Top family friendly destinations and vacations
Top family friendly destinations and vacations
Practical vacation spots for family travel
Family travel asks for different things than a solo or couples trip, with safety, ease of getting around and the ability to keep different ages happy mattering just as much as any big attraction. The destinations on our list tend to interest the adults just as much as the kids, without wearing everyone out along the way.
Space matters more on a family trip than on most others, so rooms with a kitchen, connecting rooms or a resort with plenty of on site facilities can make daily life a lot easier. Destinations with reliable public transport and walkable centers also help a lot, since they cut down on the need for a rental car and make getting around with kids far simpler.
Health and food need a bit more thought with kids along, especially in places where water quality, heat or unfamiliar food can affect younger travelers more than adults. Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation is worth having wherever you go. Visiting outside school holidays usually means smaller crowds and better prices at the destinations on our list.
Lists by region
City in Japan
Chiba
Suspended monorail, port tower and bay views
Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea are both technically located in Chiba, not Tokyo itself. DisneySea stands apart from other Disney parks worldwide for its nautical theme. Families can ride between attractions by monorail without needing a car. Chiba's beaches and Narita's historic temple offer a quieter day trip alternative.
Town in Germany
Rust
Europa-Park's home on the Upper Rhine
Europa Park in Rust ranks as Germany's largest theme park. Its different areas are each themed around a different European country. Families can ride roller coasters or stick to calmer rides depending on age. An attached water park next door adds a splashier option on hot days.
National Park in Japan
Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park
Fuji, Hakone, Izu and volcanic islands
Lake Ashi in Hakone offers boat cruises with views of Mount Fuji on clear days. A pirate ship style boat is a popular way for families to cross it. Natural hot spring baths throughout town let kids soak after a day of sightseeing. A cable car nearby climbs toward active volcanic steam vents.
Country
Singapore
Tropical city-state of hawker food and gardens
Gardens by the Bay's Supertree Grove includes structures up to 16 stories tall. An elevated walkway lets families cross between them for a view over the gardens. The Singapore Zoo's night safari lets kids see nocturnal animals active after dark. Sentosa Island adds beaches, a cable car and a theme park nearby.
City in Germany
Munich
Bavarian capital of beer gardens and museums
Munich's Englischer Garten covers more land than New York's Central Park. Families can rent bikes or paddle boats to explore its paths and streams. The Deutsches Museum nearby lets kids test hands on science exhibits for hours. Surfers ride a standing wave on a park stream, a strange sight for first time visitors.
Region in Germany
Bavaria
Alps, castles, beer gardens and old towns
Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria reportedly inspired the design of Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. King Ludwig II built it in the 1800s, though he died before it was finished. Families can reach the castle by horse drawn carriage or a short walk uphill. Legoland Deutschland sits a couple hours away for a different day out.
National Park in Germany
Harz National Park
Brocken peak, steam trains and wild forests
A narrow gauge steam railway has carried passengers up the Brocken since the 1890s. The peak ranks as the highest point in northern Germany. Local folklore has long linked the mountain to witches gathering on its summit. Families can also hike marked trails through the surrounding forest at a gentler pace.
Island in Japan
Okinawa Island
Reef beaches and Ryukyu Kingdom heritage
Okinawa's Churaumi Aquarium holds one of the largest aquarium tanks in the world. Whale sharks and manta rays swim together inside the same tank. Families can also snorkel calm coral reefs just off many of the island's beaches. Subtropical temperatures keep swimming comfortable for much of the year.
City in Japan
Tokyo
Japan's capital of temples, towers and food
TeamLab Planets in Tokyo has visitors wade barefoot through shallow, projected light patterns. Water rooms shift color and shape as people move through them. Families can also watch pandas at Ueno Zoo, a short subway ride from downtown. Tokyo Tower's observation deck offers a classic city view familiar from countless photos.
State/Prefecture in Japan
Hokkaido
Volcanoes, powder snow and fresh seafood
The Sapporo Snow Festival draws families each February to see massive snow sculptures. Some sculptures stand several stories tall and take crews weeks to carve. Kids can ride snow slides and try snow rafting at activity zones nearby. Summer swaps snow for lavender fields in bloom around Furano further south.
Country
Maldives
Coral atolls, lagoons and overwater villas
The Maldives sits at an average elevation of only about 1.5 meters above sea level. That makes it the lowest lying country anywhere on Earth. Families can snorkel coral reefs just steps from many overwater bungalow resorts. Calm, shallow lagoons around each atoll suit young or nervous swimmers well.
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