The 15 best European holiday parks for family winter breaks

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The winter can feel REALLY long – so I’ve put together 15 brilliant options for European family breaks at holiday parks that stay open all year round. I’ve picked a variety of resorts with things like indoor swimming pools and kids’ activities for keeping busy in the warm, as well as ski and snow breaks or parks near cities, and of course if you’re visiting over the festive season there will be all sorts of Christmas magic too. There are some great destinations for European winter breaks here – with family-friendly holiday parks in: Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark and France. So, if you fancy getting away with the kids over the colder months, here are my top 15 picks for the best European holiday parks for winter family getaways from Landal, Center Parcs and Eurocamp.

1. Landal Het Vennenbos, the Netherlands

The Netherlands is perfect for a European getaway with the kids and just over a 3 hour drive from Calais you’ll find Landal Het Vennenbos – one of the best family-friendly holiday parks for a winter break. It features a fantastic subtropical swimming paradise with waterslides, a lazy river and a toddler-friendly play area. This resort is a great option for an out-of-season getaway – whatever the weather the whole family can enjoy the indoor pool complex, and there’s also bowling, an indoor play forest for little ones and an arcade games room for older kids. If you fancy a theme park day, you can reach Efteling in 45 minutes – with an ice rink and all sorts of Christmas magic it’s a great option for a day out over the festive season. The nearest airport, Eindhoven, is just a 25 minute transfer away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Het Vennenbos on the Landal website.

2. Landal Resort Maria Alm, Austria

If you fancy a snowy European break with the kids, Landal Resort Maria Alm sits in the beautiful Hochkönig ski region and it’s one of the best family-friendly holiday parks for winter adventures in Austria. The resort is surrounded by gentle slopes and the ski school in Maria Alm takes children from around 4 years old. Off the slopes, there’s an indoor swimming pool, a spa and lots of snowy walking paths. The Maria Alm Resort area also offers horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice-skating and toboggan runs – the kids will love it! The nearest airport is Salzburg Airport, around 70 minutes away, so if you’re visiting over the festive season be sure to plan a trip to the infamous Salzburg Christmas market too. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Landal Resort Maria Alm on the Landal website.

3. Center Parcs Het Meerdal, the Netherlands

If you’re after a European Center Parcs break, Het Meerdal is one of the most popular holiday parks in the Netherlands – it’s just a 4 hour drive from Calais and has lots to offer a family winter getaway. This resort is well known for its big Aqua Mundo waterpark complete with slides, rapids, a wave pool and a toddler splash area – perfect for fun even on a cold day. There are plenty of indoor activities on offer including: a play area, bowling, a sports centre, indoor tennis and mini-golf, making it a great option for the colder months. This site is just a 10 minute drive from Toverland theme park and 50 minutes from Efteling. Efteling has all sorts on offer over the festive season so it’s a great place for some Christmas magic. If you’d prefer to fly the closest airport, Eindhoven, is just 25 minutes away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Het Meerdal on the Center Parcs website.

4. Landal Winterberg, Germany

For a European ski break without the big price tag, or the long transfers of the Alps, Landal Winterberg is one of the best holiday parks for a family winter adventure in Germany. The resort is situated right on the Winterberg ski slopes, with easy access to chairlifts and gentle pistes, and the smaller Winterberg slopes are perfect for children. The holiday park format means you get spacious apartments, an indoor pool, play areas and lovely snowy walking routes. Nearby, the kids can enjoy activities like tobogganing and snow-tubing, and there’s even bobsleighing available if you fancy something a bit different! The nearest airports are Dortmund, Cologne or Frankfurt (they have fabulous Christmas markets!), or cross to France via ferry or Le Shuttle – it’s a 6 hour drive from Calais. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Landal Winterberg on the Landal website.

5. Landal Vierwaldstättersee, Switzerland

Landal Vierwaldstättersee, based near the Morschach-Stoos ski area in Switzerland, is perfect for relaxed and scenic family holidays over the winter season. The children’s ski land is ideal for beginners, and Stoos offers gentle slopes with stunning lake and mountain views. This Landal holiday park has excellent facilities with things like indoor pools, a children’s splash area, bowling, soft play, VR and more. It’s perfect for families who don’t want to ski every day, and for fun in the evenings when you want to escape the cold. Nearby, you’ll also find ice-skating, sleigh rides, dog sledding and a toboggan run – what more could you want from a European winter getaway?! The nearest airport is Zurich, which is about an hour’s drive from the resort. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Landal Vierwaldstättersee on the Landal website.

