Best Yacht Destinations for Families with Young Children

Traveling with young children can be a marvelous experience. With a yacht charter, parents enjoy much more flexibility to create kid-friendly itineraries. You can choose a yacht with water toys, on-deck cinemas, and jacuzzis to keep the younger ones busy and entertained. Ultimately, it’s where you sail that will define your family holiday. It’s important to choose a destination that caters to kids.

From building sand castles on white-sand bays of Sardinia to the amusement parks of Costa Blanca, pirate treasure hunting on Aruba, wildlife encounters on the Bahamas and snorkeling on Barbados—here’s the collection of yachting trips that will make your family holiday unforgettable.

Sardinia

Best for shallow white-sand beaches

If you’re a family that loves beaches, Sardinia is a paradise. The second-largest island in the Mediterranean offers some of the most beautiful white-sand stretches in Europe. When you’re on a yacht charter with young children, that means a great variety of places to visit with short sailing times. It’s also about reaching some of the hidden sandy coves and enjoying more privacy. Shallow, lagoon-like La Pelosa is the crown jewel of Sardinia’s beaches, perfect for kids. Right opposite is the wonderful Asinara National Park, where your younger ones can meet friendly donkeys. Another not-to-miss attraction in Northern Sardinia is Aquafantasy, a water theme park specifically made for young children.

On the east coast, Porto Cervo offers luxurious restaurants for family dining and one of Italy’s most glamorous marinas. The La Maddalena Archipelago, off the north coast, is best admired from the yacht’s deck. There, your family can snorkel in crystal-clear coves, Testa del Polpo and Cala Coticcio. Travel to southern Sardinia for magnificent dune-backed stretches, Su Giudeu and Porto Giunco. The castle-building potential there is enormous.

Mallorca, Spain

Best for diverse Mediterranean activities

Mallorca is among the most beloved European holiday destinations for a reason. For decades, its sapphire waters, historic cities, and stunning natural attractions have been drawing generations of families. This island offers a wide variety of diverse experiences for your kids. In the north, Alcúdia and Platja del Muro are two Caribbean-like sandy bays with shallow access. Pine forest backs the sands, making these stretches ideal for family leisure. A yacht charter is also great for dolphin-watching tours (the waters around Alcúdia and Puerto Pollença are best for this).

Sail to the picturesque harbor of Porto Cristo to visit Drach Caves. In this mesmerizing underground complex, your kids can gaze at stalactites and stalagmites, cross the subterranean lake, and learn about Mallorca’s geology. Another memorable family activity is a historic train ride from Palma de Mallorca to the pretty interior town of Sóller (with an additional tram trip to Port de Sóller). After exploring the spectacular Old Town of Palma, you can visit the Aquarium, which hosts over 700 marine species.

Costa Blanca, Spain

Best for short distances and an action-packed program

Spain’s Costa Blanca (or White Coast) is a sweet spot of Mediterranean yachting. Sailing here is easy, with short distances and a wide variety of beaches. Alicante, the capital of Costa Blanca, is home to a hilltop Moorish fortress with incredible views and the beautiful Parc El Palmeral. Just 20 minutes from Alicante is Tabarca, a tiny island with a pirate history, where your kids can snorkel in shallow waters and explore the whitewashed town. 

Next up is Benidorm, Spain’s unofficial amusement park center. Children will have a blast at Terra Mítica, a theme park with 25 rides and 5 thematic areas, and Terra Natura, a water-park-meets-zoo with contact zones. You’ll stop at scenic Altea, with a Santorini-like Old Town full of fairytale-like white houses. As for the beaches, Calp and Platja de l’Arenal are two excellent shallow stretches with sand. They are perfect for paddleboarding and kayaking. A yacht charter will take you to the boat-only hidden coves of Portixol and Granadella, where your kids can snorkel and kayak.

Malta

Best for adventurous families 

Sailing around Malta can feel like you’re in a movie or animated film about pirates or fantasy kingdoms. It’s not surprising that Game of Thrones, Gladiator, Popeye, and Assassin’s Creed were filmed in this tiny Mediterranean island country. While your kids may be too small to watch the aforementioned, the atmosphere of adventure is definitely there, among the towering cliffs, the sandstone city-fortresses, sapphire-blue bays, and red watchtowers. A yacht charter will be a great way to immerse your kids in this atmosphere.

Popeye Village is one of the island’s most enchanting spots: a kid-friendly theme park in a turquoise harbor created on a former film set. Visiting the UNESCO-protected town of Mdina will transport your family to medieval times. Glide through the Grand Harbor to admire the epicness of Valletta and Three Cities. Malta is also about classic family leisure, such as relaxing on the golden sands of Għadira Bay, learning more about the local fauna at the interactive Mediterraneo Marine Park, and having fun on the rides at Splash & Fun Water Park.

