Latest news with #Canarian
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Britons don't want to come to Tenerife anymore – they don't feel wanted'
British holidaymakers and the Canary Islands have been in love with one another since the 1960s when the first package deals attracted sun-starved northern Europeans at affordable prices. However, recent headlines suggest the romance is waning, with an acrimonious split said to be on the cards. Sensational stories of hotel guests hiding in their rooms from riotous anti-tourist demonstrations, British restaurant patrons being spat at by furious locals, and plane loads of UK arrivals suffocating in inhumane conditions in two-hour queues at Tenerife South's arrivals hall have left many questioning whether their loyalty – and their holiday euros – would be more appreciated elsewhere. A proposed tourist tax could make things even more expensive in the near future, too. But does this narrative hold up, or is it just a case of holiday hysteria whipped up by clickbait headlines? It's hard to ignore the protests that have been going on in the Canary Islands since April 2024, when tens of thousands peacefully demonstrated under the banner of 'Canarias tiene un limite' ('the Canaries have a limit'). But despite what some of the headlines seek to portray, protesters insist their gripe isn't against sun-seeking Britons, but principally about what they see as an unchecked tourism model that is progressively pricing locals out of their own communities, overwhelming the islands' infrastructure, and destroying ecosystems and environments both on land and in the ocean. As Brian Harrison, from the Salvar la Tejita protest group, says: 'At no point was the protest aimed at tourists or tourism. Every one of the [17] organisations that took part values sustainable tourism as positive for the economy. The protest was clearly aimed at the unsustainable mass-tourism crisis which the Canarian government, island council and certain town halls are responsible for.' Over 104,000 homes in the Canaries are owned by companies and large-scale property speculators. Meanwhile, during the past five years wages have dropped by nearly 7 per cent and rents have increased by 40 per cent, an unsustainable position for local workers, and the reason why hospitality workers are threatening further strike action this summer. Nevertheless, it's clear that some British holidaymakers are taking the ongoing grievances personally. One local, employed by says she's aware of a definite shift in mood: 'My family back in the UK are saying a lot of people they know don't want to come to Tenerife anymore because of the protests. They say they don't feel wanted.' And she's not alone. Tenerife estate agent Martin Astley says: 'We do get people contacting us asking if it's safe to come to Tenerife now because of what they're seen in the news. We always explain that the media are blowing things out of proportion, using dramatic, false headlines when the reality is nothing like what they're trying to portray.' Major UK travel providers aren't panicking; far from it. Tui has actually increased its Canary Islands capacity this summer, adding 40,000 extra seats from UK airports, while easyJet has launched new routes to Tenerife from London Southend. In other words, despite the headlines, tour operators clearly still have faith in the destination. The next big round of protests is taking place on June 15, but these marches are planned for mainland Spain and the Balearics, not currently the Canary Islands. Néstor Marrero, secretary of Tenerife's Friends of Nature Association, says that for now, the archipelago's protest groups have decided to change tack. Instead, they're focusing on occupying local landmarks, starting with Teide National Park on June 7. So, while Barcelona and Mallorca may see crowds chanting for change, Tenerife and the other seven islands should remain peaceful on June 15. Having said that, if media headlines fail to make this distinction, there's bound to be a few more holidaymakers who get the wrong end of the stick and look at alternative summer holiday destinations like Turkey, Tunisia and Albania. Santiago Sesé, president of Tenerife's Chamber of Commerce, recently reported an 8 per cent drop in UK summer bookings compared with last year. And Pedro Alfonso from the region's Spanish Confederation of Employers' Organisations admitted that there had been 'a notable slump' in reservations for the forthcoming season. However, other sources suggest 2025 could be a record year for tourism to the archipelago. According to Spain's National Statistics Institute, the Canary Islands welcomed over 4.36 million international visitors in the first quarter of this year – a new record, up more than 2 per cent year on year. Of those, over 40 per cent came from the UK, with Tenerife taking the lion's share. The British love affair with the Canaries may have cooled, but for now the planes are arriving full, and the hotels are still reporting high occupancy levels. Indeed, local business owners are sympathetic over the calls for change. What they're more worried about is the damage to the island's image due to misreporting. As local entrepreneur John Parkes says: 'I'm supportive of the protests. My concern is that the demonstrations are misinterpreted by the public and the media. The aims of the protests are to make the tourist model fairer for the people who live here.' The reality is that the destination is just as warm and welcoming as it's ever been, and visitors are unlikely to even notice the unrest amongst the islanders who understandably want the government to prioritise their needs over the demands of an ever-expanding tourism industry. What's happening in the Canaries isn't a British retreat, it's an island reckoning, and if it does lead to a fairer, more sustainable tourism model, that should be something worth raising a glass of sangria to. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Svalbard, Chios, El Hierro: How these European islands have successfully avoided overtourism
