World Heritage-rich Valencia is one of Spain’s loveliest cities and does everything from kid-size adventures in Sierra Calderona National Park, and water activities on huge city beaches, to major attractions like City of Arts and Sciences.

• Valencia city center has a good choice of three- to five-star family hotels.
• Costa Blanca towns and villages, just 30 minutes south, have great hotels and all-inclusive resorts. Try Dénia for cuteness and Benidorm for theme parks.

Madrid is a great capital, home to Spain’s best museums and swept with acres of fabulous parks, gardens and a historic plaza. It doesn’t have beaches, but it’s fantastic for kids in spring and autumn. Or visit at Christmas for street stalls, ice rinks and El Rastro, one of Europe’s biggest flea markets and a mecca for little comic book collectors (nb, El Rastro is held year-round every Sunday and public holiday).

• Try Barrio de Salamanca for grand family hotels (rooftop pools are a thing in this area). La Latina has more character and color, and is good for apartment hotels and fun with older kids.

The Basque Country isn’t always as sunny as the south, but cities like San Sebastian are small enough to enjoy and big on excitement – La Concha, one of the world’s most beautiful city beaches, is here. And, out of town, it’s all cliffs and wild emptiness, little roads, pretty villages and plenty of freedom. Best for family ferias (festivals) in summer, Bilbao’s Guggenheim museum and lovely campsites.

From the eastern Algarve border almost all the way to Murcia, Andalusia is magnificent. It’s home territory to the gentle Costa de la Luz and the legendary Costa del Sol. Ancient and magical Ronda is up in the mountains. Historic Cadiz and Malaga are on the coast. Away from the blue sea and golden sands, kids can be enchanted by Moorish Granada and thrilling Seville. Andalusia is best for beaches, all-inclusive family resorts, sugar-cube mountain villages and spectacular sierras.

Dramatic Galicia is a favorite with Spanish families in summer. Rugged and wild, it’s a playground of crags, sea-stacks, towering lighthouses, roaring seas, mysterious little islands and sweetly calm, sandy coves. Santiago de Compostela is the captivating medieval capital, one of the world’s most famous pilgrimages and the place to be at Easter to see the country’s most spectacular Semana Santa celebration. This place is best for impressive coasts, pretty fishing hamlets, historic hotels, cozy hotels and extreme adventure.