Activities for Kids Costa del Sol

Costa del Sol
The region is world-famous for its magnificent beaches ideal for picnics and laid-back outdoor sports activities for kids, with numerous water sports. Long, sunny days out at the beach provide fantastic free outdoor activities for kids, with shallows perfect for paddling with toddlers and little ones and an abundance of marine life to be observed while snorkelling with older kids. Many families also enjoy boat trips, with one or half-day charters of small motorboats, sailing boats and catamarans available from all of the the Costa del Sol’s main coastal towns. 

There are seemingly endless sports and physical activities for kids outdoors in the region, with popular team sports like football and rugby, tennis and volleyball. From a competitive round of mini golf, to an introduction to full-sized golf, some of Spain’s best courses are located in the Costa del Sol. Horse riding is also a popular hobby, with friendly stables offering lessons and accompanied pony treks. The mountainous landscape of the Sierra Nevada is a short drive away, meaning an abundance of outdoor activities for kids in winter. Families can enjoy a fantastic day trip skiing and sledging and be back on the coast in time for dinner on one of the many stunning beaches of the Costa del Sol. 

There are many fun indoor activities for kids in the Costa del Sol, ideal for enjoying rare rainy days along this usually sunny stretch of coastline or escaping the stifling heat of the summer months. Older kids will love the automobile and fashion museum in Malaga, and there are several excellent galleries with regular exhibits that will appeal to arty teens and tweens. There are also various different sports clubs in the Costa del Sol’s main towns with indoor facilities and plenty of fun indoor family activities and workshops after school, at weekends and throughout the school holidays. 

For a cool contrast to the Costa del Sol’s balmy temperatures, there is a large indoor ice skating rink and several great indoor swimming pools offering year round lessons for kids.  There is also a popular aquarium in Benalmádena.

Costa de la Luz
Unlike the rest of Southern Spain, the Costa de la Luz borders the Atlantic Ocean rather than the Mediterranean, which makes for a windsurfer’s paradise! Tarifa is known around the world for its excellent kite and windsurfing, with several clubs offering lessons for kids and young people of different abilities. Kids will also love the dolphin and whale watching excursions that depart from Tarifa. 

This beautiful stretch of coastline boasts miles of sandy beaches, perfect for summer outdoor activities for kids and year-round picnics. For cooling off away from the beach, there are fantastic water parks in Algeciras, Tarifa and El Puerto de Santa María, and most towns in the region have municipal pools open throughout the summer months too. 

Adventurous children and teens will love the adventure park in the Roche forest, with zip lining, rock climbing and aerial obstacle courses. There is a popular zoo in Castellar de la Frontera, which takes in rescue animals. There is also a lovely sculpture park in Vejer de la frontera, offering environmental workshops for children, art scavenger hunts, outdoor yoga and dance lessons and other outdoor group activities for kids. The diverse Doñana Natural park is a breathtaking landscape stretching from Huelva all along the coast, with fantastic walking trails, cycling routes and magnificent vistas. Cadiz is surrounded by the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park and Jerez, birthplace of Flamenco, is close by, with year-round festivals and outdoor concerts and free outdoor activities for kids.

Indoor activities include a honey museum in Jerez, where kids can dress up as beekeepers and learn all about the importance of bees through interactive displays and creative workshops. Jerez is also the birthplace of flamenco, with a wide range of performances and shows that kids will love. There are many unique activities for kids to do inside within easy driving distance of Huelva, including the fascinating caverns of the Gruta de las Maravillas, with stalagmites, stalagtites and underground pools.