Revealed: The best family-friendly holiday destinations for Irish families

With summer just around the corner, families in Ireland are gearing up for their holidays. But when young children are involved, choosing the right destination can be tricky. Flight times, weather, entertainment, and cost all play a role in finding the perfect location.

At Chill Insurance, we’ve analysed flight durations, the number of family-friendly hotels, average accommodation costs for one room across seven nights, and meal prices for some of the most popular holiday hotspots, to uncover the best and worst family-friendly destinations for 2025.

We also compared average temperatures, sunshine hours, and humidity from April to August to pinpoint the best holiday destinations in terms of weather for Irish families. Finally, we looked at the most-searched destinations to help you decide whether to follow the trend or avoid the crowds this summer.

The Best locations for a Family Trip from Ireland

We’ve ranked 30 of the most popular holiday destinations for Irish families, taking into consideration flight durations from Irish airports, how many family-friendly hotels there are, average costs for accommodation and meals, temperatures, sunshine hours, and humidity to find the best family-friendly destinations.

1. Crete, Greece

With 300 family-friendly hotels, 14 hours of daily sunshine, and an average temperature of 22°C (April-August), Crete tops our list of the best family holiday destinations. Greece’s largest island offers a mix of beautiful beaches, rugged mountains, rich history, and charming villages, perfect for family exploration. For families who love making a splash, there are plenty of waterparks guaranteed to keep everyone entertained. The island’s welcoming locals and delicious cuisine (averaging €48 for a family meal) add to its appeal. Accommodation for a week-long break will cost a family of four around €1,705 during summer.

The average direct flight from Dublin to Heraklion takes just six hours between May and October—manageable enough to keep little ones entertained. However, flying from other airports may require a connection, extending the average travel time to 11 hours. Despite the longer flight, Crete’s unbeatable blend of sun, culture, and adventure makes it an ideal family getaway.

2. Sicily, Italy

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, ranks as the second-best destination for Irish families. Located just off Italy’s "toe," it enjoys 14 hours of sunshine per day and a mild 22°C average temperature (April-August), making it ideal for children.

With 292 family-friendly hotels averaging €1,628, Sicily offers a great mix of history, culture, nature, and relaxation, with plenty of outdoor activities for all ages - from 4x4 tours exploring Mount Etna, to adventure parks like Monti Rossi. The island’s food scene caters to everyone, from family staples like pizza and pasta to fresh seafood, with an average family meal costing €48.

With its mix of relaxation and adventure, Sicily is a great place for families to create lasting memories.

3. Algarve, Portugal

Third place goes to The Algarve, Portugal, with 143 family-friendly hotels averaging €1,754 for a seven night stay. Popular for its golden sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and family resorts, it enjoys 14 hours of sunshine per day and a mild 21°C average temperature, perfect for beach days and exploring coastal towns.

The Algarve’s relaxed vibe makes it easy to unwind with kids, and its picturesque towns offer delicious food, with family meals averaging €52. It’s the ideal spot for families to relax and enjoy quality time together in a beautiful setting.

Worst Locations for a Family Trip from Ireland

We’ve analysed the data and identified the more difficult locations for a family holiday from Ireland. While these places undoubtedly offer stunning landscapes, rich culture, and exciting attractions, factors such as long flight times, high costs, or limited child-friendly amenities can make them less suitable for families seeking a smooth and stress-free summer getaway.

1. Sydney, Australia

Sydney, Australia, ranks as our worst family holiday destination from Ireland, primarily due to its long indirect flight time of just over 22 hours from Dublin, increasing to as much as 30 hours from other airports, making it one of the most challenging places to reach with young children.

While Sydney offers a wealth of cultural experiences, delicious cuisine, and iconic landmarks, its location on the other side of the world also means that when Ireland is enjoying spring and summer (April-August), Sydney is in the midst of winter, with a somewhat chilly average daily temperature of just 14.8°C. While the city certainly has much to offer, the long journey and cooler weather can make it a tough choice for families seeking a more relaxed summer break.

2. Cancún, Mexico

The second-worst place to holiday with a family from Ireland is Cancún, Mexico. While known for its stunning white-sand beaches and culture in abundance, Cancún’s monsoon season from May to September makes it a less-than-ideal choice for a family summer holiday. With average humidity levels at 29.6% and a hot, sticky daily temperature of 27°C, the weather can be uncomfortable, especially for young children. A room at one of its 131 family-friendly hotels will cost a family of four around €4,329 for seven nights, making it one of the pricier options on our list. While beautiful, the weather and cost make Cancún a less favourable destination for families during the summer holidays.

3. Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town takes the third-worst place on our list, primarily due to its long flight time of over 14 hours from Dublin, with a connecting flight, making it less than ideal for families traveling from Ireland.

But with 69 family-friendly hotels and an average stay costing €1,262 for seven nights, it’s an affordable option for those looking to explore a vibrant, culturally-rich destination. Cape Town is home to stunning beaches, the iconic Table Mountain, and a range of outdoor activities and wildlife for all ages to enjoy. However, the weather can be a downside, especially between June and August, when it experiences crisp temperatures hovering around 10°C, which might not be ideal if you’re seeking a mild summer getaway.

