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Where to Go in Barcelona with Kids
Traveling parents will agree that Barcelona isn’t the easiest city in which to roam with children. There’s only so much time one can spend sipping sangria on rooftops before your little ones find the boredom in the novelty of it all.
My observations of people lead me to understand that the following spots are probably the best possible options for underaged entertainment in a city that loves to party. Here is where you can go in Barcelona with your children.
To the Beach in Barcelona
This is a consistent and easy one to access provided the weather is on your side. The Barceloneta Beach strip is the city’s coastline of synthetic beaches (you’d never have guessed had I not said it).
The construction of the Barceloneta beaches began in 1992. It made the city of Barcelona more child-friendly almost overnight.
The strip is divide into four main beaches, and along them there are more things to do than just tan and swim.
by Benjamin Massello – Unsplash
There are sporting facilities along the sand, hover bards available for rental, a long promenade for activities and even surfing lessons available to all ages. If you prefer to keep things simple, then dipping into the ocean and building sandcastles comes standard.
Stick to the Barceloneta port when you leave the beach; it’s a hub filled with great places to eat paella and watch the sun go down, all of the spots are kid-friendly.
The Chocolate Museum in Barcelona
The Chocolate Museum is situated just inland from the Barceloneta Beach strip. One can easily access a free guided walking tour through Barcelona’s old town from this neighborhood (also a great excursion with kids).
It’s a private museum, which means it is quite small and easy to explore. As adults, you’ll generally be done with the museum in its entirety within 20 to 30 minutes. For children, however, the visit is much more immersive and interactive, which stretches the exploration time quite significantly.
Museu de la Xocolata – by Oh-Barcelona.com – Wikimedia Commons
Your kids will be taken on a journey of chocolate. Along the way, they will be treated to numerous chocolate tasting stations and even the opportunity to assist in the making of some.
Children particularly enjoy the fact that their admission ticket comes in the form of a chocolate bar. Overall, the Barcelona Chocolate Museum is incredible generous with how much chocolate they give away during a single visit. A must if you’re at a loss for entertainment for your little ones, especially on a rainy day.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Sunday – 10am to 8pm
ADDRESS: Carrer del Comerç, 36, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
METRO STATION: Jaume I
The Aquarium in Barcelona
The Barcelona port neighborhood that I mentioned, with all the paella and sunset view points? This is also the location of the Barcelona Aquarium.
It sits on the northernmost tip of the Port Vell island; just before you’d reenter the mainland of the city.
The Aquarium was one of the most exciting additions to the city. It was opened in 1995, and has since been responsible for large amounts of tourism to the city annually.
The Aquarium in Barcelona – by Airin – Wikimedia Commons
There are 11,000 specimens of marine life, across 450 species, that call these 35 aquarium tanks home. For children, this is a wondrous experience, and being able to walk through the tanks via tunnels is quite something.
Entry will set you back around €20 per person. You’ll need to pay a further €4 per person if you’d like to participate in the penguin or fish feeding encounters.
I find the cafe at the Barcelona Aquarium to be unacceptably overpriced and to have lousy catering for child diners. As mentioned earlier, the Port Vell is a better option for when it comes time to find somewhere to eat.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Sunday – 10am to 9pm
ADDRESS: del Port Vell, Moll d’Espanya, s/n, 08039 Barcelona, Spain
METRO STATION: Barceloneta
Ciutadella Park in Barcelona
There are a few things that simply aren’t to be missed on one’s first visit to Barcelona. You need to see Gaudi’s dreamy work, you need to take at least one guided walking tour, you must try traditional Spanish cuisine and everyone should walk through Ciutadella Park at least once.
This is one of Barcelona’s most important green spaces. It was created in the mid 19th century and remained the city’s old public green space for decades to follow.
Ciutadella Park – by Bernard Gagnon – Wikimedia Commons
It too is close to the beach, but stretches deep into the city center as well. There are multiple points of entry depending on what part of the city you are coming from.
Coutadella Park is a haven for families with children. You can quite literally settle in on a patch of grass and spend the entire day playing in the sun. There are playground facilities available, as well as constant entertainment from buskers, circus performers practicing their skills, artists painting under the tress, and even boating available on the water.
Pack a picnic, there aren’t many food options for kids available from the street vendors.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
OPENING HOURS: 24 Hours
ADDRESS: Passeig de Picasso, 21, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
METRO STATION: Arc de Triomf
Tibidabo Amusement Park in Barcelona
Any European city with an amusement park is automatically more appealing to families traveling with children.
The Tibidabo Amusement Park is an important attraction in Barcelona as it was one of the first amusement parks in the world, and the fact that it is still in operation today is astounding. It was constructed in 1899, in the hills of the north of Barcelona’s city center.
Tibidabo Amusement Park – by Felix König – Wikimedia Commons
The amusement park sits at the top of the hillside, overlooking the city below.
It’s a dream of a day trip for both adults and children, with rides and entertainment suitable for all ages. You’ll need comfortable walking shoes, sun protection and access to Uber if you don’t want to take public transport home from the top of the hill (can be tricky with strollers etc).
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