choice: a history walk through the closest town, a bike ride along the water, or a hike. Everyone picks their own. Evenings bring live music or a board game in the lounge. A teenager who wants independence and a grandparent who wants a slower day can each get what they need.
Ships also dock in towns most travelers never reach on their own, which puts a family in wine villages and castle towns along the water rather than only the busiest squares in Europe.
Two rivers work we recommend most for a family's first river cruise:
The Rhine flows through Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, with stops in Amsterdam, Cologne, and Basel. Expect castles set into hillsides and small wine villages along the banks.
The Danube runs through ten countries, more than any other river in the world. Popular routes stop in Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest, giving a family three capital cities without three sets of flights and hotel changes.
Our Favorite River Cruise Lines for Families
Uniworld. Its Generations Collection sails on select departures with two family hosts onboard, one for ages 5 to 12 and one for teens 13 to 17. Kids get their own lounge, cooking classes with the pastry chef, and shore excursions planned for their age rather than a shortened version of the adult tour. Uniworld sets its minimum at 5 for Europe.
Tauck launched family river cruising in 2010 under its Bridges program, before anyone else. The minimum age on a Bridges river cruise is 4, though Tauck recommends 8 and up, and we agree with that. Bridges river departures run on a limited calendar, which means booking further out than you would for a standard sailing.
Riverside sets no minimum age at all. Connecting suites work for a family of four, larger suites take a crib on request, a third guest in the same suite pays 40 percent less, and children under two sail at no charge. There is no kids club, so this one suits a family whose children travel well alongside adults.
A river cruise also accommodates family members who all want a different pace. One person wants to see everything, another wants to sit by the water with a coffee. On a river cruise, both people get their day and meet back up for dinner. For a closer look at what to expect, check out our guide to river cruising in Europe.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hidden Gems in Europe for Family Travel
What is the best hidden gem destination in Europe for family travel?
Slovenia gets our vote most often. Families who want mountains, lakes, and quiet, without competing with other American tourists for a table or a trail, tend to leave wanting to go back. See how it compares to the more familiar countries in our guide to the top 5 countries for family travel in Europe.
Should we visit Slovenia and Croatia together, or pick one?
Most travelers pair Slovenia and Croatia into one trip, and the combination works well since the two countries border each other. A family can also spend a full week in Slovenia on its own if outdoor time and quiet matter more than covering ground.
Is a river cruise a good fit for a family that has never done one?
Yes, especially for a family with a wide age range. Everyone shares meals and evenings together. Mornings offer a choice of activity, which keeps a teenager and a grandparent from doing the same thing all day. Our guide to river cruising in Europe shows what you can expect.
When should we visit Austria for the Christmas markets?
Markets open across Austria in mid November. Most close on December 23, and several of the largest keep going. Salzburg's Christkindlmarkt runs through January 1, and both Innsbruck's Maria Theresien Straße market and Vienna's Schönbrunn market run through January 6. A family arriving between Christmas and New Year should plan around Salzburg and Innsbruck rather than Vienna's main squares.
Can Spain be combined with a trip to France?
Yes. San Sebastián sits about 45 minutes from Biarritz. A family can add the French Basque coast to the same trip or continue further into southwest France.
How is this list different from other hidden gems in Europe articles?
Most hidden gems lists are written for any traveler. We put this one together around what works for a family: timing that suits a range of ages, accommodations, and activities that give a teenager and a grandparent something to do on the same day. Every destination on this list also has good hotels and connects through one flight change, since a hidden gem only helps a family if it is still easy to reach.
Which Hidden Gem Fits Your Family Trip To Europe?
Every destination on this list rewards a family wanting to skip the crowded spots and enjoy vacation in a lesser known part of Europe.
Slovenia gives outdoor time without crowds.
Croatia pairs city history with islands that hold their own against the Greek Isles.
Austria works across every season and turns into one of the best Christmas trips in Europe.
San Sebastián gives a family beach days and food culture on the northern coast of Spain.
A river cruise makes it easier for everyone in the family to get the kind of day they want.
If your family already has Europe's big cities checked off and wants somewhere with fewer other American travelers, that is what we plan for. Reach out and we will help match your family to the right hidden gem for this trip.
Or start with our free guide, Tucked Away Treasures: Where To Go, for a broader look at where we are sending families this year.
