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.
0 guides · Valencia & Costa BlancaExplore →
🇪🇸Costa Blanca
Costa Blanca offers families beaches, nature reserves, flamingo lakes, Moorish castles, and theme parks under 300 days of Spanish sunshine every year.
Your family guide
Costa Blanca with kids: sun, nature, and real Spanish life
“Pink salt lakes near Torrevieja where flamingos actually wade, then a Moorish castle in Guadalest the next day. Costa Blanca's trick is mixing beach resort chaos with quiet inland villages in the same trip.”
— San & Jo
Costa Blanca is one of those destinations that works for almost every family. Stretching 220 kilometres along the southeastern coast of Spain, it combines long sandy beaches, dramatic rocky coves, inland mountain villages, and a warm Mediterranean climate that averages around 18 degrees Celsius year-round. That means you can visit in spring, summer, autumn, or even a mild winter week and still have a genuinely good time outdoors.
What makes Costa Blanca stand out from other Spanish coastlines is the variety. One day your family can be snorkelling in the clear waters around Tabarca Island. The next, you are hiking up to a Moorish hilltop castle in Guadalest or spotting flamingos at the pink salt lakes near Torrevieja. The coast itself ranges from lively resort towns like Benidorm to quiet whitewashed villages like Altea, so you can mix it up depending on what your family needs that day.
The food scene is genuinely brilliant for families too. Fresh seafood, rice dishes cooked to order, and simple tapas mean even picky eaters usually find something they love. Costa Blanca is not just a beach holiday destination. It is a place where your family can explore, taste, and discover something new every single day.
300+ sunny daysper year
220 km coastlineAlicante province, Spain
18°C averageyear-round temperature
Best things to do
Best things to do in Costa Blanca
Santa Bárbara Castle, Alicante
Perched high above Alicante city, this imposing castle offers panoramic views over the Mediterranean and a genuine slice of history. You can take a lift up through the rock or walk the path if your kids are up for it. The views from the top are absolutely worth it.
Go early to beat the midday heat
1.5-2 hours
Tabarca Island snorkelling
A short boat trip from Alicante brings you to Spain's only inhabited island nature reserve. The water here is exceptionally clear and calm, making it perfect for snorkelling with kids. The island also has a small historic settlement to explore once you are done in the water.
Bring your own snorkel gear to save on rental costs
Half day
Guadalest Valley hilltop village
One of the most dramatic inland spots on the Costa Blanca, Guadalest sits on a rocky outcrop with a castle ruin at its peak and sweeping mountain views in every direction. The village itself is small but full of character, with quirky museums and local craft shops lining the narrow streets.
Visit mid-week to avoid the tour bus crowds
2-3 hours
Peñón de Ifach hike, Calpe
This 332-metre limestone rock rising straight out of the sea is one of the most iconic sights on the entire Costa Blanca. The hiking trail to the top takes around 1.5 hours and passes through a tunnel carved into the rock. The views from the summit are genuinely spectacular.
Wear proper shoes and bring plenty of water
2-3 hours
Fonts de l'Algar natural pools
Near the town of Callosa d'en Sarrià, these natural waterfalls and swimming pools set in lush green vegetation are a brilliant alternative to the beach. The water is cool and refreshing, and the whole setting feels like a hidden oasis. A perfect half-day escape from the coast.
Arrive early in summer as it gets busy by midday
2-3 hours
Torrevieja Salt Lakes flamingo spotting
Europe's largest salt lakes are home to a striking pink lagoon and attract migratory flamingos alongside dozens of other bird species. Walking the paths around the lakes with kids who have never seen a flamingo in the wild is genuinely memorable. The colours of the landscape are unlike anything else on the coast.
Spring and autumn are the best times for flamingo sightings
1-2 hours
Terra Mítica theme park, Benidorm
One of Spain's biggest theme parks, divided into five ancient civilisation zones including Rome, Greece, Egypt, Iberia, and the Mediterranean Islands. There are roller coasters, water rides, and live performances throughout the day. It is a full day out and genuinely great fun for families with kids of all ages.
