Costa Blanca with kids: the big guide to beating 'what are we doing today?'
Theme parks, water parks, zoos, calm beaches, nature and rainy-day plans: our guide to choosing family days out on the Costa Blanca and Costa Cálida by age, weather and energy level.
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A family holiday on the Costa Blanca promises sunshine, sea… and that question that lands every morning between two slices of toast: ‘what are we doing today?’. The good news: the region is one of the best equipped in Spain for families. The less good news: there’s so much choice that it’s easy to get lost (and spend a fortune). Here’s our guide to choosing by age, weather and the troop’s energy levels.
Our golden rule: one big activity a day
A theme park in the morning, a zoo in the afternoon and a restaurant in the evening: perfect on paper. In real life, it ends in tears around 5pm. Our rule: one big activity + free time (beach, pool, nap). The Costa Blanca is beautiful enough that you don’t need to fill every minute.
Which park for which age?
| Age | Our suggestions |
|---|---|
| Under 4 | Mundomar (free for under-4s), Aquópolis Torrevieja (free under 1 m), the calm beaches of the Mar Menor |
| 4 to 7 | Terra Natura, Aqua Natura, Pola Park, Río Safari |
| 8 to 12 | Terra Mítica, Aqualandia, Safari Aitana, the Oceanogràfic |
| Teens | Terra Mítica’s roller coasters, Aqualandia’s Verti-Go, snorkelling in the coves |
Animal days
The region has plenty of animal parks, each with its own personality:
- Mundomar: dolphins, sea lions and parrots, perfect for little ones;
- Terra Natura: a zoo organised by continent, with tigers and rhinos;
- Río Safari: giraffes and sea lions beneath the palms, with a pool in summer;
- Safari Aitana: the safari you drive in your own car;
- The Oceanogràfic: sharks and belugas in Valencia.
Water days
When the heat sets the agenda: Aqualandia for thrills, Aqua Natura for a more compact day, Aquópolis in the south. For a swim in nature, the pools of the Fonts de l’Algar are a guaranteed memory.
Beach days
- Benidorm: the big Levante and Poniente beaches, with lifeguards in season;
- The Mar Menor: calm, shallow, warm water, ideal with toddlers;
- La Fustera (Benissa): a fine sandy cove, easy with children.
Discovery days
Kids enjoy sightseeing too… if it’s well chosen: the microminiature museums of Guadalest, the tunnel on the Peñón de Ifach (up to the tunnel only), the Albir lighthouse path from our easy walks, or Gulliver the giant in Valencia.
And if it rains?
Canelobre caves, chocolate museum, aquarium, museums: it’s all in our rainy day article.
Tips from parents
Book online: the difference from the gate price often pays for lunch.
Sun cream, hat, water: the essential trio, even when it’s cloudy.
Water shoes for water parks, pebble coves and rivers.
Keep a plan B saved from day one: weather, tiredness or an endless queue can change everything.
