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Home / Home Featured / Things to do on the Costa Brava with kids

Things to do on the Costa Brava with kids

February 22, 2016 by Gretta Schifano 19 Comments

Beach at Hotel Silken Park San Jorge. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Beach at Hotel Silken Park San Jorge. Copyright Gretta Schifano

The Costa Brava is a beautifully rugged region of Catalonia in northeast Spain. It stretches along 124 miles of Spain’s Mediterranean coast from the French border down as far as Blanes, which is around 40 miles from Barcelona. I’ve visited the area as a guest of the Costa Brava Tourist Board, first on a BritMums parent blogger trip with my daughter, and then with my family.

My family and I stayed on the coast in Platja D’Aro which, along with several other resorts, has been awarded the Catalan tourist board’s Family Tourist Destination seal, in recognition of their high quality family offering. The region is an excellent destination for a family trip, and you definitely won’t run out of things to do there. We stayed at the four-star Park Hotel San Jorge, which I’d definitely recommend (you can read my full review here).

Here’s my pick of some of the great things to do with kids in the Costa Brava.

Human towers

The creation of human towers is a particular Catalan tradition, and is incredible to see. We saw a human tower group rehearsing on the steps of Girona cathedral and it was hard to watch, but amazing. You can find out what it was like in my post Human towers in Girona.

Marrecs de Salt human tower rehearsal 4, Girona. Copyright Sal Schifano

Marrecs de Salt human tower rehearsal, Girona. Copyright Sal Schifano

Parc Aventura

If you’re feeling adventurous, head for Parc Aventura, just along the coast from Sant Feliu de Guixols. We braved the high ropes and zip wires when we were there, but the park also offers paintballing, canyoning, caving, climbing and archery.

Find our more in my post about our trip to Parc Aventura.

Parc Aventura, Costa Brava. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Parc Aventura, Costa Brava. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Indoor skydiving

The Windoor wind tunnel in Empuriabrava is one of the top places in Europe for skydiving. The wind tunnel is used by professional skydivers for training and is also open to visitors, including children. My daughter and I loved our experience of skydiving there.

Me, indoor skydiving on the Costa Brava. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Me, indoor skydiving on the Costa Brava. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Fish Tour

Palamós is the Costa Brava’s main fishing port, and its excellent fish museum offers a fascinating Fish Tour, which we went on. We stood on the quayside as fisherman unloaded their catch, then watched the fish auction, popped in to the fish market and ended up in a fish cooking class upstairs. Find out more in my post about the fish tour and cooking class in Palamós.

Fishing boats at Palamós. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Fishing boats at Palamós. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Visit local food and wine producers

The Costa Brava produces some excellent food and wine, and many producers open their doors to visitors. Besides our cooking experience at the Fish Museum (above) we helped to make pumpkin jam at Les Eroles farmhouse and toured the historic Masia Can Molla vineyard.

Discover Dali

Artist Salvador Dalí spent most of his life on the Costa Brava. The largest collection of his work in the world is on display in Figueres at the Dalí Theatre Museum, and I went there with my daughter on our blogger trip. It’s definitely a child-friendly museum, and the kids were engaged by the exhibits. You can also visit the artist’s house and studio in Port Lligat. Read more about our visit in my post Dalí and the Costa Brava.

Dali Museum, Costa Brava. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Dali Museum, Costa Brava. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Explore Girona

I loved exploring Girona. We were there for just a day, but it’s definitely somewhere which I’d like to go back to (possibly without kids). The city has a pedestrianised medieval centre, a wedding cake cathedral, some stern defensive walls, a bridge designed by Eiffel, an ancient Jewish quarter which has been absorbed into its fabric, and lots of welcoming bars and quirky corners. Girona is now a set-jetting destination, as it was used for filming Game of Thrones last year (I still haven’t watched GoT, apart from a poor parenting experience in Dubrovnik).

Girona, Costa Brava. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Girona, Costa Brava. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Boat trip

Take a boat trip to enjoy the rugged coastline. We went on a sunny catamaran cruise from Roses along the coast of the Cap de Creus nature reserve – a third of the Costa Brava is a protected nature reserve where no building is allowed. When we dropped anchor in a sheltered bay, the crew cooked up paella for lunch for everybody. Find out more in my post on Cap de Creus by catamaran.

Cap de Creus. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Cap de Creus. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Coastal path

The Camí de Ronda is a coastal path which goes along 43 kms of the Costa Brava from Sant Feliu de Guixols to Begur. My husband and I walked a small part of it early one sunny morning from our hotel, and it was beautiful. It was very easy walking and would be fine with kids, although not with buggies. There’s also a 143 km circular route which takes in the coastal path and goes inland to Girona.

