Mother-daughter trip ideas run the gamut from blissful beach breaks in the Caribbean to culture-rich trips to the capitals of Europe, and shopping getaways to New York City. Some of the best mother daughter vacations are faraway spots where you can share action-packed itineraries in places from Buenos Aires to Bali.
Whichever type of mother-daughter trip you choose, these special getaways offer blissful, bonding time and the chance to create new, cherished memories. Whether your shared interest is wine and gastronomy or sunbathing on pearly-white beaches, take your pick from these 15 mother-daughter trip ideas.
Paris, France
Paris, France
One of the best mother daughter vacations you’ll ever take is to Paris—location of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Stroll the banks of the River Seine, which winds through the city. With 37 bridges spanning the river, there is ample opportunity to criss-cross to more of Paris’s star attractions, including the Musée d’Orsay, Tuileries Garden, and the Champs-Élysées.
View from Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre in Paris, France
You could explore the wine bars and boutiques of the Left Bank or climb to the hilltop Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre for some of the best views in Paris.
If you’re in the mood for shopping, pick up luxury perfume and French labels at the show-stopping Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, a department store with an Art Nouveau glass-domed roof. Finish with a chilled glass of Champagne at the eighth-floor Terrace bar for rooftop views.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Mother daughter trip ideas include this close-to-home, sunshine spot in the Caribbean. You could combine the best of both worlds and split your day between San Juan’s characterful and historic Old Town and the nearby beaches.
Start by wandering photogenic Old San Juan, where the cobbled streets are lined with colorful buildings that date from Puerto Rico’s Spanish colonial period. There are galleries, shops, and museums to explore, including Casa Blanca, a whitewashed building that dates from 1521, built as the residence for Puerto Rico’s first governor, Juan Ponce de León.
The Old Town’s Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista is the seat of the Archdiocese of Puerto Rico. It’s the second oldest in the Western Hemisphere and the oldest church in the United States, completed in 1540.
Isla Verde Beach, Puerto Rico
After taking in the sights, head to vibrant Parque Isla Verde and the dazzling Isla Verde Beach. Here, you’ll find miles of soft sand, palm trees, turquoise water, and an array of amenities, from bars and restaurants to lounge chairs and watersports.
Read: Puerto Rico Travel Guide
Santorini, Greece
Santorini, Greece
No one will need convincing to take a vacation to Greece when it involves a trip to this sizzling Cyclades island.
You could visit the ruins of the Minoan town of Akrotiri—Santorini’s answer to Pompeii—that was once a thriving and sophisticated settlement, until it was abandoned just before a volcanic eruption around 1600 B.C.E. Much of the town was preserved, though no human remains and few personal items have been discovered at the site, which indicates an orderly evacuation was likely carried out before the eruption occurred.
Oia in Santorini, Greece
For a more leisurely day on Santorini, shop for gifts in Oia village in the north, famed for its beautiful blue-domed churches, whitewashed houses, and cobbled laneways with cobalt-blue doors that match the color of the Aegean Sea.
Stop for a delicious lunch at a seafront taverna in Ammoudi Bay, below Oia, where sun-dappled tables perch on the terrace in front of the tranquil bay.
Barcelona, Spain
Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain
Mother daughter trip ideas that factor in architecture, an historic old town, and soft sandy beaches include Barcelona, on Spain’s northwest Mediterranean coastline.
Tour Gaudi’s famous masterpieces, including the show-stopping Sagrada Família, Park Güell, and whimsical Casa Batlló and Casa Milà.
Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, Spain
Wander the Gothic Quarter, Barcelona’s oldest neighbourhood with its patchwork of sunny squares, narrow winding streets and ancient churches, before stopping for a gourmet lunch at La Boqueria Market on La Rambla.
After, laze on one of Barcelona’s best beaches, such as Barceloneta Beach, with its blond sand and excellent facilities—all within walking distance of the Museum of the History of Catalonia and Ciutadella Park.
