Traveling in Spain with kids
Venture beyond the Costas and you'll find a family-sized welcome for little ones - and activities to keep kids and their parents entertained.![]()
Active teenagers will enjoy mountain biking, rafting, kayaking and canyoning, while the more culturally-minded can get stuck into life in the pueblo – shopping at local markets and picking up Spanish words along the way. There are horses to ride, flamenco dresses to gawp at, natural pools to swim in and some impressive wildlife to track down. And at the end of the day, there’s also likely to be a swimming pool – or a sandy beach to dig around in. Don’t worry about whether there’s any British restaurants nearby – Spanish food is child friendly, as are the restaurants; you’ll see toddlers out and about at 10pm.
Our Spain family Vacations
Altiplano de Granada activity vacation, Spain
Multi-activity Family vacation in the Spanish Lake District
From
€396 to €607
8 days
ex flights
Catalonia family mountain biking & activity vacation, Spain
Family MTB & activities in the Catalan countryside
From
€610 to €760
8 days
ex flights
Catalonia family self guided biking vacation, Spain
Customised road cycling tour in Girona, Catalonia
From
€314 to €438
8 days
ex flights
Catalonia family activity vacation, Spain
Family fun with scenic bike rides & adventure activities.
From
€610 to €760
8 days
ex flights
Lanzarote north coast villa vacation, Canary Islands
Stunning Villa-Solar Pool-Quaint Fishing Village-On the Sea
From
€95 to €135
per accommodation per night (sleeps 2-4)
Lanzarote self catering cottage in the Canary Islands
Cozy Cottage, friendly tropical eco village, swimming pool,
From
€665 to €910
per week (sleeps 4)
Andalucian self catering apartment, sleeps 6, Spain
Spacious apartment with breathtaking views over Lake Vinuela
From
€145 to €210
per apartment per night
Andalucia villa near Malaga, Spain
Idyllic Andalucian farmhouse with stunning private pool
From
€1149 to €1699
per accommodation per week
Family cycling and water sports vacation in Spain
sea kayaking, padel boarding, snorkelling and a sailing trip
From
€595 to €745
8 days
ex flights
Catalan horse riding vacation in Spain
Horse riding in the beautiful Catalan countryside.
From
€734 to €1165
8 days
ex flights
Learn Spanish & family activity vacation in Spain
Learn Spanish + Outdoor Activities canoe/cave/via ferrata...
From
€725 to €767
7 days
ex flights
Catalonia vacation, cycling and relaxation
Cycle vacation based from self catering accommodation Palamos
From
€425 to €845
8 days
ex flights
Lanzarote 8 bedroom villa and yurt
Wow factor Villa, 2 x private pools, Sea Views, Nr Beach
From
€700 to €1100
per accommodation per night
Granada vacation accommodation, Spain
Off-grid hotel in spectacular unspoilt rural Spain
From
€54 to €105
per room per night
Self catering accommodation in the Spanish Pyrenees
Perfect base for walks in the beautiful Ordesa National Park
From
€105 to €128
per accommodation per night
Family eco yurt in Lanzarote
Family friendly luxe eco yurts, sea view, next to beach, Car
From
€185 to €350
per accommodation per night
Mallorca luxury villa in the Balearics, Spain
Excellently Located Private Retreat with Mountain Views
From
£6366 to £7184
per week (sleeps 8)
Almeria walking vacation in Andalucia, Spain
Walking in the surrounding hills of almond and olive groves
From
€595 to €735
7 days
per accommodation
Camino de santiago hiking vacation for families with teenagers
Digital Detox for Teenagers!
From
€425 to €445
6 days
ex flights
Lanzarote villa accommodation, Canary Islands
Lux villa @ Beach, inc Hybrid Car, Tropical Garden, Pool.
From
€215 to €395
per house per night (sleeps 4)
Rural B&B farmhouse in Lubrin, Spain
Family friendly boutique B&B and self-catering vacations
From
€395 to €550
per week (sleeps 4)
Family vacation cottages in Andalucia, Spain
Family cottages with stunning views
From
€100 to €165
per house per night
Extremadura vacation accommodation, Spain
Lovely traditional home atmosphere in stunning countryside
From
€200 to €235
per house per night
Family biking vacation, Andalucia Spain
Cycling in the surrounding hills of almond and olive groves
From
€595 to €735
7 days
per accommodation
Andalucia self catering cottage on finca, 2 bedrooms
2 Bedroom cottage with private pool - 5 min walk to village
From
€595 to €735
per cottage per week (sleeps 4)
Yurt vacation accommodation in Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Beach setting, off grid, pool access, family yurts
From
€1295 to €1750
per accommodation per week
Lanzarote seafront accommodation, sleeps 4
Stunning on the beach apartment, hybrid car, quaint village
From
€155 to €250
per apartment per night (sleeps 4)
Picos family adventure vacation, Spain
Walk, canoe & mountain bike in northern Spain
From
£1500
11 days
ex flights
Catalan countryside hotel, Spain
Eco Costa Brava countryside sports hotel with 25m pool
From
€45 to €115
per person per night incl breakfast
Lanzarote luxury villa with pool, sleeps 12
Sea views, private pool, ping pong, chill-out & fast wifi
From
€250 to €600
per accommodation per night
Activities for families in Spain
Stay in a cave!
