11 cities in Europe for the best vacations for families with teenagers

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Europe is one of the most amazing places to visit with family, especially when travelling with teens. From history to culture and back again, European cities offer a rich history that teens can explore and learn from.

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Many are so diverse that your teens will be learning things without realising it. So here are our top cities in Europe for the best vacations for families with teenagers.

10 epic destinations in Europe for family travel with teenagers

While some of these cities in Europe are very popular and touristy, there are still amazing reasons to visit with teens. To help plan your epic destinations for the best vacations for families with teenagers, here are the top European cities for family travel.

Dark haired teen waiting to cross a busy road in a city at dusk on the best vacations for families with teenagers in Europe

1. Warsaw, Polandbest European cities to visit with teens

Warsaw is full of history and is one of the easiest cities to travel around in Europe with teens. With a mixture of old and new, Warsaw offers a blend of modern attractions and ancient history that teens will find fascinating, making it high on your list of best places to go with teens in Europe.

You can spend the day wandering Warsaw with teenagers or venture into the Polish countryside to taste the real Poland. Warsaw is an easily walked city, especially around the Old Town area.

market in Warsaw Old Town. A set of colouful buildings with tables out the front with umbrellas

Best things to do in Warsaw for teenagers:

Warsaw has a brilliant mix of activities for families travelling to Poland with teenagers. While our teens love history and art, there are also many other things to do in Warsaw for families.

Warsaw is a great city to visit in the summer and winter. In the lead-up to Christmas, the city is alive with light installations, and during the summer months, the banks of the Vistula River are teeming with locals soaking up the sun.

Below, we have included some of the best things to do in Warsaw with teens that we love.

Foods to eat in Warsaw with teens:

Eating out in Warsaw is one of the greatest experiences for teens. If you can find a local ‘Milkbar’, you will be in for a treat. These restaurants were popular in the Soviet Era and gave many Polish people a good, hearty meal. Now, they are open to everyone to enjoy.

  • Pierogi
  • Zapikanka
  • Rosol
  • Gofry
  • Lody
  • Bigos

There is nothing like sitting down to a meal with teens when on vacation in Europe. If you can’t sit down, grab a Zapikanka and pick a spot to enjoy it. Our favourite was a tiny hole-in-the-wall place right near the Royal Castle.

Day trips from Warsaw with teenagers

Families can take so many amazing day trips from Warsaw. Day trips are unique experiences for teens visiting cities in Europe.

Places to stay in Warsaw for families

There are so many places to stay in Warsaw for families that will suit every budget. Getting the best accommodation in Warsaw will help you see all the best tourist attractions during your holidays with teenagers. With its rich history, staying near the Old Town is a top place to stay in Warsaw.

We can highly recommend staying at the Dream Hostel in Warsaw. It is right near the Warsaw Old Town, The Royal Castle and within walking distance of parking if you are driving. Out the front of the hostel is a bus stop that will get you to Wilanow and to the Palace of Science and Culture.

Below are some other articles we have to make planning a trip to Warsaw with teens easy.

2. Freiburg, Germany

Freiburg, Germany, is a brilliant European city for families. This beautiful German city will have plenty of green areas and a relaxed atmosphere. You will find Freiburg to be one of the best places to go with teens on your family vacation to Europe.

When you travel with teenagers to Freiburg, you can stay in the city or use it as a base to add more vacation destinations for teens to your European vacation with family.

Best things to do in Freiburg with teenagers:

Freiburg is a brilliant city for teens. It is a university town with many options for things to do. It is right near one of the best theme parks in Europe, Europa Park. You can spend time in some of the green spaces and learn about the region’s history.

Foods to eat in Freiburg with teens:

Many families will remember their best holidays with teenagers and previous family holidays to Europe over a meal. You can find some of these at the market near the Munster, Martins Brau, and any good cake shop will have a Black Forest Cake for you to try when you holiday in Freiburg.

  • Black Forest Cake
  • Currywurst at the market
  • Flammekeuche
  • Roasted Pork Knuckle
A teenager walking down a misty street in Freiburg Germany.

