Taking your kids to Europe for the first time is one of those trips that lives in your family’s memory forever. We know because we took ours and it was one of the best trips we have ever done. What started as a bucket list dream turned into a European 2 week trip itinerary adventure through Iceland, London, Disneyland Paris, and Paris that our teens still talk about years later.
We had so many places we wanted to visit during our Europe trip and we definitely didn’t take it easy. Instead of flying direct to London, we booked an Iceland Air stopover, spent two days in Reykjavik, flew into London, took the Eurostar to Paris, squeezed in Disneyland Paris, and made it back home with a full photo album, a long list of things we would do differently, and absolutely zero regrets.
This first time to Europe itinerary covers all of it- the logistics, the mistakes, the unexpected highlights, and the moments that made it worth every bit of the planning.
If you are staring down the idea of your first family trip to Europe and feeling overwhelmed by where to start- you are in the right place. London and Paris are the most family-friendly first-time Europe destinations for a reason. Add Iceland if you are feeling adventurous. This guide covers exactly how we did it, what it cost, and what we would change.
Planning your full international trip? Visit our International Destinations Guide for every destination we have covered as a family — London, Paris, Iceland, Disneyland Paris, and more.
This post may contain affiliate links.
First Time to Europe Itinerary- Our Experience
Planning a 2 week trip to Europe is very exciting, but it can also feel very overwhelming. There is so much to do and see in both places. We received so much advice about the best things to see and I almost gave up planning. It was too much!
After a few family meetings we made a very long list of all the things we wanted to do. Then compared it to the amount of time we had for the trip, as well as our priorities, and decided on our European 2 week trip itinerary.
This took a few weeks of making lists and sharing ideas, and then narrowing down what was important for us to see during our trip. The truth is when planning a big trip like this there are always things you may miss out on.
The best tip I can give is to get everyone involved in the planning so there are no surprises and include something for everyone in the itinerary. My kids were 11, 13, and 15 for this trip and they shared a lot about what they wanted to include it our trip.
For us- we love theme parks and knew Disneyland Paris needed to be in our itinerary. We also love explore places on foot and checking out different food options. Each destination had 1-2 attractions we wanted to see. In Iceland we did a Puffin Tour, in London we did the Harry Potter Studio Tour and a self-guided walking tour, and in Paris we wanted to see the Eiffel Tower at night.
Once we had all of these in place we could start planning out our trip with where to stay, what to do each day, and how we would travel to three different countries in 2 weeks.
2-Week Europe Itinerary (Overview)
Below is a quick overview of our 2-week Europe Itinerary and what we did each day.
- Day 1- Travel to Toronto for red eye to Iceland
- Day 2- Arrival and full day Iceland
- Day 3- Iceland- Puffin Tour, Explore Reykjavik
- Day 4- Travel to London, West End Show
- Day 5- London- Self Guided Walking Tour, Shrek Adventure
- Day 6- London- Harry Potter Studio Tour
- Day 7- Travel to Disneyland Paris via Eurostar
- Day 8- Disneyland Paris
- Day 9- Disneyland Paris
- Day 10- Disneyland Paris and Travel to Paris
- Day 11- Paris- Self Guided Day, Eiffel Tower, PSG Tour
- Day 12- Paris in Morning, Travel to Toronto, Canada
- Day 13- Travel Home
Europe Itinerary for First Timers- Tips & What to Know
There are many things you will learn along the way about what works and what doesn’t for your family. Below are some tips that helped us for our first time to Europe trip.
Allow time to plan.
Like I mentioned earlier we started with a very long list and had to stop adding to it because we wanted to see so many things. At one point for this trip we were going to Belgium!
It evolved over the few planning months. I suggest talking with your travel group about what you want your trip to look like, and start planning early- 12 months in advance if you can. This allows you to research and really decided what your family is interested in doing.
Don’t follow everyone’s advice, plan a trip that works for you.
I am a big believer in doing and seeing things you want to do. Don’t do things because everyone says you must experience it. Do your research and then take what works for your family.
For example, everyone says you should purchase tickets to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower to see the best view of the city of light, but we know our family, we don’t like heights and had an awesome experience from the ground.
Language Barriers, Money, and Logistics
For the most part communicating wasn’t a big challenge. In Iceland everyone spoke English and we didn’t have any trouble communicating. France was the most challenging but there are a lot of people willing to help that speak English.
Money was not an issue because we used our credit card for everything. You may want a little cash for the country you are and that can usually be exchanged at the airport upon arrival or at your bank before you depart.
A big difference in traveling around Europe compared to the states are the use of trains. We did not rent a car during our trip and relied on buses and trains to get around. When planning this trip be sure to plan for the cost of transportation and how you will get around.
