Spain is a great country to visit with kids, but there are so many amazing places to see that it can quickly become overwhelming when planning a family road trip in Spain. To help you out planning your family road trip in Spain, we created this Spain itinerary for a 14 days family adventure.
This is a Barcelona to Seville road trip filled with fun things to do. It’s a detailed itinerary that will help you plan your family trip to Spain.
But first, why should you ever consider Spain for your next family road trip?
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Why Visiting Spain With Your Family
Spain is a beautiful country with a wide range of attractions for families. From parks and museums to beaches and other entertainment activities, your children will love discovering Spain. And so will you. We can’t also forget about the amazing weather in Spain as pretty much all year round and the food. Tapas, Pintxos, Rioja and so much more.
A few things to know when planning your Spain family vacation itinerary
Here are a few things to know when planning a road trip to Spain with kids.
Book your flight to Barcelona (and/or Seville)
Find cheap flights to Barcelon-El Prat Airport (BCN) using Google Flights or Skyscanner. Those two search engine searches for different airlines deserving BCN, including some low-cost ones.
You can also book a return flight from Seville where our itinerary ends, or fly back from Barcelona.
Rent your car or campervan
If you flew into Barcelona to start your epic road trip in Spain, you must rent a car or rent a campervan.
If you wish to rent a car, DiscoverCars is a good search engine for car rentals in Barcelona and all across Spain. You can also rent a campervan from Barcelona. Indie Campervans or Anywhere Campers are good options. You can compare pricing on Auto Europe for motorhome rentals.
»» Download our 14-Day Spain Itinerary with Kids
How to get around Spain
The best way to get around Spain with your family is by car. Although public transport is good, it doesn’t provide you with the comfort and flexibility that a rental car does. You’ll want to be renting a car to make sure you enjoy Spain as much as you can.
Renting a campervan can also be another great way to discover Spain with your family. In addition to this, you’ll be able to access less known cities and towns with a car, something that can be harder or more time-consuming when using public transportation across Spain, especially with only a 14 days trip.
Spain itinerary: 14 days road trip
There are many different road trip opportunities across Spain. Flying in Barcelona is a good idea as there are many flights coming into Barcelona. It’s also a good starting point, especially if flying internationally.
Our Spain Itinerary for your 14 days road trip starts in Barcelona and will end in Seville, in Southern Spain. The driving distance from Barcelona to Tarifa is about 1,600 km one-way.
There are many things to see along the way, so planning a road trip to Spain for at least 14 days is ideal to enjoy it.
»» Download our 14-Day Spain Itinerary with Kids
Summary of your Spain itinerary for 14 days from Barcelona:
- Day 1: Barcelona
- Day 2: Barcelona
- Day 3: Barcelona to Valencia
- Day 4: Valencia
- Day 5: Valencia to Madrid
- Day 6: Madrid
- Day 7: Madrid to Granada
- Day 8: Granada
- Day 9: Nerja
- Day 10: Malaga
- Day 11: Malaga to Tarifa
- Day 12: Tarifa
- Day 13: Tarifa to Seville
- Day 14: Seville
Day 1: Barcelona
Start your day by visiting the famous Sagrada Familia, one of the most beautiful architectural buildings in Spain. The Basilica de la Sagrada Familia is a huge unfinished basilica in Barcelona that is now part of the UNESCO World.
While you enjoy contemplating Antoni Gaudi’s masterpiece (that is honestly simply amazing), older kids can share an audio guide and explore this building too. Kids will love visiting this basilica as it feels like walking in an unreal forest and wonderland. The architecture is unique and everyone will enjoy the beauty of Sagrada Familia.
»» Get your entrance tickets to Sagrada Familia
After visiting Sagrada Familia, go on a 20-minute walk to Alsur Café Llúria to enjoy a delicious lunch. We highly recommend the fresh juices and churronets, a sweet that consists of a churro in form of a bird’s nest.
Not too far from the cafe, you can visit Parc de la Ciutadella, an incredible park with rowboats, fountains, and play areas where kids can burn off energy.
