The cosmopolitan Catalan capital of Spain is one of the most wonderful cities in the world, rich with breathtaking art and spectacular architecture. The city’s medieval roots, best seen in the fascinating Gothic Quarter, and the Modernist architecture by the outstanding Antoni Gaudí attract millions of tourists every year.
Barcelona has plenty to offer, from sophisticated museums, magnificent parks and fabled architecture to charismatic workshops, enchanting beaches and alluring nightlife. You simply cannot resist its welcoming culture and vibrant life that takes you to a new dimension the moment you enter the city.
If you’re looking for the next perfect travel destination, Barcelona is your way to go. It doesn’t matter if you are a solo traveller, plan on going on a trip with a bunch of friends or are looking for a child-friendly spot for your family vacation – Barcelona has it all.
Before you start packing, take a moment to explore this amazing city through this virtual trip to some of its best child-friendly venues that offer fun activities your kids will not be able to get enough of.
1. Exploring the Poble Espanyol
The Poble Espanyol is one of the most popular attractions in Barcelona, representing a one-of-a-kind mix of contemporary art, workshops, crafts, food and a wide range of Spanish architecture. The Spanish Village is just a few meters away from one of the most famous sights in Barcelona, the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, which you must take your kids to see, as it will definitely leave them in awe.
Perhaps your kids won’t share much of your fascination with the 117 reproductions of buildings from all around the Spain that the Poble Espanyol offers, but they are certainly going to be entertained by the many exhibition shows and physical activities organized for kids. However, these activities are organized on Sundays only, so you might want to consider visiting this village if you plan on going with your kids.
The best way for your entire family to explore the Poble Espanyol and have some real fun is to take part in the “Gymkhana” activity. It is a treasure hunt with clues to help discover all the hidden secrets of this incredible village and it is an activity that is available every day.
What’s more, the Poble Espanyol offers special events throughout the whole year: the Festival of Giants, the Carnival, the Playmobil Fair, the Puppet Festival, the Medieval Fair, the Festa Mayor, Halloween, Christmas in the Poble Espanyol and the new festival introduced this year, the Flor en Flor, which is the Festival of Flowers and Gardens in Barcelona so, if you happen to be in the city at the time of one of these events, make sure you take your kids with you, as there are a lot of activities organized for kids of all ages.
The pleasant open-air architectural museum of the Poble Espanyol is, without a doubt, a beautiful gift to your kids, especially because the environment is completely car-free, so be sure not to miss it.
Address: 13 Av. de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia
2. Meeting the Animal Kingdom of Barcelona Zoo
The Barcelona Zoo is situated in the Parc de la Ciutadella and it is one of the oldest and most modern zoos in the world. It is absolutely perfect for families, as you can introduce your kids to more than 4000 animals from 400 different species. What’s more, the zoo has open enclosures, allowing the visitors to almost touch the animals. Your kids will certainly love that quite a bit.
You can meet elephants, giraffes, tigers, lions, giant hippos, sea lions and dolphins, as well as reptiles, such as chameleons and iguanas. The dolphins are definitely the most popular, especially because you can interact with them in the indoor aquarium.
The Barcelona Zoo has some beautiful picnic areas and playgrounds for kids, as well as pony rides for kids and the petting zoo. There is also a zoo train that you can take a ride in, or you can choose an electric buggy for exploring the zoo. You can take your kids to the zoo workshops, which are open on Saturdays and during school holidays, where they can both learn and have fun.
Address: 21 Passeig de Picasso, Parc de la Ciutadella
3. Diving into the Underwater World of L’Aquàrium
The Barcelona Aquarium is the largest Mediterranean-themed marine attraction in the world and it is home to more than 11000 animals representing 450 different species, all of which can be seen in the 35 aquariums of this fascinating facility.
L’Aquàrium is an ideal choice for a family day out, as it organizes many activities and workshops for kids, but offers no shortage of fun for the parents as well. The biggest and most popular of all the aquariums is the Oceanarium, where you can see giant sharks from a glass 80-meter-long underwater tunnel. You can also have a chance to spend the night in the tunnel. Now, wouldn’t that be exciting and fun?
The most interesting parts for kids are Explora! and Planeta Aqua, dedicated to pre-schoolers and older children, respectively. The Explora! offers 50 activities in the knobs-and-whistles style, such as turning a crank in order to see how ducks move their feet underwater, and physical activities, such as climbing inside a mini-submarine. The Planeta Aqua, on the other hand, is an interactive zone that features a split-level circular space housing a number of Humboldt penguins.
Address: Moll d’Espanya del Port Vell
4. Inspiring Creativity at the Museu d’Idees i Invents de Barcelona (MIBA)
The Museum of Ideas and Inventions is not an ordinary museum that your kids may find too boring for their taste. This is actually a child-friendly and interactive museum focused on quirky inventions and technologies that your kids will, without a question, find incredibly interesting.
