Things to do in Barcelona with children

Aquarium Barcelona

Located in the city's old harbour, the Port Vell, Barcelona's Aquarium is the largest marine centre in the world dedicated to the Mediterranean's undersea life.

One of the city's most popular attractions, this is the perfect place for a fun day of learning. You'll discover the Mediterranean's many different species, seeing them for yourselves in the 66 Mediterranean and tropical tanks, which are home to 11,000 fishes and sea creatures, representing some 450 different species. The most spectacular of all these tanks is the immense Oceanarium which, at 5m deep and 36m in diameter, is the largest in Europe. Running through the Oceanarium is a transparent 80-metre-long tunnel, through which you can walk among sharks, giltheads, morays, ocean sunfish and many more species. With your ticket you'll also be able to visit the permanent exhibitions, which have plenty of fun, hands-on activities for the children. Planeta Aqua shows the importance of water in the development of our planet, and in Explora! kids can discover the underwater world by using their five senses. After your visit, you'll be able to enjoy the different services on offer, including a café and shop.

Barcelona Bosc Urbà

Here's one for children who have had enough of city sights and just need to let off some steam. Located in Plaça del Fòrum, Barcelona Bosc Urbà is a new concept in adventure parks.

This covered urban adventure playground has three different circuits, of varying levels. The easiest is appropriate for young children while the most difficult should satisfy any thrill seeker. The circuits combine bungee jumping, zip wires, nets, creepers, suspension bridges, and platforms of up to six metres in height. 

Barcelona Family Tours

This Barcelona tour is designed to keep even the youngest in the family entertained. An experienced guide (and his pet parakeet) give you a series of riddles to solve, making sure the kids are always involved in this city adventure.To keep energy levels from flagging, all the tours include a snack and soft drink.You can choose from three routes:

1. The parakeet: explore Gaudí and Puig i Cadafalch’s Modernista architecture as well as the legend of Sant Jordi (Saint George). On this route you’ll be able to admire the exterior of the Casa de les Punxes and La Pedrera.

2. The dragon: discover Modernisme in the Eixample and the magical façade of the Casa Batlló.

3. The owl: see works by the main architects of Modernisme: Antoni Gaudí, Puig i Cadafalch and Domènech i Montaner.

Barcelona Wax Museum

The city’s wax museum is located in a 19th-century landmark palazzo which stands just off the Rambla, and brings to life some of the most (in)famous figures in world history.

The Museu de Cera provides an opportunity to meet over 300 personalities, both real and fictitious, from all periods of history. Against a backdrop of authentic sets, audiovisuals and realistic sound effects, the waxworks come to life to tell us about their illustrious, and sometimes tragic lives. The Museum de Cera also has two unusual cafés. El Bosc de les Fades is a, magical space which recreates a haunted forest, right down to the last detail: trees, fountains, will o’ the wisps and other fantastic creatures. The Passatge del Temps will captivate you with its cutting-edge design and comfortable atmosphere, while offering an innovative take on the ancient art of origami.

Barcelona Zoo

Barcelona Zoo is located in the Parc de la Ciutadella. Its mission is to share information and research, and to protect species in danger of extinction. Its facilities pay particular attention to endangered species. Set in a shady corner of the city, the zoo is a small biodiversity reserve and home to over 4,000 animals from 400 different species. Different spaces to explore include a terrarium, primates gallery, gorilla area, farm and aviarium. There are lots of services to make sure you have everything you need for a perfect day out with the family, including restaurants, bars, pony rides, a miniature railway, electric cars, shop and picnic areas. 

Excursion to Port Aventura

Enjoy an adrenalin-charged day out at Spain's biggest theme park, PortAventura. The park is divided into six different areas: the Mediterranean, Mexico, the Far West, China, Polynesia and Sesame Adventure. Each of these areas is home to spectacular rides, traditional cuisine from the region and lots of fun, daily performances. Take a canoe ride in Polynesia, terrify yourself on the Dragon Khan rollercoaster in China or take El Diablo mine train in Mexico. There are plenty of more gentle activities for the little ones, including Sesame Adventure where they can meet the street's magical inhabitants.

