How to Plan a Family Trip to Europe (Without Feeling Rushed)

If working out how to plan a family trip to Europe has left you wondering how to fit everything in without exhausting yourselves, or a little overwhelmed, do not despair. This is the system we’ve refined after years of trial and error.

If you’d told me twenty years ago that some of my best adventures would be with three children in tow, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.

In spite of what many people told us, we discovered that travelling with our kids was even more joyful than travelling as a couple. Seeing new cultures and landscapes through their eyes brought a new level of joy.

However, family travel does need a different approach. School holidays drive up prices, children need a sense of familiarity and security and a little more planning goes a long way.

We’ve been planning multi-destination family trips to Europe and beyond for the last 15 years. Over the years we’ve developed a simple system that keeps the adventure whilst allowing space for relaxing and stability for our kids.

In this guide, I’ll share exactly how we plan our family trips to Europe, from choosing destinations and building the route to booking accommodation, transport and activities.

Whether you’re planning your first multi-destination family trip or your tenth, I hope this guide gives you the confidence to create an adventure your family will treasure for years to come.

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If you’re wondering what this planning process looks like in practice, our Northern Italy Family Road and Rail Trip is a great place to start

Why We Choose Multi-Destination Family Trips in Europe

After we had children, we tried resort-style holidays, staying in one place for the whole trip. Whilst we enjoyed them, we often came home feeling we could have made better use of our time and money by seeing a little more of the country.

We know this style of travel isn’t for everyone, but for our family, it has become our favourite way to explore. Rather than racing from place to place, we choose a handful of destinations and spend enough time in each to experience a different side of the country. The journey between places becomes part of the fun.

One of the biggest benefits has been watching our children grow in confidence. They’ve seen us solve problems, adapt when plans change and embrace the unexpected. We’ve learnt that travel rarely goes perfectly, but that’s often where the best stories come from.

Step 1: Plan your route

Decide what experiences you want to have

This is my favourite part of planning any trip. I tend to start with a piece of paper and sketch out several ideas for destinations.

Before looking at flights or accommodation, think about the experiences you want your family to have.

Depending on how long you have, you might choose to explore one country more deeply, or combine two or three that are relatively close together.

One option we’ve found works really well from the UK is to fly to our starting destination, then slowly work our way home by train. This also significantly saves on the carbon impact of your trip.

When we’re shortlisting destinations, we usually build the trip around one or more of these:

• A family hobby – hiking, biking, art galleries, famous train rides
• Landscapes – Lakes, mountains, coast or a combination
• Famous cities – History, art, architecture
• Cultural events – festivals, sporting events, touring exhibits
• Wildlife experiences

Often we start with just one big idea, then build the trip around it. Sometimes it’s as simple as one place we’ve always dreamed of visiting.

Choose your destinations and Build a realistic route

Once you have your big list of ideas, it’s time to decide on what becomes a must, then build a realistic route around this.

I usually break this down into 2 – 3 options, by working out how to travel between each destination. Here’s how I usually narrow it down:

• Pin the main towns to a Google Map using My Maps, then investigate the connections between them.
• If you have the country narrowed down, I either buy or borrow an up-to-date travel guide from the library. The front sections often have route ideas and seasonal highlights.
• When deciding between rail or road travel, your destinations are important. For countryside destinations, road travel is often more convenient. However for cities I’d almost always leave the car and travel by train or bus.
• Use a railway map and guide. The Man in Seat 61 is my go to for all train routes, this comprehensive website will show you the best routes between almost any destination with handy images to help.
• If driving, check distances using Google Maps or a similar tool. Remember that travel at peak times is often much more congested, so build in additional time to your plans.
• For any very long journeys, is there somewhere convenient and interesting between your start and end points to break the journey?
• Throw in a wild card! Some of our favourite stops have been by stepping away from the most popular places and spending a couple of nights at a smaller town along the way.

Step 2: Slow Down Your Itinerary

Cut back until it feels manageable

Once I’ve narrowed the route down to a couple of options, I start cutting destinations rather than adding them.

The initial temptation is always to pack in as much as possible – resist this urge! If you’re finding it hard to choose, that’s completely normal.

