Updated: September 3, 2026 • By Santorini Dave
Barcelona Hotels for Families: My Favorites
- Best Overall:
Aparthotel Arai (Gothic Quarter) - Best Pool:
Grand Hotel Central (Gothic Quarter) - Best Apartment:
Apartments Sixtyfour (Eixample) - Family of 4:
Colón Hotel (Opposite Barcelona Cathedral) - Family of 5:
Catalonia Ramblas (Near Plaça Catalunya) - Family of 6:
Apartments Sixtyfour (Eixample)
We did several tours in Barcelona and the Market to Fork Cooking Class was the best. On our most recent visit we stayed at Aparthotel Arai in the Gothic Quarter.
Barcelona Family Hotels: My Advice
- Gothic Quarter or Eixample: I like the Gothic Quarter for a first family trip. You are surrounded by historic streets, restaurants, and sights, and much of central Barcelona is walkable. The downsides are narrow streets, crowds, and some noisy blocks at night. Eixample is easier with young kids and strollers, with wider sidewalks, larger blocks, and good access to Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, and the Sagrada Família. For apartments and a quieter base, I prefer Eixample.
- Book the Sagrada Família in Advance: Timed-entry tickets regularly sell out, especially in spring, summer, and around holidays. Book before your trip rather than counting on buying tickets when you arrive. Children under 6 are not allowed in the towers.
- Pools: A rooftop pool is worth having in July and August, especially with younger kids. Grand Hotel Central has my favorite hotel pool in central Barcelona. Aparthotel Arai has a smaller rooftop pool that is unheated and normally open from mid-June to mid-September. For a less expensive hotel near the beach, SB Icaria is a good choice.
- Dinner with Kids: Dinner starts later in Barcelona than many North American families are used to, but you do not need to wait until 9:00 pm or eat on La Rambla. Many tapas restaurants and restaurants with cocina ininterrumpida serve throughout the afternoon and early evening. With younger kids, a substantial late-afternoon snack also makes dinner timing much easier.
- Getting Around: Barcelona is easy to explore by metro, bus, and on foot. Children under 4 ride public transport free; everyone else needs a valid ticket. For a family making only a handful of trips, the 1-zone T-Familiar costs €11.50 and includes 8 shareable journeys. The T-Casual has 10 journeys but is for one person and cannot be shared. The T-Familiar is not valid at the Aeroport T1 and Aeroport T2 metro stations on Line L9 Sud. Most metro stations are accessible, but buses are often easier with a stroller.
Our suite at Aparthotel Arai.
The 7 Best Family Hotels in Barcelona
1. Aparthotel Arai (luxury) – Gothic Quarter
Hotel Phone: +34 933 203950
My favorite family hotel in Barcelona. Arai is a small boutique hotel in a restored 18th-century palace in the Gothic Quarter. The family apartments sleep 4 and have fully equipped kitchens, sofa beds, high ceilings, exposed stone walls, and plenty of character. The 55-square-meter Jewel Suite also sleeps 4 and has two private terraces. There’s a small rooftop pool, open in summer, and Palosanto, a Catalan tapas restaurant in the same building. Excellent central location, but expect the busy, narrow streets that come with staying in the Gothic Quarter.
• Hotel Website • Check prices for Aparthotel Arai
2. Grand Hotel Central (luxury) – Gothic Quarter
Hotel Phone: +34 932 957900
Stylish 5-star hotel on Via Laietana, between the Gothic Quarter and El Born. Spacious suites work well for families of 4, and connecting rooms are available for larger families. The rooftop infinity pool is one of the best in Barcelona, with excellent city views and a large terrace. A better choice than Arai if a great pool and full-service luxury matter more than having a kitchen.
• Hotel Website • Check prices for Grand Hotel Central
3. Eurostars Grand Marina (luxury) – Port Vell
Hotel Phone: +34 93 6039000
Large waterfront hotel at Port Vell with a design that resembles a transatlantic cruise ship. Executive suites sleep families of 4 and have living areas, large bathrooms, and private terraces. Rooms and suites are generally larger than at the historic-center hotels. There’s a rooftop pool and a hop-on hop-off bus stop outside. Good for space and harbor views, though the location is less convenient for sightseeing on foot than Arai, Grand Hotel Central, or Colón.
• Hotel Website • Check prices for Eurostars Grand Marina
4. Colón Hotel (midrange) – Gothic Quarter
Hotel Phone: +34 93 3011404
Excellent location directly across the square from Barcelona Cathedral. Junior suites sleep up to 4 and have sitting areas, Nespresso machines, mini-bars, and some of the best cathedral views in the city. A very easy base for exploring the Gothic Quarter, El Born, La Rambla, and the waterfront on foot.
