family travel guide
The amazing fact is that Barcelona became a tourist destination just a few decades ago. But how many words of praise in different languages now sound in the address of this city! A city of strange architecture, enormous parks, noisy festivals and football battles, the creative workshop of Picasso and Gaudi — Barcelona delights in a moment.
And if you've come with children to bask in the warmth of Spain's coastline, the Catalonian capital can shake you up after a lazy day at the beach. Trust us, a vacation with kids in Barcelona promises to be exciting and fulfilling.
One more fact: Barcelona has about fifty monuments, museums, and parks that tourists are trying to visit. Which of these to show to a child? Kidpassage has gathered information about places that children themselves would like to see. Also, in our overview, you will find other helpful information about family holidays in Barcelona.
Barcelona is the capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia. The city is located in eastern Spain on the Mediterranean coast, 120 km from the French border. The distance from Barcelona to Madrid is 625 km, to Girona 117 km, to Blanes 70 km, to Lloret de Mar 75 km, to Roses 158 km and to Tarragona 100 km.
Children can find out where Barcelona is without knowing much about history or geography. If you have a young football player growing up in your family, he'll learn all about the famous Barça in which some of today's best strikers have played, including Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar.
So, what should you tell a child who hasn't heard of Barcelona? Start with the legend that says Hercules created the city. Then there was the general Hamilcar Barca, who established a settlement at the foot of the Montjuïc hill and named it Barcino.
Then came centuries of wars, the passing of the city from hand to hand, conquest and loss of independence, rampant industrialisation and, finally, the building of a modern city based on designs by Gaudi, Domenech y Montaner and Cadafalch. There's no need to tell you about it: seeing Barcelona for yourself is better.
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There's a drinking fountain on Barcelona's Ramblas where there's always a small queue. The queue is made up of tourists familiar with the belief that if you drink from the fountain, you'll return to Barcelona. And you will definitely want to come back!
Barcelona is a city of experience. Even phlegmatic people perk up when struck by its architecture's beauty, quirkiness, and unconventionality. They come around the main attractions — and then come around again: once is not enough time to be amazed.
But it's no way to call Barcelona "laid-back". The city is buzzing, joking and merry, and throws everyone into the merry whirl. A city break here is remembered as a continuous carnival, even on a typical weekday not to mention the excitement of the big festivals, when the rhythm of the festivities goes wild.
A trip to Barcelona with children has some particular advantages. First and foremost is the abundance of activities for children. The colourful Park Guell, the water park, the attractions at Mount Tibidabo, and the interactive museums would take at least a week to visit all the children's interests in the city.
The second advantage is that you can alternate between active and passive holidays. Once your child starts to get bored with sightseeing, spend the day in a quiet park or beach.
A third benefit of Barcelona for children is the convenience of the urban environment. Here are just a few examples:
Another significant advantage is the excellent transport links to the seaside resorts. If you are planning a holiday with your child on the Costa Brava or Costa Dorada, you can quickly get a day or two in the capital of Catalonia.
What we recommend you do before travelling to Barcelona:
Most tourists come to Barcelona between May and September, the high season. But that's not to say that the most exciting things happen in the city at that time.
The opposite is true: Barcelona is bustling all year round, which draws travellers to the city. Choose when to go to Barcelona according to how you plan your vacation. For a holiday with a child in Barcelona, the summer months are often chosen to complement a trip to the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada resorts.
It's the best option for those who want to spend more time on the beach and a day or two of sightseeing. Choose June for excursions with a child, as the heat in the second half of summer will prevent you from wandering around the city.
The Catalonian capital is flooded with tourists in summer: book your plane tickets and hotel room or apartment in advance.
Late spring and early autumn is a good time for sightseeing. Although May and September are part of Barcelona's high season, these months are not as crowded as summer.
This is also the best time to take the kids to all the amusement parks in Barcelona. The festivities continue all week, with a fire show, a parade of giants, and castellers' tournaments. The best way to experience street partying is not as a tourist but as a local.
