11 Things to Do with Kids in Barcelona

Travelling can be hard work for little ones. That's why it's always a good idea to plan activities and outings where they can be the stars of the show and have lots of fun. Luckily, Barcelona is a city that is well equipped for children to enjoy while they get to know it. There is a wide range of options for this purpose, so you will not be short of ideas.

If you need a little help, here is a selection of 10 ideas and plans that will keep the little ones in the family more than happy. These include amusement parks, excursions, different and entertaining experiences, and all without missing out on the most touristy parts of the city. As you will discover, Barcelona is a city with lots to see and do, but above all, it is very family-friendly. So here are my recommendations:

Although I've already mentioned Tibidabo Park, when talking about amusement parks, we can't forget Port Aventura. Considered one of the best parks in Europe, it is located outside Barcelona near the city of Tarragona. However, it is only an hour away, so there are frequent excursions from the city.

These excursions include return transport from Barcelona and tickets to Port Aventura, making them a great option for a family day out.

Port Aventura is actually a complex that includes the Port Aventura World amusement park, Ferrari Land and a giant water park that's perfect for summer. The amusement park is divided into six themed areas with more than 40 attractions, including Furius Baco and Dragon Khan, two of the most impressive roller coasters in Europe.

Since it can be visited in a single day from Barcelona, it is an unbeatable treat for children.

Useful information

• Price: From approximately £50
• Location: Port Aventura, Tarragona.
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:00 and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 20:00.

Zoos and aquariums are usually one of the favourite places for children, and it's no wonder. In Barcelona, there is both a zoo, located in the Citadel Park, and an aquarium. I highly recommend the latter, as it is not just any aquarium and some of the activities it offers are quite special.

For example, it is one of the best aquariums in the world in terms of shark experiences and, in addition to shark diving, it offers children the chance to spend a night in the aquarium sleeping surrounded by thousands of fish and sharks.

Apart from these types of activities, the Barcelona Aquarium has an immense collection of marine animals. It has aquariums with Mediterranean and tropical species, themed aquariums with unique species... But its main attraction is its oceanarium, its largest aquarium, which is crossed by an 80-metre tunnel that allows you to immerse yourself almost literally.

General admission for adults over 11 years old costs around £24, and reduced admission for children under that age is around £17. You can find complete information about prices at this link.

Useful information

• Price: From £24 for adults and £17 for children
• Location: Barcelona Aquarium, in the marina.
• Opening hours: Every day from 10:00 to 20:00.

There's no better place for children to have fun than an amusement park. At least, I can't think of one. And Barcelona has one with a lot of history. The Tibidabo amusement park is located on the mountain of the same name to the west of Barcelona.

This park is the oldest in Spain and one of the oldest operating parks in the world. This is by no means a disadvantage. Even Walt Disney himself said that it was one of the most magical places he had ever visited and that it served as inspiration for his parks.

** Tibidabo Park has six different levels with more than 30 attractions**. The most popular are the carousel, the merry-go-round and the Ferris wheel, which offers incredible views of Barcelona. And because the park is on a mountain, the views of the city are some of the best you can get.

A day out here costs around £30 for adults and £14 for children under 120 cm tall. It's a perfect place to enjoy with the family, so the entrance fee is well worth it.

Useful information

• Price: From £35 for adults and £14 for children
• Location: Tibidabo Amusement Park
• Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00. (Varies depending on the season)

The Montjuic Magic Fountain show is one of the best things to do in Barcelona, and it's completely free. Given its spectacular nature, it's usually a big hit with children.

The show consists of a play of lights and music that accompanies the choreography of the fountain's powerful jets of water. The Magic Fountain of Montjuic is located at the end of Avenida de la Reina Maria Cristina, between Plaza de España and the National Palace of Montjuic.

In addition to the show, the area is perfect for a family stroll through the Plaza de las Cascadas until you reach the terrace overlooking the Palace of Montjuic, where you can enjoy the views. You can also go up to visit the Olympic Village or head to the Las Arenas shopping centre in Plaza de España, where there are countless shops, restaurants and places for the whole family.

Useful information

• Price: Free
• Location: Avenida Reina de Maria Cristina.
• Opening hours: Depending on the time of year, between 8pm and 11pm.

Playgrounds are ideal for children to enjoy themselves. There are hundreds of them in Barcelona, but some are more special than others. And of all of them, the best is Can Mercader Park. This park has more than 10 hectares of green areas, terraces, swings, sports facilities and all kinds of amenities to enjoy a day out with the family.

But without a doubt, what makes this park so special and unique are the mini electric trains that run through it. No child can resist them, and you can hop on board to explore the park along the tracks that run throughout the grounds. However, they only run on Sundays and public holidays. Although Can Mercader is located in Cornella, it is well worth the trip and can be reached in just half an hour by taking line 5 from, for example, Plaza de España.