You will also want to check the outlets of the places you travel to make sure you can properly charge your devices when traveling, use a comfortable crossbody to keep items safe, and have a place for all your passports. I share everything we purchased for our trip in my amazon store.
Be Flexible During the Planning Period
This trip first started with London, Disneyland Paris, and Paris but as I was researching I found a flight that had a layover in Iceland. Iceland Air offers 1-7 night extended layovers as part of your flight to London. Because of that we decided to include a 2 night trip to Iceland in our vacation.
This was a bit unexpected in our plans but it made sense to take advantage of the time in Iceland and extend our trip. I am so glad we did because it was an incredible part of our trip that I may have not ever considered.
Tips for First Time to Europe- Quick Guide
- Carry a light-weight backpack that can fit snacks and refillable water-bottles.
- Dress in layers because the weather can vary and be unpredictable.
- Use a Esim for Wifi. We used Nomad and it was reliable when searching directions on our phone.
- Don’t be too worried about using public transportation. We used the London Underground (the tube) and the Metro in Paris. It was our first time and we were able to navigate it pretty well. Usually there is someone around that can assist you if you are confused by the kiosks to purchase tickets. Most of the time they are willing to help.
- There are also bus tour options in both cities if you prefer to tour the city that way.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes. This trip is not the time to break in new shoes.
- Plan breaks in your day to sit at a restaurant or rest at your hotel. A 1-2 hour break can be a huge help in keeping everyone moving for the day.
- Plan free time. This was something that I always forget because I am such a planner but build in breaks and free time into your itinerary. It allows you to go at a relaxed pace and you never know what you might discover when you don’t have a plan.
- Many people like to do a guided tour during their trips. We prefer self-guided but this is a personal choice. You may want to do a mix of both. Check out these London Tours and Paris Tours for more information. If you are on a budget don’t feel as though you have to purchase a tour. Take a look at what the tours offer and put your own walking tour together.
Europe Itinerary
This trip was a lot of planning and when it finally came together it was such an amazing time. When I look back on this trip I can’t believe how much we fit in. I have itinerary posts going into even more details about each destination but this is a great place to start planning your trip.
Where to Stay for Europe Itinerary
Iceland: Hotel Odinsve Apartments
London: Marlin Aldgate Apartments
Disneyland Paris: Disney Newport Bay Club
Paris: Grand Hotel Leveque
Day 1: Travel to Toronto Airport, Fly to Iceland
We live in Rochester, New York and found the best price for flights out of Toronto, Canada. This is under 3 hours for us and totally worth saving money. Always check surrounding airports to find the best flight deals.
Booking a red-eye was my first mistake of the trip because I didn’t realize the flight was around 4.5 hours, which was not enough time to get a good rest. We boarded around 11:30pm eastern time and due to the 4 hour time change, arrived in the morning (day 2) in Iceland.
We didn’t sleep much and had to power through the day. Next time I would book a day flight.
Day 2: Arrival Day and Full Day Iceland
We spent the day walking around and exploring Iceland for our first day. We were very tired but couldn’t check-in to our hotel until 4:00pm. We stayed at the Odinsve Hotel apartments which fit our family of 5 perfectly for our two night stay in Iceland.
- Iceland Accommodations: Hotel Odinsve Apartments
- Brunch: The Laundromat Hotel
- Dinner: Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
- Explored Reykjavik: Saw Harpa, Hallgrimskirkja, Rainbow Road
Day 3: Full Day in Reykjavik Iceland
Today we had a boat tour to see the Puffins and also a few great food stops.
- Breakfast: Braud & Co.
- Puffin Express Boat Tour
- Whales of Iceland Museum
- Lunch: 101 Reykjavik Street Food
- Perlan Museum
- Dinner: Reykjavik Chips
- Dessert: Voffluvagninn waffle cart
Then we headed back to the room to pack for our early flight to London. If you are planning to do an overnight layover in Iceland you may want to check out FlyBus to get to and from the city center.
We used it and it was an easy way to get from the airport to the city. Want more details on our time in Iceland? Read our detailed trip guide: 2-Day Reykjavik Iceland Itinerary
Day 4: Travel Day to London and West End
Our flight to London left around 7:30am, which meant leaving our hotel around 3:00am! It was worth it to arrive in London early afternoon. If you are arriving from Iceland, London is an hour ahead time change. Book an early morning flight if you can to maximize your time in London.
Something I would have done differently if I was doing this again would be our flight. We flew into Gatwick and I wish we would have flown into Heathrow.
I booked the flight because it was cheaper but we ended up spending money on the Gatwick Express train to get into the city. The Gatwick Express was a bit stressful and the money saved was not worth the time for us.
If you can book into Heathrow I suggest doing it. I booked our Gatwick Express train tickets early but it didn’t really matter because it was crowded and we ended up missing a train.
Overall it was a frustrating first hour in England. We did manage to get it figured out and the rest of the day was great!