S'alguer - ©Daniel Punseti - Camí de Ronda®

S’alguer – ©Daniel Punseti – Camí de Ronda®

Segway tour

Blogger Nadine Hill and her family were staying in the Costa Brava at the same time as us, and they had a great time on a segway tour one day. You can read all about it on Nadine’s website, JuggleMum.

Easy cycling

This sounds perfect if you want to explore by bike but your kids are to small to keep up with you. Blogger Marianne Weekes enjoyed a family excursion on the Costa Brava on electric bikes. You can find out how it went on Marianne’s website Mari’s World.

Water parks

A day at a water park is something which my whole family enjoys, at the same time, and together – an increasingly rare occurrence as the kids get older. The water parks were closed when we visited in October, but there was one near our hotel which we’d definitely check out if we were there in summer: Aqua Diver. There are also two other water parks in the region, Aqua Brava and Water World. More details here.

Go to Bésalu

Bésalu is a handsome medieval walled town in the hills around 30 minutes drive from Girona. It’s a great place to just wander and see what you can see. When we visited we went to see a twelfth century Jewish bathhouse and also Micromundi, a museum with astonishing miniature creations which are so teeny tiny that you have to view them with a magnifying glass.

Blue Flag beaches

The Costa Brava has some of Europe’s best Blue Flag beaches, so you can be sure that you’ll find  a clean and safe place there for your kids to swim and play. (The internationally-recognised Blue Flag scheme tells you that a beach meets stringent environmental and safety criteria.)

Mountains

The Costa Brava isn’t just the coast – it also encompasses the foothills of the Pyrenees. Vall de Nuria snow park is a mountain playground in the Costa Brava which the whole family can enjoy. Blogger Kirstie Pelling went there with her family on a winter trip. You can read their review on their blog The Family Adventure Project.

Festivals

There are fascinating festivals throughout the year in this part of Catalonia. There’s Carnival in February, Easter is a big deal, local Saints days are celebrated, there’s a flower festival in Girona in May, and many more. If you’re going, check the local tourist board website to see what’s coming up.

Shopping

If your kids enjoy shopping (my daughter does) Espai Gironès is a designer shopping outlet on the outskirts of Girona which offers brands such as Mango, Zara, Kiko and Biba. There are also local markets throughout the area – check with tourist information for details.

Costa Brava coastal path. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Costa Brava coastal path. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Getting there

It’s easy to get the Costa Brava from the UK, with direct flights to both Girona and Barcelona airports from London and from regional airports. When we visited in October we flew from London Gatwick to Barcelona, then picked up a hire car at the airport to drive to our hotel on the coast.

More on the Costa Brava

To find our more about the Costa Brava, go to the official Costa Brava Tourist Board website. If you’d like a guide book to the region, I recommend the Costa Brava Marco Polo Guide. You can search for and book Costa Brava accommodation here.

Over to you

Have you been to the Costa Brava? Is it somewhere that you’d like to go? Let me know if you have any questions about this post, and I’ll do my best to answer you.

Things to do on the Costa Brava with kids, from human towers to high ropes adventures, from Dali to Girona and more, the region has loads of great things to see and do.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you clicked through and booked I may receive a small commission. We were guests of the Costa Brava tourist board on this working press trip. All opinions, images and words are my own, as ever.

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Categories: Spain, Things to do in...
Tags: Besalu, Cami de Ronda, costa brava, Girona, skydiving

About Gretta Schifano

I'm a freelance journalist and blogger specialising in family travel with teenagers, trips when parents manage to travel without their kids, and 50+ travel. I also write about vegetarian travel, parenting teenagers, adoption, SEN, ADHD and anxiety. My work's been published by the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and others. I've lived and worked in Italy and Spain and am now based in rural south-east England with my husband, adoptive and birth kids and our dog. I previously worked as a social action radio producer for the BBC.

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Comments

  1. Welsh Cakes and Wellies says

    December 8, 2016 at 8:24 pm

    I love the Costa Brava area – we stayed in Calella de Palafrugell. Gorgeous beaches, and great restaurants, such a great area to explore. We camped when we were there with two little ones, aged 3 and 5, they loved it. You’re review makes me want to back to the area!
    Welsh Cakes and Wellies recently posted…The Hare and Hounds Aberthin – A Foodies HeavenMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      December 9, 2016 at 9:07 am

      It’s such a wonderful area – thanks for the comment!