Mass tourism is once again testing the limits of Europe's most visited places - and islands are among the hardest hit. With limited land and fragile infrastructure, record visitor numbers have driven up housing costs and stretched local services beyond breaking point. In recent years, protests have erupted across archipelagos as residents call on local governments to start putting them first. A new analysis from has delved into which islands are most overloaded and which have been quietly modelling a more sustainable approach. "Tourism has transformed many of Europe's islands, but the pace and scale are no longer sustainable," says Sean Kelly, co-founder of "When local systems are stretched and communities are pushed out, it's a sign something needs to change. That's why it's so important we look at the data, understand where the pressure is highest, and start choosing destinations that can truly benefit from our presence." The booking retreat website analysed the latest data from the European Commission, focusing on how many overnight stays in tourist accommodation there were per square kilometre (km2), a key measure of tourism density. This metric shows how concentrated tourism becomes in small regions, particularly impactful on islands where infrastructure, land, and natural resources are limited. Mallorca may be Europe's most visited island, but no destination packs more tourism into such a small space as Malta. At just 316 km2, Malta is small enough to fit into London five times over, yet it sees more than 38,700 overnight stays per km2. The pressure is visible across the archipelago, especially at tourist hotspots like Comino's Blue Lagoon, which draws up to 12,000 visitors a day in summer. Due to the intense pressure these numbers place on the local environment and infrastructure, officials recently introduced a daily cap of 4,000 visitors at the site, and booking is now required. Despite these clear problems, the government has announced plans to raise total arrivals to 4.5 million by 2034. Predictably, after Malta in the ranking comes a series of Spanish islands. Known for its golden beaches, volcanic trails, and year-round sunshine, Lanzarote has long been a magnet for holidaymakers. The data shows this island now sees more than 21,600 overnight stays per km2. Tenerife records 16,873 overnight stays, followed closely by Gran Canaria with 16,709. Even Fuerteventura, often marketed as a quieter option, ranks 12th among the continent's most saturated islands. Although tourism accounts for around 35 per cent of the Canary Islands' GDP, many residents say the cost of mass tourism outweighs the benefits. As summer approaches, protests have spread across the islands, with thousands taking to the streets to call for caps on visitor numbers, stricter controls on short-term rentals, and protection of Canarian culture. For decades, Ibiza and Formentera have drawn travellers with their turquoise waters and legendary nightlife. But for the 170,000 people who call these islands home, the scale of tourism has also become overwhelming. Last year brought a record 3.7 million visitors, along with another season of rising rents, clogged roads, and crowded beaches. With over 17,000 overnight stays per km2, Ibiza and Formentera are the most overcrowded of the Balearic islands. Related Airbnb criticises Spain's new rental rules: Data shows crackdowns on owners don't stem overtourism 'Paradise ruined': Why Spanish locals fed up with overtourism are blocking zebra crossings While locals agree tourism is vital, many say the balance has tipped too far, pushing up living costs and making housing unaffordable. In April 2025, the regional government approved a new set of Tourism Containment Measures to curb the impact. Among them, stricter enforcement of licenses for tourism rentals and a ban on creating new tourist accommodation in multi-family residential buildings. Despite the glum outlook for many of Europe's islands, dozens remain examples of destinations where sustainable tourism benefits residents. For travellers willing to venture north, Svalbard offers genuine serenity in Europe. With just 2.4 overnight stays per km2, the Arctic archipelago is the least crowded island destination on the continent. Accessible from mainland Norway, Svalbard feels like a true frontier. In summer, the midnight sun stretches across silent glaciers and wide fjords, making it one of the few places in Europe where you can hike, kayak, or simply sit without seeing a soul. What makes Svalbard especially unique is its approach to tourism. Over two-thirds of the archipelago is protected by national parks and nature reserves. Polar bears, Arctic foxes, and reindeer roam freely, while strict environmental rules dictate where visitors can go and how they travel. Accommodation is limited, mostly traditional hotels and small hostels around Longyearbyen, with minimal new developments in the pipeline. Cruise tourism, once on the rise here, is now being rethought. As Norway tightens environmental regulations, the future points toward smaller, low-impact expedition cruises instead of large ships. Åland in Finland and Sweden's Gotland