Taking our family abroad for the first time was one of the best decisions we have ever made. I will be honest- I was nervous. Five people, four countries, twelve days, and kids who had only ever traveled domestically. I spent months planning every detail and still worried we were taking on too much.
It was a lot but it was also one of the most incredible trips we have ever taken. Our first trip to Europe that included Iceland, London, and Paris changed everything.
Watching our kids navigate the London Underground, stand in front of the Eiffel Tower, and eat their way through a Parisian market reminded me why we travel in the first place.
International travel with kids is not harder than domestic travel- it is just different. And the experiences on the other side of that difference are completely worth it.
Each of our international trips from the Iceland, London, Paris (including Disneyland Paris) to our weekend getaway to Canada, have been its own kind of incredible. This page is the home for all of our international travel content. Every destination, every guide, and everything you need to start planning your own family’s first trip abroad.
Part of our USA Destinations Guide for domestic travel and our Theme Park Guide for international theme parks including Disneyland Paris.
International Family Travel Destinations We’ve Visited
Europe
Europe was our family’s first international destination and it remains the region with the most content on this site. (Side note: we live under 90 minutes from the Canada border and have visited often, although doesn’t really feel like an international trip due to our close proximity.)
Iceland, England and France make for one of the best first international trips a family can take. Three iconic destinations, an easy plane and train connections, and enough to fill two full weeks without scratching the surface.
Iceland
Iceland was our most adventurous family trip and one of the most visually stunning destinations we have ever visited. It does not look like anywhere else on Earth. Volcanic landscapes, waterfalls cascading off cliffs, rainbow roads, puffin boat tours, and the possibility of the Northern Lights on any given night. It is the trip our family talks about differently than any other, with a kind of quiet awe that never quite goes away.
We based ourselves in Reykjavik and used it as a hub for day trips. June is an excellent time to visit with kids. Long daylight hours, optimal road conditions, and the midnight sun that makes every day feel twice as long as it is.
- 2-Day Reykjavik Iceland Itinerary: Our complete Reykjavik guide for families, including the best day trips and what to prioritize on a short visit.
- What to Know About Visiting Iceland in June: A seasonal guide covering what makes June special and what to expect from the weather, crowds, and daylight.
- Hotel Odinsve Reykjavik Review: Our honest review of the family-friendly apartment-style hotel we stayed in and why it worked well for our family of five.
London, England
London was our introduction to international family travel and it set the bar very high. It is one of the most family-friendly cities in the world. Excellent public transportation, world-class free museums, incredible food, and enough iconic landmarks to fill every hour of every day. We spent three nights as part of our first trip to Europe.
The Harry Potter Studio Tour outside London is a non-negotiable for any family with Harry Potter fans. It is immersive and really fun for fans of the franchise to step inside where the filming happened.
- Unique 12-Day Iceland, London, Paris Itinerary with Kids: Our flagship Europe post covering the full trip from planning to execution. Start here if you are planning your first Europe trip.
- Family Trip to London: 3-Night London Itinerary: A focused London-only itinerary for families spending 3 nights in the city.
- Harry Potter Studio Tour Review: Everything You Need to Know: A complete guide to planning your visit to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London.
- Shrek’s Adventure London Review and Guide for Families: A fun immersive attraction on the South Bank, great for families with younger kids.
Paris, France
Paris with kids is more magical than I expected and less intimidating than I feared. The city is beautiful, the food is extraordinary, and the combination of world-class museums, landmarks, and neighborhoods gives families endless ways to spend their days. We spent five nights and felt like we had barely started.
If you are combining London and Paris, take the Eurostar. It is one of the most memorable parts of the trip. Going through the Channel Tunnel and arriving at Gare du Nord feels like a genuinely different kind of travel that kids love.
- Family Trip to Paris: 5-Night Paris Itinerary with Kids: Our complete Paris guide covering what to do, where to eat, and how to navigate the city with kids.
- Unique 12-Day London Paris Itinerary with Kids: The full combined trip itinerary covering both cities.
Disneyland Paris — Marne-la-Vallée, France
Disneyland Paris deserves its own section because it is so much more than an extension of a Paris trip It is a full destination in its own right.
It is the most beautiful Disney park we have ever visited, and as a family that spends serious time at Walt Disney World, that is saying something. The architecture, the scale, and the European elegance woven into every detail of the resort make it feel completely different from anything in the United States.
We stayed on site at the Newport Bay Hotel and walked to both parks every day. Disney Adventure World, formerly Walt Disney Studios Park, has been completely reimagined and the resort now feels better than ever. For any Disney-loving family planning a Europe trip, Disneyland Paris is absolutely worth adding.
- 19 Disneyland Paris Tips You Should Know for Your First Trip: Everything we wish we had known before our first visit. Start here.
- Our Picks for Best Rides at Disneyland Paris for Teens: A focused guide to the best attractions for older kids and teens.
- Disneyland Paris Newport Bay Hotel Review: Our honest review of staying on-site and why we recommend it.
- Our Experience at PYM Kitchen Disneyland Paris: A review of the Marvel-themed dining experience at Avengers Campus.
