7 Exciting Things To Do In Barcelona With Kids

Famous as the playground of the modernist architect Gaudí, Barcelona has truly embraced his imaginative style creating a city which is packed full of fun and adventure for kids of every age. Offering a perfect mix of indoor/outdoor attractions, family-friendly restaurants, sports parks, playgrounds and laid-back beaches, topped off with an idyllic Mediterranean climate, the city could have been designed with families in mind.

It’s large enough to have plenty going on but small enough to walk between attractions, so tackling Barcelona with kids in tow need not be an overwhelming experience.. The palm tree-lined avenues and paved pedestrian areas perfectly accommodate strollers, and the city’s rated metro and bus networks provide easy access to the beaches and coastal attractions. Vibrant markets, street performers and fairytale architecture will give kids plenty to see enroute, however you choose to explore the city, and the city’s many neighbourhood playgrounds provide welcome stop off points along the way.

There’s a wide range of accommodation choices on offer with districts such as L’Eixample and the Gràcia neighbourhood serving up an excellent range of foodie cafes and restaurants alongside great city access and chic and spacious family-friendly rentals.

For those who have visited Barcelona before, an exciting calendar of cultural events and family-friendly festivals ensure there is always something fresh to discover, from the legendary human castles – which have to be seen to be believed – to the lively Correfoc (firerun) of the La Mercè festival which concludes with fireworks on the beach. With so many exciting activities on offer, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite things to do in Barcelona with Kids below.

7 Best Things To Do in Barcelona With Kids 

1. Museo de la Ciencia CosmoCaixa

Barcelona’s CosmoCaixa is a grand affair with over 5 floors of interactive displays to discover, and a good café/restaurant for fuelling up. One of our favourite museums in Barcelona for kids, exhibits are designed to be hands-on with learning encouraged through experimentation and live action – even the escalator’s mechanism is see-through so they can see how it works. Themed broadly around science with natural history, geography, space, and sea life thrown into the mix, there’s something to appeal to every age group. There are robots to control, a hall of mirrors to play in, a 3D planetarium for stargazing and an incredible flooded forest exhibit which faithfully recreates an Amazon ecosystem complete with piranhas, crocodiles, and poisonous tree frogs. The museum is stroller-friendly.

2. Barcelona Zoo

Mini naturalists are in their element at Barcelona Zoo with a whole kingdom of plants and animals to encounter including lions, hippos, Rothchild’s giraffes, African bush elephants, Borneo orangutans, Humboldt penguins and Komodo dragons. The zoo is conservation led and offers exciting behind the scenes experiences for families, including activity camps during the holidays where kids get the chance to assist the zookeepers. There are several restaurants on site offering delicious seasonal Mediterranean dishes, and a number of picnic spots with good views of the animals. For little ones needing a break – or parents a sit down – there are 2 children’s play areas, and the grounds are stroller-friendly for additional ease.

Set in a striking building within the Parc del Fòrum, the Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona is spread over 2 floors with plenty to offer curious minds.  A huge skeleton of a whale which beached itself on nearby shores in 1862 greets guests as they enter, and there are plenty more skeletons, preserved fauna and fossils to discover inside. Exhibits include lots of interactive displays taking visitors on a journey through time with digital images, lighting and acoustics enhancing the adventure. For hands-on little ones, there’s a Science Nest where kids aged 6 and under can play and touch specific items, ideal for those looking for things to do in Barcelona with toddlers. After the visit, it’s worth taking time in Parc del Forum’s excellent playground or making the short walk to the beach promenade where you walk all the way back to the centre.

• Activity type: Museum
• Ages: Toddlers – teens
• Cost: €6 general admission; kids under 16’s go free.

4. L’Aquàrium de Barcelona

Kids will love exploring life beneath the waves at the L’Aquàrium de Barcelona, Europe’s largest marine science museum with over 450 species to encounter. Queues can be long so it’s wise to purchase advance tickets online; check in at the reception desk on arrival for activity sheets and quests for kids.  Inside, there are 14 marine life areas with tanks full of mediterranean and tropical species. A highlight is the 80-meter-long glass tunnel where you can see sharks, rays and moraines swim overhead. Younger ones will enjoy the kids play zone where there are slides and a tide pool they can crawl beneath to see the fish at eye level. For adventurous kids from 8 – 12 years, the aquarium offers shark sleepovers where they’ll get to become a shark investigator for the evening. With after hours viewing of the tanks and behind the scenes guided tours, it’s certainly one of the most unique things to do with kids in Barcelona.   

• Activity type: Aquarium
• Ages: Babies to teens
• Cost: Adults €25; 5 – 10 year old’s €18; 3 – 4 year old’s €10. Family pass €75. Two’s and under go free. 

5. Park Güell

Set in a lush, green oasis just outside the city centre, Park Güell is a magical playground for kids and adults alike. Gaudí’s playful mosaic-clad architecture could be straight out of a fairytale with Hansel and Gretel style houses complete with ‘icing sugar’ roofs, dragon stairs and brightly coloured walkways with magnificent views over the city. Keep an eye out for El Drac, one of the city’s best loved lizards. The park itself is free (though the monumental zone is ticketed), and is ideal for games of hide and seek, or a laid-back picnic under the trees. There are several nearby cafes which offer delicious takeaway options. There’s also a playground and a forest zone with plenty of shaded space for kids to run off some steam while adults relax and take in the views.

