Barcelona with Kids
Places that work with children
The zoo, the beaches, Tibidabo and CosmoCaixa give children plenty of room, and the cable cars double as rides. Opening days vary, so check each page.
27 places
All year When
The places
Museum · Montjuïc CaixaForum Barcelona An art and cultural centre in a former textile factory by Puig i Cadafalch at the foot of Montjuïc. Its programme includes exhibitions, concerts and family activities.
Landmark · Montjuïc Castell de Montjuïc A fortress on top of Montjuïc hill, with ramparts, a moat and views over the port. The city runs it as a public space with exhibitions.
Museum · Sarrià-Sant Gervasi CosmoCaixa A hands-on science museum with a flooded Amazon forest and a planetarium. Children and adults both use the interactive halls.
Landmark · Montjuïc Font Màgica de Montjuïc A fountain below the Palau Nacional that runs light, music and water shows on set evenings. You watch from the steps and the avenue of Plaça de Carles Buïgas.
Museum · Poblenou Museu Blau The natural science museum of Barcelona in the Fòrum, with collections from minerals to zoology. It is housed in a triangular building by Herzog and de Meuron.
Museum · El Born Museu de la Xocolata A museum of chocolate near the Born, showing its history and with chocolate sculptures, in a former convent.
Museum · El Raval Museu Marítim de Barcelona A maritime museum in the medieval Drassanes shipyards. A full-size replica of a Renaissance galley fills the main hall.
Museum · Montjuïc Museu Olímpic i de l'Esport A sports museum on Montjuïc next to the Olympic stadium, with interactive exhibits and Olympic memorabilia.
Shopping · Barri Gòtic Papabubble A small candy workshop in the Gothic Quarter where the sweets are made in front of customers.
Park · Poblenou Parc Central de Poblenou A park by Jean Nouvel with gardens, a water garden and a cylinder of vertical planting.
Park · Sarrià-Sant Gervasi Parc d'Atraccions Tibidabo One of the oldest amusement parks in Europe, on the Tibidabo peak. Rides sit alongside views over the whole city.
Park · Poblenou Parc de Diagonal Mar A large modern park by the sea near the Fòrum, designed by Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue.
Park · Eixample Esquerra Parc de Joan Miró A park built on the site of a former slaughterhouse, with a tall mosaic sculpture by Joan Miró called Dona i Ocell.
Park · Sants Parc de l'Espanya Industrial A park near Sants station, built on a former textile factory, with a lake and a row of watchtower-like sculptures.
Park · El Born Parc de la Ciutadella The city's central park, laid out on the site of a military citadel. It holds the Catalan parliament, the zoo, a lake with rowing boats and a monumental fountain.
Park · Horta-Guinardó Parc de la Creueta del Coll A park in a former quarry with a large pool, a waterfall and a suspended concrete sculpture by Eduardo Chillida.
Park · Horta-Guinardó Parc del Laberint d'Horta The oldest garden in the city, with a hedge maze, neoclassical pavilions and ponds. Entry is ticketed.
Park · Gràcia Park Güell Gaudí's hillside garden city project, now a municipal park. The ticketed monumental zone holds the terrace, the mosaic bench and the gatehouses.
Beach · Barceloneta Platja de la Barceloneta The city's most central beach, a long strip of sand along Barceloneta with beach bars and the seafront promenade.
Beach · Poblenou Platja de la Nova Icària A family-friendly beach in the Olympic Village area, near restaurants and the Port Olímpic.
Beach · Poblenou Platja de la Nova Mar Bella A wide beach at the northern end of the city, with a sheltered area for swimmers and a sailing school.
Beach · Barceloneta Platja de Sant Sebastià The western end of the Barceloneta beaches, near the Torre de Sant Sebastià cable car station and the Hotel Vela.
Beach · Poblenou Platja del Bogatell A wide beach in Poblenou that is popular with runners and beach volleyball players.
Landmark · Montjuïc Poble Espanyol An open-air architectural museum built for the 1929 Exposition with copies of buildings from across Spain. Craft workshops, shops and restaurants fill the streets.
Landmark · Montjuïc Telefèric de Montjuïc A cable car that climbs Montjuïc hill from the lower station near Avinguda de Miramar to the castle. Views stretch over the port.
Landmark · Barceloneta Transbordador Aeri del Port A cable car crossing the harbour between Barceloneta and Montjuïc, with views of the port.
Park · El Born Zoo de Barcelona A zoo in the Parc de la Ciutadella with animals from Mediterranean to tropical regions and a large primates area.
