16 Days in Spain - 4 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Family Trip to Spain: Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid & the Costa del Sol

Families visiting for the first time and eager to experience Spanish culture, history, and cuisine will enjoy the variety, guided city tours, and slightly faster pace of this highlights itinerary. You'll immerse in the fantastical world of Antoni Gaudí at Park Güell and Sagrada Família in Barcelona, visit an olive oil estate in Seville, marvel at ancient Roman ruins in Valencia and Islamic ruins in Málaga, craft sweet confections in a marzipan workshop in Toledo, embark on a scenic 4WD excursion in Ronda, and take a dip in the sea in Alicante.

Kick off your family trip with a cable car ride up Montjuïc and visit the whimsical Park Güell. Invite the kids on a "dragon hunt" around Barcelona, then take the funicular to the top of Mount Tibidabo for sweeping views and a family photo. Board a train to Valencia on Day 4 and embark on a tour of the sites, including Mercado Central, then introduce the kids to one of the city's most famous dishes: paella. Continue to Alicante, where you'll stroll the Explanada, imagine the life of royalty at Santa Bárbara Castle, and take a dip at Playa del Postiguet. Finally, entertain the kids with local lore on a guided tour along the Costa Blanca. 

On Day 8, you'll load the kids onto a train to Madrid, where you'll discover the city's royal legacy and delight young artists with a visit to the Prado Museum. Learn the art of sword-making, then let your budding chefs prepare sweet treats in a marzipan workshop on a day trip to Toledo. Then it's off to Seville for a tour of the city, souvenir shopping, and a visit to an olive oil estate. Stop in Ronda for a 4WD excursion the kids will love before continuing south to Málaga. Tour Alcazaba fortress, then invite the kids to sample local flavors at the Mercado Central de Atarazanas before sitting down to one last Spanish meal at a seafront restaurant. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Family Fun in Spain: Barcelona, Andalusia & Madrid

Another highlights itinerary, adding in Moorish-influenced Granada for Alicante and Valencia, is ideal for families that enjoy a combination of the outdoors and the arts. Creative kids can craft souvenirs in a hands-on pottery workshop in Barcelona, while the art enthusiasts and performers among you will enjoy flamenco lessons in Seville and a private tour of the Prado Museum. You'll also get your nature fix with a hike in the Sierra Nevadas and a snorkeling excursion in La Herradura. Adrenaline junkies (and older children) will be thrilled to trek on the Caminito del Rey and zipline over the Tagus River. 

Join a kid-friendly tour of Barcelona that includes the Gothic Quarter and local treats, such as churros con chocolate. Invite your crafty kids to create a keepsake in a ceramics workshop before a horseback ride in Montserrat Natural Park. Hit the Mercat de la Boqueria market with a local chef and let your young foodies select ingredients for a hands-on cooking lesson, then enjoy a leisurely afternoon at the beach. Catch a flight to Málaga on Day 5 for a kayaking and snorkeling excursion in La Herradura, followed by a treasure hunt in Málaga and a hike along the Caminito del Rey—a highlight for adventurous kids. 

Transfer to Granada, where you'll trek in the Sierra Nevada mountains, snap family photos on the hanging bridges, and visit the Alhambra fortress. Continue to Seville and try a family flamenco lesson, then delight your budding naturalists with bird-watching in Doñana National Park. Fly to Madrid, where your artsy kids will enjoy performers in Plaza Mayor and a private tour of the Prado Museum. Choose your final activities in Toledo according to your family's interests—a tour of the monuments is ideal for the history buffs among you, while a zipline ride over the Tagus River is popular with intrepid kids. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Epic Family Adventure in Spain

This family adventure suits families of various ages and interests and offers a blend of historical sites, cultural activities, and culinary experiences. Make paella in Madrid, take a hot-air balloon ride over Segovia, tour Toledo's historic sites, craft ceramics in Seville, enjoy a family beach day in Málaga, and embark on a sunset sail in Barcelona. The activities are engaging without being strenuous (no long hikes or bike rides here!), so it's an excellent fit for families with younger children or those that prefer a more leisurely pace. 

Let your expert guide introduce your family to Madrid's most famous sites, such as Plaza Mayor, and popular snacks like churros con chocolate. Immerse in local culture and cuisine as you make memories—and paella—together in a cooking workshop and learn to dance flamenco in a family-friendly class. The kids may groan when you wake them early, but they'll be all smiles when they float over Segovia in a hot-air balloon at sunrise. Transfer to Toledo the next day, where you'll admire the architecture in the UNESCO-listed medieval quarter and prepare almond confections in a marzipan workshop.

Catch a train to Córdoba and surprise the kids with a horseback ride in the countryside. Continue to Seville, where the kids can apply inspiration from the colorful Plaza de España tiles in a pottery class before cruising the Guadalquivir River. Capture family photos in Ronda on Day 11, one of the Pueblos Blancos (White Villages), en route to Málaga. Hunt for treasures before flying to Barcelona, where you can enjoy a family beach day, then ride the cable car up Montjuïc. Cap off your adventure with a visit to Park Güell (kids adore the bright colors and gingerbread house-like structures) and a sunset sail. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Ultimate Family Trip to Northern Spain, the Basque Country & Madrid

On this active family trip, young chefs and aspiring artists will appreciate the opportunities to engage with local cuisine, art, and culture. Admire Gaudí's works and learn the secrets of Spanish cuisine in a cooking class in Barcelona, taste tapas and visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, and take a day trip following Salvador Dalí's footsteps in the Costa Brava. The inclusion of bike tours, hiking, sailing, snorkeling, and kayaking make this an excellent choice for energetic, outdoorsy families.   

Dive into Spanish cuisine with a trip to Barcelona's Mercat de la Boqueria food market, followed by a family cooking class with a local chef. Capture the moments on camera as your kids strike a pose in front of gingerbread-style houses, mosaic walkways, and a lizard staircase at Park Güell. Stroll Las Ramblas pedestrian street and sample fresh produce in the markets before departing for Montserrat National Park for a horseback ride, followed by a funicular ride to Santa Cova, a mountain cave and pilgrimage site. Continue to the Costa Brava, where the kids can spot marine life on a snorkeling and kayaking adventure. 

Artsy kids will love your next excursion: a day trip to Figueres, the hometown of artist Salvador Dalí, and Port Lligat, home to the Salvador Dalí House Museum. Fly north to Bilbao and hit the streets on a family cycling tour, then refuel with pintxos (Basque-style tapas). Transfer to San Sebastián, where you'll hike and sail around the Bay of Pasaia. And finish your family adventure in Madrid with a little something for everyone: a walking tour (be sure to take the art lovers to see street art in the Chueca neighborhood!), a visit to the Royal Palace, a flamenco dance lesson, and a paella cooking class. Learn more

More Great 16-Day Spain Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Spain? Check out these other 16-day Spain itineraries, with outdoor adventures, family-friendly trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.