also rank among Europe's least overcrowded islands, all offering slower, more adventurous alternatives far from the usual crowds. Despite being the fifth-largest island in Greece, Chios remains remarkably under the radar. It's roughly the same size as Lanzarote, but sees around 21,000 fewer overnight stays per km2. That's partly by design. Chios has long been economically self-sufficient, thanks to its rare mastic trees, which grow in only a few places in the world. Without pressure to develop large-scale tourism, the island has taken a more sustainable approach, focusing instead on small, family-run pensions, converted stone houses, and preserving its cultural heritage. Villages like Pyrgi and Mesta feel untouched by time, and the beaches, while beautiful, remain blissfully uncrowded. Nature is respected here, not packaged, and the result is a kind of tourism that fits the place, rather than reshaping it. Other Greek islands that rank among Europe's least crowded include Euboea, Lesvos, Limnos, Ikaria, and Samos. On the western edge of the Canaries, El Hierro feels worlds away from the region's busiest resort hubs. With just 610 overnight stays per km2, it is Spain's least crowded island destination. Fewer than 11,000 people live on the island, and tourism remains intentionally small-scale. There are no direct flights to El Hierro, which means it receives a handful of visitors compared to neighbouring Tenerife. There are around 1,000 guest beds, mostly in modest pensions and rural homes, and even the island's largest hotel has under 50 rooms. The landscape is raw and striking: volcanic cliffs, natural swimming pools, ancient forests, and highland farms all sit within a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve. Visitors come to hike, dive, and disconnect, but also to experience a slower, more rooted version of island life. Related This sustainable Galapagos cruise showed me a side of the islands Darwin never saw 'Inequality and infinite growth': Canary Islands anti-tourism protests reignite amid record arrivals Since tourism first began to develop on El Hierro, the island has prioritised a sustainable approach. Rather than pursue volume, it has focused on environmental protection, self-sufficiency, and renewable energy, with the goal to reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and achieve zero emissions by 2050. Tourism in El Hierro also supports, rather than replaces, traditional industries like agriculture, which produces 98 per cent of all pineapples grown in the Canary Islands. Elsewhere in the Canaries, islands like La Palma and La Gomera appear to be avoiding the worst of mass tourism, but with visitor numbers rising across the archipelago, the window for maintaining that balance may be narrowing.
Euronews
29-05-2025
- Euronews
How have these European islands successfully avoided overtourism?
Mass tourism is once again testing the limits of Europe's most visited places - and islands are among the hardest hit. With limited land and fragile infrastructure, record visitor numbers have driven up housing costs and stretched local services beyond breaking point. In recent years, protests have erupted across archipelagos as residents call on local governments to start putting them first. A new analysis from has delved into which islands are most overloaded and which have been quietly modelling a more sustainable approach. "Tourism has transformed many of Europe's islands, but the pace and scale are no longer sustainable," says Sean Kelly, co-founder of "When local systems are stretched and communities are pushed out, it's a sign something needs to change. That's why it's so important we look at the data, understand where the pressure is highest, and start choosing destinations that can truly benefit from our presence." The booking retreat website analysed the latest data from the European Commission, focusing on how many overnight stays in tourist accommodation there were per square kilometre (km2), a key measure of tourism density. This metric shows how concentrated tourism becomes in small regions, particularly impactful on islands where infrastructure, land, and natural resources are limited. Mallorca may be Europe's most visited island, but no destination packs more tourism into such a small space as Malta. At just 316 km2, Malta is small enough to fit into London five times over, yet it sees more than 38,700 overnight stays per km2. The pressure is visible across the archipelago, especially at tourist hotspots like Comino's Blue Lagoon, which draws up to 12,000 visitors a day in summer. Due to the intense pressure these numbers place on the local environment and infrastructure, officials recently introduced a daily cap of 4,000 visitors at the site, and booking is now required. Despite these clear problems, the government has announced plans to raise total arrivals to 4.5 million by 2034. Predictably, after Malta in the ranking comes a series of Spanish islands. Known for its golden beaches, volcanic trails, and year-round sunshine, Lanzarote has long been a magnet for holidaymakers. The data shows this island now sees more than 21,600 overnight stays per km2. Tenerife records 16,873 overnight stays, followed closely by Gran Canaria with 16,709. Even Fuerteventura, often marketed as a quieter option, ranks 12th among the continent's most saturated islands. Although tourism accounts for around 35 per cent of the Canary Islands' GDP, many residents say the cost of mass tourism outweighs the benefits. As summer approaches, protests have spread across the islands, with thousands taking to the streets to