Day trips from Freiburg for families

There are so many amazing day trips from Freiburg for families, including other easily visited countries. Day trips are a great way to ensure the best vacations for families with teenagers.

Places to stay in Freiburg with teenagers

There are so many places for families to stay in Freiburg. You will find many different Freiburg accommodation options for your holiday in Freiburg with teenagers.

Having spent a lot of time in and around Freiburg, our Freiburg travel guides will help you plan your family trip to Freiburg with ease. Freiburg is one of our top destinations in Europe for families.

There are so many other cities in Germany to visit with teens. Use our Germany Destination Guide Page for more inspiration on more cities to visit in Germany with teenagers.

3. Zurich Switzerland

Zurich is one of the most expensive places in Europe, and you can visit it with teenagers, but it is worth it. Zurich offers a variety of activities that combine fun and education, making it an ideal destination for teens. It is achievable if you need to travel to Zurich on a budget.

You must make sure you plan your trip to Zurich with your family well. In Zurich, you can easily combine fun activities with a culinary tour or trip to the Swiss Alps.

A red head teenager looking out over a balcony onto the street below in Zurich Switerzland on their best vacations for families with teenagers

Best things to do in Zurich for teens:

Switzerland is known as one of the most expensive countries in the world, and I can tell you we were shocked when we arrived at the prices of daily basics.

Below we have included some of the top things to do In Zurich but also some passes that will help you save some money when you visit Zurich.

Foods to eat in Zurich with teens:

A great way to plan more activities with teenagers on your family holiday to Zurich is to find a good meal and enjoy it together.

  • Swiss Cheese
  • All the chocolate

Day trips from Zurich for families

There are a few day trips from Zurich that should be on your Switzerland itinerary. This will surely make it one of the best vacations for families with teenagers.

Places to stay in Zurich with teenagers

From 5-star luxury to budget chain hotels in Zurich, you will find accommodation for families in Zurich easy to find. Your budget will determine where you stay in Zurich with teens.

We highly recommend the Leonech Swiss Hotel in Zurich for your family holiday with teens. But if you are looking for next-level accommodation in Zurich and the surrounds, Plum Guide has some magnificent stays around Switzerland

Use our detailed Zurich travel guides to plan your family trip to Zurich.

Planning family holidays with teenagers can be time-consuming. Visit our Switzerland Destination Guide Page to help plan your family trip to Switzerland

4. Reykjavik, Iceland

Be prepared to be wow-ed by Iceland in any season. You will easily find a photo opportunity around every corner, making Iceland one of the best vacation destinations for families with teenagers in Europe.

Reykjavik has to be one of the best places to go with teens, and you are guaranteed some magnificent experiences with teens while you are travelling in Iceland. A culinary tour is a fantastic way to experience and indulge in delicious Icelandic food. Put the capital of Iceland on your list of top European cities for family travel.

Best things to do in Reykjavik for teens:

You will find such a wide range of things to do in Reykjavik. You can enjoy natural beauty, experience epic landscapes, and making unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.

Again, Iceland is an epic destination, one of the top places we have visited, but it is very expensive. We’ve included some amazing deals to save money when you visit Iceland.

Foods to eat in Reykjavik with teens:

After a huge day of sightseeing in Reykjavik with teens, there is nothing better than sitting down to a good meal together. You can find the world-famous hot dog stand in Reykjavík.

  • Icelandic lamb
  • Icelandic Hot Dogs
The amazing Church in Reykjavik rising towards the perfect blue sky.

Day trips from Reykjavik for families

How do you make your family vacation to Reykjavik even more epic? Do some day trips from Reykjavik with teens. There are so many places to visit with family that surround Reykjavik.

Places to stay in Reykjavik with teenagers

Budget travel is difficult in Iceland, so having a place to cook some meals may be the way to go if you travel with a large family to Iceland.

Plan your epic Iceland adventure with teens easily with our guides.

