Barcelona with kids: our exact family itinerary + tips
Our family guide to Barcelona, based on our very own experience. All you need to know to plan a great family trip to Barcelona with kids. Best family attractions in Barcelona, how to visit Barcelona’s main sights with kids, and travel tips for families.
Barcelona is one of the best cities in Europe to visit with kids and a personal favorite of our family.
Barcelona is the first city we visited with kids, and the one that proved to us that city trips with kids are not just possible but great fun!
Beautiful, varied, fascinating, safe, colorful and fun, we found it a city with plenty to offer to visitors of all ages and that adults and kids alike are sure to love.
Enjoying Barcelona with kids is easy: all it takes to have a good day there is to sit at a tapas bar with a cold drink and a plate of jamon while the kids run in the playground nearby (tapas bars near playgrounds are genius!).
However, since there is so much to see and do, having guidance on how to plan your time is helpful!
This is our family guide to visiting Barcelona with kids!
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Why visit Barcelona with kids
There are many reasons why we love Barcelona for families:
- Barcelona has a family-friendly vibe and plenty of kid-friendly attractions.
- Barcelona is stunning, one of the most beautiful cities in the world!
- It is safe and well organized
- Barcelona has lovely weather most of the year
- Barcelona is a great place to mix sightseeing, children’s attractions and time at the beach.
Why not to visit Barcelona with kids
There is no reason to skip Barcelona because of the kids!
The only problem in Barcelona is the crowds, so my top tip for Barcelona with kids is: stay longer than a day!
One day only will inevitably lead you to stay in the busiest parts of the city, while a longer stay, even just three nights, will allow you to get away from the crowds and tap into the most authentic and pleasant side of Barcelona city life.
Where to stay in Barcelona with kids: hotels and apartments we liked
My latest favorite hotel in Barcelona is H10 Kubik Superior, on Via Laietana.
The hotels is less than 10 years old, beautiful, spotlessly clean and has good rooms also for older kids (twins available). Good breakfast and a pleasant rooftop terrace are a nice touch.
Most attractions are walking distance from here and Cucina de Laietana restaurants in just beside it. An excellent address.
You can find here >>> photos and prices <<<
If you prefer to stay outside of the center in a quieter area or want a Hilton property, our hotel of choice iis Hilton Diagonal Mar.
This is immediately outside the center but in a perfect location.
It has an onsite pool (open to kids, too), a restaurant, large rooms and an excellent shopping center with a playground in front. You can read our hotel review HERE or check prices and options here >>> Hilton Diagonal Mar website directly.
Other hotels you may like are:
- Hotel Catalonia Porta del Angel, for the pool
- U232, for their interconnecting rooms
- Novotel Barcelona city
- citadines Ramblas
- Example 1882, close to Sagrada Familia
- Our self-catering apartment of choice in Barcelona is this one, in the area called El Born. They have several locations available and we loved the one in Rua Pescateria 1′.
Our 3 days in Barcelona with kids itinerary
Day 1:
- Family friendly tour of the city center
- Hop on Hop Off to Parc Guell (a great way to rest little legs and see a lot of the city!)
- Dinner in La Cucina de Laietana
Day 2:
- Sagrada Familia
- Kids mosaic class
- Ciutadella Park and Barceloneta
- Dinner in Sagadi
Day 3:
- Casa Battlo immersive experience OR Casa Amattler with chocolate stop
- Barcelona Aquarium and shopping in Mare Magnum
- Dinner in La Puntual
Our things to do in Barcelona with kids
I love researching travel so, before I put together and then put to the test our Barcelona itinerary, I went though a long long list of activities and selected those that made sense and sounded fun for kids.
Over the course of the years and many trips to Barcelona, this list got perfected! Here is it!
Explore the historic town center with a kid friendly tour
Barcelona has a beautiful, ancient town center full of character, landmarks and fascinating stories ready to be discovered.
While safe and easy to explore in your own time, also with kids in tow, Barcelona old town truly comes to life when you have a local guide who can tell you the stories hidden in its small streets and peculiar sculptures.
A little like Rome, Barcelona is one of these places where each stone has a story to tell and a guide is your key to hearing them! Did you know that dragons are a thing, in Barcelona? Until we found these tours, we didn’t (and we have been many times!)
For kids age 6 and up (young siblings welcome), a super fun scavenger hunt based tour is >>> this one <<<
If you need a tour for younger kids, >>> this one <<< is for kids as young as age 4 and is very well priced too.
If you have a baby or young toddlers, on the other hand, I recommend a slightly different approach and recommend a guide tour for adults but with a guide that can adapt the pace to the needs of a young family. My favorite private tours of Barcelona is >>> this one by LivTours <<< which also allows includes access to the Barcelona Cathedral.
