The 20 best family holidays in Spain
British families simply love Spanish holidays. Indeed, more UK tourists visited Spain than any other country in 2023, a trend that began with the rise of package holidays in the 1960s.
Spain is an unbeatable destination for a hassle-free family vacation. Short flight times, with locations like Barcelona and the Costa Brava just two hours away, make it very accessible.
Spain also boasts the most Blue Flag beaches worldwide – 638 compared to England's 73. Numerous hotels offer kids' clubs, swimming pools, and child-friendly restaurant menus to ensure that even the most demanding children are entertained.
However, Spain’s charm extends beyond the popular resort towns. Inland or along lesser-visited coastlines, families can enjoy real adventures, from stargazing under clear skies and hiking through unspoiled landscapes to learning flamenco or cheese-making.
Here we’ve gathered 20 of the best family holidays in Spain for parents with toddlers, teens, or those in between, whether you’re looking for a beach getaway or something unique.
Best for under Fives
1. For a hassle-free holiday
For effortless post-baby relaxation, Ikos’s all-inclusive resorts are unbeatable. Originating in Greece, this luxury brand now has locations in Mallorca and Andalusia. The latter, an hour's drive from Malaga airport in Estepona, is ideal for a stress-free trip with young children.
With 17 acres to explore, nine pools, and a renowned crèche for kids aged six months to three years (€42 per session), you might never need to leave the grounds.
2. For a late dose of sun
Away from Mallorca’s busiest areas, on a country estate declared a wildlife sanctuary, Agroturisme Son Pons is perfect for spotting sheep, chatting with chickens, and playing in a pool surrounded by tall palms and vibrant blooms. While teenagers might find the pace slow, it’s ideal for little ones.
Wake to birdsong, enjoy light lunches and dinners as you wish, and head to nearby Playa de Muro for white sand and warm water. Visit in September, after the school rush.
3. For lesser-known Lanzarote
Babies are too young for the kids’ facilities at Canarian mega-resorts, allowing parents to see a different side of the islands. In the hills outside the village of Uga on Lanzarote, Casa el Morro’s little cottages provide a cozy base for off-season family time.
With a bohemian decor, shaded nooks with daybeds for naps, a charming pool, and homemade breakfasts, this spot offers a peaceful retreat. Playa Blanca beach is a 20-minute drive away.
4. For a bucket-and-spade break
Not as hot as the south but bordered by golden sand and calm waters, the Costa Daurada is ideal for a beach break with toddlers.
Stay in the old port of Cambrils, which has nine sandy beaches and a tree-lined promenade, making it calmer than other regional resorts and only a 20-minute drive from Reus airport. Estival Centurión Playa, overlooking Cap de Sant Pere beach, features a kids’ pool, playground, and quick beach access.
Best for five-to eight-year-olds
5. For kids club haters
Travel light to Caserío del Mirador, located between Alicante and Valencia. Ex-pat owners Sarah and Johnny Robinson have ensured its palm-fringed apartments are stocked with family-friendly items, including toys and books.
The focus here is on relaxed family fun. Kids can meet animals, collect fresh eggs for breakfast, swim in the pool, or make friends over communal meals from the Outside Kitchen, which includes dedicated Kids Teas.
6. For embracing the Great Outdoors
Young wildlife enthusiasts will love Suerte Tierra, a small collection of yurts in a natural park on the outskirts of Tarifa. They can spot lizards, make feathered friends in the blooming gardens, or swim in the natural pond and plunge pool shared with birds and insects.
There’s also a playground for younger kids, and the communal kitchen and shower block are so cozy you’ll forget they’re shared. Tarifa’s windswept beaches are just a 10-minute drive away.
7. For a chic island retreat
Menorca has seen a resurgence in recent years, but family-friendly cool hotels are still rare. With calming caramel-accented decor and a pool surrounded by daybeds, Melia’s Villa Le Blanc is a great choice.
Children will love the Montessori-inspired Kids Club and the pizza and paella restaurant, and there are opportunities for family activities, such as cheese or sandal-making workshops. Interconnecting rooms are perfect for families with two kids.
8. For budding sailors (with sea dogs in tow)
The overnight ferry from Portsmouth or Plymouth to Santander makes the journey to Spain (over 30 hours) part of the adventure, with the added benefit that pets are allowed on some trips. Play areas, air-conditioned cabins, and onboard tapas make the journey fly by. From the port, it’s a 90-minute drive to Ribadesella, with sandy beaches, a prehistoric cave, and a charming old town.
