Full of fascinating museums, colorful parks and more, there’s plenty of activites for kids in Barcelona. Whether you’re just stopping through on a journey around Spain or plan to set up a home base here, the Catalan capital is sure to delight and amaze even the littlest travelers.
Read along for our favorite activities for kids in Barcelona so that the whole family can enjoy their trip.
The best activities for kids in Barcelona
Explore Barcelona’s kid-friendly museums
There are dozens of unique museums in the Catalan capital, but a few stand out as being among the best activities for kids in Barcelona. Enjoy several hours of delicious fun at Barcelona’s fascinating Chocolate Museum (Carrer del Comerç, 36), where you’ll learn all about the history of chocolate making in Europe. Kids will especially love the intricate chocolate sculptures—and the chance to eat some chocolate, too, of course!
Another diverse, engaging museum that kids will never want to leave is CosmoCaixa (Carrer d’Isaac Newton, 26). This interactive science museum will teach kids about the world around us in a fascinating way through its permanent and temporary exhibitions and activities. From dinosaurs to outer space to animals and more, it’s the perfect way to spend some time learning something new.
Although it’s not technically a museum, the local aquarium (Moll d’Espanya del Port Vell, s/n) also deserves a shout out as one of the best activities for kids in Barcelona. Home to more than 11,000 marine animals, this fun and engaging aquarium will make you and your family feel as if you’ve taken a journey under the sea.
Spend an afternoon at Parc de la Ciutadella
There’s so much to see and do at Parc de la Ciutadella (Passeig de Picasso, 21)! Barcelona’s most famous and beautiful green space will captivate adults with its fascinating history (it was once a military citadel and political prison!), but today it’s a calm, peaceful oasis in the middle of the city with plenty to do for kids.
Kids will have a blast saying hola to thousands of different animals from all over the world at Barcelona’s zoo, located inside the park. When you’re done walking around the zoo, relax as a family with a calm boat trip on the park’s small but beautiful lake. To truly make a day of it, pick up some picnic supplies from the market to enjoy a casual family lunch in the park.
Towering above the city on the mountain of the same name, Tibidabo amusement park (Plaza del Tibidabo, 3-4) is easily one of our favorite activities for kids in Barcelona. As one of Europe’s oldest amusement parks, its old-world charm and vintage style rides are sure to delight even adults. Take a ride on the iconic ferris wheel and enjoy unbeatable views of Barcelona.
Insider’s Tip: There’s plenty to do at Tibidabo that you could easily spend a whole day there. Be sure to stick around in the evening to catch a truly magical sunset over Barcelona!
Sometimes when you’re on vacation, all you want is to spend a day lying on the sand and splashing in the waves. (After all, isn’t that part of what vacation is all about?) Take some time during your family trip to visit one of Barcelona’s many beaches. The most famous, Barceloneta, is located right along the coast of the neighborhood of the same name. This popular beach can get quite crowded, but its easily accessible location (as well as the abundance of fabulous places to eat nearby) make it worthy of consideration.
Want to escape the crowds? There are plenty of other beautiful beaches along Catalonia’s Costa Brava. The rocky, rugged landscape along the water hides dozens of tiny calas, or hidden beaches, that most tourists will never stumble upon. Make a family day trip of it!
Take a food tour
Barcelona offers plenty of Spanish dishes that kids will love. Think: patatas bravas, chocolate and churros, sandwiches, croquettas, ham… the list goes on. Kids will love the food here, so why not bring the whole family on a food tour?
This is a great way for the family to enjoy time together in the city, learn history and try lots of delicious local bites. Join us on one of our award-winning food tours in Barcelona.
Update Notice: This post was updated on March 19, 2024.
