Before-school, after-school and holiday careArticle 4 of 6 · 6 min read
Summer camps (escuelas de verano) and covering the long summer
How to cover the long Spanish summer break with camps: who runs them, what they cost, when to book and how to handle full weeks. For parents of children aged roughly 3 to 12 who need care while school is out.
Key rules
- School-free weeks: Plan for roughly 11 to 12 weeks without classes, and check your region's exact dates.
- Municipal and school camps: Registration opens April to June, usually in a short window, and places go within days.
- Private and English camps: Booking opens January to March, and popular July weeks sell out by May or June.
- Full weeks: Join the waiting list, because places often open up.
How long the summer gap is
Classes end around 19 to 24 June and restart between 5 and 15 September, depending on your region. That leaves roughly 11 to 12 school-free weeks. July and August have no classes at all, so plan care for the whole stretch, not just a few weeks.
Who runs summer camps
Municipal, school, club and private camps cover the long summer. They are usually sold by the week or fortnight and need to be booked well ahead. The choice is bigger in cities.
- Town council camps (escuela de verano or campus municipal): often held in schools or sports centres. They are usually the cheapest, and some offer income-based discounts.
- School and AMPA camps: the AMPA is the school's parents' association. These run mostly in late June and July, often by a contracted company. Your child already knows the place.
- Sports clubs: football, basketball, tennis, swimming, padel and similar.
- Private companies and language academies: including English-immersion camps. They cost most but often have longer hours and more activities.
- Cultural bodies: some museums and universities run camps.
- Residential camps for older children: run by regional youth bodies, scouts and private firms.
What it costs
Typical day-camp prices per week in 2025 were:
- Municipal: 50 to 100 euros.
- School or AMPA: 80 to 140 euros.
- Sports clubs: 90 to 160 euros.
- Private or English-language: 120 to 250 euros.
Madrid and Barcelona are at the high end, and prices rise every year. A fortnight roughly doubles the weekly price, sometimes with a small discount. Lunch, early drop-off and sibling discounts are often priced separately, so ask what the headline price includes.
When to book
Municipal and many school camps open registration in April to June, often in a fixed window of one to three weeks. Popular weeks fill within days, so note the dates in advance. Your town hall's website or the school will announce them.
Private and English camps open from January to March, often with early-bird discounts. Popular July weeks sell out by May or June.
August places are generally easier to find, but fewer providers run in August, so look early anyway. If a week is full, join the waiting list. Waiting lists are common and places do open up.
Build your summer
- Mark the school's last and first days, then count your gap weeks.
- Book the busiest July weeks first.
- Fill the rest with a mix: a cheap municipal camp for some weeks, a private or English one for others.
- Check August separately, as many camps stop.
The comparison and timeline below put the options and dates side by side.
Summer care options side by side
Municipal camps are usually the cheapest, school programmes are the easiest in June and September, and private camps cost the most. August is the hardest month to cover.
| Municipal camps | School programmes | Private camps | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical hours | Core hours of about 9:00 to 14:00, or to 16:00 with lunch. Some include extended hours at a set price. | Morning care, lunch and afternoon activities around the shortened school day in June and September. | Core hours of about 9:00 to 14:00, or to 16:00 with lunch. Early drop-off and late pick-up are usually extra. |
| Price per week | About 50 to 100 euros, often less with income discounts. | About 80 to 140 euros for school and parents' association (AMPA) camps. | About 120 to 250 euros for private and English-language camps. Sports clubs run about 90 to 160 euros. |
| Booking | Ask your town hall for the sign-up dates and rules. | Through the school or its parents' association. Paid weekly or fortnightly. It only runs if enough children enrol. | Directly with the provider. |
| Best for | Keeping cost down. | June, September and the first weeks of July, in a place your child already knows. | Longer days, languages or a specific sport. |
Hours
Most camps run about 9:00 to 14:00, or to 16:00 if lunch is included. If you work longer days, look for early drop-off from 7:30 or 8:00 and late pick-up until 15:00 to 17:00. Early entry usually costs 10 to 30 euros extra per week. Full days with lunch cost more again.
In June and September, many schools finish classes at about 13:00. That is when school care fills the gap.
Price
These are typical 2025 figures for day camps for ages 3 to 12. Madrid and Barcelona are at the high end, and prices rise every year, so expect a little more.
- Lunch, early drop-off and sibling discounts are often priced separately. Ask for the full price before you sign up.
Booking
School programmes are paid by the week or fortnight. They need a minimum number of enrolments, so ask the school early whether yours will run. Some schools also run a July camp in the school building, usually in the first weeks. August is rarely covered by schools, so plan for a municipal or private camp, or other cover, in that month.
Dates and sign-up rules differ by town and provider. Check them with your town hall, your school and each camp.
Nanny or relative cover
A nanny or family help is a different kind of arrangement from a camp. For hiring and paying a nanny, see the household-help Topic. For other ways to cover the weeks, including relatives, see the options Topic.
Timeline and deadlines
-
Book popular July weeks: Before May or June, when they tend to sell out
-
Book August places: Later is fine, as August places are generally easier to find
-
Join a waiting list if a week is full: As soon as you hear a week is full, as waiting lists are common
Frequently asked questions
How much does a day summer camp cost per week?
Day camps cost about 50 to 100 euros per week at municipal camps and about 120 to 250 euros at private or English-language camps. School or AMPA camps run about 80 to 140 euros, and sports clubs about 90 to 160 euros.
Is a fortnight cheaper than two separate weeks?
Yes, a fortnight is sometimes slightly cheaper than two separate weeks, because it roughly doubles the weekly price and some providers add a small discount. Lunch, early drop-off and sibling discounts are often priced separately, so check what is included.
Is it easier to find a camp place in August?
Yes, August places are generally easier to find than July ones, though waiting lists are common for popular weeks.
Who runs residential camps for older children?
Residential camps are run by regional youth bodies, scouts and private firms. Day camps are the usual choice for ages 3 to 12, while overnight camps suit older children.
More in Before-school, after-school and holiday care
- Morning care (aula matinal) and after-school clubs (extraescolares)
- Why school does not solve your childcare gap
- Who runs school-based care and how to sign up
- Covering Christmas, Easter and bridge days (puentes)
- Backup childcare for sick days and sudden closures
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