Travel with children

Portugal

Portugal is a compact, compelling country to explore with kids. Children love Lisbon's mosaic-paved footpaths, huge aquarium and hilltop Castelo de São Jorge, and a rollercoaster ride on tram 28 through the ancient Alfama district to the Castelo is great fun and good for saving small legs.

Sintra, just outside Lisbon, has fairytale palaces, castles, forests, a toy museum and horse-drawn carriages - great for pleasing budding princesses and knights alike.

All along the Atlantic coast there are quaint fishing villages and faded beach resorts, usually with cute whitewashed houses edged in blue. On the Algarve coast the charming seaside town of Tavira has a sandy island beach, expansive salt flats, and colourful fishing boats.

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Italy

Between gelato stops in Rome the kids are bound to get a buzz out of the Colosseum (which is even bigger when you're smaller), the spooky catacombs under Via Appia Antica, and the picnic-worthy Villa Borghese, with pony rides and paddle boats.

Italy's alpine north has lovely lakes, while in the south you can take a boat ride to the glamour island of Capri, size up brooding Mt Vesuvius, glimpse ancient life at Pompeii, and explore the cliff-hanging town of Positano.

Puglia's trulli - circular whitewashed houses with conical roofs - make an exotic place to stay. A gondola ride in Venice is also likely to impress but families should beware the extortionate accommodation prices.

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Turkey

In Istanbul, the whole family will be captivated by the lofty Aya Sofya and Blue Mosque, massive Grand Bazaar (hand-holding obligatory), fragrant Spice Bazaar, opulent Topkapi Palace, darkly fascinating Basilica Cistern and wildly whirling dervishes.

A ride on one of the ferries scudding along the Bosphurus is also a must.

Turkey's ancient sites, including Troy, Pergamum and Ephesus, and intricate palaces and mosques evoke a rich history, and Cappadocia's lunar landscape and Pamukkale's terraced travertine pools are stunners.

For a real adventure you can take a cruise on a gület (wooden yacht) along the spectacular Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. Wherever you go, the hospitality of the people, and their wonderfully fragrant cuisine, guarantee a heart-warming, gratifying trip.

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India

It's the small wonders of India that are the most engaging for children - chai vendors passing clay cups through train windows, monkeys snatching treats from each other on temple roofs, or the colourful flash of a dozen saris as women wash clothes on the ghats. India can be a challenging destination for families, but the rewards are many.

The south offers the laid-back beaches of Goa, with its palm-fringed white sands, and Kerala, where you can float past local villages and fisherfolk in your very own houseboat.

If your kids like fairy tales, they'll love Rajasthan, which is dripping with stories of kings and queens. From the fort city of Jaisalmer, you can go on safari through the desert dunes on a camel.

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South Africa

Golden beaches backed by dramatic mountains, vast natural parks bordering exciting cities and a vibrant indigenous culture are South Africa's hallmark. But it's the wildlife that really puts it in a league of its own - you can take a family-friendly safari in the massive Kruger National Park, look for white rhino in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park in KwaZulu Natal or ride on the back of an ostrich at Oudtshoorn.

Activities along the Garden Route such as rafting, canoeing, mountain biking and bungee jumping are perfect for restless teenagers.

Cape Town offers plenty of white-sand beaches and at Boulders Beach in Simon's Town, kids can check out hordes of penguins and, if they're lucky, the occasional whale.

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New Zealand

Kids will love dramatic spots such as the Southern Alps and Rotorua's mud pools, but they're just as likely relish a farm stay or a visit to a Maori meeting house.

A third of New Zealand is protected by parks and reserves covering a diverse range of landscapes, from mangrove-fringed inlets to the snow-topped volcanoes of the North Island to the Southern Alps' majestic peaks, glaciers and fiords. Just about anywhere you go there'll be something spectacular going on.

There are some novel ways to get around, too. Crossing Cook Strait by ferry from the North Island to the South Island is very exciting, especially once you reach the intricate inlets of Marlborough Sounds. For those with stamina, there are some amazing walks in the South Island, including the Routeburn and the Milford Track.

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Cook Islands

Scattered over a vast expanse of ocean the size of Western Europe, the Cook Islands are a castaway's dream come true. Rarotonga, the largest island, is a tangle of jagged mountains, impenetrable jungle and glorious white-sand beaches. The top attraction for children here is the fabulous lagoon, which provides dazzling snorkelling and swimming.

The Cook Islands Cultural Village is also great fun for kids, with an entertaining show, hands-on activities and slap-up buffet included.

The other islands have a lot to offer too. Aitutaki sits atop one of the world's largest coral lagoons, which is brilliantly blue and packed with colourful fish, giant clams and living corals. You can explore the lagoon by kayak or take a cruise to top snorkelling spots and a few of the motu (smaller islands).

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