9 Best Family Things to Do in Barcelona

One of the oldest theme parks in Europe is a little bit out of town, up in the mountains to the northwest of the city centre. It’s worth the trip, though. Not only do you get a fantastic view across Barcelona from 500 metres above sea level (even higher if you ride the big wheel), but there are plenty of fun rides, including a rollercoaster which dodges around the nearby landscape. The rides are perhaps a little tame by modern standards, making them better suited to younger children. The park also has a good choice of restaurants.

Just down the hill from Tibidabo Amusement Park, CosmoCaixa is among the biggest science museums in Europe and covers quite a surprising range of topics. This means that it’s just as fun for kids who are into astronomy as those with an interest in zoology and geology. While most of the exhibitions are very much ‘hands-on’, Touch, touch! is obviously the most interactive. Under staff supervision, young ones can learn about which plants and animals around the Mediterranean are safe to interact with and which aren’t. Best of all, kids get in free.

Hey kids, we’re going to a museum…a Museum of Chocolate! Cue squeals of delight. Modest in size but high in sugar content, even your admission ticket for this historical building near Cuitadella Park is made of chocolate. The bittersweet cocoa bean has a long and interesting history in Barcelona and this museum tells some of that story, as well as showcasing chocolate art and even providing hands-on workshops in making and handling chocolate. Download the audio guide app before your visit for a more insightful time.

Aside from just being a nice place to escape from the city streets for a bit of peace and quiet, Ciutadella Park is packed with interesting things to see and do. Kids may not be that interested in looking around the historical Catalan parliament building or the Castle of the Three Dragons, but may enjoy visiting the Natural History Museum. There’s also a boating lake, impressive fountains and pleasant path through the trees. Look out for the many play areas and the life-size model of a woolly mammoth.

While Barcelona is surrounded by several outdoor adventure parks, most are a considerable drive out of the city. Bosc Urbà isn’t – it’s right at the end of Avinguda Diagonal. Fully roofed, so unaffected by rain, the park has three routes with progressively more challenging obstacles. The hardest route, for those 12 and older, has 20 attractions including a punching bag, a zip line and a bungee jump. Even the safest and simplest route comes with a high-grade harness and safety equipment.

Adventure parks are nothing particularly new, but Bubbleparc is quite impressive in just how adventurous it is. Among the star attractions is the 12-metre-tall “bungydome” – effectively a trampoline where you can jump in every direction. There are also bubblepods (zorb balls floating on a pool of water) and, for the really little ones, acuaboats (a waterborne version of bumper cars). The park is on the roof of the Maremagnum shopping centre and is free to enter, but you need to buy tickets for each attraction.

Optical illusion art galleries are springing up all around the world, and it’s hardly surprising – they’re a lot of fun! Cleverly created paintings and carefully angled photos can make it look like you’re on the bow of the Titanic, fleeing a zombie horde, or stealing precious artworks. All of these images are available at the Museum of Illusions, just off La Rambla. Be sure to bring your camera and a lively imagination!

Down at the port end of La Rambla, the Maritime Museum provides a fascinating look at shipbuilding and sailing around the historical port city. A bit of a dry subject for kids, you might think, but the presentation is what makes it a great place to visit with the family. Built in the old shipyards, the museum contains full-size replicas of historical warships and there’s a 3-mast schooner on the water nearby which you can see. You’ll also find quite an extensive selection of scale model ships and nautical instruments. It’s perhaps not the most hands-on of museums, making it better suited to older kids, but there are some multimedia displays to make the learning a little more fun.

The scenic 10-minute cable car ride carries you from near Playa de San Sebastián up to the top of Montjuïc Hill. Along the way, it passes right over the busy seaport and gives great views along the coast and over the city. The cable car was actually first opened in 1929 and the red-and-white cars have a distinctly vintage look. Despite their age, the ride is still perfectly safe and quite fun, though it does close if the weather is too windy.