• Hotel Website • Check prices for Colón Hotel
5. Catalonia Ramblas (midrange) – El Raval
Hotel Phone: +34 93 3168400
Four-star hotel a short walk from Plaça Catalunya with family rooms that sleep up to 5. A good choice for larger families who want a central hotel rather than an apartment. There’s a metro station nearby, and La Rambla, the Gothic Quarter, and Passeig de Gràcia are easy to reach on foot.
• Hotel Website • Check prices for Catalonia Ramblas
6. Citadines Ramblas (midrange) – La Rambla
Hotel Phone: +34 932701111
Aparthotel on La Rambla with spacious 1-bedroom apartments that sleep 4 and include kitchens with dishwashers. Steps from the Gothic Quarter and an easy walk to the Boqueria Market and Plaça Catalunya. One of the better choices for families who want an apartment but prefer to stay in the old center rather than Eixample.
• Hotel Website • Check prices for Citadines Ramblas
7. Turin (midrange) – El Raval
Hotel Phone: +34 933024812
Excellent value just off La Rambla. Quadruple rooms are clean and functional but basic. Great for families on a budget who want a very central location.
• Hotel Website • Check prices for Turin
More Hotels for Families in Barcelona
- SB Icaria
Family and triple rooms, outdoor pool, and a good location near Bogatell Beach. - Andante
Good-sized triple and family rooms with a rooftop pool. - Royal Ramblas
Large family rooms and interconnecting rooms on La Rambla. - Catalonia Plaza Catalunya
Large family rooms and an outdoor pool near Plaça Catalunya.
Family Apartments in Barcelona
Apartments Sixtyfour (midrange) – Eixample
Hotel Phone: +34 648182597
My favorite Barcelona apartments for larger families. The 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartments have full kitchens, dining areas, and living rooms, with options for families of 6 or more. Excellent Eixample location on Passeig de Gràcia.
• Hotel Website • Check prices for Apartments Sixtyfour
More Apartment Rentals for Families in Barcelona
- Barcelonastuff Apartments (Rambla Beach)
3-bedroom apartments for families of 6. - BCN Apartments 41
2 and 3-bedroom apartments for families of 4 to 6. - Catedral Bas Apartments
1-bedroom apartments for families of 4 and 2-bedroom apartments that sleep 5 or 6. - Home to Home Barcelona
Large 1 and 2-bedroom apartments for families of 4 to 6. - The Lonely Chimney Apartments
Affordable 2-bedroom apartments in Poblenou near the beach.
Santorini Dave was started in 2011 when I posted a short guide to visiting Santorini with kids. Now, my site publishes regularly updated guides to 
Hey Santorini Dave! Can you help me pick a good home base for my family of 5 (3 kids)? We want to relax at the beach but also see the sites. We’ll only have 3 days in Barcelona. Jenn
Since your time in Barcelona is limited and you want to include some beach time, I recommend going with one of three neighbourhoods:
Barri Gotic & Las Ramblas Barri Gotic is the super-central medieval quarter and the heart of the city, while Las Ramblas is Barcelona’s most popular pedestrian boulevard. It’s very walkable, lots of restaurants, close to many sights, and the Barceloneta Beach is a 10-15 minute walk away, depending exactly on where you stay. Family-friendly attractions include the Chocolate Museum and the Aquarium. Family-friendly hotels include Le Meredien (swimming pool, kids’ menu), Hotel Royal Ramblas (family rooms), Hotel Regina (family rooms) and Grand Hotel Central (family rooms, outdoor pool).
La Ribera is next door to Barri Gotic, also part of medieval Barcelona and also within easy walking distance of many attractions, as well as Barceloneta Beach. Plus there’s the large Ciutadella Park next to it, as well as Barcelona Zoo. Family-friendly hotels include Duquesa de Cardona (on the waterfront, outdoor pool, connecting rooms and extra beds available).
Eixample is just north of Barric Gotic and La Ribera and further away from Barceloneta Beach, which is the most central of Barcelona’s beaches. However, it’s more convenient if you want to visit the Sagrada Familia and check out some of the famous Gaudi architecture. Also, it’s only a short metro ride from the waterfront, from where it’s a 10-minute walk to the beach. Eixample’s family-friendly hotels include Best Western Premium Hotel Dante (family rooms, extra beds available, babysitting arranged), Petit Palace Museum Hotel (family rooms), Casa Fuster (outdoor pool, connecting rooms, babysitting, extra beds) and NH Calderon Barcelona (outdoor pool, connecting rooms).
We are traveling to Catalonia in June/July w/ 3 kids (9, 14, 17). Any thoughts on places to go (outside of Barcelona)? Activities? Villages that aren’t too over-run? Any direction would be much appreciated.
Mike Wilson
There are numerous places you can visit in Catalonia, both as day trips from Barcelona and as overnight stays.
