Rainy Day Activities with Kids in Marbella

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a parent on the Costa del Sol, upon encountering rain, will have absolutely no plan. We moved here for 320 days of sunshine and conveniently forgot about the other 45. But rain on the Costa del Sol is not like rain in London or Dublin — it tends to arrive dramatically, dump everything it has, and leave again within a few hours. The trick is knowing where to go while you wait it out.

Trampoline Parks

When the sky opens up, our first instinct is always the same: burn energy. Nothing does that faster than a trampoline park.

Superfly in San Pedro de Alcántara is our go-to. It is large, well-maintained, and has separate areas for smaller children. Sessions run for about an hour and you can book online. The café upstairs is decent — you can sit with a coffee and watch your kids launch themselves around while the rain batters the windows. Bliss.

There is also Jumpland Marbella on the road towards Ojén, which is slightly smaller but tends to be less crowded on weekday mornings.

Bowling

MegaBowl in the Centro Comercial La Cañada complex near Nueva Andalucía is the classic rainy day fallback. It has bowling lanes, an arcade section, and pool tables. It is nothing fancy, but it works. Kids love it, you can get food on-site, and it kills a solid two to three hours.

The lanes have bumpers for little ones, and they do lighter balls for small hands. We have taken children as young as three here and they had a great time pushing the ball down the ramp.

Indoor Play Centres and Soft Play

For younger children — say under six — soft play centres are a lifesaver. Happy Park in San Pedro has a large climbing structure, ball pit, and slides. It is clean, the staff are friendly, and they serve coffee to parents. What more could you ask for?

Kidz Kingdom near Puerto Banús is another solid option with a bigger space and a separate toddler area. Both charge by the hour, and both are air-conditioned, which matters when the humidity spikes during a storm.

Swimming (Indoors)

If your kids are water-obsessed regardless of the weather, the municipal swimming pool in San Pedro has a heated indoor pool with kids' sessions. It is basic but functional. Some of the larger hotels also offer day passes to their indoor spa and pool facilities during low season — worth calling ahead to check.

Museums and Cultural Visits

Rain is a perfect excuse to do something a bit more cultured. The Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo in Marbella Old Town is small but genuinely interesting, and free for children. The Old Town itself is charming in the rain — quieter than usual, with the cobblestones glistening.

If you are willing to drive, the Centro Pompidou Málaga and the Museo Picasso in the city centre are excellent and fully indoor. The Pompidou has a dedicated children's area with rotating workshops. It is about 45 minutes from Marbella and well worth the trip.

Cinema

The Cinesur in La Cañada shopping centre shows films in both Spanish and English (look for "VOSE" or "VO" in the listings — that means original version with Spanish subtitles). For younger kids who do not read yet, the Spanish-dubbed versions work fine and it is actually a great way for them to pick up the language.

The Bottom Line

Rain in Marbella is temporary, intense, and actually a nice change of pace. The trick is having two or three options in your back pocket so you are not scrambling at 9am while the kids climb the walls. Save this list, bookmark a few places, and next time the forecast turns grey you will be ready.