If you’re a curious, adventurous family who loves to explore new cultures but likes to do things right — this guide is for you.
Since Brexit, travelling around Europe has become more complex. Many families aren’t sure where they can go, how long they can stay, or how to plan a full year of adventure without breaking the rules.
This article will explain what the Schengen Area is, how to make the most of your 90-day allowance, and how to travel smartly by combining Schengen and non-Schengen countries — so you can spend the year exploring Europe freely and confidently.
👉 Learn more about the ALMO Escape Planner — your step-by-step guide to creating a full family adventure plan, including itinerary, income, and education options — so nothing holds you back.
Contents
- What is the Schengen Area?
- How Does It Work for UK Travellers?
- List of Schengen and Non-Schengen Countries 🇪🇺🌍
- Pros and Cons of the Schengen Area for UK Families
- How to Plan a 12-Month Europe Itinerary
- Conclusion
Our Story
When we first started planning to travel as a family, we thought we could roam freely around Europe for months at a time. But after a bit of research, we discovered the 90/180-day Schengen rule, and suddenly our plans didn’t seem so simple.
At first, it felt frustrating, especially when we were on a tight budget. We didn’t want to get it wrong and get stuck, or risk being fined for overstaying. But instead of giving up, we found a solution: combining Schengen and non-Schengen destinations to extend our adventure.
This turned out to be one of the best things we did — it encouraged us to explore places we might have otherwise missed, from the Beaches of Croatia, the mountains of 🇲🇪Montenegro and the villages of 🇷🇸Serbia.
👉 Learn more about the ALMO Escape Planner to map out your perfect year of travel — from borders to budgeting — and make your dream adventure achievable.
What is the Schengen Area?
The Schengen Area is a group of European countries that have removed internal borders, allowing free movement for everyone between them.
However, for UK citizens and non-EU citizens, this means you can only stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the entire Schengen Zone — not per country.
Schengen Area Countries 🇪🇺
🇦🇹 Austria
🇧🇪 Belgium
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
🇭🇷 Croatia
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
🇩🇰 Denmark
🇪🇪 Estonia
🇫🇮 Finland
🇫🇷 France
🇩🇪 Germany
🇬🇷 Greece
🇭🇺 Hungary
🇮🇸 Iceland
🇮🇹 Italy
🇱🇻 Latvia
🇱🇮 Liechtenstein
🇱🇹 Lithuania
🇱🇺 Luxembourg
🇲🇹 Malta
🇳🇱 Netherlands
🇳🇴 Norway
🇵🇱 Poland
🇵🇹 Portugal
🇷🇴 Romania
🇸🇰 Slovakia
🇸🇮 Slovenia
🇪🇸 Spain
🇸🇪 Sweden
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Non-Schengen European Countries (Great for Visa-Free Breaks) 🌍
🇨🇾 Cyprus
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
🇮🇪 Ireland
🇷🇸 Serbia
🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina
🇲🇪 Montenegro
🇦🇱 Albania
🇲🇰 North Macedonia
These countries allow you to reset your 90-day Schengen timer, letting you travel for longer periods across Europe — legally and flexibly.
Pros & Cons of the Schengen Area for UK Travellers
✅ Pros
- Ease of travel: Once inside, you can move freely without border checks.
- Cultural variety: Dozens of countries with shared access — from the Alps to the Mediterranean.
- Short-term trips are simple: Perfect for 1–3 month adventures.
- Efficient transport links: Excellent rail and flight networks across Europe.
❌ Cons
- 90-day limit: You can’t stay longer than 90 days in a 180-day period without a visa.
- Counting days can be tricky: Especially if you move between countries often.
- Not all of Europe is included: You’ll need to mix Schengen and non-Schengen travel.
- Visa extensions are rare: Long-term family travel requires careful planning.
How to Plan a 12-Month Europe Itinerary
By combining Schengen and non-Schengen destinations, you can design a year-long European adventure that keeps you moving legally while experiencing an incredible range of cultures.
Example idea:
- Jan–Mar: France 🇫🇷, Spain 🇪🇸, Portugal 🇵🇹
- Apr–Jun: Montenegro 🇲🇪, Serbia 🇷🇸, Albania 🇦🇱
- Jul–Sep: Italy 🇮🇹, Austria 🇦🇹, Slovenia 🇸🇮
- Oct–Dec: Cyprus 🇨🇾, Ireland 🇮🇪, United Kingdom 🇬🇧
👉 To make this easy, the ALMO Escape Planner helps you plan your itinerary, budget, schooling, and online income streams — so your adventure doesn’t just happen, it works.
Conclusion
If you’re a curious, adventurous UK family who wants to explore Europe without breaking the rules, understanding the Schengen Area is essential.
If you’ve been delaying your plans because you’re unsure how long you can stay — or how to make it all fit together — then the ALMO Escape Planner is your next step.
It gives you everything you need — from itinerary templates and budget planners to income ideas and education options — so you can turn your dream adventure into a real, sustainable plan.
🎒 Learn more about the ALMO Escape Planner to make sure you have everything from itinerary to income and plan your perfect adventure.
