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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:
Sandytoxic · 02/12/2023 08:07

Came on the suggest Valencia! The aquarium complex is fabulous, you could have a special birthday dinner in the restaurant. Very easy to get around using public transport.

tokesqueen · 02/12/2023 08:19

Have done lots of these.
Seville is my favourite.

whiteroseredrose · 02/12/2023 08:20

Another recommendation for Rome. There are sooo many famous sights.

There are ancient sights like the coliseum, forum, pantheon etc. The Vatican City and St Peter's Square (you can book to go up inside the dome). You can go arty and go to Villa Borghese. You can take a trip out to the beautiful gardens at the Villa D'Este and Hadrian's Villa or out to the coast to Ostia Antica.

And there is the wonderful food- lovely pasta, pizza wine and ice cream.

We went at Easter a few years ago and stayed in Trastevere in a two bedroom apartment on a quiet street. It was a short walk to the Vatican and the main sights. It was warm but not too hot.

Definitely need to book the main sights in advance though and if you go to the Vatican go for the 8am slot as it gets heaving.

polkadotpixie · 02/12/2023 08:29

Krakow. It's an amazing city and you can visit the Wieliczka salt mines, Auschwitz and Zakopane for the thermal baths easily for days out

MargotBamborough · 02/12/2023 08:31

Verona.

It's like Rome only smaller, cheaper and more manageable.

MargotBamborough · 02/12/2023 08:34

Oriunda · 01/12/2023 22:49

I live just outside Paris. You could stay anywhere there, in theory, as there’s a metro station around every corner and the sights are spread out all over the place. Opéra is very central. The Marais is cool, but expensive. Canal Saint Martin slightly edgier but cheaper. The metro is very quick and easy to get around.

You will need to book the Eiffel Tower way in advance (personally I prefer the view from Tour Montparnasse). Make sure you take metro line 6 from Etoile (Arc de Triomphe) and enjoy the best view of the Tour Eiffel as the metro crosses the Seine.

If you’re there over the first Sunday of the month, a lot of the museums will be free, including Versailles. Your teens will love La Félicita (a very trendy food court eating area, with super Instagramable loos).

I also live just outside of Paris and couldn't agree more with your comment about preferring the Tour Montparnasse.

My advice to visitors is always to skip the Eiffel Tower altogether because it's better seen from a distance and just do Montparnasse.

ZenNudist · 02/12/2023 08:37

I love cologne. Its great for teens. There's a big theme park called phantasialand just outside that's amazing

coolcahuna · 02/12/2023 08:49

Porto could be a good shout.

Oriunda · 02/12/2023 09:37

Oh, and not sure if your teens are interested in fashion, but the Dior Galerie and YSL museum are well worth a visit. Not sure if Vuitton will continue their Dreams expo into 2024, but it's free to visit and very cool.

Paris also has loads of great friperie (second hand stores) and kilo stores to rummage through.

SweetChilliGirl · 02/12/2023 09:41

I spent eight days in Rome with my husband and then fifteen and thirteen year old in Easter '22. They loved it, it was beautiful, safe and easy to get around and there was tons to do, including big hitters like the colosseum, Vatican, forum etc. We took the train to the beach for one day, which was nice and one we'd got our bearings, the children took themselves off without us for ice-cream in the evening. It was perfect.

SweetChilliGirl · 02/12/2023 09:43

The previous Easter, we spent a week in Paris, which they also enjoyed but they both preferred Rome. Food was better (and cheaper) too.

Original poster
KingCatMeowInSpace · 02/12/2023 12:20

SweetChilliGirl · 02/12/2023 09:41

I spent eight days in Rome with my husband and then fifteen and thirteen year old in Easter '22. They loved it, it was beautiful, safe and easy to get around and there was tons to do, including big hitters like the colosseum, Vatican, forum etc. We took the train to the beach for one day, which was nice and one we'd got our bearings, the children took themselves off without us for ice-cream in the evening. It was perfect.

Thanks- sounds great- where abouts did you stay? Thinking hotels or like an air b n b - I so have no idea- have always done package holidays! Ice cream in the evening sounds perfect. Travelling around easy?

OP posts:
tokesqueen · 02/12/2023 16:29

We stayed in Trastevere. Found a lovely apartment on Booking.com
Great area to stay.

curchy · 02/12/2023 16:42

When I say unpleasant, I don't want to exaggerate, but around Sacre Coeur there were quite a lot of pretty pushy young male street sellers (one was downright aggressive). Around the Eiffel Tower we found similar, plus lots of stalls selling tacky rubbish (and as a PP said, it looks much better from a distance). Don't get me wrong, I personally love Paris - but I think a lot of its appeal lies either in art (which I love) or wandering around beautiful neighbourhoods, savouring the atmosphere and popping into shops - and those things don't hold much appeal for my teenage boys. The places they liked best were the Grande Mosque, the Jardin des Plantes, and the Musee de la Chasse (because it's totally bonkers) .

Bluemacaroons · 03/12/2023 16:29

Unfortunately I have to agree about Paris being a bit unpleasant/uncomfortable at times in a way I have never experienced in Rome. The area around the Sacre Coeur in particular and especially the metro station there, and around the foot of the Eiffel Tower. There were a couple of intimidating situations the last time I went and it was unpleasant. So much so, that I haven’t returned despite going every few years before then.

I’m not saying that isn’t possible in any major city, just that it seems to have become more likely in Paris particularly and that’s not an experience I want to replicate

wonderingwhatlifemeans · 03/12/2023 16:37

I was also going to suggest Krakow. Lots of lovely food places and of course plenty of history although it can be a bit intense. The salt mines were lovely and we intend to go back and revisit.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 03/12/2023 16:40

Just come back from Reykavik Witt dc 12 and 15. Was excellent."Sights" were whales, northern lights, waterfalls and geysers

ImperialCollege89 · 03/12/2023 16:54

Lisbon
Rome

N0tfinished · 03/12/2023 17:01

Lagos in Portugal- you can combine beach holiday with charming historical city. Plenty of day trips and boat excursions available. I think the season is pretty long. From what I saw, it's more dinner al fresco and family friendly than crazy nightlife.

DelphiniumBlue · 03/12/2023 17:05

Rome , Florence or Berlin, depending on the time of year- Italy is too hot in the summer for comfortable ambling and sightseeing.

DelphiniumBlue · 03/12/2023 17:06

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 03/12/2023 16:40

Just come back from Reykavik Witt dc 12 and 15. Was excellent."Sights" were whales, northern lights, waterfalls and geysers

That sounds like a fab family holiday!

dayone · 03/12/2023 17:16

If you're going for a week you could combine Lisbon and Porto. Both fabulous cities with loads to do and much cheaper than Rome, Paris etc (though I do love Rome and Paris too).
Valencia is a great city to visit with teens too.

reluctantbrit · 04/12/2023 07:49

Rome (I wouldn't go over Easter itself, Easter is mayhem there)
Florence
Berlin

Mirrormeback · 04/12/2023 09:56

I went to Paris with teen DD earlier this year for 5 days and we had the best time

Went via Eurostar. So quick and easy.

So much to do

It's such a walkable city

We saw loads, walked loads, went on the Batobus on the Seine, ate at lovely bistros

We had lovely sunny weather

I pre booked the museum tickets online directly via each specific museum which saved us lots of time and queuing

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