Catalonia, a paradise for families

Allow us to present a guaranteed family destination: Catalonia. If you're travelling with children, on this part of the Mediterranean coast you'll find tourist destinations offering specially adapted leisure facilities and services, certified with the DTF (Family Tourism Destination) mark. Would you like to discover them?

Did you know that 60 percent of tourists visiting Catalonia are families who come from all over Europe? With this in mind, this region in northeast Spain has launched a pioneering programme to create a 'family quality' mark. If you're planning a holiday with the children, then take note because you're sure to find this interesting.

This mark distinguishes the destinations offering a series of services and facilities expressly designed to meet the needs of people travelling with children. This means that you can be sure to find specially prepared accommodation, restaurants and leisure and entertainment services. You'll discover, for example, that there are crèches on the beaches, as well as staffed parks and kids' clubs on the promenades. That the hotels have babysitters who speak foreign languages, along with entertainment programmes for the little ones; that the restaurants have play areas and children's menus. Other criteria taken into account are the signposting of potential dangers, availability of high chairs and baby chairs, and easy-to-access information throughout the municipal area.

And it goes without saying that there are also a host of fun activities, as all these places are required to offer a wide variety of leisure and entertainment options. In the town itself or very close by you'll find shows and festivals for children, theme parks, water parks, countryside areas for excursions and outdoor activities, amenities for learning and practising water sports... You can sit back and relax in the knowledge that there is a full range of services and offices available to provide you with information on all the activities you can do with your family.

There are currently 13 locations in Catalonia certified with the DTF (Family Tourism Destination) mark: on the Costa Brava, the towns of Blanes, Torroella-l'Estartit, Roses, Calonge-Sant Antoni and Lloret de Mar; on the Costa del Maresme, the towns of Calella de la Costa, Malgrat de Mar, Santa Susana and Pineda de Mar; and on the Costa Daurada, Calafell, Cambrils, Salou and Vila-Seca La Pineda Platja.

Family holiday? Then think about Catalonia. It's a guarantee for young and old alike.

More information: Turisme de Catalunya. Family tourism