10 routes to travel through the most natural Europe with children 2026

Travel and nature, the perfect combination for any family plan. And now with the book The Most Fascinating Natural Landscapes in Europe. 30 essential routes by car (ed. Alhena Media) by Jordi Canal-Soler will serve as a travel guide through the most natural and wild Europe, perfect for traveling with children. This book is more than a travel guide, a collection of tours through the most virgin and wild nature in Europe. Its author, Jordi Canal-Soler, is a writer and photographer specialized in travel, and in the book he shows us the most spectacular places to visit as well as giving us tips and tricks to get the most out of our trip. He is the author of two other books and gives lectures and talks about his travels.

In this book we will find everything from the route through Finland where children can meet Santa Claus to the route in Scotland where they can discover Lake Nesso to riding a train that takes the same route as the Hogwarts Express train that appears in the Harry Potter movies. It is really interesting to read, before saying destination, the final indications of each route, where it specifies when the route is not recommended for children or elderly people.

Amazon Essentials by Sofia Grainge - Summer 2026 Promotion

67% of Spaniards declare that they will visit an international destination at some point during their vacation, and 81% plan to increase or maintain their travel budget this summer. For this reason, urban tourism regains importance and is close to 59%, compared to 63% for sun and beach tourism. In third place is rural and mountain tourism, with 39%. In national destinations, travelers continue to opt for coastal areas, placing the beach as one of the attractions when deciding on their vacation.

With the arrival of good weather, we want to start planning the next vacation. When choosing the destination, dates and transportation, many factors influence: personal tastes and circumstances, the time we have, and of course the budget we have. We make a selection, with the help of Jordi Canal-Soler, of the most 'wild' destinations to go with children.

Route with children through Croatia

The blue waters of the Adriatic stand out against the stony whiteness of the Dalmatian coast of Croatia, and little by little merge with the dense forests of the interior where the rivers flow down forming waterfalls. Some of them are the most spectacular in Europe, such as those in Plitvice, a magical place where the water descends little by little from lake to lake with dozens of waterfalls.

Photo: Veliki Slap Waterfall in Plitvice Lakes National Park ©Mpaniti

Route with children through the Scottish Highlands

Wild, wild and romantic, the Scottish Highlands will enchant not only adults, but especially children. The legend of the Loch Ness Monster (with interactive museum included) or crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct aboard the Jacobite steam train that appears in Harry Potter are sure to be some of the highlights of a trip to Scotland.

Quiraing Mountains, Isle of Skye ©Martin M303

Slovenia, a gem to discover

An enchanting lake with an island in the center crowned by a bell tower, a cave with the largest underground canyon in the world that rivals the Moria from The Lord of the Rings, the only medieval castle built under a mountain and dense forests full of bears make Slovenia one of the most interesting countries to discover fascinating landscapes in Europe.

Brittany and Normandy, the wild coast of France

The rugged coast of Brittany, with its many lighthouses, wooded areas and wave-lashed headlands, is perfectly complemented by the wide beaches of Normandy full of historical remains of the Allied landings. And among them, the magnificent Mont Saint-Michel abbey. Incomparable.

Cliffs of Étretat. ©Punto Studio Photo

Northern Ireland, in the land of giants

Giants are legend in the north of Ireland, where the enormous Finn MacCool lived. His beloved lived on the other side of the sea, on the island of Staffa in Scotland, and in order to cross the arm of water it is said that the giant built a stone bridge. Over time the bridge has fallen, but you can still see the large stones it used at both ends: and the famous Giant's Causeway, full of basalt blocks, is where the legend becomes reality.

Viking lands in Iceland

The Earth is alive, and one of the places where you can feel it best is in Iceland. Whether watching the bustling surge of a geyser kicking up boiling water into the cold air, swimming in hot springs in Bláa Lónið, sailing among icebergs in Jökulsárlón or watching puffins in Dyrhólaey, a visit to Iceland is sure to leave no one indifferent.

Canyon in Þingvellir National Park ©Pingvellir

Poland, the most natural Europe

Poland not only has some of the most beautiful medieval cities in Europe, but on its border with Belarus it houses the great natural jewel of the continent: the primary forest of Bialowieza, where the trees have never been cut and among which the last wild European bison roam.

Switzerland, Heidi's country

If Heidi had been real she would live in the alpine mountains of southern Switzerland. The numerous cable cars, rack railways and funiculars that operate in Switzerland make its high mountains some of the most accessible in the world, and a perfect landscape to discover the alpine world and, with a little luck, spot Heidi running through the fields and meadows with Pedro and Niebla.

First Cliff Walk walkway_a step into the void ©Switzerland Tourism

Madeira, the Atlantic island

Resplendent like a floating garden, the island of Madeira rises above the dark waters of the Atlantic to become a fascinating landscape of green laurel forests, vertical cliffs where waves break, volcanic calderas, paths following water channels and rich seaside vineyards. Water and earth that merge.

Route through Madeira © Muffin

Ordesa and Monte Perdido, an essential classic

They may not be as impressive as the Colorado Canyon, but the Ordesa or Pineta valleys are very similar in beauty, and the proximity of the three thousand ice-capped mountains makes this Spanish National Park one of the great places for excursions in Europe.

Ordesa Valley. Horsetail.© Lunamarina