To make things easier, these tickets include travel from Barcelona to the park and back and entry to all the rides and attractions.

Illa Fantasia

Just 20 minutes outside Barcelona, Illa Fantasia water park is your best choice for a cooling, water-fuelled day out with your family or friends. The park has 22 iconic attractions, three large swimming pools, wave pools and a lake, plus restaurants and landscaped areas for picnics. There's also a children's play area, with mini water slides, designed so that kids aged from two to 10 can have lots of safe fun too. Illa Fantasia has all the services you'll need for a fun day out, including shop, lockers, changing rooms, disabled toilets and free parking.

Kids and Family Walking Tour

Enjoy a magical walk through Barcelona's historic quarter with your family, accompanied by songs, dances, legends and stories. The tour begins with a delicious welcome at the cake shop La Colmena, which has been making traditional confectionery since 1843. Next you'll visit the Museu dels Gegants, a shrine to Catalan dance and festivals. You'll find relics from Roman and medieval times and walk through the bohemian Plaça del Pi, surrounded by art and life. Then it's back to magic at the toy workshop Ingenio where colours and imagination will take you back to far-off times. Finally, you'll discover the Roman columns at the ancient Temple of Augustus, and then sample some of the hand-made sweets at the ingenious sweet shop Papabubble.

Little Catalonia and Animated Forest

Spend a day in the only model village in Catalunya, featuring major landmarks built to scale and explore a forest where you can climb trees, ride on a zip wire, just half an hour from Barcelona. Catalunya en Miniatura is a family theme park that has been declared an attraction of National Tourist Interest. It's the only place where you can see giant models, built on a scale of 1:25, of Catalunya's major monuments, buildings and major sights. You'll also be able to find out about Catalunya's folk traditions and culture at a permanent, dynamic exhibition. Inside the park you'll find the Bosc Animat, where you'll be able to move through the trees using zip wires, ropes and other apparatus. With 66 activities in all, the Bosc Animat offers four adventure circuits of different levels and two circuits for beginners: Gnomes, Fairies, Elves and Trolls.

The Chocolate Museum

The Museu de la Xocolata was set up in the year 2000 by the Barcelona’s Confectioners’ Guild, and is housed in the beautiful former Convent of Sant Agustí. The 600 m2 exhibition space of the Museu de la Xocolata traces the origins of chocolate, its arrival in Europe, and its semi-mythical status. Visitors can find out about its medicinal and aphrodisiac properties, its symbolic, cultural and economic significance, and its nutritional value. Best of all, they can admire some wonderful chocolate sculptures. The Museu de la Xocolata also has a wide range of activities and workshops on offer, and a cafe serving excellent hot chocolate.

Tibidabo Amusement Park

Come up to Tibidabo, Barcelona's amusement park. Feel the magic of its century-old history. Enjoy its classic and new rides and attractions while you look at the city below. Get your camera ready and experience an unforgettable day out!

The Tibidabo Amusement Park stands on Mount Tibidabo, the highest point on the Collserola Ridge and Barcelona's natural green "lung". Its prime position means you'll enjoy exceptional views of the city throughout your visit.Tibidabo is Spain's oldest amusement park, the second oldest in Europe and one of the first ever built in the world. Since it opened in 1901, its rides and attractions have been renewed and extended along with its amenities, including cafés, panoramic restaurants, play areas and lively entertainments whichyou'll find among the attractions.Come up to the Tibidabo Amusement Park and enjoy its iconic attractions as well as its most recent additions. More than 25 rides and attractions for all ages: the Plane; the new roller coaster; the Plaça dels Somnis, or Plaza of Dreams; the gold mine; the Sky Walk; the Miramirall shall of mirrors; and, of course, the Giradabo, the large ferris wheel, 20 metres in diameter and 500m above the city, which is already part of the new Barcelona skyline.