It doesn’t rain often on the Costa del Sol in La Herradura. But because of that, it can be difficult to find indoor activities in La Herradura when it does rain. Or when the wind makes it unpleasant to be outside. They just aren’t set up for indoor living - which is usually a good thing!
So if it’s raining and your family is going stir crazy in your apartment or hotel, here are some indoor activity ideas in and around La Herradura Spain:
- Explore Nerja Caves
- Visit a Trampoline Park
- Eat some Gelato
- Huddle up in a kid-friendly cafe
- Read some books at the library
- Go to the indoor playground in Almunecar
- Imagine historic peoples at the Cave of Seven Palaces
- Take a day trip to Granada for the Science Park and Trampoline Park
- Explore local kids’ classes and activities
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Nerja Caves
Around 20 minutes west of La Herradura, you’ll find Nerja… Including the Nerja caves, also known as La Cueva de Nerja. Inside the caves, you’ll find one of the most massive caverns I’ve ever been inside. One room is even used at times for concerts and ballets! If you tend to get claustrophobic in tight spaces, these caves will probably be less of an issue for you.
It is a self-guided visit, and the path around the caves is easy to follow, well lit, and offers stable ground for walking. If you buy your tickets ahead of time and download their app, you can access a kids’ audio guide as well as the original adult version. Throughout the walkway, you’ll see numbers on signs that correlate with the track you should be listening to in that section of the cave.
We listened to the audio guide on the drive over to the caves. That way, when we were in the caves, my daughter could listen to the familiar tracks and really understand what she was looking at and taking in.
On property, there’s also a small museum, a gift shop of course, and even a restaurant. If the weather is cooperating, there’s also a very nice playground and plenty of picnic tables that allow you to spend the entire day there!
Overall, Nerja Caves would be one of my top choices for an indoor activity near La Herradura, especially if you've never visited them before!
Important note: You’ll need to pay 2 euros to exit the parking lot. The machine accepts coins valued at either 1 euro or 2 euros. If you don’t want to pay, there is a small unpaved parking lot prior to entering the gates that you could use. But once you go through the gate, you’ll need to pay to exit.
Trampoline Parks
There are a couple of trampoline parks near-ish to La Herradura. The closest trampoline park to La Herradura is Sould Park, located at the shopping mall in Torre del Mar. It’s small, but large enough to get the wiggles out on bad weather days in La Herradura There’s also a decent sized arcade attached to the actual jumping zone.
Plus, if the weather is nice, there’s a nice play structure just outside the mall. And if the weather stinks, you could always check out the other stores at the shopping mall before or after your jump session.
About an hour west from La Herradura, in Malaga, there are two trampoline park options. Bobby Jump and Altitude Trampoline Park. About an hour north from La Herradura, in Granada, there are also two trampoline parks. Costa Jump and Paraiso Jump. Plus if you’re already in Granada, you could pair your visit with a trip to the indoor Science Park (a science museum) for another indoor activity.
Eat Some Gelato
Gelato may not be the first indoor activity in La Herradura you think of for a rainy day. But there can be something cozy about indulging in a sweet treat while watching the rain fall on the sea.
Our favorite gelato shop is Bahia Gelatto Playa because they offer a variety of dairy free flavors. We usually took our gelatos to the beach, but on occasion we would eat at their covered outdoor seating. Plus, when it’s raining or too windy, they have plastic walls to protect the outdoor seating from getting wet or blown away.
They also have other food items, coffee, and wine if you aren’t in the mood for gelato but your kiddos are!
Cafes
It’s the Spanish culture to slowly sip on your coffee (or wine!) and pass half the day away at a cafe with friends or family. So what better time to do it than on a rainy or windy day?
Some favorite cafes that have indoor seating include Restaurante Lisboa Slow and Szimple. And Estamos Sembrados is the newest plant-based cafe in town.
For a full list of cafes and restaurants that are vegan friendly in La Herradura, check out this article.
Library at Centro Civico
Centro Civico in La Herradura is usually known for its police station and a place where local classes and events are held. But on the third floor, there’s a library!
Sure, it’s a small library. And the majority of the books are in Spanish. I mean, you’re in Spain! But it could still be worth checking out when you need an indoor activity in La Herradura while the rain passes through.
Bolaventura
Located about 10-15 minutes east of La Herradura is Almunecar, a bigger city that holds all the conveniences that a small town like La Herradura can lack. Things like an Aldi, a toy store… and an indoor playground… named Bolaventura.
Bolaventura is the type of indoor playground with ball pits and slides and climbing structures. At times, a parent’s nervous system’s nightmare, while at the same time a kids’ paradise. It could be a good indoor option for you and your family on a cold, rainy, or windy day in La Herradura.
La Cueva de Siete Palacios
In Almunecar, The Cave of the Seven Palaces is all indoors and included in your ticket to Almunecar’s Castillo. It includes information and artifacts from local history of Almunecar. You’ll see things like coins, jewelry, statues, and pottery dating back to Roman times. It’s small, but could be worth a visit for a learning opportunity on a rainy day.
Kids’ Activities and Classes in La Herradura
Even if you’re only visiting La Herradura, kids’ classes and activities in the area tend to be happy to accommodate short term enrollment and one off classes. For indoor kids’ classes in La Herradura, you’ll find martial arts classes, painting classes, pottery classes, and lego clubs.
Kids’ activities and classes tend to spring up and fall away with the seasons, as do their instructors. So ask around town, check out flyers, and you’re sure to find something!
I really do hope you have beautiful weather for your visit to La Herradura, but if you happen to encounter rain or wind, I hope you find this list helpful! Also, is there anything I missed?? Any other indoor activities in La Herradura you've discovered? Let me know in the comments!
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