The Best and Worst of Barcelona with Kids
Barcelona may be the friendliest city I have ever visited. There are many attractions for the whole family to enjoy in the Catalan capital from the green Parc de la Ciutadella and the famous La Rambla pedestrian-only street to a chocolate museum. Would I recommend a visit? Definitely! Would I go again? Probably not. Find out why in my surprising take on the best and worst of Barcelona with kids.
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Barcelona Basics
This widespread city is the capital of the Catalonia region of Spain. Catalan is one of its official languages, which sounds to me like a mixture of French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
I always like to make an effort to speak at least a few words of the native language wherever I visit. Since everyone speaks Spanish as well, though, I didn’t bother tackling Catalan and instead got by with un poquito d’Español.
La Rambla
Barcelona’s most famous street is La Rambla. It is filled with vendors and street entertainers as well as a live bird fair.
My favorite part is La Boqueria, a vibrant food market. You can pull up a stool at one of the grills or grab a cornucopia of fruits, veggies, nuts, bread, meats, and cheeses. Then find a picnic area at Parc de la Ciutadella for an affordable lunch.
I love a good open-air market, and this is one of the best I have ever visited. With the burst of colors, scents, flavors, and upbeat energy — it’s overwhelming in its beauty.
To me, this is THE best part of Barcelona. Beware, however, of pickpockets that target tourists in this area.
Chocolate Museum
Any family trip to Barcelona with children should include a stop at the Museu de la Xocolata. Visitors can learn at this chocolate museum how chocolate came to be eaten and how it is made. Afterward, you can (and should!) purchase a chocolate treat or two at the onsite café.
The most fun, though, is browsing through various sculptures made of chocolate in forms. We saw a chocolate bullfighting scene, Mickey Mouse made of chocolate, and our daughter’s favorite, Finding Nemo.
Parc de la Ciutadella
Although the architectural styles in Barcelona is beautiful, the city center felt a bit stifling to me due to its lack of greenery. To get your nature fix, take the kiddos to Parc de la Ciutadella. Rent a rowboat and take a spin around a tiny green lake. Be warned that there were no life jackets available when we visited, which made me a wee nervous while paddling about with a wriggling toddler.
After our boat tour, Karissa swung on the swings and dug in the sand at a crowded playground. Visiting a park is one of my favorite things to do when traveling with kids. Parks offer free entry and it’s nice to take a city break. Young children make friends easily no matter the language barrier and it’s the best way to get a glimpse into the everyday lives of local families.
Barcelona Beaches
If visiting during summer months, then you’ll want to hit one of Barcelona’s beaches. You could easily spend a whole day or more splashing and playing with older kids and younger kids alike along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
Bring along some water shoes or pop into one of the shops to get an inflatable ring. The pebble beaches may be uncomfy for tootsies.
My daughter liked digging with her bucket and shovel best. I liked soaking up some Mediterranean sunshine. And my husband? Well, as an American dude, he was thrilled to get his first peek at a few topless sunbathers. (Sheesh…men!)
Picasso Museum
My husband and I took turns trying to keep our toddler from destroying precious works of art at the impressive Museu Picasso. The famous painter Pablo Picasso grew up in Barcelona and this museum contains the most extensive collection of his early works. This isn’t necessarily the most kid-friendly destination but it is definitely worth a visit, especially if you’re a big fan of Picasso’s artwork.
La Sagrada Familia Basilica
Construction of one of Barcelona’s most popular tourist attractions, La Sagrada Familia Basilica began in 1882 and is still underway today. This unique church was designed by Antoni Gaudi, one of Barcelona’s most famous residents. The basilica should reach completion by 2026. Get more out of your visit by purchasing La Sagrada Familia tickets in advance with audio guide.
Promise the kids you’ll stop for ice cream at the park across the street in exchange for good behavior at this one-of-a-kind architectural feat.
Park Güell
Gaudi designed Park Guell as a high-end residential area for the Barcelona elite. Today it’s a tourist attraction filled with lovely paths, some breathtaking architecture showcasing Gaudi’s work, and great views of the city.
Although incredibly pretty, there isn’t a whole lot to “do” at Park Guell besides walk around. And, it’s a bit of a trek to get there. If you’re on a tight schedule without enough time, then this one can be skipped, especially if visiting Barcelona with younger children.
