Europe with Kids: A Beginner’s Guide

Paris Hotel de Ville carousel

🎤 Episode Overview

Planning a family trip to Europe but not sure where to start? Europe with kids is more doable than most families think — and in this episode of Family Travel Unpacked, Melissa breaks down everything you need to know to pull off your first family trip to Europe with confidence.

With nine trips to Europe across more than a decade of family travel — including time in France, Spain, Ireland, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland — Melissa has done it every way imaginable: road trips, trains, ferries, budget flights, and everything in between. She shares which countries work best for first-timers and why, what to expect logistically, and how to use points and miles to bring the cost within reach.

🎧 Listen to This Episode

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🗺️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps

  • 00:00 – Welcome
  • 02:11 – Big picture planning
  • 05:35 – Best destinations for a first family trip to Europe
  • 17:57 – Getting around Europe with kids
  • 22:30 – Europe on a budget
  • 24:27 – Logistical tips for your family trip to Europe
  • 26:08 – Do you need travel insurance?
  • 27:11 – Final thoughts and where to go from here

🌍 Planning Your First Family Trip to Europe

Slow Down — It’s the Most Important Thing You Can Do

The instinct when you’ve flown across an ocean is to maximize. But the families who have the best first Europe experiences are almost always the ones who pick one country, narrow it down to two or three cities, and actually stay long enough to get to know a place. Seven cities in ten days with kids sounds impressive; in practice it mostly means a lot of train stations and not enough time to experience anything.

Flights and Jet Lag

Most of western Europe is not that long of a flight from the eastern US — you’re looking at seven to nine hours from the East Coast, which is actually less than flying to Hawaii. The time change is typically six hours ahead from the East Coast and more like nine from the West Coast. Kids adapt faster than adults expect, but plan a couple of lower-key days at the start of your trip and don’t try to squeeze in a packed itinerary on day one.

If you’re hoping to visit eastern Europe, keep in mind that the flight situation is harder unless you’re in a major hub. Croatia, for example, only has a nonstop to Dubrovnik from JFK, and Zagreb flights only go to Canada. That’s not insurmountable, but it does add complexity.

Passports and the New Travel Authorizations

Everyone needs a passport to visit Europe, and most countries require it to be valid for at least three months past your visit. Check the US State Department website for current requirements.

Americans have historically been able to show up in Europe as tourists with no advance paperwork, but that is changing. The UK now requires an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for most tourists including Americans and Canadians. The EU’s equivalent — the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) — is expected to launch for most of Europe in early 2027. It’s been delayed a few times, but apply for these in advance. Both are straightforward online applications, not full visas.

🗺️ Best Destinations for a First Family Trip to Europe

Ireland — The Easiest First Trip

If there’s one country I’d recommend above all others for a first family trip to Europe, it’s Ireland — and the reason is simple: there’s no language barrier. That sounds like a small thing until you’re jet-lagged with kids trying to order food or ask for directions. Having everything in English removes a real layer of cognitive load.

Beyond the logistics, Ireland is genuinely spectacular. The west coast — the Wild Atlantic Way — is some of the most dramatic coastal scenery I’ve seen anywhere: the Cliffs of Moher, the Dingle Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry. The history is rich and layered in ways that hold kids’ attention, the food is approachable, and the people are some of the warmest we’ve encountered anywhere. Kids are welcomed everywhere, including pubs — Irish pubs for lunch and dinner are family establishments.

Ireland is best explored by rental car. You’ll be driving on the left, which takes a day or two to adjust to, but the country is compact and the roads are generally in good shape. Plan for layers and some rain regardless of when you go. Ireland is green for a reason, and some of our best moments there happened in a drizzle.

Italy — Something for Every Family

Italy is probably the most popular first Europe trip for American families, and for good reason. The food alone sells it — our daughter’s answer when asked her favorite place from all our travels was Italy, because pizza and gelato. She’s not wrong.

We’ve been three times with the kids at this point and still feel like we’ve barely scratched the surface. Rome is the obvious starting point: you walk through a square and you’re looking at excavations thousands of years old. Yes, there are crowds, and yes, you need to book the big sites in advance — but it’s one of those places where even young kids get excited about old buildings.

If Rome is the history trip, the Dolomites are the adventure trip. This is one of the best family hiking destinations in all of Europe. The trails are well-maintained, the scenery is extraordinary, gondolas and ski lifts take you up the steepest slopes, and mountain huts along the routes offer food, farm animals, and playgrounds. Venice is magical but needs strategy — go in the morning, wander off the main tourist drag, give yourself permission to get lost. And a heads up: summer in northern Italy is hot. Carry a misting bottle. Not a joke.