Best for tweens
9. For those who can’t sit still
There are adventures and then there’s El Geco Verde near Granada, where days can be filled with rafting, kayaking, horse-riding, pizza-making, and flamenco lessons.
Run by an ex-pat family, this converted farmhouse offers authentic local activities in a lesser-known part of Spain. Their Altiplano de Granada Activity itinerary is among Responsible Travel’s best-selling Spanish trips.
10. For little ravers
Iberostar’s hotels across Spain are reliable for families, but Tenerife’s Iberostar Selection Anthelia is especially good for this age group. Along with the brand’s Star Camp for children aged four to 17, there’s a regular family foam party – sure to delight young clubbers and their parents.
11. For something completely different
Hotel Aire de Bardenas, located at the entrance to Navarra’s Bardenas Reales, offers star-studded skies, Segway tours across the wilderness, and 4X4 safaris to spot vultures, wild boar, and hares.
Kids can’t stay in the clear-topped bubble tents, but rooms with outdoor tubs or floor-to-ceiling views across the landscape are a hit.
12. For Catalan coves and countryside
Barcelona residents often escape to the little bays of the Empordà region in summer, driving an hour and a half to reach whitewashed fishing villages like Tamariu and Llafranc and sunny beaches like Aigua Blava and Sa Riera.
Twenty minutes inland, the sleepy village of Regencós hosts an old rectory converted into four apartments, ideal for exploring the area. There’s a pink pool, or you can head to the coast to explore the coves along cliffside paths.
Best for teenagers
13. For going under
Shared interests can be rare during the teenage years, but diving might be a hit. Dive Worldwide recommends Lanzarote for those aged 10 and up to explore volcanic reefs, caverns, and Europe’s only underwater museum, Museo Atlántico.
14. For time in the saddle
Original Travel’s family itineraries may be pricey, but their attention to detail makes them ideal for special occasions. Their five-day horse-riding trip to Andalusia includes morning rides through fields and pine woods to a private lunch spot.
Private tours are available through Seville’s secret alleys, visiting some of its best tapas bars, and exploring the region’s white villages.
15. For sweet freedom
The last thing a teen wants is a parent cramping their style during group activities. Club Med’s Magna Marbella offers activities like padel, golf, tennis, archery, and flying trapeze without parental interference, thanks to a club specifically for 14- to 17-year-olds. The spa is open to those aged 11 and up, and there are five pools, including a heated lagoon. The warm weather makes this a great option for Christmas.
16. For natural highs
Pura Aventura’s family trip to the Pyrenees is perfect for getting teens off their phones and into nature. Based in a converted monastery on the Ara river, the trip includes relaxed hikes, e-bike rides, and visits to waterfalls, forests, and the dramatic Ordesa Canyon. Other activities like canyoning and kayaking add excitement.
Best for every age
17. For a starry escape
Once a hotspot for celebrities, the Byblos Hotel near Mijas on the Costa del Sol has been revamped and reopened as La Zambra in 2022.
It remains glamorous, with gardens dotted with fountains and chicly simple bedrooms. The bonus? Childcare for those aged six months and up, and older kids can take pottery classes, try flamenco, or learn to make gazpacho.
18. For calm campers
In the Unesco-protected Doñana National Park, Huttopia Parque de Doñana might be the most peaceful campsite in Spain. Pitches, safari tents, and log cabins are hidden among the trees. Although it’s a 40-minute drive to the sea, one of the two onsite pools is surrounded by a beach-like landscape of white sand and sun umbrellas. Little ones can enjoy a playground and paddling pool, while older kids can hike the national park and cycle to the nearby village of Hinojos.
19. For a fairytale city break
Whether they’re in their Disney Princess or TikTok phase, any kid will be enchanted by the dreamy interiors of El Palauet, a collection of suites in a whimsical building in Barcelona.
Spend evenings beneath delicately painted ceilings or on wrought iron balconies and days exploring Passeig de Gràcia, where Gaudi’s La Pedrera sits among shops, restaurants, and galleries. Don’t miss a trip to Casa Batlló, free for those under 12, with immersive rooms and installations that bring Gaudi’s design to life.
20. For stays with the cousins
Want to earn major cool parent points? Finca 15 will do the trick. This restored Ibizan villa is designed with families in mind, featuring a trampoline, ping pong table, tipi, and a stunning infinity pool. The layout works well for extended families, with three double bedrooms in the main house, a cottage in the grounds, and a sprawling outdoor dining area for long family evenings.