call for caps on visitor numbers, stricter controls on short-term rentals, and protection of Canarian culture. For decades, Ibiza and Formentera have drawn travellers with their turquoise waters and legendary nightlife. But for the 170,000 people who call these islands home, the scale of tourism has also become overwhelming. Last year brought a record 3.7 million visitors, along with another season of rising rents, clogged roads, and crowded beaches. With over 17,000 overnight stays per km2, Ibiza and Formentera are the most overcrowded of the Balearic islands. While locals agree tourism is vital, many say the balance has tipped too far, pushing up living costs and making housing unaffordable. In April 2025, the regional government approved a new set of Tourism Containment Measures to curb the impact. Among them, stricter enforcement of licenses for tourism rentals and a ban on creating new tourist accommodation in multi-family residential buildings. Despite the glum outlook for many of Europe's islands, dozens remain examples of destinations where sustainable tourism benefits residents. For travellers willing to venture north, Svalbard offers genuine serenity in Europe. With just 2.4 overnight stays per km2, the Arctic archipelago is the least crowded island destination on the continent. Accessible from mainland Norway, Svalbard feels like a true frontier. In summer, the midnight sun stretches across silent glaciers and wide fjords, making it one of the few places in Europe where you can hike, kayak, or simply sit without seeing a soul. What makes Svalbard especially unique is its approach to tourism. Over two-thirds of the archipelago is protected by national parks and nature reserves. Polar bears, Arctic foxes, and reindeer roam freely, while strict environmental rules dictate where visitors can go and how they travel. Accommodation is limited, mostly traditional hotels and small hostels around Longyearbyen, with minimal new developments in the pipeline. Cruise tourism, once on the rise here, is now being rethought. As Norway tightens environmental regulations, the future points toward smaller, low-impact expedition cruises instead of large ships. Åland in Finland and Sweden's Gotland also rank among Europe's least overcrowded islands, all offering slower, more adventurous alternatives far from the usual crowds. Despite being the fifth-largest island in Greece, Chios remains remarkably under the radar. It's roughly the same size as Lanzarote, but sees around 21,000 fewer overnight stays per km2. That's partly by design. Chios has long been economically self-sufficient, thanks to its rare mastic trees, which grow in only a few places in the world. Without pressure to develop large-scale tourism, the island has taken a more sustainable approach, focusing instead on small, family-run pensions, converted stone houses, and preserving its cultural heritage. Villages like Pyrgi and Mesta feel untouched by time, and the beaches, while beautiful, remain blissfully uncrowded. Nature is respected here, not packaged, and the result is a kind of tourism that fits the place, rather than reshaping it. Other Greek islands that rank among Europe's least crowded include Euboea, Lesvos, Limnos, Ikaria, and Samos. On the western edge of the Canaries, El Hierro feels worlds away from the region's busiest resort hubs. With just 610 overnight stays per km2, it is Spain's least crowded island destination. Fewer than 11,000 people live on the island, and tourism remains intentionally small-scale. There are no direct flights to El Hierro, which means it receives a handful of visitors compared to neighbouring Tenerife. There are around 1,000 guest beds, mostly in modest pensions and rural homes, and even the island's largest hotel has under 50 rooms. The landscape is raw and striking: volcanic cliffs, natural swimming pools, ancient forests, and highland farms all sit within a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve. Visitors come to hike, dive, and disconnect, but also to experience a slower, more rooted version of island life. Since tourism first began to develop on El Hierro, the island has prioritised a sustainable approach. Rather than pursue volume, it has focused on environmental protection, self-sufficiency, and renewable energy, with the goal to reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and achieve zero emissions by 2050. Tourism in El Hierro also supports, rather than replaces, traditional industries like agriculture, which produces 98 per cent of all pineapples grown in the Canary Islands. Elsewhere in the Canaries, islands like La Palma and La Gomera appear to be avoiding the worst of mass tourism, but with visitor numbers rising across the archipelago, the window for maintaining that balance may be narrowing. Travellers heading to or through Switzerland this summer may find themselves unexpectedly grounded. The country's national airline, Swiss, has confirmed it will cancel around 1,400 flights from now through October as it confronts an ongoing shortage of pilots. The cuts will affect multiple short-haul routes from Zurich and Geneva, including flights across Europe. Some long-haul services, such as those to Shanghai and Chicago, will also operate less frequently. And some routes, including its summer service to Hurghada in Egypt, have been suspended entirely. Swiss says it 'deeply regrets' the situation and has introduced a range of short-term fixes to address its pilot shortage. Those include a voluntary retirement deferral program, a vacation buyback scheme and encouraging part-time pilots to increase hours. The