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Pretty. Suggestive. Child-friendly.
Barcelona is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. A city that even your children will certainly know how to love.
Museums. Attractions. Parks. Spectacular fountains. And street performers ready to perform almost anywhere.
Here are the main activities and attractions during our holiday with children in Barcelona.
HOLIDAY WITH CHILDREN IN BARCELONA
RAMBLA AND PLAÇA DE CATALUNYA
Our Aparthotel was not far from Plaça de Catalunya. Thus, this splendid and large square has become our base and the reference point for travel.
Here there is a very high concentration of shops, clubs, bars, restaurants.
And, above all, the busy Rambla. Going along it in its entirety you reach the Mirador de Colom with the splendid dock and Barceloneta.
On the opposite side of Placa de Catalunya, however, in less than 15 minutes you can reach Casa Battlo and La Pedrera, a symbol of Gaudi‘s genius.
Going along the Rambla towards Barceloneta, you will find the Boqueria, one of the main markets of Barcelona (much loved by Andrea!).
Defining it as a market, however, is quite an understatement. In any case, your palate will thank you. All info from this link.
A small detour along the Rambla leads to the beautiful Barri Gotic, a splendid medieval district. You walk through the suggestive narrow streets, surrounded by clubs and truly suggestive views. All dominated by the beautiful Cathedral of Barcelona, an extraordinary marvel of Gothic art in the city. Not to be missed.
WAX MUSEUM
One of the museums not to be missed if you are on holiday with children in Barcelona.
Completely renovated in 2020, the Museum is housed in a beautiful 19th century building. In its rooms you can admire the wax statues depicting celebrities and cultural icons of yesterday and today. It starts with Tokyo and Nairobi, stars of the hit series “Casa de Papel“, and continues with King Kong, Billie Eilish, Freddy Mercury, the nice Remy from “Ratatouille” and many others.
Some statues are incredibly similar. Others less successful.
Overall a nice museum suitable especially for families.
Open Monday to Sunday, 10:30 am to 9:00 pm (in winter until 7:00 pm).
The ticket costs €20 per adult, €16 for children aged 6 to 16. Free for children under 6.
Included with BCN Family Card.
The museum is almost entirely wheelchair accessible, except for 2 areas.
BARCELONETA AND THE AQUARIUM
It is undoubtedly among the activities not to be missed in the city. Whether or not you are with children in Barcelona.
Entertainment by day and by night, including clubs, tapas bars and fish restaurants. Do not miss a paella overlooking the dock and the sea.
In the morning you can go to the beach of San Sebastia. Or you can take a wonderful walk around the Olympic Port.
At the Barceloneta market, housed in a 19th-century building, you will find meat and fish kiosks and tapas bars. It is open every day, from 07:30 to 14:00.
In the area, the Aquarium is one of the must-see activities for children in Barcelona.
Really beautiful, it is among the most important in the Iberian Peninsula. It is home to numerous animal species and the beautiful Oceanarium, a unique structure in Europe. Through an 80-meter-long transparent mobile tunnel, you walk into an immense tank surrounded by sharks, moray eels and many animal species.
A unique and wonderful immersive visit.
Open every day from 10:00 to 21:00 (in winter it closes around 19:00). Tickets cost €24 for ages 11 and up, €16 for children aged 5 to 10 and €10 for children aged 3 and 4.
Free with BCN Family Card.
If you have purchased the Barcelona Family Card, from the Port (Moll de les Drassanes) you will be entitled to a boat tour lasting about one hour with “Las Golondrinas“. You can admire the Port, Montjuic and the beauties of Barcelona … from another perspective. Also ideal for taking an hour break if you have walked too much!
MONTJUC
From the Port (Passeig de Joan de Borbó, 88) with the Telefèric you reach the splendid Montjuc hill (Avenida de Miramar).
The cable car is already an extraordinary attraction in itself and offers a truly spectacular view over the whole of Barcelona.
Beautiful especially at sunset, with the play of lights and colors over the city!
There are 3 stations, including the Castle, which offers a beautiful view of the harbor from the widening.
Each cabin holds up to 8 seats, which is why you can use it for the whole family. Furthermore, it is accessible for personnel with reduced mobility.
The ticket costs €14.20 for adults and €10.20 for children from 5 years old, and can be purchased directly from this link. Children under the age of 4 enter for free.
