Barcelona, the heart of Catalonia, is a feast for the senses. Art! Architecture! Beaches! Chocolate! From museums and amusement parks to huge green spaces with fountains and sculptures for playing hide-and-seek, Barcelona is one of Europe’s best family-friendly travel destinations. Feed the kids a hearty breakfast, lace up some sturdy walking shoes or load up the stroller – you’ll be out all day, here in a city with endless entertainment for all ages.
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Parc de la Ciutadella & Barcelona Zoo
Let the kids run free at Barcelona’s extensive green space, the Parc de la Ciutadella. In this park originally built for the 1888 Universal Exhibition, visitors can enjoy the Castells dels Tes Dragons, a waterfall and lake designed by Fontseré, the Umbracle greenhouse and the Hivernacle glass house. Within the 44 acres, look for the Catalan Parliament buildings and the giant mammoth, one of the park’s many pleasant surprises.
This, too, is where you’ll find the Barcelona Zoo, one of the most popular family-friendly attractions in Barcelona. You can easily spend a day here getting to know Spain’s native species as well as several endangered and exotic species, such as the dorcas gazelles. Plus, just as everywhere in Barcelona, it seems, the Zoo has its fair share of impressive art and architecture, including an art nouveau fountain adorned with Joan Roig i Solé’s iconic sculpture, the Lady with the Umbrella. Spend a pleasant day at the Parc de la Ciutadella – run and play, stroll through the grounds, watch street performers and feel like a part of the fabric of Barcelona.
Let the kids run free at Barcelona’s extensive green space, the Parc de la Ciutadella. In this park originally built for the 1888 Universal Exhibition, visitors can enjoy the Castells dels Tes Dragons, a waterfall and lake designed by Fontseré, the Umbracle greenhouse and the Hivernacle glass house. Within the 44 acres, look for the Catalan Parliament buildings and the giant mammoth, one of the park’s many pleasant surprises.
This, too, is where you’ll find the Barcelona Zoo, one of the most popular family-friendly attractions in Barcelona. You can easily spend a day here getting to know Spain’s native species as well as several endangered and exotic species, such as the dorcas gazelles. Plus, just as everywhere in Barcelona, it seems, the Zoo has its fair share of impressive art and architecture, including an art nouveau fountain adorned with Joan Roig i Solé’s iconic sculpture, the Lady with the Umbrella. Spend a pleasant day at the Parc de la Ciutadella – run and play, stroll through the grounds, watch street performers and feel like a part of the fabric of Barcelona.
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Montjuic Cable Car & Montjuic Castle
If your kiddos can handle the height, make their day with a ride on the 2,460-foot-long cable car that ascends from the middle of Barcelona to the majestic Montjuic Castle. From here, you’ll get amazing views of the city’s most famous landmarks, including La Sagrada Familia and Camp Nou, which your littlest soccer fans will know as the home stadium of FC Barcelona.
There’s a garden and playground for picnicking and running about at the top of the cable car journey. Then, make your way to the 17th-century Montjuic Castle to play prince and princess. Walk over the impressive stone bridge to the castle gate, wander about the ramparts and spend time in the Military Museum to admire sabers, swords, cannons and mini models of castles and uniforms.
If your kiddos can handle the height, make their day with a ride on the 2,460-foot-long cable car that ascends from the middle of Barcelona to the majestic Montjuic Castle. From here, you’ll get amazing views of the city’s most famous landmarks, including La Sagrada Familia and Camp Nou, which your littlest soccer fans will know as the home stadium of FC Barcelona.
There’s a garden and playground for picnicking and running about at the top of the cable car journey. Then, make your way to the 17th-century Montjuic Castle to play prince and princess. Walk over the impressive stone bridge to the castle gate, wander about the ramparts and spend time in the Military Museum to admire sabers, swords, cannons and mini models of castles and uniforms.
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Fundacio Joan Miro
Treat your budding artists to a day at the Fundacio Joan Miro art museum. Kids of all ages will enjoy Miro’s paintings and sculptures – don’t miss Tapestry for the Foundation, with its bright primary colors, Hands Flying Off Toward the Constellations, and Self-Portrait and May 1968. Pro tip: Tell your kids to look for birds in each of Miro’s pieces.
After your visit, have a picnic and a shady rest in the cool gardens of Jardins Laribel, next door to the museum. There are plenty of picnic tables, fountains and a snack bar.
Treat your budding artists to a day at the Fundacio Joan Miro art museum. Kids of all ages will enjoy Miro’s paintings and sculptures – don’t miss Tapestry for the Foundation, with its bright primary colors, Hands Flying Off Toward the Constellations, and Self-Portrait and May 1968. Pro tip: Tell your kids to look for birds in each of Miro’s pieces.
After your visit, have a picnic and a shady rest in the cool gardens of Jardins Laribel, next door to the museum. There are plenty of picnic tables, fountains and a snack bar.
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Font Magica (Magic Fountain)
Cap off a perfect family day in Barcelona at the Font Magica to watch the evening sound and light show. Water gushes, lights change color, music swells – the show goes on every half-hour daily in the summer and weekends the rest of the year. Marvel at this impressive project that combines the work of more than 3,000 contributors.
