Top 10 European islands to visit with kids

Islands are the easiest family holidays we know: short flights from Barcelona, beaches within reach of every base, and a natural limit to how much driving you can do. These are the European islands we’ve visited with our two boys, from toddlers to teenagers, with what each is best for and where to read more.

Mallorca

The biggest of the Balearic Islands, and the one with the most choice: all-inclusive resorts on the east coast, long shallow beaches in the north around Alcúdia, the Tramuntana mountain villages and Palma. We’ve been three times, including New Year with a 2-year-old and an all-inclusive week in October with a 6- and a 3-year-old. Rent a car: our one trip without one meant 3 hours on the bus from the airport.

Read next: Mallorca with kids: where to stay and best areas · our Alua Calas de Mallorca review

Menorca

Mallorca’s smaller, quieter sister, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and our top pick for toddlers. The southern calas are sandy, shallow and sheltered. We spent five days there at the end of September with a 5- and a 2-year-old, and Cala Galdana was the beach we went back to.

Read next: Menorca with kids: best beaches and where to stay · our 5-day itinerary

Ibiza

Yes, with kids. The parties are in San Antonio and Playa d’en Bossa. The east and north are calm, with family beaches, boats and the walled old town of Dalt Vila. We went in July 2026 with a 13- and a 10-year-old and stayed in Es Canar, which was perfect for that age.

Read next: Ibiza with kids: the family guide · Mallorca, Menorca or Ibiza with kids?

Gozo

Gozo is the second-largest of the Maltese islands, only about 13 km long, and it’s the one we’d pick for small children. It’s rural, quiet and slow, with short drives, easy parking, and none of the traffic of Malta. We spent five nights there in May 2018 with a five-year-old and a two-year-old, in a villa with a pool in Xagħra.

The highlights for us were Xlendi Bay, sunsets at Dwejra where the Azure Window used to stand, the red sand of Ramla Bay, and the Citadel in Victoria. Gozo also has three Blue Flag beaches in 2026: Ramla, Marsalforn and Ħondoq ir-Rummien.

Read next: Gozo with kids: 7 best things to do, beaches and where to stay · our 5-day Gozo itinerary · where to stay in Gozo with kids

Malta

Malta is the main island, busier and more built-up, and it’s where you’ll land. For families it works best as one or two days on either side of a stay on Gozo. Valletta, the capital, is small and built on a grid, and one of the most beautiful cities in the Mediterranean. It’s also steep, with many streets that turn into steps, so bring a baby carrier rather than a buggy.

Our last day was Valletta, straight from the airport: City Gate, a playground by Fort St Elmo, and the five-minute ferry to Sliema, which the boys loved.

Read next: Malta and Gozo with kids: our family guide · Valletta with kids in one day · Malta airport to Gozo with kids

Comino

Comino is the smallest of the three islands, with almost no permanent residents. It’s famous for one place: the Blue Lagoon, where the water is so clear you can see your children’s toes from the boat. It’s a short boat ride from Mġarr on Gozo or from the north of Malta.

Changed since our visit: since 1 May 2025 you need a free booking, in a time slot, to land at the Blue Lagoon. With kids, take the morning slot on a weekday. We went on a Sunday and it was packed by 11:00.

Read next: Blue Lagoon Comino with kids: 2026 booking, boats and tips

TENERIFE

The biggest Canary Island, and the one with winter sun almost guaranteed in the south. We went in May 2015 with Damian, who was 2, and stayed in an apartment with a kitchen at Callao Salvaje, near Costa Adeje. For families, the south-west coast (Costa Adeje, Fañabé, La Caleta) is sunnier and closer to Tenerife South airport. Under-3s can’t go up Teide on the cable car, so with a toddler, plan it as a scenic drive.

Read next: Tenerife in winter with kids: where to stay, weather and what to do

LANZAROTE

Volcanic landscapes, white villages and César Manrique’s caves and gardens, on a smaller, calmer island than Tenerife. We went in November 2017, when Damian was 4½ and Marc 1½, and spent two days with a small family-run private tour company. It’s windy, so pick a sheltered beach.

Read next: Things to do in Lanzarote with kids: 10 family favourites and prices

FUERTEVENTURA

The beach island: 77 km of beaches along its coast, the Corralejo dunes, and the shallow lagoons at El Cotillo for small children. It sits 97 km off the coast of Africa, which brings warm weather almost all year and a lot of wind, and the evenings can be cool. We spent five days there, based in the north, and the car was the decision the whole trip rested on.

Read next: Fuerteventura with kids: best areas, beaches and things to do

SARDINIA

A summer island we saw in spring: a week in March 2017 with a 3½-year-old and a 1-year-old. The beaches of the south (Chia, Villasimius, Costa Rei) are as turquoise as the photos, but it wasn’t swimming weather. We filled the cool days with the Is Zuddas caves and the Roman ruins at Nora. The biggest lesson: Sardinia is huge, so pick the north or the south. It took us 3 hours each way to drive to Olbia.

Read next: Sardinia with kids: where to stay, best beaches and our week · Is Zuddas caves with kids

• Malta and Gozo with kids: our family guide
• Menorca with kids: best beaches, where to stay and what to do
• What a family trip to Ibiza costs
• Gozo with kids

European islands with kids: FAQ

Which European island is best for toddlers?

Menorca or Gozo. Both are small and quiet with short drives, and Menorca’s southern calas are shallow and sheltered, which suits under-5s.

Which European islands are warm in winter?

The Canary Islands, such as Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, stay warm all year and are the best choice for a winter beach holiday with kids.

Which Balearic island is best for families?

Menorca for young children, Mallorca for the most choice and for all-inclusive resorts, and Ibiza for tweens and teens.