Finally, you can spend the rest of the day visiting Barcelona Zoo or the Chocolate museum where children can learn about the history behind chocolate and take part in creating their own chocolate bar. That is a great way to end the first day of the Spain itinerary.
»» Get your entrance tickets to Barcelona Zoo
Day 2: Barcelona
Get ready early morning to visit Park Güell, another must-see Gaudí attraction in Barcelona. Children will love discovering the park and the “Hansel and Gretel” style houses. We recommend visiting the park early and on weekdays if possible as it can get very busy at other times.
»» Get your skip-the-line entrance tickets to Park Güel
Take the underground and head to Las Ramblas, where you can stop at La Boqueria Market for a picnic lunch.
Then head to the Gothic Quarter to explore its streets. You can also see the beautiful Barcelona Cathedral. Here you might want to surprise your kids with a visit of the Aquarium of Barcelona. Your children will be fascinated by the sea animals. The Aquarium offers plenty of interactive and fun spaces.
»» Get your entrance tickets to Barcelona Aquarium
Want to add a day in Barcelona?
If you decide to stay longer in Barcelona, your children will love visiting Parc del Laberint d’Horta, a hidden gem park that has many green spaces as well as a fun labyrinth where kids can play.
Day 3: Barcelona to Valencia via Tarragona
Travelling from Barcelona to Valencia by car takes about 4 hours, so you may want to break up the journey with a quick visit to Tarragona for some food and sightseeing.
Some of the things you and your family can do in Tarragona are:
- explore Tarragona’s monuments like the Roman amphitheatre and circus
- visit the Tarragona National Archaeological Museum (MNAT) which has educational projects for kids that involve theatre acts, games and workshops.
Day 4: Valencia
Valencia is a very family-friendly destination with many activities to do with children.
The City of Arts and Sciences, as well as the Valencia Oceanogràfic, are must-see museums for kids and adults. You can easily spend half-day visiting these two parts of the museum. There is also a movie theatre where kids can watch films and documentaries.
»» Get your entrance tickets to Valencia Oceanagràfic
If you visit Valencia during the summer, you can also rent out zorb water walking balls right at the City of Arts and Science. The kids love climbing into these balls and walking on the water! Canoes can also be rented.
Other things you can do with kids in Valencia are visiting the LEGO Fun Factory, or having a fun day at the Patacona Beach which also has a playground.
Day 5: Valencia to Madrid
The car journey from Valencia to Madrid is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes long (356 kilometres). There are no big cities or popular towns to visit during this drive car. We recommend stopping for a food break.
Maybe pack a lunch and snacks and stop for a picnic on the way.
Once you arrive in Madrid, check in to your accommodation and head to El Retiro Park for a relaxing afternoon. The kids can play in the playground and green spaces.
Day 6: Madrid
First head to Prado Museum, where you’ll spend approximately 4 hours. When visiting with kids, we highly suggest booking a kid’s tour in which children can learn about the museum while having fun painting and playing games.
»» Get your entrance tickets to Prado Museum
Next to El Prado, you’ll also find a few great playgrounds for kids to run and burn off energy and have a snack too.
Spend the rest of your afternoon visiting one of the many incredible museums for kids such as the Railway Museum or the Robot Museum.
Day 7: Madrid to Granada, via Toledo
This is a travel day as Madrid is about 4 hours and 30 drive from Granada (419 kilometres). You can stop in Toledo and Jaen for a few hours if you want to break up the trip.
In Toledo, you’ll want to explore the Toledo Botanical Garden. There are many different gardens to discover such as the Herb Garden, Rose Garden, and Green Garden. And there are some Secret Forest playgrounds for the kids to play.
In Jaen, you can admire the Jaen Cathedral.
Day 8: Granada
During this day in Granada, we highly recommend visiting the Alhambra, an UNESCO World Site Heritage with plenty of history, outstanding architecture and green spaces for kids to run and have fun.
We recommend waking up early to ensure you get into the Alhambra.
»» Get your skip-the-line entrance tickets to Alhambra
A visit to The Alhambra will take you approximately 3 or 4 hours, so you can spend the rest of the day exploring the old town and having some food in one of the delicious tapas bars across the city.
