Planning a Family Trip to Europe? Here’s What the Guidebook Won’t Tell You

Planning a family trip to Europe is full of excitement. The history, the culture, the food…and the iconic once-in-a-lifetime experiences you get to share with your kids.

But here’s the thing those guidebooks won’t tell you: traveling abroad as a family comes with its own set of challenges. What looks dreamy on Instagram doesn’t always feel so dreamy when you’re struggling with jet lag, pushing strollers over cobblestones, or trying to keep kids who are over it entertained at the museum.

Afters year of adventures (and plenty of mistakes of our own), we’ve learned what to look out for and how to plan ahead so that your Europe family vacation isn’t just enjoyable — it’s downright magical!

Whether it’s your first time planning a family vacation to Europe or you’ve already dipped your toes into international travel, here’s a few honest tips I wish someone had given me before we boarded that first plane to Europe.

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12 Tips to Plan Your Family Trip to Europe

Ready to dive in?

Here are 12 things to keep in mind as you plan that bucket list family trip to Europe:

1 | Not Every Hotel is Kid-Friendly (Even if It Says It Is)

When you’re traveling Europe with kids, where you stay can make or break the whole trip. And while plenty of hotels may offer “family rooms”, it doesn’t mean the hotel itself is the best choice for a family.

This is where the expertise of a travel advisor can save you hours and hours of research. Beyond finding hotels that can actually accommodate 4+ people, when I book your stay, I look for hotels that offer:

• Guaranteed connecting rooms or suites
• Spacious room layouts
• An on-site restaurant that’s open all day (perfect for an afternoon snack break + apertivo for the parents)
• Accessibility features (because strollers + stairs don’t mix)
• Flexible check-in and check-out options

Those little extras can make all the difference when you’re already out of your home routine.

2 | Jet Lag Hits Different with Kids

Let’s be real: those 48 hours after arrival? Rough.

Everyone’s tired. Sleep schedules are off. And the kids will undoubtedly get cranky.

Dealing with jet lagged kids is probably not how you imagined your first dreamy days in Europe.

But don’t let those first 48 hours discourage you. Keep your schedule light, plan easy meals near your hotel, and prioritize outdoor time to help reset everyone’s internal clock.

When you ease into the trip slowly without over scheduling, you avoid that inevitable feeling of disappointment. And before you know it, everyone’s back on track and ready to seize the day!

3 | You Don’t Have to See Everything

Seriously: you don’t need to check every museum in Paris off of your list. Instead, create an itinerary that truly caters to your families unique interests. Not into art? Consider this your permission to skip the Louvre.

When I plan a family itinerary, I anchor each day with 1 or 2 “must-do” activities, and then fill in the rest of the itinerary with more flexible options. Think: wandering pretty neighborhoods, gelato stops, random playground time, or people watching in pretty piazzas.

And honestly? It’s in these spontaneous moments that the best core memories end up being made.

4 | Dining in Europe is an Experience in Itself

Speaking of your itinerary…plan a minimum of 2 hours for every meal. Even if you don’t think you’ll need it.

Dining in Europe is not something to rush (and even if you wanted to, good luck getting ahold of the waiter). Instead of stressing yourself out, build in plenty of time to relax and enjoy the experience. For little impatient travelers, come prepared with table games to keep everyone occupied while you wait.

When deciding where to eat, I always plan ahead. Restaurants in Europe will rarely have a kids menus, so prep your children that options may be limited. Preview restaurant menus ahead of time to be sure there’s something for everyone (when it doubt, most places will have a burger or pasta on the menu).

For more casual dining, aim for relaxed trattorias, cafes and bistros. And absolutely make dinner reservations, whether you know if they’re truly needed or not. There’s nothing worse than wandering the streets at 8 pm, kids in tow, looking for a place to eat.

5 | Your Stroller Might Not Be Worth the Hassle

Between cobbled streets, tiny elevators, and stairs everywhere, your stroller might be more of a hindrance than a help. Even in museums or cultural landmarks, it’s not uncommon that you’ll have to stash your stroller away before entering. Taking the train or subway? Be prepared to carry your stroller up and down a lot.

Instead, when possible, opt for a quality baby or toddler carrier which’ll give you a whole lot more flexibility. We love the MiaMily for its lightweight breathability.

If you do bring a stroller for those in between times, leave the giant travel system at home. A good quality, lightweight folding stroller like the Stokke Yoyo or gb Pockit+ is worth its weight in gold and totally worthy of the investment.