Details for our first London Day:
- Breakfast/Lunch: Grabbed food at the airport and train stations.
- Hotel Accommodations: Marlin Aldgate Apartments
- Dinner: The Theatre Cafe Diner
- Matilda: The Musical
Day 5: Self-Guided Walking Tour of London
For this day we decided to spend the day walking around London on our own. We did use the London Underground to get back to our hotel but we wanted to walk to see as much as we could.
As I mentioned earlier we prefer self-guided tours to be able to do things at our own pace. Another option that might work for families is booking a Hop on/Hop off bus tour that offers a mix of both.
We didn’t stop at all of these places to go inside. Some we only walked by to see and others, like Shrek’s Adventure we had tickets for.
Details for Self-Guided Walking Tour of London:
- Tower of London
- London Bridge
- Breakfast: Borough Market
- Tate Modern
- Shakespeare Globe
- Graffiti Tunnel
- London Eye
- Shrek’s Adventure
- Lunch: Great British Fish & Chips
- Big Ben
- Westminster Abbey
- Buckingham Palace
- Underground back to Hotel
- Dinner: Pizza Union
We did plan time to experience Shrek’s Adventure which is an interactive experience. It was a blast and if you are a Shrek fan it is totally worth including in your itinerary. Check ticket prices here.
We ended up walking more than 8 miles during our day and I was very happy we had comfortable shoes.
Day 6: Day Trip to The Making of Harry Potter
We are big theme park fans and love The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando, so we knew we wanted to visit the Making of Harry Potter in England.
This is not actually in London and we needed to take a train to get there. Once you arrive at the train station their is a bus included with your ticket that takes you to the studio.
The travel time is a little under 2 hours so it will be a longer day trip, be sure to plan accordingly. This Harry Potter tour includes ticket and bus transportation to/from London. Next trip I would book it to save us having to navigate the trains.
If you are a big Harry Potter fan I would include this in your visit. If you are not it might not be worth it. We probably fall somewhere in the middle and it was okay.
We liked touring the sets and walking through some of the scenes but we found Universal to feel more immersive.
Details for our Harry Potter Day:
- Breakfast: Dulce
- Lunch: Warner Brothers Studio: The Making of Harry Potter
- Dinner: Pret Take-Out in our Room
After the tour we took the train back to our hotel for take-out and to pack for our next stop- Disneyland Paris. If you are looking for all the details on our London itinerary check out this post: Family Trip to London: 3 Night London Itinerary
Travel from London to Paris
Next up was traveling from London to Disneyland Paris.
You can fly from London to Paris, but we found it very easy to book a ticket for the Eurostar Train. The train ride is under 3 hours and a very comfortable way to travel. I suggest checking out the website for the best route because it can change.
It takes guests under the English channel. Eurostar departs from the London-St. Pancras train station and arrives at Paris Gare du Nord.
I was a bit concerned that we would feel claustrophobic when traveling under the English channel but we did not. It was fairly quick and we barely noticed.
We were surprised by our ears popping much like when flying. I didn’t expect that but it was momentarily and wasn’t an issue. I only mention it to be aware if traveling with young children, maybe bring something to soothe that.
Day 7: Eurostar Train to Paris
We booked the Eurostar in advance and it was a great way to travel from London to Paris. Before we started our time in the city of Paris we took another train to go to Disneyland Paris.
- Breakfast and Lunch: Picked up at the train station to eat on the way. You can also purchase food on the Eurostar.
- Dinner: Five Guys at Downtown Disney
We are huge Disney World people and couldn’t wait to visit this park. The Eurostar does not go directly to Disneyland Paris so you need to plan on your transfer.
Take the RER A to get there. This is located in the same station as the Eurostar but we found it to be very confusing. We had to transfer from the RER B (or D) to the RER A. Try to go over this before you arrive. Check out this youtube video for more details.
We arrived at Disneyland Paris in the afternoon. I had booked a package that included a 3 nights at the Newport Bay Resort and 4 day tickets to Disneyland Paris.
This is more than enough time to visit both Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World (formerly Walt Disney Studios). If you are not big on theme parks, a day trip to Disneyland is enough.
The train station is at the parks making it very easy for a day trip from Paris.
Once we checked in we headed over to The Walt Disney Studios (now Disney Adventure Park) to ride a few attractions. We were able to ride Web Slingers and Avengers Assemble: Flight Force.
Then we headed home to get a good nights rest before our early morning.
Day 8: Disneyland Paris
- Breakfast: Granola Bars in Our Room
- Lunch: Au Chalet de la Marionnette Restaurant
- Dinner: Pizzeria Bella Notte
We arrived at Disneyland Paris for rope drop and spent the day at the park. The highlights of our day were Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Phantom Manor. We thought they were very unique to the park.