6. Eurocamp Marvilla Parks Kaatsheuvel, the Netherlands

One of the few Eurocamp holiday parks open over the winter, Marvilla Parks Kaatsheuvel is just a short 3.5 hour road trip from Calais. If you want to enjoy festive fun at the best theme park in the Netherlands – Efteling is only 10 minutes from the resort. This site is ideal for families who want a mix of relaxation and entertainment – with sand dunes and deep forests on your doorstep. For fun over the colder months, there’s a brilliant indoor swimming pool with a toddler area, soft play and a games room. If you fancy a city adventure Amsterdam is just over an hour away, and the incredible Beekse Bergen Safari Park is a 25 minute drive from the resort. The nearest airport is Eindhoven Airport – about 40 minutes away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Marvilla Parks Kaatsheuvel on the Eurocamp website.

7. Center Parcs De Vossemeren, Belgium

Center Parcs De Vossemeren is a brilliant pick for a cosy winter family break – you even check out some of the fabulous Christmas markets in Belgium. This resort offers plenty to do, even when the weather turns chilly, from the tropical Aqua Mundo pool complex (with waterslides, rapids, waves and all sorts!) to the huge Discovery Bay indoor play world. The site also boasts indoor activities like sports, a climbing wall, gaming, bowling, crafts and mini-cars, making it a great option for the colder months. The incredible Beekse Bergen Safari Park is around a 50 minute drive from the resort and just over an hour away you’ll find Efteling Theme Park. The closest airport, Eindhoven, is about a 40 minute transfer or drive from Calais in less than 4 hours. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out De Vossemeren on the Center Parcs website.

8. Landal Seawest, Denmark

For a less typical European family getaway destination, Landal Seawest is a fabulous base for winter holidays in Denmark – this one is surrounded by countryside and it’s close to the North Sea. The resort has a fabulous subtropical swimming pool complex with waterslides and jacuzzis, and plenty of indoor activities to keep the kids busy in the warm. The site boasts an indoor playground, mini-golf, a climbing wall, a bowling alley and more! When it comes to family-friendly days out, Dyrehaven Engholm animal park is nearby, and Legoland Billund and WOW PARK are both around an hour from the resort. Or, visit over the festive season to soak up Danish traditions and explore the local Christmas markets. The nearest airports are Esbjerg (45 minutes away) or Billund (an hour’s drive). For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Landal Seawest on the Landal website.

9. Landal De Lommerbergen, the Netherlands

Another one of the best Landal holiday parks for family fun, De Lommerbergen is a lively site in the beautiful Netherlands countryside, about a 4 hour drive from Calais. The subtropical swimming paradise here is a big hit – featuring waterslides, rapids and a wave pool. There’s also a large indoor playground, kids’ clubs and a ‘Gamecity’ space so there’s plenty on offer to entertain the kids whatever the weather – it’s another great winter holiday option. This site is right on the border of Germany too, so you can border hop for more adventures, and Toverland theme park is half an hour away. The nearest airports are Eindhoven and Dusseldorf – both are just under an hour away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out De Lommerbergen on the Landal website.

10. Center Parcs De Kempervennen, the Netherlands

Friends of ours had a brilliant time at De Kempervennen Center Parcs – it’s one of the closest resorts to Calais (a 3 hour drive) so it’s a great option for a short road trip to the Netherlands. One of the best parks for a family-friendly European winter holiday, the brilliant pool complex has waterslides, rapids, a baby pool, a wave pool, hot tubs and more. The site also boasts plenty of indoor activities including: an indoor ski slope, a climbing wall, indoor archery, VR, bowling, soft play, gaming and all sorts! (Some activities are chargeable.) There’s so much to do whatever the weather and it’s in a great spot for days out too. Efteling theme park, Beekse Bergen Safari Park and Toverland are all a 40-45 minute drive away. The nearest airport is Eindhoven Airport – a 20 minute transfer. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out De Kempervennen on the Center Parcs website.

