9 Summer Yachting Destinations That Are Perfect for Families

Different continents experience different summers. It’s when European yachting destinations are at their most vibrant, and you can expect sunny weather and warm seas. Summer is a fantastic time to sail to the top yachting stops like Menorca, Sardinia, Istria, and Marbella. It’s also when you have the most favorable wind conditions there. In the Caribbean, June to August is the rainy season, with a high probability of hurricanes. Curaçao and Aruba are two islands that stand out for summer yachting, offering excellent family-friendly infrastructure and pleasant weather. Here are great places for your next summer family adventure. We’ve compiled this list of the best destinations for luxury yachting with kids. 

Saint-Tropez, France

Best for a luxurious yachting trip

Saint-Tropez is a classic Mediterranean yachting stop. Its port is among the world’s finest, the Old Town is a delight to be around, and the gastronomy is exceptional. But it’s the beaches—long, sandy, and shallow—that make this French Riviera gem a standout for families. Pampelonne is the iconic miles-long stretch dotted with high-end beach bars. It’s also the ultimate bay for water sports, where your family can try paddleboarding, kayaking, jet skiing, and diving around the Cap Camarat. A more intimate and idyllic experience awaits at Plage de l’Escalet, a beautiful sandy cove with fantastic snorkeling. You can also cruise to the charming beach towns of Port Grimaud, Sainte-Maxime and Saint-Raphaël for more golden sand stretches and easy excursions. A great advantage of Saint-Tropez marina for families is that you’re docked right beside the Old Town with quick access to all the cafes, ice cream bars, restaurants, and hotels. 

Sardinia

Best for spectacular kid-friendly beaches

A yachting charter in Sardinia means access to incredible hidden bays and coves. This large Mediterranean island offers some of the most stunning stretches in the world. The finest come with white sand and crystal-clear waters, which are perfect for vacationing with kids. The choice of where to sail is immense here. In the South, your family can discover the gorgeous Su Giudeu Beach, which is surrounded by dunes and backed by a lagoon with pink flamingos. Spiaggia di Porto Giunco, in the southeast, is another highlight—a mesmerizing kingdom of white sand with a natural park. The capital of Sardinia, Cagliari, is a perfect sightseeing destination where your family can explore the dramatic Bastione di Saint Remy, enjoy Sardinian desserts like seada (a deep-fried semolina pastry with pecorino cheese and honey), and hike through the Parco Naturale Molentargius Saline.

If you prefer a more secluded and exclusive kind of yachting break, Porto Cervo, in the north, is an ideal marina to base yourself. One of the world’s most luxurious ports, it’s also a good starting point for sailing to the spectacular La Maddalena Archipelago. Finally, there’s Spiaggia La Pelosa, a shallow lagoon-like beach in Stintino, where your kids can go snorkeling.

Dodecanese Islands, Greece

Best for a beach and history mix

Keeping your younger ones busy with exploration and fun is a recipe for a successful family yachting trip. The Dodecanese in Greece are ideal for that. Located in the southeastern Aegean Sea, these islands offer so many unforgettable experiences. Cruising is easy, and distances are small. Rhodes, the most famous of the Dodecanese, is the ultimate adventurers’ island. Its UNESCO-protected Old Town impresses you with the medieval walls, moats, city gates, and centuries-old palaces of the knights that ruled here. For kids, exploring Rhodes town will feel like being transported into a fantasy movie or video game. Lindos, with its sandy beaches and dramatic Acropolis dating back to the 4th millennium BC, is another Rhodes stop for families. Sail to Symi for one of the Aegean’s most charming marinas and atmospheric harbor restaurants. A lesser-known Nisiros is famous for its hiking trails to the dormant crater. Finally, Kos is a good-vibes island, offering a perfect balance of historic exploration and lazy beach leisure. 

Istria, Croatia

Best for a diverse menu of activities

This peninsula in the north of the azure Croatian coast is everything families seek from a memorable yacht journey. There are just so many wonderful places to visit and things to do without spending hours in transit between destinations. UNESCO-protected Pula is famous for the epic Roman Amphitheatre with thrilling excursions. To the south is the gorgeous Kamenjak Nature Park, a marine area with many turquoise coves. A yacht is the best way to enjoy its wild beauty and snorkeling spots. More natural perfection awaits in Brijuni National Park, an archipelago of 14 idyllic islands. Your kids can hop on a safari ride through Veliki Brijun Island to meet elephants, peacocks, deer, mouflons, and zebras. Spotting the dolphins around the pristine waters of the islands is another delight of yachting here. Venetian architecture and family-friendly urban beaches await in Rovinj, one of Croatia’s most romantic beach towns. Istria is also famous for its truffles, so your family can have a truffle hunt with a delicious tasting afterward. 

