16 Best European Holiday Parks for Family Winter Breaks

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The winter can feel REALLY long – so I’ve put together 16 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.

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 16 picks for the best European holiday parks for winter family getaways.

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. You can have fun whatever the weather – it features a fantastic subtropical swimming paradise with waterslides, a lazy river and a toddler play area. There’s also bowling, an indoor play forest for little ones and an arcade games room for older kids. You can reach Efteling in 45 minutes – with an ice rink and all sorts of Christmas magic it’s a great option for a festive day out. The nearest airport is Eindhoven – 25 minutes 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

In the beautiful Hochkönig ski region, if you fancy a snowy European break, Landal Resort Maria Alm is one of the best family-friendly holiday parks for winter fun in Austria. It’s surrounded by gentle slopes and there’s a kids’ ski school in Maria Alm. The resort features an indoor swimming pool, a spa and lots of snowy walking paths. Nearby, you’ll find horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice-skating and toboggan runs – the kids will love it! The nearest airport is Salzburg, 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. 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. The big Aqua Mundo waterpark features slides, rapids, a wave pool and a toddler splash area. There are also plenty of indoor activities including: a play area, bowling, a sports centre, indoor tennis and mini-golf, making it a great option for the colder months. It’s just a 10 minute drive from Toverland theme park and 50 minutes from Efteling – both offer festive fun. The closest airport is Eindhoven, 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 a big price tag, or the long transfers of the Alps, Landal Winterberg is one of the best holiday parks for a family winter break in Germany. With easy access to chairlifts and gentle pistes, the smaller Winterberg slopes are perfect for children. Plus, 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 – there’s even bobsleighing available! The nearest airports are Dortmund, Cologne or Frankfurt (they have fabulous Christmas markets!) or 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, near the Morschach-Stoos ski area in Switzerland, is perfect for 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. It boasts excellent facilities like indoor pools, a children’s splash area, bowling, soft play, VR and more – perfect for families who don’t want to ski every day! 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 – about an hour’s drive away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Landal Vierwaldstättersee on the Landal website.

6. Duinrell Holiday Park, the Netherlands

Just a 3.5 hour drive from Calais, Duinrell is famous for its theme park and indoor Tiki Pool waterpark. It’s one of best holiday parks in the Netherlands and it offers something for kids of all ages. Perfect for winter fun, the huge indoor waterpark is incredible and the resort boasts arcades, a bowling alley, soft play and theme park rides (rides may have winter restrictions). Check out my Duinrell Review for more info – we love this one! For days out, visit Christmas markets in Amsterdam or wrap up warm to visit Rotterdam Zoo. The nearest airports are Rotterdam and Amsterdam – 30 minutes away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out the Duinrell website.

7. Center Parcs De Vossemeren, Belgium

Center Parcs De Vossemeren is a brilliant pick for a cosy winter family break – and you can check out the fabulous Christmas markets in Belgium. This resort offers all-weather fun with the tropical Aqua Mundo pool (with waterslides, rapids, waves and all sorts!) and the huge Discovery Bay indoor play world. The site boasts indoor activities like sports, a climbing wall, gaming, bowling, crafts and mini-cars, making it perfect for the colder months. For days out, Beekse Bergen Safari Park and Efteling are around an hour away. The closest airport, Eindhoven, is 40 minutes away or it’s a 3 hour drive from Calais. 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. The resort has a fabulous subtropical swimming pool complex with waterslides and jacuzzis, and plenty of indoor activities. The site boasts an indoor playground, mini-golf, a climbing wall, a bowling alley and more! For family 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 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 Netherlands 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 German border for more adventures and Toverland theme park is half an hour away. The nearest airports are Eindhoven and Dusseldorf – both 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

De Kempervennen Center Parcs is 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 and hot tubs. The site boasts plenty of indoor activities including: a ski slope, a climbing wall, archery, VR, bowling, soft play, gaming and all sorts! (Some activities are chargeable.) For days out, Efteling, Beekse Bergen Safari Park and Toverland are all a 40-45 minute drive away. The nearest airport is Eindhoven – 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, in the beautiful mountains in Austria, gives families direct access to a lovely ski area with plenty of gentle slopes and excellent ski schools. 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 find an ice-skating lake, tobogganing and sleigh rides – amazing! The nearest airport is Klagenfurt – around an hour’s drive. Check for Bad Kleinkirchheim’s special “Kids for €1” lift pass days to bring costs 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 with Christmas Markets. There’s plenty on offer over the colder months – the resort boasts 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. It’s just a 10 minute drive from Walibi Holland, which remains open over the Christmas period, and Klimbos Harderwijk climbing forest. The closest airport is Amsterdam – around 35 minutes 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

For a family winter break in France, Center Parcs Les Trois Forêts is one of the best European holiday parks for indoor activities. The brilliant swimming pool complex has huge waterslides, a children’s pool, a lazy river and a wave pool. The site boasts activities like: a climbing paradise, VR, an indoor play world, bumper cars, a laser challenge, gaming, bowling and indoor sports. (Some are chargeable.) It’s just over an hour from Strasbourg (perfect for a Christmas Market visit) and it’s 30 minutes from Parc Animalier de la Sainte Croix. The nearest airport is Strasbourg – 75 minutes away – or drive 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. Lalandia Resort Billund, Denmark

Without a doubt one of the best European holiday parks for a family winter break, Lalandia Resort Billund in Denmark offers loads to do indoors. The resort has a fantastic pool complex with waterslides, a wave pool, a lazy river, jacuzzis, an activity pool and a splash playground. There are plenty of other indoor activities too – things like bowling, ice-skating, tobogganing, a climbing wall, the Sky Rider, trampolining, indoor mini golf and more! If you fancy some days out, Legoland Billund is 5 minutes away and WOW PARK is less than a 10 minute drive away. The nearest airport is Billund which is also less than 10 minutes away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Lalandia Billund at Hotels.com.

15. Landal Katschberg, Austria

Another one of the best parks for a European ski holiday, Landal Katschberg 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 – around 75 minutes away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Landal Katschberg on the Landal website.

16. Landal Hof van Saksen, the Netherlands

Landal Hof van Saksen, in the Netherlands, is 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!) Winter-friendly kids’ activities include trampolining, soft play and bowling. The resort is near to the border so you can also explore Germany during your stay. You’ll find Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen just 25 minutes away, and Drouwenerzand Attraction Park is a 15 minute drive. 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! 😊