7 best european resorts for family vacations

1. Ayia Napa, Cyprus

Ayia Napa is one of the most popular resorts in Cyprus, famous for its large and clean beach area, as well as a wide range of activities for all vacationers. For children, there are plenty of attractions: water parks, amusement parks, educational modern museums, and animal farms. Parents will not be bored either — there are excellent restaurants, water sports zones, various extreme activities, and, of course, the opportunity to explore numerous historical sites. Ayia Napa, as one of the oldest cities in Cyprus, is rich in cathedrals, temples, sculptures, monuments, and fountains, all set against the backdrop of the purest, most beautiful sea.

You can book a hotel with a discount of up to 65% on the website.

Transfer from Larnaca Airport to Ayia Napa costs:

• by bus — €5;
• by taxi — €75.

Accommodation in apartments near the beach (6 nights) will cost an average of €500 (with breakfast). Staying at a hotel complex near the sea (3-4 stars) costs from €765 (with breakfast).

All Ayia Napa beaches are free, but you will have to pay for additional services — sunbeds, umbrellas (from €5 per person). On the sand, there are many children's playgrounds with swings and slides, and for older children — volleyball courts and various water attractions.

Children in Ayia Napa have plenty of activities to keep them entertained: many "petting zoos" with animals and fruit gardens at the hotels, city playgrounds and go-karts, as well as large entertainment centers. The most popular are Marine Park, Dinosaurs Park, and Water World water park — one of the largest in Cyprus.

Restaurants in Ayia Napa are not cheap. Dinner for three will cost from €100. But there are quite affordable cafes where you can eat for €25-30 without going hungry. Also, do not hesitate to ask about "happy hours" in many cafes and bars, when discounts are offered on the entire menu or on specific dishes/drinks. Local sweets (sundzukos, kioterka, daktila, loukoumades) cost an average of €1 to €4 (each).

2. Salou, Spain

If you want to go on a beach vacation with children to Spain, then you can't find a better place than Salou. A calm and picturesque place on the Mediterranean coast with many sports activities, entertainment centers, water parks, and amusement parks, a beautiful city center — all this is Salou. Bicycle rides and yacht trips, excursions to famous Catalonian sites — this will be a vacation after which your family will need to catch their breath.

You can book a hotel with a discount of up to 65% on the website.

Transfer from Barcelona to Salou costs:

• by train — from €48-69;
• by bus — €33-45;
• by taxi — €130-150.

Accommodation in good apartments in the city center (6 nights) will cost an average of €545. A 4-star hotel near the sea will cost around €950.

Visitors to Salou unanimously claim that it is one of the best places for a beach vacation with children on the entire Spanish coast. And it's no wonder — a calm and quiet city, clean and safe beaches, places offering children's menus, and even adult clubs or centers with rooms staffed by animators. But the main attraction of the city is the numerous amusement parks, one of which is the legendary PortAventura, often referred to as the "second Disneyland".

Another favorite place for young guests is the Aquopolis entertainment center in the nearby town of La Pineda. Not only children but also adults get a lot of emotions from visiting it, as it houses a zoo, a safari, and a huge water park. You will need a lot of time here, but the memories will last forever!

Spanish cuisine is rich in delicious dishes that are hard to resist. The average bill in Salou restaurants for three people will be around €60-70, and be prepared for generous portions. Restaurants have separate menus for children with less spicy and milder dishes compared to those for adults.

3. Nessebar, Bulgaria

Nessebar is a true gem of Bulgaria. Without exaggeration, it is one of the most picturesque corners of the country, where pristine nature blends with the incredible beauty of the ancient city, comfortable wide beaches, warm sea, delicious national cuisine, and the friendliness of the locals. In Nessebar, it's like stepping into two different worlds: the ancient one, located on a separate peninsula, famous for its architecture and atmosphere, and modern Nessebar — with huge tourist complexes and large promenades.