Bodrum, Turkey

Best for a quintessential Mediterranean trip

The marvelous Turquoise Coast in Turkey offers everything the Mediterranean is famous for: breathtaking beaches, ancient ruins, luxurious marinas, vibrant harbors, and mouthwatering food. This area is best experienced on a yacht, and families can’t go wrong traveling here. Contemporary Yalıkavak Marina in Bodrum is a good place to base yourself. Another luxurious port is D-Marin Turgutreis Marina. Bodrum is a charming coastal town to explore with kids. They will love running around the walls of the medieval Bodrum Castle, and hiking to the historic windmills on a hill above town. But the real delight of Bodrum is cruising to its many turquoise beaches. Ören Plajı and Akbük Koyu-Gökova are the most striking, offering transparent waters and beautiful mountain views. Another spectacular beach is Cennet Bay, a wild, paradisiac area on the Bodrum Peninsula. For snorkeling, head to the pristine Akvaryum Koyu cove. Bodrum is also famous for its ultra-luxurious resort hotels and you can combine your yachting trip with a retreat at one. 

Aruba

Best for a Caribbean escape

Summer in most of the Caribbean brings rainy weather and occasional hurricanes. Set outside the so-called “hurricane belt,” Aruba offers pleasant sailing conditions and plenty of things to do for families. All of this Dutch Caribbean island’s attractions are close by, making it easy to sail around on a yacht with kids. Aruba’s beaches are pure Caribbean perfection, and the best ones are family-friendly. Such stunners as Baby Beach, Eagle Beach, and Tres Trapi offer silky white sand and very shallow, lagoon-like water. Arashi Beach is heaven for snorkeling. Your kids will also have a chance to swim with sea turtles and meet pelicans. California Lighthouse near Arashi is a top hiking spot for sunset watching. Another adventurous attraction for the whole family is Arikok National Park, where you hike or drive an SUV through volcanic landscapes and visit caves and natural pools. Kids will also love the island’s animal-themed attractions—Philip’s Animal Garden, Donkey Sanctuary, and Ostrich Farm. 

Bonaire

Best for diving and snorkeling

Bonaire is another representative of the Dutch ABC islands, perfect for a summer visit. Enjoying the same comfortable sunny weather as Aruba, it is the prime Caribbean destination for exploring the underwater world. Bonaire is a well-known paradise for offshore diving and snorkeling. A yacht charter in such a small island means great flexibility and freedom to choose the best reef snorkeling spots. The top beaches to start the underwater discovery are Te Amo Beach and Klein Bonaire. Salt Pier is where your kids can meet the sea turtles. Sorobon Beach is a white-sand idyll that doubles as the popular windsurfing and kitesurfing hangout. Flamingoes, desert landscapes, and sweeping coastal views await families at the mesmerizing Washington Slagbaai National Park that takes 20 percent of the island’s territory. Kayaking through the mangrove forests of Lac Cai is another must-do. You can also explore the gingerbread-like houses in the colorful capital of Bonaire, Kralendijk.

Menorca, Spain

Best for quiet luxury and pristine coves

Menorca is for nature-loving families. A cruise here is about traveling to hidden beaches, snorkeling around the rocks of the sapphire coves, stopping in the sleepy fishing harbors for seafood sampling, and admiring the dramatic, rugged coastline of the national parks. That’s not to say this Balearic island lacks movement—ports Ciutadella and Maó offer beautiful historic quarters and plenty of shopping opportunities. But the real beauty of Menorca is in its spectacular coast. In the South, the most striking coves are Macarelleta, Playa des Talaier, Cala Mitjaneta, and Cala de Trebalúger. Cala Galdana is a popular family-friendly tourist zone with a turquoise beach. Visit Parc Natural de s’Albufera des Grau for scenic wooden hiking trails over the wild Mediterranean landscapes, plus excellent kayaking. In the North, you can sail to the white-sand Arenal Son Saura and red- and gold-sand stunner Cavalleria Beaches. A sailing day in Menorca is usually waking up, swimming, snorkeling, eating well, having fun with water toys, and repeating. 

Costa del Sol, Spain

Best for varied land and sea experiences

For decades, Costa del Sol in southern Spain has been a heaven for luxury yachting. It’s home to Puerto Banús, one of the world’s most exclusive marinas in Marbella, as well as excellent harbors in Benalmádena and Fuengirola. The region is also among Europe’s top family-friendly destinations. A typical yachting itinerary here will include exploring the wonderful historic core of Málaga, known for its Moorish fortresses and mouthwatering gastronomy. Costa del Sol is also Spain’s most developed leisure park hotspot. There are all kinds of kid-friendly activities—an immersive zoo experience at Bioparc Fuengirola, meeting sea and ocean creatures at the vast Sea Life Benalmadena, having splashy fun at the gigantic Mijas Water Park, and enjoying the safari adventure at Selwo Aventura. For beaches, sail to Nerja to relax on the sandy coves of Carabeo and Carabeillo.