One more thing worth knowing: Italy is one of the best countries in Europe for families managing Celiac disease. Awareness is genuinely high there.

Portugal — Affordable, Walkable, and Wildly Underrated

We visited Portugal this past spring as a family and it shot up my list of recommendations for first-timers. Fascinating history, beautiful cities, and — crucially — one of the most affordable countries in western Europe. Your money goes noticeably further than in France or Italy.

Lisbon is a great base with great neighborhoods to wander, beautiful hilltop viewpoints, and easy day trips to Sintra and Cascais. We actually preferred Porto in the north: mellower, more local in feel, and with excellent food. English is widely spoken throughout. The main caveat: if your family has dietary restrictions, Portuguese cuisine is very bread and pastry forward and requires more proactive communication than some other European destinations.

Greece — History, Beaches, and Incredibly Welcoming People

Greece had been on my personal bucket list for years, and when we finally went, it delivered everything I hoped for. The historic sites are extraordinary — Athens is one of those places where you’re standing in front of something thousands of years old and it’s genuinely hard to process. The food is delicious and very kid-friendly. The people are warm in a way that makes you feel truly welcomed.

For a first Greece trip, combine Athens with one island. Athens is incredible but intense, especially in summer heat, so island time as a contrast is really nice. Naxos is a fantastic family choice — big island, beautiful beaches, real local life, and far fewer tourists than the famous Cyclades neighbors. Crete is another excellent option, with enough to fill a full week across its history, beaches, and towns.

One important weather note: Greece in summer is seriously hot and crowded with European vacationers. May and September are both beautiful and far more comfortable, with a fraction of the crowds. If beach time and swimming are priorities, September is ideal — everything is still open and the water has had all summer to warm up.

France — Paris for First Timers

Paris might be the most recognizable city in the world for kids, and that familiarity is genuinely useful on a first Europe trip. For families new to European travel, I’d stay in Paris the whole time rather than road-tripping the country — the city is that rich, and the rail network makes day trips to Versailles and Giverny easy without adding logistics.

Yes, it’s crowded and expensive. But it’s Paris. Go up the Eiffel Tower, get a crepe outside Notre Dame, pick up a croissant at a neighborhood boulangerie, and finish with macarons at the Luxembourg Gardens. It’s hard not to be charmed. One honest note: Paris has less tolerance for kids’ typical energy in public spaces than some other European cities, and some traditional French food won’t win over picky eaters — though steak frites is always a safe bet.

Iceland — The Adventure Pick

Iceland earns a spot on this list because of how accessible it is. Flights from the East Coast are under six hours, the time change is just four hours, and there are nonstop options from smaller airports like Nashville and Pittsburgh. What you get for that relatively short flight is unlike anywhere else: glaciers, waterfalls, geysers, volcanic fields, and naturally occurring hot springs you can just jump into. We went as a family in summer 2024 and it was extraordinary.

Two honest caveats: food and accommodation prices in Iceland can be very high, so budget accordingly. And Iceland is better suited to older kids who can hike and handle variability. If you have younger kids on a rigid nap schedule, it’s probably not the right first Europe trip — but for active families with school-aged kids, it’s hard to beat.

A Few More Worth Considering

Spain is laid-back, family-oriented, affordable relative to much of Europe, and endlessly varied. Barcelona is a great entry point — Gaudí’s architecture is the kind of thing even kids find genuinely fascinating. Spain in winter is an underrated option: mild weather in the south and a fraction of the summer crowds.

Croatia is a great pick for families who love the outdoors and want something a little off the beaten path. The waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes are some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve seen anywhere, and outside of Dubrovnik it’s excellent value. Best explored by rental car.

Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland are all very family-friendly destinations we’ve visited and loved — excellent infrastructure, welcoming locals, and a range of experiences from fairy-tale castles in Germany to the impossibly scenic Alps in Switzerland. Amsterdam in particular is one of the most logistically easy cities I’ve been to in Europe. I haven’t gotten around to writing detailed guides for these yet, but all three make excellent first Europe destinations.

✈️ Getting Around Europe with Kids

Budget Airlines

Europe has a massive network of budget carriers — Ryanair and EasyJet are the biggest, but there are others. Flights can be remarkably cheap if you book in advance. The catches: these airlines charge separately for everything (bags, seats, you name it), and their airports are often far from city centers. Factor in that ground transportation time when you’re comparing a flight to a train.

Trains

European trains are one of the genuine joys of traveling there. High-speed rail runs city center to city center — no long taxi to an airport, no security lines. Kids often travel at steep discounts, and on some routes they ride free. No luggage size or weight limits, either.

The downside: for longer distances, high-speed trains can be as expensive as flights, sometimes more. Rail passes aren’t always the money-saving deal they appear to be — the math depends entirely on your routing. Check single ticket prices early, because family discounts sometimes require advance purchase.

One question that comes up constantly as a car seat technician: do you need a car seat on European trains? No. Trains of any kind don’t require car seats. That’s worth factoring into your transportation decisions, especially if you’re traveling with a young child.

Rental Cars

For a trip centered in one country — especially somewhere like Ireland or Croatia where public transportation is limited — a rental car often makes the most sense. You have flexibility, you can go off the beaten path, and the per-person cost goes down as your group size goes up.

Automatic transmission cars are available but cost significantly more and book up faster — reserve early if you need one. Gas runs about double US prices. You’ll want an International Driving Permit in addition to your license in most European countries; you can get one through AAA, and they’ve moved the whole process online.

Ferries

In the Mediterranean — especially Greece — ferries are part of the picture. The Greek island ferries are big boats with cafes, observation decks, and sometimes sleeping berths. The trips are fun for kids. Just know that fast ferries can cause seasickness, slow ferries can be very slow, and schedules sometimes run on island time. Build in buffer if you have connections to make.

💰 Europe on a Budget

Using Points and Miles

A family trip to Europe doesn’t have to be rare or ruinously expensive if you learn to collect and redeem travel points strategically. For the full breakdown on how to get started, go back to Episode 7 for the basics, and Episode 30 for a real case study using the Portugal trip — round-trip flights ran about $125 per person (mostly for upgraded seats on the overnight flight) and nine nights of accommodation cost $350 out of pocket.

My free ebook covers a lot of this ground too.

Saving Money on the Ground

Staying in one or two places for your whole trip saves money — you minimize ground transportation and can get long-stay discounts on vacation rentals. Train travel between cities is often cheaper than renting a car when you factor in gas and parking. Booking trains early gets you family discount rates that aren’t always available last minute.

🔌 Logistical Tips for Your Family Trip to Europe

Power Adapters

US devices won’t plug into European outlets, and the UK uses a different plug from continental Europe. The simplest solution: one universal travel power adapter with built-in USB ports. It lets you charge multiple devices off a single wall plug and takes up almost no space. Worth every penny — Melissa uses hers daily even at home.

eSIMs and Staying Connected

Check what your carrier charges for international roaming before you go — the $10–12/day add-ons most US carriers offer add up fast over two weeks. A better option for unlocked phones is an eSIM: a digital SIM you install like an app that gives you cheap local data without swapping physical cards. Melissa uses Airalo. A 10-day unlimited data pass covering all of Europe runs about $35, with cheaper options if you don’t need much data. Your regular US number stays active for incoming calls and texts.

  • Airalo eSIM (use code MELISS0517 to save $3 on your first eSIM)

🛡️ Do You Need Travel Insurance?

Premium travel credit cards provide some coverage, but when you’re booking different pieces of your trip on different cards — or getting flights on points — the waters get murky fast on what’s actually covered. A standalone travel insurance policy removes that ambiguity.

For a single trip, compare plans on Squaremouth to find the right coverage for your situation. For families planning to travel multiple times in a year, an annual plan with Allianz is worth considering — Melissa uses it and has had positive claims experiences.

❓ Common Questions About Europe with Kids

How long should our first Europe trip be?

At least ten days, ideally two weeks. You lose real time on both ends to travel and jet lag adjustment, and you want enough time to slow down rather than rush between places.

Do we need to speak the local language?

Not in most tourist areas of western Europe. English is widely spoken in Ireland (obviously), and well spoken in Portugal, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and most major cities across the continent. France and Italy can require a bit more patience, but getting by is very doable with a translation app and a willingness to try.

What age is best for a first Europe trip with kids?

There’s no perfect age — we’ve gone with babies and with teenagers and had great trips at every stage. That said, kids around 7 and up tend to have the stamina and curiosity to get the most out of a destination-focused trip. If you have younger kids, lean toward destinations with more outdoor space and fewer must-see sites (Ireland, Portugal) over cities heavy on monuments and museums.

Is Europe expensive for families?

It depends enormously on where you go and how you travel. Portugal and Croatia are very affordable. Iceland and Switzerland are very expensive. France and Italy are somewhere in the middle. Using points and miles for flights and hotels significantly changes the equation for any of these destinations.

📚 Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Europe Planning

Ireland

Italy

Portugal

Greece

France

Iceland

Spain & Croatia

Booking Resources

Travel Insurance & Gear

Credit Cards