TL;DR: Spain, Turkey, Croatia and Greece are all brilliant choices for families with children aged 8 to 12. Spain is the easy, activity-packed short-haul option. Turkey delivers big all-inclusive resorts and adventure excursions. Croatia is perfect for boat trips, snorkelling and outdoor exploring. Greece blends beaches, mythology and culture in a way that genuinely captures older kids’ imaginations.
Holidays change as children get older. What worked brilliantly at five, a splash pool, a gentle mini disco and an early dinner, may not quite cut it for an eight, ten or twelve year old who wants to actually do something.
This age group is ready for more. They want to snorkel in clear water, jump on a boat trip, try a zip line, explore an old town and come home with proper holiday memories. The good news? There are some fantastic destinations that make all of that easy to pull off as a family.
This guide covers the best holidays for 8 to 12 year olds across four tried-and-tested destinations: Spain, Turkey, Croatia and Greece. Each one mixes adventure, water and culture with family holidays abroad that feel genuinely manageable.
If you’re looking for ideas for younger children, our guide to TUI family resorts for younger children covers the 4 to 7 age group in detail. But if your kids are ready to level up? Read on.
What makes a great holiday for 8 to 12 year olds?
Children in this age group are at a brilliant stage for family travel. They’re old enough to genuinely enjoy an adventure, curious enough to get something from a cultural experience, and active enough to fill a full day without flagging. According to TUI’s own booking data, families with children aged 8 to 12 are significantly more likely to add excursions and water sports to their holiday than those travelling with younger children.
“The best holidays for 8 to 12 year olds give children enough adventure to feel grown-up, while still giving parents the structure and reassurance of a family-friendly base.”
If you’ve already read our guide to TUI family resorts for younger children, you’ll know that 4 to 7 year olds need short days, splash pools and gentle entertainment. At 8 to 12, the brief shifts considerably.
| Age group | Holiday priorities |
|---|---|
| 4 to 7 year olds | Splash pools, gentle kids’ clubs, early meals, simple entertainment, short outings |
| 8 to 12 year olds | Water sports, boat trips, snorkelling, full-day excursions, cultural experiences, more independence |
Shared family experiences
Families can now plan around shared experiences rather than just convenience. An eight year old can snorkel properly. A ten year old can handle a full-day boat trip. A twelve year old will genuinely love exploring an ancient ruin or a walled old town. Here’s what to look for:
- Water-based activities – snorkelling, kayaking, water sports or a waterpark is almost essential
- Kids’ clubs for older children – not the toddler variety, but age-appropriate sports, swimming and activity sessions
- Excursions with a wow factor – a jeep safari, a pirate boat trip or a visit to ancient ruins can be the highlight of the whole holiday
- Hotels with sports courts, pools and evening entertainment – variety keeps everyone happy across a full week
- Cultural experiences that feel fun – old towns, mythology and local markets land brilliantly with this age group when framed the right way
- Enough variety for a full week – the best family holiday destinations for this age group mix beach days, activity days and excursion days
Spain holidays for 8 to 12 year olds
Best for: Families who want short flights, familiar resorts and plenty to do nearby.
Spain is the go-to for a reason. Short flights from most UK airports, a huge range of family hotels, reliable sunshine and an activity offering that genuinely suits older children. Whether you’re based in Majorca, the Costa Brava, the Costa del Sol or the Canaries, there’s always more to do than a week around the pool.
What 8 to 12 year olds love about Spain
- Snorkelling in clear coves, particularly around Majorca and the Costa Brava where rocky inlets and calm water make for brilliant conditions
- Boat trips and coastal cruises that feel like a proper adventure, with swimming stops and coastal scenery
- Waterparks – Spain has some of the best in Europe; check the best waterpark holidays for the top options
- Adventure parks and zip lines – forest adventure parks are popular across the Balearics and mainland Spain
- Family cycling along flat coastal paths, particularly in Majorca
- Beach sports – volleyball, paddleboarding and pedalo hire are easy to find at most resorts
- Exploring old towns – places like Alcúdia in Majorca or Cadaqués on the Costa Brava give a genuine sense of history without feeling like a school trip
The Blau Punta Reina Family Resort in Majorca is a great example of the kind of base that works brilliantly for this age group: pools, activities, beach access and excursions all within easy reach.