At this stage I begin to map out the route in a simple table like the one below.

If a day involves more than a few hours of travel I don’t plan any further activities for that day. From experience I can tell you this leads to meltdowns (often from me) and potential travel delays can make the added stress of needing to be at an activity unmanageable.

Why we rarely stay for less than three nights

We have a 3 night rule, unless it is a simple transit stop. This means we spend less time packing and unpacking, and have enough time to see the highlights of a city with some downtime too.

We often choose one location on the trip to stay for five nights or longer. In the middle or end of a holiday, this allows a change of pace. For these longer stays we’ll look for somewhere with a pool, lake or beach access and plenty for our kids to enjoy.

Once we’re happy with the pace of the trip, we’ll usually book the main transport before filling in the rest of the details.

Step 3: Plan Around Your Family

My golden rule is never plan more than one activity a day.

My family will tell you I have frequently been guilty of trying to pack too much in. Over the years we’ve found this simple formula works better.

On day 1 we arrive and settle in, then head out for a gentle wander to get our bearings, pick up supplies and find somewhere to eat.

After that, we’ll usually plan one main activity each day, whether that’s a museum, hike or adventurous experience. Afternoons are deliberately left free for a playground, beach, pool or just relaxing.

Often we’ll divide at this point and one parent will relax with the kids, whilst the other visits somewhere that interests them. I might take my camera out for a wander around town, or take my teenage daughter to an art museum.

My husband and our two younger boys will usually look for a park, beach or playground for an hour or two, then spend some time relaxing.

We’ll also sometimes split up into two groups for the day if we have different interests. In Barcelona my daughter and I marvelled at the interior of the Sagrada Familia and enjoyed a grown-up lunch together, while the rest of our family went to the Barça Football Museum.

We actually love doing this as it gives us some space from one another and means we can have some 1:1 time with one child.

Another thing that really helps is to give the children a limited range of options and let them choose. They’ll often tolerate a walking tour if it has a family-friendly focus and they have the promise of an ice-cream at the end. A little motivation goes a long way!

Finally, don’t forget to leave room for spontaneous adventures. Sometimes we stumble upon a great surprise like a street festival, or want to return to an area we really enjoyed the following day.

Step 4: How to chose Family-Friendly Accommodation

Self-catering, hotels or campsites?

We’ve stayed in everything from campsites to mountain huts to luxury hotels on our travels. Travelling as a family of five means hotel rooms are sometimes hard to find, although some countries are better than others for family hotel rooms.

On a longer trip, we’ll usually book mostly self-catering accommodation to balance costs. This also gives the advantage of shopping locally for groceries which can be an unexpected highlight. Look for accommodation with a washing machine and consider air-con, shutters or a fan during the summer months.

Although we’ll often eat at least one meal a day in a restaurant, having cooking facilities for breakfast and packed lunches saves us a fortune and is convenient and time-saving too.

If you don’t fancy cooking, then family-focussed hotels are a great option. We always book at least one hotel with a pool on any trip and we’ll usually treat ourselves to somewhere luxurious at least once.

Choosing the right location

If you’re travelling by train, look for accommodation that’s easy to reach on foot, or by taxi from the station.

For those travelling by car, parking is a must. We’ve been in some tricky situations attempting to find parking in tiny streets in European cities. Avoid this stress if you can!

Matching accommodation to your itinerary

In cities, hotels or self-catering apartments are convenient and can be found in central locations.

In more rural locations, we will look for glamping, Eurocamp or Roan caravans, Huttopia sites (think of it as a more peaceful, nature-focused alternative to Eurocamp) or cabin style accommodation. This often gives space and freedom that we really value on a longer trip.

Step 5: How to Get the Whole Family Involved

Let everyone help plan

Choosing activities

We always involve our children in planning. It gets them excited before we travel and gives them a sense of ownership over the trip.

This does not mean we allow them to choose everything! I have no desire to spend every day at a water park or playing football in the park. They would never choose a long hike, but often enjoy these days more than they think they will.

As parents we deserve to build in the things we enjoy too. I actually think this is brilliant for kids because it widens their experiences and introduces them to new things. Sometimes they love it, sometimes they don’t—but they always gain something from trying something new.

