Best Places in Europe for Teens and Tweens
Let’s be honest: traveling to Europe with teens and tweens can be the ultimate family bonding experience—or a week-long eye-roll marathon. But good news: Europe is a giant playground disguised as a culture trip. With the right mix of cool cities, Instagram-worthy moments, and just enough history to keep their brains firing, you can actually enjoy a trip where everyone’s happy(ish).
Here are the best places in Europe for teens and tweens—including my picks for food, fun, and all the stuff that will keep your kids off their phones (at least temporarily).
Table of Contents
Barcelona, Spain: Gaudí, Beaches & Gothic Cool
Barcelona is basically what happens when architecture and color have a love child. Between the beach and the tapas, your kids may never want to leave.
Teen/Tween Highlights:
- Park Güell and Sagrada Familia: They look like they were designed by a Disney villain with a flair for mosaics.
- La Boqueria Market: Let them spend their allowance on fresh fruit, candy, and all the jamón they can carry.
- Barceloneta Beach: When in doubt, beach it out.
- Gothic Quarter
Quick Tip: Buy skip-the-line tickets. Teens and lines? Oil and water.
Plan your trip with our Barcelona articles:
- 25 Beautiful Places in Barcelona
- Free Things to do in Barcelona, Spain
- 12 Amazing Things to Do in Barcelona with Kids
London, England: Royals, Rockstars, and Harry Potter
London is like a history textbook and a rock concert rolled into one. Bonus: They speak English.
Teen/Tween Highlights:
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter: If your kids grew up on Hogwarts, this is mandatory.
- Camden Market: Funky fashion, street food, and a vibe even your moody teen will approve of.
- Tower of London: History that includes beheadings? Say less.
Quick Tip: Get an Oyster Card and let your kids feel like Tube-pros.
Plan your trip with our London articles:
- Traveling with Teens in London
- London with Kids, Tweens, or Teens
- 6 Trendy Things to do in London with Kids and 6 Free Alternative Things to do
Venice, Italy: Gondolas, Gelato & Getting Lost
Venice is magical. It’s also a maze. Perfect for teens who think Google Maps makes them invincible.
Teen/Tween Highlights:
- Gondola rides (with dramatic selfies, obviously).
- St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace: Just say “secret passageways” and they’re sold.
- Gelato. All. Day. Long.
Warning: There are no cars. If your kids can’t handle walking, bring snacks. Lots of them.
Plan your trip with our Venice articles:
Mykonos, Greece: Beach Days & Island Life (Yes, It’s for Families Too)
Known as a party island—but hear me out—Mykonos is also ridiculously fun for active families.
Teen/Tween Highlights:
- Beach: Rent paddleboards and pretend you’re in a music video.
- Windmills & Old Town: Great for photo ops and boutique shopping (hello, souvenir hauls).
- Boat tours to Delos: Ancient ruins with a cool mythology vibe.
Stay at a family-friendly resort with a pool. Trust me.
Plan your trip with our Mykonos articles:
Vienna, Austria: Classical Cool Meets Modern Marvels
If your tween is in band or your teen is a history buff (or you just like coffee and calm), Vienna is surprisingly awesome.
Teen/Tween Highlights:
- Haus der Musik: A super interactive sound museum that makes classical music cool.
- Prater Amusement Park: Classic carnival vibes, plus a giant Ferris wheel.
- Schönbrunn Palace: Basically a real-life fairy tale castle. Your tween might even smile.
Bonus: The hot chocolate here is next level.
Plan your trip with our Vienna articles:
- 14 Things to do in Vienna, Austria with Teenagers
- 12 Day Trips from Vienna, Austria
- 8 Weekend Getaways from Vienna, Austria
- Overnight Train from Rome to Vienna
Budapest, Hungary: Spa Days, Castles & Insta-Perfection
Split into Buda and Pest (because Europe does what it wants), Budapest is the dark horse winner of cool cities your kids didn’t know they’d love.
Teen/Tween Highlights:
- Thermal Baths (like Széchenyi): Tell them it’s like a hot tub but historical. Try to only go during the week when it’s less crowded.
- Buda Castle & Fisherman’s Bastion: Looks like Hogwarts with better lighting.
- Danube River Cruise: Perfect for lazy sightseeing with snacks.
