Sotogrande is a great place to live with kids, as such, many families move here every year. You will find a diverse range of nurseries, kindergartens and schools in Sotogrande. There are many things to do with kids in Sotogrande, also many ongoing leisure activities and sports options that children can enjoy here.
Sotogrande is and has always been a family friendly resort. You will be glad to know that many venues are kid friendly, including bars, restaurants, beach clubs and hotels.
Kid Friendly Venues in Sotogrande
Sotogrande Marina is the newest addition to Sotogrande port area, with various new clothes shops, restaurants, art galleries, and more. There is an underground parking facility where you can leave your car free of charge. Depending on the time of the year there is more or less activity here. Throughout the year on Sundays there is a market and during summer there is the night market. This is the perfect place for families and couples to spend quality time together.
Foodisiac café restaurant in the Sotogrande Marina offers a healthy lifestyle approach to food. They serve everything freshly made; from salads to burgers, a children’s menu and delicious bread made in house, every day. You and your family can enjoy the outside and inside area with very friendly staff.
The D’Alicia Caféteria in Sotomarket (just next to SuperCor) is another healthy option and cosy place to hang out with a baby or toddler. They have a special corner with toys for the little ones. You can enjoy breakfast, smoothies, vegan options, sandwiches, cakes and sweets here.
Panne & Cioccolato in Sotogrande Port is a cute Italian bistro café which offers a variety of healthy food, with many avocado choices, a healthy breakfast and lunch.
The Bucintoro Italian Restaurant in San Roque Club is one of the best Italian restaurants in the area and they are open for lunch and dinner. Children can enjoy huge outdoor terrace area with limited car traffic on the street, so it is generally safe and quiet.
All the above-mentioned venues have changing facilities for the babies in the bathrooms.
There are also some great restaurants on the beach, where children can enjoy playing in the sand while parents can eat.
Gigi’s Beach located on the Paseo del Mar in Sotogrande, is a great place to go with kids. Their menu has a mixed variety of food from salads, fish, and tapas. The outside terrace area with seating for dining or drinks is a perfect spot to relax and have your children play in the sand.
The Bunker Beach Club at Paseo del Parque in Sotogrande Costa is open all year round. They have a diverse menu, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Here you can enjoy fish, meat, and many different salads. They also serve a children’s menu and some great desserts. Children can play in the sand and go swimming, while you relax and enjoy the views of the Mediterranean Sea all the way to Gibraltar and across the straight to northern Africa.
Chambao Beach Club on the beach between Torreguadiaro and Sotogrande Port opens from 12:00 to 00:00 throughout the summer days. They specialize in fish but serve also Japanese inspired dishes as well as meat. Your family can enjoy the sun beds or the big Bali beds, while the kids play around.
If you are into something a bit fancier, then Trocadero Beach Club is your option. This is one of the most unique places to be if you are in the area of Sotogrande. The relaxed style and African decorations will ensure you remember your stay. Their food is very mixed, offering from salads, soups, meat and fish to cocktails always accompanied by great music. This is an outstanding venue to go with the whole family. For those families with children bigger than 4 years old, there is a special swimming pool and area just for them!
At the members only Octogono Beach Club in the Paseo del Rio area of Sotogrande families can enjoy a private beach club and top-class gastronomical restaurant, the Qvo. The restaurant offers a variety of fish, pasta, rice, wok and meat. This is very busy in summer and always popular with families who have children.
Play Areas, Zoos, Kids Clubs and Outdoor Activities
The Hipica Park in La Reserva are of Sotogrande opens for the public on Sundays from 12:00 until 18:00. This is an outdoor area where children can enjoy the bouncy castle, climbing wall, archery games, trampoline, ziplines, slides and much more. Additionally, adults and children can learn to ride a pony or horse. Hipica also have some chicken and a turkey that children can see. There is also a snack bar that serves food and refreshments. This venue is also available for birthday parties and group activities any day of the week. The entrance price is 5 Euros per child or 10 Euros for the multi activity park.
If you are looking for a Zoo, then you will find one in Castellar de la Frontera (only a 15-minute drive from Sotogrande). The Zoo in Castellar is an animal rescue centre, so perhaps a bit different from your typical zoo but nonetheless fun for families to go to. They are open all year round. You can find a variety of wild animals, like monkeys, exotic parrots, leopard, wild boar, sheep, eagles, lion, crocodiles, tiger, snakes and much more. Some days they take out baby monkeys or a baby tiger and the visitors can touch them and feed them. The entrance costs 17 Euros for adults and 11 Euros for children from 2 to 13 years old.
At La Pequeña Africa Park in Jimena de la Frontera (a 25-minute drive from Sotogrande) there are animals, shows and fun activities for all ages. You can enjoy the nature and the animals riding the pony or the donkey. There are also tractor rides, an ecological garden, a corral visit, archery games, trekking activities, animal feeding, painting sessions, animal sighting and much more.
If you have older kids (16 plus) and are looking to enjoy some Wellness, then at the Hotel so/ Sotogrande in Sotogrande Alto you can enjoy the indoor Spa. There is an entrance fee of 30 Euros per person for those not staying at the hotel.
At Mundo Mania in Cancelada (a 15-minute drive from Sotogrande) you will find the only big indoor and outdoor play centre for children on Costa del Sol. Indoor they have a soft play area for babies and toddlers (from 0 to 3 years old) where they can crawl, play, climb and slide safely. From 4 to 12 years old, they can play on the slides, power tower, ball pools, trampoline, climbing wall, and for the older ones there are pool tables, a soccer table, air hockey and football area. Outdoor they have a water park that opens during the summer months. They also have a very good catering facility serving plenty of options for the little ones, parents and grandparents. The entrance price for babies under 3 years old is 7 Euros and for those above 12 Euros. Mundo Mania is also a popular venue to organize children’s birthday parties.
Kidz Kingdom next to SuperSol in Cancelada (a 20-minute drive from Sotogrande) is an indoor park where babies, toddlers, juniors can enjoy 3 decks of fun and adventure modular play. From ball pool, spinning discs, trampolines and much more challenging fun activities. They have the longest indoor slide on Costa del Sol (which adults can enjoy together with the small ones – a must for young mummies with toddlers). There is a fun ball battle section for the juniors, with guns, cannons, and many more interactive machines. Prices for under 3-year olds is 5 Euros and for those above 10 Euros.
Another great Zoo close to Sotogrande is the Selwo Zoo in Estepona (a 30-minute drive from Sotogrande). Selwo is a thematic African park with adventure activities. You will find wild animals (lions, elephants, cheetah, hyenas, zebras and more), ziplines, hanging bridges, bird exhibitions, snakes, archery and more. They also offer overnight camping. Children under 3 years old enjoy free entrance, and children from 3 to 10 years old pay 18 Euros and everyone aged 11 to 65 pays 25,90 Euros. If you reserve your tickets on the Internet, they are cheaper.
Sports Activities for Kids in Sotogrande
At La Reserva Club in Sotogrande, children can enjoy excellent sports facilities and play tennis, paddle tennis, basketball or even football. Not to forget, here you also have The Beach, where there is an exclusive area just for children with a shallow water area for swimming. The Kids area also has a food truck that serves hot dogs and burgers.
For babies and toddlers there are regular swimming classes held at the Wellness & Fitness Leisure Center OcioSur in San Roque. They have a heated indoor swimming pool with excellent instructors and apart from the regular group classes they also offer private lessons.
Historic and Cultural Places of Interest in and around Sotogrande
About an hour away from Sotogrande, you can visit the Watchtower “Torre del Paso” located just outside the Andalusian town in Cortes de la Frontera. This appears to be the nicest castle in the area.
The Eagle’s Castle “Castillo del Águila” in Gaucin (a 45-minute drive) is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10.30 to 13.30 and 16.00 to 18.00 (20.00 June to September). The entrance is free.
The Casares Castle located in the oldtown of Casares (a 20-minute drive from Sotogrande) enjoys some beautiful views. A great place for bird watching and enjoying a peaceful environment.
La Duquesa Castle located next to the beach in Duquesa (a 15-minute drive from Sotogrande) is a fun place to visit with children. You can go inside the tower and admire the historic construction.
Torre Quebrada de Guadiaro used to be a light beacon back in the fifteenth century. It can be found just before entering the port of Sotogrande. A recently refurbished structure from previous times.
The Castle in Castellar de la Frontera (around 30 minutes from Sotogrande) offers spectacular views over the land below and when the weather is nice, you can even see the rock of Gibraltar, the Algeciras port area and mountains in Africa. There is a cute small restaurant and a hotel that are both open all year around.
The Ruins of Fort St. Barbara in La Linea, (about 20 minutes from Sotogrande) are located just before the border of Gibraltar.
Another interesting place of interest is the Castillo de Tarifa Castillo de Guzman el Bueno (a 40-minutes’ drive from Sotogrande). The entrance costs 5 Euros. Here you can enjoy great views all the way to Africa.
Other Places of Interest for Families Living in Sotogrande
The Rock of Gibraltar (a 20-minute drive from Sotogrande until the border) is also a great place to visit with children. In Gibraltar you find St. Michael’s Cave, Pillars of Hercules, and can go explore the Great Siege Tunnels. But best of all are the monkeys that wander around. You can go by car all the way up to the monkeys or take the cable car. The monkeys are free and wild so please be careful with your belongings. Also, don’t forget your passports.
There are also public play park areas in Guadiaro, Pueblo Nuevo de Guadiaro, as well as Torreguadiaro.
If you know of a great venue for children or you own a bar or restaurant in Sotogrande that is child-friendly, get in touch to have it listed here.