Growing up and having a family means priorities need to change, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the football. Instead of a weekend away with friends, why not take your more immediate loved ones? Here are five cities well worth visiting for a family friendly football trip.
Madrid
From both a footballing and cultural perspective, Madrid is one of the best cities in Europe for a family vacation. Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are two of the world’s biggest clubs, seeing either of these clubs play would be an amazing experience for any football crazed family.
Thirteen-time European Champions, Real Madrid, are a dream club for many youngsters, and with one visit to the Santiago Bernabeu, it’s easy to see why. A guided stadium tour costs €17 per child and €22 per adult offers the opportunity to see the best trophy room in all of football.
On a matchday the kids will relish the opportunity to see some bona fide superstars. Players like Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and Vinicius Jr are some of the best in the world. Maybe your children will leave with dreams of playing in that famous white kit.
Consistently at the top of La Liga, and Champions League regulars, Atletico Madrid may not have won as many trophies as their city rivals but they’re still a huge club. The red and white stripes strike fear into opposition at home and away, and their new home the Wanda Metropolitano stadium is a great place to watch some good football.
Of course, there are plenty of non-football related things for you and your family to do in Madrid. Treat the kids to an ice cream while walking around the beautiful Parque del Retiro or visit dinosaurs at the National Museum of Natural Sciences, just a few blocks away from Santiago Bernabeu. Madrid is the perfect location for a family football trip.
Florence
This Italian city is one of the most historically significant places in the world. Not only was it the beating heart of the Italian renaissance, but people can also argue its where football was born.
Yes, the modern game came from the English, but Calcio Storico Fiorentino is the canvas used for modern ball games such as rugby and football. Make the trip to Dante’s city in June, witness its most important cultural event and teach your children about the history of the beautiful game.
Fiorentina are the only major club in the beautiful city of Florence, and as a result they have a fanatical local following. Although they haven’t won the Serie A since 1969, the Viola have had some truly remarkable players over the years. Rui Costa, Gabriel Batistuta and more recently Dusan Vlahovic have all pulled on the purple shirt.
Just like all the cities on this list, Florence is much more than football. Exploring the Leonardo da Vinci Museum, seeing the massive Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and cooking lessons for the whole family are just a few things to keep visitors of all ages busy.
Liverpool
Easily one of the most underrated cities in all of Europe, Liverpool has something for everyone. Liverpool and Everton are two of England’s most famous and historic football teams with very different stories.
It’s fair to say that Liverpool FC are the far more successful of the two clubs. Six Champions Leagues and 19 league titles puts them in the upper echelon of elite football clubs. In recent years, Liverpool fans have been spoilt in being able to see players like Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and the now departed Sadio Mane play at Anfield.
Everton have been in the shadow of their bitter rivals for most of their existence, but fans of the blue half of this fair city love their club just as much. Everton fans appreciate that football is more than just trophies and as a result the atmosphere at Goodison Park is just as good as the one at Anfield. Plus, both stadiums are just a 20-minute walk away, so if you plan your day wisely, you could do both stadium tours the same date.
Football means a hell of a lot to the people of Liverpool, but so does music. The Beatles resonate with music fans of all ages, so the Beatles museum is a fantastic day out for any music fan.
The nightlife in Liverpool is some of the best in the country. Pubs are on every corner, with each one telling its own story. Make the trip to the Royal Albert docks for incredible food and drink, as well as plenty of museums. Liverpool is great and you and your family will feel welcome there.
Paris
The city of lights is now the city of superstars. The greatest of all time, Lionel Messi, has joined his friend Neymar and Kylian Mbappe at Paris Saint Germain. Seeing these three players together is more than enough reason to visit this great city.
Heavy investment has made PSG the dominant force in French football, but the trophy the clubs owners crave more than any other is the Champions League. Now that Messi has been drafted in, you shouldn’t bet against the Argentine magician finally leading his new club to the biggest trophy in club football.
At the age of 35, Messi won’t be playing for too much longer, taking your children or other loved ones to see him play is something you’ll talk about for the rest of your life. Of course, seeing Neymar and Mbappe is also huge, and it’s probably seeing superstars what resonates the most to kids.
There are so many things to see and do in Paris, it’s almost impossible to list them. The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe are some of the most well-known museums and monuments in the world. It’s also one of the great food cities. Head to the small tea-room Carette for a hot chocolate that will change your life.
Seville
Much like Liverpool, Seville is one of Europe’s hidden gems, but the similarities don’t end there. Seville is a beautiful and historic city with two major clubs that hate each other. Sevilla and Real Betis have one of the most intense yet relatively unknown rivalries in football.
Sevilla FC are the most decorated side in UEFA Cup/Europa League history with an astonishing six titles. They are undoubtedly one of the biggest clubs in Spain and Europe and their trophy cabinet reflects that.
If Sevilla are like Liverpool, the Real Betis are like Everton, although in recent years Los Verdiblancos have been up there with their city rivals, winning the Copa del Rey last season. Lead by ex-Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini, Real Betis are a bit of a dark horse.
The city of Seville has some truly stunning architecture. The Real Alcazar de Seville, Plaza de Espana and Parque de Maria Luisa offer beautiful settings to spend time with the people you love. If you’re a couple, a parent with young kids or teenagers, Seville has lots for you to do. Don’t miss a horse carriage ride across the city centre and try to mingle with local fans, which will try to make you feel at home and give you some tips to make your stay even better. We can promise if you come to Seville as a neutral fan, you’ll become a Betis or Sevilla fan for your whole life.