Family-Friendly Tours
From skip-the-line tickets and guided walking tours to boat trips and day trips from Barcelona, GetYourGuide has got you covered. Take a look at our trusted partner’s most popular Barcelona tours for families.
Dining in Barcelona with Kids
I have friends who have traveled to Barcelona (without children) and rave about the array of tapas bars. The Travel Channel’s Anthony Bourdain has called Spanish cuisine, “the best food in the western world” and here’s a video of Samantha Brown enamored with a garlic-slathered piece of fish along Barcelona’s harbor. (I think my family ate at this very restaurant!)
Our experience, however, was quite different from theirs. Our toddler hated all Spanish food. She refused to eat anything in Barcelona. This includes items she loves at home like pasta with red sauce, a fried egg served with French fries, and bread with a mild cheese from La Boqueria. In Barcelona, she lived off of fruit, ice cream, and chicken nuggets purchased on a daily trek to McDonald’s in an attempt to get some protein into her belly.
I have to admit, I wasn’t a big fan of the food in Barcelona either. Many of the tapas we tried were too dang greasy for my liking since many came deep-fried. The paella was decent but filled with too many odd creatures from both land and sea for my comfort. In fact, my favorite meal in Barcelona actually took place at an Italian restaurant.
Now, the Crema Catalana was a different story. It was like a cross between flan and crème brulée. Muy delicioso!
Keep in mind that people in Barcelona typically eat dinner quite late in the day. Restaurants may be closed during what most Americans consider dinnertime. Add jet lag to the mix and it can be difficult to find the food you want when you want it. If you can, then plan to eat your final meal with the locals between 9 and 11 pm.
Kid-Friendly Accommodations in Barcelona
My family visited Barcelona before our Disney Cruise in the Mediterranean and Disney recommended Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel. It’s a great place for the entire family, just a short walk from the Las Ramblas area. The décor was at once modern and elegant, too.
We were given a free upgrade to a one-bedroom suite both on our pre-and post-cruise stays, just for asking. (And this was before I launched Travel Mamas, so it’s not like we got any special treatment!) Our room was HUGE, especially considering European standards.
The staff was beyond courteous. Every time hotel employees saw our daughter, they cooed at her and handed her a lollipop. In fact, we finally had to ask the staff to stop offering candies to our little one!
One of my favorite memories of our stay in Barcelona was splashing in the hotel’s rooftop pool with its stunning view of the harbor spread out before us.
For additional options, take a look at the best hotels for families in Barcelona at Booking.com or these Barcelona accommodation recommendations from The Broke Backpacker.
The Verdict on Barcelona with Kids
To make the most of our costly air tickets to Europe for our cruise, we decided to extend our family holiday in Barcelona by a few days before and after our sailing. This really gave us a chance to explore this welcoming Spanish city.
The best thing about Barcelona is its people. Everyone we met was friendly and genuine. They definitely went out of their way to make sure we had a good time in their town.
There are plenty of family-friendly activities in this vibrant city, too. I highly recommend visiting Barcelona with kids.
As for me, I’ve been to Barcelona twice and that’s probably enough. The food wasn’t my family’s favorite and I felt a little nature-starved here. Plus, I feel like I’ve already experienced what I wanted to explore in Barcelona, and the world is filled with places I have yet to see.
Explore More of Spain
Ironically, Spain has become one of my favorite countries on Earth and I hope to live there someday! Discover my suggestions for exploring the amazing city of Seville with kids.
Explore more of Spain with this list of the best things to do in Málaga.
Take a look at the most romantic things to do in Southern Spain.
Learn about an unusual Catalonian holiday tradition in this round-up of wacky Christmas traditions in Europe.
Save These Fun Things to Do in Barcelona with Kids
For future reference, keep this list of tips for visiting Barcelona with kids. Simply pin the image above to Pinterest. We hope you’ll follow Travel Mamas on Pinterest while you’re at it!
What are your thoughts on visiting Barcelona with kids? I know some of you must think I’m nuts for poo-pooing Barcelona’s food. Go ahead…add a comment!
A Note from The Travel Mama: This story was originally written in 2009 and is regularly updated to reflect the current top things to do in Barcelona with kids.
thank you for the great article. We will be arriving off of a Disney cruise with our 5 year old and so many of these things she will enjoy.
