What is a casal d’estiu? Summer day camps in Catalonia explained
Casals are the Catalan summer day camps run by schools, clubs and town councils. Here is how they work, what they cost and how to join one as a visitor.
If you spend July in Catalonia you will see groups of children in matching caps walking to the beach or the town pool. They are on a casal d’estiu — a summer day camp. In the rest of Spain the same idea is called campus de verano, escuela de verano or campamento urbano.
Who runs casals
- Schools, for their own pupils and often for outside children too
- Sports clubs — football, tennis, swimming, sailing
- Town councils (ajuntaments), usually with a lower price for registered residents
- Leisure associations (entitats de lleure) with qualified monitors
Typical day and price
Most casals run Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 13:00, with early drop-off from 8:00 and lunch until 15:00 or 17:00 for an extra fee. A week costs roughly 70–150 € at a municipal casal and 150–320 € at a private school or club. Siblings and several weeks usually get a discount.
Can visitors join?
Many casals accept children who are not residents, but municipal ones may charge a double tariff. Activities are normally in Catalan and Spanish; if your child speaks neither, look for the filter “OK for children without Spanish” or camps taught in English.
Find casals on the Costa Brava · Barcelona day camps