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Bucket-List Family Trip
Our family recently embarked on a three-week, bucket-list vacation through Europe with kids. We traveled with only our carry-ons, backpacks, and an optimistic sense of adventure. This was our first time visiting Europe with the kids, and although I originally wanted to take this trip when they were younger, their ages of 12 and 15 couldn’t have been more perfect for an adventure like this.
At these ages, they were both old enough to appreciate the places we were seeing, and they had the endurance and stamina to move around from place to place without it being a problem. We moved around a lot, staying in six different cities within three weeks. I learned that at these ages, moving around works well, as teens and tweens tend to get bored pretty fast.
Our Three-Week Europe Itinerary at a Glance
Our 22-day Europe itinerary took us through three countries and six main destinations:
- London: Two nights
- Paris: Three nights
- Venice: Three nights
- Cinque Terre: Three nights
- Rome: Four nights
- Praiano on the Amalfi Coast: Four nights
- Madrid: One-night layover
We traveled primarily by train, with one short flight from Paris to Venice and a private transfer from Naples to the Amalfi Coast. This itinerary was a wonderful mix of big cities, charming coastal towns, famous landmarks, beach time, history, and plenty of incredible food. It worked especially well for our family with tweens and teens.
Where We Went in Europe with Kids
Keeping Costs Down While Traveling to Europe with Kids
Traveling to Europe with the kids can get costly, and keeping costs down on an extended trip like this was tough. One key to saving money was using miles for the main international flights. In addition, I tried to be strategic about the type of lodging we stayed in. We stayed in a variety of places ranging from hotels to bed and breakfasts to private rentals like Airbnb.
Getting things booked early was also critical to getting the lodging we needed at reasonable prices. Our family’s favorite type of accommodation was probably the private Airbnb rental because it gave us extra space to spread out. We didn’t really start staying in rentals until the second half of our trip, so we were all delighted to have some extra space after spending the first week or so together in hotel rooms.
What Worked Well for Our Family
This three-week Europe itinerary worked well because our kids were old enough to handle a fairly active pace. They could carry their own luggage, manage longer travel days, and appreciate the history and culture we were experiencing.
The variety also helped. We balanced busy destinations like London, Paris, and Rome with slower coastal stops in Cinque Terre and Praiano.
That mix kept the trip interesting and gave us opportunities to relax between our busiest sightseeing days.
Our Three-Week Europe Itinerary with the Kids
Transportation Between Locations
We took the Eurostar from London to Paris. For Eurostar or any other train travel, I learned that the earlier you book, the cheaper the fare, so book as early as you can. We booked our tickets in February for our June travels. This guaranteed a reasonable price and that we got seats together.
We flew on EasyJet from Paris to Venice. I originally wanted to take the train, but there were no direct trains. Everything I found required at least three trains and over 12 hours of travel. We had no problems whatsoever on our one-and-a-half-hour EasyJet flight.
Once we got to Italy, we took trains everywhere. They were comfortable, reliable, and actually quite relaxing. I also booked these all ahead of time to ensure we got seats with the kids. However, a couple of connecting trains didn’t allow seat reservations. We still were able to sit together without a problem. The only part of Italy that we didn’t take the train for was our journey to the Amalfi Coast. We took the train from Rome to Naples, where our private driver met us and took us to the coast, with a stopover in Pompeii. We used My Positano Private Car, and we couldn’t have been happier with our service.
Frequently Asked Questions About Traveling to Europe with Kids
- Is three weeks enough for a family trip to Europe?
- Yes! Three weeks gave us enough time to visit several destinations while still spending at least three nights in most places. Our 22-day Europe itinerary included London, Paris, Venice, Cinque Terre, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast, plus an overnight layover in Madrid. It was a busy trip, but it gave our family a wonderful taste of each destination—and left us dreaming about where we wanted to return.
- What ages are best for this Europe itinerary?
