Spain is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe and attracts many families every year. With its sunny climate and wide variety of landscapes and activities, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. I have been living here for almost 10 years and have traveled extensively throughout the country with my family. In this article, I explain why Spain is such a great destination for families and share some of the best places to visit with kids.
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Things to do in Spain with kids
After all this time in Spain, I can honestly say that it’s a fantastic destination for families. Whether you and your kids enjoy relaxing on the beach, exploring cities, or spending time in nature, there is something for everyone. If you combine this with a family-friendly atmosphere, excellent infrastructure, and plenty of sunshine, Spain has all you need as a traveling family.
Beaches in Spain
My kids always love to go to the beach, and I think a lot of kids do; I mean playing in the water, building sandcastles, and swimming- what child doesn’t love that? Luckily, Spain has approximately 8,000 km of coastline, which means beaches can be found all over the country.
Families often visit beaches along the Costa Dorada, Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol. Some of the islands, like Mallorca (Majorca) and Tenerife, also have great beaches for families. The water in these locations is often calm and shallow. Beaches along the Atlantic coast can be rougher and often have stronger waves, making them less suitable for (younger) children than many of the Mediterranean beaches.
Nature and mountains in Spain
If you’re a nature lover, like me, there are lots of outdoor family activities in Spain. You can go hiking in the Pyrenees, the Picos de Europa, or the Sierra Nevada, for instance. Many hiking trails are suitable for families and lead to beautiful viewpoints, lakes, and forests. These regions are also great for skiing and sledding in winter, if your family is into that.
Besides hiking and skiing, Spain offers many other outdoor activities. Families can go kayaking along the coast, take boat trips, spot flamingos in natural parks such as Doñana or the Ebro Delta, or even join dolphin- and whale-watching excursions around the Canary Islands.
Other family-friendly activities in Spain
Spain offers a lot of fun activities for families with kids. You could, for instance, head to a theme park, like PortAventura World, Parque Warner Madrid, or Isla Mágica when you’re in Spain.
Besides theme parks, there are loads of waterparks with impressive slides that are open during the summer months. Siam Park is nice if you happen to be in Tenerife, and Aqualandia in Benidorm is great too, but there are loads more spread around the country. So, when you’re somewhere along the coast, you’ll almost always have one close by.
Also, playgrounds are literally found everywhere across the country. Since the Spanish cities often have smaller housing options, people spend a lot of time outdoors. Fortunately, the infrastructure is designed with this lifestyle in mind, so kids can always spend time playing in a nearby playground. Sometimes you’ll even come across water playgrounds, which are free and perfect for the hot summer months.
Best cities in Spain for families
Visiting cities with kids isn’t always easy, but several cities in Spain are very family-friendly and fun to visit for all ages. It often means that you won’t be going sightseeing all day, but instead mix it up with things the kids really enjoy.
Barcelona is a great city to visit, with loads of fun things to do with kids. My family and I live close by, and I often take my kids there for the day. They love going to Ciutadella Park, the beach, or one of the many museums.
Málaga is great with kids too, since there are beaches close by and lots of fun family activities, like the Castle of Gibralfaro, if they’re into princesses and princes. I can also recommend the Aeromuseo, where your kids can easily be entertained for a couple of hours.
In Valencia, your children can fully enjoy themselves at Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. There you’ll find the aquarium Oceanogràfic, the Hemisfèric and the interactive Science Museum (Museu de les Ciències) all close to each other. The Turia Gardens are great for entertaining the young ones as well, as are the beaches.
Maybe a bit off the radar for most, but if you’re into off-the-beaten-path destinations, Mérida is also a nice city for a family visit. A large part of the city center is car-free, and there are plenty of squares where kids can play and structures to climb on. Acueducto de los Milagros and the Río Albarregas Park are great for letting off some energy too. Not far from there, you’ll find a big playground, Parque Ciudad de la Infancia, which my kids loved as well.
Best regions in Spain for families
Spain has countless interesting regions to visit, but when traveling with kids, you’ll often want to stick to visiting just one region to reduce travel time. On the mainland, both Catalonia and Andalusia are amazing regions, and the Spanish islands can be great too.
Catalonia
Catalonia is a lovely region for traveling families, with plenty to see and do within a relatively small area. You don’t have to drive far to have a trip with lots of variety. Families can combine beach days on the Costa Brava or Costa Dorada with visits to cities like Barcelona and Girona or a nature escape in the Pyrenees. And if you want to experience a more traditional side of the region, there are several beautiful villages in Catalonia that you can visit.
Andalusia
Andalusia in southern Spain is very relaxed and another family-friendly region. This part of Spain is rich in culture and is therefore very interesting to visit. To make it more fun for kids, you can easily combine must-see cities like Granada and Seville with outdoor activities in the Sierra Nevada and beach days on the coast. It’s great to start exploring this region from Málaga, since it’s easy to fly into and very convenient for families.
The Balearic Islands
Families often visit the Balearic Islands of Mallorca and Menorca. One of the main reasons for this is that both islands offer incredible beaches with calm, shallow water, making them ideal for children. But there is much more to see on the islands than just the beaches.
Luckily, both Mallorca and Menorca are relatively compact, which means you can explore different areas without spending too much time in the car. When visiting Mallorca, families can visit water parks, take boat trips, or explore the Serra de Tramuntana mountains. Menorca is often visited by families who mainly want to have a relaxing holiday, but you can still visit some fun places like the nature reserve Es Grau or the labyrinth of Líthica.
The Canary Islands
Tenerife and Gran Canaria are the most popular Canary Islands for families, and for a good reason. Thanks to their mild climate, they are excellent destinations year-round. While much of mainland Spain can be a bit chilly in winter, families can still enjoy sunny weather and outdoor activities on the Canary Islands. So this is where you go if you want to enjoy some sun outside the summer season.
Besides the beaches, the islands offer plenty of family-friendly attractions. Both Tenerife and Gran Canaria have waterparks, zoos, and incredible natural areas like El Teide National Park or the Dunes of Maspalomas. You can even take boat trips to see dolphins or whales.
Things to keep in mind when traveling with kids
Before traveling to Spain with your family, there are a few important things to keep in mind.
The climate
Lots of people travel to Spain because of its great climate, since you’ll find sun here the whole year round. Although most families visit Spain during the summer, the best time to travel here with kids is in Spring or Autumn. The heat in the summer often means you won’t be able to do and see as much as you would like to, because it’s just too hot. Especially in southern Spain, temperatures rise to levels that aren’t comfortable for kids. If you and your children do come here during the summer, make sure to protect them from the sun.
The distances
Spain is a very large country, so traveling can take quite some time, especially if you want to see multiple regions. Take this into consideration when planning your travels around Spain, because kids don’t always like to spend the whole day in the car.
Meal times
Most foreign families are not used to eating late, and this can take some getting used to when traveling in Spain, because the Spanish eat quite late compared to most countries. The Spanish people typically eat lunch between 2 pm and 4 pm, while dinner often starts after 9 pm.
Accommodation
When traveling in Spain, we often opt to stay in an apartment or a house. Apartments are often more practical when traveling with children, because you’ll have more space, kitchen facilities, and flexibility around mealtimes. In many Spanish destinations, family apartments are widely available so it shouldn’t be hard to find a nice place to stay.
Final thoughts
Spain is one of the easiest countries in Europe to visit with children. Whether your family prefers beaches, cities, nature or outdoor adventures, there’s always a destination that fits your travel style and interests. Traveling through Spain as a family is a wonderful experience, and with so many family-friendly destinations to choose from, I’m sure you will feel the same.
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