Planning the very best vacations for families with teenagers takes a lot of work. Take the hassle out of your trip to Iceland with our first-hand travel guides to Iceland on our Iceland Destination Guide Page

Iceland with teenagers: All the best things to do in Reykjavik with teenagers

Search here for all the very best travel products for your family vacation and beyond!

5. Luxembourg City

A city overlooked by many families on holiday in Europe with teens, it should be on your travel with teens list. This charming city is easy to get around, and day trips around the entire country are magnificent. Be sure to visit the Royal Palace, a must-see attraction in Luxembourg City. Luxembourg is one of the most relaxing places in Europe to visit with family.

Best things to do in Luxembourg for teens:

Luxembourg is such a beautiful place, but many of the top attractions are out of the city. It is easy to get around with the free public transport but you can also walk the city easily.

Day trips from Luxembourg for families

While Luxembourg is easy to drive around and see the sites yourself, you can do some amazing day trips from Luxembourg City. Add another country to your Luxembourg itinerary easily to make your vacation with teenagers in Luxembourg unforgettable.

Places to stay in Luxembourg with teenagers

From amazing campgrounds to hotels with the world of Luxembourg on your doorstep, you will be spoilt for accommodation in Luxembourg.

We can highly recommend staying in the Beter-uit vakantiepark Walsdorf Campground located in Tandel just out of Luxembourg City.

This amazing campground is fantastic for families visiting Luxembourg and has on-site cabins, tent sites, RV sites and onsite tents available. Public transport is available close by as well.

Two teen girls having fun on a bridge in Luxembourg City on their best vacations for families with teenagers

Any family that travels to Luxembourg will be astounded by its beauty. Our top travel tips for families in Luxembourg will help make your trip to Luxembourg wonderful.

Budget travel with teens: Our top, easy and realistic budget travel tips

6. Strasbourg France

Tourists flock to Strasbourg at Christmas for the world-famous markets, but did you know Strasbourg is beautiful in any season? Wander the fairytale streets with picturesque houses and sample some of the best cuisines in Europe when you visit Strasbourg with your family.

Best things to do in Strasbourg for teens:

One of our favourite places to visit with teens, we loved our time in Strasbourg. The city is again another easy holiday with kids but you may find you want to visit out of the city too, especially if you enjoy wine.

Strasbourg is one of the top cities in Europe to visit at Christmas time. You will find it is at the top of many people’s must-see lists at this time, and for good reason. It is amazing.

Foods to eat in Strasbourg with teens:

Some of the finest food comes from this area. Influenced by German and French tastes you will find so many memorable meals to be had in Strasbourg. Families travelling in Europe will fall in love here.

  • Flammekueche
  • Vin Chaud (mulled wine)
  • Eclair
  • Spaetzle
  • Cordon Bleu
  • Gingerbread

Strasbourg is located in The Alsace Region of France, one of the world’s best wine regions. There are many wonderful vineyards, wine caves and cellar doors to visit during your family vacation to Europe.

*In France, children over 14 can have a glass of wine with a meal while accompanied by adults.

A blonde teen looking out over the cananl towards the wooden thatched houses in Strasbourg France.

Day trips from Strasbourg for families

While staying in Strasbourg for your family vacation with teens to Europe, there are some stunning day trips from Strasbourg.

Places to stay in Strasbourg with teenagers

Picture yourself calling one of the most photographed houses in the world home for a few nights. You can easily rent an apartment or stay in a hotel, but whatever you do, Strasbourg is one of the best vacations for families with teenagers.

For many, a trip to the Alsace is a bucket list vacation. Known for its world-famous cuisine, stunning wine caves, and picturesque villages, a stay in the Alsace is epic.

If you want to add another layer of beauty to your holiday in the Alsace, search Plum Guide for stays in the Alsace that are truly unforgettable.

Strasbourg is an amazing place to base yourself and see the best of the Alsace. We have compiled this list from our time living in the Alsace.

There are so many epic destinations in France for family holidays with teenagers. Our France Destination Guide Page will have you adding to your France trip with family.

