written by Lottie Gross
updated 11.07.2023
To help you find destinations that are as much fun for children as for grown ups Rough Guides' family travel experts have put their heads together and come up with the top 30 best places to go with kids. So whether you want a relaxing beach break or something a little more adventurous, we've found somewhere in the world for every child and parent in 2023.
You might also want to take a look at our list magical places to visit with children. And if you're travelling with older kids finding ways to keep them wowed is easier with inspiration from our gallery of seriously weird places around the world.
There’s canoeing on the river Drava in summer and skiing in the nearby resort of Pohorje in winter. In spring, try the resort’s single-track toboggan run that hurtles down the ski slopes at up to 30mph.
Spend a day at Canyon Učja, the biggest zipline park in Europe. Fearless teens will love flying on the 250 to 600 meters long ziplines which rise to 200 meters above the canyon of the river Učja.
As you'd expect, there are plenty of outdoor activities: hiking, camping, zip lines, canopy tours and horse riding. Nearby Monteverde Cloudforest Biological Reserve offers yet more pristine forests and adventure activities, while Reserva Santa Elena even has pushchair-friendly trails.
Try the Mega Mix Adventure Tour in Monteverde for its combination of ziplines, high rope courses, rappelling and jungle swings. This is another experience that includes stunning views of the Nicoya Gulf, but this one ends with a typical Costa Rican lunch.
When it’s time for tranquillity, the idyllic Gili islands are a short boat ride away. With white sands and still waters, Gili Air is the perfect place to enjoy the irresistibly slow pace of island life, although the turtle hatchery at Gili Meno is also worth a day trip.
Sail from Lombok and find out why Gili Nanggu is called Paradise Island on a full-day private snorkelling tour which also includes visits to the islands of Gili Sudak and Gili Kedis.
A tour of the planetarium walks you around four floors of rooms, charting a journey through the cosmos, from the Big Bang (represented by a light and sound display) onwards. Or try Parque Almendares. As well as being a welcome expanse of greenery, it's also a perfect picnic spot and offers rowing on the river and crazy golf.
If you want to venture away from Buenos Aires, Rosario makes a good base. Not only does it have child-focused attractions like the Jardin de los Niños and the Museo de los Niños, but you can head out on river tours or rent a car and work your way north to the awe-inspiring Iguazú Falls.
Alternatively, go guided horseback riding in the Puerto Iguazú jungle, tour the historic missionary country, then pay a visit to the local Guaraní community.
Kids will be enthralled by the sulphur stink at Rotorua, the tiny living lights in the glowworm caves of Waitomo and the bubbling pools at Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula. If you hire a motorhome you can explore at your own pace.
These days it's impossible to separate New Zealand from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and young fans will love the hobbit holes at Hobbiton, as well as Wellington's Weta Workshop, the centre of New Zealand's film industry, where kids can learn all about prop building and prosthetics.
Explore the world-famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves on a 45-minute guided tour. Glide by boat and marvel at the sight of magical glowworms above you.
At Caves Branch Jungle Lodge near San Ignacio you can float downriver in an inner tube through luxuriant forests full of cheeky spider monkeys and squawking toucans, then wake up to a dawn chorus of chirping cicadas.
Spend a half-day tubing in San Ignacio. Enjoy a cool swim in the refreshing waters of a natural pool, formed between cave entrances, before floating downstream to relax as you learn about Mayan culture and see stunning cave formations.
Start in the compact, mile-high city of Denver, from where it's a short drive to the sparkling alpine lakes and majestic peaks of the Rockies. Hidden further east is Colorado's answer to the Grand Canyon, the dramatic Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, one of America's most overlooked national parks.
Older kids with an interest in history will also be fascinated by the Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde in state's southwest corner.
Uncover Denver’s dark history on a haunted walking tour of the city’s oldest neighborhood, Capitol Hill. Choose between a 1-hour tour or a 1.5-hour extended tour, both with local guides.
Start in quaint Fort Cochin, a small, chilled-out quarter of Kochi with good hotels and restaurants. The peaceful backwaters can easily be reached on a day trip from here, but if you want to overnight along serene waterways on a houseboat made of wood and palm leaves, start out from Alappuzha (Alleppey) or Kumbakonam.
Kids will also love the state’s national parks, with elephant spotting in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, and for teenagers, there’s bamboo rafting.
Enjoy a trip to the hill station of Munnar, 1700 meters above sea level. This private full-day tour from Kochi includes visits to a tea museum as well as tea and spice plantations with mountain views.
For a more hands-on experience, try the Giraffe Center where you can feed these elegant, long-necked beasts from a raised gallery. Alternatively, visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust where orphaned elephants are rehabilitated and prepared for life in the wild.
