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Discover Zaragoza with kids: the most beautiful playgrounds, parks, indoor activities, restaurants & tips for families with toddlers in Spain – perfect for your city trip or road trip.

Are you planning a family vacation in Spain and looking for a real insider tip away from Barcelona & Madrid? Then you absolutely have to discover Zaragoza with kids! The capital of Aragón is the Spaniard’s hometown, so over the years we’ve explored countless places and activities there with our minis and are happy to share our experiences with you!

Zaragoza is perfectly located between Madrid, Barcelona, and the Pyrenees and is ideal as a stop on a Spain road trip with kids or for a relaxed family city trip. Whether it’s huge parks with playgrounds, child-friendly restaurants, exciting indoor activities for rainy days, or delicious churros at Plaza del Pilar – Zaragoza surprises families with its relaxed atmosphere and many activities for children of all ages.

In this post you’ll find:

• the best excursion tips for Zaragoza with kids
• family-friendly parks & playgrounds
• tips for hot summer days & rainy weather
• restaurants & cafés with kids
• practical tips for your family vacation in Spain

Why Zaragoza Is Perfect for Families with Kids

There are many reasons why you should visit Zaragoza with your children. These are just a few reasons that convince families to come here:

• Although the city is one of the largest cities in Spain, it is still not overly touristy.
• The sidewalks are wide, so you can easily get around everywhere with a stroller.
• Spanish life still happens largely outdoors, which means there are lots of playgrounds for the minis.
• Spain and its people are very well known for being child-friendly, and you can feel it in every situation.
• Zaragoza is the perfect stop between Barcelona & Madrid.

Welcome to Zaragoza

Before I show you one or two “places to be,” I’d like to introduce Zaragoza to you a little better: Zaragoza is located around 300 km from both Barcelona and Madrid. The historic city is easiest to reach by car, but it can also easily be reached directly by train from Madrid or Barcelona. Unfortunately, there’s no sea here, but the Pyrenees are not far away. Around 700,000 people live in the capital of Aragón. Winters can get quite cold here, but that doesn’t stop the sun from shining down on the Maños (that’s what people from Zaragoza are called) with temperatures up to 45°C in summer. Maños (so werden die Zaragozaner genannt) hinunterzuscheinen.

Practical Tips for Zaragoza with Kids

Before I introduce you to the best activities for visiting Zaragoza with children, here are a few practical tips for your stay in Zaragoza:

Getting to Zaragoza with Kids

The easiest way to reach Zaragoza is by car. Like in most big cities, there are some areas where parking can be challenging, but so far we’ve always found a parking spot. Even when we visited Zaragoza with our campervan, we had no parking problems. From Madrid and Barcelona, you can reach Zaragoza easily by train. Even during our camper road trip through the Pyrenees, we reached Zaragoza within an hour. Zaragoza has a tram line through the city center, but there are also many bus connections and the buses are usually punctual. Zaragoza also has a small airport, but unfortunately there are no direct flights from Germany, though there are flights from Belgium.

Best Time to Visit for Families

If you ask me about the ideal time to visit, I would recommend May, June, or September. But of course shortening the German winter with a visit to Zaragoza in March also has its advantages. Summers can become very hot, and in winter a rough wind often blows through Zaragoza, making it feel at least 5 degrees colder than it actually is!

Zaragoza with a Toddler – What You Should Pack

Especially if you and your children are exploring Zaragoza in summer, you should pack sun hats, sunscreen, water bottles, and a stroller with sun protection.

How Many Days Should You Plan for Zaragoza?

For a stop during your Spain road trip, I recommend 1–2 days to get to know Zaragoza. To experience the city more relaxed with kids, I would plan 3 days.

Experiencing Zaragoza with Kids

Generally speaking, Spaniards are very child-friendly. Nobody there is afraid of contact 🙂 In my experience, there is a lot of understanding and consideration for the youngest members of society. Whether it’s diaper changing, feeding, breastfeeding, energetic playing around… after countless stays in Spain at many locations on the mainland and islands (have you already read our article “Viva Lanzarote!”), I honestly can’t report a single negative experience.

