Spring break trips to Europe can offer surprising savings along with family fun and adventure. Spring is the shoulder season in most of Europe so in-demand destinations overrun with tourists during peak summer season can be enjoyed with fewer crowds and far cheaper prices. These five popular European destinations are great choices for your family’s spring break vacation that won’t break the bank.

Amsterdam
You’ll find plenty to do in spring in Amsterdam while strolling alongside its many canals and sampling fresh cheeses at the street markets. April is the prime time to see the magnificent tulip displays for which the Netherlands is famous. Be sure to stop by the Keukenhof Gardens, one of the world’s most extensive flower gardens, which is open from late March through early May 2025.
Other family-friendly activities in Amsterdam include scavenger hunts at the Van Gogh Museum, interactive scientific explorations at NEMO Science Museum and taking a canal boat cruise for a distinct perspective of the city nicknamed the Venice of the North. Visit nearby Zaanse Schans to see its celebrated and iconic windmills without summer crowds or take a family bike ride to Edam, a quaint village famous for its cheese.
London
London offers plenty of history and culture for tourists to experience. With a minimal language barrier for American families, navigating the sights of Britain’s capital may be easier for first-time travelers compared to non-English speaking cities. The must-do sites of the city, such as Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the British Museum and the Museum of Natural History, can be too busy to enjoy in summer but are less stressful to visit in spring. To explore beyond the city for a day, a short train ride from the capital takes you to some of England’s historic landmarks, prettiest coastlines and quaint villages.
Fans of Harry Potter will want to see Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station, the soundstages at Warner Bros. Studio Tour where the movies were filmed or take a walking tour of Harry Potter filming locations in the city. The theater buffs in the family will gravitate to the West End, the heart of London’s cultural scene, to see some of the best plays and musicals in the world.
Paris
Paris is beautiful in springtime as the celebrated cherry blossoms begin to bloom and flowers fill the many parks, public gardens and grand promenades of this elegant city. For families who want to see Paris’s most popular tourist sights, spring means zipping to the top of the Eiffel Tower or easily making your way through the Louvre Museum without endless lines. Travelers will also be able to tour the recently reopened Notre Dame Cathedral this spring, which has been closed for five years.
Foodies will especially love Paris with its charming cafes, patisseries and boulangeries on every corner. Walking tours centered around food are popular; many cater to families with children. For those who would like an amusement park to complement their family vacation, Disneyland Paris is just 20 miles from Paris.
Iceland
Iceland may not be the obvious family vacation choice, but it should be. Known as the land of fire and ice, families can explore lava fields and geysers, soak in hot springs, see countless waterfalls, tour ice caves and walk on glaciers all in one week. Iceland’s northern geography makes it a great place to see the Northern Lights as well, even in spring, as the peak viewing season is from September to April.
Don’t skip the capital of Reykjavik, where a fantastic science museum can show you Iceland’s fire and ice up close with a walk through an ice cave and a highly rated exhibit on Iceland’s many volcanic eruptions. From Reykjavik, tour operators can guide you on day trips to nearby natural attractions, including Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir geothermal area and Thingvellir National Park along the Golden Circle sightseeing route. Families can also rent a car and take a road trip along the southern coast to see more of Iceland’s natural wonders. Driving in Iceland is fairly easy as there is only one major road that circles the country.
Normandy
A popular summer beach destination for French families, Normandy still has plenty to attract visitors in spring. And you’ll find significantly lower accommodation prices since it is the offseason for the area. Families will enjoy visiting the many D-Day beaches that line Normandy’s coast, a draw for kids learning World War II history in school and any military buffs.
Mont-Saint-Michel is the most visited site in France outside of Paris, according to France 24 News, and its narrow streets are often clogged with tourists in summer. Spring offers a chance to explore this stunning island with fewer tour groups and selfie sticks.
Now is the time to book your family’s European spring break
Skipping the crowds and high prices of the summer tourist season means your family can have a fun European vacation without breaking the bank. The weather may be a little colder, but that is a small price to pay to see some of Europe’s most famous sights at affordable prices and without spending all of your vacation time waiting in line.
Amanda Luhn hates crowds which is why she is always looking for ways to see famous places in the offseason. She writes all about her European travels, as well as other family trips around the world on her blog Simply Awesome Trips.