Classic 3-Week Europe Itinerary for Australian Families
- rowofthree
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
21 days • 5 cities • 4 countries • First-time Europe itinerary
Why We Recommend This 3 Week Europe Itinerary for Families
Planning your first European holiday from Australia can feel overwhelming. With so many incredible destinations and endless itinerary ideas online, it's hard to know where to start.
After our own three-week adventure through Europe, this is the 3 week Europe itinerary for families we'd recommend for Australian families visiting for the first time. It combines iconic cities, comfortable travel and enough time to genuinely enjoy each destination instead of rushing from place to place.
Row Of Three Tip: Book a multi-city airfare, flying into London and home from Rome. It saves retracing your steps and makes the most of your three weeks in Europe.
Contents
Europe Itinerary at a Glance
Days | Destination | Getting There |
Days 1–5 | London | Arrive from Australia |
Days 6–8 | Amsterdam | 🚄 Eurostar from London |
Days 9–13 | Paris | 🚄 Eurostar from Amsterdam |
Days 14–16 | Venice | ✈️ Short flight (or train with an overnight stop) |
Days 17–21 | Rome | 🚄 Italian high-speed train |
Prefer not to fly? You can complete this itinerary entirely by rail by breaking up the journey between Paris and Venice with an overnight stop.
Days 1–5 | London
Why Visit London?
London is one of the easiest European cities to visit with children because so much of it already feels familiar. From Paddington and Peter Pan to Harry Potter and the Monopoly board, kids will recognise famous landmarks long before they arrive.
For Australian families, it's also the perfect place to recover from jet lag before moving on through Europe.
Top Experiences
Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament – London's most iconic landmark and a great place to start exploring the city.
Buckingham Palace – Time your visit for the Changing of the Guard to see one of London's most famous traditions.
St James's Park – A beautiful park where children can spot ducks, pelicans and squirrels between sightseeing.
Tower of London – Home to the Crown Jewels, Beefeaters and nearly 1,000 years of fascinating history.
Ride a double-decker bus – Public transport, but also one of those classic London experiences kids genuinely enjoy.
Save for Another Trip
Churchill War Rooms – Best for older children interested in WWII history.
Stonehenge – A classic day trip if you've always wanted to see it.
Oxford – Beautiful university city with Harry Potter connections.
Windsor Castle – The King's oldest occupied castle and an easy day trip from London.
Days 6–8 | Amsterdam
Why Visit Amsterdam?
Amsterdam offers a completely different side of Europe. With its picturesque canals, narrow gabled houses and relaxed atmosphere, it's the perfect place to slow down after the pace and scale of London. The city is compact, easy to explore on foot and filled with postcard-worthy views around every corner.
Top Experiences
Anne Frank House – Visit the secret annex where Anne Frank and her family hid during World War II. It's one of Amsterdam's most moving and memorable experiences, but tickets sell out well in advance.
Canal Cruise – Seeing Amsterdam from the water is one of the best ways to appreciate its unique history, beautiful canal houses and famous bridges.
Dam Square – The historic heart of Amsterdam, surrounded by the Royal Palace, cafés and street performers.
Wander the canals – Explore the city's charming canal network, browse boutique shops and enjoy a relaxed lunch or coffee beside the water.
Save for Another Trip
Museum hopping – Amsterdam has excellent museums, but with three days we'd choose one and spend the rest of our time soaking up the city's atmosphere.
Heineken Experience – Popular with beer lovers, but we'd prioritise Amsterdam's history, canals and neighbourhoods instead.
Row of Three Tip
If you have an extra day, visit Zaanse Schans. Just a short train ride from Amsterdam, it's home to traditional working windmills, cheese farms and clog workshops, making it one of the easiest and most worthwhile day trips from the city.
Days 9–13 | Paris
Why Visit Paris?
Paris is one of those cities that almost everyone should experience at least once. Seeing the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre in person is something that photos simply can't prepare you for.
While Paris wasn't our favourite city in Europe, we still think it's an essential stop on a first trip because of its iconic landmarks, beautiful architecture and unmistakable atmosphere.
For families, we think Paris is at its best when you balance the famous sights with slower moments, sitting at a café, wandering through beautiful gardens and simply soaking up the atmosphere.
Top Experiences
Eiffel Tower – One of the world's most recognisable landmarks and even more impressive in person. We recommend getting kids excited about its fascinating history before you visit.
Arc de Triomphe – A Paris icon that commemorates those who fought for France and anchors the famous Champs-Élysées.