- Our kids were 12 and 15 during this trip, and those ages worked especially well for our itinerary. They were old enough to appreciate the history and culture, carry their own luggage, and handle longer travel days. Families with younger children can absolutely follow a similar route, but I would consider visiting fewer destinations, staying longer in each place, and adding more downtime.
- How many European countries should you visit in three weeks with kids?
- For most families, two or three countries is a comfortable goal for a three-week European vacation. We traveled through England, France, and Italy, with a one-night layover in Spain. Limiting the number of countries helped us spend more time enjoying each destination instead of constantly packing, unpacking, and rushing to the next train station.
- Is Europe easy to navigate with kids?
- We found Europe surprisingly easy to navigate as a family. Trains were comfortable and convenient, and many of our accommodations and attractions were within walking distance. The biggest challenge was moving our luggage over cobblestone streets and through busy stations—which is one very good reason to pack light!
- Is it better to travel around Europe by train or plane?
- We preferred traveling by train whenever the route made sense. European trains were comfortable, reliable, and much more relaxing than dealing with airports. We took the Eurostar from London to Paris and used trains throughout Italy. We flew from Paris to Venice because the train journey required several connections and took more than 12 hours.
- How far in advance should you plan a family trip to Europe?
- For a summer trip to Europe, I recommend beginning your planning six to nine months in advance. Booking early gave us a better selection of family-friendly accommodations and helped us find more reasonable prices. We also reserved popular attractions and transportation ahead of time so we could get the times we wanted and, most importantly, sit together on the trains.
- How can a family save money while traveling in Europe?
- Using airline miles for our international flights made the biggest difference in our budget. We also booked early, mixed hotels with private rentals, and traveled by train whenever possible. Rentals with a kitchen can be especially helpful because they offer more space and make it easy to prepare breakfast, snacks, or an occasional meal at home.
- What would we do differently on our next trip to Europe with kids?
- We would visit fewer destinations and give ourselves more time in each one. Our three-night stays were manageable, but four nights felt much more relaxed. Our kids also wished they had more downtime between sightseeing days. Next time, I would leave extra room for sleeping in, swimming, wandering without a schedule, and enjoying those spontaneous moments that often become the best family memories.
Final Thoughts on Our Three Weeks in Europe
This trip gave our family the perfect taste of several wonderful European destinations. The best thing about getting just a little taste of each place is that it leaves you wanting more.
Traveling through Europe with kids wasn’t always effortless. There were long travel days, unexpected changes, crowded train stations, and plenty of moments when everyone needed a break. But there were also incredible meals, unforgettable views, shared laughs, and memories we will talk about for years.
For our first family trip to Europe, this 22-day itinerary was an adventure we will never forget.
Mom of two and seeking sanity in the everyday. Let’s chat about family, school struggles, travel, and living our best life. Located in the San Francisco Bay area.
This is amazing! Thank you for sharing ALL of your trip: the ups and downs, the itinerary, the ways you traveled and why. So much great info! ❤️
Maybe I am missing something? Could you share the VRBO in Priano and the winery between Pompeii and Priano
Thank you for all your helpful feedback. I am planning a similar trip for my little family in a year or so. I’m curious what time of year did you go and how was the weather for you all?
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for your comment. We went in June and totally lucked out with the weather. It was beautiful the entire time. June was also great because it wasn’t as crowded as July and August usually are. Happy Travels!
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for sharing. I also am trying to plan a 3 week trip to Europe with my 3 teenagers. We would like to go to Rome, Greece, and Turkey. Any suggestions?
That’s so exciting! Rome is definitely a must. We really loved Rome and the kids especially loved the food. We are actually visiting Greece this summer. I can’t wait. For Rome, If you can, try to stay somewhere central. The Piazza Navona area is great. We stayed in the Monti area which was also great and central. We broke up Rome into three days. The first day was the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, and Trevi Fountain. The next day we did the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. Our final day we spent visiting Vatican City and Trastevere. Hope this helps. -Michelle