My pleasure! Thank you for the comment, Jen. I’m sure your 5-year-old (and her mama!) will LOVE your Disney Cruise!
Interesting article – the Title drew me in! Yes – I want to hear about the Worst, it’s a great angle! I’m planning a trip to Barcelona this summer with my 6 and 8 year old. I’ve been to Barcelona many times as a solo adult, but this will be the first time with my kids. Yes, the food is AMAZING in Barcelona, especially if you don’t have kids in tow! I think people need to remember that you’re on a holiday and Mr Michelin isn’t looking over your shoulder, if you decide that McDonalds is going to make your kid happy today. Who cares? honestly. They’re going to grow up and discover these delights for themselves. Fortunately, my kids love Olives with a passion and bread, and cheese, and ham – so I think they’ll be alright on a basic picnic diet. Apparently, there are many family friendly restaurants in Poble Nou, which my friend who lives there is going to refer me to. I’ll report back! Chill out everyone and enjoy Barcelona!
Vortex of Bloggery – Thanks for weighing in! I hope your kids love Barcelona’s food and sights!
Hi Colleen
Thanks for your post. I read on another site
about Barcelona being rampant with pickpockets- it’s made me a bit worried, any advice about that?
I’ll be traveling with husband and 2 kids – 14 and 11 year old girls.
Thanks
Hi Tamara – Pickpockets are more common in Europe than in the U.S., particularly in big cities. (My theory is this is because they have less guns in Europe; I’d rather be pickpocketed than shot!) I don’t know that Barcelona is any worse than any other big city in Europe. You can get a money belt that goes around your waist or beneath your shirt, but it seems pretty silly to me. Locals don’t do that! I tend to put my money/ID in my front pocket and keep my hand over my pockets while walking through crowds. Or, I wear a purse or day bag with a long strap that I can hold in front of me with one hand. Beware of swarms of giggling children who come up to you. They distract you while other kids go through your pockets. Also beware of anyone who puts something in front of your waist (a newspaper or piece of cardboard, for example). They’re doing that to confuse you while someone else takes your money. I hope that helps. Enjoy Barcelona!
Hi Colleen,
Thank you for sharing your experience about Barcelona. My family (my husband, our 14 month old, and I) moved to Spain last November. We live very close to Sevilla and travel to a new city in the country every weekend if we can. We plan on taking an extended trip to Barcelona in the upcoming months, so your blog will definitely be of assistance to us. I’m sorry that so many others have been terrible and unable to comprehend that toddlers, just like all of us, have different tastes in food. As a good parent, you do whatever you have to in order to ensure that they eat SOMETHING. We have tried many different foods from each place we visit (our favorite thus far being a little restaurant in Zahara), but overall the cuisine here can get tiresome because of the lack of variety of vegetables to accompany meals. Every time we go somewhere, I pack fresh fruit and vegetables for our son, but he is more than happy to try whatever we order. I live for certain tapas in Spain, but I really like finding the local restaurants that offer more. We try to avoid tourist restaurants at all cost, as well, because we so enjoy living off the economy, learning to do as the locals do, and experiencing all that we can. Again, thank you for your honesty and your suggestions about places to see in Barcelona. We cannot wait to experience yet another new city here in wonderful Spain.
Catherine – What an exciting adventure for your family to live in and explore Spain! Thank you for your kind words an insight to Spanish cuisine.
It’s sad how much Barcelona has changed since in the last 25 years. Now the centre is unrecognizable as it has been taken over by the tourist trade. But this feeds the local economy so I shouldn’t complain really.
My advice: You should never eat on the Ramblas, whether you go with kids or not- the food there is overpriced and just abysmal. I recommend you try to find places away from the centre and the tourist spots if you want to try good local food.
Secondly, if you do some research on Google you can find out a lot about Catalan food (not paella or the tapas on bread which are normally from the Basque country). You will find that the famous dessert you love is Crema Catalana not Catalunya (which is the region itself!).
A taco is a small piece or cube of cheese. Obviously it means something different in Mexico as do many food words such as tortilla, but this is very easy to research and needn’t be confusing.
There are so many restaurants here in walking distance of the centre…As the mother of a fussy eater, I promise you that you can find a great range of options in this city. Before you have to resort to Mcdonalds, why not just find a good Italian restaurant? Surely that would be better.