Travelling to Barcelona with an infant is rare, as the city is far too bustling for younger travellers. But if your baby sleeps soundly in a pram or sling while you browse museums, plan a family trip for the warmer months of May. Barcelona experiences another surge of tourist interest in December and January, i.e. during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
The good news about this time: in December, the fairs sell smelling roasted chestnuts and honeyed turrons, and the duty of handing out presents to children is placed on a log with eyes and legs "Kaga tio". A little more good news: winter sales start in January. And here's some not-so-nice information: flight prices peak in December and January.
Meanwhile, in the low season, that is, November, February and March, it's also possible to vacation in Barcelona. The winter weather isn't ideal for long walks, but it's a great time to visit the museums.
But during Barcelona's San Medir sweets festival in March, you're well advised to venture outside for the caramel rainfall. A tour of Barcelona can also be combined with a holiday in the ski resorts of the Catalan and Aragonese Pyrenees.
Barcelona's climate is typically Mediterranean, with mild winters and warm summers. For tourists, this means being able to vacation at any time of year and choosing the right time to travel, depending on the purpose of the trip.
Barcelona's high tourist season starts in May when temperatures reach 20ºC. The beaches are still accessible in late spring, but it's too early to swim as the water temperature is only +18°C. May's cooler temperatures are ideal for sightseeing, though. And don't be alarmed by the rain in the weather forecast, short-term precipitation does not interfere with walks.
With the onset of summer, Barcelona's temperature rises very quickly, reaching between +24-25ºC in June and +28-30ºC in July and August. There are periods of extreme heat when every tourist begins to appreciate the siesta tradition.
The water temperature in June is only +21°C, but in July, it's already +24°C, and in August, +26°C. The summer rains are a real treat after long spells of heat. There are usually no more than 20 rainy days during the summer.
The best holiday in Barcelona with children is undoubtedly in September. The air temperature drops to 26°C, and the sea temperature is the same as in July: you can alternate between relaxing on the beach and sightseeing in the city. Sometimes, however, September is cool and rainy.
Despite the hot days, Barcelona's nights are cold. Nighttime temperatures drop to +11°C in May, +15°C in June, +18-19°C in July and August and +17°C in September. Barcelona is still warm in October. The air is warm up to +22°C, and if it weren't for the rains, which more and more often interfere with travellers' plans, you could rest here until late autumn.
From November to April, Catalonia's capital experiences the cold season, which can hardly be called winter. Temperatures don't drop below 13-14ºC during this time, although frosts can still occur at night.
Snowfall in Barcelona is rare, and more often, it rains, but clear, sunny days do occur. Pack a windproof jacket to keep out the damp wind if you plan a Christmas holiday in Barcelona.
Hotels in Barcelona, like those in Spain in general, do not offer full-board or all-inclusive accommodation. Visitors are expected to enjoy experiencing the local cuisine — and they do.
Plenty of restaurants serve Catalan cuisine in Barcelona, some of which are child-friendly. At Can Campmany, for example, young guests are offered a special menu, high chairs and space to play.
At Can Besa, the children can play in the playground while preparing food to work up an appetite. Els Pollos de Llull restaurant appeals with its children's menu and lounge area. At Doble Zeroo, children will be entertained by animators.
You wouldn't want to tempt your child to lunch after a couple of crispy churros or a slice of hot chocolate cake. The Catalan desserts deserve a special mention. Even the name of the pastry shop, Pastisseria, sounds sweet.
But if you're in the mood for sweets after a meal, try the Caelum in the Gothic Quarter: desserts are made in different monasteries around the country. Many restaurants have a very child-friendly atmosphere and are suitable for children.
Barcelona is a big city, and buying the food you need is easy. The city prefers to shop in the markets, including the famous Boquería. Prices in markets and supermarkets are about the same.
Please note that markets, small shops and some supermarkets are closed on Sundays.
