Europe is full of beautiful places for a family holiday at this time of year, from Paris to Madeira to London and all for an affordable price. With so much to do, see and eat, the once familiar cries of boredom from teens come Christmas time will be a distant memory.
Top 5 places in Europe for a family Christmas holiday with teenagers
1. London
London is easy to get around and has breathtaking sights ranging from Buckingham Palace to the Hyde Park Christmas fair. There’s also plenty of exciting free interactive museums to enjoy. With a range of international cuisine at your doorstep, plenty of places to shop, and theme parks galore, it is easy to see why London should be top of the list for a Christmas family holiday this year.
2. Paris
Paris is perfect for a family holiday with teenagers. The family can ice skate under the starry lights of Champs Elysees, see one of the biggest Christmas trees in Europe or pick up anything from a Chanel handbag to Havana flip flops at Place de la Concorde. Don’t forget the Christmas fair.
3. Madeira
Madeira has the ideal balance between tradition and modernity. There’s the grand firework display and the Christmas night market featuring carols, traditional music, and delicious food, with a lively fun atmosphere.
Madeira houses a huge 70 shop mall, the Dolce vita, which has a range of establishments from boutiques to chain stores perfect for gift shopping. For teenagers, there’s Madeira Aventura with canyoning, trekking, and plenty of other activities, teenagers will find it hard to get bored. Finally, with an average of 18 C throughout December, it’s warm enough to hit the beautiful, lush beaches and even enjoy Christmas dinner on the seafront.
4. Reykjavik
Snowy and mystical Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, conjures up all the things that make a Christmas holiday. As well as festive fireworks, bountiful feasts, and shopping at the bespoke Kringlan mall, Reykjavik has plenty of natural wonders that will keep teenagers entertained and provide once-in-a-lifetime memories for the family. From magical geothermal springs to husk sledding, whale watching to the majestic northern lights, Reykjavik has it all.
5. Munich
Munich holds Christkindlmarkt, one of Europe’s biggest Christmas fairs in addition to Tollwood, a festival of food, music, theatre, and circus performances. In the center of the city lies St Peter’s church and Frauenkirche, which holds amazing carol concerts annually. By now teenagers will need to blow off some steam, so treat them to Therme Erding a huge indoor waterpark or maybe go skiing in the Bavarian Alps. Alternatively, take a cable car over the city for a breathtaking view, or with your feet back on the ground go ice skating in the city’s biggest open-air ice rink.
It’s official: taking a staycation is the latest trend and it’s easy to see why. It’s often cheaper to travel around in the UK with a car or by train instead of taking expensive flights abroad. Staycations also allow the whole family to explore the country. This, combined with a sense of adventure makes PGL an excellent option for a family holiday with teenagers.
These holidays are truly action-packed: abseiling, zip wiring, archery, rock climbing, quad biking, rifle shooting, canoeing, and zorbing all feature on PGL holidays. PGL holidays are the perfect opportunity for the family to bond but also give teenagers the freedom to explore the often expansive grounds with newfound friends.
After an adventure-filled day, everyone can head to the canteen for a delicious range of meals with options for a variety of dietary requirements. The accommodation is top-notch too, with most centers housing en suite and shower in every room and some suites allowing for 6 or 8 people, so the whole family can stay together. If teenagers still have the energy most PGL centers have a communal area and evening parties so they can continue to hang out with their friends.