Canada
Canada is our most visited international destination and the one that feels most accessible from Rochester. The border is less than 90 minutes away and crossing it opens up a genuinely different country.
Toronto and Niagara Falls Canada are both easy day trips or overnight trips from Western New York, and both are excellent family destinations in their own right.
Niagara Falls, Canada
The Canadian side of Niagara Falls is a completely different experience from the American side, and in many ways the better vantage point. The view of Horseshoe Falls from the Canadian side is breathtaking in a way that stops you mid-step. Combine it with the American side for a full two-day experience that covers the best of both countries.
- 2-Day Niagara Falls Itinerary (USA & Canada): Our complete two-day itinerary covering both sides of the falls. The definitive guide for families planning a Niagara Falls trip from Western New York.
- Niagara Falls Canada Day Trip Itinerary: A focused one-day Canadian side guide for families who want to cross the border for the day.
- Niagara Takes Flight: Newest Niagara Falls Attraction: A review of the newest immersive aerial experience attraction on the Canadian side.
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto is one of the most underrated family day trip destinations for anyone in the Rochester area. It is just over two hours from the city, incredibly walkable, and packed with things to do. Great food, the CN Tower, the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, the waterfront, and a growing lineup of unique attractions like Arcadia Earth.
- Day Trip to Toronto Itinerary: Our full day trip guide covering what to do, where to eat, and how to make the most of a single day in Toronto.
- Arcadia Earth Toronto: A Unique & Immersive Experience: A review of the immersive art and environment experience that is perfect for all ages.
International Travel Tips for Families
After several international trips with our family of five, here is what we know about making international travel work with kids:
Your first international trip will be the hardest to plan and the most rewarding to take. The logistics feel overwhelming before you go and completely manageable once you are there. Do not let the planning paralyze you. Book it and figure it out.
Passport applications take longer than you expect. Apply for everyone’s passport at least six months before your trip, ideally longer. Renewal and first-time applications for minors have different requirements. Research this early.
Fly direct when possible. Connections with kids add stress and risk. A direct flight that costs more is almost always worth it on an international trip, but consider a longer layover for extra time to explore. We flew Iceland air and added on 2 night layover on our way to London. This added an entirely new destination to our trip.
Give yourself a slow first day. Jet lag with kids is real. Build a low-key arrival day into every international trip if possible. Save the big attractions for Day 2 when everyone has slept.
Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. This is a small thing that saves real money over a two-week trip. We use our travel card for everything abroad.
Learn a few phrases. Even basic greetings in the local language — “bonjour,” “merci,” “pardon” — go a long way with locals and model something important for your kids about respecting where you are.
Pack light. You will be carrying your luggage and walking a lot in Europe. One carry-on and one personal item per person keeps you mobile and stress-free.
Our International Bucket List
We are just getting started with international travel and the list of places we want to take our family keeps growing. Here is where we are hoping to go next:
More Canada: We keep finding new reasons to cross the border and there is so much more of Canada we have not seen. Quebec City is high on the list and Montréal is not far behind. Both are easy drives from Rochester and offer a genuinely European feel without the transatlantic flight.
Efteling Theme Park, Netherlands: Efteling is one of the oldest and most beloved theme parks in the world, deeply rooted in European fairy tales and folklore. It is completely unlike any Disney or Universal park and for a family that loves theme parks, it is one of our top bucket list destinations. The theming, the history, and the unique storytelling make it a park unlike anything in North America.
Disneyland Paris (Return Trip): We left Disneyland Paris wanting more time and we plan to go back. Disney Adventure World is still being completed and the resort is only going to get better, they are adding a Lion King land and The World of Frozen.
Tokyo Disney Resort: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea are on our bucket list as Disney fans. DisneySea in particular is considered by many to be the most beautiful theme park in the world. Getting our family to Japan is a bigger logistical undertaking but one we are genuinely working toward.
Final Thoughts
International travel gave our family something that no domestic trip has quite replicated. The experience of being completely outside our comfort zone together and discovering that we were more capable than we thought.
Our kids navigating a foreign city, trying food they had never heard of, standing in front of landmarks they had only seen in books. Those moments are the reason we keep going back.
If you are on the fence about your first international family trip, my advice is simple: go. Start with London if Europe is calling, it is English-speaking, incredibly family friendly, and a natural gateway to the rest of the continent. Or start with Canada if you want to ease in close to home. Wherever you start, the first international trip is the one that makes every trip after it feel possible.
Planning a USA trip instead? Visit our USA Destinations Guide for everything we have covered across America. And for theme park travel worldwide visit our Theme Park Guide.
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Leah has been traveling with her family of 5 since 2012 and sharing her expertise on planning family vacations and visiting theme parks since 2016. Leah has been featured in Visit Rochester, Undercover Tourist, and Home Publications. She has worked with brands like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Hersheypark, Toyota, and various Tourism boards and destinations. Leah creates family travel itineraries based on real trip experiences with her family. Her guides and tips help others plan great family vacations. Learn more about Leah and Five for the Road.