Family enjoying time at beach in Tenerife

Canary Islands Caribbean Mediterranean

Five top spots for family fun

Make a splash. Explore the deep sea in a submarine. Whizz through the streets in a wicker toboggan. Kayak around the walls of a fortress city or ride the waves with dolphins… check out five of our favourite places for a family holiday with a difference

4 min 14 Jul 2022

Editorial Team

Author

If you want to keep everyone entertained on a summer holiday and explore great destinations, we’ve got some great ports of call with something for all the family. From tiny tots to grans and granddads, and everyone in between, there’s a wealth of exciting activities to enjoy together.

1. Make a splash in Tenerife

Plenty of fun awaits you at the Thai-themed Water Kingdom of Siam, with water rides and splash pools to suit all ages. If you’ve any energy left, take a cable car trip to the top of Mount Tiede at 11,660ft above sea level. The perfect way to take in awesome views across the Cañadas del Teide National Park.

View cruises to Tenerife here.

Cable cabin car on the top of volcano Teide. Tenerife. Canary Islands

2. Whizz around in a wicker toboggan in Madeira

The cable car that takes you up to the parish of Monte in Funchal, Madeira, is good fun, with glorious views of the bay and the kitchen-gardens. But nothing compares to the ride back. If you’re aged three and above, the most exhilarating way down is in a traditional wicker toboggan, pushed and steered by straw-hatted ‘drivers’ using their rubber-soled boots as brakes.

If speed floats your boat, anyone aged over eight will also love a high-speed open-boat ride around the island. That’s not the only thrill. The Discover Whales and Dolphins shore experience gives you the chance to ride the crest of a wave with up to 20 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises. With expert marine guides on board, you may even spot a Risso dolphin, a beaked whale or even a killer whale making a rare visit to Madeira’s waters.

View cruises to Madeira here.

a typical tourist attraction of Funchal, th fast run with Carreiros do monte, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, Europe

3. Kayak around the Game of Thrones citadel in Dubrovnik

Adventurers aged over eight will love the chance to kayak around Dubrovnik’s medieval city walls (the old city is the seat of power in fantasy drama Game of Thrones), before heading off to explore the hidden cave beach of Betina.

If a boat ride in the sunshine is on your wish list and you have children aged between three and 13, a Family Ticket is a great way to explore the islands dotted around Dubrovnik. Equally stunning is a shore experience amidst the pine-clad Elaphite Islands, where you can swim, stroll or relax on the beach. Water babies aged over eight will also love the Snorkel Adventure experience, with a chance to spot sea scorpions, parrotfish, octopus, moray eels and more.

View cruises to Dubrovnik here.

4. Explore the deep in Barbados

Calling all Captain Nemos! If you’re aged over four, you’ll love the Atlantis Submarine Experience. The reefs of Barbados are said to be the Caribbean’s healthiest, so as you cruise at depths of 50-150ft you’ll get up close to an amazing array of colourful exotic fish, spectacular sponge gardens and fascinating coral formations.

If you’re more of a land lover, feel the warm breeze in your hair and soak up the Calypso sounds when you hop aboard a colourful Jitney bus. Rattle through the capital Bridgetown and imposing Garrison area before heading for a family day at a pristine sandy beach. Children aged six and upwards can also enjoy an exhilarating catamaran experience that sails over a shipwreck before a magical swim stop where you’ll have the opportunity to snorkel among endangered wild sea turtles.

View cruises to Barbados here.

5. Make a splash in Corfu

Explore the pretty resort of Kassiopi, a picturesque seaside village complete with a backdrop of looming Mount Pantokrator and rolling hills covered with olive groves, vines and citrus plantations. Once there, why not wander its narrow winding streets or seek out a friendly taverna to introduce the children to their first authentic Greek dish? If you’ve little ones who love to nothing better than some fun in the water, be sure to take your beach bag too, as the beach is just a stroll away and those turquoise waters will be difficult to resist.