Spain is so diverse, full of so many different activities and landscapes, food and experiences. It’s a country you can return to again and again and is so welcoming, particularly of families. We have pulled together our guide if you’re planning a trip to Spain with kids. All the best places in Spain for families, the top locations, most vibrant cities and prettiest towns. We have loved our trips to Spain with children and have been lucky enough to visit on a number of occasions and through different seasons. Use the ‘Table of contents’ below to hop through this guide or read through the whole thing for a big blast of Spain for kids inspiration.
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Table of Contents
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Amazing trips to take in Spain with kids
We have loved our family trips to Spain, one of the best was a road trip through Spain and Portugal which saw some breathtaking scenery.
Our family also had a lovely family trip to L’Estartit & Roses in Costa Brava which was such a sunny break.
We have taken a number of cruises through this country too including a two week cruise to the Canary Islands with P&O Cruises which was a wonderful way to see these beautiful islands.
I’ve also had a fun day trip to Malaga with a friend which I definitely recommend.
The best things to do in Spain with kids
- Eat Paella in its home in Valencia.
- Enjoy the beaches of Costa Brava.
- See the creatures at L’Aquarium Barcelona
- Play in the beautiful black sand of La Palma
- Immerse yourself in the art at the Prado Museum in Madrid
- Eat tapas by the sea in Majorca
- See the wonderful Roman remains in Merida
- See the tomb of Christopher Columbus in Seville
- Explore the Sagrada FamÃlia in Barcelona
- Walk the Alhambra in Granada
- Experience flamenco in Seville
- Wander the streets of the UNESCO-listed Toledo
- Taste tapas in San Sebastián
- Walk part of the Camino de Santiago
Spain for kids: Where to visit – The top Spanish places to visit with kids
From the beaches of the Mediterranean to the windswept islands of the Canaries. And from the snow topped mountains of the north to the golden sand of the south. Spain is richly diverse and whether you’re looking for an active break or a chance to totally relax, Spain will have somewhere that will fit the bill.
Northern Spain – including Galicia, Asturias, Castilla Y Leon, Cantabra, Aragon, Catalonia, Navarra, Basque Country and La Rioja
Parts of northern Spain have an almost Alpine feel about them. Winding roads that weave through mountain top communities.
The north also contains big cities like Barcelona and Vigo, along with the beaches of Costa Brava. So even in this region there is much diversity.
Read more:
A family trip to L’Estartit & Roses Costa Brava
The Pirate Festival in L’Estartit Spain
Madrid – visiting Spain with kids
Spain’s mainland capital, Madrid is a bustling city, full of great, fun things to do.
Kids will love the wonderful El Retiro Park and the interactive National Museum of Natural Sciences. There’s plenty here for a great family city break.
Read more:
The best things to do in Madrid with kids
Southern Spain – including Extremadura, AndalucÃa, Castille La Mancha, Valencia & Murcia
Mainland southern Spain is sun-drenched and beautiful.
There can be real tourist hotspots where the crowds can feel suffocating in the summer. But there are also plenty of lesser known beaches and towns with a bit more exploring.
The south is also home to beautiful Seville which is a great city break on its own or could be combined with a beach trip to one of the southern Costas.
AndalucÃa
AndalucÃa (Andalusia) is sunny, warm and friendly.
This southern region is full of charm with a real mix of both Christianity and Islam in its past the architecture here is beguiling.
The eight regions here, Huelva, Sevilla, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Málaga, Jaén, and AlmerÃa are beautiful to spend time in and each very different from the next.
This is an area to come and spend time in and linger in for as long as possible.
Read more:
The best things to do in Seville with kids
Extremadura
Extremadura is a beautiful region of Spain that can feel dusty and windswept and that you will arrive into jewels of towns.
The main cities to explore here are Cáceres, Mérida and Trujillo (and even if you are simply travelling through this region you will get glimpses of their amazing historic structures from the motorway).
What’s lovely about this region is how quiet it can feel from tourists (particularly those from outside of Spain) and you may find yourself stood in a Roman Colosseum all by yourself. A much more atmospheric experience for everyone.
