There’s a moment on every family trip when a place stops being a destination and becomes a memory you’ll all carry forever. For us, that moment came on the Costa Brava, Spain’s sun-soaked, slow-living stretch of coastline often called the Spanish Riviera. Just an hour and a half north of Barcelona, it’s the kind of place where life downshifts, restaurants close between lunch and dinner because no one’s in a hurry, and the biggest decision of the day is which cove to swim in.
If you’re dreaming of a trip that pairs the wonder of a great city with the unhurried magic of the Mediterranean, and works just as beautifully for teens as it does for parents, this is the itinerary I’d design for you. Here’s exactly how our family did Spain.
Barcelona: do the icons, but do them the smart way
Barcelona never stops amazing me, and watching my daughters take it in for the first time made it brand new all over again. The city is a living gallery of Antoni Gaudi’s imagination, and nothing prepares you for standing in front of these buildings in person.
- La Sagrada Familia: still under construction after more than a century, and somehow that makes it more breathtaking, not less.
- Casa Batllo and Casa Mila (La Pedrera): Gaudi’s dreamlike buildings, where not a single straight line feels accidental.
- Park Guell: a hillside of mosaic color and skyline views.
- The Gothic Quarter: best explored slowly, on foot, where every cobblestone tells a story.
My pro tips for Barcelona with kids: Hire a private driver and book skip-the-line tickets in advance. In a city this busy, it’s the difference between experiencing Barcelona and spending the day in lines, and it keeps everyone happy. We did miss the Picasso Museum and the famous Mercat de la Boqueria this time (a Monday holiday caught us out), proof that even the best plans leave you a reason to return.
We based ourselves at Hotel Duquesa de Cardona, a historic boutique hotel tucked right into the Gothic Quarter. We booked their Premium Room, a main bed plus two bunk beds that the girls loved, and the small rooftop pool was the perfect place for them to cool off after a day of sightseeing. One honest tip: the hotel’s own restaurant leans a little fancy for younger kids, so for dinner we headed to Petit Tapas, which completely stole our hearts, small plates, big flavors, the kind of meal the girls still talk about. Because here’s what I tell every client: luxury isn’t about a five-star rating or a hefty price tag. It’s about how a place makes you feel. And that philosophy is exactly what led us to my favorite stay of the whole trip.
The Costa Brava: where Spain slows all the way down
If Barcelona is for wonder, the Costa Brava is for unwinding. This is old-world Europe at its most authentic, whitewashed villages spilling down to hidden coves, beaches filled with locals rather than tour buses, and a rhythm that gently insists you slow down too. Within a day, the kids stopped asking “what’s next?” and started simply soaking it in.
- Platja de Calella (Calella de Palafrugell): golden sand, crystal-clear water, that postcard-perfect Mediterranean blue.
- Tamariu: smaller, quieter, and absolutely breathtaking.
Both are the kind of beaches you settle into for the whole day, with a long lunch in the middle and nowhere else you need to be.
And don’t rush back to the sand too quickly, the whitewashed lanes of Calella de Palafrugell, draped in bougainvillea and tumbling toward the sea, are half the magic. Some of our favorite moments were simply wandering them with nowhere to be.
Speaking of favorites: Calau served some of the best tapas of our entire trip, genuinely unmatched. And the gelato shop right next door? Worth every minute of the wait. Trust me (and trust the girls).
Where we stayed: Can Mascort Eco Hotel
This is the stay I can’t stop talking about. Can Mascort Eco Hotel is a beautifully restored 15-room hotel in Palafrugell that feels less like a hotel and more like staying in the home of a dear, impossibly stylish friend. Think shared dining spaces, a cozy living room with a curated soundtrack, an honor-system fridge stocked with drinks, and unexpected touches like an apothecary and a caldarium, all run by the warmest family you could imagine.
For families, here’s the detail I love most: they offer a two-bedroom suite that’s perfect for traveling with kids, room to spread out, together but not on top of each other. It’s exactly the kind of space that makes a family feel at home rather than crammed into connecting hotel rooms.
Their motto says it perfectly: “We want your stay at Can Mascort to be a special experience, one that is remembered, repeated, and shared.” And every single moment delivered on that promise. This is my kind of luxury.
Why the Costa Brava is wonderful for families
The calm coves, the homey hotels, the unhurried pace, the Costa Brava is a place where grandparents, parents, and kids can each find their version of a perfect day. A few things I’d plan around:
- Rent a car at the Barcelona airport. The Costa Brava rewards the curious: drive the coastline and you’ll find secluded beaches and viewpoints you can’t reach any other way.
- Build in margin for the midday closures. Restaurants here genuinely shut down between lunch and dinner. Lean into it: the long lunch, the slow afternoon, the late gelato.
- Stay longer than you think you need. This was our one regret. Next time, we’re not rushing it.
Come to Barcelona for the architecture and energy; come to the Costa Brava to exhale, together.
Let’s plan your family’s Spanish Riviera escape
The Costa Brava is a place we’ll absolutely return to, and a place I’d love to design for your family. My craft is finding the undiscovered coves, the family-run hotels, and the hidden tables most travelers walk right past, then weaving them into a trip where every detail is handled so you can simply be present with the people you love.
If Spain is calling your family’s name, schedule a consult and let’s start planning a journey you’ll remember, repeat, and share.
XOXO,
Shannon