airline is also working with its pilot union, Aeropers, to improve roster flexibility and reduce last-minute, fatigue-related absences – all measures meant to help the national carrier alleviate its need for about 70 more full-time pilots. Swiss has promised to notify passengers of changes as early as possible. Affected travellers will be rebooked on flights with Swiss, the Lufthansa Group, other carriers in the Star Alliance network or – in the worst-case scenario – any other available airline. Passengers can also rebook or request a full refund. Swiss is not the only airline facing turbulence. Carriers across Europe are trimming schedules and forming contingency plans to cope with a mounting shortage of cockpit crew. KLM has publicly acknowledged difficulties staffing long-haul flights this summer, even though it claims to have more pilots than ever on its roster. 'Sick leave and part-time work have increased in recent years. We lose around 50 full-time jobs a year due to all the part-time work,' Eimerd Bult, head of KLM's flight service, said last September, as reported by Dutch newspaper the Telegraaf. Air France pilots are temporarily operating KLM flights on certain routes, including Amsterdam to New York, from July until October this year. British Airways and easyJet, meanwhile, are aggressively recruiting new staff, battling one another with competitive perks to poach from their rivals and lure back retired pilots. British Airways, for example, has offered to foot the bill for pilot training – which can cost as much as €100,000 – for up to 60 prospects per year. This comes after the airline suspended several short-haul routes this summer, including flights from London Gatwick to Santorini and Mykonos, and select routes from Heathrow to Greece and Croatia. The pandemic paused new pilot training and accelerated retirements, a one-two punch the industry has yet to recover from. In the US alone, the FAA projects about 4,300 pilot retirements each year through 2042. Europe faces a similar crunch. Although some airlines previously had long waiting lists for pilot slots, today they're easing language and nationality requirements to widen the pool. The problem isn't just retirement, though. It's the pipeline. Boeing's long-term outlook estimates that the world will need 674,000 new pilots over the next two decades. By 2032, consulting firm Oliver Wyman says the sector could lack nearly 80,000 pilots globally. Europe alone could be 19,000 pilots short of demand. Travellers with short-haul bookings, especially those involving connections, should brace for disruption as European carriers thin their summer schedules. Experts caution that these tighter schedules may result in fewer direct flights, longer layovers and more competition for seats. Travellers are advised to book early, allow extra time for transfers and monitor airline notifications closely. Though rebooking and refund policies are in place, securing the best alternative could come down to how fast you move.
The Irish Sun
28-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Canary Islands holiday fears latest with ‘not a free bar' tourist alert amid ‘severe' 3-hotspot accommodation issue
THE President of the Canary Islands has insisted that his government welcomes holidaymakers but warned: "We are not a free bar." Punters heading for Spain face another summer of chaos as an 7 Holidaymakers cowered in hotel rooms and awkwardly watched from the sidelines as residents kicked off anti-tourism demonstrations Credit: Alamy Live News 7 Hostile messages against foreigners and tourists written on public walls are on the rise Credit: Canarian Weekly 7 Fears are growing that the movement could become more hateful Credit: Getty Images - Getty 7 Canarian Islands president Fernando Clavijo has insisted the government is not against tourism Credit: Getty Thousands across the Spanish archipelago's islands, including Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura , with around 23,000 chanting: "The Canaries has a limit." Lanzarote locals Canarian Coalition leader Fernando Clavijo yesterday said that while his government welcomes tourists, uncontrolled numbers won't be allowed enter the islands at the expense of locals and the environment. READ MORE IN HOLIDAY PROTESTS He said: "We will never be against tourism." But he warned that the islands must be protected so that "our children and grandchildren can live here". He continued: "We are firmly in favour of the Canary Islands and fair working conditions. "Of the €25billion that the tourism sector brings in, the more that stays here, the better." Most read in News Travel He said the Canary Islands government "rolls out the red carpet" for people who wants to invest in the area and generate wealth, but their job is to ensure "this wealth is distributed fairly". Despite pushback on tourism from officials and locals alike, Irish bars in Lanzarote claim Anti-tourist mob attacks holidaymakers with water guns as they vow Spain faces 'long hot summer' of protest carnage Rebecca Flanagan, from Nelly's Irish Bar in the Old Town of Puerto del Carmen, said there is "definitely no decrease in Irish tourists" since the She told The Irish Sun: "The Canarian people are not protesting against tourism, they are protesting because a lot of tourists have bought up the homes on the island as holiday homes, which has increased the price of accommodation. "We are all short staffed because of the lack of long term rentals, a lot of these holiday lets have no licence, so no tax is being paid." Rebecca said around 85 per cent of people on the island of