October half term serves up the perfect chance to get away with the kids on a ferry. As well as being a much-deserved respite from the longest school term, you’ll also find destinations to be considerably less crowded than high season. Explore a new corner of Europe, take your car on an action-packed adventure, or spend a few days soaking up some city culture with these family holiday ideas for October half term.
Learn something new in Berlin
With an impressive wealth of cultural delights and plenty of playgrounds, parks and lakes to enjoy, Berlin is ideal for families. Better yet, it’s also home to Museum Island – a collection of five museums placed in the heart of the city with free entry for those under 16.
Of the five, the Pergamonmuseum is perhaps the most popular – home to the monumental Pergamon Altar, a Greek construction that dates back to 2BC. For even older artefacts, walk 30 minutes to the Naturkundemuseum (Natural History Museum) for its imposing Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton – affectionately named Tristan. After you’ve learnt all you can about world history, head to the Tiergarten park for a picnic, cycle or stroll.
Explore Paris
Granted Paris is the epitome of romance, but it’s also one of our top family holiday ideas for October half term. Kids big and small will love strolling its iconic boulevards, setting their sights on the Seine and letting off some steam in its vast parks and recreational grounds. And if the weather isn’t ideal, there’s still plenty to do in the form of its museums and galleries – not to mention eating all the crepes, pastries and freshly made bread you can possibly imagine.
Take a trip up the Eiffel Tower, board a boat tour across the Seine and be sure to pop in to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa. Once you’ve seen all the main sights, stop by the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie – Europe’s largest science museum.
Surprise yourself in Amsterdam
You can be forgiven for not considering Amsterdam as a typical family escape. But the city is great for families – particularly those with older kids. Where else can you visit a working windmill (the Molen van Sloten, found towards the west of the city), take a canal cruise, and scare yourself silly in a dungeon – all in one day?
The city’s world-class museums and biking and boating opportunities are also popular with kids of all ages. Take teenagers on an Anne Frank tour, visit the Van Gogh Museum, and tour the city by canal, all before celebrating Halloween at the Amsterdam Dungeon, which charts 500 years of the city’s darkest history.
Inspired by these family holiday ideas for October half term? Take a look at our Adventure Planner for more inspiration, and book your ferry crossing today.