Top experiences in Extramadura with kids
- Feel like you’re in Games of Thrones in Trujillo
- Explore the old town of Cáceres‎
- Look out for animals in the Monfragüe National Park
- Stand in the Roman Colosseum in Merida
- Explore the ghost town of Granadilla
- Cycle through the streets filled with white houses in Zafra
- Eat tapas in Monesterio
Read more:
Valencia
Top experiences in Valencia with kids
- Enjoy the animals at Bioparc Valencia
- Eat paella in the place it was invented
- Have fun at Gulliver’s Land
The Balearics
The Balearics consist of Ibiza, Formentera, Majorca (Mallorca) and Menorca. Each different from the other. Ibiza may be known as a party island but there’s plenty here for families and some wonderful towns and villages to explore.
Majorca is perfect for beaches and lovely hilltop towns to enjoy away from the crowds. Menorca is known for its turquoise waters and is much quieter than its other neighbours. Formentera is the least known of the Balearics and is great for a day trip from Ibiza.
Read more:
The best Ibiza holidays for families
The best Majorca family holidays
The Canary Islands
The Canary Islands consist of Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa.
Situated just 100 kilometres from the coast of Africa they are a great location for winter breaks as they feel forever warm.
They are often considered one of the best family places in Spain on account of their beautiful beaches and laid back lifestyle.
Read more:
The best Tenerife family holidays
The best family holidays to Lanzarote
Interesting places to stay in Spain wih kids
There are some wonderful places to stay in Spain, great hotels and amazing resorts.
We loved staying at the OCA Allariz, Galicia with its thermal waters in the swimming pool.
We also stayed in the heard of Madrid in a lovely town house hotel at the Atocha Hotel Madrid and just outside of Seville at the Hilton Garden Inn Sevilla.
Read more:
The best Family holidays in Spain (on our sister site, Family Hotel Expert)
What to buy in Spain with kids
There are some fantastic souvenirs to buy in Spain from interesting cork leather products to some of the best chocolate in the world.
Read more:
The best things to buy in Spain
The best northern Spain souvenirs
Ultimate guide to Spain with kids: Itineraries
We have an itinerary based on our road trip through Spain and Portugal – Spain and Portugal itinerary – 2 week road trip
Cruising to Spain with kids
Spain can be a great place for a cruise as it has so many beautiful port stops.
Read more:
A review of a cruise to the Canary Islands with P&O Cruises
Our two week diary on a P&O cruise around the Canary Islands, Madeira and Lisbon
A review of a two week Mediterranean cruise with P&O cruises (including Vigo and Cadiz)
A review of a seven day Meditrranean cruise on MSC Preziosa (including Majorca and Valencia)
Our guide to Spain for kids: Top tips
- Remember that many shops and businesses are closed over lunch time for the traditional siesta.
- Take it slow. Spanish culture embraces a relaxed pace of life, so plan a flexible itinerary with plenty of downtime for little ones to rest and recharge.
- Eat at Spanish meal times—or have snacks handy. Lunch is typically between 1:30-3:30 pm, and dinner starts late (often after 8 pm). Many restaurants don’t open early, so have snacks ready for hungry kids.
- Stay in family-friendly accommodation. Look for hotels or apartments with pools, play areas, and kitchen facilities to make your stay more comfortable. See our guide to the best family holidays in Spain.
- Use Spain’s excellent public transpor. Trains, buses, and metros are clean, efficient, and pushchair-friendly, making it easy to get around without a car.
- Make the most of Spain’s plazas. Every Spanish town has lively plazas where kids can safely run around while parents enjoy a coffee or tapas at a nearby café.
- Visit kid-friendly attractions. Spain has fantastic theme parks, zoos, and interactive museums. Highlights include PortAventura World, Madrid’s Warner Bros Park, and the Oceanogrà fic in Valencia.
- Enjoy Spain’s family-friendly beaches. Spain’s coastline offers calm, shallow waters and great facilities. Beaches in Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, and Mallorca are particularly good for families.
- Embrace the siesta culture. Afternoons can be very hot, especially in summer. Take a break during siesta time (2-5 pm) to rest or enjoy indoor attractions.
