The European version of Walt Disney's attraction has rapidly become a popular alternative to the historic sites found in the French capital. Visitors can enjoy two distinct parks in Disneyland Paris, the Walt Disney Studios park, which entertains children of all ages with a variety of live action shows and thrill rides with movie themes, and the Disneyland park, which holds the customary Disney princess' castle and many of the same attractions as the U.S. versions of the park. The cost of daily admission as of August 2010 was $74 for adults and $63 for children age three to eleven.
disneylandparis.com
The Danish capital of Copenhagen entices children from all over the world with its popular Tivoli Gardens. The historic theme park inspired Walt Disney to create his own similarly styled parks across the Atlantic. Visitors can enjoy a mix of vintage rides and more recent white-knuckle additions. Summer evenings feature the Tivoli Illuminations, shows that incorporate water, light, smoke, music and lasers. Younger children will enjoy feeding the fish at the aquarium.
In May 2010, the park opened a new section with a theme based on the popular Danish cartoon Petzi, offering 40 new activities for children. The park averages 230,000 season ticket sales annually and the Christmas lights exhibit attracts more than 800,000 visitors each year. Admission prices as of August 2010 were 95 Danish kroner for adults and 50 for children.
Tivoli.dk
The Italian capital provides an educational experience for families with older children. The Colosseum remains one of the most visited sites in the country. Children can wander freely through the largely intact remains of the Roman forum that was once the home of the Imperial dynasty, as well as a center of government and religion. Young sports fans can watch a game involving Lazio or Roma, the city's famous soccer teams. Like many major cities, Rome offers a number of hop-on, hop-off bus tours that give visitors a good overview of the city's attractions.
turismoroma.it
The capital city of England offers a mix of history and modernity to satisfy the tastes of all ages. Madame Tussauds has long been a popular tourist spot for families with its lifelike wax dummies. The Natural History Museum and the Science Museum provide interactive exhibits for kids as well as more established prehistoric exhibits. The Tower of London offers a gruesome but entertaining overview of England's past, and children might enjoy seeing medieval armor or the sparkling crown jewels. Big Ben and Tower Bridge provide great backdrops for the family photos.
visitLondon.com
For families with energetic children the Austrian Alps provide a number of great destinations. The city of Innsbruck and its environs attract skiers and snowboarders of every skill level each year during the winter months. Parents can enjoy après-ski activities in the towns' taverns after tiring out their kids at ski school, where they learn the basics during the day. Snowball fights and snowman building are free optional extras