Useful information

• Price: Free
• Location: Can Mercader Park in Cornella
• Opening hours: The electric train runs on Sundays and public holidays from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The Barcelona cable car is one of the most original ways to get around Montjuic and always a great experience, especially for the little ones.

This cable car travels along the heights of Montjuic on a 750-metre route, offering spectacular views of some of Barcelona's most iconic sights, such as Spotify Camp Nou, La Sagrada Familia and the Plaza de España area. The starting point for this route is at the Parc Montjuic stop and goes directly to Montjuic Castle.

Tickets for the cable car cost £8.50 for adults and £6.50 for children aged 4 to 12. This is for a one-way ticket only. Return tickets cost €12.70 for adults and €9.20 for children. In both cases, children under 4 years old travel free.

Another option for taking a cable car is to go up to Montjuic from the port of Barcelona on a 10-minute journey offering the best views of the port of Barcelona.

Useful information

• Price: From £9.40 for adults and £7.50 for children.
• Location: Montjuic, Parc Montjuic stop.
• Opening hours: From 10:00 to 18:00 in winter, from 10:00 to 21:00 in summer.

The beach is always a safe bet for children to have fun. And in Barcelona, especially in the summer months when the heat is intense, it is a highly recommended option. In Barcelona, there are several beaches that, due to their location and services, are perfect for spending a day with the family.

The first and best known is Barceloneta Beach. Over 500 metres long, it has sports areas, sunshade and sun lounger rental, lockers, showers and public toilets.

Barceloneta also has children's play areas for the little ones. As well as offering all kinds of amenities, the promenade next to the beach has dozens of restaurants and bars for lunch or dinner. Its location very close to the city centre also makes it very easy to get to. Another option with similar characteristics is Sant Sebastia beach, very close to Barceloneta.

Useful information

• Price: Free
• Location: Barceloneta Beach

Children are among the biggest football fans. And if you visit Barcelona, you can make many of their dreams come true, especially for Barça fans. Barcelona is a city that lives and breathes football, thanks in part to clubs like Barcelona, which offers fans the chance to fulfil their dream of visiting the stadium with the Spotify Camp Nou Experience.

This experience includes a tour of the stadium facilities. You can visit the stands, the changing rooms, the tunnel and get a view of the entire stadium from the pitch. You can also visit the club museum, where you can learn about its history and see its numerous trophies on display. If football is one of the greatest dreams of some of the children in Barcelona, this is the place to be.

Useful information

• Price: From approximately £50.
• Location: Spotify Camp Nou
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00. Sundays from 10:00 to 15:00.

At first glance, a sightseeing tour of Gaudí's Barcelona may not sound very appealing for children. But this is a mistake, as these tours tend to delight little ones for two reasons: if you go with children, the visits and guides are adapted to make them more enjoyable, and secondly, Gaudí's striking architecture always amazes children. Enjoying Gaudí with children is perfectly compatible.

These tours take you on a tour of Gaudí's monuments and buildings in Barcelona. The main highlights of the tour, as you can imagine, are Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, Park Güell and the Sagrada Familia.

In these cases, you can combine visits in many ways. For example, you can get combined tickets for just Park Güell and the Sagrada Familia or for Gaudi's two houses on Paseo de Gracia. In any case, don't be afraid to take your children on these tours, as they are sure to enjoy them.

Useful information

• Price: From approximately £20 (depending on the type of tour)
• Location: Gaudí's Barcelona

The Golondrinas are iconic boats in Barcelona that depart from the port for tours along the city's coastline. A different way to discover and see the city that is very popular with children.

The Golondrinas are located in the port opposite the statue of Columbus, where they have their embarkation point. The boats travel around the Port Vell area, where you can see several of the city's landmarks, such as the Hotel Vela, the clock tower and the Maremagnum.

There are two types of tours depending on their duration. The first lasts around 40 minutes and stays within the port, while the second is longer, lasting around an hour and a half, and also takes in other areas of the coastline.

Tickets start at €7.70. This is an ideal activity for children, as they can enjoy nature while getting to know part of the city.

Useful information

• Price: From £7.70.
• Location: Barcelona Marina.
• Opening hours: From 11:00 to 18:00 approx. with departures every hour.

Let them have the time of their lives at the Chocolate Museum, where they will discover the history of this product that is so important in the tradition of the city of Barcelona. With tickets to the Chocolate Museum, they can explore the different rooms, learn about its uses and, of course, taste it.

If you prefer, you can also take your children to Casa Amatller, the home of the famous chocolatier Antonio Amatller. The building, with its exquisite modernist architecture, can be visited thanks to skip-the-line tickets that allow you to explore its different bedrooms, dining room and music room. You'll be amazed by the interior decoration.

However, children may enjoy it less as there is no chocolate tasting...