Western Crete, Greece

Best for magical lagoons and charming towns 

Greece is the ultimate yachting destination. If you’re traveling with young children, Western Crete checks all the boxes for a fantastic family holiday. You’ll explore the pretty Venetian architecture in Chania. Its Old Town is perfect for settling down for a hearty Greek feast and having a scoop or two of heavenly gelato. Then, visit Limnoupolis, a vast aquapark with a lazy river, a variety of slides and kid-friendly pools. But it’s the beaches that make Western Crete stand out. The most beautiful ones are best experienced on a yacht. Begin your beach-hopping with Balos, a divine white-sand lagoon in the midst of pristine Cretan nature. It’s very shallow, allowing the whole family to enjoy its crystal-clear, warm waters. Free-roaming goats are a cheerful bonus to the experience. At windy Falassarna, your kids can try kitesurfing and build sand castles. Then, sail to Elafonisi, often named the planet’s most beautiful beach. Like Balos, it’s a shallow lagoon, but the sand here has pink hues. Bring your snorkeling gear to explore the underwater world.

Aruba

Best for superb snorkeling and heavenly bays

Safe, lesser-known, accessible and paradise-like – Aruba is the Caribbean’s top destination for families. Yachting with young children here is a pleasure, as sailing distances are minimal, and you’ve got a wide range of activities. Snorkeling is where Aruba excels. The turquoise waters of Baby Beach and Boca Catalina are ideal for underwater exploration. On Tres Trapi Beach, your kids can meet the sea turtles, which will definitely become a highlight of the holiday. For more animal encounters, you can visit the Butterfly Farm, an Ostrich Farm, and the heartwarming Donkey Sanctuary. If you’re into active exploration, head to Arikok National Park for caves and scenic hiking trails. Another highlight on land is the Old Town of the island’s capital, Oranjestad, with colorful buildings that resemble gingerbread houses.

Barbados

Best for marveling at wildlife and awe-inspiring beaches

A yachting tour of Barbados is living the tropical dream. Kids will have plenty of sea and land activities here. The calm, transparent waters of Carlisle Bay are home to sea turtles and rich marine life. Snorkeling there is a must; it’s among the Caribbean’s most accessible and easy underwater spots. Gentle water, shallow access, and powdery white sands await your little explorers at the striking beaches like Worthing, Dover, and Miami. Then, there is the wildlife side of Barbados that will make your family holiday memorable. Monkeys, tortoises, and peacocks are roaming the thrilling Barbados Wildlife Reserve. Your younger ones will be excited to meet the animals up close and even safely feed them.

Colorful birds populate the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, a sprawling mangrove wetland area south of Bridgetown. You can also visit the donkeys and see flamingos up close at the Paradise Nature Park. But the most adventurous activity with kids is the visit to the Harrisons’ Cave Eco-Adventure Park, an action-packed tour through the island’s central cave system.

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

Best for a wide range of family activities 

An American territory, St. Thomas is the largest and most developed of the US Virgin Islands. Cruising its divine shores with kids is a great introduction to Caribbean yachting—without challenging sails and with all the amenities close by. The island is also home to some of the most unique kid-friendly marine attractions in the world. This includes Coral World Ocean Park, an amazing interactive aquarium that offers a full immersion into the Caribbean underwater world. Your kids can swim with dolphins, encounter sea lions, and snorkel with juvenile sharks. You can’t put a price on seeing the excitement in their eyes during sea activities like that.

Another obligatory yachting stop is Magens Bay Beach, a picture-perfect, white-sand stretch in the north of St. Thomas. It’s both a perfect family beach destination with shallow waters and a premier snorkeling spot. Moreover, you can see turtles and spot pelicans. The colorful capital of the US Virgin Islands, Charlotte Amalie, offers duty-free shopping for adults and an interactive Pirates Treasure Museum for kids.

The Exumas, Bahamas

Best for unique animal encounters and pristine beaches

The truth is, you can pick any island in the Bahamas and have a fantastic family vacation. But it’s the Exumas that feature some of the world’s unparalleled experiences. The yachting playground, this region comprises 365 islands and cays. Your family will cruise from one dreamy sugary beach to another. Typically, the yachting trips kick off from George Town, the largest town of the Great Exuma. Your kids will watch the real-life Patrick Star at Starfish Beach. Then, it’s a whole day of snorkeling at the divine Exuma Point Beach, where you encounter baby sharks, stingrays, and more starfish. It gets even more dreamlike from there.

A sail to Leaf Cay takes you to Iguana Beach, where the cute reptiles live. Your kids can safely feed them. Arguably, the most surreal beach of them all is the Pig Beach, where the pink piglets freely roam and swim with people. The Exumas are also a perfect destination for doing a pirate treasure hunt experience (your yacht charter can organize it).

Dalmatia, Croatia

Best for easy island-hopping and water activities

Yachting in the Croatian islands is among the most popular family cruises in Europe. Marinas in idyllic settings, short sailing times, translucent Adriatic waters, diversified water sports activities—what’s not to like? Dalmatia is especially suited for families with younger kids. It’s here that you find some of Croatia‘s most spellbinding islands. First comes Brač, with its legendary Zlatni Rat (Golden Horn) Beach. It’s a magnificent, shapeshifting pebbly stretch near the Old Town of Bol, offering family-friendly amenities and an inflatable water park.

Then, a short sail takes your family to Hvar. This island is famous for its medieval ports of Hvar Town and Stari Grad, where your kids can explore Venetian fortresses and city walls. Zaraće Beach is an excellent spot for snorkeling. Sheltered Stiniva cove is a top family beach on Vis (an island where “Mamma Mia 2” was filmed). Your kids will be mesmerized by the translucent Blue Cave, a shimmering sapphire grotto on the nearby Biševo Island.