Planning Your First Family Trip to Europe: Flights, Rail Passes, ETIAS, and What to Know Before You Go

Why Europe Works So Well for a First International Family Trip

Here's the honest pitch for Europe as a family's first big international trip: it's foreign enough to feel like an adventure, but familiar enough that you won't spend the whole time stressed about logistics. Trains run on time (mostly). English is widely spoken in tourist areas. And the kid-friendliness of cities like London, Paris, and Barcelona is hard to beat.

That doesn't mean it's simple. European hotel rooms typically only sleep two guests, with occupancy rules enforced far more strictly than in the US. Cobblestone streets and metro stairs aren't stroller-friendly. And the sheer number of choices — which countries, which trains, which neighborhoods — can paralyze a first-time planner.

So here's the approach that works: pick 2-3 cities, connect them by train, and resist the urge to cram in more. Ten to fourteen days is the sweet spot for a first trip. Enough time to settle into each place, adjust to jet lag, and actually enjoy the mornings instead of racing to a train station.

Your 12-Week Planning Timeline

Twelve weeks sounds like a lot. It isn't — especially once passport processing, flight shopping, and accommodation research eat into the calendar. Here's what to tackle and when.

Eurail Pass vs. Point-to-Point Tickets: Which Saves More?

This is the question every family planning a European train trip wrestles with. And there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer — it depends on how many trains you're taking, how far in advance you can commit to schedules, and how many kids you've got.

The Eurail Family Advantage

Here's what makes Eurail attractive for families: children aged 4-11 travel free. Each adult pass qualifies for up to 2 free child passes. Kids under 4 don't need a pass at all. So a family of four with two kids under 12 buys just two adult passes.

Current 2026 pricing for a Eurail Global Pass (2nd class) starts at €283 per adult for 4 travel days within a month, going up to €381 for 7 days and €447 for 10 days. That's per adult — and again, the kids ride free. The flexibility matters too. You don't have to commit to specific trains weeks ahead, which is gold when you're traveling with children whose mood might shift your plans.

When Point-to-Point Wins

If your route is short and fixed — say, just Paris to London on the Eurostar and back — advance tickets can beat a pass. One family travel comparison found that a family of four booking point-to-point tickets 6 weeks ahead paid $447 total, while two Eurail 4-day passes would've cost $622 for the same route. That's a $175 difference.

The catch? Point-to-point advance fares are often non-refundable and locked to specific trains. With kids, that rigidity can backfire. What if someone has a meltdown and you need the later train?

ETIAS: The New Entry Requirement You Need to Know About

Starting in Q4 2026, travelers from visa-exempt countries (that includes the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) will need an ETIAS authorization before entering most European countries. It's been delayed multiple times, but the EU has now confirmed a late 2026 launch.

Here's what families need to know:

• Cost: €20 per adult applicant. Children under 18 and adults over 70 are exempt from the fee
• Validity: 3 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first
• Processing: Most applications are approved within an hour, though it can take up to 96 hours
• Who needs it: Every traveler regardless of age, though under-18s won't pay the fee
• Application: Online form with biometric and travel questions — no embassy visit required

For trips departing before ETIAS launches, you don't need to worry about it. Just bring your passport.

Budgeting: What a Family Europe Trip Actually Costs

Let's talk real numbers. "Europe" spans everything from $15 hostel dorms in Krakow to $600-a-night hotels in Zurich, so "how much does Europe cost?" is a bit like asking "how long is a piece of string?" But here's a rough framework based on current pricing data.

Flights

Round-trip flights from the US to major European cities typically run $800-$1,200 per person. For a family of four, that's $3,200-$4,800 — often the single biggest expense. Setting fare alerts 3-4 months out and being flexible on departure airports can shave a few hundred off the total.

Accommodation

Apartments in central locations run roughly €100-200 per night for a 2-bedroom in mid-range European cities. London and Paris sit at the higher end; Lisbon, Prague, and Budapest are significantly cheaper. Hotels typically cost more because families need two rooms — most European hotel rooms don't accommodate more than two guests.

Food

Figure €80-150 per day for a family of four, depending on how often you eat out. The kitchen in your apartment is your best friend here. Breakfast from a bakery, picnic lunch from a market, and one sit-down dinner is a solid pattern that keeps costs reasonable without feeling like you're pinching every cent.

Transport Within Europe

A Eurail Global Pass for two adults (with kids riding free) runs €566-€894 total for 4-10 travel days. Point-to-point can be cheaper if you're only making 2-3 train trips and book early. Budget €50-100 per day for local transit, taxis, and the occasional Uber.

Can you do Europe cheaply with kids? Yes. Budget-minded families sticking to Eastern Europe, cooking most meals, and using slow trains can manage around €140-200 per day for a family of four. Mid-range families in Western Europe with a mix of eating out and apartments typically land around €250-400 per day. Neither number includes flights.

Accommodation Strategies That Actually Work for Families

European hotels weren't designed for families of four. That's not a knock — it's just a structural reality. Most rooms have one double bed, strict occupancy limits, and about 200 square feet of space. After a full day of sightseeing, cramming everyone into that box gets old by night two.

Apartments solve most of these problems. A 2-bedroom rental in central Paris, Rome, or Barcelona typically costs €120-200 per night — roughly the same as one decent hotel room, but with separate bedrooms, a kitchen, and a washing machine. That washer is no joke when you're traveling with kids who go through clothes at twice the normal rate.

There's also a middle ground: apart-hotels, which combine apartment space with hotel services like daily cleaning and a front desk. Citadines, Adagio, and similar chains operate across Europe and often offer family suites at competitive rates.

One approach that works well for multi-city trips: book an apartment in your base city (where you're staying longest) and hotels for 1-2 night stops along the way. You get the best of both.