Family places in Barcelona
🎠Activities 4
🌳Parks 8
- Jardins de LaribalA terraced garden on Montjuïc with fountains, pergolas and shaded paths, with views over the city and room for children to explore.
Free
Official website
- Parc de Joan Miró (Escorxador)A park in Eixample with Miró's 22-metre sculpture 'Dona i Ocell', a large playground, palm trees and weekend family activities.
FreePlay area
Official website
- Parc de l'Espanya IndustrialA park in Sants with a dragon slide, a rowing lake, watchtowers and an assortment of sculptures. Popular with local families at weekends.
FreePlay area
Official website
- Parc de la BarcelonetaA small park by the beach with a playground, an outdoor gym and shaded areas. A good spot away from the beach crowds.
FreePlay area
- Parc de la CiutadellaA central park with a rowing lake, a waterfall fountain, the zoo, wide lawns for picnics and a large playground. Free entry.
FreePlay area
Official website
- Parc del Centre del PoblenouA modern park in Poblenou with a large playground, a seasonal splash pad and open lawns. Popular with local families and less touristy than Ciutadella.
FreePlay area
Official website
- Parc del Laberint d'HortaBarcelona's oldest garden, from 1791, with a cypress hedge maze. Quieter than the central parks.
Play area
Official website
- Parc GüellMosaic-covered buildings, steps and sculptures in a green hillside park, with a Gaudí museum and panoramic city views. Free under 6.
Outdoor
Official website
🏛️Museums 5
- CosmoCaixa Science MuseumA science museum with a recreated Amazon rainforest inside the building, a planetarium, a geological wall and hands-on experiments for all ages. Free under 16.
Games
Official website
- Museu Blau (Natural History)Barcelona's natural history museum at the Fòrum, with life-sized dinosaur skeletons, a free 'Science Nest' for under-6s and a rooftop garden. Free on the first Sunday of each month and every Sunday after 15:00. Free under 16.
Games
Official website
- Museu d'Història de CatalunyaAn interactive history museum in the Palau de Mar on the waterfront, where children get a free self-guided booklet with games for ages 6-8 and 9-12. Free under 16.
Ages 6+
Official website
- Paradox Museum BarcelonaOptical illusions and interactive exhibits across several rooms, including upside-down rooms. From age 6.
Ages 6+
Official website
- Poble EspanyolAn open-air architectural museum recreating Spain's regional styles in one walled village, with craft workshops, street performers and a playground. Free under 4. Scavenger hunt for 6+.
Ages 6+Games
Official website
🏰Castles 2
- Montjuïc Cable Car (Telefèric)A cable car from Barceloneta up to Montjuïc castle, with views over the city and port and an aerial crossing over the water.
Outdoor
Official website
- Montjuïc CastleA hilltop fortress on Montjuïc with panoramic city views, a moat, ramparts and cannons to explore.
Outdoor
Official website
🎡Theme Parks 1
- Tibidabo Amusement ParkA hilltop amusement park above Barcelona, over 100 years old, with city views and a mix of classic and modern rides. A full day out. Free under 90cm.
Ages 2+Play area
Official website
🦁Zoo & Animals 1
- Barcelona ZooA large zoo in Parc de la Ciutadella with over 400 species. Free under 3. Can be combined with rowboat hire on the park lake next door.
Play area
Official website
🐠Aquarium 1
- L'Aquàrium de BarcelonaOne of Europe's largest aquariums, with an 80-metre underwater tunnel where sharks and rays pass overhead. The Planeta Aqua section has interactive touch pools.
Indoor
Official website
💦Water Parks 4
- Aqua Brava Water ParkA water park on the Costa Brava with over 30 slides and attractions, about an hour from Barcelona. A summer day trip. Free under 80cm.
Play areaIndoor pool
Official website
- Illa Fantasia Water ParkBarcelona's largest water park, 30km north in Vilassar de Dalt, with water slides, a wave pool, a lazy river and a toddler area. Open June to September.
Play areaIndoor pool
Official website
- Parc de la Creueta del CollA neighbourhood park in Gràcia with a large outdoor pool (open in summer), a suspended sculpture over the water and shaded picnic areas.
FreePlay area
Official website
- Piscines Bernat PicornellAn Olympic swimming complex on Montjuïc, used in the 1992 Games, open to the public with indoor and outdoor pools. The outdoor pool has city views.
Indoor pool
Official website
🏖️Beaches 1
- Barceloneta BeachThe closest beach to the city centre: wide and sandy, with showers, playgrounds and beach bars. Best early morning or late afternoon in summer.
Free
Official website
⭐Local Tips 2
- El Corte Inglés Plaça Catalunya (kids floor)The top floor of El Corte Inglés on Plaça Catalunya has a large children's department with toys, books, clothes and a food court. Useful on a rainy day.
Indoor
Official website
- Hibernian BooksA second-hand English-language bookshop in Gràcia with a large children's section, from picture books to young-adult novels, at reasonable prices.
Indoor
Official website
🍔Kids Restaurants 5
- Brunch & CakeA bright all-day brunch restaurant with several Barcelona locations, generous portions and a welcoming attitude to families with young children.
Terrace
Official website
- Federal CaféAn Australian-style brunch café in Sant Antoni with a relaxed setting, highchairs and a menu for adults and children. Known for avocado toast and cakes.
Indoor
Official website
- Granja ViaderA family-run dairy café open since 1870, the original maker of Cacaolat chocolate milk, serving hot chocolate, churros and pastries.
Indoor
Official website
- Mercado de la BoqueriaBarcelona's well-known market on La Rambla, with fruit stalls, fresh juice bars and sweet shops. Arrive early to beat the crowds.
Indoor
Official website
- Time Out Market BarcelonaA food market in Eixample with over 20 stalls covering many cuisines. No reservation needed and good for families with different tastes.
Indoor
Official website
See everything we have mapped in Barcelona
Practical tips
- Book Gaudi in advanceThe main buildings sell timed slots that go days ahead in season. Turning up on the day usually means either a long queue or no entry at all.
- Eat when the city eatsA late lunch around two and a light supper works better than trying to eat at six, when many kitchens are closed.
- Use the beach as the rewardPlan the sightseeing for the morning and leave the afternoon loose. Even an hour in the sand resets everyone for the evening.
If you want one thing away from the crowds, the hills behind the city have parks with views and space to run, and the funicular up is an outing by itself.