Travel Europe with teens: All the best things to do in Paris

7. Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal should be among the top cities on your list of best vacations for families with teenagers. Traveling with a teenage daughter and teenage son can present unique challenges and opportunities, but Lisbon offers a variety of activities that can keep her interested and enthusiastic. There are so many experiences for teens in and out of the city. Lisbon is a top city for the best vacations for families with teenagers

Best things to do in Lisbon for teens:

You can find plenty of things to do in Lisbon with older children. There is something around every corner, from epic castles and beautiful beaches to jaw-dropping food!

Foods to eat in Lisbon with teens:

You must eat a Pastel de nata in Lisbon. These sweet treats are hard to go past once you’ve started.

A teen with a ponytail looking throught the clear glass at the Oceanarium in Lisbon as a shark swims by. Lisbon is one of the best vacations for families with teenagers

Day trips from Lisbon for families

There are some places to visit with family during your stay in Lisbon. Sintra, Evora and the Algarve are some places to go with teens on your Lisbon family vacation with teenagers.

Places to stay in Lisbon with teenagers

There are many great places for families to stay in Lisbon on your Portugal family vacation in Europe. Remember that Lisbon is a highly hilly city so you must consider that when you plan your family travel with teenagers to Lisbon.

A stay in Lisbon is a truly magical experience and once you lay eyes on Pena Palace is near Sintra you will fall in love with the beautiful Portuguese landscapes. If you are looking to make our trip to Lisbon even more unforgettable why not look at staying in a luxury Plum Guide apartment in Lisbon or Sintra?

Make travelling with teens to Lisbon easy with our detailed guides.

Add more family travel with teenagers places in Portugal with our Portugal Destination Guide Page

Not sure what your teen will need on holiday? Click here to get all the top sellers for your travelling teens

8. Seville, Spain

With its amazing orange tree-lined streets, movie sets, ancient Roman amphitheatre, and rich ancient history, Seville offers something for everyone planning a family holiday in Spain with teenagers. Families on holiday in Europe with teens will be spoiled for choice in Seville.

Best things to do in Seville for teens:

Seville and its landmarks have featured in plenty of films so you can walk in the footsteps of your favourite actors! It is also a brilliant place to taste some of the best foods in Spain too. Below we have included some of the best things to do in Seville Spain!

Foods to eat in Seville with teens:

Seville is known for its amazing tapas stalls and Jamon (ham). If you are not travelling to any other city in Spain, you should also try a paella.

An ariel view of the semi circle shape of plaza esapan in Seville You can see the lagoon and bridges the make this building unique. a must see on your 3 days in seville

Day trips from Seville for families

Travel with teenagers out of the city with some amazing day trips from Seville. Adding a day trip to your European holiday itinerary is a fantastic way to gain more experience. There are so many different day trips from Seville for you to enjoy!

Places to stay in Seville with teenagers

Staying close to the city centre is a great way to see more of Seville on your family holiday with teenagers to Seville. The city is easily walked, and the public transport is easy to use as well if you need to for kid-friendly activities.

Step back in time and stay in the Walls of the Alcazar or a Spanish villa with a luxury stay with Plum Guide. Be on an added journey when you pick the most epic place to stay in Seville.

Plan all the very best experiences for teenagers in Seville with the articles below.

Spain is one of the best places to visit with family in Europe and there are so many extra places to go in Spain. Use our Spain Destination Guide Page to add more destinations to your family holiday in Europe.

See more of Spain: All the best things to do in Madrid

9. Liverpool, England

This vibrant city in England is full of amazing things to do with travelling teens. No family trip to Europe would be complete without an English city to visit with teens. Home to the Beatles, The ferry across the Mersey and some of the biggest football teams on the planet.

Sports-mad families on holiday in England would be crazy to miss a holiday in Liverpool and will be remembered as the best vacations for families with teenagers in Europe.

Travel with teens to Liverpool to see the Titanic story in the city. A teen looks excited to be at the museum with one arm raised and a big smile

Best things to do in Liverpool for teens:

The home of the Beatles will have you visiting as many places as you can.