11. Landal Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria

Landal Bad Kleinkirchheim, set in the beautiful mountains in Austria, gives families direct access to a lovely ski area with plenty of gentle slopes. The resort is well known for its excellent ski schools and the area is especially popular with beginners and improving children. The nearby Römerbad thermal spa is a huge bonus and perfect for a relaxing afternoon. The holiday park offers self-catered apartments, a swimming pool on-site, easy access to the lifts and lots of winter walking routes. Nearby, you’ll also find an ice-skating lake, tobogganing and sleigh rides – amazing! The nearest airport is Klagenfurt Airport – around an hour’s drive from the resort. Check for Bad Kleinkirchheim’s special “Kids for €1” lift pass days to bring the cost down. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Landal Bad Kleinkirchheim on the Landal website.

12. Landal Waterparc Veluwemeer, the Netherlands

Just under a 5 hour drive from Calais, Landal Waterparc Veluwemeer is only 40 minutes from Amsterdam so this holiday park is a great base for families looking for a winter city break – there are plenty of fabulous Christmas Markets to explore. Set right by Veluwemeer Lake, there’s plenty on offer to keep everyone entertained over the colder months with a great indoor swimming pool and indoor play area, as well as activities like an escape game, an all weather tennis court and kids’ clubs. The park is just a 10 minute drive from Walibi Holland theme park, which remains open over the Christmas period, and Klimbos Harderwijk climbing forest. If you’re flying, the closest airport is Amsterdam Airport which is around 35 minutes drive away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Waterparc Veluwemeer on the Landal website.

13. Center Parcs Les Trois Forêts, France

If you’d like to head to France for your European winter family holiday, then Center Parcs Les Trois Forêts is an excellent choice as it’s one of the best parks for indoor activities. The brilliant swimming pool complex has huge waterslides, a children’s pool, a lazy river and a wave pool – perfect for fun whatever the weather. The site also boasts activities like: a climbing paradise, VR, an indoor play world, bumper cars, a laser challenge, gaming, bowling and indoor sports. (Some activities are chargeable.) For days out, it’s just over an hour from Strasbourg (perfect for a Christmas Market visit) and it’s around 30 minutes from Parc Animalier de la Sainte Croix. The nearest airport is Strasbourg – an hour and 15 minutes drive from the resort – or road trip from Calais in just under 6 hours. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Les Trois Forêts on the Center Parcs website.

14. Landal Katschberg, Austria

Another one of the best parks for a European ski holiday, the Landal Katschberg Resort is ideal for family-friendly winter breaks if you want to roll out of bed and straight onto the slopes in Austria. The apartments are right next to the ski area, and the region is known for wide, family-friendly pistes and a dedicated children’s area. Non-ski activities include the holiday park’s swimming pool, a long toboggan run, horse-drawn sleigh rides and winter walking trails. You can take part in the Katschberg Adventweg trails on selected dates across November and December. The nearest airports are Salzburg and Klagenfurt – both are around a 1 hour and 15 minute drive away. If you’re visiting over the festive season, this would also be a great opportunity for a trip to Salzburg Christmas market. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Landal Katschberg on the Landal website.

15. Landal Hof van Saksen, the Netherlands

Landal Hof van Saksen is in the Northeastern area of the Netherlands about a 5.5 hour drive from Calais. The resort is well-known for its fabulous swimming pool complex with waterslides, making it a firm family favourite. (Though you will need a bigger budget for this one!) This luxurious resort offers high-quality lodges and great facilities for the kids – the winter-friendly activities on offer include trampolining, soft play and bowling. The resort is near to the border if you’d like to explore both the Netherlands and Germany during your stay. You’ll also find Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen just 25 minutes away, and Drouwenerzand Attraction Park around a 15 minute drive from the resort. The nearest airport with direct flights is Amsterdam – it’s just over 2 hours away so hiring a car would be best. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Landal Hof van Saksen.

I hope that this article has helped you to pick the best European holiday resort for your family winter break – there are some fabulous parks here with lots of indoor activities and great days out nearby. Let me know if there are any other places you’d recommend in the comments, and scroll down for even more winter getaway articles. Have fun! 😊