Things to do with kids on the Costa del Sol: parks, beaches and rainy-day ideas

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The Costa del Sol is an easy place to keep children busy. Between Málaga and Estepona you will find animal parks, a cable car, a butterfly house, a science centre and plenty of calm beaches, most of them reachable by train or bus. This guide covers the main options, what each is best for and which ones still work when the weather turns.

Opening hours and ticket prices change by season, so always check the official website before you go. Many attractions sell tickets online, and some charge less online than at the gate.

Animal parks and zoos

Animal parks are the classic family day out on this coast, and there are several to choose from.

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• Bioparc Fuengirola: a compact zoo in the centre of Fuengirola, behind the town hall. It recreates tropical forest habitats from Madagascar, Equatorial Africa, Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific, with natural-style enclosures instead of cages. It is walkable from the Fuengirola train station, so you can easily make a day of it.
• Selwo Aventura (Estepona): a large wildlife and adventure park with more than 2,000 animals spread over four zones, including lions, rhinos, zebras, cheetahs and a big walk-through aviary. Older children can also do zip lines, suspension bridges and archery. Plan a full day and bring a car, as the park is outside the town.
• Selwo Marina (Benalmádena): a marine park inside Parque de la Paloma with dolphins, sea lions, penguins and an Amazon zone with tropical fish, frogs and spiders. Dolphin and bird shows run at set times, so check the timetable when you arrive.
• Crocodile Park (Torremolinos): large Nile crocodiles, hatchlings and a small museum, right next to Aqualand. It suits children who like something a bit different.

A day out in Benalmádena

Benalmádena has more family attractions close together than anywhere else on the coast. You can easily fill a whole day, or even a weekend. Our guide to Benalmádena’s different areas explains how the town is laid out.

• Parque de la Paloma: a free public park with a lake, play areas, cafés and free-roaming animals such as rabbits and peacocks. It is a good, cheap place to let small children run around.
• Teleférico de Benalmádena: the cable car climbs to the top of Monte Calamorro, about 800 metres above sea level, in roughly 15 minutes. At the top there are walking trails, viewpoints and bird of prey displays. On clear days you can see as far as Gibraltar and the African coast. Wear proper shoes, as the paths are rocky.
• Sea Life Benalmádena: an aquarium at Puerto Marina with sharks, sea turtles and seahorses, plus feeding sessions during the day. A visit usually takes under two hours.
• Mariposario de Benalmádena: a tropical butterfly house in a Thai-temple-style building, with more than 1,500 butterflies. Young children usually love it, and it is under cover.

Newcomers often ask about Tivoli World, the old amusement park in Arroyo de la Miel. It has been closed since 2020. Plans to reopen it have been reported in the local press, but there is no confirmed date, so don’t plan a visit around it.

Beaches and water parks

For younger children, look for wide sandy beaches with lifeguards, toilets and a chiringuito nearby. Fuengirola, Benalmádena and Torremolinos all have long, easy beaches next to the promenade. Our list of the best beaches on the Costa del Sol covers the options from Manilva to Nerja.

• Lifeguards and flags: lifeguard cover is strongest in summer. Teach children what the coloured flags mean before they go in: green is safe, yellow means take care and red means no swimming.
• Aqualand Torremolinos: the big water park on the coast. It is seasonal and usually opens in spring and closes around the end of October, so check the calendar before you go.
• Summer-only extras: inflatable floating water parks appear on some beaches in summer, and small fairground rides are common along the promenades in the evenings.

Ideas for rainy or cold days

It does rain on the Costa del Sol, mostly between autumn and spring. These options are mainly indoors:

• Centro de Ciencia Principia (Málaga): a hands-on science centre near the La Rosaleda stadium, with dozens of interactive exhibits, live science demonstrations and a planetarium.
• MIMMA – Museo Interactivo de la Música (Málaga): a music museum with about 400 instruments from around the world, where visitors are invited to play some of them. It works well for children who struggle to stay quiet in a normal museum.
• Sea Life and the Mariposario: both are largely indoors, so they make good backup plans in Benalmádena.
• Shopping centres: the large centres along the coast often have play areas, cinemas and bowling, which is useful for an afternoon when nothing else works.

Getting around without a car

The Cercanías C1 train between Málaga and Fuengirola stops at the airport, Torremolinos and Benalmádena (Arroyo de la Miel). That makes Bioparc, Parque de la Paloma, Selwo Marina and the cable car realistic without a car. Selwo Aventura and the mountain villages are easier to reach by car. See our guide to public transport on the Costa del Sol for trains, buses and travel cards.

Tips that save money and stress

• Book online: several attractions sell cheaper or timed tickets on their own websites.
• Combined tickets: some parks owned by the same group sell combined tickets. Check the official sites before buying separately.
• Resident offers: town halls and parks sometimes run offers for local residents. It is worth asking at your town hall or tourist office.
• Avoid the heat: in July and August, go in the morning or late afternoon and bring water, hats and sun cream.
• Gift a day out: for birthdays or Christmas, an experience box can be a nice alternative to toys. Disfrutabox (ad) is a Spanish company that sells experience gift boxes.

FAQ: things to do with kids on the Costa del Sol

Useful links

• Benalmádena tourism – cable car
• Andalucía tourism – Mariposario de Benalmádena
• Spain.info – Selwo Aventura Estepona
• Andalucía tourism – Centro de Ciencia Principia

Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules and prices change, so check with the official source before you decide. Links marked “(ad)” are affiliate links – NewInSpain may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.