Planning a family holiday? Spain with children: holidays in Alicante and Murcia is a great choice for a family trip. These southern parts of Spain offer not only sunny weather and beaches but also many family-friendly attractions, activities, and delicious food.
Spain with children: holidays in Alicante and Murcia. As always, we share with you what is worth visiting and doing when traveling with children.
Spain with children: holidays in Alicante and Murcia
Where did we stay?
This time we started by getting interested in the town of San Pedro del Pinatar in the Murcia region. We really wanted to visit Murcia with children, see the colorful lakes with flamingos, and visit what we called the “Spanish Curonian Spit” – La Manga.
So, we found a small apartment right in the town of San Pedro del Pinatar. Our goal was economical Easter holidays during which we planned to travel a lot.
We recommend a two-bedroom apartment Casa Pedro Mar Menor, where we stayed for almost a week. If you are looking for accommodation in a good location with two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a washing machine, this is exactly what we need when traveling with children.
We flew to Alicante airport. Then we picked up our rental car and drove to our holiday home.
By the way, we were very happy that we chose the spring season for traveling. You will find discoveries for the Easter week at the end of the article. In addition, traveling when the weather is warm but the main tourist season has not started yet was very pleasant.
San Pedro del Pinatar town and our holiday plan
This town is not yet discovered by many Lithuanians, but it is very cozy and beautiful. Here you will find everything: peaceful relaxation, kitesurfing spots, beautiful white beaches, long promenades, restaurants, and attractions reachable within a short drive.
San Pedro del Pinatar beaches are very clean, well maintained, and ideal for families. In addition, there are many playgrounds.
Salt lakes with flamingos are a real discovery and a must-see place that we planned in advance. The views are wonderful. Also, the hiking trails are well designed and suitable for the whole family. Therefore, you can easily spend an entire day exploring this area.
Mud baths in San Pedro del Pinatar are another interesting activity. If children are brave and you are curious, you can try natural mud baths. For children it can be a fun experience, while for parents it can feel like free beauty treatments. However, we did not try them because we visited in spring and the weather was still too cold for water activities.
From San Pedro del Pinatar we also easily reached several beautiful Spanish cities, including Murcia, Alicante, and Cartagena. In addition, we spent a full day exploring the La Manga peninsula. It is a beautiful and unique place with lovely beaches and wild nature.
This time we were very happy with our holiday location. Murcia and Alicante are both nearby. Moreover, if you stay longer, you can also visit Valencia, which is only about 2.5 hours away by car.
Where to have breakfast here?
We also want to share a recommendation for a filling breakfast with children in San Pedro del Pinatar. El Horno De Guardia is open from early morning until late evening. The menu offers a wide selection. For breakfast we highly recommend crepes for children and English breakfast with a Spanish touch. The prices are friendly, the portions are large, and the coffee selection is excellent. In addition, you will also find fresh croissants and other pastries here.
Theme parks and activities for children in the Alicante and Murcia regions
Aitana Safari Park
Located in the mountains near Benidorm, this is one of the most impressive safari parks in Spain. The visitor route by car allows you to see animals in a natural environment, from lions to giraffes. There is also a small contact mini zoo for children. In addition, the park has a restaurant that offers traditional dishes and refreshing drinks. There is also a playground with swings and climbing structures.
We visited and really liked it. From our town this park is almost a two-hour drive, but it was definitely worth it.
You explore the park by car along a special route between freely roaming animals. As a result, it truly feels like a safari experience. With wonderful guides you can even step out of the car in certain areas, and the guides also share interesting information about the animals. More than 150 animals live in the park, including giraffes, elephants, hippos, zebras, antelopes, camels, goats, sheep, and other friendly animals. In separate safe zones you can also see lions and tigers. However, you will not be able to leave your car there.
Entrance with a guide is at 11:00 and 15:00. The last entrance to the park is at 16:00.
Visitors must follow the rules:
- Food is not allowed inside the car. Everything must be placed in backpacks or in the car trunk. However, you may have water inside the car.
- When leaving the car, you must strictly follow the guide’s instructions. Do not touch the animals, scare them, or chase them.
Also make sure to check the opening hours before visiting.
Other activities and parks with children in the Alicante and Murcia regions
- Pola Park (Santa Pola) is a small but fun amusement park near Alicante. It is especially suitable for younger children. However, older children might find it less exciting. We visited, but there were very long queues and not all rides were interesting for our children.
