Spain family-friendly travel guide

Spain has a very pleasant climate. The summers are warm, with Seville being the warmest city in Europe. The winters are mild and still pleasant enough for travelling. Spain has a minimal amount of rainfall, especially in summer.

In the summer months of June to August the average temperature is 35 degrees Celsius and the average monthly rainfall is five millimetres.

In the autumn months of September to November the average temperature is 26 degrees Celsius and the average monthly rainfall is 52 millimetres.

In the winter months of December to February the average temperature is 16 degrees Celsius and the average monthly rainfall is 68 millimetres.

In the spring months of March to May the average temperature is 24 degrees Celsius and the average monthly rainfall is 62 millimetres.

You will need a valid passport to travel to Spain. Make sure it is valid for six months after you intend to return home.

Spain is part of the Schengen area, along with many other European countries. This means that you probably won’t need a visa. Instead, make sure that your passport gets an entry stamp when you arrive in the Schengen area.

The two main airports in Spain are Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport in Madrid and Barcelona-El Prat Airport in Barcelona.

Madrid-Barajas Airport is 12 kilometres from Madrid city centre. The metro can take you to the city between 6am and 1.30am in 13 to 15 minutes. There are also buses that go to the city between 6am and 11.30pm. A taxi to the city has a flat rate of 30 euros.

Barcelona-El Prat Airport is 14 kilometres from Barcelona city centre. The airport metro connects to Barcelona’s underground metro. The L9 Sud can take you from the airport to the city. The aerobus is the most popular and fastest option to the city, a single ticket is 5.90 euros. There are trains to the city every 30 minutes between 6am and 11pm. A taxi costs about 25 to 30 euros to the city.

To rent a car in Spain you have to have a licence, be aged 21 or over and, for the major companies at least, have a credit card. Those with a non-EU licence should also have an IDP, however, national licences from countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US are usually accepted without question.

Renfe is the reliable national train system that runs most of the services in Spain. A handful of small private railway lines also operate. All long-distance trains have second and first classes, with the latter 20% to 40% more expensive.

Children aged between four and 12 years are entitled to a 40% discount, and those aged under four travel for free (except on high-speed trains). Buying a return ticket often gives you a 10% to 20% discount on the return trip. If you’re travelling as a family, ask for a group of four seats with a table when making your reservation.

Most of the major cities have excellent local transport. Madrid and Barcelona have extensive bus and metro systems, and other major cities also have efficient services.

Along with great art, architecture and history, Spain has some amazing food for you and your kids to try. Some things you must try on your travels include:

• Paella: you might have had this rice dish at home but it will be nothing compared to the traditional paella you find in Spain. Valencia, as the birthplace of paella, is the best place to try some. Traditional paella is filled with vegetables and seafood. Spain is also a good place to try a lot of other seafood dishes.
• Tapas: tapas is not a specific meal but instead a type of meal. Tapas are served alongside drinks in bars. For each drink you buy, you get a tapa. These might include patatas bravas (spiced potatoes) or chorizo sausage.
• Pintxos: pintxos is the Basque version of tapas. Pintxos, however, are generally skewered snacks and you have to buy them with your drink.
• Churros: the kids will love this sweet treat. Churros are sweet fried sticks of dough, usually served in Spain with a cup of thick hot chocolate for dipping.
• Sangria: a delicious fruity red wine cocktail, usually with chunks of fruit in the glass
• Rioja: Spanish red wine.
• Cava: Spanish sparkling wine.

Spain is the home of brands such as Zara, Desigual and Mango, among others, so it’s definitely worth doing some shopping while you’re there.

Las Rozas is the best factory outlet in Spain and it’s located in Madrid. Barcelona’s best factory outlet is La Roca.

Food markets are popular in Spain and are some of the best attractions. La Boqueria in Barcelona and Mercado de San Miguel are two of the most popular markets in Spain.

Be aware shops close in the middle of the day for the Spanish siesta, so make sure you do your shopping in the morning or in the late afternoon when shops reopen.

Tipping is not particularly common in Spain. However, you may want to pay a 5-10% tip in a restaurant, if no VAT tax was included.

For a drink or a snack, you can leave small change as a tip.

Spanish people care about how they look and they especially care about shoes. You will want good walking shoes for sightseeing but you might want some more fashionable shoes for dinner.

Dress fairly conservatively, especially if you are visiting a church.

Although Spain can be very warm in summer, pack layers, especially if you are travelling at other times of the year.

Spanish people are loud and friendly. They shake hands or kiss each other on each cheek in greeting.

When in Spain, you will have to observe the rules of siesta. Shops will be closed between 2pm and 5pm, lunch usually begins at 2pm and dinner begins after 9pm.

Electricity mainly operates on 220 volts, the same as Australia. The two-rounded pin plug is used.

You are unlikely to require vaccinations for Spain. However, you should consult your GP before travelling.

Tap water is safe to drink in Spain.

There is not a high risk of natural disasters in Spain, although they do get rare minor earthquakes and some forest fires in summer.

Although plenty of people in Spain speak English, it’s useful to know a few basic phrases in Spanish. Since Spanish is spoken in many countries around the world, it is a useful language to learn, even if its just the basics. Spanish is also very similar to the other romance languages, such as Italian and French.

Hello – Hola
Goodbye – Adiós
Thank you – Gracias
How are you? – ¿Cómo está?
I’m fine, thanks – Bien, gracias
What’s your name? – ¿Cómo te llamas?
My name is… – Mi nombre es…
I don’t understand – No entiendo
How much is this? – ¿Cuánto cuesta?

The most photographed places in Spain are mostly in Barcelona; the Sagrada Família, Las Ramblas, La Barceloneta Beach, Park Güell and other Gaudí buildings.

That being said, there are a number of other cities in Spain that are worth visiting with your camera including Madrid, Seville, Valencia, Córdoba and Granada.

Tenerife, Mallorca and Ibiza are also popular photo destinations.