We love Barcelona it’s one of my favourite cities in Europe. We have been lucky enough to visit Barcelona twice now and it is a city that does not stop surprising you. It is always bustling with locals and tourists alike. Everywhere you look there is something amazing and unique. I read somewhere that the biggest mistake you can make when you visit Barcelona is not to look upwards and unfortunately I read this after we had already visited the first time. The second time I made sure I remembered this and I was stunned at what I had missed. From ground level all the way to the sky, there is always something to look at in Barcelona with kids. After booking our air ticket we set about finding things to do in Barcelona with kids. Is Barcelona the best place to go in Spain with kids?

Let’s begin with the kid’s attractions in Barcelona

 Bike tour

We went on a bike tour through the streets of Barcelona and it was a fantastic way to see Barcelona with kids. On a bike tour Barcelona, we were showed the Gothic and El Born quarters of the city. While biking in Barcelona our tour headed down to Barcelonetta to cruise along the wide bike and pedestrian paths that line the coast. Barcelona is extremely bike friendly with bike lanes on even the busiest of the streets that criss-cross the city. This is a great family friendly tour for kids in Barcelona. Another option is bike rental Barcelona and do it at your own pace.

A bike tour is great fun when visiting Barcelona with kids

Cable car

The Mont Juric cable car runs from Barceloneta to the Montjuic station. You can get on the cable car at either end. The trip across takes 8 minutes. The cable car dates back to 1929. The red and white cabins can accommodate 20 people and crosses the port at a height of between 70 and 90 metres. The cable car provides amazing views of the Mediterranean coastline and it is a great thing to do in Barcelona for kids!

Our kids loved the Barcelona cable car.

The Beach – Barcelona with Kids

The beaches at Barcelona were transformed for the 1992 Olympic games. Nowadays there are many sandy beaches that are great for swimming. The calm waters of the Mediterranean are perfect for kids and parents alike. You will usually find showers along the beach to wash off the salt water at the end of your day. There are so many families that make their way down to the beach on a warm day in Barcelona that your kids will find a friend or two!

Barcelona is the best place to go in Spain with kids

Hop on hop off bus

Barcelona is a large city with many sites spread out all around the city. To use public transport to reach all the sites from the beach to Mount Juric from Park Güell to the famous La Rambla market requires lots of planning. Take the worry out of that especially if you have kids in tow. Jump on the hop on hop off bus and see the sites while stopping and visiting the ones that suit you. It is such an easy way for your family to see Barcelona easily.

Cafe at EL Court Englis

On the top floor of the EL Court Engles shop located on Plaza Espanya is a cafeteria. The cafeteria serves all sorts of yummy cakes and foods for lunch or just a snack. The real bonus of the Cafeteria is the all-encompassing view of Barcelona and if you don’t buy food the view is free! (But I dare you to walk past the food stalls in the cafeteria and not buy something!) Having windows all round means you get a view of the Catalan capital. Window seats may be at a premium so if you spot one get it while you can! Just keep an eye out for people leaving. We loved sitting down and having a little snack while taking in the views. There is no better place than the beach when visiting Barcelona with kids.

Cruise on Barcelona Harbour

We went for a short 1.5-hour cruise on Barcelona Harbour with Las Golondrinas. The cruise showed you around the harbour from places where cruise ships dock to where container ships unload. We made our way out of the harbour briefly into the calm waters of the Mediterranean sea. Both the girls loved the boat, we enjoyed the sun, the calm waters and cold drink onboard. This was one of our kids Barcelona favourite activities,

A short cruise is a great activity on a Barcelona family holiday

Barcelona Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum is located just off the bottom of La Rambla near the Marina. The museum has plenty of displays from toy boats through the ages to a full sized Gallion which absolutely amazed us all. Displays include a wooden submarine through to model cruise liners that sailed the Atlantic out of Barcelona. There are also video presentations that are displayed on the sides of the shipping containers that are located in one section of the display. They are spoken in Spanish but there are English subtitles.

The size of this boat at Museu Marítim de Barcelona was amazing

Gaudi Park

The girls loved all the different colours of Gaudi Park. They loved the red cliffs that all had a gorgeous purple bougainvillaea growing up the top. All of the mosaics that seemed to be everywhere and all the little houses. They loved walking and looking down over the park. We accessed Park Guell via the Hop on hop off bus tour with kids in Barcelona.

Park Guell is on everyone list of must see attractions in Barcelona

La Barquera Market

Now, this can be a kids dream and a parent’s worst nightmare. The lolly stalls in here are some of the most colourful you will ever see and they have everything a kid could ever want! (And just quietly a sugar lover too!) If lollies are not your thing then you can’t go past a juice or the fruit stands. They are just as magnificent and as colourful as the lolly stands. If you need it you will find it there. It is a market aimed at tourists so you must be very careful of pickpockets while you are there but it is worth a look. If you are staying for a little while in Barcelona with a family try and find a local market right near you. You will find it much cheaper and just as beautiful.

The market is one of the best places to visit in Barcelona

Barcelona Aquarium

Barcelona Aquarium is located at Port Vell / Maremágnum area of the city by the Harbour. You will be able to see the Barcelona Cable Car travelling above you. The Aquarium Barcelona consists of 35 tanks, 11,000 animals and 450 different species. An amazing at the aquarium in Barcelona features is an underwater tunnel that stretches 80 metres long and holds six million litres of water. It is certainly a one of kind feature as you move slowly around the tank on a travelator allowing you to take in all the species on display.

Barrio Gótico Dragon Tour for Families

Go on a fun appealing adventure and discovery tour of Barcelona with your children. Mind you this is fun for the whole family. Search for hidden dragons and learn about their significance to Barcelona with a map and clues. The tour begins in the Born district and you will be asked to find the answers to questions like why half a house stands nearby or so many geese live by an abbey, as you play the game. The guides are very knowledgeable and multi-lingual. Take a walk through culture, history and heritage of the ‘old town’ Barcelona with kids in a fun way!

We hope this article provides you with some great inspiration for things to do in Barcelona with kids. We are sure you will enjoy your time in this amazing city.

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