4 Short European Cruises Kids Love

Seeing European cities from a boat can add a new perspective to family travel and provide a respite for little legs tired of walking. While parents enjoy the scenery and history from the narration, kids just love being on a boat. Trips are short — not long enough to outlive a kid’s attention span.

Paris: Bateau Mouche
The best known of all Europe’s city boat excursions is a trip along the Seine on Bateau Mouche, sailing past the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay. You’ll also get close-up views of soaring Notre Dame and see the progress on its reconstruction after the fire. For a splurge, book a table on a luncheon cruise.

Koblenz: The Rhine Castles
Kids love spotting the legendary castles of the Rhine as they sail past Stolzenfels Castle and others along the Rhine Gorge. They’ll hear legends of the famous Lorelai Rock as the boat navigates this treacherous passage, and they can try to hear its echo as they pass the 433-foot cliffs. This section of the river is part of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage site, which includes about 40 castles.

Berlin: Historic City Cruise
This one-hour cruise on the Spree River through the historic heart of the city gives close-up views of the most important sights, including Reichstag, Museum Island, Bellevue Palace, the impressive Berlin Cathedral an historic Nikolai Quarter. Kids will love sailing under Berlin’s many bridges.

Amsterdam: Canal District Cruise
Water is very much a part of the Dutch city of Amsterdam, whose 17^th – and 18^th-century buildings face a series of canals forming concentric rings through the old city. These elegant merchants’ homes and warehouse were built in the Dutch Golden Age, and the best views of the elaborately decorated facades, brickwork and ornate gables are from the canals. Tours of this UNESCO-listed Canal District depart right from the central train station and some tours with audio guides include a special version for children.