We are planning to travel to France & Spain with our 10 & 14 year olds this summer for 16 days. Our original plan is 5 nights in Paris, 5 nights in Barcelona, and 6 nights in Mallorca. This will be our kids first trip to Europe. Mallorca is on our radar as a spot to have some relaxing beach time, but also hike, kayak, snorkel. My kids like history but need a balance of things to do (think tours that are active/hand on) and things to see (think museums, castles). Please we are looking for recommendations for activities and thoughts on the spots we have chosen to visit.
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
6861 posts
Really depends on the kids interests. For my kids, these are the activities that I feel they'd would have enjoyed (I took my girls at age 20) With your time frame, you will need to be selective on the activities you chose.
Paris:
Carnavelet Museum
Orangerie Museum
Orsay Museum
Day trip to Giverny
Notre Dame tour that includes the roof
Arc d' Triomphe and walk down Champs Elysees
Walk along Seine (or evening boat ride)
View of Eiffel tower at night
Barcelona
Park Guell
La Sagrada Familia
Palau de la Música Catalana
Walk Ramblas with time in the market to purchase interesting foods and unique to us, fruits
Day trip to Montserrat
The Block of Discard and tour of La Pedera
Haven't been to Mallorca
Posted by
Surrey, UK
208 posts
Lovely cities for a first visit.
Others will suggest more mainstream things, but in Paris there is a museum of fakes -https://musee-contrefacon.com/en/
There is a 1920s train to ride in Mallorca - https://trendesoller.com/eng/routes/train.
I also like the maritime museum in Barcelona. And don't miss the food market on the Ramblas.
Posted by
8776 posts
We traveled with tweens and teens and treated them like adults. We toured historical places, art museums and scenic places. Didn't waste time going to the beach in Europe. Now they are now middle age and still love to travel and visit historical places, art museums and scenic places.
Posted by
Cloud
326 posts
These kids all have smart phones, give them homework to research each destination so they can give input on what they want to see and do.
Posted by
Wisconsin, USA
155 posts
We took the Paris Charms and Secrets bike tour with our 12 and 14 year old and enjoyed seeing the city and the stories from the guide. We went on a Sunday afternoon a few years ago. Much of the route was protected bike lanes or side roads.
We ended up not going to the palace at Versailles (a very hot day and feeling ill the night before), but did go to the gardens for a fireworks show.
In Barcelona, we went to a small cultural festival happening outside the Cathedral.
Climbing the tower at Sagrada Familia was a highlight for one kid.
If your kids have very different interests, consider splitting up for different parts of a museum or even locations.