Europe’s capital cities may attract more attention than its beaches, but sun and sand makes for an ideal vacation with kids. Travelers in search of picturesque beaches often focus more on the Caribbean or South Pacific. However, it is possible to combine both beach and city visits into the same European vacation. Most importantly, these are kid-tested and recommended by other traveling families. If that sounds appealing, here are some of the best beaches in Europe to visit with kids(including one technically in Africa) from some of our fellow family travel bloggers.
Fun Family Beaches in Europe With Kids
#1: Barceloneta Beach – Barcelona, Spain
It can get crazy hot in Barcelona during the day, so we decided to take a day off and head to the beach! Once we arrived we realised that it was just about everyone else’s plan as well. There were so many families around that I knew we had made the right choice in coming to this Mediterranean Sea beach. There are nice calm waters that just lap up onto the beach, which was great for the girls to paddle in. Unlike a lot of beaches at home there wasn’t a huge drop, it just gradually got deeper as we went out but it was still not very deep. One of the best bits is that because there were so many kids, everyone looked out for each other, and all the kids played nicely together building castles and splashing. It made for a great day as the kids got to play with other kids…even if they didn’t speak the same language! It is a bit of a hike to get supplies if you need ice cream as we decided we did, but there was lots to choose from once you got back onto the street. And just a heads up, there was lots of topless sunbathing going on!
Recommended by Bec Wyld from Wyld Family Travel. Find out more from Bec about Barcelona.
#2: Derrynane Beach – County Kerry, Ireland
The scenic route along the Ring of Kerry boasts some of the best beaches in Ireland. Our favourite was Derrynane Beach, 2 miles from the village of Caherdaniel, in the Iveragh Peninsula and along the Derrynane Bay. On a long white powdery stretch of sand dotted with giant stone, our children happily splashed away for hours in the shallow pools of this natural playground, safely sheltered from deeper waters by the smooth rock formation.
Thanks also to the mild summer climate, we did not have to worry about +50 SPF suncream and summer caps, and thus, this beach immediately turned out to be a winner with us. We parked at the nearby Derrynane house, ideally located nearby, which helped us avoid the weekend traffic due to the main car park, which was more likely created by the narrow roads than by number of vehicles. Derrynane house is also a good place to stop for ice cream, water and coffee as there is no coffee shop along the beach. But there are toilets located near the main parking area, and during the summer months there is a lifeguard on duty.
Recommended by Cris from Kids in Travels.
#3: Durdle Door Beach – Dorset, England
The Jurassic Coast is a World Heritage Site and one of England’s most beautiful stretches of coastline. The best part of it has to be the beautiful Durdle Door beach along the English Channel. Durdle Door is most famous for its incredible arch that frames one end of the beach, and it draws photographers from far and wide.
But, the beach itself is a great place to spend the day with kids. While it’s a pebble beach, the pebbles are small enough to be really comfortable. Children can paddle and swim as the sheltered cove is usually calm and the sea is clear and clean (although I can’t promise it will be warm!). Visitors might also be lucky enough to find fossils in the pebbles.
Just next to Durdle Door is another beautiful sheltered cove, Man O’War Bay; so it really is two beaches for one here! The clifftop walks are also stunning. Just make sure to pack a picnic as there aren’t any shops nearby, and wear good shoes to walk down the cliffs to the beach itself.
Recommended by Emily Cole from Kids and Compass. Find out more from Emily about Durdle Door.
#4: Isle of Harris and Lewis – Outer Hebrides, Scotland
When travelers think of stunning white sandy beaches, there are many places around the world that come to mind. Interestingly, Scotland is not normally one of them. The Isles of Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides in the North West of Scotland have some of the most beautiful and peaceful beaches I’ve ever seen. The islands are fairly remote, and the biggest town, Stornoway, has a population of only 8,000 people.
The remoteness and peacefulness of the island and its beaches make it the perfect place to visit with children. The weather isn’t too hot for children and there is probably nowhere else in the world where visitors can have miles of golden sand all to themselves. We never worry about losing sight of our children as we are often the only people there. One of the things I love so much about the beaches on these islands is the way they really help children understand nature. My daughters and I once sat and watch an Oxbow Lake (of geography lesson fame) form right in front of us as water ran off the hills behind the beach and out into the sea.
#5: Manta Rota Beach – Portugal
Manta Rota beach in the Eastern Algarve is probably one not many people will have heard of. But it is a great beach for families. It is one of few beaches in the East Algarve on the Ria Formosa natural reserve that is accessible by foot rather than by boat. There is a boardwalk from the square next to the car park which leads visitors to a beautiful sandy beach. During summer, there are sunbeds and parasols for rent. What makes it family-friendly is that it has toilets on the boardwalk, next to a great restaurant. There are foot showers for cleaning feet of sand after a visit and even a playground, too. Although it gets busy during summer, it’s a beach where parents can easily keep an eye on children, and the water is lovely and warm for little ones to happily play in for hours. It is a little gem of a beach with easy access and great facilities around it.
