Barcelona with kids – The Best Things To Do

The city is one of the most vibrant and beautiful places and full of hidden gems. From stunning architecture to beautiful open spaces—it truly is a city made for exploring. And Barcelona with kids will make you explore even more things.

Here at Luna we truly believe in traveling with kids. These moments will enrich their life forever and the quality time spent together as a family, will create memories that you will enjoy for years to come. And Spring (starting tomorrow) is the perfect season for city trips!

Barcelona is a great place at any time of the year. If you can, maybe try to avoid the very busy summer months. The temperatures are never very chilly and there are some very cool indoor activities too. Just in case!

Did you know that Barcelona has 9 UNESCO World heritage sites? There is truly no shortage of great culture.

Here is your ultimate guide to Barcelona with kids:

Parc de la Ciutadella

T H E park in the city. Playgrounds, row boats, fountains, and plazas. A life-size replica of a Mammoth and plenty of space for a relaxing picnic.

La Sagrada Familia Basilica

This world famous unfinished basilica by Antoni Gaudí is a must. And the architecture and colours are loved by young and old. The creation of La Sagrada Familia began under Gaudí in 1883 and completion is expected in 2026. Book tickets in advance, see the stunning interior and go up one of the towers for a spectacular view of the city.
Note: There are two towers, the Nativity and the Passion. An elevator will take you to the top of both, but you will have to walk down the 300+ winding staircase of the Nativity tower. Whereas you can take the elevator for a return ride on the Passion tower.
Children under age 6 are not allowed entrance to either tower. Kids under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Casa Milà

This was the last private residence to be designed by Antoni Gaudí and was completed in 1906.
Also called La Pedrera, it is one of his more famous creations. Again: Purchase your tickets ahead of time, because it is a very busy tourist attraction. The beautiful hallways, colourful mosaics and super fun rooftop keep the kids very entertained.
Passeig de Gràcia is a beautiful avenue and you can find morecof Gaudi’s work by wandering up and down.

El Born

The hipster neighbourhood of Barcelona and so beautiful. Lots of small streets, chops and cafes. Just stroll around here for a day and let you guide by the streets. Parc de la Ciutadella is very close too. Fantastic restaurants (not only tapas) are everywhere.
Do a pit stop at the Little Creative Factory store and Tiny Cottons opened a new shop here too.

Park Guell

Another parc and more Gaudi!
A fantastic place that looks like out of a fairytale.
One of the best things to do in the city and it is for free.
Another amazing Gaudi creation and a good view of the city. A mixture of architecture and nature exemplifying the architect’s greatness and the beauty of the city it overlooks. The mix makes it ideal for children!

Montjuïc Castle

Sitting majestically above the Barcelona harbour and the journey to reach Montjuïc is half the fun. Take a funicular from the Parallel Metro Station and then transfer to a cable car (Teleférico de Montjuïc) that will take you almost to the top of the castle.

Zoo de Barcelona

This zoo is located in Parc de la Cuitadella.
None of the animals are caged, they are separated from visitors by a moat. There are over 500 species in the zoo and the kids can also enjoy a petting zoo, pony rides, two excellent playgrounds and a zoo ‘train’.

Boqueria

Stalls of fresh fruit, cured hams, authentic Spanish tapas and pretty much anything you might need for a super picnic. The market is a genuine Barcelona experience!

INDOORS

Museu de la Música

Over 1,600 instruments, displayed like precious jewels in red velvet and glass cases. Kids love the multimedia displays, interactive exhibits and musical paraphernalia.

Picasso Museum

Famous painter Pablo Picasso grew up in Barcelona and the museum contains the most extensive collection of his early works.

L’Aquàrium

The Barcelona Aquarium is one of the largest in the world. The Oceanarium, the aquarium largest space, contains over 4 million liters of water. You can explore the seafloor and take a walk underwater through the 80 meter long transparent tunnel.
Check the website for details of activities – which include swimming with sharks, and the chance to spend the night in the tunnel – and become an expert marine biologist.

CosmoCaixa

The biggest science museum in Europe. You will see the Flooded Forest which recreates the Amazonian rainforest ecosystem and features piranhas, crocodiles and other animal and plant species typical to the zone. The Geological Wall, comprising seven spectacular sections of real rock which illustrate the world’s different geological structures. The Room of Matter, a journey through the evolution of matter and life on our planet, with experiments, real pieces and living beings. The Planetarium invites you to take a journey through space and time, past the stars and planets of the firmament.
There are many other areas, exhibitions and activities related with Science for children, adults and families. Clik and Flash, the Touch, touch!, the Bubble Planetarium and other workshops for families. Check the website before you go.

Museu de la Xocolata

What kid could resist an entire museum dedicated to chocolate? There are chocolate sculptures, the history of chocolate in Europe and an explanation of how chocolate is made. Of course there is chocolate to be purchased as well. I would definitely say this museum is more for the kids, but it is a fun place to stop if you are in the area.

Tibidabo

An amusement park with roller coasters and rides for young children. Panoramic views included. A Barcelona landmark situated on top of Tibidabo mountain with over 100 years of history.
Definitely do the colourful ferris wheel located in the highest part of the mountain!

FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou

Do you have a football fan in your family? Visit the dressing rooms and step onto the hallowed turf. Then explore the club’s history in the museum. There are plenty of touch-screen displays showing famous Barça goals to keep everyone entertained.

The last two tips are from our Spain contributor Sonia. One who really knows:

Granja Petitbo

Whenever we travel with our kids, it can be a challenge to find places to eat where we all feel comfortable and safe, and we can all enjoy a good meal together. Spain is a very welcoming country in this regard. Kids are part of the daily social life in restaurants and cafes, and there are places that cater to families particularly. These are little peaceful oases where we can enjoy a lunch or brunch while they eat and play or sleep.

The Granja Petitbo is one of these special places, where I suggest you go and enjoy a good breakfast, brunch, or lunch.

Their menu is extensive; sandwiches, eggs benedictine with salmon, pancakes, and fresh juices are just some of the delicacies you can try with the family. It can be very busy during some weekend mornings.
Tip: It is a very good pit stop if you are planning to visit the Sagrada Familia.

La Nena Chocolatería

I love chocolate. Whenever I go to Spain, I fully enjoy the afternoon snack we call merienda. At around 18:00 pm, I like to take a break to get something to eat. In my case, I remember that during my childhood, even though everyone around me tried to make me eat something savory at this time day, they never succeeded; I always wanted a sweet afternoon snack.
The idea is to eat something small to keep you going after school and before the late Spanish dinner, which usually happens around 21:00-21:30.
Chocolate and churros or any other cake are my favorite snacks for merienda when I am in Spain. (This is not what Spanish kids eat every single day, obviously! I make it a very, very special treat for myself when I am at home; the typical after school snack is fruit or a sandwich.)

If you are in Barcelona with kids, a good option for enjoying a nice merienda is La Nena.

You might share a wooden table with others, and the kids can play in the special playroom corner created especially for them. In this cafe there is no WiFi; instead, the owner suggests chatting with everybody else in the cafe 😉 and I believe this is a very good option. Switch off your telephone, laptop, or iPad and mingle with the locals.
Everything here is homemade; they have some heavenly cakes, and the chocolate is exactly as it should be: tasty, warm, and incredibly dense. Served in white cups, if you lay your spoon on the chocolate, the spoon will stay at the surface; this is the trick for testing a good homemade chocolate.
They also have gluten free cakes and an excellent assortment of tea that is always made with mineral water. Sounds good, right?! I already feel like having a merienda!

All images: Peggy Juche