City break with adult DSD and DS16

[LaProf]

My stepdaughter wants to come on holidays with us still and we are looking at where to go between Christmas and NY next year. She will be 19. She never really suggests activities she wants to do, but we have the feeling our preferred activities of museums, art galleries and general mooching bore her. My son doesn't mind a museum, not into galleries, but doesn't mind walking. I can't really stop my DSD from coming if she wants to, but it does affect where we go as I don't want her to feel she's bored. Equally I feel that we should be able to just go where we want to now.
Any ideas of places that will have lots of things to do that aren't museums or galleries so we can have a mix and attempt to please everyone?

TBH, I'd ask your DSD about her preferred activities and destinations. Let her do the planning leg work. At that age, she should have some ideas and be willing to share them. Obvs, you don't have to do everything she suggests but it might help you plan and ask her to contribute to costs.

Otherwise, tell her that you/DH/DS will plan things/locations you like and she will need to participate cheerfully as a tag-a-long. Emphasise that she's welcome but that she needs to provide input or take what's planned. Give her plenty of notice so she can provide her own input.

Would it be ok with you if she spent a day mooching around the flat/hotel but didn't join in or went on her own outings?

Prague / Budapest if you don't mind cold, or Malaga / Seville if you do. All places that are lovely to wander around / food, drink etc without having to do museums.

On this one she did stay in the hotel a couple of times that we went for a coffee etc. We did ask what they both wanted to do and if they had any suggestions. I was at pains for her to not feel like it was my itinerary, as her dad is also very easy going and I do a lot of research.

We have visited Budapest. Prague, Málaga and Seville are options if there are non-museum options also there.

Considering Malaga for next Christmas! Would you say there’s plenty to do there to keep adults and late teens/20s occupied?
OP as others have said, Id ask her to give a few suggestions of places she might like to go. If she doesn’t or can’t be bothered then you go with your own choice, and she either tags along, bored or not, or stays home.

My teen dd really enjoyed Amsterdam. The all-you-can-eat pancake boat cruise was a hit, as was Anne Frank’s house, This Is Holland 4d experience, A’dam lookout and the Moco museum (very cool, quirky art). There’s an annual light festival throughout the winter too.

That sounds like a possible option, thank you.

Barcelona - that was my DDs first city break and there was plenty to do plus museums; could be mild/warmer
Vienna - there are museums but there's walking along/lunch beside the Danube and the Lipizzaner horses; could be snowy
Prague - we went here for Oct 1/2 term when DD was 2.5 so no musems but lots of play parks and the zoo. I remember it as not having as much as some other places - plenty of sitting in cafés on the atmospheric main square and a fancy clock to look at from the outside but not much else.
Venice - likely to be crowded but I think it always is.
Paris or Rome - big enough that you could go to some different parts and more than museums.

Prague or Krakow are fantastic city break destinations

loads to do and fairly cheap in comparison to other places

Barcelona is amazing
Paris - can’t go wrong as there’s so much to do
Copenhagen - great food and vibe
Lisbon - great food, drink, beautiful city and really nice chilled out vibes. Lots to do and can just walk around

I second Amsterdam. Loads to do and it’s just really cool. We went in February and it was cold but sunny and lovely.

If you want winter sun, you could try Luxor. Loads to see museum-wise plus valley of the Kings, Karnak etc and DSD could just lie by the pool?

We’ve just done Stockholm, we did Skansen which is a museum in a oark, we went ice skating, had lots of fika. Worked well.