Located in the heart of Barcelona, this museum offers an entrance to the extraordinary world of creativity and invention. It can even inspire your kids to create something of their own and submit their designs. The so-called Mini-MIBA section of the museum accepts submissions from 5- to 12-year-old kids and three of the best ideas are turned into prototypes and patented each month. There are also workshops for kids, which are organized quite frequently.
This museum is one of the most exciting attractions in Barcelona you can take your kids to, especially because of the many hands-on experiences it offers. What better way of bringing out the inventor inside your kids than bringing them to the Museum of Ideas and Inventions? Who knows – maybe they will invent something revolutionary during your visit. Nevertheless, one thing is certain – you will not be able to drag them away from this place.
Address: 7 Carrer de la Ciutat
5. Education and Entertainment at the CosmoCaixa
It is hard to find the museum as entertaining as the CosmoCaixa. It is certainly one of the coolest museums in Barcelona and probably the most breathtaking science museum in Europe. This museum offers hours of entertainment and quite an unforgettable experience for your entire family.
Apart from displaying a geological wall and the recreated Amazonian rainforest with authentic animals, such as birds, alligators and snakes, the museum has excellent installations for kids. Toca Toca! educates kids on which animals are safe and which ones they should avoid, and they can even get a chance to touch them. There are also Clic and Flash, interactive activities that educate kids on science through fun and interesting games and activities.
Perhaps the Planetarium will interest your kids the most, as it offers a virtual trip across the universe, so they can witness the creation of the planets.
Address: 26 Carrer d’Isaac Newton
6. Experiencing the Impossible at the Museo de las Ilusiones
The Museum of Illusions is a place where anything is possible. You can take a trip on the Titanic, feel like Alice in Wonderland while standing next to gigantic toys, hold the Earth with your bare hands or get into a lightsaber fight with Darth Vader.
This museum is an absolute must on your tour through Barcelona and you shouldn’t miss it for the world. Your entire family will have an amazing adventure and your kids will most certainly not want to leave until they have taken a photo with each and every one of the amazing illusions.
Address: 17 Carrer del Pintor Fortuny
7. Taking a Wild Ride in the Tibidabo Amusement Park
The Tibidabo Amusement Park is located at the highest point of the city, at the hilltop of the Tibidabo mountain, which is the tallest mountain in the Serra de Collserola. The amusement park is very old-school and, apart from some pretty fun old-fashioned rides, it has modern rides that your kids will also love.
Visiting this park is a must, not only because of its amusing rides, but also because it offers a sensational view of the city, especially at sunset. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to witness Barcelona’s spectacular beauty seen from the top of the Tibidabo.
Address: 3-4 Plaça Tibidabo
8. Tasting the Sweetness of the Museu de la Xocolata
The Museum of Chocolate is the sweetest museum in Barcelona – literally. It is every chocolate lover’s heaven and every little kid’s dream come true. Take your little ones to this museum, where
they can taste the amazing chocolate and participate in various activities, such as chocolate figurine making, painting with chocolate and a treasure trail hunt to discover the origin of cocoa.
While learning about the history of cocoa, the audio-visual shows and touch-screen computers make the kids’ educational journey even more fun.
Taking your kids to this wonderland will definitely make their Barcelona stay sweeter (pun intended). After all, what kid could resist an entire museum filled with chocolate?
Address: 36 Carrer del Comerç
9. Creating Gaudí Mosaics in the Gaudí Ceramics Workshop
Kids love making stuff with their hands, which is exactly why this activity will be incredibly fun for your kids. Take them to the Mosaiccos, where they can get their hands on the ceramics pieces and create their own works of art with the style and techniques of Antoni Gaudí.
Mosaiccos is an art studio that can provide your entire family with mosaic art classes and lessons, so that you can make your own Gaudí ceramics souvenirs. The best part about this workshop is that you get to keep your souvenirs.
Therefore, make sure you include this wonderful Gaudí mosaic art workshop in your Barcelona city tour and enrich your kids’ life with yet another fun and creative adventure.
Address: 10 Carrer dels Corders
10. Time Travelling through the Gaudí Experiència
Just a few minutes away from the Park Güell, you can find an interactive multimedia centre called the Gaudí Experience. It is excellent for both you and your kids, since you can learn quite a bit more about Gaudí and his architectural wonders through the interactive multimedia information screens.
They can provide your kids with a very fun way to learn the facts about the famous architect and his works, since they can simply touch the hotspot areas on the screens and move the screens around with the swipe of their hand, just like on a smartphone.
The absolute highlight of the centre is the 4D Gaudí show that lasts for 10 minutes and provides the visitors with a completely immersive feel. It is suitable for children of all ages, so you can enjoy the show with your entire family. The 4D Gaudí show takes you back to Gaudí’s time and provides you with a unique experience of Barcelona from that time period.
If you take the chance to visit the show, you will feel like you have really travelled through time and it will completely mesmerize you, not to mention that your kids will find it absolutely magical.
Address: 41 Carrer de Larrard
Final Thoughts
If you’ve made it this far, you must have already started to fall in love with the gorgeous city of Barcelona. Once you feel the air of the city on your skin and witness its delightful scenery for the first time, it will certainly become your soulmate that you will never want to part with.