This under-the-radar insider family secret is an island outpost of Portugal, with mesmerising volcanic landscapes. Standouts for our team are its hiking the levadas (unique walking trails along irrigation paths), cycling, canyoning, whale and dolphin watching, sea kayaking and snorkelling. Our Madeira short break can accommodate many of these, or you can extend it to take in more – let yourself be inspired by our Madeira family holidays feature.

“We had the most wonderful week in Madeira. Our children were full of apprehension at the idea of an active holiday, but they honestly loved it – my daughter ranked the canyoning as her favourite activity of the whole week. We were lucky enough to see 2 types of dolphin and pilot whales on our whale watching tour.” Butler Family (with children 12 and 14).

“We had a fun holiday. I would definitely recommend your guide, Roberto. We really enjoyed all the activities. Thanks so much for your help in organising the trip for us.” Family L (with children aged 13 & 15)

This tiny off-the-beaten-track country is jam-packed with action. You can take in most of Montenegro in a single trip, from its remote mountains to its charming seaside. Our MD Liddy singles out rafting on the Tara River, hiking the mountainous Durmitor Ring, and taking a boat across Lake Skadar or cycling around it as her favourite activities with kids in Montenegro. Our article on Montenegro with Kids Top 10 has more info on these and other activities. Do check out our two sample itineraries, Montenegro Highlights, or for a more comprehensive two-week adventure, Montenegro In-Depth.

“We had an unforgettable time in this beautiful country, where we took huge pleasure in meeting some pretty amazing people.” Littleboy Family (with children aged 11 and 13) 

“We had a great time in Montenegro – great weather, the itinerary was good, really enjoyed the nature and exploring the country. It’s a really interesting place and, although the flight was short, it felt quite different to some of our recent destinations.” Herbert Family (with 16-year-old)

With its beaches, mountains, islands, olive groves and pine forests, Greece is a fabulous place for outdoorsy families – perfect for everything from swimming in crystal-clear waters to hiking to secluded monasteries and white-water rafting. Whilst many families love the Greek Islands, such as the Cyclades islands of Naxos, Amorgos and Santorini, we also love the unspoiled, and in our opinion underrated, region of mainland Peloponnese (see our Peloponnese Adventure). For more ideas, see our Greece with Kids Top 10 feature. For more information about Crete, Greece’s largest island with its own character and history, scroll down.

“A great balance of activities and then quieter days when we needed them – the best family holiday we’ve ever had.” Family D (with children aged 6, 10 & 13)

“All the guides were fabulous and we really enjoyed their company – they add so much to the experience and getting to know them was a pleasure”. Davies Family (with children aged 14, 17, & 18)

This is a vast country with enormous amounts to do, but while many come for the beaches and water sports, great as these are, our Turkey family holidays expert Caroline urges you to go hiking and hot-air ballooning in Cappadocia, renowned for its ‘fairy chimneys’, kayaking over the ghost city of Kekova, hiking to the village of Ölüdeniz with its blue lagoon, and slathering yourselves in mud in Dalyan hot baths. To see how these fit into a family holiday, sneak a peek at our suggested itineraries,  Turquoise Coast Adventure and Highlights of Turkey.

“Cappadocia was amazing. Recommend the sunset horseback ride if your backside can handle it! Stunning. The balloon was the biggest hit. We all loved it. Also, exploring the rock formations (Monk Valley for example) was a lot of fun for the kids.” Wayman Family (with children aged 12, 16 & 18)

“Our October half-term trip was fantastic. Thanks so much for helping us put this trip together. We loved it all and have so many happy memories.” De Las Casas Family (with children aged 7, 11 & 13)

Another Portuguese archipelago out in the Atlantic, the Azores rivals Madeira for dolphin and whale watching. Our destination expert Lee also highly recommends hiking around volcanic craters, mountain biking, climbing Mount Pico, cooking food in the grounds of a volcano, and hiking through vineyards. For this and more, see our family holidays in the Azores guide and our Azores short break.

“We had an absolutely awesome time! We saw dolphins. We rode bikes around a crater and paddled kayaks across a crater lake. We watched our 8-year-old overcome his fears as he leapt from 8m high into the deep blue sea on our coasteering adventure.” Cocoa Family (with children aged 8 and 12)

“We really loved our time in the Azores. The activities were just what we were looking for – the whale-watching was incredible, and we saw a blue whale. Now, our daughter wants to do a PADI course so she can explore underwater a bit more! All in all, really fun and totally different to anything else we’ve ever done in Europe”. Barnes Family (with child aged 15)

Packing a huge punch for its size, this little jewel squeezed in between the Alps and the Adriatic is best, according to our Slovenia family holidays expert Sinead, for its white-water rafting, canyoning, hiking in the remote Logar valley, paddleboarding on Lake Bled or on the river in Ljubljana, and exploring caves and gorges. In Kranjska Gora, you can even cycle over the border into Italy. Our Highlights of Slovenia itinerary fully immerses you in Slovenia’s jaw-dropping landscapes, or stay a bit longer with our Slovenia and Croatia holiday for even more outdoor fun.