Since I’ve experienced Zaragoza both sweating in sunglasses and freezing in stormy winds, I’ll divide my excursion tips into indoor and outdoor activities for you. Since Spain has far more sunny days than Germany, I’ll start with the outdoor tips.

Enjoying Zaragoza with Kids in Sunshine

Outdoor activities are twice as fun under the Spanish sunshine.

The Most Beautiful Parks & Playgrounds in Zaragoza

There are countless parks in Zaragoza. Every district has at least one. Some are large and offer everything your heart desires – for the whole family – while others are smaller and mainly provide a quick place to walk dogs. I’ve noticed that there are now small playgrounds for the minis on many street corners. Since many families in central Zaragoza live in apartments without gardens, these playgrounds offer a lovely change for children. I can recommend the following parks.

Parque Grande José Antonio Labordeta – The Most Beautiful Family Park in the City

The largest and, in my opinion, most beautiful park in Zaragoza is Parque Grande José Antonio Labordeta (or simply “Parque Grande”). As the name suggests, the “big” park is located very close to the football stadium “La Romareda” in the district of the same name La Romareda. It not only has playgrounds but also a beautifully designed botanical gardenthat we always love exploring. On sunny days you’ll also find lots of roller skaters and cyclists here. The water cascade in the center of the park is beautiful to look at, and if you climb the stairs all the way to the top, you’ll get a fantastic view over Zaragoza. As a reward for climbing the stairs, you can enjoy a delicious ice cream or lunch in the park afterwards.

Family Check:

✔ Shady spots available
✔ Suitable for strollers
✔ Toilets available
✔ Café available
✔ Picnic-friendly
✔ Parking available

Parque del Agua – Ideal for Hot Summer Days with Kids

Another park is located on the former Expo grounds: der Parque del Agua with the children’s area “Rio y juego”. Here you can enjoy a little café con lechewhile watching your children at the playground. Not far from the playground there is also a small football field and a lake where you can ride pedal boats. And if you don’t feel like pedal boating, you can simply feed the swans and ducks by the water.

Family Check:

✔ Shady spots available
✔ Suitable for strollers
✔ Toilets available
✔ Café available
✔ Picnic-friendly
✔ Parking available
✔ Pedal boats

More Beautiful Parks in Zaragoza

In the Arrabal district you’ll find a typical neighborhood park: Parque Tío Jorge. Besides two large playgrounds (one of them quite shady), there is also a basketball court, a small lake with ducks, a small outdoor gym, and the cute little café El Jardín de Jorge.

. A lovely little playground route with many different playgrounds and views of the world-famous Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar (called simply “El Pilar”) is located on the opposite side of the Ebro River from the basilica, bordering the Arrabal district.

Regarding playgrounds, I’d like to mention that there are countless new and modern playgrounds, but just like in Germany there are also some older playgrounds in Spain that could use renovation. So be a little careful. Even more important than warning about “old playgrounds and their pitfalls” is mentioning that the sun is often underestimated. So always check beforehand whether slides or seating areas have become so hot in the sun that your children could “burn” themselves. And I probably don’t need to emphasize that sunscreen and sun hats are essential…!

Swimming in Zaragoza with Kids

If you’ve traveled to Zaragoza with your family in summer and want to relax from sightseeing with a lovely swimming day, I can recommend one of the many swimming pools. Since the sea is unfortunately out of reach, you’ll have to settle for a refreshing pool. Zaragoza has many sports clubs with private pools that you can only visit if you are a club member or know someone with access. But don’t worry, there are also plenty of public swimming pools. To find one that isn’t overcrowded, I recommend driving or taking the bus to districts outside the city center. The swimming pools in Garrapinillos or San Juan de Mozarrifar , for example, are perfect for cooling off without having to “share your towel” with too many other people.

Zaragoza with Kids on Rainy Days – The Best Indoor Activities

If you decide to visit Zaragoza in winter or if the weather simply leaves a lot to be desired and you ask yourself, “What can we do in Zaragoza with kids when it rains?”, here are a few lovely indoor activity tips for your minis and you.

Acuario de Zaragoza – Europe’s Largest River Aquarium

Whether it’s windy or rainy, Acuario de Zaragoza – Europe’s largest river aquarium – is a fantastic place to go. Here you can observe over 5,000 living creatures from the world’s largest rivers. The aquarium is located on the former Expo grounds, which you can explore at the same time. 

✔ ideal for 1.5–2 hours
✔ ideal for children aged 2–12
✔ Toilets available
✔ Café available
✔ Parking available
✔ baby carrier recommended

Indoor Playgrounds & Shopping Centers for Families

Of course, the dear minis should still be able to burn off energy properly even when the weather outside is unpleasant. There are plenty of opportunities for that in various indoor playgrounds:

When the weather is bad, it’s a good idea to stroll through the shops a little. You can do that without getting wet at the GranCasa shopping center. . If you go up to the second floor, you’ll find not only countless restaurants and bars but also the shopping center’s free indoor playground . And for children up to 12 years old, it’s something truly special. Children aged 4 and older can make their way through the “jungle” hanging from the restaurant area ceiling via secured suspension bridges and slides, while the little ones can climb, slide, and play in the toddler area.

At Puerto Venecia , another shopping center located a bit outside the city, you’ll find NEVERLAND with small rides, though these are paid attractions. Puerto Venecia also has another indoor climbing playground (DOCK 39) and a trampoline park. But even in sunshine, t he shopping center offers exciting outdoor activities with DOCK 39 and an artificial lake: boating, climbing in the high ropes course or on the climbing wall, surfing on the artificial wave, and much more.

Kid-Friendly Bad Weather Alternatives

If you simply want to relax with friends over coffee while keeping an eye on your children, Café Coffee & Food Tropic is a great option. While you sip your coffee and catch up with friends, your children can let off steam in one of the kids’ corners. One corner has a mini bouncy castle and the other features a child-friendly climbing course. To reach this play area, you’ll need a wheeled vehicle.

Of course, there are also several museums that are already interesting for children. First and foremost, I would mention the Firefighter Museum . The tourist office also offers city tours specifically designed for children . However, children should already be of a certain age for these.

Culinary Tips for Zaragoza with Kids

As I mentioned at the beginning, Spaniards are child-friendly! And that is reflected in restaurant visits too. So you can comfortably eat out with your little ones without feeling like you stand out because your children haven’t mastered perfect table manners yet. The only thing to keep in mind is that Spaniards have a slightly different daily rhythm (“traditional” lunch is usually around 2–3 pm and dinner around 9 pm).

Although children are welcome in most restaurants, there is one restaurant in Zaragoza that impressed me completely: La Mafia! It’s well known that family bonds are highly valued in the mafia, and the restaurant of the same name reflects that. Children are just as welcome here as their parents. There is childcare for children aged 3 and older, plus a separate menu and special “table decorations” for the little ones. So when children start getting bored and parents in normal restaurants begin rushing through their meals, the lovely childcare staff at “La Mafia” takes the children into the neighboring “kindergarten” room. Here, eating out truly becomes a pleasure for the whole family! 100 points from me for the concept alone! So remember the restaurant “La Mafia”!

I can also only warmly recommend eating Churros con Chocolate at least once in Zaragoza. These deep-fried “long doughnuts” are a Spanish highlight, and paired with thick hot chocolate they are worth every sin. The Maños empfohlende Churrería most recommended by the Maños is clearly La Fama, not far from El Pilar. Not one of our visits to Zaragoza passes without us getting the city’s most delicious churros there for breakfast. Simply order some Churros con Chocolate ”para llevar” (to take away) and enjoy a little picnic at Plaza del Pilar with a fantastic view of the city’s most important symbol: El Pilar.

Our Favorite Places in Zaragoza with Kids at a Glance

And finally – the tip that applies to every vacation destination: don’t overpack your sightseeing list! Enjoy your holiday, take some time for the unplanned moments (especially with children), and simply go with the flow!

With that in mind, have a wonderful time in Zaragoza and say hello to the Maños for me! 🙂 Maños! 🙂

Yours, Lia

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Do you have any questions about our trip?

If you have any questions about Zaragoza or our stay there, feel free to leave them in the comments. I look forward to a friendly exchange with you!

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