I do hope you go back and maybe stay somewhere else and try some other food. It would be a shame if your lasting memory of the place was bad food and Mcdonalds.
Ana – Thank you for telling me the correct desert name! I have updated the post accordingly. We did eat at a good Italian restaurant in Barcelona, as I mentioned in the post as being our favorite dining experience in Barcelona. The food was just one small part of our memories of Barcelona, and a small portion of this post as well. I loved the people, the sites and our hotel. I was not a big fan of the food, that’s all. My most lasting memories from Barcelona are La Boqueria (which I stated is my favorite open air market I’ve ever visited), rowing a boat around the pond at Citadel Park, and swimming in the rooftop pool at Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel. Believe me, when I think of Barcelona, McDonald’s is not the first thing that comes to mind!
Dear all
I have been in Barcelona three times with my children. The first two times, It was really hard to find some food that really liked them but we understood that they are used to diffferent food and we tryied to give them food that was attractive to their eyes and It worked! now they love tapas, spanish omellet and paella.
In our last visit, the air company lost our twin stroller and our first day in Barcelona was a nightmare.
We talked to the owner of the flat we had rented and contacted us to babytravelling. I hardly recommend them. We rented a twin stroller from them and after claiming to the air company, they paid for the hiring.
they have plenty of products to make travelling with kids very easily. They are fast . Note this in case you have any problem or need travelling to Barcelona.
Martha (France)
Dear Colleen,
As a parent I find your articles very useful as traveling around with kids is quite the challenge, my daughter also had a hard time with the food in Barcelona & being a Foodie myself I admit that it can be challenging just like in Italy to find the real genuine flavours, I would like to share with you and future visitors a Dine Drink & dance project for Barcelona, and shortly Rome, Florence, & Milan, where you can enjoy all inclusive tasting experiences (Wine & Sangria tasting too), let me know what you think
http://www.dinedrink.dance
Best
Arthur L
Hi Colleen,
Thanks for this honest article. I have just returned from a short trip to Barcelona and loved it so much we want to go back again!
For all the McDonalds haters out there I just wanted to share a video link from Jim Gaffigan which is hilarious in case you haven’t seen it already:)
http://youtu.be/6YDTfEhChgw
We did have to do a lot of our own research when it came to finding great restaurants but they do exist so make the effort before you go.
Dan – Too funny! So true…McDonald’s is selling those burgers to SOMEONE!
Thanks a lot for this article as I will be travelling with a 2 year old and will be staying after our Royal Caribbean cruise. It seems that a few people in here don’t know what different taste means. What you like might not be the same for others that’s why this world is full of varieties. Stop judging a mother for trying to feed her child just because you don’t approve McDonald’s. And, no probably you are the ignorant ones not her. I have a fussy toddler too, so I do understand that sometimes we will give in to what they want to eat.
Bless u
Dali – From one mom to another, I thank you for your support. I hope you and your family will have a wonderful time on your cruise and in Barcelona!
Hi Colleen,
Glad you liked my birth town!! I wish you could come back again and then I would take you to some extraordinary restaurants, not necessarily expensive, for you to change your mind about Catalan and Spanish cuisine! Anyway, I am a Licensed Official Guide and a mamma also and I am starting to take off with more specialised and interactive tours for Kids. I normally have private tours for families so I have decided to make it really fun for the kids. I would love you to recommend my services to your clients!!! Well, I hope to meet you in a future. Big Hug Mami!!
Eva – I loved Barcelona – especially the friendly people and the food market! It’s funny because one of my favorite restaurants in my hometown of San Diego is Cafe Sevilla, which serves tapas plus larger dishes from all over Spain. Maybe we just chose the wrong restaurants?! If I ever get back to Barcelona, I will certainly look you up for a foodie tour!
Hi Colleen,
Thanks for sharing.
I’m booked on Disney’s med cruise departing from Barcelona in August and we too have planned to arrive a few days earlier to do some sightseeing. My daughter is 5 and from experience, her preference with western food revolves around mainly nuggets, pizza, chicken wings and garlic bread. I, on the other hand want to book dinner at tickets (Alber Adria’s tapas restaurant) and indulge in all food basque and catalan. Most of the time, she wins -sigh-.