6 | Skip-the-Line Tickets are a Must

No one wants to wait 2 hours to enter the Colosseum. And especially not with a cranky 7 year old.

For all of your “anchor activities” (remember, 1-2 per day), pre-book your tickets online before you arrive. As over-tourism becomes an increasing problem in major European cities, this is more important now than ever, as many major sights require timed entry and can sell out weeks in advance.

Want to elevate your travel experience even more? When you work we me as your travel advisor, I connect you with local guides that specialize in family-friendly tours. These guides (who work exclusively through travel advisors), have the connections that allow you to access perks that you can’t find online. Think: early entry at the Vatican, hidden rooms at Versailles, and a slowed down pace that caters specifically to families with scavenger hunts and activity booklets.

It makes art and history way more fun for little travelers, which in turn, allows parents to truly enjoy the experience.

7 | Kids Often Travel Free on Public Transport

Public transportation in Europe makes traveling with kids so. much. easier. But did you know they often travel for free as well?

In many cities, kids 6 and under won’t require a ticket, and in cities like London that perk extends up to age 11! Even if a child ticket is required, it will often be deeply discounted compared to the adult fare.

Be sure to check city-specific rules for public transportation as part of your pre-trip preparation.

8 | Train Stations Can Be Chaotic

Train travel is one of my favorite ways to get around Europe. No security lines, easy boarding, and you can hop right on from the city center.

But for us Americans who aren’t familiar with train stations, the whole thing can feel very intimidating.

To combat, book your tickets at least a month in advance (I like to use RailEurope to book all of my journeys at once). I recommend reserving premium family or business class when possible for a quieter, more comfortable ride (or if you have babies or toddlers, check if your train offers a family cabin with play area – lots of trains in Switzerland and Austria do!).

Arrive at the station prepared with your train number (instead of your destination) as most trains travel long routes beyond where you’re headed. You’ll need to watch the departures board for this number so you know which platform to board from. Busy stations often won’t display your platform until 15 minutes before your train departs.

On your ticket, locate your coach number in addition to your seat numbers. Match this to the coach number on the outside of the train car, helping you locate which cabin your seats are in quicker.

As you can imagine, this can all be a bit chaotic with kids and luggage in tow. Even on our last trip, after 10 years of Europe travel experience, we missed our train because we didn’t allow enough time to find the right platform amid construction happening at the station.

So learn from our mistake: arrive 20-30 minutes early to allow extra time to navigate elevators, ticket machines and platforms. And when in doubt, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

9 | Not Every Place Will Have Air Conditioning

Summer in Europe can get HOT. And while pretty much all modern hotels will have air conditioning these days, private rentals or small-town hotels are a different story.

Be sure to check your rental or hotel amenities carefully. Especially in July and August, having air conditioning can make or break a trip, especially if you have little one needing a mid-day break.

At the very least, ask if fans or a portable A/C unit is available to help stifle the heat.

10 | There Are Playgrounds and Parks Everywhere

From the top of a hill in Cinque Terre to a park under the shadows of the Sagrada Familia, Europe’s parks really do take the cake. Often located within tourist areas, I love to build a playground stop into our itinerary between sightseeing. It’s perfect for burning off energy and giving kids a “quick win” if you’re doing too much “grown up stuff” that day.

Plus, they’re great for parents too, often having a coffee stand or snack shop attached for a mid-day pick me up!

11 | Travel Insurance is a Must with Kids

Accidents, illnesses, lost luggage…stuff happens. But getting back on track is a whole lot easier (and less stressful) when you know you’re covered financially.

I love and use Faye Insurance, and always provide a complimentary quote to my travel advisor clients. It’s affordable and offers great coverage (even a “cancel for any reason” option, for absolute protection against whatever life throws at you).

A trip to Europe is a huge investment, so a solid policy for international travel is a must. It’s one of those things you hope you don’t need, but when you do, you’ll be so thankful you have it.

12 | It’s Okay if Things Go Off-Plan

Here’s one thing I can tell you with almost certainty about planning a big trip to Europe: something will inevitably go wrong.

You’ll get lost. You’ll miss a train. Someone will cry (maybe you).

And that’s ok! Travel is never perfect, and that’s kind of the beauty of it. It pushes us out of our comfort zone, tests our patience, and forces us to adapt in unfamiliar situations: all good lessons for our children to learn too. Remember: how you respond will shape the way they view life’s challenges too.

I promise, you’ll laugh about it later. And your kids will remember the silly, messy moments just as much as the big ones.