Top tip for kids! Do not miss entering Barcelona Cathedral, La Seu. Inside its cloisters, there are geese!
Marvel at the colors of Park Guell
Created by Architect Gaudi, Park Guell is famous for its whimsical buildings, bright colors and stunning views over the city of Barcelona.
Do you know the quintessential Barcelona shot, with houses that look like gingerbread in the foreground and the sea as a backdrop?
That is taken from Park Guell.
Kids tend to love the park because of its fairy-tale character and also because of the several playgrounds, while adults love the view and the cultural elements of this unique architecture.
In the past, the park was a free space while now there is an entry fee to the monumental part.
Park Guell is the perfect place to mix culture and play, and this is why it tops our list of things to do in Barcelona with kids.
Practical info for visiting park Guell with kids:
- Closest metro station: Vallarca or Lesseps (Line 3)
- Accessible with strollers: yes but the park does have uneven paths and flights of stairs so not all areas are equally easy to visit. There are swing for kids
- Admission fee to the monumental area only. Book online via Tiqets HERE and use code MAMALOVESITALY to get a 5% discount (mama loves Italy is the name of another website of mine, don’t let the odd code put you off!).
A visit to Park Guell tops our list of things to do in Barcelona with kids. The park is beautiful and full of attractions for both adults and kids.
Take a mosaic class for kids
The colorful mosaics by Gaudi’ are often the main thing kids enjoy about this visionary’s artist work so they may have extra fun if you treat them to a mosaic class so that they can make one themselves!
In Barcelona, it is possible to take a child friendly mosaic class which is great for kids who love making, and is also a fantastic way to tap into one of one of Barcelona’s most distinctive architectural elements.
Find here >>> prices and info <<<
Experience Gaudi’s Casa Battlo’ with an interactive experience (maybe…)
Casa Battlo’ is one of the most famous houses by Gaudi and a landmark that attracts throng of visitors.
It is very much a Barcelona must see and like if often happens with these big attractions is it worth seeing and completely overrun at the same time.
In terms of beauty and significance, the house is truly worth seeing. The design is unique, whimsical, fluid, fun and imaginative: you feel like you are in a fairytale house and the cure colors and round lines make it easy to enjoy and fun for kids as well.
The visit also comes with an immersive light experience and an interactive tablet that allows you to see how the house would have been with furniture and people in. This is very cool for kids especially.
Unfortunately however, the house is packed to the brim.
They let so many people in that you cannot walk around the house without being shoulder to shoulder with others in a line that moves at snail pace. The feel is that of ‘Disneyworld on a busy day’ or like the Vatican Museum. A real shame as it really ruins the experience.
Despite this, I think if you can go on a quieter day, maybe away from a weekend and in the low season, it is worth it.
They have to two types of tickets: blue, which give you general entrance, and Golden, which gives you the interactive element and access to selected additional areas. We got the golden one and felt it was worth it.
Good to know: there is a nice cafe’ on the top terrace for sodas and water and restrooms throughout the house.
Top tip: Get the Golden Access Ticket from Tiqets and use code MAMALOVESITALY for a 5% discount. I love that is so easy to book and usually Tiqets offers additional discount on subsequent bookings on the platform – worth it!
Have chocolate in Casa Amatller
Just beside Casa Battlo’ sits another architectural marvel, Casa Amatller.
Overlooked by mass tourism and therefore blissfully empty, Casa Amatller is a wonderful, unique house with interiors designed by the famous Catalan architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch in 1900.
The house is wonderful to see for older kids and adults, but there is one reason why I recommend going here with kids in particular: the house belonged to chocolate merchants and you still have a chocolate cafe’ inside!
You can access the cafe also if not visiting the house and I highly recommend you do: their hot chocolate is delicious and comes in very generously sized cups! Also, the shop has a lovely selection of chocolates if you are looking for a mouth watering souvenir to bring home.
We got tickets to the house on the spot with no line. The cafe is accessible via the main door, you’ll see it at the end of the hall, you can go right in.
Get a dip in Barceloneta
For an afternoon of relaxation and play, there is nothing like the beach and the sandy stretch of Barcelona is perfect for both adults and kids.
Here you have seaside cafes, kids’ climbing frames, bike /roller skating lanes, shops and, of course, the beach.
Go early, as in summer it gets quite busy and don’t get intimidated by the surfer paradise look of the beach huts: they are surprisingly family-friendly and many have high chairs!