You can buy baby food in supermarkets and pharmacies. The range is wide, so you should only bring food if your baby needs a rarely available brand.
As in any major city, tourists cannot do without travelling by public transport. Barcelona has metro and city trains, buses, trams and funiculars.
Check out the public transport website to avoid confusion about connections and timetables. A single-ride ticket costs just over €2 (with no discount for children over four years old).
You can buy a single ticket for all means of transportation in Barcelona for a certain number of trips (for example, the T-10 pass is for ten trips in 1 zone and costs about 12 euros).
The city is divided into six zones, but tourists usually do not have to travel beyond Zone 1.
The Hola BCN travel card also helps you save money on fares. It is valid for all modes of transport and between 48 and 120 hours. The cost of this card, depending on the length of validity, is approximately 15-35 euros. Public transport in Barcelona is free for children up to 4 years old. The metro has lifts to take prams up and down.
If you have a complete sightseeing programme, buying a Barcelona Card is a good idea. It gives you free travel on all public transport and discounts at many museums, restaurants and the official gift shop of Barcelona. For adults, the Barcelona Card will cost between €47 and €67, and for children between 4 and 12 years old, the card will cost around €27-40. The card is available from 3 to 5 days.
There is no urgent need to use taxis to get around Barcelona, as the public transport system covers the entire city. However, you can hail a taxi or get into a car at special stops if necessary. The fare includes the initial charge (about €3-4) and a charge per kilometre (€2).
Renting a car to get around the city is also not advisable. There are several reasons for that: dense traffic, lack of free parking and sometimes lack of paid parking near the main tourist sites. It makes sense to rent a car if you intend to travel around Catalonia or go to a seaside resort after a short tour of Barcelona.
At first glance (if you flick through the usual guidebooks), children's activities in Barcelona are not provided for. It is a misconception: apart from architectural masterpieces, the capital of Catalonia has at least a dozen places where children can enjoy themselves.
The first place you'll have a great time with the kids is Ciutadella Park. It's a pleasant green space with the city's zoo and dolphinarium. Remember to look for the park's Three Dragons' Castle (also the Zoological Museum).
The next hotspot for excellent family fun is Montjuïc Hill. It is the biggest green space in the city, with almost 300 hectares of great places to play and picnic. A sightseeing train takes you up to the hill from Plaça Espanya Square, and a cable car takes you to the top of the hill from the Paral lel metro station.
Monjuïc has an ethnographic and archaeological museum, a Spanish Village park with replicas of the country's most famous landmarks and the Magic Fountain. At the top of the hill stands the fortress of Montjuïc — now home to the Military Museum, whose exhibits include an entire regiment of tin soldiers.
Another famous hill in Barcelona is Tibidabo. The creaking old Blue Tram or the modern Tibibas take you to the bottom of the hill, and a cable car takes you to the top.
The main attraction at Tibidabo is the amusement park, where you can ensure that prehistoric rides enthral children. It is complemented by a small amusement park, a street theatre, a mechanical toy museum and the opportunity to visit the Krüeger Hotel, a nightmare hotel.
Children are certainly quicker and better at capturing the beauty of Park Güell with its gingerbread houses, mosaic sculptures, stone forest and wave benches than adults. It is one of Antoni Gaudi's masterpieces — perhaps a walk through the park will awaken children's interest in the architect's other works.
However, even the most fun activities can tire you out. If you want to go for a walk with your child, hide away from the noise in the quietness of Collserola Nature Park, the largest urban park in the world.
What's the best way to have fun if your family holiday is during the hottest time of the year? Visiting the Illa Fantasia water park is the best way to refresh yourself in summer. It's in the countryside, but there are bus services from Barcelona. The Illa Fantasia lives up to its name with amusing decorations and rides. And how can we not mention that 100 km from Barcelona there is the best entertainment centre for children and adults in Spain, Port Aventura Park.
In the heat, the most popular attraction is the PortAventura Caribe Water Park, with three children's play pools and a dozen dizzying slides for extreme lovers. After that, you can turn your attention to the other attractions in the park: there's plenty to choose from.
