Barcelona With Kids – The Best Things to Do

SDBarcelona › Barcelona with Kids
Updated: May 8, 2022
By Santorini Dave

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Recommended Tours & Tickets for Families

Top 9 Things to Do With Kids in Barcelona

The Author: David Brydon blogs at Barcelona, Spain. News, insights and tips.

View from Montjuic over the fountain and city of Barcelona

View over Montjuïc Park, the Font Magica, and the Poble Sec neighborhood of Barcelona.

The Catalan Capital of Barcelona is a popular destination for families and the city has plenty to offer the kids. Restaurants are open long into the night and it’s common to see Spanish children out later than in other European cities. Here are my top nine attractions for children.

1. Park Güell

Park Guell in Barcelona
Barcelona has 9 UNESCO World heritage sites so there’s no shortage of great culture. Gaudi’s fantastic creation is something out of a fairytale, with Hansel and Gretel houses, ornamental dragons, and leafy plazas to take a rest. It is still one of the best things to do in the city for free, and my tip is to take the metro to Vallcarca and then the escalators up to the back of the park – then you’ll see it all downhill at a stroll (it’s on a pretty steep incline).

2. La Rambla

La Rambla pedestrian street in Barcelona
No visit to the city is complete without a stroll down this famous and wonderful boulevard. Starting at Plaça Catalunya and stretching down to the port, children and adults alike are treated to flower sellers, animal stalls, painters, artists, human statues and street performers. A must for everyone.

3. The City Beaches

The beach at Barceloneta in Barcelona
Perhaps an obvious one, but Barcelona has a fairly long stretch of coastline, and for city beaches, they’re pretty darn good and certainly worth an excursion. The Olympic Village beaches are a little more child-friendly, with a spider’s web climbing structure and a playground. Barceloneta is the old fisherman’s quarters and has a great beach too.

4. Cable Cars

Cable Cars at Montjuïc Station in Barcelona
The city is flanked by two mountains, and Montjuïc is the one looking over the sea. There are two cable car rides from Montjuïc – one which crosses the sea over to Barceloneta and the beach, and the second which transports you up to the old castle. Both offer great views of the city sprawling below and are a sure-fire hit with the kids.

5. L’Aquarium Barcelona

The Aquarium in Barcelona
This is a fantastic aquarium. Boasting Europe’s largest sea tunnel – like a perspex walkway where the sharks, rays, and moonfish swim above and around you – and a day’s worth of tanks, special exhibitions, marine history, and some really funny penguins!

6. Tibidabo Amusement Park

Tibidabo Amusement Park in Barcelona
This park is a bit of a trek, but for older kids wanting a bit of fun, there is an amusement park at the summit. Many of the attractions are very tame, but there’s a relatively new rollercoaster which darts through the surrounding countryside.

7. Ciutadella Park

Pard de la Ciutadella in Barcelona
Another great place to escape the hustle and bustle with youngsters. The “Garden of Barcelona” not only houses the city zoo, but also has row boats, fountains, and plazas. Numerous play areas and a great life-size replica of a Mammoth are great for kids (children love to sit on the trunk) and there’s always plenty of space for a relaxing picnic.

8. Font Màgica de Montjuïc

The Magic Fountain of Montjuic in Barcelona
This is a great spectacle and should be on everyone’s must-do list. Located at Plaça Espanya, the free nightly show features a water fountain that dances to lights and music. Though the fountain can be seen in the daytime sans music and lights, it’s best to visit after dark to get the full experience of its over 4700 lights and 52-meter water jets. Shows take place year-round, last about 20 minutes, and start on the hour and half hour. During high season from June 1 to September 30 shows are held Wednesdays through Sundays (first show at 9:30 pm). During the shoulder season in April, May, and October shows run from Thursdays through Saturdays beginning at 9:00 pm. In the winter months from November through March shows are held Thursdays through Saturdays from 8:00 pm.

9. Barcelona Bus Turistic

This final suggestion is not purely for the kids, but rather an inclusion of something that makes life easier visiting the city with kids, and that’s the tourist bus (or Bus Turistic). This is a fun and easy way to see the city on the hop-on hop-off bus. Staff can help families on and off with pushchairs and strollers. The routes are color-coded (Red and Blue are the best, don’t bother with the Green). The buses stop at all the major attractions. Barcelona’s metro is fantastic, but little legs can rest on the tourist bus while still enjoying the sights of the city.

The Best Hotels for Families in Barcelona

1. Aparthotel Arai

Arai Aparthotel in Barcelona
18th-century palace-turned-luxury hotel offering stunning Family Apartments with 35 sqm of space vaulted ceilings, full kitchens, and balconies overlooking the bustling street or plaza below. Upgrade to a Jewel Apartment on the upper floor for 55 sqm of living space, a second balcony, and an outdoor jacuzzi. Perks include a rooftop lap pool, Catalan restaurant, and pet-friendly amenities.

2. Eurostars Grand Marina

Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel in Barcelona
Five-star seaside hotel featuring contemporary, minimalistic style. Executive suites sleep up to 4 and offer jetted bathtubs, living and dining areas, and private terraces. This posh hotel boasts a rooftop pool, Mediterranean fusion restaurant, and an outdoor terrace with live music and performances in the summer months.

3. Colón

Hotel Colon in Barcelona
Mid-century hotel directly across from the Barcelona Cathedral. The best family options here are the sunny Triple Rooms, two-room Junior Suites (for up to 4, with Cathedral-view balconies), Penthouse Family Suites (for up to 4, featuring 33 sqm interior space, and enormous 70 sqm terrace), and the two-room Grand Suite (for up to 4, with 70 sqm of interior space and 4 balconies). Beautifully located near the Gothic Quarter, the Picasso Museum, and La Rambla.

4. Catalonia Ramblas

Catalonia Ramblas hotel in Barcelona
Elegant, modern-style hotel dating to 1903 with an outdoor pool in its garden courtyard, a Catalan restaurant, tapas bar, a full-service spa, and babysitting services on request. Family rooms sleep up to 5. An excellent buffet breakfast is included in the room rate. Located in the authentic, family-friendly El Raval neighborhood mere steps from Plaça de Catalunya and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

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About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave Author Bio. Santorini Dave was started in 2011 by a guy who loved Greece, travel, and great hotels. We're now a small team of writers and researchers on a mission to deliver the most helpful travel content on the internet. We specialize in Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and Greece and recommend the best hotels, best neighborhoods, and best family hotels in top destinations around the world. We also make hotel maps and travel videos. I can be contacted at dave@santorinidave.com.

  1. Things To Do in Barcelona

    Unfortunately I’ve only stayed one day in Barcelona so I couldn’t manage to visit most of the sites mentioned. My hotel was in a little alley just off La Rambla, but I haven’t walked all along this picturesque street, I just went to beautiful La Boqueria market and, as a big fan of local markets, absolutely loved it.

  2. Good Food and Beaches in Barcelona

    Hi David, for my wife and myself Barcelona is one of Europe’s favorite destinations. We’ve been there many times. We love the food, wine, sun, beaches…
    If any of your blog visitors happen to go there, after they admire Las Rambles with its famous architecture they should go to The Boqueria, an open air food market that was some of the world’s most exotic fruit and magic ingredients for those who love cooking.
    Alex

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      Thanks Alex, great tip.

  3. David Brydon

    Just to say thanks, David, for asking me to participate on the blog – it’s fast becoming a great resource for those of us with kids wanting to travel! Great!

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      Thanks David. And thanks again for writing such a great post. It’s exactly what I was looking for.