TurismoLiterario .COM
TurismoLiterario.com
TurismoLiterario.com
White windmills on the Sierra de los Molinos in Campo de Criptana (Ciudad Real)

BLOG · GUIDE · FOR FAMILIES

Literary routes to explore with children in Spain: from fairy tales to the great classics

19-MINUTE READ

Can you do literary tourism with children, even ones who can't read yet?

In a village in Alicante, they can look for Little Red Riding Hood among the building fronts. In the Palencia mountains, Ratoncito Pérez – Spain's tooth mouse – is waiting for them with a map and eight stamps to collect. And in Campo de Criptana they can find out how the huge windmills that Don Quixote mistook for giants actually work.

Not every literary route is about visiting writers' houses or walking through the settings of their novels. There are also villages that have brought fairy tales into their streets, forests where the characters have homes of their own and experiences that let you discover a book through play.

We've chosen eight ideas for travelling around Spain with children, from walks among fairy-tale characters for the youngest ones to adventures linked to The Little Prince, Don Quixote or Bécquer's legends.

The ages you'll find are only a guide: as well as how interested they are in each story, bear in mind how long the routes are and how long the activities last.

Mural on calle Joaquín Ortuño in San Miguel de Salinas (Alicante), the starting point of the San Miguel, pueblo de cuentos route

The mural on calle Joaquín Ortuño, where the route begins. Photo: Simo Räsänen (CC BY-SA 4.0).

01 · LITTLE ONES

San Miguel de Salinas (Alicante): twelve stops to find fairy-tale characters

Little Red Riding Hood is on calle La Ceñia, Tom Thumb on calle San José and the Pied Piper of Hamelin next to the Unión Musical building. They're some of the characters that San Miguel de Salinas Town Council has hidden on the town's building fronts to turn its streets into a fairy-tale route.

The route, called San Miguel, pueblo de cuentos (San Miguel, a town of stories), has twelve stops and starts at a mural on calle Joaquín Ortuño. It shows a fantastical version of the town, with small details that work as clues to some of the characters you'll find later.

Along the way you'll see scenes from The Three Little Pigs, The Ugly Duckling, The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids, The Little Mermaid, Snow White and Alice in Wonderland, among other stories.

There's also room for lesser-known tales, such as The Little Half-Chick or Los cuentos del Tío Ramicas, a book by local writer Tomás Vicente Martínez inspired by the stories and customs of San Miguel de Salinas.

The route follows a suggested order, but you can change it. With little ones, the game is finding the characters; with older children, you can use it to discover the stories they don't know yet.

Planning your visit

The route is in the town itself, it's free and you can do it on your own. It starts at the mural on calle Joaquín Ortuño; use the town map to find the twelve stops. There's no set duration: it depends on how long you stop at each scene.

02 · LITTLE ONES

Villarquemado (Teruel): a walk among fairy-tale houses

In Villarquemado you can follow the yellow brick road from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, go inside the Three Little Pigs' houses, visit Geppetto's workshop or climb aboard Peter Pan's ship.

It's all part of Un Paseo de Cuento, a space created so that children can explore settings inspired by some of the best-known stories in children's literature.

During your visit you'll also find the chocolate house from Hansel and Gretel, a corner dedicated to Ratoncito Pérez and a pond that recalls the story of The Ugly Duckling. On top of that there's a maze with a tower, a giant chess set and a space for swapping storybooks.

You can go inside some of the buildings, discover the different settings and stop to play. Storytelling sessions and shows take place on certain dates, but you can also visit the park when there's nothing on.

Planning your visit

The park is in the La Redonda area of Villarquemado, about 25 kilometres from Teruel. Allow between an hour and a half and two hours if you want to explore it at a relaxed pace.

The usual published opening times are Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 to 13:00, with a low-cost ticket that you buy at the entrance. Before you set off, check that it's open and the current price with the Town Council on 978 867 006, especially on public holidays or out of season.

  • Suggested age: from age 3.
  • What to read: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum; Pinocchio, by Carlo Collodi; Peter Pan, by J. M. Barrie, and the stories Hansel and Gretel and The Three Little Pigs.
  • Information from Turismo Comarca de Teruel
The Three Little Pigs' houses at the Un Paseo de Cuento park in Villarquemado (Teruel)

The Three Little Pigs' houses at Un Paseo de Cuento. Photo: Turismo Comarca de Teruel.

The Bosque de los Cuentos in Almanza (León)

The Bosque de los Cuentos in Almanza. Photo: Diario de León.

03 · LITTLE ONES

Almanza (León): the Seven Dwarfs' houses are in an oak forest

In an oak forest in the province of León you can find the Seven Dwarfs' houses, the Three Little Pigs' houses and other corners where fairy-tale characters live.