Bali, Indonesia
Uluwatu Beach in Bali, Indonesia
Exhilarating mother and daughter trips include Bali—a bucket-list destination with pristine beaches, lush mountain landscapes, and cliffside temples.
Marvel at Bali’s scenic, emerald-colored Tegallalang Rice Terraces in Ubud, where you can walk among the green paddies. Another one of the best things to do in Ubud is to visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, a nature reserve and temple that’s home to over 1,260 long-tailed macaques.
On the southern tip of Bali, Nyang Nyang is an ivory-white beach surrounded by green-covered cliffs. Access is via steep steps, which helps the beach maintain a deserted feel. Nyang Nyang is also a short distance from the soul-stirring Uluwatu Temple—one of the most beautiful places in Asia. This protected Hindu-temple is a must-see, perched on a cliff edge above Uluwatu Beach.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik delivers an unforgettable mother-daughter vacation, with its independent shops, bars, and restaurants clustered in the compact capital and plenty of opportunities to discover Iceland’s cinematic scenery close by.
Begin at Hallgrimskirkja, Reykjavik’s iconic church that soars above the city, shaped in the style of basalt rock columns, inspired by Iceland’s volcanic landscape. At Harpa Concert Hall—home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and Icelandic Opera—you could take in a magical performance by the waterfront.
Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur are downtown Reykjavik’s main strips for shopping, eating, and drinking, with street food spots such as Hlemmur Mathöll serving a mix of Icelandic and international cuisine.
Blue Lagoon, Iceland
For an indulgent mother-daughter spa experience, head to the Blue Lagoon, one of the most beautiful places in Iceland. Located about a 45-minute taxi ride southwest of Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon lets you soak in geothermally-heated water, surrounded by otherworldly black volcanic rock formations and lava fields.
Aruba
Aruba
This sliver of an island lies just north of Venezuela in the southern Caribbean and offers sunshine, warm weather, and silky beaches. Some of the best beaches in the Caribbean are in Aruba, including Palm Beach and Eagle Beach on the island’s northwest coast.
Both offer excellent facilities, including thatched beach huts and lounge chairs, watersports, and beach bars. Pack a mask and snorkel as the ocean is deliciously warm and crystal clear, with turtles often spotted gliding through the water.
You could spend the day shopping in Oranjestad, the pastel-hued capital of Aruba, or explore nature-filled Arikok National Park, studded with cacti and home to unusual rock formations and jaw-dropping caves.
Florence, Italy
Florence, Italy
Florence, the birthplace of Renaissance, is famed for its Uffizi Gallery where you could view masterpieces by Leonardo, Raffaello, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio.
The city’s soaring Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence’s 15th-century cathedral, is one of the largest in the world. Together with a free-standing bell tower, the Duomo is emblematic of Florence. If you have the stamina, climb the bell tower’s narrow staircase—featuring 414 steps—to soak in views of the city.
Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy
Otherwise you can marvel at the pink, green, and, white marble facades from Piazza del Duomo. Later, wander across the Ponte Vecchio, an ancient Florentine bridge lined with shops that crosses the River Arno, to visit Palazzo Pitti and the elegant Boboli Gardens.
Work your way to the northeastern edge of these 16th- and 17th-century gardens for breathtaking views of the Florentine skyline.
Alaska, USA
Alaska, USA
In Alaska, adventure awaits with milk-blue glaciers, thick evergreen forests, and winding rivers, with plenty of hiking, kayaking, and wildlife-watching opportunities.
Split your time between soaking in the magnificent Mendenhall Glacier, a short distance from downtown Juneau, and national parks such as Denali and Kenai Fjords, home to grizzly bears, moose, and reindeer.
In Denali, visit husky kennels, join a guided wildlife hike, go rafting on the Nenana River, or embark on a thrilling helicopter ride for a bird’s-eye view of Alaska’s spectacular mountain landscape. In Kenai Fjords National Park, join a boat tour in Resurrection Bay in search of majestic whales, sea lions, and soaring eagles.
