You’re in Barcelona. You’ve got kids. You still want to immerse yourself in everything the cosmopolitan Catalonian capital has to offer. We’ve been there. The question is: can you experience Barcelona’s famous culture, museums and nightlife with your family in tow? The answer? Yes!
Not only is Barcelona a hugely child-friendly city, but it’ll welcome your little nippers with open arms and an almost endless list of family-friendly frolics. We’ve whittled these down to our list of the top 8 fun things to do in Barcelona with kids.
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8 of the best activities with children in Barcelona
1. Park Güell - Gaudi's wonderful wonderland
One of the most age-appropriate ways to introduce your wee ones to Barcelona’s art scene is at the perennially popular Park Güell. You’d be forgiven for thinking that this verdant space, sprinkled with Gaudi’s colourful, curvy style, was designed exclusively for little people.
Make like Indiana Jones as you and the kids explore its extensive gardens, from paths to passageways and caves to columns. Don’t forget to visit The Drac, Park Güell’s multicoloured, mosaiced mascot.
We recommend getting your tickets in advance and going early in the morning to beat the crowds battling to bathe in Gaudi’s brilliance. This uniquely beautiful park is definitely one of the top fun things to do in Barcelona, especially with kids.
2. Casa Batlló - the shiny, colourful, wavy magical house
If you’re craving more Catalan culture for kids, look no further than another of Gaudi’s masterpieces: Casa Batlló.
This 19th-century house-turned-museum has truly caught up with 21st-century technology and introduced a treasure trove of technological treats that will delight all ages, from the tiniest of tots to tech-savvy teens. The whole family will love the personal tablets loaded with virtual reality content, immersive rooms with screens on every inch of wall and the pioneering six-sided LED “Gaudi Cube”.
Casa Battló really goes out of its way to accommodate families, offering to store pushchairs and supplying baby carriers so that you can enjoy the experience hands-free!
3. Montjuic Magic Fountain - one of the top things to do in Barcelona with kids
Another of our top fun things to do in Barcelona with kids is the weird and wonderful Montjuic Magic Fountain. Your kids will squeal with delight at the light and water acrobatics show, with 700 gallons of water per second spectacularly shooting through 3620 colourful jets.
The splashy spectacle is choreographed to an eclectic mix of music, including the 80s’ greatest hits and soundtracks from cartoons and animated films.
Opening times vary throughout the year but generally start between 20:00 and 21:30. If you don’t want to keep the little ones up too late, you can attend one of the daytime shows, which don’t involve music or lights. However, we think staying up past bedtime is worth it to see the full-on show.
Not only will your kids love you, but your wallet will also thank you as this is one of the few major attractions in Barcelona that is completely free!
4. CaixaForum Barcelona - one of Barcelona's best museums
You won’t have far to walk to this next attraction; the Caixaforum Barcelona is a pleasant 2-minute stroll away.
This cultural centre is cool for kids, and offers a dazzling selection of workshops, exhibitions and family tours that are supremely suitable for small people. Some recent examples include an instrumental music concert that was inspired by colours and feelings (age 6+) and investigating x-rays of Egyptian mummies (age 8+).
Caixaforum is open every day from 10:00 to 20:00. If Barcelona on a budget is what you’re looking for, it’s an absolute bargain at only 6 euros per adult, and free under-16s.
5. Nova Icària Beach - a child-friendly beach near the big city
Another Barcelona hotspot that won’t drain your wallet is the seaside. Most people think of Barcelona as a city break, but one of the top fun things to do in Barcelona with kids is hit the beach!
There are many to choose from, but Nova Icària seems tailor-made for tiddlers. This blue flag beach is one of the quietest and calmest stretches of sand along the Costa Brava, so your little swimmers can splash in the Med while you relax on the shore.
You won’t need to worry about bringing packed lunches, as there are restaurants galore and, of course, kiosks for the obligatory post-lunch ice cream. This family-friendly beach also has a play area, a volleyball court and a table tennis table to keep your offspring entertained on land.
6. Camp Nou - take a tour of the mighty Barca stadium
If your brood are less passionate about ping pong and more fanatic about football, then you might want to head to Camp Nou. The mighty Barca are one of the biggest teams in the world, so it’s fitting that their stadium is one of the biggest in Europe with a whopping 100,000 seats!
There are several different stadium tours to choose from. Get a behind-the-scenes snoop at the changing rooms (we hope they’re not too “Messi”!) then walk through the famous tunnel and out onto the even more famous pitch. You’ll be full of “Pep,” imagining the deafening roar of the crowd as you score the winning goal. Take on the Robokeeper challenge and see if you can beat the unbeatable goalkeeping machine.
If all this “Piques” your interest, check out the different options available for tours on their website.
7. Cosmocaixa Science Museum - learn about the world around you
Of course, not all children are sports fans. If you’re the proud parent of a budding scientist, then the Cosmocaixa Science Museum could be for you. Your nerdy nipper can while away a very happy afternoon getting tactile in the Toca Toca! (Touch Touch) zone and the museum’s two permanent exhibitions.
If your dream is a family rainforest trip, head to the Flooded Forest exhibition. This is the closest thing to the Amazon you’ll find this side of the Atlantic. It’s got a humid atmosphere and an array of exotic species. We hope you’re feeling brave; residents include piranhas, crocodiles and poisonous frogs. You can even experience (indoor!) tropical rain on your face every 15 minutes.
Has your young one set their sights further than Earth-based exploration? Then they’ll love the Universe Gallery. This hands-on outer-space experience is all about the cosmos, from the big bang to the present day.
8. City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus - the best thing to do in Barcelona with kids
And to round off our list of fun things to do in Barcelona with kids? What else could it be but our very own City Sightseeing bus? We don’t want to toot our own (bus) horn, but we think our double-decker, open-top bus is just the ticket for wee ones. Sit up top and get the best views in town as you sail past all the top attractions on this list and more.
With children in tow, you’ll appreciate the freedom and flexibility to hop on and off wherever you like. And of course, not having to queue makes life easier too. And under 4s go for free!
Barcelona – fun, family-friendly things to do
We think we’ve made our case that Barcelona is a brilliant break with bambinos. You’ll be so spoilt for choice for fun things to do that you’ll feel like a kid in a sweet shop.
So, if you’re looking for a city that has it all, where you can experience it all with children, then take a deep breath, pack plenty of snacks and dive into Barcelona! As Barcelonians say, Adéu!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can take your kids to Zoo Barcelona and L’Aquàrium Barcelona. And, handily enough, our City Sightseeing Barcelona Red Route has stops right next to both!
As well as the fantastic child-friendly museums mentioned in the post above, Barcelona offers:
- Museu de la Xocolata (for those with a sweet tooth),
- Museum Of Wax Barcelona (to check out some celeb replicas)
- Big Fun Museum of Illusions (to take crazy selfies with silly backgrounds)
If you’re looking for a decent picnic spot, you’ll find parks a plenty in Barcelona. Parc Joan Miró, Parc Cervantes or the wonderful Park Güell are just a few of your options.