      Reply
  2. Bruno @ Geeky Explorer says

    August 27, 2016 at 10:18 am

    Thanks, despite living in Barcelona I’ve learned so many things – who knew we could do indoor skydiving in Costa Brava?! Definitely a lot to do, shame on me for not exploring it even more!
    Bruno @ Geeky Explorer recently posted…The 15 Best Day Trips Outside Barcelona (Plus 15 Top Beaches!)My Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      September 5, 2016 at 5:12 pm

      But there’s so much to do in Barcelona too!

      Reply
  3. Sharon taylor says

    April 4, 2016 at 1:52 pm

    I am taking my 2 Grandchildren to the Santa Susana resort in August, They are aged nearly 17 and 6 years of age, I was wondering are there any Dolphin shows or can you recommend a fun boat trip

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      April 5, 2016 at 1:13 pm

      Hi Sharon, I’m not familiar with that resort, I’m afraid, but a boat trip is a great way to enjoy the rugged coastline of the Costa Brava. The local tourist offices in the Costa Brava are very helpful, and their website is in English so you could contact them before you travel to ask for information, or find your nearest tourist office when you get there, and I’m sure that they’ll be able to help you. I hope that you have a great trip!

      Reply
  4. Victoria@celebratetheweekend says

    February 26, 2016 at 4:51 am

    Plaja d’Aro was our first family trip with (then) 2-year old firstborn. I cant remember the name of our hotel (on the beach) but it was indeed very family friendly apart-hotel. The hotel restaurant’s food was incredible and very affordable. we chose to celebrate my 30th b’day there at the end of the 2-week stay.

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      February 27, 2016 at 11:01 am

      It’s a great area for a family trip – lovely to spend a birthday there too!

      Reply
  5. lilly says

    February 25, 2016 at 6:42 pm

    Hi

    we have decided for the first time as a family to travel abroad,now that the children are a bit older.We have chosen costa brava for a week in october [ cant wait ]
    I would really appreciate any information on places to see,do etc
    many thanks

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      February 25, 2016 at 11:10 pm

      Hi, you’ve made a good choice, the Costa Brava is a beautiful area. Whereabouts are you staying? I’ve written a few posts about our trip there in October, so they may help you. Also the local tourist boards are really helpful, as is the Costa Brava website, which you can read in English: http://en.costabrava.org

      Reply
  6. Ting at My Travel Monkey says

    February 24, 2016 at 10:25 am

    Costa Brava is definitely on my list of places to visit over the next few years – it has it all really! And we’re such an outdoorsy family and like the sunshine. Win win. Mountains and beaches sounds like a great combination
    Ting at My Travel Monkey recently posted…Reviewed: Maple Manor Airport Meet and Greet ParkingMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      February 25, 2016 at 11:06 pm

      I think that you’d like it there!

      Reply
  7. Nell@PigeonPairandMe.com says

    February 23, 2016 at 8:48 pm

    Argh, it’s all coming back to me – an ex took me to the Coast Brava on a whirlwind trip, many years ago! It was a disaster – we split up shortly afterwards – but I do remember having an incredible time at Parc Aventura. Just a pity about the man sitting next to me on those brilliant rides! Must pay another visit to the region soon, to expunge those memories and replace them with good ones. It looks like a wonderful place to visit if you’re travelling with people you like!
    Nell@PigeonPairandMe.com recently posted…Team Honk day-long London museum dash for Sport Relief, Saturday 19 March #passtheproudMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      February 24, 2016 at 10:10 am

      What a shame! You definitely need to go back there with your family, I think you’d all love it there!

      Reply
  8. Globalmouse says

    February 23, 2016 at 1:40 pm

    Great round up! We loved the Costa Brava when we visited, I didn’t realise how beautiful it was there and also how much there is to do for families. This makes me want to go back!!
    Globalmouse recently posted…Skiing with Crystal Ski in Beitostølen, NorwayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      February 23, 2016 at 3:09 pm

      I know, it’s such a great area, definitely somewhere to return to!

      Reply
  9. Cathy (MummyTravels) says

    February 23, 2016 at 11:55 am

    I never realised quite how much there was to do in this part of Spain – I’m a GoT fan, so I’ve been very tempted by Girona, and I knew how family-friendly the coast was, but I hadn’t thought about the Dali angle for example. I do love the sound of the zip wire (maybe when my daughter’s older!) and boat tours, plus great food and drink always works.
    Cathy (MummyTravels) recently posted…City Tripping linky #15My Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      February 23, 2016 at 3:10 pm

      I think you’d love it there Cathy, it has so much to offer.

      Reply
  10. JuggleMum, Nadine Hill says

    February 22, 2016 at 4:13 pm

    Thanks for linking to my post! There really is so much to do in the Costa Brava, this is a great round-up!
    JuggleMum, Nadine Hill recently posted…Blueberry Cream Cheese Pancakes with PrimulaMy Profile

    Reply

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