Fun and interesting worldwide winter sun destinations for families you and your kids will love.
If, like us, you live in a country with long winters and grey skies, then the prospect of some winter some is like the light at the end of the tunnel, the fix that allows you to keep going until the sun finally reappears at home too, with its life-affirming light and delightful warmth on your skin.
Depending on where you are, winter sun can be a short hop away or a long expensive trip. Below, you find some fun winter sun destinations for families you can hopefully soon travel to!
Table of Contents
Take a winter family vacation in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles is one of my favorite destinations for summer feeling.
Blessed by the gorgeous weather and landscapes of Southern California, it is not the hottest place you can ever go to however, in winter is a world away from the chilly and grey days of northern Europe!
In terms of temperatures, winter in LA tends to be mild and sunny (rain is however possible), perfect for sightseeing, rollerskating along the beach strand, hiking and museum-going.
This is also a cool time for day trips: we adored Joshua Tree and of course Disneyland, both within easy from Los Angeles and fantastic for outdoor fun during a winter dun vacation.
Our resources to plan a family trip to LA and surrounding are:
- Things to do in LA with kids
- Santa Monica with kids
- Venice Beach with kids
- How to spend a day in Malibu, LA
- Hermosa Beach with kids
- How to plan a perfect day at Disneyland
- How to spend a day in Joshua Tree
- Tips for visiting Joshua Tree with kids
Enjoy a family winter San Diego, CA
Another California destination perfect for a winter sun vacation with the kids is San Diego.
Farther south than LA and close to the border with Mexico, San Diego is mild more than hot and it is perfect if you want some bright days and plenty of family fun.
The number of family attractions in San Diego and the surrounding area is staggering and, in the area, you have some of the best family beaches in the US!
Depending on the age of your kids, you can find beaches that are great for surfing or others that are toddler friendly such as wonderful Coronado (find our guide to Coronado with kids here)
Balboa Park and its fabulous museums, zoo and theater, Old Town San Diego historic park, USS Midway, Coronado Island, Fleet Street center are only some of the best-known family attractions in the area and that’s before you look outside of the city to the area of Carlsbad (Legoland) and La Jolla.
Our resources for visiting San Diego with kids:
- One day in San Diego with kids
- La Jolla with kids
- Best places to visit in Southern California with kids
Enjoy beaches and history with a family vacation in Cuba
I was not a tropical destination lover until I went to Cuba, a place that simply captured my heart with its amazing beaches, stunning cities, vintage cars and unique culture.
This island is simply magical and perfect for a winter sun escape.
If you simply want to relax in a beautiful resort, Cuba has many of them, opening up onto stunning white sandy soft beaches gently sloping into the bluest sea waters.
If you prefer adventuring a little, which I highly recommend in Cuba, you can get on a bus or rent a car and discover many beautiful towns, pretty coves and tap into Cuban history.
We personally fell in love with Havana, which we simply could not get enough of, and highly recommend a trip at least to Trinidad, which has a totally different flavor and is easy to enjoy at any age.
This is a fantastic family holiday spot if you have kids who enjoy cultural, adventurous trips more than theme parks or highly organized activities but perfect for any age thanks to the welcoming nature of the Cubans and the stunning tropical landscape.
You can see why we would love to go back with our kids to Cuba here
Take in the stunning beaches and Mayan ruins of family-friendly Mexico
Mexico is the perfect winter sun getaway for families with kids.
Easy to reach thanks to excellent air connections from both sides of the Atlantic, it has lovely weather in winter and some of the most family friendly beaches we have ever seen!
Our favorite vacation spot in Mexico for sea and sun is Yucatan, the Mexican peninsula stretching onto the calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
here you have the quintessential white sand – azure waters combination typical of Caribbean destinations and plenty of kids friendly things to do.
Depending on your mood, you can relax on the beach, explore Mayan ruins (Mexico is also a great educational vacation spot if you love cultural travel!), see pretty towns and kids will have a blast with the many adventures they can have here such as ziplining and swimming in cenotes.
If you prefer a resort vacation with plenty of pool time, Mexico is perfect too. Find our favorite spots for a family vacation in Mexico with the kids here.
