10 Family-Friendly Resorts in Spain

In Spain, they love to look after their own. Families do things together, so finding a resort for you and your brood won't be particularly tricky. Here are 10 of our favourites.

Tossa de Mar

Tossa de Mar beach and castle 

This Costa Brava resort is an established hit with families. There's enough to do day and night yet the atmosphere remains relaxed rather than in your face. And its beaches are more on the mild than wild side, despite being located on Spain's famously rugged coast.

Moraira

Moraira beach 

Keep your littler ones out of your hair with a day trip to Aqualandia, the Mundomar Marine Park, or Terra Mitíca theme park in nearby Benidorm. Alternatively, take things easier in this chilled, yet rarely chilly, Costa Blanca resort. What was once a bustling fishing village has become an easy-on-the eye tourist destination, what with its picture-postcard setting of pine-clad mountains rolling down to turquoise water.

Puerto de la Cruz

Tenerife, Puerto de la Cruz 

Think of Tenerife and you might well conjure up images of brightly-lit discos and beaches thronged with partying youngsters. Where it seems to be one (year-)long Spring Break. Not so in northern Puerto de la Cruz which is less manic than the sexy southern resorts of Las Américas and Los Cristianos, but which still offers fun-for-all-the-family attractions in Loro Parque and the Lago Martianez water park.

 

 

Costa Teguise

Costa Teguise, Lanzarote 

Another Canary Island, another family-friendly holiday destination. This time it's Lanzarote and Costa Teguise. More restrained than livelier Puerto del Carmen, there's nothing grotty about a resort which grew up under the watchful eye of César Manrique, an architect/artist, who ensured it didn't become overdeveloped.

Puerto de Mogán

Puerto Mogan, Gran Canaria 

César Manrique, no lover of multi-story buildings, would approve of the low-level charm of Puerto de Mogán, on the neighbouring island of Gran Canaria. Although designed by Malaga-born Rafael Neville, there are plenty of Manrique-like touches. Especially the bougainvillea-clad whitewashed properties. Playa del Inglés, it isn't.

 

 

Calella de Palafrugell

Calella de Palafrugell, Catalonia

A classy Catalan resort which remains blissfully underdeveloped, Calella de Palafrugell is very much the unspoilt Costa Brava. From sandy beaches to hidden coves which wouldn't look out of place on the pages of Treasure Island, you and your family won't tire of discovering this area's various nook and crannies. And all reached in under an hour from Girona airport.

Aigua Blava

Begur - Aigua Blava beach 

Close to Calella de Palafrugell, heading in the direction of Begur, you'll find the equally beguiling resort of Aigua Blava. Its small beach becomes busier in summer, but not unbearably so. This is the less commercial part of the Costa Brava, after all.

Port de Pollença

Mallorca - Port de Pollensa 

Hit the north of Mallorca for the laidback Port de Pollença, the very antithesis of Magaluf, the island's wild west. The beaches slope gently down to the sea here which is perfect for younger members of the family who haven't shedded their water wings yet. Keep an eye out for cycling hero Bradley Wiggins who loves to holiday in the area with his family.

Portinatx

Ibiza - Portinatx beach 

Twentysomething kilometres, just over a 30-minute drive. That's all that separates Ibiza's Portinatx from the party island's infamous San Antonio. However, they might as well be located in another time zone. For whilst the former is all fiesta fiesta, no time for siesta, the latter is a place where any time of the day seems a perfect excuse for a gentle snooze.

Corralejo

Fuertventura - Corralejo 

The beauty of Fuerteventura's Corralejo is that you can visit all year round, whether it be for a cheeky Christmas break or longer summer holiday. Even the most energetic children will tire after a day spent playing in the great outdoors of beaches backing onto Atlantic surf. Which will ensure a peaceful evening for you, at the very least.