- Murapark climbing and adventure park was another place we really wanted to visit. However, because of the season and limited opening hours, we did not manage to go there.
- Terra Natura Park in Murcia combines a zoo and a water park. The park has more than 500 animals.
- Rio Safari Elche is a safari-style zoo with a small train.
Natural attractions
Salinas de San Pedro del Pinatar
These salt flats are a great place to observe flamingos and other birds. Children especially enjoyed watching the birds. Similar views can also be seen at Laguna Rosa de Torrevieja, a pink salt lake with flamingos.
Mar Menor lagoon (La Manga)
We dedicated an entire day of our holiday to this unique narrow strip of land. It is about 22 km long and in some places only 100–200 meters wide. This strip separates the Mediterranean Sea from the Mar Menor lagoon. The drive from San Pedro del Pinatar to La Manga takes less than an hour, so we truly recommend visiting.
It is an ideal place for water sports such as sailing, kitesurfing, paddling, and diving. In addition, long sandy beaches and the shallow, safe lagoon make it a great choice for families with small children.
In the evening we also visited Faro Cabo de Palos, a lighthouse with a beautiful panoramic view. The lighthouse can also be visited inside.
Beaches in Alicante and Murcia
- San Pedro del Pinatar beaches are very clean, well maintained, and perfect for families. There are many playgrounds, and this is exactly where we spent time with children. In addition, you will also find areas for water sports such as kitesurfing and sailing.
- Playa de San Juan (Alicante) is a long sandy beach with playgrounds, café areas, and the option to rent sunbeds. It is also a safe place for children.
- La Mata beach (near Torrevieja) is calmer and has a shallow entrance into the sea.
- Águilas (Murcia region) is a smaller town with peaceful beaches. Therefore, it is ideal for those looking for fewer tourists.
- La Manga del Mar Menor is a unique place where children can safely swim in the calm and warm Mar Menor lagoon.
Spanish cities and towns in the Alicante and Murcia regions
Alicante
You will reach the city in a little more than an hour. In addition, you can combine the trip with a visit to the safari park.
Our recommendations in Alicante include the old town, the famous Explanada de España promenade, and the castle on the hill, Castillo de Santa Bárbara. Also, do not be afraid to walk into narrow streets. Colorful houses and decorated entrances create a very cozy atmosphere away from the tourist crowds.
We did not manage to visit it this time, so it remains for the next trip. However, we highly recommend visiting the town of Elche near Alicante. It is a world-famous palm city with the largest palm grove in Europe. This grove is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. More than 200,000 palm trees were formed during the Islamic period. You can walk through the Huerto del Cura botanical garden, where the famous “Imperial Palm” with eight trunks grows.
Cartagena
Less than an hour from San Pedro del Pinatar you will find this historic city. It is one of the most important historical ports in Spain. The city is known for its Roman heritage, military architecture, and beautiful Mediterranean coastline. It is also famous for the Roman theatre and the naval museum. Children will enjoy the waterfront area with playgrounds.
Murcia city
It is also less than an hour from San Pedro del Pinatar. Murcia is the seventh largest city in Spain and the capital of the region. The city is known for baroque architecture, an authentic Spanish lifestyle, and beautiful flower displays. We visited Murcia during the winter Christmas period and now again during Easter week. The entire city was decorated with flower installations, and it felt very well maintained and cozy.
The main attractions include Murcia Cathedral (Catedral de Murcia). Its tower is 93 meters high and is one of the tallest in Spain. Plaza del Cardenal Belluga is the most beautiful square in the city. The Cathedral, the Bishop’s Palace, and the modern city hall building stand here. Casino de Murcia is a 19th-century building with Arabic, modernist, and neoclassical elements. Visitors can explore the luxurious halls and the inner courtyard.
Travel discoveries – Easter processions
We were also lucky because the Murcia region is famous for impressive theatrical Easter processions. It was an unforgettable experience. Moreover, everything took place very close to where we stayed in the town of San Pedro del Pinatar.
As we say, it is something you should see at least once in your life. We will not say much more, because everything can be seen in the photos.
Alicante, Murcia, San Pedro del Pinatar, and La Manga are perfect for a family trip and holidays with children. These regions offer both natural beauty and interesting activities.