However, many have been left frustrated and feel hard done by as they can no longer afford high rents and house prices. She said: "They love the tourist industry but are just frustrated that they can't afford to own a house and their children will definitely not be able to afford a house. "I have two children who were born here, 18 and 16, they will both be leaving the island to go to mainland Spain to study and they will probably never be able to afford a property here." More than one million foreign tourists visit the Canary Islands each month, compared to a local population of 2.2 million, according to official data. And Spain, which had a record number of tourist arrivals in 2024, expects even more visitors this year. When it comes to running a business in the Canary Islands, Rebecca said there has been little difference in their trade. She said: "As far as the business goes we are lucky, we are doing well with a good repeat trade so the demonstrations haven't affected us." STRIKE CHAOS Hotel workers in the Balearic islands are also And amid the unrest over tourism numbers, new Airbnb rules are due to kick in in Spain after latest figures showed that the average cost of rent has doubled, with property prices increasing by a staggering 44 per cent over the past decade. The country is calling for the removal of thousands of holiday listings from the A n estimated 65,935 Airbnb not including their license number, not specifying if the owner was an individual or a Locals have been arguing that the rise in Airbnb and holiday lets was adding to the She explained: "The impact will be most severe in tourist hotspots like "Many unlicensed properties will disappear from platforms, while remaining listings will face stricter regulations and registration requirements. "Tourists will need to adapt to this new, more regulated market." If you have already booked an Airbnb for the And it may also lead to price hikes in ANOTHER BLOW Spain is also slapping a new 21 per cent VAT on short term rentals, which is more than double the current rate for hotels at 10 per cent. This introduction will discourage short term rentals for less than 30 days, prioritising long-term residential stability for locals in the hopes of fixing the housing crisis in the country. Holidaymakers earlier this month cowered in hotel rooms and awkwardly watched from the sidelines as Dozens of armed officers from the National Sunseekers were 7 'Tourists Go Home' slogans across the south of Tenerife Credit: Canarian Weekly 7 Around 50 people gather in front of the Sagrada Familia under the slogan "Canarias tiene un limite" ("The Canary Islands have a limit") in Barcelona, Spain on May 18 Credit: Getty Images - Getty 7 Thousands of locals march along the seafront overlooking the city beach in Las Palmas, the capital of Gran Canaria Credit: Alamy Live News
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The 20 best family holidays in Spain
British families simply love Spanish holidays. In fact, there were more visitors to the country from the UK than anywhere else in 2024 – a habit born when package breaks first took off in the 1960s. For a no-nonsense family getaway, the country is hard to beat. Flight times are short, with destinations including Barcelona and the Costa Brava accessible in two hours. Spain has the most Blue Flag beaches in the world, too – 638 compared with England's 85. And there are countless hotels with kids' clubs, swimming pools and child-friendly restaurant menus to keep even the most demanding of offspring happy. But Spain's allure stretches far away from the well-trodden resort towns. Inland, or on lesser-visited stretches of coastline, there's the opportunity to embark on a real family adventure – from star-spotting under unpolluted skies and hiking empty landscapes to learning how to dance flamenco or make cheese. Here we've rounded up 20 of the best family holidays in Spain for parents with toddlers, teens or those in between, whether you want to head for the beach or try something completely different. Jump to: Best for under fives Best for five-to eight-year-olds Best for tweens Best for teenagers Best for every age A celebrity favourite thanks to its roomy suites, brilliant babysitting and location right on the sand of Marbella's Golden Mile, Puente Romano Beach Resort is the place to go and be properly spoiled (in fact, staff at Marbella's most established hotels are generally brilliant with little ones). Here, there is a choice of 20 restaurants (from glitzy Nobu to kid-friendly Cheat Burger), a dedicated childrens' pool and a holiday kids' club where teeny ones can use the playground and watch entertainment including magic shows with accompanying adults (the over 4s can attend without mum and dad). Persuade them to leave the premises for toddles along the promenade in search of ice cream. From £5,950 for two adults and a child under two, B&B, with a free infant place, in September, with Jet 2 ( Away from Mallorca's busiest bits, on a country estate that's been declared a wildlife sanctuary, Agroturisme Son Pons is a place to spot sheep, chatter with chickens and play in a pool surrounded by outsized palms and clouds of magenta blooms. While teenagers might not love the pace here, it's perfect for little ones. Wake to birdsong, book light lunches and dinners as you want, and trundle off to nearby Playa de Muro for white sand and warm water. Aim for September, once the school kids have gone. From £1,435 per week, B&B, for two adults and a baby, booked direct ( Babies are too young to take advantage of the kids' facilities of the Canarian mega-resorts – which gives parents a chance to see a different side of the islands. In the hills outside the village of Uga on Lanzarote, the little casitas at Casa el Morro make a quirkily comfy base for some off-season family time. A boho approach to decor means lots of shady nooks with daybeds for afternoon naps (no matter what your age) with a pretty pool and delicious, homemade breakfasts in the morning. The beach at Playa Blanca is a 20-minute drive away. From £1,060 per week, B&B, for two adults and a child in November, booked direct ( We challenge you to find an under 5 who won't snigger at a beach named Playa de Poo. But, once they've got over the moniker, they'll love paddling in the pool-like waters of this calm cove in Asturias. Base yourselves in the nearby town of Llanes, which feels a little like a miniature Lisbon and comes with a Tuesday market, plenty more sandy beaches and a port filled with bobbing boats. With average August temperatures just shy of 19 degrees in the region, there's no danger of over-heating either. In a converted building at the centre of town, the immaculate Llanes Suites apartments are a better option than some of the area's fusty hotels – and incredible value too. From £350 per week, self-catered, for two adults and a child, in September, , booked direct ( For added adventure, take the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Santander to get there; from £1,061 return for travel by car, including a four-berth cabin with Brittany Ferries ( Back to index With Jet2 launching flights to nearby Jerez for 2025, it's an even easier hop to the Califa Group's scattering of houses spread around the whitewashed hilltop town of Vejer de la Frontera. Lovingly-restored, they're a world away from the mega resorts further west and make the perfect base from which to get acquainted with the town's tasty tapas scene. Slightly further afield, the area's coastline is popular with holidaying Spanish families: Los Caños de Meca, with its unspoiled sweeps of sand, is 20 minutes' drive away. From £1,125 per week, self-catered, in a two-bedroom house, booked direct ( Little wildlife lovers will adore Suerte Tierra, a bijou collection of yurts in a natural park on the outskirts of Tarifa, where they can spot lizards, make feathered friends in the blossoming gardens or dip in the natural pond and plunge pool (where birds and insects also congregate). There's also a playground for smaller kids and the communal kitchen and shower block are so cottagey that you'll forget you're sharing. Tarifa's windswept beaches are just 10 minutes' away by car. From £644 per week, self-catered, during the summer holidays, with Hip Camp ( Menorca has had something of a makeover during the last few years, but cool hotels for families are still thin on the ground. With its calming caramel accented decor and pool surrounded by day beds, Melia's Villa Le Blanc is the answer. Children of this age will love the Montessori-inspired Kids Club and pizza and paella restaurant and there's the chance to try family activities including workshops with cheese or sandal makers too. Interconnecting rooms work well with two kids. From £741 per night, B&B, during the summer holidays, booked direct ( Just 15 minutes' drive from Reus airport, PortAventura gives better known theme parks a real run for their money, with three areas including car-themed Ferrari Land, home to the fastest rollercoaster in Europe (though you must be 1.4 metres to ride it) as well as a museum of vintage models. Elsewhere, there are the waterslides and pools of Caribe Aquatic Park and the themed rides and shows of six 'worlds' including Mexico and Polynesia. Stay onsite to maximise ride time. The park has special offers linked to its 30th birthday for 2025. Four nights at the beginning of the summer holidays costs from £895, room only, for a family of four staying at the four-star Hotel Roulette, including parking and access to PortAventura and Ferrari World, , booked direct( Back to index There are adventures and then there's time at El Geco Verde near Granada, where you can pack your days full of rafting, kayaking, horse-riding, pizza-making – and even try flamenco. Run by an ex-pat family, this converted farmhouse is a place to embrace local life in a lesser-visited region of Spain, and its brand of authentic activities have proved extremely popular: the hotel's Altiplano de Granada Activity itinerary is among Responsible Travel's best-selling Spanish trips. From £425 per person per week, B&B, with Responsible Travel ( Every day's a party at Tenerife's Hard Rock Hotel, an all-inclusive where the Roxity and Teen Spirit Kids Club (for those aged 4-9 and 10-16 respectively) put the focus on mood-boosting music and video games. There are also DJ, guitar and scuba diving lessons on offer while family dinners at the Le Petit Chef restaurant are served up alongside a magical show involving music and props at the table. From £2,440 per week for a family of four in a Studio Suite Silver, B&B, during the summer holidays, booked direct ( In the relatively cool Asturias region, the Picos de Europa mountains make the ideal location for families who need to 'run' kids with plenty of pent-up energy. Home to walking trails, wild flower meadows, icy rivers and hidden villages, they lend themselves to active exploration on S-Cape's flexible five-night itinerary. Between easy hikes, guests can learn how to make cheese at a local dairy and go canyoning near the deep green River Deva, while nights are spent in village houses far off Spain's usual tourist trail. From £1,334 per week, self-catering, with