So after reading your post, i googled the location of the nearest maccers near our hotel. 😀
Well, as long as she gets some familiar food in her belly, is well hydrated, well rested, has sun screen, i’m going to choose my battles and food will likely not be one of them – by negotiating with the girl La Sagrada or musees for ice cream and negotiating with my husband camp nou for shopping at zara/massimo dutti while he watches the kiddo 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
mel
Melissa – You are going to have an absolute blast in Barcelona and on your Disney Mediterranean cruise! Maybe your daughter will like the Crema Catalunya? (I bet her mom will!) Bon voyage!
I am booking a 2 night stay at an apartment in Barcelona before a cruise. We have 2 boys aged 10 and 11. What would be the best area to stay in? I am looking at El Born, Raval?? Suggestions?
Hi Tanya – I am not an expert on Barcelona’s many neighborhoods but this article on TripAdvisor might be helpful to you: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187497-s204/Barcelona:Spain:Neighborhoods.html It looks like you might want to steer clear of El Raval, according to this article. Hope that helps!
Thank you so much for the great Barcelona Story. Too bad your writing gets a bit lost in all the mean comments. I will not give my opinion about the food. I think we had enough of that 😉 (And well, I have a son of 2years old that LOVES to eat thing he doesn’t know, so he really liked everything in Barcelona, yes, I feel blessed)
The only thing I would recommend, is to rent an apartment next time. We rented an apartment in Barceloneta, walking distance from the beach. It was such a great experience, we really got to know the culture, our neighbours… I felt more personally involved with the city than I would feel in a Hotel (could be my personal preference I don’t know) Barcelona Point helped me so much, not only with booking the apartment, but I also got a lot of advice about the city, places that are perfect for kids and so on.
I would go back immediately if I could. Loved reading your story!
Greetings Rebecca
I’m so glad you like the story, Rebecca! And I’m glad your son liked the food too! I will keep an apartment rental in mind if we ever visit Barcelona again. It’s always nice to have extra room and a kitchen while traveling.
Dear author of the post,
I’m russian. Live in Barcelona over 17 years. Work in tourist industry, with deep knowledge of catalan and spanish traditions, and have a lots of international friends who come to Barcelona again and again and over again. And maybe in most part because of people and (oh no…) FOOD! I’m also a mother of two healthy daughters 2,5 and 4,5 years, who eat at Mc Donald’s once in their lives. It’s a shame to go to eat to Mc Donald’s coming to Barcelona!!! (I’m not ecologic, vegetarian freak food control at all!) There is so many many many, just huge lots of different food you can taste, which is not fried at all!! Vegetables, fresh fish, owen cooked food, soups, omlettes… I could write a book. But of course I wouldn’t do it so professionally as other thousand of people already did! Maybe if you took 30 minutes before traveling to find out about spanish kitchen You would be very surprised there is a “thing” called mediterranean diet. It has been defensed by UNESCO!!!
Maybe you are experienced traveller, maybe experienced traveller with children. BUT. It’s no good to give your opinion about a food in Barcelona, while you re eating in Mc donalds and most of food you tried is around LA Rambla!!! Eat in la Rambla is a crime! This is not Spanish, not catalan, no nothing. But even much more crime to feed your children in Mc Donalds!! Better would be fried tapas, believe me!!! Please, do not base your opinion about Barcelona after 10 days. If you visit a Boqueria, it doesn’t mean your are an expert in Barcelona foods!
Love Barcelona- Love Catalonia!
Dear Anna – My name is right at the top of the post. It’s Colleen. If you will notice, I mentioned in my post that many people love the food in Barcelona and even linked to a video of Samantha Brown singing the praises of Barcelona’s cuisine. I am not an idiot and of course I have heard of the Mediterranean diet. We did not restrict our dining solely to areas near La Rambla and sought out places frequented by locals by asking locals where they go to eat with their families. I do not claim to be an expert in Barcelona’s cuisine. Rather, I shared my thoughts on my family’s experience. Like I said, we loved Barcelona, and the city’s friendly residents in particular.
You had me at Chocolate Museum! It’s always a difficult decision for me to travel somewhere that I’m not crazy about the food. I’m sorry your culinary experience wasn’t superb, but I guess it could happen to best of us!
Laurel – Now the Chocolate Museum’s food…THAT we loved! 🙂
i have heard such great things about Barcelona – we definitely need to go!
Jessie – Yes, there is so much to love about Barcelona. I hope you get a chance to visit with your family some day!