You can book a hotel with a discount of up to 65% on the website.

This place is considered one of the best beach resorts not only in Bulgaria but also on the entire Black Sea coast.

Transfer from Varna Airport to Nessebar costs:

• by bus — from €20 (for three);
• by taxi — from €40.

Accommodation in a hotel in the city center 2 minutes from the beach (6 nights) will cost from €400 (for three, with breakfast). The hotel has all the standard amenities — pools, spa centers, saunas, gyms, bars, restaurants, and children's playgrounds.

It's hard to say which of Nessebar's beaches is the best — they are all picturesque and at the same time very clean, marked with the Blue Flag, and have all the necessary infrastructure. Another advantage is that they are free, and you only need to pay for individual items.

For an affordable family vacation, Nessebar is the ideal resort. Firstly, almost all hotels in the city have family rooms and childcare facilities, as well as playgrounds. The beaches have plenty of entertainment for children of all ages, and nearby, just 15 minutes from the city, is the largest water park, Paradise, which will also be fun for adults.

Bulgarian cuisine is quite familiar to Ukrainians — vegetable salads, light soups, dishes with plenty of bryndza and cheese, baked meat, a variety of pastries, and, of course, a wide variety of wines. On average, dinner for three in a good restaurant will cost around €50. And the traditional Bulgarian banitsa will cost around €3.

4. Kotor, Montenegro

Kotor is one of the most beautiful bay cities in the world, a place everyone should visit at least once in their life, and bringing your children here for a vacation is one of the best gifts you can give them. The stunning mountain scenery of Montenegro, warm sea, incredible old town, a place where everything breathes history and offers tranquility.

Transfer from Tivat Airport to Kotor costs:

• by bus — from €30 (for three)

Accommodation in apartments near the city center (6 nights) will cost an average of €400. Staying at a seaside hotel complex (3-4 stars) costs from €650.

The beaches in Kotor are divided into more accessible public and private ones. Additionally, there are both pebble and sandy beaches — you can choose according to your preference. But what unites them all is their cleanliness and comfort.

For a family vacation in Kotor, there is the wonderful Avanturisticki Park — a large sports area where children won't want to leave. Ropes, cables, ladders, obstacle courses, swinging logs, paintball, children's fishing, pony rides, archery, and much more that all children love. Parents can either cheer and support their children or go to a special relaxation area and unwind.

Moreover, Kotor's Old Town is listed by UNESCO as one of the world's most significant achievements. There is so much to see: numerous beautiful churches and cathedrals, museums and theaters, the famous St. Ivan's Fortress. Excursion walks through these and other places will be interesting and educational not only for children but also for adults — we especially recommend the tour of the Bay of Kotor, which can be arranged by car, boat, or on foot.

Montenegrin cuisine is famous for its abundance of meat dishes — prosciutto, veshalitsa, cevapi, pljeskavica, raznjici, and Kotor's cafes and restaurants are renowned for their excellent preparation of all the above and their very affordable prices. A hearty dinner for three in a decent restaurant, with appetizers, first and second courses, and desserts, can be had for €60-80 (for three), and in a modest cafe, you can manage for €40. And notably, many establishments have special children's portions, which are smaller, less spicy, and a bit cheaper.

5. Corfu, Greece

Corfu is a truly paradise corner on earth. It is located on the eponymous island and is washed by two seas (the Adriatic and the Ionian), famous for its incredibly beautiful landscapes and delightful aromas of numerous plants. Here, you can enjoy strolling through ancient streets, admiring old architecture, basking on the warm shores, and spending time with your children.

You can book a hotel with a discount of up to 65% on the website.

To get to the resorts from the airport, you can only take a taxi, and it will cost from €20.

Accommodation in a hotel in the city center (6 nights) will cost from €400. In good seaside apartments (3-4 stars), you can stay from €650.