TUI family holidays in Spain work especially well for older kids because the variety is hard to beat. Beach hotels, waterpark resorts, activity-focused bases and excursion-rich destinations are all on the table. It’s the most flexible of the four for families who aren’t quite sure what shape they want the holiday to take.
Turkey holidays for 8 to 12 year olds
Best for: Families who want big hotels, all-inclusive ease, waterparks and adventure-style excursions.
Turkey is the big, bold, activity-packed choice. The resorts here tend to be larger, the all-inclusive offering is genuinely good value for families, and the excursion options are some of the most exciting in the Mediterranean. For children aged 8 to 12, that combination is hard to beat.
What 8 to 12 year olds love about Turkey
- Pirate-style boat trips along the coast, with snorkelling stops, swimming in clear bays and lunch on board (a firm favourite with this age group)
- Waterparks attached to or near large resort hotels, often with slides, wave pools and lazy rivers
- Jeep safaris through mountain villages and countryside – genuinely exciting for older children
- Water sports at coastal resorts, including banana boats, kayaking and paddleboarding
- Local markets and bazaars – great for older children who enjoy a bit of independent browsing and bargaining
- Ancient ruins and cultural sites – places like Ephesus or the ruins at Dalyan are manageable as a family excursion and genuinely impressive
- Hotel activity programmes – many large Turkish resorts have dedicated activity teams running sports sessions, swimming races and evening entertainment for older children
Turkey family holidays through TUI cover three popular family areas, each with a different feel. Antalya suits families who want a large resort with everything on site. Dalaman is ideal for boat trips and nature excursions. Bodrum has more of a coastal town character alongside its resort options.
If you’re considering Turkey family holidays in May, the weather is already warm and the resorts are less busy than peak summer, which can make the whole trip feel more relaxed.
The honest truth about Turkey for this age group: if your children love big pools, waterparks and the kind of excursion that feels genuinely adventurous, Turkey is one of the best value choices going.
Croatia holidays for 8 to 12 year olds
Best for: Families with curious, active children who like swimming, exploring and being outdoors.
Croatia is the nature and exploration pick, and it’s increasingly popular with families who want something a little different from a standard resort holiday. The water here is some of the clearest in the Mediterranean, the coastline is dotted with islands and coves, and there’s a genuine sense of adventure built into the geography.
What 8 to 12 year olds love about Croatia
- Island boat trips – sailing or speedboat trips between islands, with stops for swimming and snorkelling in crystal-clear water
- Snorkelling in sheltered coves and bays where the visibility is excellent and the sea life is easy to spot
- Kayaking and paddleboarding along the coast, which suits active older children who want to feel like they’re properly exploring
- National parks and waterfalls – Krka and Plitvice Lakes are genuinely spectacular and manageable as family days out
- Exploring old towns – Dubrovnik’s city walls, Split’s old town and Hvar’s harbour are all brilliant for children who like history and atmosphere
- Coastal walks and nature trails – Croatia’s landscapes give families the option of low-key adventure on quieter days
- Swimming in secluded coves – away from the main beaches, there are hidden spots that feel like genuine discoveries
Family holidays to Croatia through TUI suit families who want an active, outdoors-focused trip. The accommodation tends to be smaller and more characterful than large Turkish resorts. Perfect if you want to feel like you’re actually in a place, rather than sealed inside a resort complex.
Croatia is the one destination on this list where the holiday itself is the activity. The boat trips, the old towns, the national parks and the snorkelling all happen outside the hotel gates, which makes it a brilliant choice for older children who are genuinely curious about the world around them.
Greece holidays for 8 to 12 year olds
Best for: Families who want a mix of beaches, boat trips, waterparks and cultural experiences.
