The top historic sites to visit with kids

Do you visit historic sites with your kids when you travel? For us, the answer is easily yes – there’s nothing like it to get a feel for the destination’s culture and heritage (plus we love a good castle).

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We’ve visited the temples of Angkor Wat and Bagan and more castles than I can count, most recently one in Kent but also forts in Oman. We’ve seen ancient artefacts at the British Museum in our home city of London and in tiny museums, such as in Kos Town before heading to one of the island’s own ancient sites.

But if history doesn’t always top your list of things to do on holiday, here’s why I think it’s an essential part of any trip… and my suggestions on where to go.

Why you should visit historic sites with kids

For me, a huge part of travel is introducing my daughter to the world – to the different cultures, the different food, the different religions… everything which makes each country unique, as well as opening her eyes to the way other people live.

And without knowing a little of the country’s history, that’s simply not possible. Whether it’s the Colosseum in Rome or the statues of the Buddha in south east Asia, a visit explains so much more about the country than eating pizza or relaxing on a Thai beach (although I recommend both of those too).

As kids get older, there’s the darker side to history too – stepping inside Auschwitz is an experience that stays with you forever.

While I wouldn’t take my daughter there yet, or to somewhere like the Killing Fields during our trip to Cambodia, it’s so important to remember the worst of history as well as the best – not simply because those events still shape people today but in the hope they’ll never be repeated.

The top historic sites to visit with kids

When I started writing this list, I realised just how many places I wanted to include – so I won’t claim it’s comprehensive! But there are some of my own personal favourites and wishlist entries to get you started.

In the UK

Visit a castle

Britain isn’t short of castles to choose from, and it’s a fantastic way to bring history to life for kids. The Tower of London is one of my favourites, and from the crown jewels to the beefeaters, beheaded queens to legendary ravens, it’s a fantastic place to discover more of the country’s history.

Warwick Castle and Hever Castle also make my ‘top castles’ list, with activities, shows to watch and lots of interactive experiences for children.

For more of the best castles in the UK with kids, check out my top picks

The British Museum, London

With artefacts from countless countries and lost civilisations, this is one of the world’s great museums. As well as being free, there are activities designed for kids too, from little ones up – check out some of my tips here.

My own childhood visits to see the mummies and hieroglyphics here started a fascination with Egypt which I’ve never grown out of.

Stonehenge, Wiltshire

Mysterious and enduring, the standing stones that make up Stonehenge raise as many questions as they answer when you visit.

And for that reason, it’s always a great place to return to – especially with the new visitor centre – to wonder how they built such a structure, ponder why, and consider what life would have been like so many thousand years ago.

In Europe

The Colosseum, Rome

I first visited on a meltingly hot day in August long ago, with work going on to help conserve the Roman amphitheatre. To say I didn’t fully appreciate the Colosseum is probably an understatement.

So I loved going back with Minnie, to see where the ‘games’ were played, as well as taking part in gladiator school – you can easily join a tour, to imagine fearsome beasts launching through the ancient gates.

Needless to say, if you love visiting historic sites with kids, this is only the beginning of Rome’s long list.

We did make it to Rome together for an amazing city break – check out my list of the best things to do in Rome with kids

The Acropolis, Athens

Almost any corner of Greece has its own ancient sites, from the Asklepion in Kos to the palace of Knossos in Crete, with its minotaur. But if you do only see one, it would have to be the Acropolis.

With the museum to explain more about the site, you stroll past remains which would be the central attraction anywhere else to reach that beautiful and striking Parthenon towering above modern-day Athens.

Check out my review of the Alternative Athens Young Heroes family mythology tour of the Acropolis with kids, as well as ideas for more things to do in Athens with kids, plus tips for a baby-friendly city break if you’re visiting Athens with a baby

Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

The palace of the Ottoman sultans, it’s another fascinating glimpse into a lost world.

As well as getting a taste of how the sultan would have lived, wandering the beautiful grounds and seeing the opulent exhibits on display, there’s also the famous harem to visit: a world within a world.

Sultanahmet is also home to Hagia Sophia – first a church, then a mosque, now a museum – as well as the Blue Mosque, as well as the Grand Bazaar

Sainte Chapelle, Paris

Often overlooked in favour of Notre Dame and the Sacre Coeur, it’s one of my favourite places in Paris with the most amazing stained glass.

Set in the medieval Palais de la Cité, the kings of France would have worshipped in the Sainte Chapelle – and lived in the palace on the site – for centuries.

Their eventual resting places at Saint Denis is outside central Paris, and for yet more history, the Louvre is another former palace (with plenty of art history to appreciate, of course)

Worldwide

The pyramids of Egypt

The iconic sight is no less impressive when you see them in their glorious reality, towering above the sand.

One day I’d love to go back with my daughter so she can see them for herself, as well as sailing down the Nile to the Valley of the Kings and the temples of Luxor and Karnak, then on to Abu Simbel.

Who knows if Pharaoh Khufu (or Cheops), mummified inside the Great Pyramid, ever found his way to the Ancient Egyptian afterlife – but he certainly achieved immortality in this one, ordering the creation of one of the world’s most visited graves.

Machu Picchu, Peru

One from my own wishlist, there’s something so fascinating about both the Mayan culture and the thought of this lost city in the mountains of Peru.

Not so lost these days, admittedly, with permits needed to try to cut the impact of visitors – but while I might not wander the Inca Trail with a small girl, it’s one that’s worth the paperwork and there are some great tips for planning a family vacation to Peru in this post.

Tikal in Guatemala is also on my list, while seeing Chichen Itza (and some of the smaller, atmospheric jungle temples on the Yucatan) was one of my most memorable moments in Mexico.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Another world-famous historic site that’s as deservedly popular as it is fascinating.

Visiting in the green season (including sheltering from one downpour in Bayon), we managed to skip the worst of the crowds as our fantastic guide explained the significance of the carvings and the stories which inspired them.

For more about visiting Angkor Wat with kids, click here.

Petra, Jordan

As I walked from the shadow of the Siq, the narrow rock pathway leading to Petra, and saw the Treasury lit up beyond, the hairs stood up on the back of my neck. Perhaps it’s partly the Indiana Jones associations, but seeing the rose red city is like discovering another world.

And if the Treasury is the famous face, it’s only one small (if iconic) corner of Petra with more buildings and remains of Nabatean times. For living history, venture into the desert with the Bedouin at Wadi Rum and head to Madaba for Biblical history too.

PIN FOR LATER: THE TOP HISTORIC SITES TO VISIT WITH KIDS

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission. All opinions are my own, including the ones about pizza and beaches.

Main image courtesy Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels

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