Most beaches in Corfu are paid, as they belong to hotels and hotel complexes. However, this should not be immediately considered a disadvantage, because thanks to this, the beaches are kept clean and orderly, with plenty of entertainment and amenities for vacationers, including children.

For little travelers, Corfu will truly be an entertainment paradise. In the city and its surroundings, there are several large water parks. Aqualand, Hydropolis, Sidari Water Park — they are equipped with numerous slides, various pools, playgrounds, cafes, and relaxation areas... In general, a great alternative for family holidays.

Greek cuisine needs no introduction, having long conquered everyone with its simplicity and sophistication. The average bill for dinner at a good restaurant in the city center will be approximately €50-55 for three.

Since Corfu can confidently be called one of the most beautiful islands in Greece, it's a must to fill your family album with beautiful photos. You can do this on a photo tour around the island — just imagine: you will not only be shown the most beautiful places of Corfu, but you will also have a hundred professional photos taken of you and your family.

6. Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik is the perfect place for a family vacation in Europe. A quiet, peaceful place, an incredibly beautiful old town, and a clean, pleasant resort area. A place for those tired of the noisy and active life in megacities and longing for a pleasant, unhurried time with loved ones.

Ancient stone buildings, narrow streets, red roofs, fragrant exotic plants, gentle sea, beautiful cathedrals... You are very likely not to want to go back home.

The transfer from the airport to the city will cost:

• by bus — €35;
• by taxi — from €65.

Accommodation in an excellent hotel (4 stars) in the center of Dubrovnik (6 nights) will cost an average of €1000. In good apartments near the beach, you can stay from €950.

Many city beaches are blessed by nature with clean water and beautiful landscapes, and people have improved them with everything necessary for a comfortable and safe stay. The city's beaches are both public and private.

Dubrovnik is rightfully called an excellent resort for a family vacation. In addition to standard playgrounds, pools, and room amenities, many hotels in the city offer a children's buffet, separate playrooms, and special discount conditions specifically for families.

You can delight children by taking them to the Dubrovnik Aquarium, which is also the Maritime Museum of Dubrovnik. There is also the Honey Valley, where you can get acquainted with Croatian life, play with animals, and even ride a pony. But the main place for entertainment is SvetaAna — a huge sports and entertainment complex in the open air, where there are all possible sports entertainments: from paintball and knight fights to trampoline jumps, zorbing, and horse riding.

Dubrovnik has many good restaurants and cafes, and Croatian cuisine is rich in seafood and lamb dishes. The average dinner in Dubrovnik restaurants for three will cost you €60.

7. Menton, France

Speaking of the best beach resorts in Europe, one cannot but mention France. And one of the best places for a family vacation on its coast is the city of Menton. Why? Because it is so beautiful, clean, comfortable, always sunny, with fragrant citrus gardens, warm and clear sea, plenty of entertainment for children and adults, and, of course, many restaurants with delicious French cuisine.

Accommodation in excellent apartments (6 nights) will cost an average of €975.

Almost all beaches in Menton are free, with clean sand, and as expected on the French Riviera, the water is clear, clean, and warm. There are many beaches in the city, and what is good for vacationers is that they are all different: there are beaches for people with disabilities with all the necessary infrastructure, for athletes and surfers — without a breakwater and with special pontoons for divers, and family beaches — with playgrounds and cafes.

Beach holidays in Menton with children will be ideal for many reasons. Here you have clean mountain air, an abundance of fresh fruits, berries, vegetables, a calm and quiet city life. The favorite place for children in the city is Koaland Park, where carousels, trampolines, video games, pools, attractions, and much more are gathered in one area. And 10 minutes away from the city is the famous Marineland — one of the largest entertainment complexes on the French Riviera. Here you have a water park, a dolphinarium, and an amusement park, so there is something to occupy yourself with for the whole day.

French cuisine needs no introduction, so let's just say that the average bill for three in good, inexpensive restaurants in the city is €60.