Go shopping in Mare Magnum on a Sunday
We found shops closed in Barcelona on a Sunday with the notable exception of the shopping Mall Mare Magnum, which is also where you find the wonderful Barcelona Aquarium.
The shopping center has shops, restaurants (including MacDonalds and similar), a carousel and jumping experience for kids in the outer areas, and driving simulators inside – not for kids as such but very popular with dads and teens!
No line when we were there on a Sunday, you could just show up.
Walk in an underwater tunnel in the Barcelona Aquarium
Barcelona aquarium is always a hit with kids.
Fully kitted out to welcome even the youngest of Octonauts, the highlight for children is the shark feeding time and the underwater tunnel you walk into to get to the exit.
You can easily spend one morning here, and its location close to the water makes it a good complement to a day outdoors.
The aquarium is exceptionally popular with local families and visitors but skip-the-line tickets are available (use code MAMALOVESITALY for a 5% discount)
- Closest metro station: Barceloneta (L4) or Drassanes (L3)
- Opening hours: Monday through Friday, 10.00 -19.30/21.30 depending on the season (longer hours are in operation during June, July and August)
- Tickets: 20 Euro per adult, 11,5 Euro for children from 4 to 12 y.o.a. Children under 4 go free
Explore the whole of Spain in Poble Espanyol
Poble Espanyol is one of the most family-friendly attractions in the whole of Barcelona.
Located in the area of Montjuic, which also offers incredible views over the city, the Poble is a ‘mini Spain’, with life-size buildings and streets replicating the different areas of Spain.
In the space of minutes, you find yourself wandering through the streets of Castilla, then the ones of Andalucia and the South, getting a glimpse of the huge diversity of Spain all in one place.
For kids, it is a brilliant place as it is safe (there are no cars) and there is a lovely playground, while parents are likely to love the many craft shops and the seemingly endless number of restaurants and cafes.
You can visit the Poble in half an hour if you just walk through it, but I recommend spending a morning and exploring the many workshops, shops, events and of course, tapas bars.
Poble Espanol is one of my favorite things to do in Barcelona with kids, as it is pleasant, safe and educational.
- Poble Espanyol opening hours: Monday from 9 am to 8 pm; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 9 am to 12 midnight; Fridays from 9 am to 3 am; Saturdays from 9 am to 4 am
- Admission fee: 14 Euro per adult; children under 4 go free.
- How to get there: the closest metro stop is Espanya; from here, catch bus 150 to climb up Montjuic.
You can buy >>> skip the line tickets for the Poble Espanyol quickly and securely here <<<
Top tip! In Montjuic you also find Fontana Magica (the Magic Fountain) a cool fountains that comes to life with a light show every evening. If you stay close enough, you’ll get a light refreshing spray of water on you too – kids from near and far come here and squeak in delight at it!
Marvel at the incredible Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Familia is one of the main landmarks in Barcelona.
A stunning church created by Architect Gaudi, Sagrada Familia is a marvel of pinnacles, towers, staircases, arches and carvings and a dream to visit with kids (as well as without).
The church is unique in shape and details and it is flooded by beautiful light that makes its interior feel like the inside of a magical box.
Little kids can enjoy the inside of the church while older ones can brave the climb up the towers: it is not for the faint of heart (you are very close to sheer drops!), but if you don’t suffer from fear of heights and have kids old enough to climb safely, it is a worthy endeavor!
You can explore the church on your own by getting tickets here
However, to understand its uniqueness, I recommend you book a private, family-friendly guide who can engage the kids with stories of Gaudi and his imaginative approach to architecture.
A great family friendly tour of Sagrada Familia is this one by LivTours, a small group tour for a maximum of 6 people, excellent especially for families with babies in a carrier or school-age kids (harder with toddlers and very young kids as it is 2h long).
Lesser known attraction nearby tip! If you don’t want to deal with the immense crowds of the Sagrada Familia, you can immerse yourself in a lovely and peculiar art space in nearby Recinto Modernista de San Pau. This is an ancient hospital turned art space and it is easy to enjoy also with kids.
Enjoy Tibidabo
A trip to Barcelona with kids wouldn’t compete without a visit to Tibidabo, the iconic theme park of Barcelona.
Perched on top of Tibidabo Hill, the park has all the rides you expect from an amusement park but also something special: a funicular, which helps you make your way to its vertigo-inducing position t the top of the hill!
Visit Barcelona soccer stadium
If you have a soccer lover, visit the famous soccer stadium of Barcelona FC Camp Nou won’t require much convincing!
