If you’ve got a family that enjoys getting their fun in the great outdoors, Lloret de Mar is an ideal destination for a holiday. While it receives plenty of well-deserved accolades for its stunning blue flag beach, there are plenty of other ways to make the most of the region as well.
On Two Wheels
Lloret provides the perfect conditions for cycling, both on and off road, with a huge, well-marked network of trails that run through the town itself and up into the backdrop of the Montseny Massif. Depending on the age and ability of your children you can just putter around the trails directly behind the resort and along the beachfront, or, if everyone’s up to it, you can pack your panniers with a picnic and set off along circular routes to Sant Feliu, Sant Grau, or Coll d’Osor and back – which range from 60-120km.
There are a number of bike hire companies in town, and prices start from €20 for a 3-day hire with great discounts for weekly rentals.
On Two Feet
None of the trails around Lloret are particularly hard (which means you won’t have too many complaints from the kids), and the Catalan Hiking Federation oversees the region, so there are plenty of signposts and the paths are extremely well maintained.
There are seven main trails that circumnavigate the area, covering a number of coastal paths as well as some gorgeous forested trails where you’re most likely to encounter some of the local fauna. None of the seven trails take more than a couple of hours to complete and are made up of the GR 92 route, the route of Montbarbat, route of Caules, Lloret beaches, route of the shrines, the old path to Tossa, and the route of Mar-Vidreres.
Walking around Lloret de Mar is absolutely free – just so you know!
With a Putter
If you fancy some friendly competition with the family, a round of mini golf is the perfect way to enjoy getting outdoors while staying close to the resort. Mini golf is almost a national sport in Spain and there are a number of places in Lloret where you can pick up a putter and show the kids how it’s done – or be shown! Ecogolf (at Cami de les Alegries) has an impressive 18-hole course and driving range, while Pitch and Putt Papalus (at Cami del Papalus) is probably the most scenic mini-golf range on the Costa Brava, and even has a floodlit practice range.
In an Adventure Park
Everyone loves an adventure park, and around Lloret you have the choice of several, including Water World (Europe’s largest water park), with its thrills and watery spills via a network of twisting chutes and teeth rattling rubber raft rides, and Marineland, which is home to dolphins, sea lions, a boating lake, a petting zoo and even its own reptile house.
There’s free transport from the centre of Lloret to both these theme parks.
Entry to Water World is €33 for people over 1.20m and €19 for those below; entry to Marineland is €26 and €16 for children 5-10 years and €8 for 3-4 years.
However you choose to do it, getting out into the sunshine to explore the area around Lloret de Mar doesn’t take much effort – even for children!
How to Get to Lloret de Mar
Getting to Lloret de Mar is easy, with plenty of budget flights from the UK into Barcelona Airport, which is about 75 kms away. From the airport, if you want to use public transport you can to take a train into the city centre and then local train to Blanes. From Blanes there is a bus connection (no train) to Lloret de Mar.
The fastest and easiest way to get directly to your accommodation and get your holiday started is by booking a Barcelona airport shuttle with Shuttle Direct. A driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you straight to Lloret de Mar, which takes around an hour and a quarter.
Where to Stay:
Hotel Armonia – Right in the centre of the action and just 300 metres from the beach, Hotel Armonia offers budget accommodation and genuine Mediterranean style. With a fabulous pool area, lovely gardens, and a friendly atmosphere, it’s everything you could want from an inexpensive home-from-home.
Hotel Rosamar Maxim – You might be tempted to spend all your time in the hotel at the Hotel Rosamar Maxim, with its spectacular location overlooking the ocean, an onsite spa centre, and a fabulous sun terrace. Enjoy the luxury of the elegant décor, private balconies, and multiple dining options, all within footsteps of the beach and the start of some wonderful local nature hikes.
Santa Marta – Peace, privacy, and personal attention are the hallmarks of the magnificent Santa Marta, ideally situated to take advantage of the beauty of the local landscape. More like staying in a private rural retreat, yet just 200 metres from the beach and a short distance to the restaurants, boutiques and nightlife of Lloret de Mar, you’ll get the very best of both worlds.