Almanza's Bosque de los Cuentos (Forest of Stories) began in 2021 with the homes of Snow White's companions. The following year the Three Little Pigs and the wolf arrived, and the project has kept growing ever since.

To reach the little houses, you first walk along a path through oaks and heather. The characters blend into the landscape, among trees and small buildings, so the visit combines a nature walk with discovering the stories.

Some spots have QR codes to access their stories, although not all the digital content has been developed. You can still enjoy the route without them.

Planning your visit

From Almanza, follow the signs towards El Peñón and take the Corcos road for about three kilometres. There you'll find the Bosque de los Cuentos car park.

From there it's 1.3 kilometres along a path to the forest, so allow at least 2.6 kilometres there and back, plus whatever you walk among the little houses.

Entry is free and the forest has no opening hours. Wear suitable footwear and bear in mind that the path runs through natural surroundings: don't count on being able to push a pushchair along it comfortably.

04 · FIRST ADVENTURES

L'Hospitalet de l'Infant (Tarragona): two different routes to discover The Little Prince

In 1932, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry had to make an emergency landing in L'Hospitalet de l'Infant because of strong winds. The French writer and aviator spent two days in this town in Tarragona, which today remembers that visit with several activities linked to his best-known work, The Little Prince.

Find the Little Prince and his friends along the seafront

The simplest option is to go round different spots in the town looking for four sculptures.

In plaza dels Pins, next to the seafront, you'll find the Little Prince standing on a globe, a work by artist David Callau installed in 2022.

Since April 2026 he's been joined by three new figures: the fox, on paseo del Arenal; the rose, in plaza del Coll de Balaguer; and the boa constrictor that swallowed an elephant, in plaza de la Marina.

The sculptures have QR codes that let you listen to extracts from the book in several languages, recorded by local primary school pupils.

It's a walk you can adapt for little ones, even if they haven't read the book yet.

Complete the seven challenges of Viatge a l'Infant

The second option is called Viatge a l'Infant and runs along the Jonquet coastal path.

To do it, you need to get a passport with seven activities linked to the ideas in The Little Prince. Participants complete the challenges and get the passport stamped along the way. Some tasks invite you to listen to the sound of the sea, look at the landscape or think about friendship and the people who matter in our lives.

When they finish, they can take the passport to the Tourist Office to receive a small gift.

It's a more reflective experience than a puzzle hunt and involves walking along a coastal path, so it may be better suited to slightly older children.

Planning your visit

The sculptures are spread around the town and seafront of L'Hospitalet de l'Infant and you can visit them on your own.

Viatge a l'Infant is available all year round and you can download the passport or pick it up at the Cal Forn Tourist Office. The full coastal path is 6.3 kilometres long, although you should check how far you need to walk to complete the seven challenges. The nature trail is not accessible for people with reduced mobility.

  • Suggested age: from age 4 for the sculptures and from 7–8 for the passport route.
  • What to read: The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. With little ones you can start with the illustrations and the characters; with older children, by reading the book together.
  • Information on Viatge a l'Infant · Download the passport
Metal sculptures of the fox, the rose and the boa from The Little Prince on the seafront in L'Hospitalet de l'Infant (Tarragona)

The fox, the rose and the boa on the seafront in L'Hospitalet de l'Infant. Photo: Diari de Catalunya.

Poster for the Ruta de tus Sueños, the Ratoncito Pérez route in Velilla del Río Carrión (Palencia)

Poster for the Ruta de tus Sueños. Image: Turismo en Palencia.

05 · FIRST ADVENTURES

Velilla del Río Carrión (Palencia): eight stamps to find Ratoncito Pérez's family

In Velilla del Río Carrión they've imagined what Ratoncito Pérez's home would be like and created a route so that children can meet his family and his helpers. His literary home, the one in Luis Coloma's story, is in Madrid, but in this Palencia village he even has storerooms to keep the teeth he collects every night.

The visit starts in an enclosure among centuries-old oaks where the mouse's home has been recreated. There you can discover his tooth stores, the places where he keeps his food and other little buildings connected with his life.

Next, participants are given a maparatón – a mouse map – marking eight spots around the village. At each one they'll meet one of his relatives or friends and can collect a stamp. Once the map is complete, they get a prize.

The route goes through parks and other parts of Velilla del Río Carrión, so it's also a way to get to know the village while the children follow the clues.

Planning your visit

The activity starts at the Ruta de tus Sueños park, at avenida Areños, 110, in Velilla del Río Carrión. The route is 3.6 kilometres long and you can stop along the way.

To take part in the full experience, with the map, the eight stamps and the prize, book in advance and check the available dates.

Another option: Madrid's Ratón Pérez

In the story Luis Coloma wrote for the future Alfonso XIII, Ratón Pérez lived in a biscuit tin in a sweet shop on calle Arenal. Today you can visit his Casita-Museo, a little house museum at number 8 on the same street, where guided tours are available by booking.