Experience spectacular natural beauty and legendary elephant herds on an overnight safari in Amboseli National Park discovering a range of unique Kenyan flora and fauna along the way.
Inland Puglia is charming too, not least the fairytale trulli houses. Kids will love spotting these pint-sized limestone dwellings with conical roofs, which are dotted throughout the region. Head to UNESCO-protected Alberobello for a town full of trulli. For added fun, you can even spend a night in one.
Go on a two-hour guided trulli trail and explore World Heritage Listed Alberobello with a local guide. Wander pretty streets, visit the famous houses and learn about the town's extraordinary history.
You can see big game at the West Midlands Safari Park or visit the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley to go back in time to the 1930s and eat the best chips ever. The secret is frying them in beef dripping.
Then there's Birmingham, which has an excellent Sea Life Centre. Or you could head to Derby, a pleasant gateway to the Peak District. And let's not forget the Severn Valley Steam Railway, which runs between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth.
Book family tickets for Alton Towers Resort and try 40 rides and attractions including world-first rollercoasters and the UK’s only CBeebies Land.
With its grim facade, turrets, ramparts, and precarious position, teetering atop a rocky bluff against a mountain backdrop, Bran Castle is the quintessential vampire count’s lair.
The historical figure behind Romania’s Dracula legend (Vlad Țepeş) is as terrifying as Bram Stoker’s fiction: he wasn’t known as “the Impaler” for nothing. There are countless other atmospheric sites linked to the legend, not least Poenari Castle, where Vlad once lived, and the country’s “cult of the dead” is never far from the surface.
Go on a small-group brown bear watching tour in Brasov where kids can see these amazing animals in their natural habitat from a specially-designed observation hide in the Transylvanian forest.
But what makes Edinburgh really stand out are its festivals. There are 12 major festivals throughout the year from a storytelling event to a science festival and not forgetting the famous Fringe.
If you don't go during festival season, the Camera Obscura makes for some ridiculous family photos. Then of course, there's the Museum of Childhood, where you can get nostalgic and the kids can get hands-on.
Take an Edinburgh underground vaults tour with older kids to explore beneath the Old Town. The vaults date back to the early 18th century and are packed with tales of murders, witches and other sinister happenings.
For a first visit, base yourself in Saint-Malo, where a strip of gorgeous beaches stretches east from the winding streets of the old walled town. Older kids can try windsurfing or catamaran sailing at the Saint-Malo surf school, while grown-ups will find fresh oysters to feast on and local ciders to sample.
Take a full-day tour of Mont Saint-Michel and Saint-Malo and learn, about the amazing history and architecture of both. Kids will love stories of pilgrims, pirates and famous explorers.
For something a little more serene, kids will be fascinated by gators in the subtropical wilderness of Everglades National Park, or you could head further up the coast to Tampa Bay and the northwest to swim with manatees in the Crystal River.
Ready for an up close gator encounter? Try an Everglades National Park Airboat Tour, see the extraordinary wetlands with guides and take in a wildlife show where kids have the chance to hold a baby alligator.
Chinatown and nearby Kensington Market are great browsing and wandering territory, and the Toronto Islands are only a ferry ride away, but a world apart from the city's hustle and bustle. You can also venture south to the spectacular Canada side of Niagara Falls or north to the rocky islets of Georgian Bay.
Plan ahead and book tickets for the Royal Ontario Museum. Canada's largest museum, it contains a world-class art collection and artefacts ranging from dinosaurs to mummies.
There’s plenty to keep kids entertained here, from rockpooling and playing on safe sandy beaches to a raft of old-school attractions, including a model village and a steam railway.
Don't miss Blackgang Chine, the UK’s oldest amusement park. Set in rambling cliff-top gardens, it's a child’s fantasy of pirates, cowboys and princesses, though the star turns are the life-sized animatronic dinosaurs.
To enjoy a spectacular view of the South Coast, visit the Emirates Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth. Then drop in on Shanklin, it's one of our top 30 best seaside towns UK.
Alternatively book tickets for Carisbrooke Castle, another of the island's royal residences and quite a bit older than Osborne House. This visit comes with some sinister tales and the bonus of cute Carisbrooke Donkeys.
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The “Golden Circle” circuit is well established, while the otherworldly Blue Lagoon is also a simple excursion. Bathing in the Lagoon's warm waters with steam rising all around, children will feel like they’ve entered another realm. If you want to know more take a look at the best places to stay in Iceland: an expert's guide.
You can also remind them, that Iceland is home to the Huldufólk, or “hidden folk”, magical creatures invisible to the human eye. Local residents believe in them so strongly that building projects have been diverted to avoid their supposed habitats.
Head out from Reykjavik on a whale watching cruise of Faxaflói Bay. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphin and if you or your kids don't spot a whale you get another trip, free of charge.
