You’ll discover so many family-friendly things to do when you visit Catalonia with kids. There is just so much for families on holiday in Catalonia like visiting medieval Girona, hiking the stunning Costa Brava coastline, eating delicious produce farmed in volcanic soil, exploring the waterfalls and forests of the Garroxta region and wandering ancient city forts that seemingly spring out of the countryside in Besalu.

We spent a week on a self-drive holiday from Barcelona and had a fabulous time – so good that we are planning on returning as soon as we can.

Where is Catalonia?

Catalonia is an autonomous community in north eastern Spain on the Iberian Peninsula.  It’s a huge 32,000 square kilometres, packed with family activities and things to do with kids.

Catalonia is flanked to the north by France and Andorra, to the south by the Community of Valencia, to the west by Aragón, and to the east by the Mediterranean Sea, with more than 500 km of stunning coastline for your family to explore. The famous and well-known capital of Catalonia is Barcelona, and it is home to many other well known towns and cities.

Before you go:

Make sure to get a VPN to protect your data. You can read why you need a VPN here and get three months free with Express VPN.

You also need travel insurance. If you’re taking a drive holiday (we used a car from Sixt Car Rental and they were amazing) check your PDS to see what you are covered for. You may not be covered for items left in your car even if they’re secured. This is super important.

Of course, the most famous city in Catalonia is its regional capital, Barcelona. You can read all about our favourite family activities in Barcelona here.

Here are our favourite things to do in Catalonia for families. We loved our family visit to Catalonia and you will too.

Be moved by the bells of Girona

Our first stop after Barcelona was beautiful Girona, less than 90 minutes drive away (if you don’t have your own wheels try this small group day tour from Barcelona).

Girona is a stunning medieval city, known for its architecture, its old quarter with cobblestone streets and narrow pathways,  its 600-year-old-Cathedral, and city walls and watchtowers that you can walk around. We just happened to take an early walk around the city on a Sunday and listened to the bells from the Cathedral as we gazed over rooftops in the morning light. It’s well worth doing a walking tour here to learn all about the ancient city including the Jewish Quarter, why the Girona people love flies, the Eiffel Bridge and Onya River. Young children will love exploring the city walls and medieval streets – if you can wear your baby then do, the city walls and streets are a little too rugged for prams.

Scenes from Season 6 of Game of Thrones were filmed here and fans visit from all over the world. This Game of Thrones five star small group walking tour takes you to all the locations and is hosted by a GOT expert.

Eat:

Try the famous local speciality at Moner Bakery called Xuixo. It’s a delicious pastry filled with Catalan crème. I ate more than I can admit.

Stay:

We stayed at the beautiful Hotel Ciutat de Girona which is super welcoming for families – there was a suitcase of children’ games on our bed when we arrived – and has a lovely pool and fabulous breakfast with a coffee machine. It’s footsteps away from the old town, and Casa Moner is just around the corner too.

Fall in love with Sant Feliu de Guíxols

We adored this little coastal town which retains its local charm while being a popular Catalan summer family destination. Sant Feliu has so much for kids to enjoy and an accessible beach with specially trained staff to assist people requiring help into the water (during summer).

It also has an amazing coastal swimming lane marked with buoys, and you can hike its coastline on pathways that hug the cliffside and take you to deserted aquamarine swimming spots nestled below.

During summer there is a beach library, rock climbing, caving, pirate adventures on the seas and snorkelling in hidden coves.

The medieval Monastery and Gallery is fabulous got explore and offers incredible program of summer exhibitions – 2019 featured Sorolla and Picasso – and art immersion activities and workshops for children. The Toy Museum holds treasures that kids will love discovering, and the beachfront has excellent parks and play areas for children.

You can take a day trip from Barcelona and explore the Costa Brava coastline with swimming and snorkelling, or if you have more time slowing make your way along the coast.

Eat:

We had the most incredible dinner at the beautiful Restaurant Sa Marinada on the waterfront – eating here really is a must! – and a delicious lunch at Marabú Restaurant.

Stay:

Elke Spa Hotel on the waterfront with gorgeous rooms, fabulous food and an awesome rooftop pool and spa.

Explore Besalu town

We loved this stunning little medieval town – one of the most popular in Catalonia – perched on top of a mountain in Garrotxa county, and thought to have been built in the 6th century. Besalu is only an hours’ drive from Sant Feliu, and makes a nice day trip from Barcelona.

You enter the town by crossing the bridge over the Fluvia River  – it’s unusual because it is curved, but that’s because it was built on huge boulders to stop erosion from the water. In medieval times people entering the town would have to pay for themselves and their animals to enter the city at the tower in the middle of the bridge.

We really enjoyed visiting the amazingly well preserved Jewish baths or mikveh that were hidden when the Jewish people left Besalú in the 13th century and only rediscovered in 1964, wandering the cobblestone streets and gazing over the beautiful Fluvia River.

You can explore Besalu, Santa Pau and Castellfollit de la Roca on this awesome medieval town day trip from Barcelona. 

Vall d’en Bas and Les Preses

Garroxta is full of outdoors activities for all seasons – from hiking and exploring volcanos and waterfalls to bike riding along old reclaimed train lines. The cuisine here is incredible, using produce farmed on the volcanic plateau in mineral enriched soil.

We went on a wonderful hike past ancient churches and through pristine forest to a waterfall in Gorgs Vall d’en Bas, explored the La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park,  rode bikes along the promenade with Centre Logístic de Bicicletes and ate the most amazing food.

Stay:

Mas Rubio Joanetes, 17176 Joanetes (Girona)   Tel. +34 650.620.103

A stunning farmhouse built in just down the road from a tiny medieval town called Joanetes. The family owned accommodation is kid friendly and has indoor and outdoor play areas, chickens and natural swimming pool. Gemma is a beautiful host and the family is just lovely. I wish we had stayed here longer, it’s divine.

Eat:

Volcanic cuisine at the amazing Lunch at La Deu Olot Restaurant, a generations-old family restaurant in beautiful gardens, serving local volcanic cuisine.

Hostalet Restaurant in en Bas is similarly wonderful with delicious cuisine and wines. I wish we hadn’t been riding bikes after lunch as I couldn’t enjoy as much wine as I would have liked.

The white coast of Cadaques

The beach, the cobblestone streets and the delicious food of Cadaques – a stunning town of white cascading down the mountain to the coast nestled in the Costa Barava coastline – will bring you back time and time again.  The highlight for us was a visit to Salvadore Dali’s home, and the chance to see where he lived, worked, experimented and inspired. His ability to have fun reminded me to add more joy to my life. I love seeing Emmie so interested in art – she was fascinated with Dali.

You can choose this day trip from Barcelona if you don’t have time to spend in Cadaques – it’s so worth the trip.

Oh I wish we had done this day trip along the coast from Roses – which is just over the mountain. It looks amazing. So many reasons to return to Catalonia!

This is only a snippet of the incredible activities and adventures for families in Catalonia. We will definitely return to explore more.

Our trip was sponsored by Tourism Barcelona and Catalonia Tourism.