Best Tips for Traveling in Europe with Teens

At home and abroad, teenagers sometimes get a bad rap — but honestly, traveling with teens can be a highlight of the family travel years. I absolutely love traveling with my teens. Having successfully graduated from the stroller-using, nap-needing, peek-a-boo-playing age, my teens are excellent travelers, full of curiosity, enthusiasm and only the occasional eye roll. 

Traveling through Europe with teens — with all its history, culture and cuisine — comes with its own set of considerations, of course. After spending several weeks in Italy and France, I’ve rounded up my top tips for not just surviving but truly enjoying Europe with teens.

Europe With Teens: How to Make Your Trip Stress-Free

Involve Teens in the Planning Process 

Travel is way more meaningful when teens have a say. Before we left, I let each of my kids help choose a destination, museum or special activity that mattered to them. One wanted to see street art in Paris; another was all about hiking coastal trails in Cinque Terre. 

Whether it’s picking a city, selecting restaurants or researching landmarks, getting your teens involved in the nitty-gritty of planning gets them more invested and excited about the trip you are “dragging” them on this year. 

Empower Your Teens with Responsibilities 

Before departure, we agreed on a set daily allowance for each teen — not just for souvenirs, but also snacks, Metro tickets and small purchases. They took over navigating public transportation (learning to read maps, buy tickets and use apps) and handled small errands like ordering croissants or grabbing bottled water from local shops. These tasks helped build confidence and made them feel like part of the travel team, not just kids being taken along on the ride. 

Embrace Flexible Schedules 

Teenagers are not known for being early risers, and we quickly learned that jamming too much into each day led to burnout. We built in slow mornings, late lunches and time for rest in the afternoons. While we had some scheduled tours or timed entry slots, we also left open blocks of time for spontaneous discovery — a hidden garden, a street performer, a second gelato stop, more croissants … you get the idea. 

Cut the Tech Cord (Most of the Time) 

Unless you’re willing to shell out the dough for an international data plan or eSim card, your teens will be in ‘airplane mode’ in Europe. We found this to be a wonderful opportunity to teach them what life was like in the Dark Ages (just kidding … the Paris catacombs did that for us!).  

We explained the family rules for data usage before leaving home, so our teens were aware of the cost of roaming and texting, and made sure to give them moments of Internet binging too: we stayed in apartment rentals with WIFI, and allowed our teens relaxation time in the evenings when they could text friends and watch their favorite TV programs. We didn’t want to be total monsters when we travel, and a little tech time allowed for some normalcy during a vacation spent in countries with different customs and different languages. 

Balance Museums with Outdoor Fun 

Europe is packed with incredible art, architecture and historic sites — but even the most engaged teen (and let’s be honest, adults too) can only take so many cathedrals and sculptures. On our first day in Rome, after a long morning exploring, we stumbled into Villa Borghese. Renting bikes became one of our favorite memories, filled with plenty of laughter and fresh air. Public parks, scenic walks, and riverfront strolls became key to keeping everyone energized. 

Tune In to the Local Scene 

Some of our favorite moments weren’t on the itinerary. While waiting near the Eiffel Tower, our teens got invited to join a pickup soccer match with Parisian kids. It was completely unplanned — and completely unforgettable. Whether it’s teens watching skateboarders in Berlin or browsing markets in Barcelona, make time to observe and join in local life. You never know what might happen when you say yes to a detour. 

Choose Accommodations That Work for Families 

European hotel rooms aren’t always designed with families in mind, especially those with older kids. We booked apartment rentals that gave us space to spread out, cook breakfast, do laundry and get space from each other when we needed it.  

Having a kitchen helped us save money and enjoy local food without the stress of formal restaurant dining every night. Grocery store trips became part of the fun — my teens loved checking out the unfamiliar brands and snacks in each country. 

Make Smart Food Choices 

While European dining can be incredible, teens are often more interested in grabbing pizza from a street stall than sitting through a three-course meal. We leaned into quick, casual options like crêperies, hole-in-the-wall trattorias or even picnics in the park. It kept things affordable, flexible and satisfying.  

If you do want a nicer dinner out, save it for a night when everyone’s well-rested and hungry, or consider giving the kids a little alone time back at the hotel or apartment where they can enjoy pizza while you go out for a nice, quiet (complaint-free) dinner. 

Encourage Cultural Engagement 

Teens often engage best through hands-on experiences, so we signed up for a cooking class in Florence, where they learned to make pasta from scratch. In Paris, we found a street art walking tour that gave them a newfound respect for what it takes to do mural installations, as well as the political movement it has become. Workshops, food tours, and even short language classes can be a fun way to connect with a place beyond the guidebook and meet a few locals. 

Allow for Some Independence 

If your destination feels safe, allow older teens to have short periods of supervised independence. Maybe it’s exploring the market while you enjoy a cappuccino nearby, or letting them browse shops or take a solo stroll down a busy street. We often leave the kids back at the hotel for an afternoon so the adults can have a little time alone, while the kids happily play video games or catch up with friends back home while safely in the room.  

Talk About Local Customs and Rules 

Before arriving in each new country, we took a few minutes to talk about cultural differences — how to greet people, what’s considered polite or how to dress for religious sites. We also discussed things like tipping, public transportation etiquette and legal drinking ages. These conversations helped set expectations and avoid awkward moments, especially when encountering customs very different from home. 

Create Time to Reflect and Capture the Trip 

Teens are great storytellers, so we encouraged ours to take photos, write short daily notes or even film funny videos recapping the day. One kept a sketchbook; another made a travel playlist. These mementos helped them process the trip and gave them something to share with friends when they got home. 

Traveling through Europe with teens can be one of the most rewarding chapters in your kids’ lives. With a little flexibility, thoughtful planning and an openness to spontaneous adventure, you’ll get to watch your teens discover new cultures, tackle real-world challenges and maybe even thank you — eventually — for the experience. 

Relevant Links:

Browse our top ideas for vacations with tweens and teens

27 great vacation ideas for all types of teens

8 of the best places to go in Spain with teens

Ancient ruins & island vibes: Where to go in Greece with teens

9 places to make family travel memories with college-age kids

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