Other kids’ attraction in Barcelona your kids may love
For days when the kids are tired of sightseeing, Barcelona has some more cool attractions:
- Cosmo Caixa, Barcelona’s science museum
- Ikono, a fun and interactive space with fun backdrop for photos and a pool of plastic balls you can jump ino
- The Museum of Illusions, part of the family of museums you may have also encountered abroad, and always fun with kids of all ages
- Parc de la Ciutadella, A lovely park for picnics and with a nice playground for kids, it is an excellent place to relax in the heart of the city. The park is close to the arc de trionf (beautiful) and hosts Barcelona zoo.
Our kids loved the Barcelona zoo. However, we went there before realising how bad dolphin shows are for the animals and now I have a terrible memory of the place, the memory of a mistake I made and I now regret.
If you want to read what made me regret that visit, you have to look at my post about dolphin shows here.
Where to eat in Barcelona with kids – family friendly Barcelona restaurants
Barcelona has some of the best food in the world and you will be hard-pressed to get a bad meal here.
Rastaurants and tapas bar accept kids: just be careful in the evening if you want to avoid bar style atmosphere as many tapas bar can get loud and be hard with very young kids.
If you are traveling with toddlers or very young kids, opt for a sit down restaurant or ask if the tapas bar has a sitting area: in many tapas bars we found high stools close to the entrance but quieter, standard seating arrangements in the back.
Barcelona restaurants / tapas bars we enjoyed are:
La Cucina de Laietana, Via Laietana 71, Ciutat Vella, 08003, Barcelona This was recommended to us by our hotel and was quiet and excellent. We got a bit worried when we saw menus in different languages but we shouldn’t have stressed: the food was delicious and the price right.
Bodega La Puntual, C/ de Montcasa 22, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona Tapas Bar with sit down tables at the back. Delicious food, kind staff: don’t let the busy atmosphere at the entrance put you off!
Sagardi, C. de l’Argenteria, 62, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona, Basque restaurant and tapas bar. Delicious!! Busier in the bar area for pinchos (2.50 euro each, buffet style, pay by number of pieces, counted art the end); quieter in the sit down restaurant area.
Bodega Vidrios y Christales, tapas, Pg. d’Isabel II, 6, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona
Can Ramonet, Carrer de la Maquinista, 17, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona
Can Fisher, Av. del Litoral, 64, Sant Martí, 08005 Barcelona
Bastaix, Plaça del Fossar de les Moreres, 5, Ciutat Vella, 08003
Cera 23, C. de la Cera, 23, Ciutat Vella, 08001 Barcelona
Special finds:
- Chocolate cafe in Casa Amatller (see above), Pg. de Gràcia, 41, L’Eixample, 08007 Barcelona
- Pastry shop La Colmena Plaça de l’Àngel, 12, Ciutat Vella, 08002 Barcelona (take out pastries)
You can find here >>> kid-friendly Catalan and Spanish food your children may enjoy
How two get from Barcelona Airport to your hotel with kids
In most cases, the easiest ways to get to your accommodation in Barcelona from the airport with kids in tow are the Airport Bus or a taxi/private car transfer.
If you are staying close to Place Catalunia, which I highly recommend, the bus is cheap, excellent and convenient.
You can buy Aerobus tickets online >>> here <<< The bus stops right outside the arrivals terminal, it is easy to recognize, has comfortable seats and stops are announced. The journey takes approximately 35 minutes.
If you prefer car trassport, you can use a taxi or a private car service.
The advantage of the car service is that you can request a car seat. The service I recommend is Welcome Pickups – ask for the car seat, specifying size required, when booking.
How to get around Barcelona with kids
Barcelona has an excellent metro system that will allow you to move from one landmark to the other in no time.
You can buy individual tickets, carnets or weekend tickets that are great value for money. Before investing however, consider your plans and how much your kids can walk.
Staying close to Place Catalunya and with kids who do not mind a bit of a walk, we were able to go to all the attractions on foot. Do consider that this may mean a 30 minute walk though!
if you have little ones or anyway need to minimise walking, you can have a look here at the >>> Barcelona Transport Pass
Top Tip: with little kids especially, we fond the hop on hop off bus tour of Barcelona great value and fun. Barcelona family attractions are spread out and being able to move by bus, sitting on the open upper deck and with an audioguide is a real treat (we usually don’t like bus tours but Barcelona is an exception!)
Metro stations and mostly accessible with stroller, with family/wheelchair users lanes, but in some of them, I did notice stairs, so check the accessibility plan if moving around with a heavy stroller.
I hope you enjoyed our round-up of things to do in Barcelona with kids! Happy travels
This post was originally published in 2017 and has now been fully updated with current information, tours and tips from our recent travels. (Updated February 2024)