• Activity type: Park/museum
• Ages: Babies to teens
• Cost: €10 general entry; €7 kids aged 7 – 12; under 6’s go free (for the monumental zone)

6. Museu de la Xocolata

Chocolate lovers will be in cocoa-scented heaven with a whole museum dedicated to the stuff. The Museu de la Xocolata offers an interactive audio and touch screen journey documenting the life of cocoa from bean to bar, with the chance to smell and taste its different forms. Kids love its collection of legendary chocolate sculptures with creations including the Sagrada Familia, Minnie Mouse, creatures from Parc Güell – and a life size Komodo dragon! For those keen to give it a go for themselves, the museum offers chocolate figurine making classes on the weekends. If tasting chocolate is more of a priority, the museum café has treats and hot chocolate options a-plenty.

• Activity type: Museum
• Ages: 5+
• Cost: €6 general admission; Under 7’s go free

7. Tibidabo Amusement Park

Located on the highest peak of the Collserola national park – or magic mountain as the locals affectionately call it – Tibidabo Amusement Park is one of the most popular things to do in Barcelona with kids. With panoramic views of the city and age color-coded rides to suit every adrenaline level, there’s plenty to please all the family. There are fantasy castles, stomach churning roller coasters, a ferris wheel and a vintage aeroplane dating back to 1928 which flies photogenically over the skyline. For those seeking gentler activity, there are lego play areas, a 4D cinema, a carousel, and a water splash park as well as restaurants and food stalls serving local and international cuisine.  The park is stroller friendly with lifts available to make navigating the hillside easier.

Activity type: Funfair/ amusement park

Ages: Toddlers to teens

Cost: €35 general admission; kids up to 120cm €14; kids under 90cm free. All tickets include a ride on the funicular.  

More Things To Do in Barcelona With Kids

Visiting the city for more than a weekend? Check out more of our favourite things to do on family vacations in Barcelona…

• Bogatell Beach: Less crowded than nearby Barcelonata with some of the city’s best tapas and ice cream to be found along La Rambla of Poble Nou.
• Parc Infantil del Parc del Fòrum: An excellent beachside playground with a mix of wooden towers, rope bridges, slides and skateboard paths.
• Camp Nou Experience: Europe’s largest soccer stadium and home to FC Barcelona – grab gold dust tickets to see them play old rivals Real Madrid, take a stadium tour or pay homage at the (Lionel) Messi Space shrine.
• Jump Yard: The city’s largest indoor play park with trampolines, sky rides, foam pit battle zone and football pitches.
• Teleferico de Montjuïc: Take the cable car and enjoy panoramic views of the city, sea and mountains as you cruise up to Montjuïc castle.
• Barcelona Bosc Urba: An adventure centre with zip lines, bungee jumping, rope swings and family circuits.
• The Paradox Museum: A mind twisting, eye tricking experience that challenges reality with plenty of creativity, fun and games thrown in.

Tips For Visiting Barcelona With Kids

1. When to visit Barcelona. Enjoying a maritime Mediterranean climate, Barcelona has sunny winters minus the bitter cold, crowds and queues,  making it an excellent time of year to visit. For active families into hiking and biking, spring and autumn are ideal months to explore Barcelona with kids, showcasing mild, sunny and comfortable temperatures.
2. Invest in a metro or bus pass. Barcelona is a great city for walking but if you’re staying a bit further out or little legs need a break, a 10-journey ticket valid on the metro or bus, or a Hola BCN travel card allowing unlimited journeys over 2 – 5 days could be a wise investment.
3. Look out for neighbourhood play parks. With apartment-living the cultural norm in Barcelona, nearly every block has a neighbourhood playground. They make great stop off points while exploring Barcelona with toddlers in tow.
4. Bring the stroller. Don’t let Barcelona’s famed cobbled streets put you off, there are plenty of wide, paved walkways and accessible routes that make it easy to get around Barcelona with a stroller. Contrary to popular belief, the Sagrada Familia is stroller-friendly and has a separate, wider entrance for those taking one in – often with a shorter queue (there’s a stroller park if you decide to climb the tower). 
5. Take a day trip. With good transport links, exploring outside the city couldn’t be easier. Take the train down the coast to characterful Sitges or a train and cable car combination to explore the Montserrat mountain range.
6. The best airports for visiting Barcelona. Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat is the closest international airport, easily reachable in around 30 minutes by car, train or Aerobus from the city centre.

Make the Most of Barcelona With Kids

There is so much to see and do in Barcelona with kids, the main challenge will be deciding what to prioritise. Thinking about accommodation is a good place to start, whether that be in the city centre and walking distance to cultural highlights or by the laid-back coast and closer to some of the city’s larger museums and activity parks.

While there are many excellent hotels in Barcelona, family-friendly rentals consistently offer more space and flexibility when it comes to eating in and chilling out, with style and luxury to rival the best boutique hotels. From period pads to spacious modern apartments, they come with fully equipped kitchens, chilled out living rooms, extra amenities for kids such as books and toys, and even a pool if you’re lucky.

When out and about in the city, combine walking with hopping on the metro or bus to cut down time between attractions. Build in time for a leisurely lunch though – with so many excellent restaurants and an array of local dishes to try, food is worth taking time over. 

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