Surrounded by gorgeous natural parks, natural pools, horse riding trails and tiny traditional villages, the cosy cave houses of Granada make an excellent base for adventure or culture vacations for those traveling in Spain with kids. The inside temperature remains pleasantly cool year-round.Watersports
There’s more to Spain’s water activities than swimming pools. Try whitewater rafting or open kayaking on the rivers of the Pyrenees, kayaking around the turquoise lakes of the Andalucian Altiplano or even sea kayaking off the coast of Cabo de Gata.Cabo de Gata
Cabo de Gata, famed as the setting for “Spaghetti Westerns” due to its bizarre desert landscape, is a great choice for families seeking something a little different. Dry weather is virtually guaranteed, but the coastal location keeps it slightly cooler than the rest of the province. As well as exploring Europe’s only desert, kids can visit the genuine Western film sets in Mini Hollywood.
Our top Spain family Vacation
Altiplano de Granada activity vacation, Spain
Multi-activity Family vacation in the Spanish Lake District
From
€396 to €607
8 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Spain or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Responsible Travel asks the experts
Tom Powers, from our supplier Pura Aventura, shares his advice on traveling in Spain with kids:
“Kids being up at midnight in a restaurant is perfectly normal and accepted. When I go to Spain with my young children, within about a day they’re on an adult timetable. It can be difficult for parents who think “What do we do – we’re feeding the children now, but then how can we go out after – bedtime is at eight o’clock, so they’ll be asleep by then…” But in Spain, they do what you do, at the times you do it. So the conflict of trying to make sure everyone’s in bed at the right time disappears; everyone goes to bed at midnight or one o’clock. I find that kids step right into that and they love it. The Spanish don’t separate the kids from the adults – and that makes it a wonderful stress-free experience as a parent.”
“Kids being up at midnight in a restaurant is perfectly normal and accepted. When I go to Spain with my young children, within about a day they’re on an adult timetable. It can be difficult for parents who think “What do we do – we’re feeding the children now, but then how can we go out after – bedtime is at eight o’clock, so they’ll be asleep by then…” But in Spain, they do what you do, at the times you do it. So the conflict of trying to make sure everyone’s in bed at the right time disappears; everyone goes to bed at midnight or one o’clock. I find that kids step right into that and they love it. The Spanish don’t separate the kids from the adults – and that makes it a wonderful stress-free experience as a parent.”
Andrew Appleyard, from our supplier Exodus, shares his top tip for traveling to Spain with kids:
"A great area for families is the Picos de Europa in northern Spain. You can get the ferry to Santander which works well, and you’ve got good accommodation, great cities like Bilbao, wonderful museums... On that coastline there is lots of family-run, small accommodation, all locally owned. So the Picos is absolutely fantastic for families, but also accessible – you can take the car on the ferry so the packing is one less thing to worry about! So that’s one of my top picks.”
"A great area for families is the Picos de Europa in northern Spain. You can get the ferry to Santander which works well, and you’ve got good accommodation, great cities like Bilbao, wonderful museums... On that coastline there is lots of family-run, small accommodation, all locally owned. So the Picos is absolutely fantastic for families, but also accessible – you can take the car on the ferry so the packing is one less thing to worry about! So that’s one of my top picks.”
More about Spain
Spain holds a rich variety of landscapes which will no doubt have an effect on the best time to visit Spain where personal interests are concerned.
Our Spain travel guide includes everything from a brief history of Spain to food, shopping & people to help you travel like a local on your Spain vacation.
Check out our interactive highlights map detailing our favourite places to visit in Spain as well as information on travel times between larger cities such as Barcelona and Madrid.
Our top activities in Spain take you off, or on, the beaten track and range from cycling and languages to a trek on the Camino de Santiago.
Areas like the Altiplano de Granada and Sierra de Castril mountains will make you forget days by the pool, offering everything from hiking and biking to canyoning.
Unlock the secrets of Spain as you walk the country’s mountainous interior and wonderfully wild coastlines, discovering an authentic slice of Spanish life, with not a parasol in sight.
Catalonia packs a world of landscapes into one region, from 3,000m snow-capped Pyrenean peaks, to the warm turquoise waters of the Mediterranean.
Rich with influences from Moorish, Roman, Greek, Phoenician and Byzantine civilisations, Andalucía is one of the most diverse and fascinating regions of Spain.
You’ll have a wild and wonderful walking vacation in the Picos de Europa, where small group and tailor made trips get your adrenalin pumping against the most bucolic of backdrops.
Yoga vacations in Spain rejuvenate the senses with a combination of Pilates, language lessons and guided meditation adding to the joys of year round warmth and sensational Spanish cuisine.
Leave the tourist trails on two wheels and see a side of the country far removed from the costas and the big smoke.
Winter vacations in Spain don’t necessarily mean sun-seeking along the coast. Instead, look upwards, to the mountainous magnificence of the Sierra Nevada and the Spanish Pyrenees.
Our top six small ship cruising vacations in Spain unlock the Moorish heritage of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as providing safe passage to the ports of Portugal, Morocco, France and the Netherlands.
The countryside is a wonder, with mountains, desert scrubland and forests to explore. Meanwhile, big city life in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia delivers world-class art, music and diverse and delicious cuisine.
We value tips from our friends in Spain really highly so read on for recommendations from the experts and from travelers who have been there.
Travel right in Spain and you’ll quickly discover why the brain drain, dolphinaria, bull fighting and corruption in the construction industry are all worth researching.
Find all of our Spain guides in one place, from guides to Andalucia, Valencia or the Canary Islands to advice on activity vacations including walking and cycling.
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Photo credits: [Page banner: Mathew MacQuarrie] [Top box: fotologic]
[Cabo de Gata: Gabriel Villena]
[Andrew Appleyard quote: JOSE LUIS HEREDIA]
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