The 10 Best Cities in Europe for Families

There's nothing like the excitement of a big European city to help your family experience the best of travel. The following ten are guaranteed to provide everyone in your crew a great time.

London is arguably the world's best destination and almost all of the attractions here are very family-friendly. Follow in the footsteps of everyone's favorite boy wizard at King's Cross station and at The Making of Harry Potter before re-tracing Paddington Bear's pawprints. For the older kids, a tour of the Tower of London is certainly a thrill as is a spin on the London Eye. This is to say nothing of the myriad of enthralling, free museums.

Frankfurt's Experiminta is an especially fun science center and this bustling multi-faceted city is the best starting point for a road trip on the German Fairytale Route. This trail pays homage to the famous Brothers Grimm, weaving through many medieval towns mentioned in their stories. Highlights include the brothers' birthplace, Hamelin-the setting of the Pied Piper-and Schwalmstadt-the "home" of Little Red Riding Hood.

The kids will love Copenhagen for its connection to legendary tale-teller Hans Christian Andersen and the statue of his Little Mermaid while parents will love tasting trendy New Nordic cuisine. The best way to combine them both? Take a trip to Tivoli Gardens-easily the world's most enchanting amusement park-which is home to several restaurants dishing up gourmet Danish dining.

Seeing the Eiffel Tower, touring the spooky subterranean catacombs and taking a cruise on the Seine will thrill the kids, but it's always-evolving Disneyland Paris that will seal their love affair with Paris. Here, you will spot all your favorite Disney characters and find many classic Disney rides with unique twists exclusive to this side of the Atlantic.

There's so much more to Munich than beer gardens, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't take the family to one. No, contrary to outside perception, they are oases of calm and family-friendly fun. After you've explored the gorgeous gardens and soothing parks of the city, head south to the mountains to the tour the fairytale castles of King Ludwig II.

If you are visiting Amsterdam in springtime, then a trip to the flowery paradise that is Keukenhof Gardens is sure to enthrall everyone in the family. If not, then just cycle the kids to captivating Science Center NEMO after a breakfast of Dutch pancakes. A visit to open-air folk museum Zaanse Schans is a must-see as well, as it is a wonderland of wooden shoes and windmills.

The gents dressed as gladiators outside the glorious Colosseum will certainly put a smile on your kid's faces and if they really love them, then enroll them in Gladiator School. After that crash course, there are the hundreds of water fountains to hunt down and an equal amount of gelato shops to test out (for research purposes only, of course).

Barcelona is colorful, full of life and will grab the attention of even the youngest of audiences. Tour the town, pointing out the visually-stunning (and sometimes cartoon-like) architecture of Antoni Gaudi before heading to the beach. Come evening, the kids will love watching the colorful water shows put on by the Magic Fountain of Montjuic.

Scotland's capital is crowned by an awe-inspiring castle and the whole family is sure to be fascinated by a walk inside its ancient walls. Afterward, see the cute statue of Edinburgh icon Greyfriars Bobby-a legendarily loyal dog. After you've explored the city, make for the far west of Scotland to take a ride on the Hogwarts Express.

Brussels may be the home base of European Union bureaucrats, but the colorful comic book street art on display here is anything but boring. See how many of the kaleidoscopic walls your kids can spot as you make your way to the "Comic Book Museum". Afterward, take them for a lunch of french fries and waffles-because when in Rome, right?