This Europe trip itinerary for teens is the perfect way to spend 2 weeks in several different countries. If you only have one week in Europe, discover these 20 Europe Trip Itinerary Ideas.
Travel for Teens: The Best Europe Itinerary for 2 Weeks
My friend is taking her teenage daughter on a surprise 2 week Europe trip for her sweet 16 birthday this summer, and I promised to help her plan the itinerary. They are about to take a trip of a lifetime together and they have a big bucket list to get through. It’s an ambitious itinerary, but with just the two of them and the ease of getting around Europe, it’s totally doable and the best way to travel Europe in 2 weeks.
Here are the European countries on their bucket list:
- England: London
- France: Paris & The Loire Valley
- Italy: Lake Como & Rome
- Greece: Kefalonia
Europe is such a great place to travel for teens. There are so many iconic sites, beautiful scenery, culture, and history that it is hard to be bored when you visit. Even in this article about travel for teens, the top five destinations are in Europe! Maybe you could even get them to put their phones down and take in the sites, or at least take a good selfie with them.
I personally love traveling with teens. They have so much energy and excitement about the world and they’re so much less needy than my little kids (who I also love traveling with). It’s just a completely different experience and I love seeing the world through their eyes.
Travel can be so good for teens too. It can really help them come out of their shell and help them to realize that the world is bigger than their friends and family and that there are so many different ways to live. Here are just a few benefits of travel for teens:
Benefits of travel for teens
- Teaches Organization: Traveling takes a lot of organization to be able to create an itinerary and follow through.
- Encourages Budgeting: Travel costs money, and it’s important for teens to learn how to save their money and to learn to spend it on important things, like travel, rather than on things they don’t really need.
- Breaks Stereotypes: It can be so easy for people to believe stereotypes about different countries and cultures. If there’s one thing that travel teaches us, it’s that people are essentially all the same, despite our country of origin.
- Teaches Problem Solving: It doesn’t matter how much planning goes into your travels, something is bound to go wrong. Traveling as a teenager helps them to practice problem-solving in a safe environment with an adult present. On my last trip to Italy with my teenage niece, our taxi driver drove off with my phone and wallet. She was able to remain calm and help problem solve until we came to a resolution.
- Teaches Individualism: Traveling really does help you to discover who you are, and this is true for teens too.
Europe Itinerary 2 Weeks
Europe is also a great trip for teens because you can hit so many different countries and cultures in a short period of time. This is a great list of the best European countries to visit with kids.
I’ve organized this two-week European itinerary to move smoothly between countries and to have very unique experiences in each destination. It’s a good mix of cultures and active, fun, and educational activities that should keep teenagers engaged and active, ready to make memories with you.
First Stop Day 1-3: London
-Getting to London-
London! Your first stop on your 2 week Europe trip! It’s a great place to start. You can immerse yourself in a new culture without the stress of a language barrier for the first few days.
Fly into London: Getting to Europe is pretty easy. There are so many amazing flight deals year round. Keep an eye on flights until you find the best deals. It can be tricky traveling with teens because of their demanding school and activity schedules. It’s a good idea to find out if they can do any kind of independent study so that you can go to Europe during the offseason, which will be much less crowded, cheaper, and more enjoyable. To find the best flights, check out my guide to finding cheap flights here where I discuss all the tricks and tools I use to find killer deals, especially to Europe! I’m taking my almost teen 12-year-old to London this spring and I found tickets for $300 Round Trip.
-What to do in London-
Spend time in this incredible city full of history and culture for three days. You could honestly spend weeks, months, and even years in this city and still not see everything. With only three days in London, I recommend using my London Itinerary Guide and selecting your 3 favorite days. I suggest following Day 1: London’s Main Sites, Day 4: Ancient History, and Day 6: Harry Potter (if you’re into that, and why wouldn’t you be?!).
You can use this interactive map of my favorite London itinerary to help you plan this part of your Europe trip to London:
If you’re taking kids on this Europe trip, be sure to read my awesome list of things to do in London with kids. And if you’re looking for an itinerary that’s a little bit different and you’re a Paddington Bear fan, be sure to read Paddington’s Guide to London...it’s adorable!
resources
Perfect London Itinerary
London with Kids
Paddington’s Guide to London
Christmas in London
Second Stop Day 4-6: Paris
-How to Get from London to Paris-
The best way to get from London to Paris is to take the Eurostar. Taking the Eurostar from London to Paris is the easiest and quickest way to get from city to city. I love that this train, that goes under the English Channel takes you from one city center to another. Flying is fine, but getting between the airports and the cities can be a huge pain. Even if the Eurostar costs a little bit more, be sure to add the cost of trains or taxis from the airport into your flight costs. You can book your Eurostar tickets through ACP Rail International. I use them all the time and they are trustworthy.
-What to do in Paris-
Your next three days will be spent in the city of Light! With so many things to do in Paris, narrowing down where to go and what to do can be challenging. I’ve narrowed down my favorite sites and activities that you can easily see in three days. I recommend, of course, going up the Eiffel Tower, and also seeing it sparkle at night, dining on some delicious French food, visiting all the parks you can, climbing up to Montmartre, visiting Notre Dame, and as many museums as you can fit in.
For a more extensive guide to Paris, follow my Paris Walking Guide. And if you’re visiting Paris with kids, be sure to read my Family Guide to Paris. Be sure to eat all the good food you can by following my Paris Food Guide. This is my favorite hotel in Paris.
Here is an interactive map of Paris
If you don’t want to spend all three days in Paris and are feeling like getting away from the big city, rent a car and take one of these amazing day trips from Paris.
resources
Paris Itinerary
Paris with Kids
Paris Food Guide
Day Trips From Paris
Third Stop Day 7-10: Rome
-How to Get from Paris to Rome-
My favorite way to get from Paris to Rome is to take the overnight train. It’s about a 14-hour train ride with a quick train change in Milan. If you wanted to spend more time in Milan or even a day in Lake Como (one of my favorite places in the world), you could take the overnight and take the train to Rome the following day.
-What to do in Rome-
Rome is such a beauty! Another city that deserves more than a few days, but you can definitely make your time here count. You can read my guide to One Day in Rome or my Family Guide to Rome. I highly suggest doing a Vespa Tour and a Food Tour in while you’re in Rome. Airbnb and TripAdvisor have some great tours. Be sure to see the Colosseum, Pantheon, and eat all the gelato, pasta, and pizza you can!
resources
Rome in One Day
Rome with Kids
How to Survive Train Travel in Italy
Best Places to Visit in Italy
Fourth Stop Day 11-14: Greece
-How to Get from Rome to Greece-
Spend the last few days of your Europe trip relaxing on the beach in Greece. My all-time favorite island in Greece is Kefalonia. It’s got everything to offer for your first taste of Greece. Kefalonia is an easy flight from Rome and an easy flight back to London if you’re flying home through there. Ryanair offers amazing deals within Europe and flies to Kefalonia regularly.
-What to do in Kefalonia-
Kefalonia, Greece has so much to offer including friendly locals, inexpensive lodging, stunning scenery, incredible history, beautiful beaches, fabulous weather, and tasty food. Kefalonia is easily drivable, and I suggest you visit the whole island, taking in all of the sites and trying all the local food you can. There are plenty of great lodging options on the island from resorts to Airbnbs. Read my Guide to Kefalonia, Greece to learn all about this amazing island.
resources
What to do in Kefalonia, Greece
How to Fly for Cheap or Nearly Free
I hope you have an amazing time on this two week itinerary of Europe! If you have any questions, suggestions, or just a story to share, please get in touch on Facebook or Instagram.