Greece has a particular magic for this age group. The mythology angle alone can turn a visit to an ancient ruin into something genuinely exciting, especially for children who’ve grown up with Percy Jackson or Greek myths at school. Add in clear water, brilliant beaches, boat trips and some excellent family resorts, and Greece becomes one of the most rounded choices on this list.
What 8 to 12 year olds love about Greece
- Boat trips and island excursions – day trips between islands, snorkelling stops and swimming in clear Aegean water are highlights of any Greek holiday
- Snorkelling in calm, clear bays – the Greek islands offer some excellent conditions for older children who are confident swimmers
- Waterparks – Corfu, Kos and Rhodes all have waterparks within easy reach of family resorts
- Exploring ancient ruins – the Acropolis in Athens, the Palace of Knossos in Crete or the medieval old town in Rhodes give older children something genuinely impressive to engage with
- Mythology-led sightseeing – framing a visit to ancient sites through Greek myths makes history feel like an adventure rather than a lesson
- Island day trips – hopping between islands on a day boat is one of the great Greek holiday experiences, and it works brilliantly with this age group
- Trying local food – Greek tavernas are generally relaxed, family-friendly and a great opportunity for older children to try something new
For families choosing between the Greek islands, our guide to the best Greek island for families breaks down the options in detail.
Family holidays to Greece through TUI span multiple islands. Options range from activity-focused resorts with kids’ clubs and sports facilities to quieter bases for families who want to explore. TUI Kids’ Clubs at certain Greek hotels run age-appropriate programmes for older children, not the toddler-focused sessions that put them off.
All-inclusive or activity-packed exploring holiday?
Both can work brilliantly for this age group. All-inclusive isn’t just for younger children. A larger resort with everything included can give families more freedom to be adventurous. Food is covered, budgeting is simpler, and parents can say yes to excursions without the mental arithmetic. The best family holidays abroad all inclusive combine a great hotel base with easy access to trips outside the resort.
An exploring-focused holiday works better if your children get more from being out and about than from a hotel pool, or if boat trips, national parks and cultural days out are the main event. Croatia and Greece are particularly well suited to this approach.
Our recommendation: choose a family-friendly base you love, then plan one or two bigger adventure days so the holiday feels exciting without becoming exhausting. Most TUI activity holidays are set up exactly this way.nd activities you can add on as you go.
Quick destination matchmaker
Not sure which destination to go for? Use this table to match your family’s priorities to the best fit.
| Family priority | Best fit |
|---|---|
| Easy short-haul adventure | Spain |
| Big resorts and waterpark-style fun | Turkey |
| Boat trips and nature adventures | Croatia |
| Beaches, mythology and culture | Greece |
| Snorkelling and clear water | Croatia or Greece |
| All-inclusive value | Turkey |
| Adventure parks and waterparks | Spain |
| Cultural experiences | Greece or Croatia |
| First adventure-style family holiday | Spain |
| More independent older children | Croatia or Greece |
| TUI holiday that fits. |
The best holidays for 8 to 12 year olds: final thoughts
For children aged 8 to 12, the best holidays offer more than sunshine and a pool. This age group wants adventure, water, culture and experiences they’ll actually talk about when they get home.
All four destinations deliver that, just in slightly different ways:
- Spain for easy, activity-packed family holidays with short flights and brilliant flexibility
- Turkey for big all-inclusive resorts, waterparks and genuinely exciting excursions
- Croatia for boat trips, snorkelling, national parks and outdoor exploring
- Greece for beaches, mythology, island adventures and a mix of culture and relaxation
Whichever destination you choose, the key is building in at least a couple of proper adventure days alongside the beach and pool time. TUI makes that straightforward, with package holidays that let you filter by kids’ club age range, compare activity facilities and book excursions in advance, all in one place.
Ready to plan an adventure-filled family holiday? Browse TUI family holidays to compare destinations, family-friendly hotels, TUI Kids’ Clubs, water sports and excursions that work well for older children.or older children.