Northern Spain and Andorra with a Toddler

Heavily pregnant with my second child, we embarked on yet another European Road-Trip.  These holidays had worked perfectly in Iceland, Macedonia, Kosovo and Cyprus, so Rhino, H and I set off on our latest adventure:  a two-week road-trip across Northern Spain and Andorra with a toddler.

Starting from Santiago de Compostela, Rhino drove us eastwards, hugging the coast, until we ventured into Andorra.  Finally, we spent a few days on the Costa Brava before flying home from Girona.  Both Andorra and Spain with a toddler were very easy and extremely enjoyable.

Northern Spain with a Toddler highlights

Spain Highlights #1: Taking time to explore the pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela where there were architectural delights and yummy cafes around every corner. Enjoying architecture in Spain with a toddler?  Yes – via the tourist train that took us around town.

Spain Highlights #2: Multiple sandy beaches on the North coast of Spain.  H was almost 2, a lovely age to enjoy splashing in the waves and building sandcastles!

Spain Highlights #3: Stopping off for lunch at old Spanish towns like Cudillero along the road-trip was a treat.  H really enjoyed the castle-like town of Olite, where we could pretend to be knights fighting imaginary dragons.

 

Spain Highlights #4: There are multiple places to view ancient cave paintings along the way.  H found the creepy caves really exciting, whilst Rhino and I found the cave art fascinating.  This is a great activity whilst in Northern Spain with a toddler.

Spain Highlights #5: San Sebastian offers lots of fun things to do whilst in Spain with a toddler.  As well as the long (but somewhat crowded) beach, H really loved the aquarium with its colourful and diverse array of sea life.

Spain Highlights #6: It was lovely walking around Bilbao, around the Guggenheim and along the river.  We didn’t go in the museum as we thought it wouldn’t interest H, but he loved the giant spider and dog outside.

Spain Highlights #7: Zaragoza was a big surprise for us and we actually preferred it to Santiago de Compostela as there were fewer tourists around.  The main plaza is stunning and H found it fun rising to the top of the Cathedral for the views.

Spain Highlights #8: H really enjoyed our few days on the Costa Brava as he could play in the sea again.  Rhino and I got our cultural fix at the Salvador Dali museum in Figueres (although H went a bit hyper with all the colours!)

Our Tips for Northern Spain with a toddler

• If you’re in Northern Spain with a toddler then you might want to use the miniature train in Santiago de Compostela to see the main sights. We did and it kept H amused whilst we took in the sights.
• We found eating at night in Northern Spain with a toddler to be challenging as many restaurants didn’t open until 21:00, particularly in Santiago de Compostela. We adjusted by eating our main meal at lunchtime and having something lighter in the evening, like a sandwich.

• We planned our trip to alternate beach areas with old Spanish towns to mix things up and keep everyone entertained. A day on the beach tends to work and allows us to recharge before visiting somewhere new in Northern Spain with a toddler.

• Visiting the ancient cave paintings in the region works well for a family. Interesting history for the parents plus the whole experience is exciting for the children.
• The main square in Zaragoza was a delight. So much architecture for us parents to absorb and a huge open space for children to run around and play in.  We could enjoy a beer whilst H played which is the ideal scenario for Spain with a toddler!

Andorra with a Toddler highlights

Andorra Highlights #1: The main thing to do in Andorra with a toddler, is to get out and enjoy the mountain air.  Having a hire car allowed us to get up into the hills for some spectacular views.

Andorra Highlights #2: Similarly, there are walking trails that you can easily do in Andorra with a toddler.  This one took us down to a small lake where there was a wonderful café for lunch.

Our Spain and Andorra with a toddler itinerary

Accommodation Type/s: Apart from Santiago de Compostela, where we used some hotel points, we stayed in 2-bedroom apartments along the way.  We booked these through www.airbnb.com and www.booking.com.  Being able to put H down in a separate room allowed us to enjoy the evenings, which is ideal when in Northern Spain or Andorra with a toddler.

Our Spain and Andorra with a toddler itinerary included the highlights described above.

Transport used: We hired a car at Santiago de Compostela airport, and, at the end of our holiday, we dropped it off at Girona airport.

Itinerary:  Over 2 weeks, we drove mainly East from Santiago de Compostela to the Costa Brava, including a few days at each end.  Each drive was 2-3 hours and we usually stopped off for something along the way like cave art, a beach, a walk around Bilbao or lunch at Cudillero and Olite.

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Welcome to the World for a Girl community. Please share your own ideas and thoughts about Spain or Andorra with a toddler. Do you agree with our Northern Spain and Andorra highlights or do you have others to add? What tips do you have for Spain and Andorra family travel?