If you're going to Barcelona with your child in the summer and you're not planning a holiday at the seaside resorts, sunbathe on the city's coastline. All the beaches in the Catalan capital are Blue Flag awarded, well-equipped and free of charge. The quietest beach is Nova Icaria, next to the green massif with the same name and Ciutadella Park.
Meanwhile, artificial beaches have sprung up in the Catalan capital with a unique recreational area for children. One of them, Torre de Les Aigues, is located between the beaches of Barceloneta and Nova Icaria. The second, Creueta del Coll, is close to Park Guell.
If you're travelling with a toddler who needs a regular playground rather than challenging rides, Barcelona won't disappoint. There are plenty of safe playgrounds with sand or cork surfaces. Here are some great places to take your pre-schooler for a walk:
To have a few ideas for things to do in Barcelona with a child, check out the city's events listings before you go. There are festivals, exhibitions and fairs almost every week. Workshops for children are often organised. For example, in the summer of 2017, children were invited to an art walk, a relaxation class, an exhibition of Egyptian sacred animals and a puppet-making class — all for free.
The architectural ensemble of the city was created by outstanding architects and is therefore recognisable at a glance. But suppose you're travelling with preschool and primary school children. In that case, it's hardly worth exploring in detail — a sightseeing tour on a Bus tour or Barcelona City Tour double-decker bus will suffice.
The buses go around the city and stop at the most critical places. The ticket is valid for the whole day: you can walk around Barcelona, get off at any stop, and then continue on the next bus.
Places where the tour bus makes stops: Park Güell, Mount Tibidabo, FC Barcelona official stadium, Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, Cidateli Park, Maritime Museum, Mount Montjuïc.
You can listen to an audio guide during the tour or admire the beautiful city.
Tourists who have dreamed of seeing the beauty of Barcelona are unlikely to give up on their plans because they are travelling with children. Can architectural masterpieces and great museums be turned into exciting places for children? There is — and partly through children's imagination, and partly through special programmes for young tourists.
For example, one of Barcelona's most important buildings, the Sagrada Familia, can be visited by children of all ages. While older pupils are ready to hear about the symbolism of the temple, younger children have an audio guide that explains Antoni Gaudi's work simply and clearly.
In high season, there are crowds of people outside the cathedral who want to take the tour. It is advisable to buy e-tickets in advance, which entitle you to enter without queuing.
Similarly, you can show your child Gaudi's other creation, the Casa Batlló. After listening to the audio guide, children can spot the dragon scales in the colourful tiles on the roof and guess why the building is called the House of Masks or the yawning house. At least three arguments favour a family visit to the Museo Nacional de Arte de Catalunya. Firstly, admission is free for children.
Secondly, children will perceive the museum as a space for creativity if encouraged to reincarnate as artists (which is how playful tours are offered to young visitors). Thirdly, there is an observation deck on the museum roof where you can see the whole of Barcelona. An argument for parents: there are original paintings by Velázquez, El Greco, Rubens and other famous painters on display.
What to see with children in Barcelona depends on their age and interests. The city has dozens of museums — something that will grab your child's attention.
What to see in Barcelona if you're travelling with pre-school and primary school children? A real treat for young travellers is the museums specially designed for them. There are several in Barcelona, and parents love these museums too.
If you spend a week or more in Barcelona with children, the list of places to see is even longer. We'd like to name just a few of the marvellous museums near the main city of Catalonia.
One hour from Barcelona is the Museum of Magic Trains. The little Catalonia on which the toy trains run is a mock-up filled with cute and sometimes touching details. For example, a miniature replica of the Sagrada Familia cathedral is crowded with tourists, while sunbathers sunbathe on the beaches of the Costa Brava.
Another "Catalonia in miniature" is the open-air museum with models of the most beautiful buildings of the autonomy. Children who have already been on a tour of Barcelona will easily recognize Gaudi's creations.
