Spanairds love children and they are welcome just about everywhere making Spain an easy trip for young families.
Attractions
Castles dot the landscape and some of the greatest palaces still have elements for little explorers. Don't miss the armory at the Palace in Madrid. Train, science, military and natural history museums also offer plenty to engage young minds.
While art museums and cathedrals might not be at the top of most little kids' must-do list, many attractions offered kids' maps or activities like scavenger hunts. We generally found these were available in English as well as Spanish. If not, buy an inexpensive post card or two and create your own.
Young children are generally free although the cut-off varies by museum (around age 6 or 8). Minors are eligible for reduced, if not free, tickets. When reserving online, you may need to book a free ticket for a child and pay a small reservation fee. Family tickets aren't commonplace unless you are a registered large family in Spain.
No trip to Spain is complete without enjoying the natural beauty of the Iberian peninsula. Natural reserves boasting mountains, waterfalls, and lakes abound in the center giving active families plenty of space to explore. In warmer months, enjoy Spain's ample coastline and golden beaches. Don't forget sunscreen - the sun can be relentless.
Dining in Spain
One of the biggest challenges for visitors and eating are the late mealtimes. However, restaurants will go out of the way to accommodate little diners. We were consistently offered off-menu options like pasta or chicken for our 2 and 4 year old. Starters make a good choice for kids - meatballs, croquettes, fried fish, chicken skewers, and cheese. Another common option: a half portion of most menu items.
To avoid a very late dinner, try aperitivos. Designed to wet the appetite before dinner, apertivos start earlier and are more informal than dining out. Tapas bars are another great option. It gives the whole family a chance to try local bites without a huge commitment. Many have continue service or reopen after siesta making it a bit easier to feed young kids on an earlier timetable.
Milk isn't common in restaurants the way it is in the US, but can be requested. It is often on hand for coffees. Juice is readily available as is bottled water. Tap water is now availabe thanks to new eco-friendly legislation in 2022, but it must be specified.
Despite catering so well for young diners, highchairs and boosters are a bit hit and miss. The universal IKEA chair is fairly common in large cities, but smaller towns may have equipment from a by-gone era or simple fixes like a cushion. If your child needs a seat, carry a travel booster, like the Munchkin Brica Go Boost Booster, for meals out.
Grocery Stores
Grocery stores are available everywhere, from teeny mini-markets to huge stores on the outskirts of town. Yogurt, fresh and dried fruit, pouches, and cereals were available even in the littlest stores.
A few items of note:
Wear gloves (guantes) to select lose produce. Bag it and weigh it using the corresponding number on the produce bin.
Stores are often closed on Sundays or at least have shorter hours.
Over the counter medications aren't sold in groceries - you will need to head to the pharmacy for these.
There are lockers at the entrance for your bags - typically €1
Bring your own bag to avoid paying extra at check-out
Playgrounds in Spain
Playgrounds in Spain are next level. They are everywhere - the airport, at restaurants, in random corners of the city. We never had to go far to find a spot to play. The one exception is historical Madrid, but a slight detour into neighborhoods or to the city parks and there are plenty of options to play. The best part is the imaginative designs - rockets, ships, vehicles. The stuff of childhood dreams!
Almost all play spaces are fenced. Gates were hit and miss, but the ungated entrances had two levels of fencing which cuts on elopement. This is so important for safety, especially for neurodivergent kids or those with sensory challenges! We also saw quite a bit of adaptive equipment, especially in bigger cities.
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