Blanes has a long beach promenade with nice terraces, a cycle lane and market stalls, which are fun to stroll along in the evening. You can also hop on a little train which takes you along the seaside or opt for a boat trip.
Or you can walk to the port, which has both fishing boats and yachts, to enjoy fresh fish and seafood or experience the activity of the fish market - one of the few that are still active on the Costa Brava. If you rent a nice beach holiday home in Blanes, you will be able to enjoy all these things easily - it will be a very relaxing and comfortable holiday.
3. A breathtaking view from the castle
Another family activity can be a walk up the San Juan hill ('Sant Joan' in Catalan) to the castle of the same name. Its location is 173 metres high, with wonderful panoramic views over Blanes, the port, its beaches and the coastline.
On very clear days you can point out the Montjuïc mountain in Barcelona to your children. The signs with information will tell you what to look for in the surroundings.
Be sure to take some water for the hike and choose a time in the morning or evening when it’s not too hot - especially in the summer. Make sure that you all wear comfortable shoes and that you are protected from the sun - bring hats and sunscreen.
If your children are too young for the hike uphill and up a few stairs, you can also drive up the winding road. There are free parking spots available.
4. Fascinating festivals and local traditions
As a lively beach town, Blanes has many attractions, street markets and other events all year round. The Noche de San Juan of Blanes, a magical night in June which is also celebrated on other beaches in Spain, is among the best in Catalonia. After all, Blanes has a hill and castle named after this San Juan saint.
If you are there end of July, you even get to experience the most impressive Fireworks Festival of the entire Costa Brava and one of the best in Europe. It attracts thousands of people and is part of the the Fiesta Mayor, Blanes' big summer festival. You will be able to enjoy live music and family-oriented traditions, such as giants and fire-spitting beasts in parades, and folkloric dance.
In August a similar but smaller event takes place, the Fiesta Mayor Pequeña.
In winter there are also exciting events for the whole family, such as Carnival in February, which has a parade and a full entertainment program - including one especially designed for children. The Reyes Magos or parade of the Three Wise Men on the 5th of January is also a must-see for young families.
5. The most amazing botanical gardens
If you wish to enjoy nice moments together as a family in a beautiful, relaxing place and take the best pictures home, then you will love the stunning botanical gardens in Blanes!
Marimurtra
Marimurtra in Blanes is even considered one of the best botanical gardens in Europe. Perched on a mountain top, this colourful garden offers wonderful views over the Mediterranean Sea and the pretty rocky coves below the garden.
Over 300,000 people visit this garden every year. It’s one of the best attractions of the Costa Brava! Your kids will love this garden too because apart from 4,000 plant species, there are parrots that are not afraid of people. They will even come close enough for a lovely family photo or a great picture of your kids with the parrots.
You can simply walk to Marimurtra garden, as it is only 1.5 km from the centre of Blanes (take Passeig de Carles Faust street behind the port) and even combine your visit with one of the coves below the garden - the family-friendly and very pretty cove or Cala San Francesç. The garden is open every day 10:00-18:00 (you can go in until 17:00) and the entrance fee is 6.5 euros.
Pinya de Rosa
Another famous botanical garden is Pinya de Rosa. Again, you can see the ocean from the garden, with almost 7,000 tropical species. You can show your kids the many cactuses and aloe vera plants. This garden is also full of palm trees.
In addition, you can promise your kids that you will take them to a lovely beach after this visit, as you can take advantage of the free parking that comes with the entrance fee (4 Euros) to also go to the pretty cove Cala Treumal, at about 300 metres distance. A perfect afternoon plan - you can have a picknick or lunch at the restaurant on the beach too. Pinya de Rosa is open Monday to Sunday, 9:00-18:00.
Santa Clotilde
If you can’t get enough of visiting beautiful gardens like these, you can also go to the
Santa Clotilde garden in Lloret de Mar, right next to Blanes. Read more about it in our
Lloret de Mar guide, which will give you more ideas for activities with the whole family: the Cat Museum, the castle, a boat trip, nice walks, the beach,....
6. A fun day out with the kids
There are plenty of places in Blanes where you can spend a nice afternoon with the kids. You can go to the bowling alley which also offers children's activities, or play mini-golf in Garbí Mini Park. Or you can go and have fun at Blanes Karting.
For a real day out in a waterpark or adventure park, you have the following options near Blanes:
Waterworld, Lloret de Mar
If you fancy a day of water and fun in the sun, you can head for Lloret de Mar right next to Blanes. Just outside the centre of Lloret the Mar, a 12-minute drive away from Blanes, you can visit the best waterpark of the Spanish east coast and about the biggest in Europe.
This huge park called Water World offers an ample range of attractions for all ages, such as water slides, a wave pool and hot tubs. Since 2010 it even has a 40-metre high slide which seems almost vertical… Quite unique!
From Blanes there is a free shuttle bus to Water World Lloret de Mar, which departs every half an hour. The park opens in the season (22-05 to 17-09) and every day from 10am to 19pm in July and August - it closes a bit earlier outside these months. If you can, go on a weekday when the park is less busy. (More info on the website: http://www.waterworld.es/)
Aquadiver, Platja d'Aro
If you are fond of waterparks, then it will be great to know that Waterworld and Aquadiver (Platja d’Aro) are owned by the same company and run a promotion where you get free entry to the other waterpark with the purchase of a ticket for one. Like Water World, Aquadiver has facilities for all ages: a wave pool, a hydrotherapy pool, a kids’ pool, play areas for children, a picnic area,...
Marineland, Palafolls
Another option for a day out with the kids is Marineland in Palafolls, only 10 minutes from Blanes. This waterpark is also a dolphinarium and offers shows and educational activities for children. (More info on the website: https://www.marineland.es)
Parc Aventura Costa Brava
About 40 minutes from Blanes, in Platja d'Aró, you can experience a unique outdoor adventure with your children.
Parc Aventura Costa Brava is a treetop adventure park where you can spend an amazing day in a pine forest, with more than 80 adventure activities suspended in the trees: zip wires, leaps into the void, ropes, nets, bridges, tunnels, Tarzan jumps,...
It has facilities for all ages and even a special playground for 1- to 5-year-olds. The park of more than 3 hectares offers an exciting test for your abilities. An unforgettable place, where you can disconnect and be active, surrounded by the Costa Brava’s beautiful nature. (Website: http://www.costabravaparcaventura.com)
