New Family Holiday Index ranks the best destinations in Europe for kids and family holidays, with Spain claiming SIX of the top 10 spots

• Mallorca tops new index of the best family friendly destinations in Europe thanks to its mix of beaches, waterparks and easy travel from the UK

• Portugal’s Algarve and Spain’s Costa del Sol also rank highly

• The easyJet and easyJet Holidays index prioritises the things families care about most, such as activities, affordability and short flights (for short attention spans)

• Spain dominates the rankings with a whopping six destinations in the top 10

LONDON, UK: A sun-soaked Mediterranean island where turquoise waters meet sweeping sandy beaches and waterparks tower above palm-lined promenades has been crowned Europe’s best destination for a family holiday in a new index released by easyJet and easyJet Holidays ahead of the Easter holiday season.

The Family Holiday Index ranks the destinations that make travelling with children easiest and most enjoyable, analysing factors such as flight times of 4 hours and under, access to beaches and pools, the density of family-friendly attractions like waterparks and mini golf, travel logistics, everyday holiday costs and airport ease.

Taking the top spot is Palma de Mallorca, the Balearic island capital that combines golden beaches with an abundance of family activities, all within easy reach of the airport. From sprawling aquariums to waterparks and boat trips along Mallorca’s dramatic coastline, the island offers families a near-perfect balance of relaxation and adventure.

Just behind in second place is the Algarve, famous for its honey-coloured cliffs, calm Atlantic beaches and warm hospitality. The coastline is dotted with seaside towns where dolphin-watching excursions, cliff-top walks and sprawling waterparks make it a perennial favourite with British families.

Spain’s Costa del Sol takes third place, where wide sandy beaches stretch along the Andalusian coast and family-friendly resorts such as Fuengirola and Benalmádena offer everything from wildlife parks and aquariums to beachfront promenades perfect for evening strolls and ice cream stops.

Further down the ranking, Mediterranean island escapes feature strongly, with destinations prized for their family-friendly beaches and relaxed resort life. Italy’s Sardinia, which ranks sixth, charms with its crystal-clear waters and calm, shallow beaches that are perfect for younger swimmers, while Crete takes seventh place thanks to its sprawling coastline, welcoming resorts and wealth of family attractions, from waterparks to boat trips along the island’s sun-drenched shores.

Elsewhere in the top ten, destinations including Costa Blanca, Ibiza and Barcelona’s coastal resorts highlight Spain’s continued dominance as the go-to destination for UK family holidays.

EasyJet and easyJet Holidays Family Holiday Index – Ranked Destinations

Kevin Doyle, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, said:

"Family holidays are all about simplicity: easy flights and packages, easy transfers, destinations and resorts where there’s plenty to keep children entertained.

"Our Family Holiday Index highlights some of the destinations across Europe where beaches, pools, waterparks and great value come together to create the perfect family break. With Easter approaching, it’s the perfect time for families looking to plan a last minute getaway to book - with plenty of affordable choices still available across a fantastic range of European destinations."

Notes to Editors

*Flight prices based on two adults sharing for five nights

Methodology: The easyJet Family Holiday Index ranks European holiday destinations accessible via easyJet flights based on factors most relevant to families travelling with children. Each destination was scored across five weighted criteria: water and beach access (30%), measuring beach quality, pool availability and proximity to waterparks; family activity density (25%), including attractions such as waterparks, mini golf, zoos, aquariums and boat trips; family logistics (20%), assessing airport transfer times, walkability and ease of getting around with children; family cost (15%), based on the typical price of an ice cream and a family meal for four in tourist areas; and airport ease (10%), considering airport size, facilities and overall passenger experience. Scores were normalised on a 0–10 scale for each category and combined to produce a final index score out of 100.

About easyJet

easyJet is one of Europe’s largest airlines offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe's primary airports with great value fares and friendly service. easyJet flies on more of Europe’s most popular routes than any other airline and carried more than 100 million passengers in 2024. The airline has over 340 aircraft flying on over 1000 routes to more than 160 airports across 35 countries. Over 300 million Europeans live within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport.

easyJet aims to be a good corporate citizen, employing people on local contracts in nine countries across Europe in full compliance with national laws and recognising their trade unions. The airline supports several local charities and has a corporate partnership with UNICEF which has raised over £17m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.

In 2022, easyJet published its roadmap to net zero by 2050. The roadmap, which also features a combination of fleet renewal, operational efficiencies, airspace modernisation, Sustainable Aviation Fuel and carbon removal technology, has set an ambitious interim carbon emissions intensity reduction target of 35% by 2035, validated by the Science-based targets initiative (SBTi). The airline’s ultimate aim is to fully transition its fleet to zero carbon emission technology, which it will achieve through a number of strategic partnerships including with Airbus, Rolls-Royce and GKN Aerospace Solutions. Since 2000, the airline has successfully reduced its carbon emissions per passenger, per kilometre by one-third and is the number 1 ESG rated airline in Europe by Sustainalytics, MSCI and CDP.

Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA – since launching nearly 30 years ago, easyJet changed the way people fly to the present day where the airline leads the industry in digital and operational innovations to make travel easier and more affordable for its passengers.

In 2023 easyJet was named by TIME as one of the World’s Best Companies and a Leader in Diversity 2024 by The Financial Times.

About easyJet holidays:

easyJet holidays, launched in 2019, is a leading package holiday provider operating from the UK, Switzerland, Germany, and France.

In 2025, it took over 3.1 million customers on holiday, offering great value beach and city breaks to more than 8,000 hotels across 100+ destinations in Europe and North Africa. Holidays can be booked via its website or 7,000+ travel agents. ATOL-protected packages start from a £60 deposit per person and include flights, accommodation, 23kg luggage, and transfers on beach breaks. easyJet holidays is ABTA member and offers Ultimate Flexibility with booking changes, a refund guarantee, and Best Price Guarantee.

easyJet holidays’ ‘Holiday Better’ strategy focuses on making more sustainable holidays mainstream, minimising tourism impacts, and embedding sustainability in its business. It partners with UN Tourism to develop an ESG framework for tourism, creating tools to measure industry impact on people, planet, and prosperity.

easyJet holidays was also named one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work in 2023, 2024, and 2025.rk in 2023, 2024, and 2025.