The Louvre & Mona Lisa – Home to thousands of artworks, including the world's most famous painting. We'd head straight for the highlights rather than trying to see everything.
Notre-Dame – One of the world's most beautiful cathedrals and a masterpiece of Gothic architecture.
Seine River Cruise – One of the best ways to see Paris. Choose a lunch cruise with younger children or an evening cruise to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle.
The Louvre Museum, Paris
Save for Another Trip
Disneyland Paris – Unless Disney is a major priority for your family. It certainly is for ours, but we'd only include it if you're happy to trade a day or two in another European city for time at the parks.
Épernay – Better suited to a return visit, a couples getaway or a trip with older children who would appreciate exploring the Champagne region.
Row of Three Tip
If you have an extra day, consider visiting the Palace of Versailles. It's an easy half-day or full-day trip from Paris and one of Europe's most spectacular royal palaces.
Days 14-16 | Venice
Why Visit Venice?
There really is nowhere else in Europe quite like Venice. Built across more than 100 small islands and connected by canals instead of roads, it's one of the world's most unique cities. Three days gives you time to slow down, wander the canals and laneways, and enjoy the city once the day-trippers have gone home.
Top Experiences
Take a gondola ride through Venice's famous canals for a unique perspective of the city.
Visit St Mark's Square, Venice's historic heart, home to St Mark's Basilica, the Campanile and some of the city's most iconic architecture.
Walk across the Rialto Bridge, the oldest bridge spanning the Grand Canal and one of Venice's most famous landmarks.
Wander the canals and narrow laneways, discovering hidden bridges, charming piazzas and colourful Venetian mask shops that celebrate the city's centuries-old Carnival tradition.
Save for Another Trip
Murano – Famous for its centuries-old glassblowing tradition. It's a worthwhile half-day trip if you have extra time, but we'd prioritise exploring Venice itself on a first visit.
Doge's Palace – One of Venice's most important historic buildings and the former seat of Venetian government. While impressive, we'd spend that time wandering the city instead.
Fun fact: Venice is also considered the birthplace of the famous Bellini cocktail, first created at the iconic Harry's Bar.
Row of Three Tip
Don't stress about your luggage. Venice's train stations have licensed porters with trolleys who can transport your bags directly to your hotel for a fee. You can also arrange for them to collect your luggage from your hotel and take it back to the station before you depart—a service that's well worth considering if you're travelling with suitcases or children.
Days 17–21 | Rome
Why Visit Rome?
Rome is the perfect city to finish your first European adventure. Ancient history sits alongside vibrant piazzas, incredible food and some of the world's most recognisable landmarks. Five nights gives you enough time to explore at a comfortable pace while leaving room for a memorable day trip.
Top Experiences
Colosseum – Step inside the world's largest ancient amphitheatre, where gladiators once battled before crowds of thousands.
Roman Forum – Wander through the heart of Ancient Rome and imagine daily life in the Roman Empire.
Trevi Fountain – Toss a coin into Rome's most famous fountain and, according to tradition, you'll one day return.
Pantheon – One of the best-preserved monuments of Ancient Rome, famous for its enormous dome.
Spanish Steps – One of Rome's most iconic meeting places, surrounded by elegant streets, cafés and designer boutiques.
Vatican Museums – Explore one of the world's greatest art collections, built up by Popes over centuries.
Sistine Chapel – Admire Michelangelo's breathtaking ceiling in one of the world's most famous chapels.
St Peter's Basilica – The largest church in the world, renowned for its magnificent Renaissance architecture and art.
Save for Another Trip
Catacombs and the Appian Way – Both are fascinating, but we'd prioritise Rome's iconic landmarks on a first visit.
Too many churches and museums – Rome has countless incredible historic sites, but it's easy to experience museum fatigue. We'd focus on the city's highlights and leave plenty of time to simply wander.
Row of Three Tip
If you have an extra day, take a guided day trip to Pompeii. Walking through an entire Roman city frozen in time is one of Italy's most unforgettable experiences, and we'd happily make time for it again.
Before You Go: Row of Three Tips
Book major attractions in advance. Tickets for places like the Anne Frank House, Colosseum, Vatican Museums and Eiffel Tower often sell out well before your trip.
Choose audio guides over guided tours. They let you explore at your own pace and are much easier with children.
Stay longer and change hotels less often. You'll spend less time travelling and more time actually enjoying each destination.
Prepare your kids before you arrive. Watching a YouTube video or reading a book about the places you're visiting makes the experience much more exciting.
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