Involving kids in the research

One thing that’s transformed our trips is giving each child a country or destination to research.

We give them a list of things to find out (you can vary this by age), then set aside an evening shortly before the trip for them to share what they’ve found out.

The promise of earning pocket money for the trip makes this surprisingly popular in our house.

If your kids are anything like mine, try not to be too prescriptive about how they present their research. One of my children takes hours creating a detailed PowerPoint and quiz, another makes some quick notes then just talks through his ideas.

Share the itinerary before you leave

Our younger children get a simplified itinerary, while our teenager gets the full version. You can make this as simple or fancy as you like, but even a simple list of dates and places will work.

Even a few simple pictures can make a huge difference for younger children who like to know what’s happening next (I’ve borrowed this idea from my teaching job).

Step 6: Organise Everything Before You Leave

Our planning spreadsheet

We’ve learnt this lesson the hard way after forgetting to book accommodation more than once and ending up in a last-minute scramble.

Outside peak season you can often be more flexible, but in much of Europe accommodation fills quickly, so we usually book ahead.

I now use a simple spreadsheet to keep everything organised. As we book, we highlight in green so it’s easy to see what’s left to book.

Google Maps and saved locations

Before we travel I’ll create a Google Map for each destination and pin the following:

• Our accommodation
• Parking or rail stations
• Main attractions
• Supermarkets
• Cafes
• Playgrounds
• Viewpoints

This then helps us to easily navigate between attractions in a sensible order and often leaves us time to relax between as we’re not rushing about.

Don’t forget to download the map to you phone before you travel.

Keep your bookings in one place

Unless you have an incredible memory, it makes sense to keep everything in one place.

I’ll make links on my planning spreadsheet to bookings and make sure to share it with my husband. We also create a named folder on our phones to store everything and keep a printed copy in our luggage, just in case phones run out of battery or signal.

And remember, it’s OK to make a mistake. We once turned up at the Duomo in Florence, only to discover we had somehow booked tickets for the Duomo in Milan! I like to think of this as a good way of showing my kids how we deal with problems. We hada great day anyway.

How We Book a Family Trip to Europe

Once we’re happy with our route, we start making bookings. We always work in the same order, starting with the things that are most likely to increase in price or sell out.

This is our booking order:

• Flights
• Long-distance trains
• Accommodation
• Car hire (if needed)
• Attractions

Travel

Flights

• If, like us, you’re travelling during school holidays it’s usually best to book early.
• I start with a Skyscanner search, then compare this with low-cost airlines. Remember to include luggage prices before comparing, as this can be more than the price of the flight and many airlines now charge even for cabin bags.
• Avoid awkward flight times or journeys with multiple changeovers. They rarely feel worth it when travelling with children.
• Compare prices at nearby airports, as some can be cheaper. For example if there are no cheap flights to Venice, consider Bergamo or Milan and then taking the train or starting your journey in a slightly different location.
• Consider flying hand luggage only. We always do this and not only does it often save money, but it also saves time on arrival and smaller cases are much easier to carry around on buses and trains.
• Open-jaw flights can save a lot of time in your itinerary, for example flying into Rome and out of Bergamo.
• From the UK a great option is to fly to your starting destination, then travel home by train via the Eurotunnel. This is not only more sustainable, but makes the journey home part of the adventure.

Trains

Train prices in Europe usually increase in price over time. Always try to book as soon as they are released, but be aware if you look too early, before the tickets are released, it will appear as if there are no trains.

• Eurostar – Between 6 and 11 months in advance. Look out for sale events.
• International high speed trains – 3 – 6 months in advance
• National trains – Between 3 and 6 months in advance

I always use The Man in Seat 61 to research routes, booking conditions and ticket release dates, then book through The Trainline, which usually offers the best prices and keeps all my bookings in one place.

In the UK, consider using a Friends and Family Railcard. This has saved us hundreds of pounds over the years and we usually make the annual cost back on the first trip we book.

Car hire

We don’t automatically hire a car, which can be an unnecessary expense in some places.

When we do need a car, we either collect it after visiting a city or at the airport if heading straight for the countryside.

