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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

What European city with teenagers

113 replies

KingCatMeowInSpace · 01/12/2023 19:59

It's my DH's 50th next year and he'd like a family holiday- 2 teenagers of 15 and 17. He's said somewhere in Europe. We dont want high end shops or beaches but we do like lots of small independent type stores and some nice sights to see and lots of coffee shops n cafes. I've no idea where to start. Any suggestions?

OP posts:
luniz · 01/12/2023 20:05

How active do you want to be? Im guessing you don't want the obvious of Amsterdam and Paris so won't suggest that.

If you don't mind hills then Lisbon is great, lots of cool stores and different neighbourhoods and very cheap. If you want small but walkable, I would recommend Bruges and Ghent- they're like Disney towns but with great cocktail bars and unusual, quirky shops. But ultimate favourite was Copenhagen which we cycled around with ease.

Original poster
KingCatMeowInSpace · 01/12/2023 20:12

Thanks- I know he'd like somewhere with well known sights - not overly active, definitely more a wander about kind of vibe - love your suggestions but I think for this trip he'd like somewhere with more sights that are well known, if you know what I mean.

OP posts:
MabelStark · 01/12/2023 20:16

I took my 17 year old to Barcelona this year well - we stayed in a holiday resort an hour away by train and had 2 full days there and then got the train in the other direction to Girona for a day.
There is a lot to do and see in Barcelona.

HeddaGarbled · 01/12/2023 20:19

Paris is probably a good bet then: lots of well-known sights & the teenagers get bragging rights. Or Barcelona.

Quickredfox · 01/12/2023 20:23

Berlin, Hamburg, Copenhagen

franke · 01/12/2023 20:23

Rome.

MrsTerryPratchett · 01/12/2023 20:24

Anyone speaks any of the languages? So much easier.

Tinkeytonkoldfruit · 01/12/2023 20:25

I think Rome is great for teens (and grown ups too)

DaisyDoor · 01/12/2023 20:26

What time of year?

geoger · 01/12/2023 20:27

Rome or Florence

ChocoChocoLatte · 01/12/2023 20:28

DH & I loved Copenhagen so much we took the kids back the next summer and hopped a train to Malmo etc

Copenhagen is a beautiful, clean, safe city that felt effortlessly cool.

Barca is super and Girona underrated - spent a day there last summer & it was lovely.

We're looking at Porto with similarly aged kids for a trip this year.

TiptoeTess · 01/12/2023 20:29

Another vote for Rome!

TropDrôle · 01/12/2023 20:33

Another, another vote for Rome 😁

It’s got everything plus amazing food and the best coffee in the world.

Original poster
KingCatMeowInSpace · 01/12/2023 20:43

We've already been to Barcelona recently so wouldn't want that for his 50th. It would be Easter holidays next year. Dont speak many languages just school level French lol. Definitely has to have wel known sights. Rome sounds a possibility.

OP posts:
SomersetBrie · 01/12/2023 20:51

Any particular sights you want to see? Galleries, buildings, monuments?
Any preferred countries?
I'd throw Venice, Vienna or Prague into the mix.

itsmyp4rty · 01/12/2023 20:52

If you want well known sights then you're not going to beat Paris or Rome. In Paris there is a well known sight round every corner practically! Rome is more spread out but no one could fail to be impressed! Not a chilled destination though. I wasn't a fan of Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Bruges or Berlin. Porto is fab but it only needs a weekend so depends how long you're going for. Budapest is cool - the baths are a must! Florence is just so beautiful as is Venice - I don't think you can go wrong in Italy really! Dubrovnik it beautiful too - but probably far too packed in the summer hols. Venice and Florence probably the same.

My favourite city in Europe though is Palma de Mallorca. Fantastic to walk around, the cathedral and palace are just beautiful and there are lots of restaurants and shops to wonder round - our fave is a pastry shop called Forn des Theatre, it's got an amazing facade and they do these chicken pastelos which are the best things we have ever eaten. Then you can get the wooden train to Soller to wander there and then the tram down to Port de Soller. Just love it!

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 01/12/2023 20:53

Barcelona

HannibalHeyes · 01/12/2023 20:54

Venice - Loads of well known sights, easily walkable (but fun to get the water buses, just because you can). Not cheap, but certainly enjoyable.

Paris - obviously, loads of sights, interesting shops on the left bank (stay away from the Champs Elysees).

Lisbon - Absolutely underrated place, lots of sights even if they are not so well known.

Budapest - loads to see, a bit different from the previous.

Helsinki - A brilliant place to visit, with a good few places to see.

HannibalHeyes · 01/12/2023 20:54

Ooh, yes. Prague too!

HamstersAreMyLife · 01/12/2023 20:55

We loved budapest with our pre teens. Not so many well known sights but many impressive ones. Felt safe, loads to do and easy to get around. Nice bars and i think yours will be old enough for spas! We plan to return when ours are older.

nancy75 · 01/12/2023 20:56

Vienna is beautiful, sights, art galleries & lots of coffee and cake

Original poster
KingCatMeowInSpace · 01/12/2023 20:56

itsmyp4rty · 01/12/2023 20:52

If you want well known sights then you're not going to beat Paris or Rome. In Paris there is a well known sight round every corner practically! Rome is more spread out but no one could fail to be impressed! Not a chilled destination though. I wasn't a fan of Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Bruges or Berlin. Porto is fab but it only needs a weekend so depends how long you're going for. Budapest is cool - the baths are a must! Florence is just so beautiful as is Venice - I don't think you can go wrong in Italy really! Dubrovnik it beautiful too - but probably far too packed in the summer hols. Venice and Florence probably the same.

My favourite city in Europe though is Palma de Mallorca. Fantastic to walk around, the cathedral and palace are just beautiful and there are lots of restaurants and shops to wonder round - our fave is a pastry shop called Forn des Theatre, it's got an amazing facade and they do these chicken pastelos which are the best things we have ever eaten. Then you can get the wooden train to Soller to wander there and then the tram down to Port de Soller. Just love it!

Pastry shop sounds delicious but we've already been to there (not the pastry shop though! ) recently.

OP posts:
FormerlySpeckledyHen · 01/12/2023 20:57

Paris for sights and Amsterdam for coffee shops, independent shops,interesting food, fun museums and a lot more!

crumpet · 01/12/2023 20:58

Venice. So much to see, or so many opportunities to wander around, and so easy to get off the beaten track

craniol · 01/12/2023 21:00

Valencia is a great city to wander around and explore. It doesn’t have world famous sights but there lots of interesting things to see and the City of Arts & Sciences is impressive and very famous within Spain.

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