Looking for activities in Andalucia, Spain? We hear some great suggestions for family things to do there
**This article was kindly guest authored for us by Linn, owner of both Amused by Andalucia and Andalucia Hiking
Introduction
Planning a family vacation to Andalucia Spain and looking for things to do with kids? Andalucia is jam-packed with kid-friendly activities and towns designed specifically to attract families.
Whether you want to explore famous attractions or lesser-visited places, there are so many amazing things to do in Andalucia with kids.
In this post, I will cover fun things to do beyond the obvious like visiting Seville and the Alhambra fortress in Granada. You can find some of these in this top 5 inland places to visit with kids in Andalucia.
Alternatively, if you would rather head further north up the mediterranean coastline into Spain’s Costa Blanca region, be sure to check out all these fun activities for kids in Costa Blanca.
Here though, you will find a selection of things to do with kids in Andalucia, specifically hand-picked to be exciting for kids of all ages, including some extreme adventures for older kids.
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Top things to do in Andalucia with kids
#1 Hike Rio Chillar
Rio Chillar in Nerja is one of the best hikes in Andalucia and is ideal with kids of all ages as it is mostly flat and you can turn around whenever you want. The whole trail is 8 kilometers there and back, but most visitors turn around much earlier.
It goes through a beautiful, narrow ravine with waterfalls and swimming holes along the way. But be prepared with good water hiking shoes or sneakers that let in and out water easily as most of the walk is in the actual river. The water usually isn’t higher than leg-deep so it is easy for the kids too.
You also need to bring food, snacks, and plenty of water. Even though parts of the trail is in the shade and you cool down as you walk in the water, it gets hot in summer and hydration is super important.
#2 Visit Colomares Castle
If you wonder, “Is Benalmadena worth visiting?” then the answer is right here. Not only for kids, but adults alike, the best attraction in the town is Colomares Castle, originally built as a monument for Christopher Columbus and the era of Discovery.
It is only a couple of Euros to enter and while it is not like the typical castle you can enter with rooms and halls, there are towers you can climb and roam around the structure, and it is a lot of fun for kids of all ages. The castle kind of looks like a fairytale sandcastle and the views of Benalmadena Costa are spectacular.
#3 Day trip to Gibraltar
One of the best things to do in Andalucia is to go on a day trip to Gibraltar. This is actually not in Spain at all, but it is UK territory just off the coast of La Linea de la Consepción (so make sure you bring your passport!). The tiny peninsula is mainly recognized by its Rock, known as The Rock of Gibraltar where you can enjoy sweeping views of the Spanish mainland and Africa on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar.
But Gibraltar is also the only place in Europe where you can see free roaming monkeys (obviously, they origin from Morocco.) They are wild animals, so make sure you don’t feed them and make sure your kids are calm around them and don’t run after them. I also recommend keeping your bag closed at all times so they don’t get tempted to grab some snacks you had saved for the children.
You can also visit the prehistoric St. Michael’s Cave and the Siege Tunnels in Gibraltar, and don’t forget to head to the town center to get a family picture with one of the red phone boots.
You can easily go on a day trip to Gibraltar from Malaga or any other city nearby whether you drive, travel by bus, or join an organized tour.
#4 Walk in the fairytale forest, Bosque Encantado
The Bosque Encantado is a lovely forest walk in Parauta village in the Serrania de Ronda region of Malaga. It usually takes a couple of hours with the kids, but you can turn around whenever you want. There are several fairytale statues along the route and carved trees with little gnome houses and owls in the trees which is super fun even for adults.
If you go in the middle of November, you will be treated to incredible fall colors. The surrounding chestnut forest is nick named “Bosque de Cobre” meaning the Copper Forest referring to the fall colors that can be seen in the region. If you go with older kids, you might even consider hiking between villages like between Parauta and Igualeja which is about 3-4 hours round trip and takes you through the Bosque Encantado as well as the chestnut farms.
#5 Visit the Witch village
Nestled in the Alpujarras region in Granada, you find a unique village which is super fun for the whole family. Soportujar is completely witch themed and has its own witch trail that you can follow.
There you can see many fun “scary” statues and sculptures like the Hansel and Gretel house balancing on long legs, giant spiders, giant witches, and so on. Just as El Bosque Encantado, this place hasn’t gained much traction among foreign tourist yet making it a unique place to visit with your kids in Andalucia.
#6 Visit the Smurf village
Yes, you heard me right! There is a Smurf Village in Andalucia. It is called Juzcar and is painted all blue with a complete Smurf theme throughout the village. Walls are painted with Smurfs, there are Smurf playgrounds, and on the weekends, there is a little Smurf market with face painting and other activities for the little ones.
The kids can even decorate their own Smurf hats with their Smurf name on them which is an ideal souvenir to bring back home!
Juzcar is located in the Serrania de Ronda region in the Malaga Province and is easily accessible by car, but not so easy to reach by public transport making it popular among families that live in Andalucia more than tourists.
#7 Explore Minas de la Trinidad
If you travel with older kids and want a bit of a savage adventure, I highly recommend taking them on the short hike from Benalmadena Stupa to Minas de la Trinidad. The old mines are fun to enter with a head lamp and you can turn around whenever you feel like it.
Note that there is no safety rails or anything in there, it is completely natural, so I don’t recommend taking young children that you have to look after as there are steep drops. However, there are painted arrows inside that show you the right direction to walk and if you stick to that, it is completely safe to walk there with a bit of climbing.
I have seen local parents bring children as young as 6-7 years, but I would not do that unless they are used to exploring places like that. These kids have probably been there plenty of times.
The hike is about 1.5 to 2 hours return depending on how much time you spend at the caves. The views are also spectacular on the way up and if you fancy hiking longer, you can continue past the caves all the way up to the top of the antenna mountain and loop down the other side to Benalmadena Pueblo. This is a lovely little white village overlooking the coast which is perfect for lunch after the hike.
#8 Visit a red river
One of the best-hidden gems in Spain is the red river of Rio Tinto in the Huelva province. It is just about an hour’s drive from Seville and an easy day trip. The site is of geological interest and even attracted NASA who believes there are similarities between the life in the river and Mars. Yes, the planet Mars.
You can take an old mine train to see the red river (and YES it is actually deep orange/red which you probably won’t believe before you see it) and also some of the mining pits. It is really interesting for the adults and the kids will love it!
#9 Kayak in Nerja
If you are looking for an adventurous summer activity with kids in Andalucia, kayaking in Nerja is the perfect thing to do. Whether you rent a kayak or go on a guided tour, starting in Burriana Beach and kayaking along the Maro cliffs is a fantastic experience.
The water is crystal-clear and perfect for snorkeling and you pass secluded beaches and waterfalls cascading right into the sea. It is hard to find a better place for a family kayaking adventure in Andalucia!
#10 Explore El Torcal de Antequera
El Torcal de Antequera is one of the most unique karst landscapes in Europe and is located at about 45 minutes inland from Malaga. There are two hikes you can take that is suited for different ages. The shortest is 45 minutes and the second is 2 hours long. I highly recommend bringing snacks (but bring all the waste with you back!) to enjoy on the way.
There are so many fun figures looking like faces and animals that you can let your fantasy loose for hours to end. For toddlers, it might be enough to walk from the visitors center and explore the area which is actually the end of the trails. There are so many fun rocks to climb and excellent photo opportunities.
Summing up what to do in Andalucia with kids
As you can tell, there are plenty of things to do in Andalucia with kids of all ages and different adventure levels. This region of southern Spain is so varied and holds natural beauty and adventurous activities that not only the kids will love. I’m sure these activities will stay in the family memory books forever.
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