Recommended by Catherine from Passports and Adventures.
#6: Paleokastritsa Beach – Corfu, Greece
The Greek Island of Corfu has so many amazing beaches for families. Situated on the Mediterranean Sea with calm little waves and stunning clear water, it is just a little paradise to spend all day in the sun and swim, snorkel and play. We have visited many beaches together, and even though it is hard to pick one we think that Paleokastritsa beach in Corfu is the best child friendly beach around. It is stunning and very easily accessible, perfectly for families with young kids. There is a parking space just on the opposite side of the road and a few restaurants and shop to get souvenir or beach products. Visitors can also take boat tours from this beach and explore the island coast further. One thing to keep in mind though is that water shoes may be necessary as the beach has a mix of sand and pebbles, like many other Greek beaches.
Recommended by Thassia from Family off Duty. Find out more from Thassia about Corfu.
#7: Playa de Maspalomas – Canary Islands, Spain
Our favourite beach in the Canary Islands (and perhaps in the world) has to be Playa de Maspalomas. The sand is fine and soft, perfect for little feet. The water is warm. The beach stretches for 3.5 kilometres and is divided into sections. The first 1.5 kilometres on the west side is where most families choose to spend their time. Restaurants and amenities are all close by. But the reason why we fell head over heels for this magical place is that it is not a typical beach. What is special about Maspalomas is that visitors can check these items off their bucket list in one day:
- Play in the Maspalomas Dunes: These dunes, a nature reserve, under protection since 1897, are located right behind the beach, and are a perfect playground for the entire family. Just avoid the midday heat. Our 9-year old literally spent hours playing in the dunes.
- Visit an African island … in Europe. That’s right, Canary Islands, even though politically part of Spain, are geographically an African archipelago.
- Ride a camel. After all, Gran Canaria is an African island with its own miniature dessert! This is another fabulous way to see the dunes with the Atlantic Ocean as the backdrop and the volcanic mountains in the distance.
Recommended by Bea from Pack Your Bags.
#8: Playa Pollensa Beach – Mallorca, Spain
Anyone who sees the beautiful turquoise waters of Mallorca, Spain won’t want to vacation anywhere else again! Mallorca is a popular beach destination for many European families. The whole island in the Mediterranean Sea is welcoming to kids, and the beaches are no exception. Known as an ideal spot for young families, Playa Pollensa is perfect for little kids. With epic views of the coastline, the beach is a perfect spot to relax and enjoy the view. The water is calm, which is perfect for kids to splash and enjoy a swim. There are even paddle boats (with built-in slides!) available to rent right from the beach. Kids hungry? Grab a quick bite from the restaurants right on the beach. It’s not uncommon to see a row of strollers walking the famous ‘pine walk’ in this charming town.
Recommended by Kate from Tear Free Travel.
#9: Rock Beach – Cornwall, England
Rock Beach, on the north Cornwall coast along the Celtic Sea, is a beautiful stretch of sand on the Camel Estuary, adjacent to the more well known harbour town of Padstow. The sand stretches for miles, right around to Daymer Bay, further along the coastline. Rock is a perfect ‘bucket and spade’ type beach. Take a picnic, deckchairs and beach toys, and spend the day. Golden sand, great for sandcastles, and a calm sea for splashing about makes Rock Beach a perfect beach for children. The beach never gets crowded due to it’s vast expanse and the relatively small carpark available. There’s always plenty of space for a game of cricket or football.
For the more adventurous, there is a popular watersports centre, offering sailing, windsurfing and canoeing. Behind the beach, sand dunes stretch for miles, perfect for a walk or some sand boarding (usually on a piece of cardboard!).
Recommended by Nicky of Go Live Young. Find out more from Nicky about Cornwall.
#10: Zavial Beach – Portugal
We are a full time traveling family and while RVing in Portugal, we loved to go to Praia do Zavial on the Atlantic Ocean. This little beach in the Algarve has stolen our hearts! It is perfect for kids as the beach is very broad. Children can play freely on the sand without getting near to the water. Our three year old especially liked climbing on the rocks at the edge of the beach. While taking a break from climbing, he loved watching the surfers doing their tricks. The beach has a restaurant with a few facilities; however, it was closed when we visited in the winter. We didn’t mind, though, as we had everything with us in our RV. The parking area is small, but perfect for boon docking. We stayed a total of seven nights at Zavial, and we always felt safe.
Recommended by Nanouk from Digital Nomad with Kids. Find out more from Nanouk about RVing in Portugal.
Visiting Fun Family Beaches With Kids
Does a beach vacation with kids sound perfect? Check out our Fun Family Beaches in North America, Asia, Australia and Central and South America.
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