Hello,

can anyone tell me whether there is a legal regulation on how old a teenager has to be before they are allowed to travel on their own with public transport and staying on campsites, youth hostels and similar. Mostly in Switzerland but also within Europe.

Thank you for your help.

No idea, but mine started going to Italy by themselves when they were 12 or so.

Tom

Quote: "Urlaub im Ausland sollten Jugendliche erst ab etwa 16 Jahren allein oder mit Gleichaltrigen machen dürfen. Und dann auch nur mit der nötigen Vorbereitung. Ideal ist es, wenn vorher schon mal in der Schweiz «geübt» worden ist. "
I found this here:http://osz.gommiswald.ch/uploads/med...BCr_Eltern.pdf

Translation: "Teenager should be approx. 16 yrs old if they want to go on holidays on their own or with peers. They should only go well prepared. It would be good if they earned some practise in travelling on their own beforehand in Switzerland.

I've been traveling on my own within Europe at age 16/17, that was ok. I don't know if there exists a law but I'd say no. For taking the bus or train there is no age limit, it depends on you as parents what you'll allow. As a mother of a 6,5 year old girl, I'd say that she'll be ready to take the bus on her own approx. in 2 yrs - as soon as she'll be fluent in reading. But this will only be on short distances without changing bus.

My daughters were going to Milano on their own to visit their cousin back when they were respectively 12/10, and the younger has been traveling to the US on her own since she was 15 (now 18).

I've never heard of a minimum age for travel, but camping etc. may well be 16.

Tom