The safest sunny holiday with children: where the risk is lowest

Travelling with children means safety weighs heavier. You want sun and sea, but not days of 44 °C when nobody can go outside, and certainly not fires leading to evacuation. The good news: some warm destinations actually score low on natural risk. Here's how to choose wisely.

The safest warm choice: the Canary Islands

If low risk is your top priority, the Canary Islands stand out. In our atlas, they score a total risk of just around 21% — by far the lowest of all warm destinations.

• Year-round 22–28 °C: comfortably warm rather than stifling, even in July and August.
• Low fire risk on the coast and a mild climate make it a relaxed choice with young children.
• The volcano and calima (Saharan dust) are real but manageable concerns — not a daily worry.

A good middle ground: the Balearic Islands

Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza are also a favourable choice within the Mediterranean (total risk around 46%), with low fire danger because the islands are densely built. The main consideration here is summer heat and warm nights — so book accommodation with air conditioning and choose a coastal location where the sea breeze provides relief.

The ground rules for a safe family destination

• Choose the coast over inland. By the sea it's structurally cooler (sometimes 6–8 degrees) and escape routes are shorter. Cities like Seville or Córdoba are physically too demanding for small children in July/August.
• Avoid remote accommodation next to forest or maquis during fire season. A campsite in the middle of a pine forest is evacuated first in a fire.
• Air conditioning is not a luxury with children but a necessity during peak season, especially at night.
• Travel outside peak times if you can (May, June, September): pleasantly warm, quieter and with the lowest risk.

Where to be cautious during peak season

Destinations with high scores — mainland Greece, the Greek islands, southern Italy — are not impossible with children, but require more planning: a coastal location, the right apps, and ideally outside July/August. In the relevant regional guides you'll find what makes sense for each destination.

In short

If you want sun with the most certainty, the Canary Islands are the safest warm choice, with the Balearic Islands as a fine alternative. Everywhere, choose the coast, air conditioning and if possible the shoulder season. Check the current heat and fire forecast for your destination in the atlas shortly before departure.