Foods to eat in Liverpool with teens:

You can’t go past a full English Breakfast to start the day on your family holiday in Europe when you are travelling with teens

  • Fish n Chips
  • Bacon Butty’s
  • Miss Molly’s Trifle
  • Scones, Jam and Cream

Day trips from Liverpool for families

There are some brilliant day trips from Liverpool for families. One of the most popular would be to visit the stunning Lake District or hop down to London to see sights such as the Tower of London, Crown Jewels and Big Ben.

Places to stay in Liverpool with teenagers

Being central to all of the action in Liverpool is essential to making your family holiday with teens in Liverpool amazing.

Choose a city stay or a quaint little country home for your trip to Liverpool with family. Plum Guide has epic stays both in the city centre and in the surrounding areas for you to have your perfect English holiday.

Liverpool can provide one of the best vacations for families with teenagers with its wealth of activities and experiences for teenagers on holiday in the UK.

Our England Destination Guide Page will easily provide you with more family travel with teenagers destinations for your holiday in the UK with family.

Check out a megacity: Visit the iconic and magnificent London

10. Dubrovnik, Croatia

This amazing hub on the coast is an ideal destination for family travel in Europe for anyone who loves the TV show Game of Thrones. With its red roofs and city walls, Dubrovnik is a wonderful family-friendly city in Europe for families.

Best things to do in Dubrovnik for teens:

Many people find planning a visit to Dubrovnik difficult. Cruise ships pull up during the summer months en-masse and the narrow streets become clogged with tourists. We visited Dubrovnik in the winter and we found the city to be beautiful and less crowded although many of the museums and restaurants were closed.

Food to try in Dubrovnik:

Many Croatian meals are hearty and very tasty. While a vegetarian scene is really starting to emerge you will find some amazing treats for you to enjoy when you visit Dubrovnik.

We loved picking up a piece of Borek from our local bakery and something sweet before we headed off on our daily adventures.

  • Borek
  • Cevapi

Day trips from Dubrovnik for families

You can go on one of the many tours of all the best movie sets from the show Game of Thrones or you can visit another country on a day trip from Dubrovnik. There are so many places to visit with family on your family vacation to Europe.

Places to stay in Dubrovnik with teenagers

We highly recommend you stay in the Old City of Dubrovnik on your family holiday with teens to Dubrovnik. There are plenty of options for all budgets within the City Walls.

Need a pool? Want views of the city walls? Want an epic stay in Dubrovnik? Then check out all of the amazing places to stay in Dubrovnik on Plum Guide! You can easily find a stay that will add an extra level of awesome to your trip.

Dubrovnik is a stunning place to visit with the family on your trip to Europe with teenagers.

See more of Croatia: All the very best things to do in Split

11. Kotor, Montenegro

So many families travelling to Europe only end up in Kotor Montenegro if they are onboard a cruise ship. A visit to the Unesco World Heritage site of Kotor should be taken as a brilliant European destination for families by itself.

You will find a beautiful old-walled city, hiking trails and some of the most amazing scenery in this stunning European city for families travelling with teens.

Traveling with teenagers to amazing places like Kotor. A teen sitting in a stone window frame with a stone church in the background on their  best vacations for families with teenagers.

Best things to do in Kotor for teens:

Wandering the narrow streets and going up to the top of Kotor Fortress are some of the best things to do in Kotor. One of our best family memories ever is climbing to the fort. Don’t forget to pick yourself up some amazing olive oil or local wine from one of the local shops in the heart of the Old Town of Kotor.

Day trips from Kotor for families

You can see some stunning places from Kotor on your day trip with teenagers.

Places to stay in Kotor with teenagers

Staying within the city walls is a great experience when you visit with teens. While many old European cities have walled towns, there aren’t many like Kotor. Make your family holiday in Europe with teenagers to Kotor unforgettable with some accommodation within the city walls.

Planning an epic trip to Europe for teenagers is easy with our first-hand Kotor travel guides.

Best vacations for families with teenagers

We have personally visited all of these cities in Europe with teens and we can say there is something for everyone. Everyone who plans to travel with teenagers wants the best vacations for families with teenagers to make the holiday with young adults easy, hassle-free and enjoyable for the whole family.

