Family holiday ideas with the option for a bit of sightseeing

[Loz2033]

We went to Norway on a cruise last year and loved getting to see new places as a family but we missed being able to let the kids have more downtime and having more of our own space

We'll have a toddler and a pre schooler and ideally looking for self catered with access to a pool and some interesting places to see locally. Planning on early July. Any suggestions on the best place to go?

Do you plan on renting a car?
What sort of weather are you after?
What sort of activities do you fancy? (Cultural, physical, etc)?

Ideally we'd prefer not to rent a car this time but could do for the right place. We prefer warmer weather and love beautiful outdoor places as well as a bit of culture. Norway was the perfect mix of stunning scenery and culture. But we'd prefer warmer than the UK ideally.

There are some great campsites near Lake Garda with mobile homes, pools, play areas etc.

Somewhere in Tuscany?
Great camping/lodge sites with pools and family friendly but near Pisa, Florence and pretty old towns.

This ☝️ Bella Italia campsite on Lake Garda is one you could do without a car. Train/bus to Peschiera Del Garda from the airport, then taxi or even walk to site.
It’s a big site with good pools, entertainment etc, plus plenty of sightseeing around the lake. Also a theme park!

Crete is fabulous and actually most greek islands are . If you want to do a bit of island hopping Naxos is a main ferry hob

Check Austria for Kinderhotels.

Thanks all loads of great ideas to get me started looking

Dordogne? Very varied mix of stuff to do and see. If you're happy with heat (I'm not!) then maybe Tuscany or Sicily, or what about Amalfi coast with trips to Pompei and Vesuvius?

In early July, most of Southern Europe will be very hot. I'd have a look here at avg city temperatures in July to avoid going somewhere you'd find uncomfortably hot.

With those ages, I'd prioritise somewhere you can easily get from the airport to the city centre on public transport so you don't have to worry about sorting a transfer with car seats.

Barcelona - 20 mins on a train to the city centre. Has a city beach and plenty to do for adults and children. You could find a flat in the city for a reasonable price.

Malaga - possibly too warm, but again very quick on a train to the city centre. Similar to Barcelona in that there's a city beach, but it's a smaller city which you may or may not prefer.

Palma could also work.