Plan your trip with our Budapest articles:
- 16 Most Instagrammable Places in Budapest
- 20 Best Breakfast Places in Budapest
- Day Trip from Budapest: Košice, Slovakia
- Train from Budapest, Hungary to Sibiu, Romania
Munich, Germany: Pretzels, Parks & BMW Dreams
It’s not just about beer gardens (although let’s be honest, the parents deserve one). Munich is super walkable and ridiculously clean.
Teen/Tween Highlights:
- BMW Museum: For every car-obsessed teen (and parent, ahem).
- English Garden: Rent bikes, watch the river surfers, and picnic like locals.
- Neuschwanstein Castle: Day trip-worthy and the real inspiration for Disney’s castle.
Hot Take: German food is underrated. Schnitzel > nuggets.
Plan your trip with our Munich articles:
- Munich Travel Guide
- 12 Instagrammable Places in Munich
- 5 Must Try German Foods
- Augustiner Keller – The Largest Beer Garden in Munich
Prague, Czech Republic
Gothic Towers, Cheap Eats & Fairy Tale Streets
Prague is beautiful, budget-friendly, and has just enough spooky mixed with sweet to hook your kids.
Teen/Tween Highlights:
- Astronomical Clock & Old Town Square – Weird history + live street performers.
- Charles Bridge – Gothic vibes, local artists, and tons of people watching.
- Prague Castle – Massive, majestic, and surprisingly fun to explore.
Quick Tip: Let your kids try trdelník (the cinnamon dough cone filled with ice cream). Bribery works.
Plan your trip with our Prague articles:
Paris, France
Icons, Croissants & Museum-Optional Magic
Paris is dreamy for all ages—especially if your kids like fashion, food, or the idea of telling people they’ve been to Paris.
Teen/Tween Highlights:
- Eiffel Tower – Classic. Cheesy. Still amazing.
- Louvre or Musée d’Orsay – If they hate museums, bribe them with crepes afterward.
- Shopping in Le Marais – Cool finds, vintage shops, and great people watching.
Quick Tip: Stay centrally so you’re never more than 10 minutes from a croissant and WiFi.
Plan your trip with our Paris articles:
- 2 Days in Paris
- Paris Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors
- 11 Things to do in Paris with Kids
- Paris in 8 Hours: How to Visit Paris During a Layover
- 25 Best Day Trips from Paris
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Canals, Bikes & Science Museums
Amsterdam is quirky, compact, and endlessly entertaining for curious young travelers.
Teen/Tween Highlights:
- Canal Cruise – Cozy, informative, and a break from walking.
- NEMO Science Museum – Super hands-on and perfect for all ages.
- Rent bikes – Just like the locals
Quick Tip: Choose a hotel away from the Red Light District. Enough said.
Plan your trip with our Amsterdam articles:
- 20 Best Museums in Amsterdam
- 15 Fun & Interesting Things to Do in Amsterdam 2025
- Discover Amsterdam: Self-Guided Walking Tour of Dutch Resistance Sites
Final Tips for Surviving (and Enjoying) Europe with Teens and Tweens:
- Give them control over small things: Let them pick a restaurant or navigate the metro.
- Mix old stuff with new fun: For every church tour, throw in a beach day or a sweet treat.
- Let them be teens: Yes, they’ll still check their phones. That’s okay. Just don’t expect a full social media detox.
- Travel light: Cobblestones + giant suitcases = tears. And not just theirs.
Final Thoughts
Europe is not just for honeymooners and history nerds. With the right destinations, a flexible mindset, and a few well-timed snacks, your teens and tweens will have the time of their lives—and so will you.
Did I miss a European gem your teen loved? Drop it in the comments—I always need new places to drag my kids to.
More Helpful Reads:
- Top 9 Destinations for Teens & Tweens in the U.S.
- Best Family Beach Vacations That Aren’t Boring
- How to Fly Long-Haul with Kids
Get Travel Insurance
Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).
Book Flights
I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! Another option for finding deals is FlightHub.
Book a Place to Stay
I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.
If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO. If you are looking for a hostel, I use HostelWorld.
Choose Activities and Tours
To find great activities in any area I use Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass, PogoPass, and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.
When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I use Apple Vacations.
Rent a Car or Get a Lyft
More often than not, Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Hertz or Discover Cars.
Save Money on Gas
Upside a free app gets you cash back on gas! Use promo code RV2Q2 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus on your first purchase.
Get a Visa
I use iVisa to get all of my Visas.
Travel Printables
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