4 Perfect European City-Beach Combinations
A multi-centre holiday does not have to mean packing up every other morning and dragging children through airports and train stations.
For me, the sweet spot is often just two places.
Stay long enough in each to settle in, choose destinations that connect easily and make sure the pace changes along the way. A few days exploring followed by four or five days at the beach can feel much more exciting than a traditional fly-and-flop holiday, without becoming exhausting.
It also gives children a chance to experience more of the country they are visiting. They remember the tram ride in Lisbon as well as the Algarve beach, the Acropolis as well as jumping off a boat in Paros.
And those contrasts are often what make a family holiday really memorable.
Madrid and Marbella, Spain
Spain is such an easy country to explore with children, and Madrid and Marbella give you two completely different experiences in one holiday.
Start with a few nights in Madrid. It is a fantastic city for families, with beautiful parks, bustling food markets, impressive architecture and plenty of places to stop for churros along the way. You can visit the Royal Palace, spend an afternoon in Retiro Park or simply wander through the different neighbourhoods and enjoy the atmosphere.
Then head south to Marbella for a complete change of pace.
The Costa del Sol has some excellent family hotels, beautiful beaches and a huge choice of restaurants. You can spend your days swimming and relaxing, wander around Marbella's Old Town in the evening or explore some of Andalucía if you want to keep sightseeing.
It is a lovely balance of city break and proper summer holiday.
Athens and Paros, Greece
This is probably one of my favourite ways to experience Greece with children.
Athens is fascinating and deserves more than simply flying in and heading straight to the islands. Seeing the Acropolis in real life brings all those stories about Ancient Greece to life, and you can combine the history with rooftop restaurants, lively neighbourhoods and some fantastic food.
After a few days, take the ferry to Paros and suddenly everything slows down.
Think whitewashed villages, clear blue water, little harbours, long lunches and evenings wandering through narrow streets looking for somewhere to eat. There are lovely beaches and plenty of family-friendly hotels, but you can still explore rather than feeling tied to a resort.
For me, this combination is exactly what a Greek summer should feel like.
Dubrovnik and Split, Croatia
Croatia works brilliantly for families who want a holiday with plenty to do but still want sunshine and swimming.
Start in Dubrovnik, where simply walking through the Old Town feels like an adventure. You can explore the city walls, take the cable car for incredible views or head out onto the water.
From there, travel north along the coast to Split.
Split has a very different feel. The historic centre is built around Diocletian's Palace, but it is also a lively, modern city with a waterfront lined with cafés and restaurants.
One of the biggest advantages of staying in Split is what you can do from there. Take a boat to one of the nearby islands, find a beautiful swimming spot or spend the day exploring the coast.
It is a great choice for families who quickly get bored sitting beside a pool for seven days.
Lisbon and the Algarve, Portugal
Portugal is another destination that makes combining sightseeing and relaxation incredibly easy.
I love Lisbon with children. The colourful streets, yellow trams, viewpoints and tiled buildings make the city fun to explore, and there is always something interesting around the next corner. You can also take a day trip to Sintra, which feels almost like stepping into a storybook.
After a few busy days, head south to the Algarve.
The beaches here are some of the most beautiful in Europe, with golden sand, dramatic cliffs and hidden coves. There is also a great selection of family-friendly resorts, so you can finish the holiday with a few days where nobody needs to do very much at all.