The great thing about visiting Barcelona with a family, is there are many family attractions to visit. Also Barcelona is blessed with fantastic beaches, a great option for familes that visit Barcelona in the summer months.
Barcelona, compared to other Spanish cities, actually offers plenty of attractions for families with children of all ages. Kids will love family attractions such as Barcelona Zoo, Aquarium, Museum of Illusions, Tibidaboo Amusement Park and many more. In this blog, I will quickly explain some of the best family attractions to visit in Barcelona to visit. Don’t forget there are many shopping centres with great leisure facilities, gorgeous beaches and much more to visit in Barcelona.
Barcelona Zoo
Love animals? Then make sure you visit Barcelona Zoo, located in the Parc de la Ciutadella in the heart of the city. The zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals of 300 different species, from lions and elephants to penguins and flamingos. You can find out about the only albino gorilla in the world, Snowflake, who died in 2003 but is still remembered by the zoo staff and visitors. The zoo also offers educational activities, shows, and workshops for children, as well as a playground, a picnic area, and a train ride. Visit website
Barcelona Aquarium
Anyone fascinated by the underwater world, will love Barcelona Aquarium, located in Port Vell, a harbor in Barcelona. The aquarium is the largest in Europe and has 35 tanks that display more than 11,000 animals of 450 species. The highlight of the aquarium is the Oceanarium, a huge tank that contains sharks, rays, sunfish, and other marine creatures. You can walk through a transparent tunnel that runs through the Oceanarium and feel like you are diving with the fish. The aquarium also has interactive exhibits, a tropical rainforest, a penguin enclosure, and a children’s area. Visit website
Tibidabo
Both a thrilling and scenic experience,Tibidabo is on a hill overlooking Barcelona. It hosts an amusement park and a remarkable church. Tibidabo is the tallest hill in the Serra de Collserola and offers stunning views over the city and the sea. You can reach Tibidabo by road or by public transport, using a combination of metro, bus, tram, and funicular. The amusement park has more than 30 attractions for all ages, from roller coasters and carousels to a haunted house and a Ferris wheel. You can also visit the Sagrat Cor church, a beautiful neo-Gothic building that has a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on top. Visit website
Chocolate Museum
The Chocolate Museum is a museum dedicated to the history and culture of chocolate in Barcelona and worldwide. The museum is located in a former convent and displays a collection of chocolate sculptures, tools, machines, and packaging. You can learn about the origins, production, and consumption of chocolate, as well as its artistic, medicinal, and symbolic value. The museum also offers workshops, tastings, and activities for children, as well as a café and a shop where you can buy chocolate products. Visit website
CosmoCaixa
If you are curious about science don’t miss the CosmoCaixa, a science museum that offers interactive and immersive exhibits that explore various topics, such as astronomy, geology, biology, physics, and mathematics. The museum is located in a modernist building that was once a factory and has a spiral ramp that takes you to the different floors. The museum has a planetarium, a tropical rainforest, a touch and experiment area, a 3D cinema, and a temporary exhibition hall. You can also see a Foucault pendulum, a giant sequoia tree, and a replica of a T-rex skeleton. The museum is fun and educational for children and adults alike. Visit website
Museum of Illusions
The Museum of Illusions is a museum that offers optical illusions, tricks, and puzzles that challenge your perception and creativity. The museum is located in the city center and has more than 70 exhibits that play with your senses, such as holograms, mirrors, kaleidoscopes, and gravity rooms. You can also take amazing photos and videos that will make your friends and family wonder how you did it. The museum is suitable for all ages and is a great place to have a good laugh and learn something new. Visit website
Escape Rooms
Need a challenge and a team-building activity? Then you will love some of Barcelona’s escape rooms, immersive and interactive games where you have to solve puzzles, crack codes, and find clues to escape from a locked room in a limited time. Escape rooms are very popular in Barcelona and you can find many themes and levels of difficulty, such as mystery, horror, adventure, or fantasy. Escape rooms are ideal for families, friends, couples, or coworkers who want to have fun and test their skills and logic. You can find escape rooms all over the city, but some of the best ones are Bajo Segunda. Visit web
Family Attractions Near Barcelona
If the above family attractions in Barcelona are still not enough, you can explore more outside the city. Under an hour by train is one of Europe’s largest theme parks, Portaventura. Also under an hour by car, you can visit some great water parks such as Water World Lloret and Aqualeon. Furthermore, there are some good go-kart tracks dotted around the coast areas. If you would like to explore further some of the best family attractions to visit, refer to our family attractions section on this website.