S-Cape ( Barcelona residents can escape to the little bays of the Empordà region in summer, driving for an hour and a half to reach whitewashed fishing villages such as Tamariu and Llafranc and sunny beaches including Aigua Blava and Sa Riera. Around 20 minutes inland from it all, the sleepy village of Regencós is home to an old rectory that's been converted into four apartments, which work well as a base for exploring the area. There's a pretty pink pool too, or head to the coast to clamber between the coves on cliffside paths. From £1,510 per week, self-catered, in the summer holidays, booked direct ( Back to index There are two stops on Original Travel's Family Island-Hopping Adventure in the Balearic Islands: Mallorca and Menorca. On the former, families can kick back in the resort town of Colonia de Sant Jordi, spending days hopping between the pristine coves of Mondrago Natural Park and the tapas bars in town. Then it's off to Menorca to stay at an estate hidden at the heart of the island, venturing out for bike rides along sleepy country roads, starlit beach barbecues and wetland walks in search of sandpipers and peregrine falcons. Tailormade from £1,485 per person per week , B&B, including flights, with Original Travel ( Pony lovers may grow giddy at the sight of Polo Valley, Powder Byrne's private ranch lost in countryside just outside glitzy Sotogrande. Spending nights in the comfort of a lodge overlooking its polo fields, families can learn the sport together, combining lessons with a Pro with hacks through the countryside, dips in the pool and long lunches. There's also the chance to glamp out under the stars after feasting on an Argentinian barbecue or cruise along the Med by yacht. From £16,996 for a family of four, full board, including rides and hacks, with Powder Byrne ( The last thing a teen needs is a parent cramping their style during group activities. Enter Club Med's Magna Marbella, where they can play padel, golf and tennis or try archery and flying trapeze without mum or dad getting in the way, thanks to a club specifically for 14 to 17 year olds. The spa is also open to those aged 11 upwards and there's a choice of five pools, including a vast heated lagoon. From £5,814 for a family of four, all inclusive in an inter-connectiong suite during the summer holidays, with Club Med ( Get them off their phones and into the mountains with Pura Aventura's family trip to the Pyrenees, based in a converted monastery on the banks of the Ara river. Relaxed hikes and trips by e-bike are on the menu, ensuring moaning is kept to a minimum and ticking off waterfalls, forests and the dramatic glacial dip of the Ordesa Canyon. On other days, canyoning and kayaking provide plenty of excitement. From £1,400 per person per week, B&B, including some activities but excluding flights, with Pura Aventura ( Back to index Amid the pines of the Unesco-protected Doñana National Park, Huttopia Parque de Doñana might be the most tranquil campsite in the country. Pitches, safari tents and log cabins hide between the trees and, though it's 40 minutes' drive to the sea, one of two onsite pools comes surrounded by a beach-like landscape of white sand punctuated by sun umbrellas. Little ones benefit from a playground and paddling pool, while those with older kids can hike the national park and cycle to the nearby village of Hinojos. Pitches from £292 for a week in the summer holidays through the Caravan Club ; a safari tent costs from £580 through Self-catering for the whole family can soon start to feel like a hard slog, but hotels don't always offer much-needed flexibility in terms of meal times or room layouts. An aparthotel may be the answer. At the Wyndham Grand Costa del Sol between Malaga and Marbella, guests get a kids' club, spa, four restaurants and a choice of B&B or half-board meal plans but generous rooms also come with full kitchens for lazy days or early nights (upgrade for a roof terrace or garden with private hot tub). From £1,842 for a week, room only, during the summer holidays, booked direct ( It doesn't matter if they're in their Disney Princess or TikTok eras, any kid will be impressed with the dreamy interiors of El Palauet, a collection of suites in a whimsical building in Barcelona. Spend evenings beneath delicately painted ceilings or on dainty wrought iron balconies and days exploring the Passeig de Gràcia, where Gaudi's La Pedrera lurks between shops, restaurants and galleries. Make time for a trip to Casa Batlló – free to the under 12s, it's full of immersive rooms and installations that bring the Gaudi-designed building to life. From £3,620 for four nights, room only, during the summer holidays, booked direct ( A considered layout means two families can have their own space at Scott Williams' new property near the kid-friendly town of Santa Eulària in Ibiza. At Casa Carpinteros, two bedrooms on the lower ground floor open straight out onto the pool terrace, while there are a further two upstairs. Come together for meals cooked in the outdoor kitchen and served al fresco surrounded by pine trees, or for excursions to Ibiza Town or the Hippy Market near Es Cana. Brilliant house manager Kiki is on hand to suggest and help arrange day trips and reservations. From £6,878 for seven nights, self-catered, for up to eight people, during October half term, with Scott Williams ( Back to index Unless stated otherwise prices are for a family of four. Specific departure dates given where applicable. This article was first published in June 2024 and has been revised and updated. 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