Kids and Family in Barcelona

If you’re moving to Barcelona with children in tow, kids and family in Barcelona offer a fantastic experience. The mild climate and dense urban centre make it a fun and accessible city to discover as a family.

Children in Barcelona are welcomed and loved. The Catalan capital’s location on the beautiful Mediterranean and its proximity to the Pyrenees Mountains make it an ideal spot for families to take a break from city life and venture into nature.

Families from around the world call the city home. As a result, you’ll have access to many expat organisations, shops stocked with goodies from back home, and a variety of educational options.

International Schools in Barcelona

Entertainment and activities for kids in Barcelona

There are plenty of entertainment and activities for kids in Barcelona, with the city regularly organising festivals and events that feature free children’s activities. There are many fascinating museums, beautiful parks and exciting activities for children in Barcelona. 

Art and theatre for kids in Barcelona come with a full cultural agenda. Music halls, theatre companies and museums all provide cultural programmes for families and children. Some of the activities, such as concerts, shows and tours, can be done as a family. There are also various programmes for children only, which means you can stroll the museum on your own.

Below are some favourites.

Tibidabo

Tibidabo is a unique, old-fashioned amusement park with just the right mix of modern rides to keep older children happy. The newly refurbished Cuca de Llum funicular takes visitors from Plaça Doctor Andreu to the top of the hill.

Teleferic Trams

Kids will love taking a ride on the high-wire cable car tram stretching from the port of Barceloneta to the Montjuic Hill, while offering beautiful views of the city and sea. There are great sights at both ends. Barceloneta boasts the Maritime Museum and a medieval shipbuilding yard, while Montjuic has beautiful gardens, parks and museums to discover. There’s also another aerial tram on Montjuic that takes visitors up to Montjuic Castle.

CosmoCaixa

An interactive science museum that is as beautiful as it is fascinating; children and adults of all ages will be delighted with what it has to offer. A highlight is the Flooded Forest, where visitors stroll through an Amazonian rainforest that is occupied by birds, turtles, snakes, crocodiles and piranhas. These animals live in a large enclosure that replicates their natural environment in the wild.

The planetariums show 3D movies about science and teach children about the stars. Families can register for workshops, where visitors can see real animals and insects from different places. The museum offers stunning views of the city from its elevated location.

CaixaForum

You’ll love the world-class exhibitions at this art museum, which is housed in an old textile factory. Children will love the interesting monthly concerts, theatre and film programmes. The museum charges a small admission, which represents excellent value for the quality of exhibitions and programming. If you have a Barcelona library card, you usually receive a discount.

Food and eating out with kids in Barcelona

Food and eating out with kids in Barcelona centres around Catalan cuisine, which is flavourful and simple while showcasing the bounty of the Mediterranean. Sometimes you might miss a good old burger and fries. These can be found in chain restaurants throughout the city.

Sometimes it takes a little investigation, but you can usually find hard-to-find food and ingredients from back home in speciality shops and online. El Corte Inglés in Plaza Catalunya stocks a good variety of ingredients for international cuisine. American and British goods can be found at various speciality import shops throughout the city, and you can find Asian ingredients at Dong Fang (also known as Extremo Oriente), a well-stocked international supermarket near Plaza Catalunya.

Meeting other expat parents in Barcelona

Meeting other expat parents in Barcelona shouldn’t pose any trouble. Even if you plan to get to know the locals, you’ll need an outlet where you can speak your own language and ask questions of others who understand your experiences.

The Barcelona Women’s Network, for instance, is a vibrant international community of women from dozens of countries which offers a wide range of activities and a source of support for foreign women in Barcelona. There’s a range of these kinds of organisations, and you can easily find them online.

Check Lifestyle, Attractions and Meeting People in Barcelona for more.