With summer in full swing and peak holiday season fast approaching, many holidaymakers will be finalising their travel plans.

For expecting parents, choosing a holiday destination often means balancing relaxation with comfort, accessibility and convenience. Whether it’s a short-haul escape with warm weather and beautiful beaches or a peaceful place to unwind before the baby arrives, finding the right destination makes all the difference. So, which European destinations are the best places to go on holiday when pregnant?

To find out, JoJo Maman Bébé has analysed over 30 popular European holiday destinations using factors important to pregnant travellers, including hotel and restaurant quality, spa and wellness facilities, beach ratings, accessibility and local attractions. Average summer temperatures were also benchmarked against an ideal comfort temperature of 27°C, with each destination given an overall score to reveal the best places for a pregnancy-friendly holiday.

Rhodes, Greece takes the top spot as the best holiday destination for pregnant travellers, achieving an overall score of 7.18 out of 10. The Greek island combines high-quality beaches, with an average rating of 4.57 stars, with an extensive range of accommodation, offering 1,574 hotels, over half (51.14%) of which are rated four stars or above. More than one in ten (11.55%) of these premium hotels also feature spa and wellness facilities, while their average summer temperature of 26°C provides warm but manageable conditions. With 1,532 restaurants, over 81% of which are rated four stars, Rhodes offers plenty of choice for a comfortable and relaxing holiday.

Another Greek island, Naxos, Greece, ranks second. The island boasts 702 hotels, with a slightly higher proportion of four-star or above accommodation than Rhodes (53.28%). Naxos also performs strongly for dining, with 80.74% of its 353 restaurants holding four-star ratings. Combined with highly rated beaches (4.47 stars) and a pleasant average summer temperature of 25.3°C, Naxos is an ideal destination for those expecting.

In third place is Gozo, Malta. The island offers a balance of scenic coastline and quality accommodation, with beaches averaging 4.50 stars and almost half (49.50%) of its 301 hotels rated four stars or above. While Gozo has fewer spa hotels than the destinations above, its comfortable average summer temperature of 24.7°C and selection of 260 restaurants, nearly 80% of which are rated four stars, make it an attractive choice for those seeking a laid-back and relaxing holiday during pregnancy.