Cap off a perfect family day in Barcelona at the Font Magica to watch the evening sound and light show. Water gushes, lights change color, music swells – the show goes on every half-hour daily in the summer and weekends the rest of the year. Marvel at this impressive project that combines the work of more than 3,000 contributors.
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Poble Espanyol
Immerse your family in the art, architecture and culture of all Spain at the delightful Poble Espanyol, without ever leaving Barcelona. This recreation of landmarks from throughout the country allows you to visit fountains, a Romanesque monastery, the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and pieces of contemporary art by Dalí, Picasso, Miró and Guinovart. There aret 117 architectural landmarks within the village, plus educational and craft programs, puppet shows, shops selling artisan glass, jewelry, leather and pottery, cuisine and more. Take a virtual trip though Spain’s geography and traditions as you view the “Feeling Spain” audiovisual presentations. This is the soul of Spain in a single space.
Immerse your family in the art, architecture and culture of all Spain at the delightful Poble Espanyol, without ever leaving Barcelona. This recreation of landmarks from throughout the country allows you to visit fountains, a Romanesque monastery, the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and pieces of contemporary art by Dalí, Picasso, Miró and Guinovart. There aret 117 architectural landmarks within the village, plus educational and craft programs, puppet shows, shops selling artisan glass, jewelry, leather and pottery, cuisine and more. Take a virtual trip though Spain’s geography and traditions as you view the “Feeling Spain” audiovisual presentations. This is the soul of Spain in a single space.
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Parc Guell
No one should leave Barcelona without visiting Antoni Gaudi’s Parc Guell, one of the city’s most famous landmarks and a must for all ages. You’ll not only get the best views of the entire, but within this UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll find beautiful green spaces, Gaudi sculpture and mosaics, open areas for running and playing, winding paths for hide-and-seek and scenic overlooks.
No one should leave Barcelona without visiting Antoni Gaudi’s Parc Guell, one of the city’s most famous landmarks and a must for all ages. You’ll not only get the best views of the entire, but within this UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll find beautiful green spaces, Gaudi sculpture and mosaics, open areas for running and playing, winding paths for hide-and-seek and scenic overlooks.
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Museu de la Xocolata (Chocolate Museum)
A visit to this delightfully delicious museum is a sure way to win you “Best Parent” during your Barcelona family trip. Lean about the history of chocolate and what it has been used for throughout the centuries. Consider taking one of the museum’s chocolate-making workshops, with options for both youngsters and adults. There are impressive chocolate sculptures to gawk at – even a cocoa likeness of La Sagrada Familia. Upon admission, visitors are offered their own chocolate bar to munch on throughout their visit – yum!
A visit to this delightfully delicious museum is a sure way to win you “Best Parent” during your Barcelona family trip. Lean about the history of chocolate and what it has been used for throughout the centuries. Consider taking one of the museum’s chocolate-making workshops, with options for both youngsters and adults. There are impressive chocolate sculptures to gawk at – even a cocoa likeness of La Sagrada Familia. Upon admission, visitors are offered their own chocolate bar to munch on throughout their visit – yum!
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Barcelona Aquarium
No matter how many world-class aquariums you’ve visited as a family, it’s safe to say you may not have visited the world’s largest Mediterranean-themed aquarium yet. Barcelona’s aquarium holds that title with more than 11,000 animals from 450 different Mediterranean species. Walk through the long underwater tunnel to view sharks and rays swimming above your head and watch the kids marvel at the many different shapes, sizes and colors of the tropical fish they’ll discover. Have a brave kiddo? Ask about the swimming-with-shark experience!
No matter how many world-class aquariums you’ve visited as a family, it’s safe to say you may not have visited the world’s largest Mediterranean-themed aquarium yet. Barcelona’s aquarium holds that title with more than 11,000 animals from 450 different Mediterranean species. Walk through the long underwater tunnel to view sharks and rays swimming above your head and watch the kids marvel at the many different shapes, sizes and colors of the tropical fish they’ll discover. Have a brave kiddo? Ask about the swimming-with-shark experience!
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Blue Museum
The Museu Blau (Blue Museum) started life as a part of the Natural Science Museum, but today has become a destination unto itself. Enter the eye-catching blue triangle-shaped museum, where you’ll first meet a huge whale (or at least its skeleton) that beached itself on the shores of Catalon in the mid-19th century. Move on to learn all about life on Earth through various installations, exhibits in the expansive “Earth Today” section – there are more than 4,500 pieces here reflecting nature, mineralogy, zoology, botany and paleontology. The interactive Science Nest is a favorite of the youngest children.
The Museu Blau (Blue Museum) started life as a part of the Natural Science Museum, but today has become a destination unto itself. Enter the eye-catching blue triangle-shaped museum, where you’ll first meet a huge whale (or at least its skeleton) that beached itself on the shores of Catalon in the mid-19th century. Move on to learn all about life on Earth through various installations, exhibits in the expansive “Earth Today” section – there are more than 4,500 pieces here reflecting nature, mineralogy, zoology, botany and paleontology. The interactive Science Nest is a favorite of the youngest children.