Don’t be limited to these destinations only we can also vouch for more European cities we have visited such as Copenhagen, MadridBarcelona, Amsterdam, Vienna, Munich, Rome and more.

In Copenhagen, you have the Tivoli Gardens, In Amsterdam, you have the Van Gogh Museum and in Rome, Italy the Colosseum and Gelato. While we have rated the cities in this post as the best vacations for families with teenagers destinations, some of these others are brilliant too.

Essentials for vacations in Europe with teens

A few items should be on your must-get list well before you take off for your holiday in Europe with teenagers. You don’t want any unwanted or unexpected bills when you return home, so you shouldn’t plan a trip to Europe with teens without some of the items below.

Essential travel items:

These top few points are things we never, ever leave home without. We always say if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel and we still stand by that today. We’ve also touched on money and visas.

  • For International travellers, travel insurance is a must, get a quote through Insurance Masters and don’t go home with a huge bill for medical expenses.
  • Do you need a visa to visit Europe? Some countries in Europe may require you to have a visa or an ETA (Electronic travel authorisation) to enter the country. You can check and buy these documents at iVisa.
  • Load a Revolut Travel Money card with Euro or the local currency for your visit and save on transaction fees

Safety items for your European adventure with teens:

There is nothing worse than being a bored teen, and having access to the internet is important. This connection allows them to feel like they are not missing out at home, not only for communicating with each other while you are away.

  • Make phone calls with an international sim card that you can buy before leaving home or buy a voucher for a virtual e-sim for your mobile phone.
  • A 4G pocket Wi-Fi modem is essential for accessing the internet. You can rent a pocket modem that you can pick up at the airport or your hotel, alternatively buy a pocket modem that you can use on all future trips with your phone, tablet or computer.
  • Make sure you grab a VPN for your trip. VPN Proxy Master has plans available from one month to one year to help keep your data safe from hackers and malware while traveling.

Comfort, internal travel and hassle-free transport options:

Travelling with young adults has just as many issues as traveling with young kids so to make their trip to Europe go well a little vacation planning goes far.

Getting your internal transport sorted can relieve a lot of stress when arriving in a new place. It also leads to a smooth transition into a new destination and sets the holiday off on the right foot. Here are some of the must-haves for making that possible.

  • If your flights have a long stopover, or you just want to relax before your trip you should consider getting a lounge pass with Priority Pass. Priority Pass has access to airport lounges all over the world. Search now for your lounge pass
  • You can easily book your train tickets with Omio here to save you time and the hassle of navigating a new city and the train station
  • We can personally recommend Kiwi Taxi transfers from the airport to the city
  • Eurolines and Flix bus arrive and departs hourly from most major cities in Europe and are a great, budget-friendly way to see Europe with teenagers
  • You can reserve a rental car and have it waiting for you at many of the Airports in Europe

Traveling with teenagers can be a wonderful experience, and families that travel with teenagers find many benefits to finding amazing places to go with teens in Europe.

We hope this article from us here at Wyld Family Travel has helped you easily choose some of the best vacations for teens destinations in Europe for your next family holiday with teenagers to Europe.

Travel with tweens and teens: Travelling with young adults has just as many issues as travelling with children. Choosing the best teenage vacation destinations can be so time-consuming. 

Use our Travel with Teenagers Destination Guides from all over the world for your next family vacation inspiration to make your family vacations with teens epic.

Looking for more family destinations in Europe for families travelling with teens? Click through to our travel with teens in Europe city destination guides for more brilliant family travel tips.


More inspiration for family vacations with teens


Rebecca Wyld

bec.wyld@wyldfamilytravel.com

Content Creator/SEO Editor

Co-founder and SEO editor here at Wyld Family Travel. Bec has travelled to over 45 countries across 3 continents and is a journey with kids advocate. When Bec is not planning travel, she creates content for our family travel blog or does local community service work. You can find all of Bec’s detailed travel guides here on Wyld Family Travel and on other popular websites such as Lonely Planet.