Parents want nothing more than seeing their children happy during a family holiday. Sometimes, however, it can be frightening when you are unsure of where to go and what do to in a new and unfamiliar city such as Barcelona. Here’s a list of what we like to do when we’re in Barcelona.
1. Visit Sagrada Familia
It is a masterpiece sitting in the heart of Spain’s capital city, Barcelona. Sagrada Familia is the largest unfinished Roman Catholic church in the world, with a jaw dropping interior design that is also a true work of architectural art. Despite being a religious site, tourists, kids included, are attracted by the beauty of this architectural wonder.
2. Enjoy the rides at Tibidabo Amusement Park
If most major world cities have Universal Studios or Disneyland, Barcelona has Tibidabo Amusement Park. Aside from being the oldest existing amusement park in Europe, this theme park is also a lovely place to have fun with your kids.They say tourists visit for the amazing rides such as roller coasters and carrousel, but stay for the spectacular panoramic views of the city that this place offers. So anyone, regardless of age, will enjoy every visit.
3. Learn about Picasso in Museu Picasso
What would a Barcelona trip be without a visit to Museu Picasso. This museum is unlike others, because it houses one of the most extensive collections of artworks by the 20th-century Spanish and world-renowned artist Pablo Picasso. The display showcases his art in a chronological manner, which makes the visit more interesting. You and your kids will love the tour, where you can see how the great painter Picasso developed from being a classically trained painter to the famous and influential painter that he was.
4. Taste Barcelona’s sweet side at Mannà Gelats

Sometimes, travelers are too focused on visiting places such as museums, temples, or any other historical sites that they miss enjoying the sweet treats that any city offers. So when visiting the Barcelona, please take your kids to Manña Gelats, a local ice cream parlor in the city that offers unique artisan flavors. There are quite a number of flavors to choose from, but the most famous are guava, chocolate cake with passion fruit, and pistachio. Some exotic flavors are also available for the kids to indulge in.
5. Feed the animals at Zoo de Barcelona
Well, parks and zoos will always have a special heart to the kids and the kids at heart. So if your children are pet-lovers, then visiting Zoo de Barcelona will be a great idea. The zoo is home to animals native to Spain, but the darlings of the crowd are the tigers, lions, giraffes, sea lions, giant hippos, and the prehistoric-looking rhinos. Aside from seeing the animals, a farmyard zoo, animal feeding, pony rides, picnic areas and playgrounds are among the kid-friendly activities and features that your family can enjoy.
6. Hunt Nemo in L’Aquàrium
If you can’t get enough of seeing animals face-to-face and you simply want more, then consider L’Aquàrium. This place is home to some 11,000 animals, which include sharks, manta rays, and schools of fish, so you’ll definitely not run out of things to see. It has one of the world’s most impressive collections of Mediterranean marine life and it offers kids plenty of activities. You can also let the kids find Nemo, but the main attraction however, is the Oceanari, a giant shark-infested tank that you can navigate around via a glass tunnel on a slow-moving conveyor belt.
7. Walk around La Rambla
Walking in Barcelona is definitely not a bad idea at all, and there is no better place to do that than La Rambla. This 0.93 mile (1.2-kilometer) long boulevard in the heart of Barcelona offers tourists a number of attractions such as the Wax Museum and other historic buildings. Kids will also love to stop and watch street performers dance and artists sell their paintings, while the parents visit souvenir stores.
8. Go check out Christopher Columbus
One of the highlights of any Barcelona visit is a tour to the famous Columbus Monument. The monument was built at the lower end of La Rambla in honor of the great explorer, Christopher Columbus.Aside from gaining entry to this significant landmark, during your visit, you can ascend to the Columbus Monument’s panoramic observation deck for 360-degree views of Barcelona.
9. Enroll to a Spanish Cooking Class
It might be impossible to eat all the Spanish dishes when visiting Barcelona, but you and your kids can opt to learn how to cook some of them. There are shops in Barcelona, along El Born and La Boqueria markets that offer travelers 3-5 hours of cooking classes. While you learn how to cook tapas and Paella, you’ll also learn about the origins of Spanish cuisine, which are so exquisitely delicious and colorful that you will want to take the recipe with you when you go home.
10. Have fun in Cosmo Caixa
If you’re looking for a place that will give your family that “wow” factor or if you are tired of the traditional museum tours, then Cosmo Caixa is the place for you. This place definitely has that “wow” factor, with activities and exhibitions to captivate the minds of many. The T-Rex skeleton exhibition is jaw-dropping, and the accompanying displays are also very fantastic.
This article is part of our popular series, Place To Go With Kids!