Day 9: Granada to Nerja
The drive from Granada to Nerja is 98 kilometres.
Nerja is a small town near Malaga, which is perfect for having a more relaxing day with your family. Despite being small, you can do a good range of activities with children.
First, take an educational tour for kids in Nerja Caves where they can learn about the first cave paintings in the Iberian Peninsula. The caves may not be suitable for all young kids as there are steps and small paths.
Then head to the beautiful Nerja town center to enjoy lunch in a traditional restaurant or tapas bar, and see Balcón de Europa, the most picturesque views in Costa del Sol.
Finally, spend the rest of your day relaxing at the beach located underneath the viewpoint. Or if you´re visiting in winter, you can take the tourist train or let children play at Verano Azul playground.
Day 10: Nerja to Malaga
The drive from Nerja to Malaga is only 67 kilometres.
Once in Malaga, start your day by having hot chocolate with churros in Casa Aranda, located in the city’s heart, before a full day packed with activities.
Then head to La Alcazaba, a beautiful Moorish fortress palace where kids can learn about the history of Malaga or roam freely in the many green spaces.
»» Get your skip-the-line entrance tickets to Alcazaba
From here, head to Gibralfaro Castle, another must-see attraction in Malaga. For tired kids, there is a bus that will take you to Gibralfaro Castle which is located at the top of a hill.
After visiting these two historic buildings, go to Muelle Uno, Malaga’s port to have lunch in one of the main outdoor restaurants perfect for families. Here you find free events for kids on certain occasions such as Christmas and a great playground.
Lastly, you can visit one of the many kid-friendly museums such as:
El Caminito del Rey is another great activity for older kids in Malaga. It’s not suitable for kids under 8 years old, but highly recommended if your kids are old enough. It’s a walkway along the narrow gorge of El Chorro.
»» Get your guided tour tickets to El Caminito del Rey
Day 11: Malaga to Tarifa
The drive from Malaga to Tarifa is 161 kilometres. All of the drive is along the ocean, so take your time and stop in a few little coastal towns. Torremolinos, Marbella and Estapona are nice stops. You’ll find beautiful beaches and little shops and restaurants.
You can also detour via Ronda and its famous El Tajo gorge. The gorge separates the Old town from the New Town.
If time allows, you might want to visit Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory.
Day 12: Tarifa
Tarifa is the perfect place to relax at the beach and explore a few historic buildings such as the Roman Ruins Of Baelo Claudia. In addition, the town has numerous playgrounds and a close-by water park.
Plus, Tarifa is on the tip of Spain, facing Tanger in Morroco. You can easily book a guided tour to spend the day in Tanger, Morroco.
»» Book you day trip guided tour tickets to Tanger
Day 13: Tarifa to Seville
The drive from Tarifa and Seville is 206 kilometres. There are a few quaint towns to stop at on the way, such as Cadiz and Jerez de la Frontera.
When you arrive in Seville, check in at your hotel, have some food and explore Plaza De España and María Luisa Park. It’s the perfect place to rent a boat and spend the afternoon playing with your children.
Day 14: Seville
Start your day with a Hop-on Hop-Off bus. It’s the perfect way to explore the city. With 14 stops all around Seville, you’ll be able to discover the city and stop along the way. The ticket for the hop-on-hop-off bus is valid for 24 hours.
»» Get your tickets for the Seville Hop-on Hop-off bus
During the second day in Seville, you can opt for visiting Isla Mágica, a theme park that your kids will love, or exploring other important monuments and buildings in the city such as Royal Alcázar and the Cathedral.
Final Thoughts: Spain Itinerary – 14 Days Road Trip
Spain is a beautiful country to visit and there are many things for your kids to do. From beaches to museum, no ones will be bored in Spain.
If you have more time, you’ll want to head to Northern Spain and visit the Basque Country. San Sebastian is a great town to visit with kids with the beaches, the aquarium, and the Old Town. If you make your way to the Basque Country, make sure to eat some Pintxos, a Northern Spain traditional snack. It’s similar to tapas but usually served on top of a slide of bread.
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