Planning family holidays in Spain? – Let´s talk about the most popular destinations to enjoy with kids on the Iberian Peninsula and Spanish Islands.
- This post contains affiliate links from which I earn a commission (at no extra cost to you). For more info, please read my disclosure. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Top 5 Destinations For Visiting Spain with Kids
Prepare Your Family Trip to Spain
The best way to elevate your travel experience in Spain is to make the little one feel excited before the trip.
You can learn more about local culture and traditions via Virtual Tours of Spain, National Music, and Spain Books for Kids or dive into inspiring Spanish legends & Romantic Stories. To grab the attention of the teens, tell them more about Spanish mysterious and haunted places, or even check out some of the top travel documentaries about Spain.
In this post, I will talk about the popular destinations for family holidays in Spain and how those trips turned out in our case. But you can read the list of my favorite places to visit in Spain with kids in this other article of mine or follow this 10-day Road Trip Itinerary for Families.
Tips for Family Holidays in Spain
Let me share a few tips and travel essentials for the smaller kids, based on our travel experience. It will be handy for those of you planning a vacation with babies or toddlers.
I have always considered Spain a child-friendly country, but there are a few tips you might find handy:
- Bring a portable high chair (although most restaurants in Spain do have a limited amount of high chairs, called “trona” in Spanish).
- Have with you a small supply of things from home, in case we can´t visit a local supermarket or pharmacy immediately: almost everything is closed in Spain on Sundays – your last resort will be searching for a local on-duty pharmacy online ( called farmacia de guardia in Spanish) or heading to the nearest SuperCor or Dia for groceries. Also, in the touristy places, El Corte Ingles chain might be open on Sundays).
- Locate the nearest Tourist Info office online before your trip: you can always ask them for local playgrounds or any other tips.
- Keep in mind that most of the taxis in Spain do not have child seats (unless you call in advance and specifically ask for it), so you might want to bring your own travel car seat.
- The food schedules in Spain might be challenging for the little ones used to early dinners: most of the restaurants open around 8.30-9.00 p.m. You should always bring some snacks along. On the other hand, late dining out with kids is very common in Spain, so don´t be afraid to visit local bars with kids.
- Some restaurants in Spain might even have paper & pencils for kids, but I always bring a few of their favorite travel toys on the road.
Packing & Planning Holidays with Kids
Check my Travel Beauty Essentials, Must-have Hiking Gear, and Travel Essentials for Kids. Beyond these, I usually pack:
- an emotional toy for each of my girls (these make them feel at home anywhere)
- a brand-new toy (the one kids are curious to explore and are not bored with yet)
- something from their favorite things for sleep – T-shirts, PJs, cozy blankets, or even bed sheets (night is usually the moment of fears and worries – so my kids need to get extra cozy)
- a relaxing book, like The Little Elephant Who Wants To Fall Asleep (my youngest daughter finds it boring, but it helps the over-excited kids to fall asleep after the day of sightseeing)
- favorite travel-sized Spain Board Games to bond over every evening
How to Choose New Destinations in Spain
In my opinion, all the top destinations for family holidays in Spain should include some child-focused activities, alongside some top sights from any Spain Bucket List. Usually, I try to balance out every trip, to include something for each family member.
While my kids do not get overexcited with Spanish hikes or Secret museums, we do those alongside theme parks, Mediterranean cruises, and playgrounds. I believe that it teaches them to respect the wishes of others if traveling together.
Excite your children for their upcoming travels with this fun and interactive journal. Transport your children across Spain with scavenger hunts, challenges and activities that will engage your young readers to participate more and get their noses out of their devices.
In City Trails: Barcelona, join Lonely Planet explorers Marco and Amelia as they hunt for more secrets, stories and surprises in another of the world’s great cities. You’ll discover human pyramids, dancing eggs, a witch school, and lots more!
An American child travels to Buñol, Spain, to take part in the town’s annual raucous celebration of the tomato. La Tomatina is a large organized food fight in which residents wear goggles and spend the day throwing crushed ripe tomatoes until the streets are covered in one ruby red, pulpy mess.