Turismo de Madrid also offers a free guide, El Madrid del Ratón Pérez, with games and clues for exploring the city. Children who complete its quiz can get a certificate at the Plaza Mayor Tourist Centre.

They're two separate activities that you can combine in a single day.

Madrid children's guide · Ratón Pérez House Museum

06 · FIRST ADVENTURES

Campo de Criptana (Ciudad Real): step inside the windmills Don Quixote mistook for giants

Don Quixote charged at the windmills convinced they were giants with enormous arms. Sancho Panza tried to warn him of his mistake, but couldn't stop him.

The episode is one of the best known in Cervantes' novel, and Campo de Criptana has one of the La Mancha landscapes that best help you picture it.

On the Sierra de los Molinos there are ten surviving windmills, including three from the 16th century: Infanto, Burleta and Sardinero. You can wander freely among them and join a guided tour to see inside some of the historic ones, where the machinery is still preserved.

One of the most interesting activities for children is the traditional milling demonstration, where you can see how a wind-powered mill works and how grain is turned into flour.

These demonstrations take place on scheduled dates and are sometimes combined with performances and activities linked to Don Quixote.

Planning your visit

The Sierra de los Molinos is in Campo de Criptana, Ciudad Real, and has a car park next to the site. Walking around outside is free; to go inside the windmills that are open to visitors, you need to buy a ticket at the Tourist Office.

The milling demonstrations are held regularly, but they won't necessarily coincide with your visit. Check the programme, prices and booking options on the tourism website or on 926 56 39 31. The windmill interiors have stairs and are not accessible for people with reduced mobility.

White windmills on the Sierra de los Molinos in Campo de Criptana (Ciudad Real)

Windmills on the Sierra de los Molinos, in Campo de Criptana. Photo: Rafa Esteve (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Cervantes Train - Madrid - Alcalá de Henares

Cervantes Train – a theatrical journey from Madrid to Alcalá de Henares. Photo: Alcalá de Henares Town Council.

07 · OLDER CHILDREN

The Cervantes Train: a theatrical day trip from Madrid to Alcalá de Henares

On certain dates in spring and autumn, passengers on the Cervantes Train are met at Atocha station by actors dressed as characters connected with the writer's work.

The performers accompany passengers on the journey to Alcalá de Henares, Cervantes' birthplace, where the theatrical tour continues.

The route takes in places such as calle Mayor, plaza de Cervantes, the area around his birthplace, the university and other historic spots. Throughout the day, the actors tell stories about the writer and the city, combining a heritage tour with performances.

The activity has been running since 1997 and has become one of Renfe's longest-running tourist trains. It isn't only about Don Quixote: it introduces you to Cervantes' world and Alcalá's heritage.

Planning your visit

The Cervantes Train runs between Madrid-Atocha Cercanías and Alcalá de Henares on scheduled dates. The ticket includes the return journey and a theatrical guided tour of the city, with a break for lunch.

It's a full-day trip, so bear that in mind when travelling with children.

Renfe runs it in seasons, usually in spring and autumn. To check upcoming departures, times, children's fares, booking conditions and ticket sales, go straight to its official page, as these details can change from one season to the next.

08 · OLDER CHILDREN

Veruela and Trasmoz (Zaragoza): follow Bécquer's legends to a witches' castle

Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer spent some time at Veruela Monastery, at the foot of the Moncayo. From there he explored the villages and paths of the area and heard stories of witches, superstitions and apparitions that the locals passed down from generation to generation.

One of those places was Trasmoz, a village dominated by a castle that Bécquer used as the setting for several of the letters in From My Cell.

Today you can follow some of those paths along the Caminos de Veruela, a network of twelve trails linked to the routes walked by the brothers Gustavo Adolfo and Valeriano Bécquer.

Four are marked with the silhouette of a white doe and have QR codes with games, clues and challenges for families.

One of them is Camino 4, which starts near Veruela Monastery and leads to Trasmoz. The path passes the old La Oruña archaeological site and reaches the Tía Casca viewpoint, named after a figure from local legend who appears in Bécquer's writing.

From there you reach the castle, home to the Museo de la Torre, el Caballero y la Brujería (Museum of the Tower, the Knight and Witchcraft), devoted to the history of the fortress and the superstitions that made the village famous.

Planning your visit

Camino 4 starts at the Cruz Negra, near Veruela Monastery. It's 3 kilometres one way, about 45 minutes without stops and easy, according to the official route sheet. If you walk back the same way, it's about 6 kilometres.

The path is free. If you want to go inside the castle, check its opening times first. Download the map or GPS track before you set off: farm work can affect some of the waymarks.

