5 Memorable Things to Do in Barcelona With Kids

It’s a city known for it’s bizarre Gaudi architecture, winding medieval streets, epic Gothic churches, wild topless beaches and decadent serrano ham. Barcelona is a thriving tourist hub in Southern Spain that has much to offer the European bound traveler. Our own Julia Dimon, family travel expert and mama of two, took her family to Barcelona to explore the city through the eyes of a child. Julia shares some of the best things to do in Barcelona with kids.

While I have done quite a bit of traveling through other parts of Spain (from Madrid to San Sebastian) somehow the vibrant city of Barcelona had escaped me.  So when I stumbled upon an amazing flight deal to Spain and couldn’t resist. I booked tickets for all of us – my husband and two kids (ages 1 and 3 years old).  Barcelona, of all places, is a particularly family-friendly city. The locals infamously love children and, in my experience, are wildly friendly to foreigners who have them (one waiter in particular at a Greek restaurant literally spoon fed my son for the entire meal). There are a ton of playgrounds across the city, with many child-friendly tourist attractions. Parents here have cleverly created play spaces in the middle of restaurant lined squares, so mom can have a sangria while watching junior play.  Here are some of the best things to do in Barcelona with kids.

Playground Sagrada Família

A visit to Gaudí’s iconic Roman Church is #1 on most travelers’ hit lists. After you’ve walked the circumference of this awe-inspiring basilica, marveled at the schizophrenic architecture and breadth of the on-going construction, check out the playground across the street from the Sagrada Família. Nestled in the Park Plaça de la Sagrada Família, this playground gives the kiddos a chance to run around, rope climb, slide and bounce out their energy. As the kiddos frolick around on the jungle gym, parents can have lunch and take in the spectacular Sagrada Família backdrop. If you decide to go into the Sagrada, be sure to book your tickets online in advance from their official website. This will save you hours of waiting in line. Children under 10 are free and audio guides are available to children 12 years old and older.

Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour

Hop on hop off sightseeing bus tours are my guilty pleasure. Yes, they are super touristy (the snobby seasoned traveler in me doesn’t want to be that cliché tourist pointing and snapping photos) but the truth is … I love them. A sightseeing bus tour is a great way to get a quick sense of the city, orient yourself, see the major monuments and hop out anytime to explore. Kids will enjoy the adventure of riding an open-air double decker bus, feeling the wind in their hair (don’t forget to bring a sweater because it tends to get chilly if you’re sitting outside), taking in the sights and sounds of the city. There are two companies, Barcelona Bus Turístic and Barcelona City Tour that offer similar routes and pricing for their sightseeing tours. Some of the tour highlights included the Gothic Quarter, the seafront, Agbar Tower, the Sagrada Familia, Plaça Catalunya and Las Ramblas. Children under 3 are free, but keep in mind that there are no seat belts so it’s important to be extra vigilant and hold on tight.

Park Ciutadella

Steps away from the Arc de Triomf and the Zoo, you’ll find Park Ciutadella. The Central Park of Barcelona, it’s largest and oldest green space in the heart of the city, dating al the way back to the late 1800s. Here kids can run around the manicured grounds, feed ducks in the lake, rent rowboats and watch wild green parrots called Monk Parakeets fly from palm trees. The big draw is the ornate and impressive Cascada waterfall and fountain, created between 1875 and 1881 by Josep Fontserè with the help of a young Gaudí. Kids will love to chase after and pop the ginormous bubbles made by local street performers directly in front of the fountain. There are also several fantastic playgrounds for younger children, including the Ludoteca, an interactive outdoor playspace for families with children ages 0-5. Open daily throughout the year, Ludoteca also has free environmentally themed workshops for kids. My kiddos loved the outdoor play space. I loved the fact that it was completely enclosed (so they can’t escape) and that I could meet local Spanish mamas for a parental themed cultural encounter.

Barceloneta Beach

Weather permitting, a day trip to the lively Barceloneta Beach with the kids can’t be beat. The waves are gentle, the water warm, the sand is perfect for buildings castles and there are ‘chiringuitos’ (beach bars) for the parents. Be sure to pack the beach basics — towels, snacks, sunscreen, hats and bathing suits. If you forget a beach blanket, fear not. There are supermarkets nearby and sarong salesmen who patrol the beach and hawk their wares. This part of the beach seemed to draw mostly young foreign travelers in their early twenties, but in no way did we feel out of place. Some beach goers played volleyball, others tanned topless, while we jumped over waves and dug holes in the sand.

Park Güell

Young kids will love the multicolored mosaic lizard water fountain, the Hansel-and-Gretel fairy tale gatehouses, the imaginary forest of 88 stone columns (perfect for running around and screaming at the top of your lungs), and the sweeping views overlooking all of Barcelona. Park Güell is truly a magical spot. The park is extremely popular and access is limited to a certain number of people every half-hour, so be sure to book ahead online to reserve a time. For early risers, if you arrive before 8 a.m., you can access the park for free. This is the perfect time to capture that beautiful morning light and avoid a mob of tourists photo-bombing your shot. I’ve always found that getting great family photos can be tricky if you DIY. Tired of awkward selfies, I hired a professional photographer from the online service Flytographer, which pairs local photographers with travelers looking to capture special moments of their trip. Cathy, an Irish mom of three kids who has been living in Barcelona for the past decade, met our family and guided us through Park Güell, capturing candid shots of the kids as they explored the iconic architecture. We loved coming home with some beautiful photos to remind us of our time in Barcelona.

HELPFUL TIPS FOR IF YOU GO TO BARCELONA WITH KIDS:

Get Lounge Access: Getting to Barcelona from our hometown of Denver required a 7-hour stop in JFK. Some would say that killing 7 hours in an airport with two tired toddlers in an exercise in insanity. One thing that made the process better was getting access to the business lounge. I’m a member of Priority Pass, which allows access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide regardless of the airline you fly. Guests under 3 are free, so the kiddos and I were able to recharge and refuel (aka eat a ton of chocolate chip cookies) before our international flight. If you’ve got a long layover and tend to travel frequently, the Priority Pass is a great value (membership plans start as low as $99 a year) and brought our family a much needed dose of luxury to our normally painful layover experience.

Stay Connected: To avoid roaming charges and dead zones without service, I decided to rent my own Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot from Telecom Square. A girlfriend recommended it to me as an alternative to unlimited data plans and foreign SIM cards. This tiny device helped me stay constantly connected to the internet, so I could always check my email, update my social media, use my maps to navigate the city and stay in touch with people at home – all on the go. With plans starting at a flat rate of $6.99 a day, it’s a no brainer, especially when traveling to more remote areas and even on cruise ships (since internet can be so pricey at sea).

Travel Light: Don’t schlep a bunch of baby gear with you … just rent it at your location. In an effort to travel lighter, I rented a double stroller, toys and a crib from Backpack Baby. This Spain-based company delivers highchairs, cribs, pack-n-plays and more to your hotel or vacation rental. An English-speaking member of their team comes to set up and pick the gear up again after your stay. Such a convenience.

Stay Safe: When it came to taking taxis around Barcelona, I brought a mifold Grab-and-Go booster seat, a super light-weight foldable booster that’s small enough to fit in your purse. When walking around, we quickly learned that the traffic signs in Barcelona mean business. A flashing green man or hint of yellow was NOT the time to attempt to cross the street. The traffic lights change quickly, the cars waiting at the stop lights are unforgiving so it’s best to wait for the next light instead of taking your life in your hands. Don’t count on pedestrians having the right of way.

 

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