Ice cream

Want a relaxed holiday in a place where you know kids will enjoy? TUI ranked the best spots for hassle-free family fun.

Finding a place to travel where you can take kids and not worry about safe accommodation and fun activities can be difficult, but as of 2026, 86% of British parents agree that holidays are essential for family bonding, according to holiday giant TUI.

Taking into consideration factors such as where to keep children entertained while giving parents a chance to relax, reliable weather, open spaces and more, TUI ranked the top destinations in Europe that combine fun, sun, and convenience.

Here are the five best spots on the continent, according to the research.

5 – Barcelona, Spain

The well-known historical and architectural allures of Barcelona give way to family-friendly fun – as the city stands out with the highest number of TUI Musement excursions in the ranking (439). For those seeking a relaxed itinerary, the city also boasts 31 parks per 10 km².

The colourful Park Güell and the interactive CosmoCaixa Museum of Science are always hits with kids – and best paired with beach days along the Mediterranean for parents to enjoy.

4 – Catania, Italy

With a mean temperature of 26.7°C, Catania offers sunshine alongside rich history and cultural experiences – especially due to its location right next to Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano.

There, families can take excursions around the volcano and explore the deep roots of Catania’s lava caves and farms. When that’s done, it’s a great idea to head to the city’s bustling markets and grand piazzas to bask in the local culture or relax on the nearby beaches.

3 – Porto, Portugal

In third place is Porto, which TUI gives a score of 9.01/10. The city, located in the north of Portugal, is just a two-hour flight away, and is the perfect pick for families looking for simple, hassle-free fun.

Porto is easy to navigate, and offers 32 family-friendly hotels and 13 parks per 10 km². There, get ready to ride the historic Dom Luís I Bridge cable car or hop on a river cruise along the Douro.

To relax, enjoy beaches, riverside strolls, and vast parks.

2 – Naples, Italy

Naples scores 9.12/10, combining summer temperatures of 25.2°C and rich culture to be enjoyed by all ages.

Kids will have fun with authentic pizza-making immersive experiences and open spaces to explore with a good gelato in hand.

Time in the city is good enough, but from there you can set off to explore the ancient ruins of Pompeii, take a ferry to nearby islands, or stroll along the scenic seafront promenade.

1 – Lisbon, Portugal

The gold medal goes to Lisbon, crowned Europe’s most child-friendly city with a score of 9.16/10. The Portuguese capital has an average of 37 family-friendly hotels per 10 km², 17 parks and an entertainment score of 7.36/10.

Children are likely to love the Lisbon Oceanarium – one of Europe’s largest – and the beautiful trams that cross the city centre. After ticking those essential boxes, take time to explore riverside playgrounds and nearby beaches.

To get to Lisbon, flights depart from the main UK airports and take about 3 hours.

You can find out more and book on tui.co.uk.

New research reveals exactly what youngsters would do if they were involved in planning a holiday – and they now have the chance to make it come true

If kids were in charge on holiday they would eat dessert before mains, go treasure hunting – and have a giant water fight. A poll of 1,000 children aged 6-12 revealed their ideal getaway, which would include eating three ice creams a day, using bikes or scooters as their go-to form of transport and playing board games every night.

One in five would play hide and seek with their family, 14% would indulge in a pyjama day and 40% would spend all day in the pool. When it comes to locations, 93% of youngsters want to stay at a holiday park, with 72% of them saying they are fun places with lots of activities to keep them entertained.

The study was commissioned by Sykes Holiday Cottages, which has unveiled a competition to appoint two youngsters as its resident Directors of Fun, created to place kids at the centre of holiday planning.

The playful job ad specifies entrants must be spontaneous, have a big imagination and bring enthusiasm to every day, and applicants can share their perfect holiday itineraries until 30th April 2026 to win the chance to make them come true.

James Shaw, spokesperson for the staycation specialist said: “It’s always interesting to see what kids would do if they were in charge of the whole holiday – and it turns out it would be pretty fun for everyone else too.

“While there’s plenty of excitement around things like unlimited ice cream and activities, what really stands out is how much they value simply spending time together.

“That’s why we wanted to bring children back into the heart of holiday planning with this competition, recognising that their ideas of a great break are often less about packed schedules and more about being with the people around them.”

Over half (51%) of the youngsters surveyed said their favourite aspect of being on holiday was spending time with family and for over a third (35%) it’s meeting other kids their age.

Eight out of ten confessed they’d like to take control of a family holiday, with leading the way in order to do the activities they want (63%), instructing their relatives what to do (41%) and feeling like an adult (40%) the top three reasons.

The research via OnePoll.com also discovered 19% feel like holiday parks are a home away from home, with popular forms of entertainment such as swimming, adventure playgrounds and arcade games making it ideal accommodation.

James Shaw added: “Holidays should give families the chance to properly switch off, reconnect and enjoy shared experiences all in one place.

“What’s striking is how much children value the freedom to shape their own days – whether that’s choosing activities, exploring, or just having unstructured time to play.

“That’s where settings like holiday parks come into their own, offering a mix of flexibility and variety that lets every family member make the most of their time away.”

THE TOP 10 THINGS KIDS WOULD DO ON HOLIDAY IF THEY WERE IN CHARGE:

1. Eat ice cream everyday
2. Spend all day in the pool
3. Have a giant water fight
4. Ride bikes or scooters everywhere
5. Play hide and seek with my family
6. Go on a treasure hunt
7. Have a midnight feast
8. Eat dessert before dinner
9. Stay up late playing board games every night
10. Have a pyjama day