Our Favorite Destinations for Family Holidays in Spain
1. Tenerife Family Holidays in Spain
Visiting Tenerife with kids
The Canary Islands are always at the top of my list of family-friendly destinations in Spain.
First of all, the weather is amazing even if you’re heading to Spain in winter. Secondly, within the Canary Archipelago, you will find anything from beautiful beaches and exotic gardens to unique landmarks and theme parks. Kids would never want to miss Siam Park, Loro Parque, Jungle Park, Zoo Monkey Park, Aqualand, and Forestal Park.
For me, Tenerife is one of the most versatile Spanish islands. You can check my Tenerife post to learn more about all the amazing experiences we enjoyed on the island.
Unique experiences in Tenerife with kids:
- Puerto de la Cruz: Loro Parque Entry Ticket (check availability)
- Siam Park Entry Tickets (check availability)
- Ecological Banana Plantation Guided Tour (check availability)
- Eco-Yacht Whale Watching Cruise with Swim (check availability)
- Teide Family Buggy Guided Tour Day and Sunset (check availability)
2. Mallorca Family Holidays in Spain
Visiting Mallorca with kids
Mallorca absolutely fits the bill when it comes to family holidays in Spain. Within the island, you´ll discover some of Spain´s best beaches, charming small towns ( like Soller, Escorca, Pollenca, Valldemossa, Deia, and Fornalutx), visit The Cathedral of Palma (one of the most beautiful Spanish cathedrals). The views from Cap de Formentor will reveal in front of you some of the most unforgettable cliffs in Spain.
For the kids, the highlight in Mallorca might be the Palma Aquarium (with its largest collection of live coral in Europe), Jungle Park Junior, Western Water Park, Palma Jump, Aqualand El Arenal, Tren Soller, Hidropark Alcudia, Katmandu Park, Natura Park. If your kids like horses you can take them to ride a pony at Ranxo Ses Roques.
I love that Mallorca combines the best attributes of a relaxing beach vacation with interesting landmarks and lots of child-focused activities. Together with my husband, we also enjoyed other Balearic islands (Formentera and Ibiza) – but in my opinion, these are way less interesting for the little ones.
For more details, check my post about our Weekend in Mallorca.
Unique experiences in Mallorca with kids:
- From Palma de Mallorca : Tramuntana Full-Day Tour with Sóller Train and Lunch (check availability)
- From Mallorca: Aqualand and Arenal Tickets and Transfer (check availability)
- Entry Ticket for Marineland Mallorca (check availability)
- 3-Hour Afternoon Dolphin Watching Boat Tour (check availability)
- Palma Aquarium Entry Ticket with 3D Cinema (check availability)
- Mallorca Kids Buggy (check availability)
- 3-Hour Afternoon Dolphin Watching Boat Tour (check availability)
- Dinosaurland and Caves of Hams Combined Ticket (check availability)
- Hot Air Balloon Flight (check availability)
- Entry Ticket for Marineland Mallorca (check availability)
- Family or Sports Course Adventure at Forestal Park (check availability)
- Mountain Horse Riding Experience w/ Brunch Option (check availability)
- Mallorca Multi-Experience Adventure – Kids 6+ (check availability)
- Mallorca Stand Up Paddle Lesson (check availability)
- From Alcudia: Day Trip to Katmandu Adventure Park (check availability)
- From Alcudia: 2-Hour Glass Bottom Boat Trip to Coll Baix (check availability)
3. Alicante Family Holidays in Spain
Visiting Alicante with Kids
The province of Alicante is located in the heart of Costa Blanca and is known as one of the top tourist hubs on the Iberian Peninsula. It is a trendy destination for Spain group tour travel packages.
The most visited city in the Alicante region is Benidorm. This small coastal town is known as the city of non-stop vacations and has the largest number of skyscrapers in the country. You can read more about my trip to Benidorm in this post.
Nevertheless, if you are looking for more quiet alternatives, Alicante is full of trendy coastal towns – Altea, Calpe, Denia, Javea, and Santa Pola. The small town of Villajoyosa is known as one of the most colorful places in Spain and the city of chocolate (so it is also a great place to shop for local food souvenirs).
