Barcelona with kids is a magical experience in this northern Spanish city. Its vibrant nature, its architecture and the openness and kindness of its people, make it an idyllic and fun city to visit with your family and children. It’s a city where there is always something happening, it enjoys good weather and is beachfront. It shares all the amazing culinary experiences of the rest of Spain and has a great combination of big city and culture, art and walkability. So there are so many things to do in Barcelona with kids! Barcelona is a city that embraces you in its art, its architecture and its history.
The best months to visit Barcelona with kids are spring and fall. If you visit in summer, I recommend spending at least 1 week so that you don’t have to do too many things per day. I recommend 1 tourist attraction per day and then just walking around the shaded streets and parks or the beach in the afternoon.
Breakfast at:
The best, freshest and most affordable breakfasts in Barcelona with kids are at the little bakeries you find street-side which bake bread fresh every day and have amazing coffee, hot chocolate and freshly squeezed orange juice.
Our favorite 3 breakfast places in Barcelona are:
- El Fornet : Carrer de Rossello… and many other locations around town
- Boldú Gracia : Carrer Gran de Gracia
- Antico Café : Carrer Gran de Gracia
Top Things to do in Barcelona with Kids
There are so many sites to visit in Barcelona with kids. Here are the ones our family enjoyed the most:
Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar then walk along the beach boardwalk
Barça Stadium– Camp Nou
La Rambla (Go early in the morning or it gets too crowded)
Lunch at:
Santa Gula: Plaça de Narcís Oller
LA MOSTRA: Carrer de la Riera de Sant Miquel – Great lunch place with 3 course menu
Paco Meralgo: Carrer de Muntaner, Barcelona
Mercado La Boqueria: For early lunch or brunch before the crowds arrive
Hidden Gems in Barcelona with kids
Palacio de la Musica Catalana: This might might seem like a formal/ adult based venue, but it’s a great place to visit in Barcelona with kids. If you go for a show you get to experience the amazing building in all its splendor without paying the tour fee. Also, they have every day programming including concerts by the youth symphonica where kids can experience seeing peers perform classical music and master instruments immersing in the culture and arts.
There are also scheduled flamenco shows if you wish to attend one of those just check their website. We had early dinner at the Palacio’s café and then enjoyed the show.
Rooftop of Casa Fuster Hotel: Kid friendly, amazing sunsets, appetizers and awesome cocktails. Get there early for walk in tables and if you reserve, get the lounge section so kids can relax with iPad while you enjoy your sundowners.
Chilling Time
Sunset picnic at a park and let them burn their energy and have some delicious bread, snacks and hydration. Then head back home, give them a bath and put them down to sleep.
Dinner At:
Walk down the Beach and end with dinner at 7 Portes in Barceloneta
We had a lovely dinner with kids at Salt, the beach front bar of the W hotel, kids can play in the sand while you wrap up dinner
Best of The Rest
Mercado Boqueria around 10-11 am… after that it gets crowded!
Plaza de la Catedral to walk around and visit several sites from there.
Walking around Passeig de Gracia
Thank you to Maria Gabriela Aramburu for sharing her trip to Barcelona with kids. If you are interested in sharing your trip report, please reach out to us.
You might also be interested in: