Things to do with kids in Girona? From La Selva you have farms, lakes, castles, volcanoes and the Costa Brava less than an hour away. Here are 16 family days out sorted by distance, the ones we genuinely recommend to families staying with us.
We are Carmen and Dani, and for more than 26 years we have been welcoming families and groups to Can Micos, an 18th-century farmhouse in Riudarenes. This guide comes from what guests tell us when they get back in the evening: what the kids loved and what was not worth it.
| Starting point | Can Micos, Riudarenes (La Selva, Girona) |
| Under 20 min | Estany de Sils, Argimon, Santa Coloma, Mas Bes farm, Fundació Mona, Hostalric |
| Girona and Costa Brava | 20 to 35 minutes by car |
| Day trips | Banyoles, Serinyà, Garrotxa and Montseny, 40 min to 1 h |
| Free | Estany de Sils, Argimon, Parc de Sant Salvador, La Devesa park in Girona, Carrilet greenway |
| Booking needed | Mas Bes farm and Fundació Mona (guided visits) |
| If it rains | Girona Cinema Museum |
Things to do with kids less than 20 minutes away
The best thing about staying in La Selva is not spending the morning in the car. These are a short walk or a quarter of an hour away.
Estany de Sils
- 5 min
- Free
- All ages
A wetland with flat paths and bird hides. Perfect for pushchairs and toddlers.
Argimon hermitage
- On foot from the house
- Free
Leave Can Micos along the estate paths and walk up to the Argimon hermitage, with views over La Selva. A short walk little ones love.
Parc de Sant Salvador and Farners castle
- 15 min
- Free
In Santa Coloma de Farners: a park by the stream with springs and picnic areas. Keen walkers can climb to the medieval castle of Farners.
Mas Bes farm
- 15 min
- Booking needed
A dairy farm in Salitja. The guided visit lasts about two hours: meet the animals, try milking a cow and have milk and cake.
Fundació Mona
- 15 min
- Booking needed
A rescue centre for chimpanzees and other primates in Riudellots de la Selva. Visits are guided, and kids leave understanding why they are not pets.
Hostalric
- 20 min
- Free outside
A walled village on a cliff, with towers and a fortress. Walking along the walls feels like stepping into a storybook.
Girona and the Costa Brava with kids
20 to 35 minutes. In summer the Costa Brava gets busy: go early or avoid August.
Girona: Cinema Museum and La Devesa
- 23 min
- Great if it rains
The Cinema Museum has magic lanterns and shadow puppets you can touch. Afterwards, run around La Devesa park and walk the city walls.
Blanes and Marimurtra
- 28 min
- Paid
A botanical garden hanging over the sea, with giant cacti and viewpoints. Then the beach in Blanes.
Tossa de Mar
- 32 min
- Free
The Vila Vella is the only walled medieval town on the Catalan coast: towers, alleys and a lighthouse. For kids, a real castle next to the beach.
Water World (Lloret de Mar)
- 23 min
- Paid
- Summer only
A water park with slides and pools for different ages. It only opens in the summer season: check dates and times on its website.
Adventure parks
- 30 min
- Paid
Zip lines and rope bridges in the trees at La Selva de l’Aventura, in Arbúcies. There are courses for little ones and older kids.
Carrilet greenway
- 20 min
- Free
The old railway line from Girona to Sant Feliu is flat and car-free: ideal for cycling with kids. The Girona to Quart stretch is short and easy.
Day trips with kids
40 minutes to an hour. Worth a whole day.
Lake Banyoles
- 35-40 min
- Free and paid
The Pinxo train goes round the lake, at Els Banys Vells you can swim and only pay for what you order, and Can Pericus is our pick for lunch with kids. All in our Banyoles guide.
Serinyà prehistoric caves
- 40 min
- Paid
Next to Banyoles, a park with caves where Neanderthals lived and prehistory workshops for children.
Garrotxa volcanoes
- 1 h
- Free
See a real volcano: Croscat, its side opened up by an old quarry, or the Santa Margarida crater with a hermitage in the middle. Well-marked family trails.
Montseny
- 40 min
- Free
Beech and chestnut forests, springs and villages like Viladrau. In autumn, go chestnut hunting. Routes in our hiking guide.
Which plan for which age
A quick cheat sheet:
| Plan | From Can Micos | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estany de Sils | 5 min | Pushchairs and ages 2-6 | Free |
| Mas Bes farm | 15 min | Ages 3-10 | Paid, booking needed |
| Fundació Mona | 15 min | Ages 6 and up | Paid, booking needed |
| Cinema Museum (Girona) | 23 min | All ages | Paid |
| Water World (Lloret) | 23 min | All ages | Paid, summer only |
| Adventure park (Arbúcies) | 30 min | Ages 5 and up | Paid |
| Lake Banyoles | 35-40 min | All ages | Free and paid |
| Garrotxa volcanoes | 1 h | Ages 6 and up | Free |
And on days you don’t feel like driving
Often the best plan is to stay put: a 4,000 m² fenced garden with swings, a pool in season, table tennis, table football, pétanque and a badminton net. Everything about the house for families is on our family holiday in Girona page.
Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Estany de Sils, Pere López Brosa (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Parc de Sant Salvador, Josep Maria Viñolas Esteva (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Hostalric, Alberto-g-rovi (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Marimurtra, Mike Finn (CC BY 2.0) · Tossa, Txllxt TxllxT (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Lake Banyoles, Enfo (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Croscat, Carquinyol (CC BY-SA 2.0).
Can Micos: a family holiday home in Girona
Can Micos is an 18th-century Catalan farmhouse in Riudarenes (Girona) rented in full to groups of 16 to 25 people, between the Montseny and the Costa Brava.
4.8 out of 5 on Google, with more than 220 reviews from groups who have stayed.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do with kids in Girona?
Near La Selva you have Estany de Sils, Mas Bes farm, Fundació Mona and the walled village of Hostalric, all under 20 minutes away. In Girona, the Cinema Museum and La Devesa park; on the Costa Brava, Tossa and Blanes; and for a day trip, Lake Banyoles and the Garrotxa volcanoes.
Which family activities near Riudarenes are free?
Estany de Sils, the walk to the Argimon hermitage from Can Micos, Parc de Sant Salvador in Santa Coloma de Farners, La Devesa in Girona and the Carrilet greenway.
What can you do with kids in Girona when it rains?
The Girona Cinema Museum is the best option, and a visit to Fundació Mona works in bad weather too. At the house there is a living room with a fireplace, table tennis and table football.
Do you need to book Mas Bes farm or Fundació Mona?
Yes, both are guided visits and it is best to book ahead. Check times on their websites, as they change with the season.
How far is the Costa Brava from Can Micos?
Lloret de Mar is about 23 minutes away, Blanes 28 and Tossa de Mar 32. Girona is 23 minutes away.
Is Can Micos suitable for kids?
Yes. The 4,000 m² garden is fenced and has swings, there is a pool and games, and the house is rented whole to groups of 16 to 25, so it is just your families.
Shall we send you a quote?
Tell us your dates and how many you are and we will reply in about 30 minutes with the exact price.
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