Shuttle buses and well-marked trails (starting at just half a mile long) make getting to the stunning waterfalls and wildlife of Zion Canyon a breeze. Add in horseback rides, ranger-led youth tours and s’mores by the campfire in one of the park’s three campsites and you’ve got the makings of an unforgettable family trip.
Book a sunset ATV adventure near Zion National Park. See spectacular Southern Utah and Sand Hollow State Park on a thrilling ride with views of the desert and its iconic red rock formations.
There's the pink-hued Lake Retba, which, at its brightest, is a startling sight. There are undulating sand dunes ripe for you and your 4X4 to explore, and don't miss Ile de Fadiouth – a small island in the south made entirely from shells.
Take a half-day tour of the Pink Lake from Dakka or Saly and let kids see the wonderful waters of Lake Retba up close in the company of expert local guides.
Next door is Antalya Minicity, which has 1:25 scale re-creations of some of Turkey’s most iconic landmarks. The Toy Museum at Antalya’s harbour also provides a fun distraction from the beach.
Have a day out with younger kids at The Land of Legends theme park close to Antalya. The park is packed with thrilling rides, roller coasters, animal encounters and spectacular shows and your book-ahead tickets include return transfers.
Also check our list of the best things to do in Turkey and find some more ideas for your future trip.
The Ghibli Museum and Odaiba are highlights, and the city has plenty of huge parks and interactive museums to explore together. Tokyo Disneyland is also nearby, while Yokohama (for Chinatown and yet another ferris wheel), Kamakura and Nikkō (more nature and history, less neon) are all doable on a day trip.
See Tokyo from the water on a river cruise from Asakusa to the city's Odaiba district. Sail along the Sumida River and Tokyo Bay and take in views of the Tokyo Skytree, Hamarikyu Garden, Rainbow Bridge and more.
You can also take a boat trip from the cape to the Great Barrier Reef or trek through Daintree Rainforest on the look out for prehistoric cassowaries, avoiding crocodiles, spiders and snakes along the way. The brave might want to try a night-time rainforest walk, or a thrilling tree top jungle zip wire.
Take a tour of Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation by 4WD with friendly and expert guides. Spot wildlife in their natural habitat, enjoy spectacular views and learn about the extraordinary environment.
Pembrokeshire has beautiful beaches and a rugged coastline ripe for exploration, whether you want to take a walk on the Coast Path or get a bit more hands-on with some coasteering and kayaking.
Up in North Wales, adventure hubs like Zip World, where a four-person zip line is capable of speeds up to 100mph, and Bounce Below, a series of trampolines inside underground caves, are bound to keep kids happy.
Explore the stunning south east of Wales on a full day tour of the Wye Valley and Brecon Beacons. Kids will love the friendly local guides and you get to see everything from Tintern Abbey to the Upper Wye Gorge.
Rent a hut on the beach and children will spend hours playing in the white sand, jumping in waves and snorkelling in the shallow waters. Many islands have swimming pools and offer beach games, kayak hire, and dolphin-spotting trips too, with diving courses for older children.
Thailand is especially great for kids in January – National Children's Day (second Saturday of the month) means free activities and public transport for children throughout the country.
Join a half-day mangrove kayaking tour in Ko Lanta and explore an eco-paradise of wild jungle, incredible birds and untamed nature. Older kids and teens will love this adventure. Family Time
It's hard to beat the city's fabulous beaches, the highlight of which for most kids is Boulders, home to a resident penguin-breeding colony. The beach at Fish Hoek, a little further north, boasts a playground alongside its beautiful beach and gentle waves.
Cape Town also offers an abundance of parks and open spaces – perfect for picnicking in fine weather, while for rainy days there's a handful of good, interactive museums.
Older kids will be fascinated by a Robben Island tour from Cape Town. Take a ferry to visit the prison where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, then learn about South Africa's history from one of the former prisoners.
When they tire of the wildlife one-on-ones, regale them with tales of 16th and 17th century pirates who hid out on the islands. The landscape remains (almost) exactly as those old sea dogs would have found it and there’s even some ancient pirate graffiti to boot.
Book a full-day yacht tour in the Galápagos Islands and visit Tortuga Bay Beach, La Lobería, Canal del Amor and Playa de los Perros to see sea lions, marine iguanas, reef sharks, and other marine animals.
Instead of high-rise hotels you’ll find small-scale guesthouses accustomed to catering to families. Kids will love steel bands and street eats, fresh juice and safe swimming beaches. Just remember, once you've been "Tobagoed" you will want to go back.
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We've all been on an airplane with a crying baby or unruly toddler and felt the parent's pain. And we're not going to lie: long-haul travel with the whole clan can be challenging, but there are some ways to make family travel go more smoothly.
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written by Lottie Gross
updated 11.07.2023