The Archaeological Park at Gava is also a tale of Catalonia, only concerning its ancient history. The tour begins in the corridors of a Neolithic mine and continues in the museum, where the guide reveals the secrets of palaeontologists and archaeologists (the tour is in Spanish and English).
We recommend you buy one of the discount Barcelona Tourist Cards, which will save you a lot of money when you purchase admission tickets to Barcelona's most famous museums and galleries.
There are plenty of options for accommodation in Barcelona with children: hotels, apartments or B&Bs to suit all tastes. If you plan a trip during the high season, we recommend booking well before your trip because accommodation prices soar during the tourist influx.
In many hotels in Barcelona, finding three or four-bed rooms for families with teenagers can be challenging. However, hotels certified for families have two-bed rooms for tourists with children.
Hotels in Barcelona are usually comfortable for tourists who spend more time on excursions than in their rooms. Services for families with small children, in this case, are limited to providing a cot (sometimes a babysitter can be invited). But several hotels in Barcelona cater for families with children. They have playrooms, mini-clubs and children's pools.
For an independent holiday in Barcelona with children, apartments are also suitable. If you're looking for an apartment close to the main attractions, children's activities or a park, it's as comfortable as a hotel.
Not all areas of Barcelona are suitable for holidays with children. Choose where to stay in Barcelona depending on the age of the child, the length of the trip and the purpose of the trip.
The old town of Ciutat Vella is very atmospheric, with narrow streets and old buildings. The Old Town includes the famous Rambla. The area is overcrowded in the summer but is quiet and comfortable in the winter. The downside is that older buildings rarely have a lift. When choosing where to go with children, consider Gothic Quarter or El Born (in the summer, if you want a beach nearby, choose Barceloneta). On the other hand, Raval is regarded as a disadvantaged area.
The new town of Eixample is very suitable for staying with children. It is close to the city centre and has a modern development. Each block has a square with playgrounds for children. The district of Gracia is adjacent to the New Town. All the main attractions are close by, and there are plenty of hotels and apartments, but there are also many tourists.
Accommodation in the Montjuïc Hill area is a good choice. The train station is also in this area, which is handy if you're planning to travel around the country. Choosing the Poble Sec neighbourhood at the foot of Montjuïc makes sense. It's practically tourist-free and a safe residential area one metro stop from the city centre.
Avoid settling in the Barrio Xino (Chinese Quarter) area.
You can also look for accommodation on the outskirts of Barcelona. During the high season, the price of apartments in the suburbs can be 30-40% lower than in the city. Towns close to Barcelona are linked to the Catalan capital by suburban trains.
Barcelona's international airport, El Prat, receives flights from many European countries. From CIS countries, tourists arrive mainly by charter, although there are also regular direct flights (most of them in summer). You can find flight schedules and other helpful information on the airport website.
The airport is located 10 km from the city. How to get to Barcelona from the airport
Another option for getting to Barcelona is to fly to Girona Airport, which mainly receives flights from low-cost companies. Buses from Girona Airport arrive at Barcelona's Estació del Nord bus terminal. The distance between the cities is about 100 km and the journey time is 1 hour 15 min.
You can get to Barcelona from any Costa Brava resort by bus. Buses from the coast usually arrive at the Estació del Nord bus station. There is a large bus station next to the Barcelona-Sants train station where buses from other Spanish and European cities arrive. You can find timetables on the Estació del Nord bus station website: https://www.barcelonanord.cat.
Rail services in Spain are very well developed, but travelling by train is more expensive than by bus. The Barcelona-Sants station hosts trains from all over Spain and Europe, including high-speed trains from Madrid, Seville and Paris. You can learn about timetables and buy tickets on the website of RENFE, the company that runs the railways in Spain.
The E-90 motorway leads from Madrid to Barcelona. Barcelona's official website has a traffic map and route planner.
Ferries come to Barcelona from the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Ibiza) and from cities in Italy and Morocco.
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