Below are some general suggestions:
1. Montserrat. This is a rocky mountain 50km north of Barcelona, with a famous monastery, Benedectine Monestir de Montserrat, more than halfway up the mountain. The monastery is home to the Black Virgin, one of Spain’s most revered icons; pilgrims come here to pray and Barcelona’s football team come here to leave offerings before a big game. You don’t have to be a pilgrim to visit; apart from the monastery and a couple of shrines, there are some great walking paths leading to the top of the mountain, with excellent views towards the coast. There’s also a good art museum, a restaurant and a hotel. It’s an easy day trip from Barcelona. Take the metro to Espanya station and then the R5 train heading towards Manresa; the journey takes just over an hour. If you want to take the cable car to the monastery, get off at Aeri Montserrat; if you prefer to take the Cremallera Funicular cog railway up the mountain, alight at Monistrol Montserrat.
2. Figueres. Another easy day trip from Barcelona. Even if you’re not huge fans of Salvador Dali, this town is well worth a visit for the Teatre-Museu Dali, a red castle topped with Oscar-like golden statues and giant eggs and studded with plaster croissants. It’s both Dali’s final resting place (he’s buried in the crypt) and a superb museum of his work. There are numerous surreal installations and paintings and even a separate section displaying strange and intricate jewellery designed by Dali. Try to go early on a weekday, because it’s a huge favourite with school groups and tour groups in general. High-speed trains take around an hour to get to Figueres from Barcelona-Sants train station.
3. Cadaques. This is an attractive little fishing town on the Costa Brava, near the border with France. It sees more domestic visitors than international ones, there are some great seafood restaurants and there are some good coastal walks from there. A short (20min) coastal walk leads to to Port Lligat, a tiny fishing village where you find the Casa-Museu Dali. Again, even if you’re not huge fans of the surrealist artist, it’s great fun for adults and kids alike to poke around his private home, full of wacky objects – from a taxidermied polar bear to an oddly-shaped swimming pool and a tower spiked with pitchforks. It takes around two and a half hours to drive from Barcelona to Cadaques, so it’s worth combining a visit with a trip to Figueres and staying overnight in Cadaques. L’Horta d’en Rahola is an atmospheric, converted 17th century farmhouse, while Hotel Llane Petit is all whitewashed rooms overlooking a pebble beach.
4. Port Aventura. It takes around an hour and a half to drive from Barcelona to Port Aventura, one of Spain’s better amusement parks. There are rides suitable both for your younger child and the teenagers, from a freefall tower and rollercoasters to spinning teacups and wet’n’wild splash rides.
5. Tarragona. If you’re a family of history buffs, Tarragona is well worth a visit. Just over an hour’s drive from Barcelona along the coast, the town is the second most important Roman site in Spain, with plenty of ruins surviving intact. There’s a well-preserved amphitheatre, a necropolis, aqueduct, Roman forum and other remains, as well as an excellent archaeological museum. Tarragona also has some nice beaches, and you can stay overnight in Tarragona and combine a visit to the ruins with a visit to Port Aventura. Hotel Placa de la Font is central to the action in Tarragona.
6. Sitges. Okay, Sitges is touristy, but it also has some of Catalonia’s best beaches, a nice maze of streets to wander around, and good seafood restaurants along the waterfront. High-speed trains from Barcelona-Sants take around half an hour to get here.
7. Delta de L’Ebre. A couple of hours’ drive south of Barcelona, this is the most important birding habitat in northern Spain. It’s a great expanse of marshland, waterways and dune-backed beaches and it’s about as far from touristy bustle as you can get. In summer you’re not likely to see the flamingos, but there are numerous waterside trails ideal for cycling or walking and the beach by the seafront village of Ruimar is a great place for watersports such as kitesurfing, sea kayaking and wakeboarding. You can rent bicycles in Ruimar as well. The best places to stay in the Delta are the casas rurales (farmhouses turned guesthouses) that give you a proper taste of Catalonian rural life. Some of the best include Masia Tinet and Mas del Tancat. The Delta is also known for its distinctive cuisine – lots of seafood, plus dishes that make use of locally grown rice. Mas Prades is a great local restaurant.
8. Finally, if you’re into hiking and have a rental car, I recommend spending 2-3 days in the picturesque Parc Nacional d’Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici, Catalonia’s only national park that’s near the French border (about 4 hours’ drive from Barcelona). In winter it’s great for skiing and in summer there are numerous hiking trails winding between the tiny villages in the mountains. Base yourselves in Taull where there’s an excellent upmarket hostel, Alberg Taull run by a guy from Arizona, or else stay in the village of Espot at the Roca Blanca.
First time in Barcelona and Spain and looking for a good/great restaurant to sample local food. Any recommendations for Barcelona restaurants with kids? Nothing fancy. Staying near La Ramblas.
Elaine
Txapela is a delicious easy-going restaurant a short walk from Las Ramblas. Mainly small plates so you can sample lots of dishes. Try to sit up at the bar so you can see and ask about all the dishes going by. Our kids loved it as much as us.