What I mostly like about Alicante is that it combines a traditional Mediterranean getaway (similar to the Greek Islands, Cyprus, or Malta) without being an island, which gives you endless possibilities of day trips and road trips across Spain.
The highlights of our Alicante trip for my kids were Terra Mitica and Aitana Safari Park. Next time we’d like to explore Robin Hood and test snorkeling at Tabarca Island.
Cool things to do in Alicante with kids:
- Terra Natura Theme Park 1-Day Tickets (check availability)
- Mundomar Animal Park 1-Day Ticket (check availability)
- Dinner with Show at Magic Robin Hood (check availability)
- TirolinasGo Alicante Forestal Park (check availability)
- Aqualandia Entry with Optional Mundomar Combo Ticket (check availability)
- Motor Museum and Family Experience (check availability)
- Jetski Excursión to Tabarca Island with snacks (check availability)
4. Barcelona Family Holidays in Spain
Visiting Barcelona with kids
It´s no secret that many international visitors come to Spain for Barcelona and its iconic Gaudi landmarks.
There are quite a few epic places in Barcelona that both kids and adults will enjoy. What I mostly like about Barcelona as a family-friendly destination, is the number of unique interactive museums one can enjoy with kids. While Gaudi architecture is a must to ignite any child´s imagination, everything with a Gaudi tag involves huge waiting lines (which might be a bit challenging for the little ones).
At the same time, the last time we visited Barcelona to embark on our Mediterranean Cruise, we made a stop at Museu Blau Natural History Museum of Barcelona to visit a temporary expo dedicated to fairytales and there were no tourists around whatsoever.
So, if you pick Barcelona for the family holidays in Spain – just plan your trip wisely: you need to visit a few Gaudi landmarks, but lesser-known museums, beaches, and day trips might feel way more exciting for the little ones.
If you plan to see lots of landmarks consider getting either Barcelona Card with 25+ Museums and Free Public Transportation or Go City All-Inclusive Pass with 45+ Attractions.
Cool things to do in Barcelona with Kids:
- La Sagrada Familia – one of the most stunning cathedrals in Spain (book now to get Fast-Track Access)
- Park Guell ( book now to get Skip-the-Line Access)
- Casa Batllo & Casa Mila – some of the top Gaudi buildings in Barcelona ( get the guided tour to skip the line)
- Monjuic Magic Fountain ( a free show of water and lights every 15 min)
- Gaudi 4D Experience – discover more about the works of Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudí, with innovative audiovisual technology (book now)
- Montjuic Cable Car – a cool way to admire the city sights and views of the sea as you soar to the top of the hill of Montjuïc (get the roundtrip ticket now)
- Moco Museum – Barcelona’s modern art museum, with works of Kaws, Yayoi Kusama, and Banksy (book it now)
- Hop-on Hop-off bus tour of Barcelona – a great way to see the city without tiring out the little ones (book it now)
- Trencadís Mosaic Class – a class for the whole family to learn Gaudí’s Technique (check availability now)
- FC Barcelona Museum – a must-stop for soccer fans ( get Barça Immersive Tour)
- Cosmocaixa – a unique science museum with lots of touch-the-buttons sections
- Tibidabo Amusement Park – a small vintage amusement parks with the beautiful views of Barcelona
- Barcelona Aquarium ( get Skip-the-Line Admission Ticket)
- Chocolate Museum of Barcelona
- Barcelona Zoo ( get 1-Day ticket now)
- Labyrinth Park of Horta, one of the most magical park gardens in Spain
- Museu Blau – Natural history Museum of Barcelona
- Barcelona Bosc Urba – an adventurous climbing area for kid (age of 8+)
Unique tours in Barcelona for kids:
- Barcelona Churros, Hot Chocolate, and Games Family Tour (check availability)
- Barcelona Private Family-Friendly City Tour (check availability)
- Barcelona for Kids – Dragons, Giants and Kings Tour (check availability)
- 2.5-Hour Barcelona Kids & Family Walking Tour in English (check availability)
- PortAventura and Ferrari Land: Full-Day Trip from Barcelona (check availability)
- Girona, Figueres and Dalí Museum Day Tour (check availability)
5. Valencia Family Holidays in Spain
Visiting Valencia with kids
Valencia has a special place in my heart since this region has been my home in Spain for more than 10 years. Therefore, under the Valencia hashtag, you can discover tons of local tips on my blog.