Book tickets online in advance for better prices
Full day
Aqualandia water park, Benidorm
One of Europe's biggest water parks and home to the highest waterslide on the continent. Whether children are thrill-seekers or prefer the gentler splash zones, Aqualandia covers all bases. On a hot summer day, this is honestly one of the best ways to spend time in Benidorm.
Midweek visits are much quieter than weekends
Full day
Our verdict
How Costa Blanca scores for families
Kids
Beaches, water parks, theme parks, flamingos, and boat trips to islands. Costa Blanca genuinely delivers for families with children of any age.
Culture
Roman and Moorish history is woven into the landscape. Castles, hilltop villages, and historic island settlements give curious families plenty to explore.
Food
Fresh seafood, specialist rice restaurants, and simple tapas make eating out with kids easy and enjoyable. The local cuisine is approachable and genuinely delicious.
Nature
Natural pools, salt lakes with flamingos, dramatic limestone rocks, and mountain nature reserves make this a surprisingly rich destination for outdoor families.
Budget
Costa Blanca offers good value compared to many European beach destinations, though peak summer prices in resort towns like Benidorm can add up quickly.
Planning your visit
How long should you stay on the Costa Blanca?
4
4 days
Short break
Pick a base, hit the best beach, do one inland trip, and squeeze in a theme park or boat trip.
sweet spot
7
7 days
Sweet spot
A full week lets you mix beach days, inland villages, wildlife spotting, and a theme park without rushing anything.
14
14 days
Deep dive
Two weeks gives you time to explore the whole coastline, venture into the mountains, and really settle into the pace of Spanish life.
Fun facts
Things to know about Costa Blanca
Europe's pinkest lake
The Laguna Salada de Torrevieja is one of the saltiest lakes in the world, and the high salt content combined with algae turns the water a vivid shade of pink. It looks almost too surreal to be real.
300 ways to cook rice
The Costa Blanca region has over 300 different rice-based recipes in its culinary tradition. Specialist rice restaurants called arrocerías often have menus listing 10 to 20 different varieties, all cooked fresh to order.
Spain's only inhabited island reserve
Tabarca Island near Alicante is the only inhabited marine nature reserve in Spain. The entire island is just 1.8 kilometres long, but it has a small village, a historic church, and some of the clearest snorkelling water on the entire coast.
Taste Costa Blanca
What to eat with your family on the Costa Blanca
Arroz a banda
Must tryArrocería La Pepica, Alicante
Rice cooked slowly in rich fish stock with squid and prawns, then served with a generous dollop of aioli on the side. This is the dish that defines Costa Blanca coastal cooking. Order it at a proper arrocería and it will be cooked fresh for your table.
Valencian paella
Kids love itRestaurante Dársena, Alicante
The real deal here is made with chicken, rabbit, green beans, garrofón beans, tomato, and saffron. It is nothing like the tourist versions you might have tried elsewhere. Kids tend to love the golden rice and the smoky, slightly crispy bottom layer called socarrat.
Fideuà
Safe choiceRestaurante El Poblet, Altea
Think paella, but made with small pasta noodles instead of rice and packed with seafood. It is a brilliant option for kids who are not big rice fans but still want to try something local and delicious. The noodles soak up all the flavour from the seafood broth.
Pericana on toast
Local favouriteBar Nou Manolin, Alicante
A simple but addictive Costa Blanca condiment made from dried ñora peppers, garlic, olive oil, and dried fish, spread onto crusty bread. It is a staple of local tapas bars and a great way to introduce kids to the flavours of the region without anything too adventurous.
Mojama
Must tryMercado Central de Alicante
Salted and dried bluefin tuna sliced paper-thin and drizzled with good olive oil. It has a deep, intense flavour that comes from centuries of fishing tradition along this coast. Older kids who enjoy bold flavours tend to find it surprisingly good.
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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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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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