Barcelona Tips & articles

Jul 22, 2009 6:24:17 AM

Barcelona with children

Note: Javascript is disabled in your browser.
To see the gallery in all its glory, you'll need to enable Javascript.

View gallery

Children with paper mache heads, annual Raval festivities.

• Guy Moberly
• Lonely Planet Photographer

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

View gallery

One of the great things about Barcelona is the local habit of including children in many seemingly adult activities. Going out to eat or sipping a beer at a terrazza (terrace) needn’t mean leaving children behind. Barcelonins take their kids out all the time and don’t worry too much about keeping them up late.

Street theatre

The spectacle of La Rambla fascinates kids as much as adults. By day and night, multitudes stream along this tree-lined pedestrian boulevard (flanked by two clogged traffic lanes), a stage for street performers (from flamenco dancers to fire-eaters and more human statues than you could knock over in one go), pickpockets, three-cups-and-a-ball tricksters and more. Fun for all the family!

Bird’s-eye Barcelona

Assuming your kids aren’t scared of heights, head to the top of the Monument a Colom for dazzling views of the harbour; or catch the Transbordador Aeri across the harbour from La Barceloneta to Montjuïc, another irresistible attraction.

Water world

The L’Aquàrium’s 80m-long shark tunnel, 11,000 fish and special children’s activities are a guaranteed hit with the nippers.

Kid-friendly culture

Of the city’s museums, the ones most likely to capture children’s imagination are the Museu Marìtim, with its old ships and cool audiovisual displays; the deliciously hands-on shrine to all things chocolatey, Museu de la Xocolata; the enjoyably creepy wax figures of the Museu de Cera (waxworks); and the interactive CosmoCaixa, a mecca for knob-twiddling kids of all ages.

All the fun of the fair

Head to Parc d’Atraccions on Tibidabo for an endearingly old-fashioned Ferris wheel ride. Too tame for your little hellraisers? Scare the willies out of ‘em (and yoursself) in the park’s Hotel Kruger horror house, complete with ghouls and ghosties leaping out at you from the darkness!

Make a splash

You will be rewarded with squeals of delight at one of the city’s pools, such as Club Natació Atlètic-Barcelona or any of the pleasant, sandy beaches stretching northeast from the Port Olímpic marina.

Parklife

In cooler weather parks can be a good choice. A roam around Montjuïc, including exploration of its atmospheric Castell, should appeal. The sheer weirdness of Gaudí’s Park Güell will have older children intrigued, while younger kids usually like the dragon at Parc d’Espanya Industrial.

Cruising

Take a harbour tour from Port Vell aboard a golondrina (literally, swallow). A sure-fire hit with kids and adults alike, these 90-minute tours of the harbour and along the beaches to the northeast of town give a totally different perspective on the city.

When bribery’s required…

You can always resort to ice cream and toys! Take the littlies to Cremeria Toscana in L’Eixample and El Born, or toy shop Joguines Foyè in the gothic quarter - good behaviour guaranteed.

More information

Still feeling a bit unsure about taking on the world with kids in tow? Worry no more! The latest edition of our popular Travel with Children guide will ease your worries and restore your wanderlust. For more Barcelona-specific tips, check out what travellers have to say on our Thorn Tree forum.

• 
• 
• Like this? Sign up to get our best articles by email