Lisbon

Lisbon is an excellent family vacation location. The Portuguese are typically quite accommodating of children, and the city offers a variety of attractions and activities for children of all ages. This is also one of Europe's safest capitals, and, as in any large city, there are stores and pharmacies around every corner for a worry-free vacation.

Choose a big apartment-hotel in the city center for lodging. The majority of the sites are within walking distance, or you may utilize the simple metro system to get about. There are several activities for children in Portugal's capital. Spend a day at Oceanario, Europe's largest aquarium, take the cable car across the river, climb the Belém Tower for a view, and ride one of Lisbon's distinctive yellow trams - a must-do for any first-time visitor. If the historical structures bore you, there are many of interactive, kid-friendly museums, such as the Electricity Museum, as well as plenty of green areas around the city. White-sand beaches are only a short train trip away in the summer.

Lisbon boasts a wide range of eateries to satisfy even the most discriminating palates. Time Out Market is a local landmark that serves a wide variety of foreign cuisines under one roof. If your kids don't like Lisbon specialties like anchovies and sardines, they'll enjoy pastel de nata, Portuguese custard pastries. Eat them in family-run bakeries around the Belem area, or better yet, enroll in a kid-friendly cooking class and learn how to make them yourself. Finally, no trip to Lisbon is complete without a day excursion to Sintra's palaces, a childhood fantasy for each little princess or prince.

Location: Portugal