When we think of Marbella, it is difficult not to imagine luxury Marbella real estate, glamorous nightlife, gastronomy, beach clubs and super-yachts moored in the marinas. Yet that would only be part of the picture, as Marbella is a fantastic place for kids too!
Yes, it is true, there are many upmarket residential resorts and villas in Marbella, but they are mainly family friendly; most are equipped with either private or community swimming pools, some have playgrounds and security, making them a safe environment for children to enjoy the sunshine and outdoor lifestyle. Add to this the endless stretches of Blue Flag sandy beaches just waiting for excited children to run, jump around, paddle, splash about, and build improbable looking sandcastles.
If you have children and renting property on the Costa del Sol for your holiday or you considering buying a Marbella property to relocate permanently, you will not be disappointed. In Marbella alone, there are plenty of activities to keep your children entertained. Here are six of our favourite fun-filled activities for children in Marbella:
Marbella's beaches are perfect for families with children; sand is soft, the water is generally calm and there are plenty of facilities, including snacks, sunbeds, shades and lifeguards. In the summer season, there are the added attractions of the Aquaparks.
There are a number of Aquaparks on Marbella’s beaches, including Costa Water Park located at Puerto Banús (there are also three in Fuengirola and another in Benalmadena) and Water Fun in Real de Zaragoza, Marbella, which also has parks in various other locations throughout Spain.
Imagine bouncing around on an enormous inflatable playground positioned closes to the beach. It is the perfect way for the littles ones to jump, dive, slide (and slip!) around on the inflatables and in the water. They are supervised to prevent accidents, which means that you can sit back and relax knowing they are in safe hands. Alternatively, stand by with your camera to get some priceless shots as they fly around.
A trip to Andalusia’s biggest adventure park must be on your list of things to do with the kids. Located in Elviria to the east of Marbella town, there are six different adventure circuits, including a Andalucia’s longest zipline, measuring an impressive 240m
If you want to let of some steam and use up energy, this is the place for climbing, jumping, sliding and zipping through treetops. There are 83 different activities, suitable for all different ages (minimum age is 4 years old), which you can use as you wish for up to three hours
There is a great mini-course with climbing wall, adventure game and challenges for the 4 to 7-year-olds. There is also the option of forest visits and workshops.
Taking a trip on a sailing yacht or catamaran is exiting in itself, but there is nothing quite like getting up close to dolphins (and sometimes whales), where you can watch them swim and play in their natural habitat. It is possible to hire a boat as a family or take one of the many group tours, that leave from the marina in Marbella and Puerto Banús.
You will need a couple of hours in order to see them, but when you do, you will most likely see one of these three species; bottleneck, skipjack and cetaceans. There is also a possibility of seeing many other species on their route through the Strait of Gibraltar including sea turtles and large tuna.
For more information visit these websites: Getyourguide and royalcatamaran.
Anyone with children will know that it is virtually impossible to keep them entertained and provide exciting activities that will use up their unbounding energy. We have found a solution – Costa Jump!
Located in San Pedro de Alcantara, just 10 minutes’ drive from central Marbella, the building is packed with giant trampolines across differently themed zones: Battle of beams, Basketball, Foam Pool, Olympic Bed, Dodgeball and the Cardiowall, where kids can safely play, dive and jump around as much as they want.
Although it isn’t necessary to book, you should aim to arrive around 30 minutes before any event, as you need to get a wristband and the special non-slip socks. Also, children must be over 5 years to enter the jump area, and remember to remove any belts, jewellery.
For more information visit the website Costajump.com.
Being on the Costa del Sol, it is not possible to think about fun things to do as a family without mentioning water sports. In an area famed for sand, sea and sunshine, there are many opportunities for aquatic activities all along the coast.
As we need to start somewhere, we recommend heading to Venus Beach, which is one of the liveliest but it also has calm water, and it offers a great range of water sports. It has lots of amenities including showers, toilets, equipment hire and there are lots of restaurants just a few steps away.
Kayaking and Paddleboarding
Children and adults with all skills level, can enjoy paddleboarding and kayaking: skimming across the water in the sunshine against spectacular views, cannot be beaten. It is also possible to book kayaking tours, where you can explore the coastline and marine life. All of the equipment can be rented.
Wakeboarding
Although currently closed until 2026 (we’ll keep you posted!), it is worth mentioning a fantastic wakeboarding centre in San Pedro de Alcantara (just to the west of Puerto Banús / Marbella).
The centre uses a cable ski to allow up to 9 people to wakeboard at the same time without needing a boat. It’s not really suitable for young children, but for older ones and teenagers it is a great way to have fun in a safe and controlled environment. Equipment rental and lessons are available with specialist instructors. In the meantime, you can check out the restaurant, chillout bar, pool and Balinese beds. For more information visit cableskimarbella.es.
We have only touched upon a few of the opportunities for fantastic fun family days out in Marbella that will keep the kids entertained and active.
There is much more to do in Marbella… and don’t forget, there is the rest of the Costa del Sol to explore, including a spectacular artificial lagoon in Casares – but that is another story!
If you would like more information about property for sale on the Costa del Sol , lifestyle and activities available in Marbella and the surrounding areas, contact Birgitte at [email protected] or call +34 683 391 512.