Read more about Disneyland Paris: 19 Disneyland Paris Tips You Should Know for Your First Trip
One of the best things we did was stay to watch the drone show. It is worth staying late to see this unique night show.
Day 9: Disney Adventure World (formerly Walt Disney Studios Park)
- Breakfast: Granola Bars in Our Room
- Lunch: McDonalds at Downtown Disney
- Dinner: Pym Kitchen
We started with the most popular ride Crush’s Coaster. As we headed there we discovered that it was having technical difficulties and was not open yet. We had the same issue with Web-Slinger and Tower of Terror.
This made the start a bit frustrating. We decided to do some of the flat rides in the Pixar area and single ride Ratatouille.
We did end up riding all of the attractions at the park. One of my favorites was Tower of Terror. It is different than the Hollywood Studios location and I didn’t expect it to be. Such a fun ride!
One of the things I did before we arrived was make reservations for Pym’s Kitchen. This is a buffet style table service meal.
It was really one of the only places we sat down to eat at during our entire trip and was a great choice. There was something for everyone on the buffet and we enjoyed it.
During our day we also had time to go back to the hotel to rest and swim in the pool. The Newport Bay Resort has an indoor and outdoor pool for guests.
Day 10: Disneyland Paris to Paris
- Breakfast: Granola Bars in Our Room
- Lunch: New York Style Sandwiches at Downtown Disney
- Dinner: Rotisserie Chicken, Baguettes, and Fruit from street markets
On our last day we packed up, left our luggage at the resort, and spent the morning in Disneyland. We arrived a bit later but we were able to meet a few characters and ride a few last minute attractions.
Then we took the train back into the city of Paris. This was much easier than our first experience. It was less busy and we had a better understanding of what we needed to do.
The plan for the day was to check-into the hotel, relax, and explore a bit.
Our hotel was lovely and I was so grateful for the air conditioning. We stayed at the Grand Leveque Hotel. It was a cute boutique hotel and one of our favorites during the entire trip.
It was also located along a cobblestone street with bakeries and food stands. After walking around for a bit we decided to pick up some fruit, bread, and a rotisserie chicken to enjoy a quiet evening at the hotel.
Day 11: Paris Walking Day
We had one full day in Paris and we decided to do another self-guided walking tour. We wanted to see the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower but we were mostly excited to eat at the small little bakeries along the way.
We didn’t purchase tickets to go in the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa. If that is something you are interested in be sure to purchase tickets in advance.
It was very crowded and there will be long lines to get in the museum. Paris was really hot and humid during our visit but we pushed through.
We walked to Notre Dame Cathedral. This was still under construction during our trip. From there we walked and took the Metro to Paris Saint-Germain stadium.
When visiting we decided to take the stadium tour. This was such an unexpected and cool experience. As fans of the World Cup it was fun to walk through the locker room and see what the players see.
After this we headed home for the evening. We had to pack for our departure the next day and we wanted to rest before our night activitiy.
I was not sure it would be worth it to stay up late to see the Eiffel Tower at night but it was the highlight of our time in Paris.
At dusk, which was 11:00pm during our visit in July, the Eiffel Tower sparkles for 5 minutes. It happens continuously on the hour.
This was so fun and we really enjoyed seeing the Eiffel Tower. We didn’t feel like we missed out by not riding to the top. Then we made the 15 minute walk back to our hotel for the night.
You can read more details of our trip to Paris in this article: Family Trip to Paris: 5 Nights in Paris with Kids
Day 12: Paris and Travel Home Day
On our final day we slept in and checked-out of the hotel. We were picked up by a driver to take us to the airport. It was a long day of travel and we were ready to get home.
I was so happy we booked a driver to take us to the airport and I didn’t have to worry about the logistics of having our luggage and navigating the Metro.
Do what works for your budget but this was something I was happy we splurged on.
Our flight had us traveling from Paris to Iceland, then Iceland to Toronto. We arrived late in Toronto and stayed the night before heading back home.
First Time to Europe Itineray- Recap
The trip required us to change hotels every 2-3 nights and that was the most exhausting part. I’d prefer to stay a little longer, but it worked because of our time constraints and honestly the time we spent was enough in each location for us.
There is not much you can do to get around the short stays if you want to see a lot. Be prepared that it will be exhausting to pack, unpack, and pack again. Overall our first time visit to Europe and one we will never forget.
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Thank you for reading my post! This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Although we try to provide the most up-to-date prices, we do not guarantee prices listed on our site. At times we are compensated or hosted by destination and brands. All opinions are honest and my own. If you would like to learn about how I work with affiliate partners you can read more here.
Thank you for reading my post! This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Although we try to provide the most up-to-date prices, we do not guarantee prices listed on our site. At times we are compensated or hosted by destination and brands. All opinions are honest and my own. If you would like to learn about how I work with affiliate partners you can read more here.
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.