“We had an amazing holiday. The kids loved the SUP, canyoning and rafting activities, and all the jumping in. My 7-year-old even managed the 8m jump on the rafting trip! We loved everything about Slovenia.” Young Family (with children aged 7 and 12)

“My best holiday in Europe ever!! What a stunning country Slovenia is! And what made me the happiest was that all 5 of us LOVED it despite all having different likes and dislikes! Jones Family (with children aged 9, 12 and 15)

Welcome to ‘hidden’ Portugal – a country that, away from the large coastal tourist resorts, still retains an abundance of beautiful countryside, authentic fishing villages, unspoilt coastline and two of Europe’s most charming and ‘walkable’ cities, Lisbon and Porto. From cycling and hiking to kayaking and wild camping on a beach, there’s a host of active adventures waiting, says our Sales Manager, Charlotte. Take a look at our Highlights of Portugal sample itinerary and our Portugal with Kids Top 10 feature to see what you could be doing!

“Lisbon was fabulous. Dolphin spotting trip was a great success for the kids, and the overnight kayaking trip. The two girls who took us on the trip were delightful and great company and looked after us really well. We had a really great time.” Brittan Family (with children aged 9, 15 and 16)

“Safe to say we had an absolute blast. Everything just worked and the balance of activities and downtime was perfect. We loved Lisbon/Sintra and the stops down the west coast in particular.” Graham Family (with children aged 7 and 8)

Our expert Robyn is keen to point out that the ‘land of fire and ice’ isn’t just for the chillier months. You may be surprised by how many ‘wintry’ activities you can do in Iceland, even in summer – snowmobiling for instance. Among Robyn’s top recommendations for family holidays in Iceland are glacier hiking and kayaking, horse riding, sea kayaking, and snorkelling at the Silfra fissure between two continental plates. See our example itineraries – Iceland in 7 Days and Iceland in 10 Days – for an idea of how much you can comfortably fit into a trip.

“This was an absolutely superb trip. The ice cave tour was one of our top three highlights. And snorkelling at the Silfra Fissure was a unique experience in the glacial waters – with 100% clarity, it was superb.” Norcutt Family (with children aged 13 and 14)

“In short, an absolutely brilliant holiday! Lots of adventures and unique experiences…we all thoroughly enjoyed it.” Hillman Family (with children aged 14 and 15)

River and sea kayaking, white-water rafting, cliff jumping, cycling and snorkelling are just some of the highlights of our Croatia family holidays. With its remote canyons, cascading waterfalls, soaring peaks, national parks, rugged coastline and numerous idyllic islands, Croatia is one of our most popular destinations for active family holidays in Europe, whether you choose our 9-day Croatia Short Break or expand your stay with our two-week Highlights of Croatia itinerary. If you’re undecided about which to pick, let our Croatia with Kids Top 10 feature guide you.

“Finally, a holiday that we (the adults) would have chosen pre-kids, that we could enjoy with our kids. Your itinerary worked so well for us as a family.” Walker Family (with children aged 7 and 9)

“We loved all the activities. Our favourites were the paddling ones – enhanced by cliff jumps. Both the river kayaking and whitewater rafting were beautiful and exciting, and the sea kayaking was really fun – the green cave was amazing.” Maggs Family (with two children aged 11)

At the fringes of Europe where East meets West, the stunning landlocked country of Georgia has surged in popularity in recent years, and with good reason. The characterful capital, Tbilisi, is packed with independent shops, ancient churches, artisan crafts and most famously, restaurants offering world-class cuisine and wine. Voyage further towards the mountains, and families will be wowed by the spectacular scenery, ancient churches and monasteries where authentic culture has remained unchanged for centuries. Try your hand at dumpling-making, go white-water rafting or hop on a horse! If you’re looking for an alternative European adventure, Georgia’s gems are just over a 5-hour flight away. See our Georgia Highlights itinerary and be inspired!

“Tbilisi is beautiful. Evenings were spent wandering the colourful streets and eating many delights – no one could resist the khachapuri cheese bread! Our guide and driver were fabulous. They were both young and optimistic about their developing country.” Cole Family (with adult son)

“We really enjoyed our trip to Georgia with its fascinating history, both ancient and modern. The people were really friendly, the mountains amazing and the food delicious. We enjoyed time in Tbilisi, the cave cities and hiking… and the sulphur baths, which was a fun experience.” Dubey Family (with child aged 12)

Our 10-day Crete Adventure immerses you in this history-drenched Greek island where, as Liddy points out, thrilling outdoor activities abound. She especially loves hiking in the Oleander Gorge, mountain biking, sea kayaking, swimming and surf lessons. And after all that alfresco active fun, you can take part in a cookery class and learn to replicate hearty local dishes that will give you energy for your next adventures. For more see our Top 10 Crete activities.

“We learned and saw so much of Crete without even trying to and I have to say I totally fell in love with the place. Such an amazing island. We all found the activities extremely rewarding.” Holme Family (with children aged 14 and 17)

“We had a wonderful half term trip. The activities were fab – we loved the electric mountain bikes. We cycled a great route and ate at a wonderful little taverna that we would never have found otherwise. All in all, we had the most wonderful trip.” Jackson Family (with children 12 and 14)

Read more feedback on what other families have said about their holidays with us on the customer review pages in each of our European destinations.