  • Suggested age: from age 8.
  • What to read: extracts from From My Cell and a selection of Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer's Legends. Some stories are a little unsettling, so choose the ones that suit the children's ages.
  • Caminos de Veruela website · Camino 4: Veruela–Trasmoz
View of Trasmoz (Zaragoza) with its castle

Trasmoz and its castle. Photo: Diego Delso, delso.photo, License CC BY-SA.

Naturaleza Encendida 2026 poster, devoted to Alice in Wonderland, at the Real Jardín Botánico Alfonso XIII in Madrid

Naturaleza Encendida 2026 poster. Image: LETSGO.

09 · CHRISTMAS 2026

Alice in Wonderland, in Madrid

Alongside the routes you can do for most of the year, this November brings two seasonal experiences inspired by literary classics: Alice in Wonderland, in Madrid, and The Little Prince, in Barcelona.

From 24 November 2026 to 10 January 2027.

The Real Jardín Botánico Alfonso XIII, in Ciudad Universitaria, will host a new edition of Naturaleza Encendida, this time devoted to Lewis Carroll's story.

The experience will be a night-time walk of about 45 minutes through 18 scenes inspired by Wonderland. There'll be light installations, projections, music and characters accompanying visitors through the different spaces.

The scenes announced include the White Rabbit's burrow, a tunnel of lights representing the looking-glass from the second Alice book, and several scenes featuring the Queen of Hearts and the Cheshire Cat.

Planning your visit

It takes place at the Real Jardín Botánico Alfonso XIII, on avenida Complutense in Madrid, not at the Botanical Garden on Paseo del Prado.

Ticket prices vary by session. It's an outdoor night-time activity, so dress for the weather, and bear in mind that it uses lighting effects, including lasers, which may bother people with photosensitivity.

10 · CHRISTMAS 2026

The Little Prince, in Barcelona

From 19 November 2026 to 10 January 2027.

The Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau will premiere an official immersive light experience of The Little Prince, with a route through the planets, characters and scenes of Saint-Exupéry's novel.

There'll be projections on the Modernista facades, light figures, actors, puppets and interactive installations.

Children will be able to explore the site with an explorer's passport, looking for hidden stamps, watch a small puppet show or create a digital sheep. There's also an ice rink, which requires an extra ticket.

The announced route has nineteen stops, with spaces devoted to the baobabs, the rose, the aviator, the lamplighter and other characters from the book.

Planning your visit

The experience takes place at the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau, at calle Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, in Barcelona.

Ticket prices vary by date, and children under three need a free ticket included in the booking. The ice rink is optional, doesn't admit children under four, and children aged four to eleven must be accompanied by an adult who also has a skating ticket.

Els Llums de Sant Pau 2026, a light experience of The Little Prince at the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau (Barcelona)

Els Llums de Sant Pau 2026. Image: Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau.

11 · OUTSIDE SPAIN

Beyond Spain: Harry Potter and Peter Rabbit routes and book-inspired parks

If you're thinking of a trip outside Spain, there are also destinations where literature is part of the experience.

In Edinburgh, for example, you can join The Potter Trail, a guided walk around places linked to the creation of Harry Potter. During the tour, which lasts between 75 and 90 minutes, participants walk the streets of the old town with a guide in costume and play small games related to the stories. The organisers particularly recommend it for children over seven.

In the Lake District, in England, you can visit Hill Top, the house that belonged to Beatrix Potter, and see some of the landscapes and gardens that inspired the adventures of Peter Rabbit and other characters from her books.

There are also theme parks where literary stories have become settings, rides and shows, from the world of Asterix in France to Astrid Lindgren's characters in Sweden.

You'll find more ideas in our article on six book-inspired theme parks you can visit.

12 · BEFORE YOU GO

Do you need to read the book before doing a literary route?

Not necessarily. Some of these ideas are designed for children who can't read yet, while others are more enjoyable if they already know the main characters.

Before visiting the windmills of Campo de Criptana, for example, you can read them the episode in which Don Quixote mistakes the windmills for giants. And if you're going to L'Hospitalet de l'Infant, getting to know the fox and the rose from The Little Prince will give the walk a whole new meaning.

But it can also happen the other way round: they meet a character on the trip first and then want to know their story.

There's no need to turn every outing into a literature lesson. You can choose a story, share it with them and let the trip do the rest.

So, are you up for it?

Do you know another literary route that's worth doing with children?

Tell us about it and help us keep growing this selection.

Information checked in November 2026. Ages are a guide, not official requirements. Before planning your visit, check opening times, prices and booking conditions on the linked websites.

Recommended articles

Keep reading

Guide

Ten historic libraries in Spain that are worth a visit, from the Royal Library of El Escorial to the Senate library or the library of the Monastery of Yuso, with what they hold and how to visit them.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *