Whether it’s spring, summer, autumn, or winter, the southern Spanish coast offers an ideal sun-soaked holiday with a complete package of superb weather, exquisite cuisine, and abundant activities for families. Marbella, often likened to St. Tropez, is the perfect stylish getaway for families, boasting a mix of traditional charm and modern attractions. Here are some of the top family-friendly activities in and around Marbella:
Aventura Amazonia:
Embrace the thrill of heights at Marbella’s Aventura Amazonia, where adrenaline-pumping rope bridges and zip lines await. Tailored to all ages with impeccable safety measures, this treetop adventure park offers a range of courses, including ones for young adventurers aged 4 to 7 and more challenging options for those seven and older. The park features 83 challenges and 20 ziplines, promising an exhilarating three-hour family adventure. For more details, visit their website at http://Aventura-amazonia.com
Mundo Mania:
As the ultimate children’s paradise in Estepona, Mundo Mania offers extensive indoor and outdoor play areas, including a water park and multi-sport pitches. It’s a haven of fun that caters to all ages, complete with a café for snacks and a series of engaging workshops. Keep an eye on their website http://Mundo-mania.com for upcoming events and activities.
Wakeboarding in Parque de Las Medranas:
The perfect hangout for teens, Parque de Las Medranas in San Pedro Alcantara offers an exciting wakeboarding experience with a continuous cable pully system. Enjoy the added summer vibes with live music, DJ sets, a swimming pool, and a snack bar. The park welcomes visitors six days a week, closing on Mondays. Learn more at http://Cableskimarbella.es
Marbella Buggys:
For speed enthusiasts, Marbella Buggys provides an exhilarating off-road experience. Take a guided buggy tour through the mountains, with options for a 2-hour, 3-hour, or full-day adventure, which includes a meal. Drivers must have a valid license, while kids can join as co-pilots. Visit http://Marbellabuggys.com for booking information.
Hire a Catamaran:
Experience the Mediterranean in style by chartering a catamaran for a day. It’s a delightful way for families to spot dolphins, enjoy banana boat rides, or simply relax in the sun. For hiring details, contact through this address, Address: Puerto Deportivo de Marbella, C/ Duque de Ahumado s/n, 29600, Marbella.
Children’s Playground – Bulevar, San Pedro Alcantara:
Boasting the best playground experience in Marbella, this park offers a fantastic 3km track for skating, rollerblading, or cycling, along with diverse play areas and an amphitheater for live summer performances.
Address: Av. Luis Braille, 29670 San Pedro Alcantara, Malaga.
Jetboat:
Looking for a splash of excitement? Jetboat rides offer a high-octane adventure on the water, suitable for children five and up. Adults can also enjoy a swift sightseeing tour along the Golden Mile.
Address: Puerto Deportivo de Marbella, Pantalán 4, Amarre 401, Marbella. More info on Jetboat.es
Food Room Marbella:
Cultivate your kids’ culinary skills at Food Room Marbella, where they can partake in engaging cookery classes and holiday clubs, available in both English and Spanish.
More information: Urb. Guadalmina Alta, San Pedro de Alcantara, 29670 Marbella, Málaga. Foodroom.es
Segway Tour:
Explore Marbella’s picturesque coastline on a Segway, with options for both adults and children, ensuring a fun ride for every family member.
Address: Avenida de las Naciones Unidas, CC Cristamar, Local 2, 29660, Marbella; Marbellasegwaytours.com.
Marbella Historic Centre:
The old quarter’s enchanting streets and squares are ideal for a leisurely day out. Indulge in local treats and explore the Museum of Contemporary Spanish Engravings.
More information: Calle Hospital Bazán, s/n, 29601 Marbella.
Kartfun:
Speed enthusiasts, head to Estepona for Kartfun’s 1.9km outdoor track. It’s a perfect family destination where kids from 6 years old can drive and the younger ones can join as passengers. Located near gas station GALP, Estepona, find out more at http://Kartfun.es
Horse Riding:
Experience the Spanish countryside on horseback at Los Caireles, offering rides for all skill levels. Visit Centro Hipico El Repique in Marbella at Camino de los Altos, s/n, 29603, for an unforgettable equestrian adventure. Details at http://ElRepique.es
Canyoning:
Dive into nature with a canyoning adventure in the Guadalmina River. Suitable for families, including children over seven, this activity combines sliding, jumping, and swimming for a memorable experience. Start your adventure at http://Canyoningmalaga.com
Cable Car and Birds of Prey:
See the coast from a new perspective on the Benalmádena cable car. At the summit, enjoy a birds of prey show, adding an educational twist to your aerial journey. Visit Av. del Tivoli, 29631, Benalmádena, Málaga for this high-flying experience.
More information: Av. del Tivoli, 29631 Benalmádena, Málaga. ‘Teleferico’ Benalmadena
Mayan Monkey Chocolate Factory:
Indulge your family’s sweet tooth by creating your own chocolate delights at the Mayan Monkey Mijas. With a variety of flavors and designs, it’s a treat for all ages. Visit Pl. Virgen de la Peña, 15, 29650 Mijas, Málaga, or find more at http://MayanMonkey.com
Theme Parks & Water Parks Near Marbella:
Bioparc:
The Bioparc in Fuengirola offers an immersive experience into the animal kingdom, featuring a range of exotic wildlife including gorillas, crocodiles, lemurs, giant tortoises, hippos, and tigers. Meticulously designed to mimic natural habitats, the zoo is sectioned into distinct territories that replicate the island of Madagascar, Equatorial Africa, Southeast Asia, and the islands of the Indo Pacific.
The park’s layout is carefully crafted to provide a rainforest atmosphere, complete with tunnels, bridges, and enclosures that guide visitors on an exploratory journey through diverse ecosystems. Ample shade and child-friendly paths make it an enjoyable and educational visit for families with young children.
More info: https://www.bioparcfuengirola.es
Selwo:
This safari park is the biggest one at the costa del sol. It also offers more than animals. It has a huge zipwire, 65 metres of hanging bridges, archery and trampolines.
Animal-wise there are white rhinoceros, elephants, cheetahs, giraffes, pythons, waterbucks, lions, wallabies and more.
The Central Village – where the big African animals are – is the show-stopper. Be sure to book the Serengeti Safari where you get taken inside the enclosures in a customised jeep.
Opening times: 14th Feb – Oct 10 – 18hrs, Jul and Aug 10 – 20hrs, Nov – Feb varied opening times, please check the website.
Address: Selwo Adventura, Avenue Parque Selwo s/n, A7 highway km 162,5, 29680, Estepona; Selwo.es
Sea Life:
You find Sea Life in Benalmadena, this aquarium in the award-winning Marina has sharks, stingrays, jellyfish and more. Be sure to be around for feeding times.
Opening times: Open daily from Monday to Sunday from 10 – 17:30hrs
More information: Puerto deportivo, s/n, 29630 Benalmadena Costa, Málaga. Visitsealife.com
Aqualand:
The biggest water park is Aqualand in Torremolinos. It has 18 slides and attractions including the dare-devil Kamikaze, Rapids, Boomerang, speed racers and Black Hole among others. It’s a great day out for all the family and has an area dedicated to toddlers and non-swimmers.
Opening times: 20th May 2019
Address: C/ Cuba, 10, Torremolinos, 29620; Aqualand.es
Costa Water Park:
Costa Water Park can be found in various locations along the coast – Benalmadena, Fuengirola, Mijas Costa, Elviria, Marbella and Sotogrande. An inflatable assault course in the sea, it’s a lot of fun and one of the absolute best things to do with kids when the mercury starts to rise.
Life jackets are given out as part of the ticket so there’s peace of mind. Open during the summer months only.
More information: Costawaterpark.com.
Inland Family Adventures from Marbella:
Lobopark:
This is a guided wolf tour – which is exactly as cool as it sounds. The wolves in Lobopark aren’t domesticated, so you get the unique experience of watching these amazing creatures ‘in the wild’.
For families with older children there are Wolf Howl Nights tours, where on full moons the park does special tours to see (and hear) the wolves when they’re at their most active.
More information: Ctra. Antequera-Álora, km 16, 29200 Antequera, Málaga. Lobopark.com
El Torcal Natural Reserve:
At the prehistoric El Torcal Natural Reserve kids go wild for the bizarre rock formations and the possibility – however small – of actually discovering a dinosaur fossil.
There are three routes that you can follow – red, yellow or green – though the red route is restricted in order to protect flora and fauna. The green route is the easiest but the yellow, which is only slightly steeper/rockier, is more dramatic.
More information: El Torcal, Ctra. A-7075, 29200 Antequera, Málaga. Torcaldeantequera.com
El Caminito Del Rey:
There aren’t many walks in the world like the gravity-defying – and incredibly beautiful – Caminito del Rey in El Chorro. With a large part of the route clinging to the cliff edge above a gorge, it’s a spectacular way to spend a morning or afternoon… fthis is for or those who aren’t afraid of heights. For teenagers there is also a via ferrata at the Caminito del Rey. This challenging root along the cliff face is awe-inspiring.
More information: 29550 Ardales, Málaga. Caminitodelrey.info
Malaga City with kids
Malaga city has it all, beach, museums, shopping, art and fantastic restaurants. If you’re planning some time in Malaga city while on holiday there are lots of things to do with children that are both educational and fun.
The Pomidou Centre:
While most of Malaga’s art galleries hold fun classes on the weekends for over 5 year old, the Pompidou Centre in particular is very good at catering for children. Not only is it generally very child-friendly with a cafe, shop, toilet and changing facilities, but it has a room dedicated to pre-teens with all sorts of interactive activities built around learning about artists.
The Pompidou Centre is perfect for families with its electric car rental, bikes, play areas and boat trips as well as shops, markets, restaurants and bars.
More information: Pasaje Doctor Carrillo Casaux, s/n, 29016 Málaga. Centrepompidou-malaga.eu
Castle & Fort
If you’d like to be outside, then the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro are a fun attraction for the family. Situated in the centre of Malaga, this 10th-century fort-palace complex allows for imaginations to run wild and little legs to get tired.
Opening times: 9.00 hrs – 20.00 hrs in the summer and 9.00 hrs – 18.00 hrs in the winter.
More information: Calle Alcazabilla, 2, 29012 Málaga.
Interactive Music Museum:
Visitors are taken through the history of musical instruments with plenty of opportunities to try them out. Look out for activities for children during the school holidays and weekends.
More information: Av. de José Ortega y Gasset, 201, 29006 Málaga. Musicaenaccion.com
Automobile Museum:
In an old tobacco factory, this museum has a large collection of vintage and unusual cars, as well as fashion and art. Great for all ages, it’s a good option to please the whole family and break up the day. It’s not big and can be visited easily in a couple of hours. Top LVC tip: There’s a great casual dining restaurant that’s super family friendly (Avo) in the Russian museum (next door to the Automobile museum) for hungry tummies.
Opening times: Monday to Sunday from 10.00 – 19.00hrs
Address: Museo Automóvil Malaga, Edificio de La Tabacalera, Avenida Sor Teresa Prat 15, Malaga; Museoautomovilmalaga.com.