TUI’s ultimate guide to releasing your inner child: Europe’s top approved coastal destinations for carefree adventures and reliving childhood magic for 2026
So, whether it’s the thrill of a rollercoaster, the delight of an ice cream by the sea, or the wonder of exploring somewhere new, travellers are seeking experiences that reconnect them with a simpler sense of happiness.
The research aimed to identify where travellers can most easily tap into nostalgic, child-like experiences, from classic seaside treats to hands-on attractions. By analysing the number of theme parks, aquariums, ice cream shops, arcades, water parks and zoos in each destination, alongside weather conditions, this new study was able to highlight the places offering the best mix of attractions for those looking to relive those carefree childhood moments.
- Europe’s best destination for channeling your inner child is Rhodes, Greece (9.22/10), with 17 ice cream parlours, one of the highest average temperatures (27.64°C), and a wide range of nostalgia-friendly attractions.
- Valletta, Malta, has the highest availability of parks among top destinations, with 65 parks per 10 km², giving your inner child plenty of space to run around and explore.
- Breaking down TUI’s entertainment score, they found St Julian’s, Malta, has the most arcades per 10 km², Kotor, Montenegro, has the most ice cream parlors and Monte Carlo, Monaco has the most water parks.
All together, its sun-soaked shores, abundance of playful attractions, and carefree summer atmosphere makes Rhodes the ultimate setting to rediscover simple pleasures and embrace that youthful spontaneity you’re craving.
Its 6.14/10 entertainment score reflects attractions like 8 swimming pools, 3 ice cream parlors, and 1 toy shop per 10 km². Naples ranks highly for rediscovering your inner child, blending playful energy with effortless charm under the Italian sun. With its seaside promenades, colorful street markets, and sweeping views from Castel Sant’Elmo, the city invites spontaneous adventure.
Travellers in Lisbon can tap into their playful side by taking pictures on the colourful umbrella street, or exploring the cobbled lanes of Alfama with its music-filled squares.
“British travellers are increasingly looking for holidays that let them switch off, have fun and reconnect with their playful side. Sunshine is part of the appeal, but it’s really about those carefree moments, chasing gelato down cobbled streets, stumbling across a carousel in a hidden square, or spending hours by the water with nowhere else to be.
Destinations like Rhodes, Naples and Lisbon strike that perfect balance between culture and play. You can explore historic landmarks in the morning, cool off with something sweet in the afternoon, and end the day with long, laughter-filled dinners outdoors. They’re the kind of places where spontaneity takes over, and simple pleasures become the highlight.
So much of what people loved about holidays growing up was the freedom, so it’s important to give yourself that same flexibility to truly switch off and enjoy the moment. When you’re not rushing from place to place, you’ve got time for the simple things: an ice cream after lunch, or an unplanned swim.
If you’re looking to capture that childhood holiday magic again, it helps to pick a holiday destination with great weather and the kind of simple, joy‑filled activities we all loved growing up.
Destinations that blend sunshine, atmosphere and plenty of room for adventure are exactly what British travellers are craving this summer.”
About TUI UK&I
Backed by a team of over 11,000 professionals and a network of over 300 retail stores and independent travel agent partners, customers benefit from expert advice throughout their holiday experience. TUI Airways, part of TUI Airline, operates to over 77 destinations in 31 countries including Turkey, Greece, Thailand and Egypt with 70 aircraft from 22 UK and Ireland airports. We partner with over 50 leading airlines giving customers unmatched flexibility to find their perfect holiday whether it be Warsaw, New York or the Maldives. Our award-winning service is recognised by Good Housekeeping Reader Recommended and trusted by customers with a 4.6 star Trustpilot rating. We were also awarded Best Travel Company for Accessible Holidays 2025 by Good Housekeeping and won various awards at consumer voted British Travel Awards 2026.
[1] Travel Weekly | Many young travelers have a nostalgic streak
Methodology:
- TUI set out to identify the best locations in Europe to release your inner child.
- To do so, they analysed over 150 coastal specific destinations, looking at the availability of entertainment attractions, the number of parks and TUI excursions and experiences, and summer weather conditions.
- The entertainment score looked at: playgrounds, theme parks, ice cream parlours, water parks, cinemas, aquariums, toy shops, theatres, arcades and zoos per 10 km².
- Summer temperature, rainfall, and wind speed were also included, sourced from the Copernicus Climate Data Store, with rainfall covering all precipitation types
- Each city was then ranked using a percentile score out of 10, combining entertainment, green space, accommodation, and summer weather.
- Missing data for any city was substituted with the average across all destinations, and OSM data was cross-checked with Google Maps to ensure completeness.
- Data is accurate as of February 2026.