Open from Monday to Sunday at the following times:
- January, February, November and December: from 10:00 to 18:00
- From March, April, May and October: from 10:00 to 19:00
- From June to September: from 10:00 to 21:00
Between the Castle, the Mirador, the parks and gardens you can spend a day in total relaxation
The Castle is the terminus of bus 150 with which you can reach the interesting Poble Espanyol, a place that children in Barcelona will certainly appreciate.
Two figures of Gigantes await you at the entrance. Inside, however, you can admire a real open-air museum.
It is a reconstruction of the main Spanish architectural styles; in Poble Espanyol there are 117 buildings, streets and squares, strictly pedestrianized, a real village.
You will also find numerous clubs, tapas bars and restaurants where you can eat and have fun until late in the evening. In fact, there is no shortage of events and concerts scheduled throughout the year.
Open every day from 09:00 until late evening (Friday and Saturday until 03:00 at night). In winter the closing is anticipated to midnight.
The ticket is included with the Family Card. Alternatively, adults pay €12.20 and children €9.
PLAÇA DE ESPANYA AND MAGIC FOUNTAIN
When you arrive in the splendid Plaça de Espana, your gaze is lost among beautiful works of art; not far away you will find the Palau Nacional, the museum of Catalan art. Visiting this fantastic square is recommended at sunset or in the evening, when it is possible to admire the spectacular Font Màgica, that is the magical fountain of Montjuic: colored lights to the rhythm of music make it one of the most popular attractions for adults and children in Barcelona.
Street performers will cheer you up before the show starts with dances and acrobatics.
More info from this link.
PARKS, ZOO AND CHOCOLATE MUSEUM
Parks and green areas are a constant in Barcelona. Even in the center you will find many. The inhabitants come to play sports and take walks away from the hustle and bustle.
Parc Joan Mirò is really big and pretty. It is located less than 10 minutes’ walk from Placa de Espanya and can be seen from afar for the presence of the colorful sculpture “Dona i Ocell“, 21 meters high, by the surrealist artist Joan Mirò.
This is also the favorite park of the Catalans to walk their dogs: you will find so many.
Your little friends can have fun with them and in the playground set up in the park.
The Ciutadella Park is one of the most beautiful green lungs in the city, with lots of greenery, a monumental fountain and an interesting zoo.
It is perfectly accessible by public transport and on foot, with a 10-minute walk from Barceloneta.
With the metro and lines R1, R3, R4 and R7, you can get off at the Arc de Triomf stop.
After passing the Arch (with the inevitable customary photos) and the long walk, with a small detour to Passeig de Pujades, you arrive at the Chocolate Museum (Carrer del Comerç, 36).
Chocolate, what a passion… for adults and children in Barcelona.
At the entrance to the Museum, each visitor will receive a bar of dark chocolate (really delicious) with a QR code that will be used to access the structure.
We visited the Museum because it was included in the BCN Family Card but the children were pleasantly surprised to admire the works of art made with chocolate. Star Wars, Disney, the inevitable Messi …
A small and fun museum, open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm, Sunday from 10am to 1pm. Closed on Mondays.
The ticket costs €6 per person (free for children under 7).
The Barcelona Zoo is housed within the Ciutadella Park. It is certainly not an unmissable appointment during your vacation. In addition to the many animal species, the children appreciated… the availability of peacocks to be admired in all their splendor! It doesn’t happen every day.
Open every day from 10am to 7pm.
The adult ticket, in my opinion excessive for the proposal, is €21.40 for adults and €12.95 for children from 3 to 12 years. FREE with Barcelona Card Family.
PARK GUELL, TIBIDABO AND OTHER ACTIVITIES WITH CHILDREN IN BARCELONA
Park Guell is a public park with an open-air museum inside, open to visitors all year round, as well as one of the symbolic monuments of the city.
It is one of the most visited places in the region, which is why you cannot miss to admire it with your children in Barcelona. More info from this link.
Tibidabo, on the other hand, is even more out of the way from the center, reachable in about an hour. From Plaça de Catalunya we used train, funicular and bus!
You should definitely visit it if you have time available during your holiday with children in Barcelona. Especially for the view.
A holiday with children in Barcelona cannot be complete without visiting PortAventura, a spectacular park just over 100 kilometers south of the city. One of the most beautiful theme parks in Europe. More info from here.