7 of one of the best Mediterannean islands for households

Some 3,000 islands sprinkle the Mediterranean like stepping stones to a world the place time slows and life strikes to the kind of beat that makes for stress-free household holidays. Touching Europe, Asia and Africa, this sensible blue sea has among the most ravishing seashores on earth, but it’s the character of every island that makes them ultimate household escapes, permitting youngsters to dive into new languages and meals, alongside historical past and tradition.

Holidays within the Med don’t should imply mega-resorts and big-ticket sights. Kids are warmly welcomed in every single place, and also you’ll be rewarded for venturing off-piste. Choose your journey — from medieval castles to canyon trails, myth-steeped ruins to turtle bays, laid-back piazza toddles to farmstays with braying donkeys, flickering campfires and starry night time skies. Here are seven all-time favourites.

1. Majorca

Go for: out of doors journey & avenue life

Where the limestone mountains of the Serra de Tramuntana crash down like nice waves into the Med, Majorca’s north is wild. Families can take exhilarating scenic drives alongside cliffs to the pine-fringed coves of Cap de Formentor, however combine in chilled days within the hill city of Pollença, the place youngsters can play on the plaza and eat ensaïmadas (sugar-dusted pastries).

Outdoorsy households can ebook backcountry fincas to spend evenings below starry night time skies. And for older youngsters who crave journey, there’s climbing and biking on flatter trails within the limestone mountains (appropriate for 10 years and over) and quick scrambles within the boulder-strewn Torrent de Pareis gorge. For coastal motion, be a part of Mon d’Aventura to strive coasteering, canyoning and caving — the corporate’s excursions reveal a aspect to the coast few ever see.

Edging east, the port city of Cala Ratjada is the springboard for a necklace of coves, framed by dunes and pines, with comfortable sands that slide into limpid waters ultimate for paddling, swimming and snorkelling. It’s a 30-minute drive to the Cuevas del Drach (Dragon Cave), a fairyland of stalactites. Tours delve over a mile into its depths and embrace a ship journey throughout a surreally lit underground lake.

2. Rhodes

Go for: fairly villages and browsing

Roman, Turkish, Italian and Byzantine rulers have all left their architectural mark on Lindos. Situated on a big bay on the east coast of Rhodes, this gorgeous village is a perfect base for households who need seaside time, but in addition to have the ability to dip a toe into genuine Greek village life. On its doorstep is Lindos Beach, a sheltered bay with turquoise waters. To the north of the village, there’s Pallas, properly stocked with sunbeds and a watersports centre.

The space can be a great start line for a straightforward highway journey round southern Rhodes’s mountain villages: Lardos, Agios Isidoros, Siana and Monolithos are all inside simple attain. Drive via refreshing pine forests, linger over frappes in taverna courtyards and pattern the native honey and olive oil in village produce retailers. At the southern tip of the island, there’s additionally Prasonisi, an unlimited, family-friendly stretch of sand well-known for windsurfing and kitesurfing.

3. Gozo

Go for: rural hideaways & historical past

A half-hour ferry hop from Malta, Gozo is greener, much less crowded and smaller than its large sister. Cliffs plunge into the Med, honey-stone villages are ripe for a medieval fantasy and hills bristle with pine, oak and olive.

Arrive early to discover the UNESCO-listed Ġgantija temples, a 5,500-year-old megalithic marvel older than Egypt’s pyramids. Legend says its honeycomb stones are named after a race of ġganti (giants). Kids additionally love rambling alongside the ramparts of hilltop Ċittadella, as soon as the acropolis of the Punic-Roman metropolis of Gaulos, which presides above the city of Victoria within the island’s centre. For lunch, head to Ta’ Rikardu within the backstreets of Ċittadella for home made pasta and tangy gbejna (sheep’s cheese) in vaulted surrounds.

Beyond lies Gozo’s rugged, wave-bashed coast. For drama, head to Dwejra Bay, with its 60-metre-high limestone pillar Fungus Rock, fossil-speckled shore and boat journeys throughout the cliff-clasped Inland Sea. On the northeast coast, rust-gold Ramla Bay entertains older youngsters with kayaking, snorkelling and stand-up paddleboarding to caves and secluded coves. Book via Bluewaves watersports centre.

4. Kefalonia

Go for: Greek myths & seaside life

The largest of the Ionian Islands is a knockout with forested mountains dropping to jewel-coloured waters — the place loggerhead turtles swim — and cliff-backed seashores reminiscent of Myrtos of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin fame. The island has its large resorts, however different attention-grabbing bases for households embrace mellow cities reminiscent of picturesque north-coast Fiskardo, with its candy-coloured Venetian harbour, and off-the-beaten-track Trapezaki within the south, the place you’ll discover a string of sandy bays.

Take a ship out from east-coast Sami and its historical acropolis to achieve Melissani Cave’s underground lake and stalactite-encrusted chambers. Legend has it {that a} water nymph drowned for the love of half-goat god Pan in these dazzling blue waters. Or head as much as fir-shaded Ainos National Park for walks to identify wild ponies by day and distant galaxies in starry skies by night time.

5. Corsica

Go for: coastal drama & wilderness

Saying bonjour to Sardinia throughout the wave-whipped Strait of Bonifacio, Corsica is a refreshingly untouristy isle of jagged mountains, fairly bays, wooded ravines and time-lost villages. Nature takes centre stage at farmstays tucked amongst olive and orange groves, the place quiet pool days give method to starlit nights by the firepit.

On the south coast, households can play on seashores like Plage de Palombaggia, south of Porto-Vecchio, the place granite boulders and pines body aquamarine waters and the softest sands. Or head to the marina of Porto Ota on the west coast for guided boat journeys out to the rusty rock formations of UNESCO World Heritage-stamped Calanques de Piana. If you possibly can encourage your youngsters to stroll, pull on boots to hike a leg of the sky-high GR20, topping out at 2,706-metre-high Monte Cinto.

6. Sardinia

Go for: seashores and BCE historical past

Italy’s second largest island after Sicily, Sardinia could also be finest recognized for its charming shoreline, however past lie a plethora of uncrowded archaeological websites, ultimate for household discipline journeys. Spend a couple of days swimming off sunny southerly seashores like Santa Margherita di Pula, Su Giudeu and Tuerredda earlier than heading on to beguiling capital Cagliari — nice for outdated metropolis wandering, cut price meals out and a sustainable, self-drive outing by e-boat. Finish up within the little-visited inside, channelling Indiana Jones as you discover mysterious Bronze Age nuraghe — conical towers, distinctive to the island — and feast on native pasta at an agriturismo.

7. Cyprus

Go for: historical historical past & nature trails

The Med’s third-biggest island delivers a triple hit of tradition, historical past and seashores, ramping up its household attraction. At Cyprus’s southwestern tip, Paphos has all three. From right here, you possibly can take pirate ships — with Paphos Sea Cruises — to hidden coves, escapades to historical Greek and Roman ruins swirling in fantasy, and self-guided romps on trails via the underground chambers of the UNESCO-listed Tombs of the Kings. The city can be the springboard for the island’s loveliest shoreline.

Swing north for light however spectacular hikes between the towering rock partitions of Avakas Gorge and alongside nature trails in Akamas National Forest Park. The flour-soft sands of Lara Beach beckon, too, with snorkelling in glassy waters and possibilities to identify turtle hatchlings from May to August.