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman
The best mother daughter vacations often include white sand, bath-warm water, and beachside cocktails, which is why Grand Cayman makes for an idyllic trip.
Swim and sunbathe on Seven Mile Beach, an exceptional stretch of coral sand with excellent facilities on Grand Cayman’s west coast. You could book a boat ride to swim with stingrays, around 25-minutes offshore, at Stingray City.
For a leisurely experience on land, the island’s Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is a sanctuary for the endangered Grand Cayman blue iguana, with a serene lake and 65 acres of tropical gardens to explore.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon, Portugal
Mother daughter trip ideas for some of Europe’s best gastronomy, culture, and architecture include picturesque Lisbon on Portugal’s Atlantic coast.
Ride Lisbon’s famous wooden trams through the city’s cobbled, hilly lanes. The best is route 28, which whisks passengers through the central neighborhoods of Graça, Alfama, and Baixa.
Lisbon, Portugal
Tick off a visit to Belém Tower, a 16th-century fortification near the mouth of the Tagus River, followed by Jerónimos Monastery. This imposing Manueline-style complex is the resting place of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, for whom the building was designed to commemorate his return from India.
There’s plenty more to see and do in Lisbon, including sampling creamy pastel de natas, shopping for pretty ceramics, and taking in city views from the elevated Castelo de São Jorge.
Kyoto, Japan
Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto, Japan
Few cities are as awe-inspiring as Kyoto, Japan’s culturally-rich former capital. One of the best things to do on a mother daughter trip to Kyoto is to explore the city’s many Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and manicured gardens.
Walk through the Fushimi Inari Shrine’s tunnel of 1,000 torii gates. This extraordinary mountainside shrine dates from 711 A.D. Kyoto’s Kinkaku-ji features a gold-leaf facade and a reflecting pond, and is one of the most photographed temples in the world.
Next to the Katsura River, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is a jade-green forest of bamboo with a walking trail. In the city center, exploring the charming Gion district to see Geisha girls, or geiko in Kyoto, and sampling local cuisine at the 400-year-old Nishiki Market are a must.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina
With its famous tango scene and many theaters, museums, and public parks, this buzzy Argentine city is a wonderful place to explore on a mother-daughter trip.
Pay a visit to Teatro Colón, the 1908-built theater where you could watch a live opera show or join a guided tour. Bookworms love Buenos Aires for its many independent bookshops, including Ateneo Grand Splendid, a sprawling bookstore set in the former Grand Splendid Theater.
Caminito in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Stroll the joyous Caminito, a museum street in the La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires, which consists of a procession of colorful houses painted by members of the city’s early immigrant community. At the vibrant San Telmo Market, you’ll find everything from spices and vegetables to crafts and antiques.
El Rosedal Garden is the peaceful lungs of Buenos Aires, named after the 93 varieties that make up the thousands of roses in the park. At Recoleta Cemetery, visit the mausoleum of Eva Duarte de Perón, the actress, First Lady, and founding member of the Female Peronist Party.
Sydney, Australia
Sydney, Australia
Sydney is one of the best places to go on a mother daughter trip for a far-flung city escape with world-beating beaches. Bondi Beach is Sydney’s most famous shoreline, featuring a crescent-shaped stretch of gold sand and top-notch cafés and restaurants.
Explore beach after beach on this stretch of South Sydney’s coastline as you follow the Bondi to Coogee cliff-top coastal walk.
In Sydney’s cosmopolitan center, many of the biggest attractions are close together, set around the famous Sydney Harbour. Start by climbing the iconic Harbour Bridge or walking the historic Rocks district, before moving onto the gleaming Sydney Opera House and finishing at the tranquil Royal Botanic Garden, Australia’s oldest botanic garden.
Sydney, Australia
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