Kids ride for free on a Eurail Pass—a train pass that allows you to ride European railway and ferry networks for a set number of days.
I have an 11-year-old, so last August, we decided it was time to go to Europe and ride the rails. During our trip, my family explored Versailles, took funiculars to Swiss villages, and battled a historic heatwave in Milan.
I planned some parts of the trip perfectly. Other aspects, like the 100-degree night in Lugano without air conditioning, I wish I could re-do. Here is what I learned from our Eurailing expedition:
Preparation and Expectations
Kids enjoy European sights more if they recognize them. The bridges over the Seine thrilled my girls because they’d seen them in Ratatouille. We’d read about the Duomo, so seeing it in real life was a treat. We discovered that watching documentaries and reading about the places we’d be traveling to is a must-do. Also helpful: picture books set in Europe. Here are two we loved:
- Dan Santat’s graphic novel “A First Time for Everything” took us along on his middle school trip to Europe.
- Nicholas Day’s “The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity” is excellent for older kids. The New York Times called it a “witty thriller” for middle-grade readers as it tells the story of when the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre and much more.
I avoided showing my kids gorgeously edited Instagram reels. Sometimes, the key to happiness is low expectations. I also warned them that parts of the trip would be hot, boring, and crowded.
Trip planning
When to start planning and booking: You can book your Eurail Passes 11 months before your travel dates, and travel agents recommend that you do so as early as possible. Most airlines open booking 330 to 360 days before the day you want to fly. The best time to book flights for a summer trip is in the fall or winter of the previous year. That means right now is a great time to start planning for Summer 2025.
Attractions: Buy advance tickets online for the best deals and time slots for famous sights. Advance tickets for the Eiffel Tower, Versailles, and the Louvre saved hours of waiting in line. I planned one big activity daily and had a list of other things to do if the kids were up for more.
Hotels: My kid’s favorite part of any vacation is the hotel pool. Unlike America, where every motel has a concrete hole filled with tepid water, European hotels generally don’t have pools. Scout out public pools or swimming holes ahead of time. Air conditioning is also less common, so specify that amenity when booking hotels if it’s a must-have.
Flights: My kids are only good travelers if they’re on a typical schedule. If meals and bedtimes are irregular, things get shaky. Our Seattle-to-Paris flight with only a quick transfer resulted in kids who were nauseous for a day and jetlagged for another three. On the way home, we had a 24-hour layover in Iceland, which was lovely. We got a hotel, had a normal meal, and were ready to travel the next day. I wish we’d done the long stopover on the way to Europe.
Photo courtesy Jenna Vandenberg
Hitting the rails
Nothing will have you lamenting the sorry state of American public transportation like a European trip.
The ease of hopping on a train and seeing an entire country out the window seemed miraculous to us road-tripping Americans. The Eurail app is intuitive, and the service is reliable. Global Eurail Passes start at $235 (for four travel days). Their pass is free if your trip begins before your kid’s 12th birthday. While the Eurail is good for 33 countries, some local trains are not covered. Check details at Eurail.com.
Quick tips
When boarding trains, be prepared to haul luggage up steps and stow at your feet. Pack light!
Beware of hanging items, as those are the most likely to be forgotten. Most trains have open seating but check for signs indicating reservations before settling in.
Reservations?
Most Eurail trips don’t require reservations, but some popular connections require seat reservations with a fee. While there is room for spontaneity, planning an itinerary within the app is a good idea. The best trips mix big cities, tiny towns, and everything in between.
Cities
The city you’re most excited about should not be the one you fly into. We started our vacation with four days in Paris, and our 9-year-old took four long Paisian naps. Saving The City of Lights for later, once everyone was acclimated, would have been a better idea.
Tiny towns
They may not have fancy museums, but small towns offer the best moments for authentic connections. Despite not having a common language, we spent a weekend in Konzen, Germany (population 994), and became fast friends with the baker across the street.
Home Base
For longer trips, consider settling in one place for several days. The perfect home base town has some walkable attractions and plenty of nearby towns to explore.
We spent a couple of weeks in Interlaken, Switzerland, in an apartment two blocks from the train station. We took quick trips to nearby towns and still had time for laundry, trips to the public pool, and lazy mornings. It felt like a vacation inside our vacation.
Photo courtesy Jenna Vandenberg
Enjoyable family time
While taking kids to Europe doesn’t align with romantic notions of gondolier rides or late evenings sipping wine at rooftop bars, traveling as a family is a joy. Europeans are generally more accommodating to children than Americans, and trips to public pools and playgrounds will ground you in local culture. Kids make you forgo a jam-packed tourist itinerary and slow down. You’ll leave Europe with a handful of memories; your kids will gain the knowledge that the world is open for them to explore.
Read more:
Top 9 things to do in sunny San Diego
