Last Modified: 09/24/2026
Traveling to Europe over winter break: What we’ve learned after two big family trips with our teens
Most of my feed is filled with spring and summer trips to Europe, but we’ve learned that winter break can be a surprisingly good time to visit.
We’ve taken our kids to Europe twice for their winter break: Amsterdam and Paris in 2022, and Barcelona and Madrid in 2024. Though they were very different, both trips convinced us that winter can be a surprisingly good (and affordable) time to visit Europe.
Affiliate Disclaimers /Disclosure & Terms & Conditions: This blog is reader supported and this contains affiliate/referral links. If you book or buy through these links, I may earn a commission or referral bonus.
Why Take Teens to Europe Over Winter Break?
No Missed School
With 3 kids and a husband, being tied to the school calendar can be pretty limiting for travel. But having 11-13 days off in December opens up a lot of possibilities.
Instead of squeezing an international trip into a one-week spring break, we can use the longer winter break to make the most of a European vacation without pulling the kids out of school.
Better weather than you’d expect
This obviously depends on where you live and where you are going, but both times we visited, daytime temperatures hit 50 degrees Fahrenheit, which was warmer than home.
That doesn’t mean we had warm, sunny weather. Amsterdam and Paris were definitely a little gloomy, but most days were comfortable enough for a light jacket.
Big cities stay open (except Christmas Day)
Depending on the schedule, professional soccer games, museums, and activities are still open.
Christmas Day is the big exception. Many attractions and restaurants close, so I’d plan ahead..
Paris and Amsterdam in Winter with Teens (Our 2022 Trip)
We sort of booked both trips on a whim after finding a great cash deal. We flew from DCA to AMS on KLM, then from CDG to DCA on Air France for about $500 RT.
At that time, I hadn’t really accumulated enough points for hotels, so we booked an extended-stay aparthotel in Amsterdam and a VRBO in Paris. They weren’t our favorite accommodations, but they met our financial and location criteria at the time.
We spent 3 days in Amsterdam, 3 days in Paris, and one day in between to travel by train between the cities.
What we did
n Amsterdam, we visited the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, took a boat tour along the canals, and checked out the Christmas markets.
In Paris, we caught a PSG game, climbed the Eiffel Tower, visited the Louvre, took a trip to Versailles, and walked the Champs-Élysées.
Both cities were a little gloomy, but most days it was warm enough for a light jacket, and we didn’t have any rain. The only day we were really cold was when we climbed the Eiffel Tower.
What worked for our family
The biggest surprise was how manageable the crowds were.
We had no problem getting tickets to the museums and activities we wanted to do, and pretty much everything we wanted to see was open.
The weather was a little gloomy, but we didn’t have any rain, and most days were warm enough for a light jacket. The only time I remember being really cold was when we climbed the Eiffel Tower.
Even on Christmas Day, we managed to find an Indonesian restaurant open for dinner.
What we’d do differently
Now that we are deep into points and miles, we’d obviously approach the hotels differently. We’re definitely not VRBO/Airbnb people, and I love a hotel with a full breakfast.
Barcelona and Madrid in Winter with Teens (Our 2024 Trip)
Why we chose Spain?
Once again, we found a great cash deal direct from CLT to MAD for about $450 per person RT. The timing also worked well because we could catch another soccer game.
By this point, I’d been banking Hyatt points like it was my job, so we had enough to get two rooms at Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower and Hyatt Regency Hesperia Madrid.
For all details, check out my Barcelona Trip Report, Madrid Trip Report, and Segovia Day Trip.
The crowds and weather were much better than we’d expected.
The cities were decorated for the holidays; everything we wanted to do was open, and we even got to experience the Christmas Market in Barcelona with tolerable crowds.
We also timed our train from Barcelona to Madrid on Christmas Day. That meant we didn’t have to worry about finding something to eat along the way, and we could have a meal at the hotel once we arrived.
Would We Do Another European Winter Break?
Absolutely! I love not being constrained to a week-long spring break or battling the heat and crowds of the summer.
Winter break gives us a longer stretch of time to travel, and we’ve found that major European cities are still very much alive during the holiday season. I’ve already got a few on my list for the future, including southern Italy and southern France.
So yes, if you are considering Europe for winter break with teens, I’d definitely put it on the list.
Just remember that Christmas Day itself requires a little more planning.
FAQs About Europe in Winter with Teens
What’s the weather like in Europe in December?
Obviously, this varies a lot depending on where you go. On our trips, we had daytime temperatures in the upper 40s and 50’s and no rain. Spain was a bit warmer than Amsterdam and Paris. For us, that was an upgrade from home, where temperatures were in the low 40s and 30s in our hometown during that same time period.
Is everything open during winter break?
Not everything, especially on Christmas Day. Most public places are closed on Christmas, and many restaurants are too. This is why we planned a long train ride on Christmas Day. We upgraded to First Class to ensure we had a meal and made sure we had options at our hotel.
My biggest advice is to do a quick search ahead of time to make sure you have something to do and somewhere to eat.
For example, the Eiffel Tower was open on Christmas, but the Louver was closed.
But remember, don’t underestimate how enjoyable it can be to walk around these cities. They’re so beautiful year-round; just walking around can be a nice day.
What should teens pack for Europe in winter?
We have never gone wrong with layered clothes and a good water-resistant, lightweight winter coat like the North Face Thermoball. It got windy in high places like Montserrat and the Eiffel Tower, so a hat and gloves helped a lot. Of course, you need those good shoes for the cobblestones. I love my Hokas.
Do you have any plans for a European Winter Break? Shoot me a message on my Instagram!
Curious about our other trips? Check out my Destinations Page!
Keep following our Winter Break Adventures – Click to Read More!
exploring:
