Barcelona with children - these 15 tips you need to know

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Barcelona with children - the best tips at a glance

Barcelona has a lot to offer for families and is particularly attractive because of its location on the beach. Here is an overview of what you can do and see in Barcelona with children.

Here are the best sights for children in Barcelona

• Barcelona Aquarium

• Barcelona Zoo

• Boat tour on the coast

• Tour of the Camp Nou stadium

• Chocolate Museum Barcelona

• Wax museum Museo de Cera de Barcelona

• CosmoCaixa Museum

• Magic Fountain

• Barcelona Beach

• Boat trip in the Parc de la Ciutat

• PortAventura Park

• Ferrari Land

• Gaudi Experiènca 4D

• Labyrinth in Parc Laberint d'Horta

• Take the cable car up Montjuïc mountain

For more travel tips, read our article on the best sights in Barcelona.

What is the Barcelona Explorer Pass from Go City?

Before we start with the top sights for a city trip to Barcelona with children, we would like to introduce you to the Barcelona Explorer Pass from Go City. With this offer, you get benefits and discounted entry to the attractions of your choice and take advantage of potential savings of up to 35 per cent compared to buying individual tickets.

It's up to you to decide whether you want a pass for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 top attractions. There are over 40 tours, experiences and admissions to choose from. Simply show your Barcelona Pass at the entrance and you have 60 days from the first use to redeem it. Ingenious, isn't it?

You can book the pass here: Barcelona Explorer Pass from Go City*.

1 Barcelona with children - Aquarium

One of the highlights in Barcelona with children is the aquarium. In the exhibitions "The Mediterranean", "Tropical Seas" or "Planet Aqua" you will not only pass rainy hours with the kiddies. The aquarium is always worth a visit and one of the most popular destinations for families in Barcelona.

Especially the interactive "Explora! Children's Area" will delight the little ones.

L'Aquárium de Barcelona is open 365 days a year and advertises unique shark experiences in which children aged 10 and over can take part. Cage diving and free scuba diving with sharks are offered.

However, you must already have completed a diving course with one of the recognised associations before you can dive with the sharks.

Important: We clearly distance ourselves from keeping animals in captivity. Marine animals should never be viewed in a tank and wild animals should never be viewed in enclosures. Of course, it is up to you to decide whether you want to visit such an institution with your family.

2 Barcelona Zoo

As in all other European cities, you will also find a zoo in Barcelona. There are countless animals and plant species on the huge grounds. The monitor lizards in the "Land of the Dragons" are particularly fascinating.

In the "Flight Dome" you can observe free-flying birds in a screened-off area designed to resemble their natural habitat. The zoo's terrarium houses one of the most diverse collections of amphibians in Europe.

3. boat trip along the coast

There are always some super yachts in the harbour

Would you like to explore Barcelona with children from the water? How about a catamaran boat trip along the coast for several hours or a small sailing trip at sunset? You'll be particularly comfortable on one of the luxury yachts.

Tip: There are also budget-friendly tours that are perfect for families.

Barcelona with children - travel guide

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4. stadium tour at Camp Nou

The Camp Nou stadium is definitely one of the top 10 sights.

Are your kids into football? Then you should definitely plan a stadium tour in Barcelona with kids. You'll visit the Camp Nou and the FC Barcelona Museum together. The Camp Nou is the largest football stadium in Europe.

Absolute highlight: as part of a guided tour, you enter the dressing room and walk through the tunnel to the pitch.

5. chocolate museum Barcelona

Watch out, now it's getting sweet! The Museu de la Xocolata is one of the absolute top highlights for a visit to Barcelona with children. Throughout the year, there are always activities and events for families.

In the chocolate museum you will learn interesting facts about the sweet sin.

During a visit, the kiddies learn about chocolate production, make their own chocolate sculpture or paint little works of art with melted chocolate.

6. wax museum Museo de Cera de Barcelona

What can you do with children in Barcelona when it rains ? For example, visit the wax figures in the Museo de Cera de Barcelona.

The wax museum promises a journey into the past and through the present. More than 150 figures in over 28 scenes await you here. On your tour, you can take funny selfies with famous personalities from sport, film and television.

The exhibition is almost completely barrier-free - a big plus for families.

CosmoCaixa Museum

Formerly known as the Science Museum, the CosmoCaixa Museum opened under its current name after renovation. It covers topics such as the environment, space, nature and science.Perfect for bad weather in Barcelona with children.

A special highlight in the museum is the planetarium. In the interactive exhibition, the kiddies can touch and participate. Younger children in particular get their money's worth here.

Visitors under 16 years of age have free admission to the museum.

8th Magic Fountain

The fountain in front of the Palau National

A colourful light show awaits you at Barcelona's Magic Fountain at Placa de Carles Buigas. The Magic Fountain can produce around seven billion different light and water combinations and is a special highlight to visit in Barcelona with children, especially in the evening. The Font Màgica at Plaça de Espanya in Barcelona is definitely an eye-catcher.

Important: In winter, the fountain may be switched off.

⭐ The best gadgets for travelling with children

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9. beach Barcelona

Barcelona has several beaches - perfect for a city break with kids. The city beaches are easy to reach from the centre and are divided into different sections by name. On the promenade you can safely take a walk with the little ones or push the pram from A to B in comfort.

This is the view of the beach of La Barceloneta from the W Hotel.

If you like a place, head for the sand - build castles, collect shells and cool off in the sea. The kiddies will love it!

Outside the city centre, you'll find more beaches in Barcelona's surroundings. You can reach them easily by public transport.

10. boat trip in the Parc de la Ciutat

You can even rent a boat and sail on the pond.

The Parc de la Ciutat is one of Barcelona's green oases. The lake in the middle of the park invites you to take long walks, an excellent contrast to sightseeing.

Situated on the edge of the old town in the Ciutat Vella district, it's perfect for a short detour at lunchtime to recharge the kids' batteries.

Have you planned a little more time for nature? Then take the kids on a boat trip across the pond and look out for the turtles and fish that call the lake home.

11 PortAventura Park

PortAventura Park is part of PortAventura WORLD and offers rides for all ages, as well as shows, restaurants and plenty of shopping options on a variety of themes. Here you will find everything your heart desires - including sweets, souvenirs or clothing .

You can experience a fast ride on the roller coaster "Furius baco", and a relaxed ride on rails from the "Estació del Nord" on a funicular through the park.

Other highlights, especially for smaller children, are rides on the boats or canoes and the mini-chain carousel.

12 Ferrari Land

Your kids love action and thrills? Then let's go to Ferrari Land. The name says it all: the amusement park with its rides is all about the red racers and is also part of PortAventura WORLD.

In addition to an interactive Ferrari gallery, shows with titles such as "Rondo Veneziano" or "Folklore Italiano" await you. During the "Acrobatic Show", colourful flags will be whirled through the air in keeping with Formula 1.

13th Gaudi Experiènca 4D

Follow in the footsteps of Antonio Gaudí and his innovative technologies in Barcelona with children at the Gaudí Experiènca. The 4D presentation lasts about three quarters of an hour. Moving seats and special effects contribute to a unique, interactive experience.

14 Labyrinth in Parc Laberint d'Horta

The best way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city is to get out into nature. A break from sightseeing keeps the kids happy on a city break.

Barcelona's oldest park is located in the Horta-Guinardó district of the same name on the ridge of the Serra de Collserola. It owes its name, Parc del Laberint d'Horta, to the maze of hedges in which you can get lost with the children.

One of the few old garden mazes still preserved in Europe is in Barcelona.

Once you have found your way out of the maze, there are other places in the park worth visiting with children. These include

• the panoramic terrace with the temple

• the flower and box tree garden

• the romantic canal

• the pavilion and the basin

15. take the cable car up the hill of Montjuïc

Our last tip for your trip to Barcelona with children is to take the cable car.

In the glass cabin with panoramic view, you go up Montjuïc, Barcelona's local mountain. The cable car makes several stops along the way. The excellent bird 's eye view of the Sagrada Família and the rooftops of the city is priceless.

If you are visiting Barcelona with children, the little ones will definitely be thrilled by this excursion. Once at the top, it's also worth taking a tour of the castle with its dungeons and the castle tower.

Barcelona with children - hotels and accommodation

Are you still looking for family-friendly accommodation? Here are our hotel tips for Barcelona:

Hotel El Palace Barcelona: Located in the heart of Barcelona, this luxury hotel is close to the La Rambla promenade. Baby cots are available free of charge.

Monument Hotel: Top class hotel with gourmet restaurant and wellness area. Inviting family rooms, children's meals and barrier-free access.

Almanac Barcelona: Less than 500 metres from the city centre, 5-star hotel with family studios.

Regina Hotel: This family-friendly hotel is located in the heart of Barcelona and is perfect for families with children. The hotel offers spacious rooms, a rooftop terrace with a pool, and a kids' club to keep the little ones entertained.

Hotel Arts Barcelona: This luxury hotel is located on the beachfront and is ideal for families who want to enjoy the sun and sea. The hotel offers a wide range of family-friendly amenities, including a children's pool, a kids' club, and babysitting services.

Hotel Barcelona Princess: This modern hotel is located in the trendy Diagonal Mar area of Barcelona and is perfect for families with older children. The hotel offers spacious rooms with stunning views of the city, a rooftop pool, and a fitness center.

Hotel Porta Fira: This stylish hotel is located near the Fira de Barcelona convention center and is perfect for families who want to explore the city's business district. The hotel offers spacious rooms, a rooftop pool, and a fitness center.

No matter which hotel you choose, make sure to book in advance to ensure availability during peak travel season.

Eating out with Barcelona in children

The choice of places to eat in Barcelona is huge, Spain is a child-friendly country where families are welcome. Of course, this also applies to eating out.

If you spontaneously walk into the next best restaurant, you won't go wrong. Nevertheless, we present our favourites to you here:

• Louro: Fish and tapas

• Mama's Corner: well-balanced food and games corner

• Semproniana: excellent Catalan lunch menu

• Don Kilo: Italian cuisine in Spain

• L'Hora Iliure: café with play area and workshops for children

• Pudding: café with children's area

• Gocce die Latte: delicious ice cream

These were our best tips for Barcelona with children. Have fun planning your trip.

Isabel

I'm Isabel and I'm responsible for the "Travelling with Kids" resort at Phototravellers. I am usually on tour with my daughter. Our favourite destinations are Thailand and Malaysia, we also like camping in Southern Europe. I also write on my own travel blog A Nomad Abroad.