Relax with the kids in colorful Curacao
Another fantastic tropical vacation spot for families for a winter vacation is Curacao. Locates in front of Venezuela, Curacao is a Dutch territory and is an easy and fun place to discover with kids.
The main city here is called Willemstadtad has lovely colorful houses and a historical center that made it gain recognition as Unesco World Heritage Site and the island has very many beaches and resorts where to relax with kids big and small.
The Dutch connection makes Curacao very easy to reach from Europe since it has regular connections from Amsterdam.
You can read here our full family guide to Curacao with kids
Immerse yourself in the culture and tropical beaches of Bali
If you are looking for an exotic destination in Asia for a family-friendly destination, then another fantastic option is Bali!
Known for being one of the most welcoming places in Asia for kids and adults Bali does have some rainy days in the winter, however, it is very much an exotic escape that will feel like a real break if you are coming from the bleak European winters!
There is plenty for kids to see and do in Bali. Family-friendly resorts and villas abound here and you can enjoy the sea or participate in more structured activities, both outdoorsy and cultural.
Among the many child-friendly things to do in Bali, there are the fabulous Bali beaches, water parks, animal and safari parks, snorkeling opportunities, forests to explore and tons of temples and Balinese traditions to explore, experience and learn.
You can find great cultural activities to do in Bali with kids here, chosen for us by a local mama.
Go on a desert adventure with your kids, worldwide
If you have adventurous kids, then the winter can be the perfect time to go on a desert adventure, a type of trip that may be out of reach once you hit scorching summer temperatures.
There are many places where you can experience the desert with kids, some very well organized to allow you a sun holiday that is at the same time exciting and safe.
You can find our favorite desert adventure to have with kids here
Explore modern Abu Dhabi and Dubai, UAE
One of the most popular winter sun destinations from the British isles and a fun one for families with kids is the United Arab Emirates and specifically the cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Hypermodern and, especially Dubai, highly driven towards welcoming international tourism the cities are perfect if you want luxury in the sun and you have kids who love theme parks and structured activities.
Among the very many things you can do in Dubai and Abu Dhabi there are Ferrari world, Dubai ski, Dubai Miracle garden, water parks, Legoland, Warner Bros Studios but also very interesting cultural attractions and activities that can give dome context to this unique part of the world.
Dubai souks, Old city and the Center for Cultural understanding are easy to enjoy with kids and are easy to visit and interesting for kids (and adults) and the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is a world religious landmark worth seeing and perfect to strike a conversation about different cultures, religions and aesthetics.
Travel resources to visit Dubai and Abu Dhabi with kids:
- Our guide to visiting Dubai with kids
- How to spend one day in Dubai
- The best things to do in Abu Dhabi with kids
- Abu Dhabi Packing list
- Dubai packing list
Enjoy stunning Seville, Andalucia Spain
Europe doesn’t get very warm winters pretty much anywhere, however, there is not doubt that if you come from the north of Europe you will find much warmer, pleasant and sunny conditions if you go to Andalucia, in the south of Spain.
Winter here is a mild and dry affair and if you are someone who cannot take the very hot temperatures of the summer, winters are also the best time for you to go sightseeing in the area.
With kids, we adore Seville in particular.
The city is stunning and very easy to enjoy with little ones and with some things that will spark their imagination. In terms of sightseeing, they are sure to enjoy the incredible Alcazar (castle) and its stunning gardens, the very cool cathedral of Seville, where you can see a crocodile and the tomb of Cristopher Columbus and the famous Plaza de Espana, that Star Wars fans won’t fail to recognize!
Seville also has nice parks, amusement parks and lovely child-friendly river cruises plus it is close to Cordoba and Granada, which can make the three vertices of a holiday triangle for a perfect family adventure in the south of Spain!
Seville and Spain travel resources for families:
- Family guide to Seville with kids
- Family guide to the best places to visit in Spain with kids
- Delicious Spanish foods kids love (and how to make them at home)
I hope you enjoyed this list of winter sun destinations for families and it inspired you to plan your next family winter getaway once possible again. Safe travel planning!
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