To check in detail all the amazing things to do in Valencia with kids head to this post of mine.
What makes Valencia stand out, in my opinion, is the fact that the city is set on the Mediterranean coast, yet it is way less touristy than Barcelona. Some even claim that Valencia is one of the most underrated places in Spain – but I honestly disagree. Valencia has become quite popular over the recent years, the city is known for its beautiful architecture, the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, the Las Fallas festival, and amazing beaches.
So, Valencia literally has it all for planning perfect family holidays in Spain. The city is well established on the tourist track, yet it still feels way more local than Barcelona, Madrid, or Seville.
Unique things to do in Valencia with kids:
- Hemisferic & Science Museum Combos (check availability)
- Bioparc Valencia Admission Ticket (check availability)
- Orange Farm and Orchard Trip with Tastings (check availability)
- Caves of San José Guided Excursion and Ticket (check availability)
Read more about exploring Spain with kids:
- 10-day Spain Itinerary for Families from Barcelona (read it)
- Our Favorite Travel Essentials for Kids +Toys On The Go (read it)
- Where to Enjoy Snow in Spain with Kids (read it)
- Cute Spain Books for Kids You´ll Love (read it)
- Barcelona Weekend with Kids: Top things to see and do (read it)
- Valencia With Kids: Top Places Your Children Will Love (read it)
- 5 Epic Reasons to Visit the Spanish Pyrenees with Kids (read it)
- A Weekend in Mallorca with Kids (read it)
- My Favorite Cool Places to Visit in Spain with Kids (read it)
- Travel-themed Activities With Kids: Our Creative Playroom Tour (read it)
- Kids Bookish Inspiration: Favorite International Illustrators Around the World (read it)
- Visiting PortAventura with kids (read it)
Pin it:
For more Spain travel tips check out my Pinterest board Spain Travel Collection and Flipboard Travel to Spain.
- Accommodation: For short stays, I usually book via Agoda, Booking, and Hotellook
- Tours&excursions: My favorites for guided tours are GetYourGuide and Viator
- Museums&attractions: Get mobile tickets for attractions via Tiqets (use ATC5 code for a 5% discount via this link)
- Semi-private & private tours: LivTours is my favorite place for unique & crafted experiences in Europe
- For Foodies: Eatwith is a unique platform for finding culinary experiences with locals around the world
- Audio guides: Book audio excursions & tours in 35+ countries via WeGoTrip
- Flights: Find the best deals with Skyscanner, WayAway, and Kiwi
- Driving in a new country? – Check out Tripiamo guides (do not miss Tripiamo Driving in Spain Guide)
- Train&bus tickets: Currently, I book via Trainline, Busbud, and Omio
- Car rental: To find the best deals, I use Rental Cars and Discover Cars
- Top E-Sim: GigSky helps me to avoid roaming fees and provides connectivity everywhere (even on a cruise ship)
- Internet Security on the road: Connect safely to public Wi-Fi and bypass censorship with NordVPN
- Transfers: For individual transfer services, I like GetTransfer and Kiwitaxi
- Suitcases&Luggage: Discover where to store your luggage on the go with Radical Storage
- Travel Insurance: Find the best trip insurance plans via VisitorsCoverage and EKTA
- Compensation for delayed/canceled flights: Check out AirHelp and Compensair
- Renting Bikes: To find motorcycles, scooters, quads, and bicycles, I use BikesBooking
- Package Tours: Head to CheapOair and Expedia
- For Bloggers: To monetize my blog, I work with Travelpayouts and Stay22
This looks like a great list of ideas for adults too. I’d love to visit all the locations ranging from the museum, to the theme park, to paddle boarding , just to name a few.
Travel is an awesome educational experience for kids. Your kids are blessed to see and do so many cool things.
Last time I was in Barcelona, I saw several of the Gaudi landmarks. I enjoyed checking out the architecture, even though I wasn’t traveling with kids.
Fabulous tips! I don’t have kids but travelled to most of these places as a kid or when I was younger. There is so much to do for children. Will share it with my mum friends for sure!