- Try child-friendly Spanish food. Kids love Spanish dishes like tortilla española (potato omelette), croquetas, and churros with chocolate. Tapas allow them to try different flavours in small portions.
- Be prepared for late night. Spanish culture is family-oriented, and it’s normal to see children out in the evenings. If your kids can handle it, embrace the later schedule and enjoy the lively atmosphere!
Fun Spain facts for kids
Here are 20 fun facts about Spain that kids will love:
- Spain has a king. Spain is a monarchy, and its current king is King Felipe VI.
- The Spanish anthem has no words .Unlike most national anthems, Spain’s “Marcha Real” is purely instrumental—there are no lyrics to sing.
- Spain is home to the world’s biggest tomato fight. Every year, people throw thousands of tomatoes at each other during La Tomatina in Buñol.
- There’s a festival where people build huge human towers. In Catalonia, teams compete to build human towers called castells, sometimes reaching up to 10 levels high.
- You can visit a theme park about chocolate. In Barcelona, you can visit the Museu de la Xocolata, where everything is made of chocolate—even statues.
- Madrid is the highest capital city in Europe. At 667 metres (2,188 feet) above sea level, Madrid is the highest capital city in the EU.
- Spain has the second most spoken language in the world. Over 500 million people speak Spanish, making it the second most spoken language after Mandarin Chinese.
- Spain has the oldest restaurant in the world. Sobrino de BotÃn, in Madrid, has been serving food since 1725 and is in the Guinness World Records.
- The Spanish Christmas lottery is the biggest in the world. Called “El Gordo” (The Fat One), Spain’s Christmas lottery has the biggest total prize money of any lottery in the world.
- You can sleep in a castle. Spain has paradores, which are hotels inside castles, monasteries, and palaces.
- Spanish people eat 12 grapes on New Year’s Eve. At midnight, they eat one grape per chime of the clock for good luck in the new year.
- Barcelona has a dragon fountain. In Park Güell, you’ll find a colourful mosaic dragon, one of the most famous sights in Barcelona.
- Spain has the biggest football stadium in Europe. Camp Nou, home of FC Barcelona, can hold nearly 100,000 fans.
- There are 8,000 km of beaches in Spain. That’s longer than the distance from Spain to Japan.
- Spain has one of the world’s oldest amusement parks. Tibidabo Amusement Park, in Barcelona, has been open for over 100 years.
- People in Spain love taking naps. The famous “siesta” is an afternoon rest that many people still take, especially in summer.
- Spain has a village with only 25 people—and thousands of books. Urueña, in northern Spain, is a “book town” with more bookstores than people.
- There’s an island with no roads or cars. On the tiny island of Tabarca, off the coast of Alicante, people walk everywhere because there are no roads.
- Spain is famous for its colourful festivals. From the fiery Las Fallas in Valencia to the flower-covered Patios Festival in Córdoba, Spain’s festivals are full of colour and fun.
- You can walk across Spain on a famous pilgrimage route. The Camino de Santiago is an ancient path that people walk for hundreds of kilometres to reach Santiago de Compostela.
Planning ahead
If you’re thinking of taking a family holiday in Spain, it’s always advisable to plan ahead. You can help save yourself time, money and headaches if you’ve researched places you want to visit and see, and made sure you’ve arranged the basics like your travel plans. We always make sure we secure a car hire in advance, so that we know what size of vehicle we will be using, how long we will be in the car and where we might be travelling
Researching ahead of time with companies like Auto Europe allows you to find the best deals, ensuring both affordability and availability, especially during peak seasons. Consider factors like the size of your family and luggage, opting for a vehicle that comfortably accommodates everyone. Do remember to look into insurance options too, to ensure adequate coverage during your travels.
Booking through reputable rental companies can provide added peace of mind regarding vehicle condition and customer service. Lastly, consider any extras you may need, such as child seats or GPS navigation systems, to enhance the comfort and safety of your family during your Spanish adventure.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our ultimate guide to Spain with kids. Do let us know if you have any questions, it’s a country we love and we’re always happy to chat about. Why not sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know about our posts and features.
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