The Best Destinations for Good Weather for a Family Holiday this Summer

If good weather—comfortable temperatures, low humidity, and plenty of sunshine—is a top priority for your family holiday, a European city break might be the perfect choice. We've analysed the data to identify the best destinations for a family getaway this summer, based purely on weather conditions. From long, sunny days to pleasant temperatures, these cities offer ideal conditions for making the most of your time away with the whole family.

1. Copenhagen, Denmark

Although still a bit chilly in April (7°C), temperatures in Copenhagen start to climb from May onwards, reaching a pleasant average temperature of 17°C during the peak summer months. With over 16 hours of sunshine and no humidity, the weather is perfect for the whole family to enjoy exploring the city’s many parks, playgrounds and open spaces.

2. Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik has it all—fascinating history (it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site), stunning scenery, beautiful beaches, and a mild average daily temperature of 21.8°C from April to August, making it comfortable to walk the famous city walls (though temperatures in July and August can rise to an average of 26°C). Despite the warm weather, humidity remains low throughout the summer, allowing you to enjoy the long, sunny days, averaging 14 hours of sunshine. The city’s pedestrian-friendly streets, scenic views, and a range of family-friendly attractions ensure there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Lapad, a neighbourhood just a short bus ride from Dubrovnik’s Old Town, makes an ideal spot for those with kids, with escape rooms, arcades and outdoor cinemas to keep little ones entertained.

3. Paris, France

Paris, France, comes in third on the weather front. Not only does the French capital offer legendary landmarks - including Disneyland not far from the centre - family-friendly accommodations and dining options, and great public transport to help you get around the city, the average temperature during the spring and summer is a pleasant 16.6°C, with low humidity levels and 15 hours of sunshine–perfect for exploring.

The most-searched for summer holiday destinations

Where are Irish families heading this summer? We’ve dug into the data, and highlighted the most searched for destinations to give you insight into where like-minded travellers could be heading this summer.

1. Salou, Spain

Google search data suggests that Salou, Spain, could be a popular choice for Irish families this summer, with an average of 480 searches per month. Its popularity is unsurprising, considering it can be reached in just 2 and a half hours from Dublin, and under 4 hours from other Irish airports, and boasts beautiful beaches, warm weather, and an abundance of family-oriented attractions.

2. Lake Garda, Italy

Italy’s Lake Garda is also a popular destination for this summer, with 390 average searches per month. Direct flights from Dublin will get you there in just 2 and a half hours, although the average flight time from all Irish airports is around 5 hours with a connection. But Lake Garda’s pleasant average temperature of 20.4°C and choice of almost 130 family-friendly hotels makes this a popular choice for Irish families.

2. Lanzarote, Spain

Tied in second place is Lanzarote, Spain, which also gets 390 searches per month on average suggesting it could be a popular choice for Irish families this summer. Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands, boasts striking Volcanic landscapes and mild temperatures year-round (averaging 21.6°C), and can be reached in around 4 hours from Irish airports, making it a perfect destination for families looking to escape colder climates.

2. Majorca, Spain

Also taking joint second place with 390 searches per month is Majorca. This popular family-friendly destination in Spain’s Balearic Islands offers beautiful beaches, warm Mediterranean weather and a choice of over 100 family-friendly hotels, making it a crowd-pleasing spot for a sunny getaway with the whole family. Direct flights from Dublin will get you there in under 3 hours, although connecting flights from other Irish airports make the average journey time slightly longer.

Tips for planning a family holiday

Ian O'Reilly, Head of Personal Line Sales from Chill Insurance shares tips for planning a family holiday:

“With so much to consider when planning a trip for the whole family, it can be easy to overlook the essentials, such as remembering to book your family travel insurance before you leave.

“Securing insurance before you set off ensures your entire trip is covered from the very start - even before you board the plane. The earlier you arrange your insurance, the more protection you have against unexpected setbacks like trip cancellations - because the only thing worse than a cancelled holiday is facing it without any financial protection in place.

“Family holidays tend to be more expensive, you’re bringing more people after all, so it’s important to ensure that you’ve got the right level of cover for your loved ones. The good news is that children under 18 are usually covered at no extra cost on your policy.

“One important point to remember is that your cover must start the moment you depart, not just when you arrive at your destination. Additionally, ensure your coverage lasts for the entire duration of your trip, including travel time home, so you're fully protected throughout.

“Another tip is to check if your policy includes cover for family-specific needs, such as medical care, lost baggage, or cancellations due to unforeseen events. Having the right insurance in place offers peace of mind, letting you focus on making the most of your holiday.”

Sources and Methodology

This data looks to reveal the best family-friendly summer holiday destinations for families in Ireland by analysing a number of different data points for some of the most popular family holiday destinations around the world.

To identify the best and worst holiday destinations for Irish families, we analysed flight times to some of the most popular family holiday destinations around the world from four airports across Ireland–Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Knock. Using this data, we calculated the average flight time from Irish airports, taking into account connections.

We then looked at the number of family-friendly hotels in each destination, the average cost of a family holiday, and the average cost of a family meal in an inexpensive restaurant.

We also examined the weather data from April-August for each destination, including the average daily temperature, the average number of hours of sunshine, and humidity levels. This allowed us to determine the best locations based on weather alone–considering low humidity, mild but not too hot temperatures to be suitable for children, and high sunshine hours as favourable.

Lastly, we looked into Google search data to determine where Irish people want to go the most this summer, in order to give families an indication of how busy the location may be, and how many other like-minded travellers will be in the location.