City of Arts and Sciences Valencia futuristic white architecture reflecting in water Spain

🇪🇸Valencia & Costa Blanca

Sun, beaches, flamingos, and the birthplace of paella. Valencia and the Costa Blanca offer families an incredible mix of nature, culture, and coast.

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Your family guide

Valencia and Costa Blanca with kids: beaches, flamingos and paella

“Two hundred kilometres of coastline, pink flamingos and paella over wood fires. Valencia and the Costa Blanca deliver on all fronts.”

— San & Jo

The Costa Blanca stretches for more than 200 kilometres along Spain's southeastern coast, and families will barely scratch the surface in a single trip. From the dramatic rock of the Penyal d'Ifac rising straight out of the sea to the shimmering pink salt lakes near Torrevieja, this region has a way of surprising you at every turn. It is not just a beach destination. It is a place where nature, history, and seriously good food all show up at once.

Valencia anchors the region from the north with its futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, its vast urban park along a former riverbed, and a historic quarter full of Gothic architecture and buzzing markets. Head south along the coast and the pace slows down. Quiet fishing villages, hidden calas with clear water, and whitewashed hilltop towns like Altea give families room to breathe and explore at their own speed.

What makes this region work so well for families is the variety. You can spend a morning kayaking along a rocky cove, eat paella at a beachside arrocería in the afternoon, and watch flamingos wade through a pink lagoon before sunset. The warm Mediterranean climate means the outdoor life is genuinely accessible for most of the year, and the mix of beaches, nature reserves, and cultural landmarks means everyone in your family finds something to love.

200+ km of coastlineDénia to Pilar de la Horadada

Mediterranean climateWarm and mild year-round

170 beaches and covesSandy bays to hidden calas

Cities and places in Valencia & Costa Blanca

4 places

Alicante

Alicante combines golden beaches, a hilltop castle, a walkable old town, and a brilliant food scene. Here is everything your family needs to know.

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Benidorm

Benidorm on the Costa Blanca offers families Blue Flag beaches, Aqualandia, Terra Mítica, and a charming Old Town. Sun, fun, and great seafood await.

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Costa Blanca

Costa Blanca offers families beaches, nature reserves, flamingo lakes, Moorish castles, and theme parks under 300 days of Spanish sunshine every year.

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Valencia

Valencia combines a golden city beach, the Oceanogràfic aquarium, futuristic architecture, and the birthplace of paella into one brilliant family destination.

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What makes it special

What makes Valencia and the Costa Blanca work for families

170 beaches from busy resorts to hidden coves

Wide sandy city beaches, sheltered rocky calas, and everything in between. The coastline alternates between dramatic cliffs and calm, clear bays that are perfect for little swimmers and confident snorkellers alike.

Wildlife and nature that genuinely wows kids

Migratory flamingos at the Torrevieja Salt Lakes, the Guadalest Valley reservoir tucked into the mountains, and the iconic Penyal d'Ifac rock rising from the sea. This region delivers real wildlife moments without needing to go far off the beaten track.

History your kids can actually see and touch

The hilltop Castillo de Santa Bárbara in Alicante, Valencia's Cathedral with its claimed Holy Grail chalice, and the late-Gothic Lonja de la Seda Silk Exchange give history a visual punch that sticks with children long after the holiday ends.

A food culture built for sharing

Paella cooked over a wood fire, horchata with sweet fartons, and communal lunches at arrocerías are all part of daily life here. Eating together is a big deal in this region, and kids are always welcome at the table.

Dramatic inland scenery just minutes from the beach

The northern Costa Blanca has a quieter, more authentic character, and the mountain villages and valleys inland offer a completely different side to the region. The Guadalest Valley is one of the most visited inland spots for good reason.

Your kind of holiday

Beach days with room to roam

With 170 beaches and coves spread across 200 kilometres of coastline, you will never feel crowded out. The northern Costa Blanca tends to be quieter and more unspoilt, while the southern resorts offer more facilities and entertainment close to the water.

Outdoor adventures on land and sea

The Jardines del Turia in Valencia is a 9-kilometre green ribbon perfect for cycling through the city. Along the coast, your family can try windsurfing, kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, and diving. Inland, mountain trails and valley walks open up a completely different landscape.

Food, markets, and local flavours

Valencia is the birthplace of paella, and eating your way through the region is genuinely one of the highlights. Markets like the Mercado Central in Valencia, beachside arrocerías, and local tapas bars all offer a relaxed, family-friendly way to discover the food culture.

Fun facts

Things to know about Valencia & Costa Blanca

The Holy Grail might be in Valencia

Valencia's Cathedral houses a chalice that many believe to be the actual Holy Grail used at the Last Supper. Whether or not it is the real thing, the story alone tends to get kids very interested in visiting a very old church.

There are flamingos in Spain

The Torrevieja Salt Lakes are Europe's largest and oldest salt lakes, and their pink and green lagoons attract migratory flamingos. Spotting a flock of flamingos in the wild is one of those moments that genuinely surprises families who were not expecting it.

Paella was invented here, and it has no seafood

The original Paella Valenciana is made with chicken, rabbit, green beans, and local white beans. No prawns, no mussels. It was created by farm workers cooking outdoors over a wood fire in the rice paddies around the Albufera lagoon. Kids always find it interesting that the dish the whole world thinks they know is actually quite different from the original.

Taste Valencia and the Costa Blanca

What to eat with your family in Valencia and the Costa Blanca

Paella Valenciana

The original version from the Albufera rice paddies is made with chicken, rabbit, green beans, garrofón beans, saffron, and olive oil, cooked over a wood fire for a crispy caramelised bottom layer called socarrat. Eating it at a proper arrocería is one of the region's great family experiences.

Must try

Horchata with fartons

A cold, creamy drink made from tigernuts, served alongside long sweet pastries called fartons for dipping. It is refreshing, naturally sweet, and completely non-alcoholic. Kids tend to love it from the first sip.

Kids love it

Fideuà

Think paella, but made with thin noodles instead of rice, cooked with mussels, shrimp, squid, and clams, and served with a dollop of allioli. It originated in the nearby town of Gandia and is a brilliant alternative for families who want to try something a little different.

Local favourite

Arroz al forn

A hearty baked rice dish made with pork ribs, chorizo, chickpeas, potatoes, and tomatoes, slow-cooked in the oven until creamy. It is the kind of warming, filling meal that works perfectly after a day of outdoor exploring.

Safe choice

Esgarraet

A simple, flavourful tapa of salted cod and roasted red peppers dressed in good olive oil. It is served as a starter in most local restaurants and is a great way to introduce kids to the region's strong tradition of honest, ingredient-led cooking.

Local favourite