Don’t worry about your kids being bored while on vacation in Barcelona – the Catalan capital has plenty of fun activities and interesting sites that the whole family can enjoy. Our list gives you some of the best things to do in Barcelona with kids.
Visit the stadium where Messi has scored hundreds of goals
Neymar, Iniesta, Luis Suarez, Piqué or Busquets are some of the biggest names in football, and they are led by the king himself: Lionel Messi. If you’re in Barcelona during the football season (late August to May) there’s no excuse to not go to a game at the Camp Nou, the largest stadium in Europe, which on a good day gathers over 90,000 spectators. While you’re at it do the Camp Nou Experience, a guided tour of the club’s museum which includes a walk on the pitch – you can even sit on Barça’s bench and see what the stadium looks like from a player’s perspective. Find out more about visiting Camp Nou here.
Right next to the stadium is an ice skating rink. You can rent all the equipment and go skating after visiting the Camp Nou.
Ride the rides at the Tibidabo amusement park
Tibidabo is the name of the largest hill that encircles Barcelona, and it is home to one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. It features rollercoasters, bumper cars, a Ferris wheel, and many other fun rides. The view is also spectacular, as the entire city lies at its feet. Find out more about visiting Tibidabo here.
See sharks from up close at the Barcelona Aquarium
Barcelona’s “L’Aquarium” is one of the largest in Europe. It holds hundreds of different marine animals from the Mediterranean Sea and from the rest of the world, the most famous of which are its ferocious sharks. For a very special spectacle, you can visit during feeding time and see the aquarium’s caretakers dive into the tank and feed the sharks and other creatures. You can find more information and tickets for the aquarium here.
Mmmmmm… Pudding
Pudding is a coffee shop that specializes in delicious dessert dishes like cakes, pies, cookies, and milkshakes in a space that is reminiscent of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland. The whole menu is very child-friendly and there are board games, coloring sets and toys to keep the little ones entertained.
Get lost in Barcelona’s Labyrinth Park
The Parc del Laberint d’Horta – the Labyrinth Park of Horta– is Barcelona’s oldest urban park. As its name suggests, its main highlight is the sculpted plant maze at its center, which you can explore (and get lost in!). The Parc del Laberint is not as well-known as Barcelona’s other major parks, which makes it a good place to visit as it’s usually less crowded.
Go to the Zoo!
Who doesn’t love going to the zoo? See enormous elephants, tall giraffes, majestic lions, colorful parrots, and dozens of other animals. There’s also a petting area, where the little ones can ride ponies and see and touch many farm animals from up close – just be careful with the goats, they’ll try to eat your clothes!
Chocolate is more than food at Barcelona’s chocolate museum
Did you know Barcelona has a chocolate museum? Come and learn about the history of chocolate, how it is produced, and see the incredible Mones de Pasqua, chocolate sculptures given to children for Easter. And what would be the point of a chocolate museum with no chocolate to eat? Pop into the café for a mug of hot chocolate and bonbons after your visit.
Try artisan candies at Papabubble
Papabubble is a sweet-tooth’s dream – an artisan candy shop that produces all its delicious sweets by hand. Drop in and tease your taste buds with dozens of flavors and textures, and watch how the candy is made in-situ in the shop. Just don’t forget to brush your teeth well later.
Explore a fairy forest at Barcelona’s wax museum
El Bosc de les Fades, which means The Forest of the Fairies, is part of Barcelona’s wax museum – it’s a life-size replica of a magical forest with living trees and fairies and other magical creatures. There’s also a bar, where you can get something to eat in a setting that looks taken from a fantasy movie.
Hit the beaches!
Barcelona has over 4 kilometers of public beaches where you can sunbathe, swim, rent paddle boats and SUP boards, build sand castles, and in general, just have a good time. The Mediterranean sun is quite powerful, so bring a parasol and plenty of sunscreen to keep your and your kid’s skin healthy.
Go for a dip at La Torre de les Aigües
If you want to bathe in a more relaxed environment with plenty of shade head to La Torre de les Aigües – the tower of the waters. Found in the center of the city, it’s a little urban park with a public swimming pool, sand boxes to play in, and plenty of trees and benches and in the shade to cool off. The park is a cool little secret spot, frequented by locals, so the atmosphere is much calmer than on the beach.
Go for a ride on an old street car
El Tramvia Blau del Tibidabo –The Blue Street Car of Tibidabo– is a remnant from Barcelona’s past, an electric street car that will take you to the base of Tibidabo hill. The ride is short but the cars all retain the same appearance as when they first went into circulation over one hundred years ago, painted bright blue with charming antique wooden interiors. When you get reach the end of the line you can visit the CosmoCaixa, Barcelona’s science museum, or take the funicular train all the way to the top of Tibidabo where you can enjoy the spectacular views and visit the amusement park.
See Barcelona’s port from up close on Las Golondrinas
Las Golondrinas are tour boats that will take you for a scenic ride through Barcelona’s harbor. See the superyachts, cruise ships and the massive cargo ships and tankers that dock in Barcelona every day, as well as the city landscape from a different perspective. The boats even have a glass bottom, so you can look down and see underwater.
Go for a bike ride on the promenade
Barcelona’s Passeig Maritim runs all the way from the Barceloneta beaches to the Forum park at the city’s northeastern end. Rent a bike with seats for children and go for a ride in the evening when the sun is setting and the temperatures have done down a bit. There are also guided bike tours that will allow you to bring to your kids along, so you can see all the local landmarks in a more interesting way.