We like Discover Cars because it’s easy to compare prices across multiple providers.

Accommodation

Next we’ll book accommodation, which can make or break a trip. We usually use Booking.com for the widest choice. I really like how you can see the specific rooms on many listings, and the honest (sometimes brutally so) reviews!

Activities and attractions

Book as Soon as You Can

Any big events that the trip depends on or are likely to rise in price I’ll lock in early. Attractions like Disneyland Paris are almost always cheaper in advance or any very specific trips that tend to sell out, including some wildlife experiences.

A Few Weeks Before You Travel

Book the big attractions in advance as they tend to sell out, especially in popular European cities.

Examples of places that should be pre-booked and will sell out include:

Paris – The Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower and Palace of Versailles
Barcelona – The Sagrada Familia and Park Güell
Florence – The Uffizi Gallery

If you do miss out and really want to visit a sold out attraction, check Get Your Guide where you can often find a skip-the-line or last minute tour.

We deliberately leave plenty of gaps in our itinerary for a bit of breathing space and so we can enjoy anything unexpected along the way.

During the trip – Things to leave flexible

I usually save booking more adventurous or weather dependent activities for either just before or during the trip.

Examples include rafting and other water sports, high ropes, gondola rides etc. These are often weather dependent.

Do check in advance for ideas and prices and keep an eye on whether trips tend to book out.

Booking websites we use

These are the websites we genuinely use when planning our family trips.

Booking.com – Our first stop for apartments, family rooms and self-catering accommodation.

Discover cars – Easy comparison across providers and usually the best prices we’ve found.

Get Your Guide – A huge range of activities for every taste

Skyscanner – Handy flight comparison tool

The Trainline – The site we use for the majority of UK and European rail bookings. The app is great too.

Family Trip to Europe Planning Checklist

Before you book

• Check Passports and EHIC or GHIC cards expiry dates (UK travellers)
• Organise travel insurance
• Check visa requirements
• Research potential routes

As Early as Possible (ideally 6-9 months before departure)

• Create master spreadsheet for booking
• Book Flights
• Book Accommodation if likely to sell out
• Book Eurotunnel if needed
• Research train ticket release dates and book as they come online
• Book any essential experiences e.g. wildlife tours, theme parks

One month before departure

• Arrange car hire
• Check if you need any new or thrifted items of clothing
• Book tours/ museum entrances that may sell out
• Add all bookings to master spreadsheet and save into a named folder
• Check mobile phone coverage

One week before departure

• Begin Packing. Wash all clothes needed.
• Organise Travel Money
• Save locations to named Google Maps list and save offline maps
• Entertainment – Download entertainment for flights and trains. Pack books and games,
• Check medications and mini first aid kit

The day before you leave

• Check in for flights or Eurostar where available
• Charge phones, cameras, power banks and other devices
• Download boarding passes and train tickets
• Pack snacks, refillable water bottles and travel entertainment
• Check the weather forecast and make any last-minute packing adjustments
• Confirm your route to the airport or station or parking arrangements
• Do one final passport, wallet and document check
• Get an early night if you can!

Start Planning Your Next Adventure

Need some inspiration?
We use this same planning process for every itinerary we create. Explore our growing collection of Multi-Stop Family Adventures, including road trips, rail journeys and family holidays across the UK and Europe.

• UK: North Wales Road Trip, Scottish Highlands Road Trip, Isle of Skye Road Trip , The Cotswolds Road Trip
• Europe: Northern Italy Road and Rail Trip. Combine our family Barcelona itinerary and Tossa de Mar itinerary for a Costa Brava adventure.
• Coming soon: Slovenia Road Trip & Slovenia – London by rail.

Final Thoughts

My final piece of advice is simply to go for it. Make a plan, pack your bags and go. Planning a family trip to Europe can be immensely rewarding and will certainly be memorable. There are so many incredible destinations to explore and fun experiences to be had.

A few mishaps along the way are all part of the adventure. We’ve stayed in some less than perfect accommodation, booked the wrong trips, faced delays and cancellations and once arrives in Singapore with 2 tiny children and no accommodation. The funny thing is, these almost always lead to our best memories.

So embrace the unexpected and please let us know how your adventures go.