The best things to do with kids in Barcelona

Joan Miró painted the essence of things, which is why you hardly need to explain anything to a small child for them to connect with the work of this great artist. A bird, a moon, a pregnant woman, a starry sky… Simply move from one painting to another and play at guessing what each one represents, and you’ll discover that they understand Miró’s work better than we do. What’s more, the Fundació Joan Miró offers a range of family activities that make the visit even more enjoyable, including one where children become explorers searching for birds in the artist’s work. Don’t forget to step out into the museum courtyard, with its dazzling views over Barcelona, and to head down to the sculpture garden as well.

The Museum of Natural Sciences in the Parc del Fòrum is an open and dynamic space. All 9,000 square metres of it are spread over two floors. At the main entrance you're welcomed by the skeleton of a whale that beached itself on Catalan shores in 1862. The museum is made up of installations and spaces that include 'Planet Life,' an exhibition that takes you through the history of life and its co-evolution with Earth; the media library; and the Science Nest, where children up to age six can explore and play with natural materials.

Parc Central de Nou Barris, in the Guineueta neighbourhood, covers almost 17 hectares and is steeped in history: you’ll find old farmhouses and an aqueduct that dates back centuries. Water is one of its central features, and the park’s vegetation supports a rich biodiversity with a wide range of tree species. And get your imagination ready, because in this park the little ones can set sail on the high seas: the play area includes not one but two giant whales swimming side by side. There’s also a ship, a movable fin and other figures from the marine ecosystem – and children can whizz down slides, swing in rope hammocks and climb up the climbing zone.

Adventure playground by the sea Bosc Urbà (Urban Jungle) offers a mélange of activities, sports and, yes, adventures, for you and the kids to put your adrenaline to the test, and all within the city limits. Zip lines, rope swings, bungee jumping, log rolls and so much more your head will spin before you even decide which to tackle. Try out some of the 50-plus attractions, with various levels for adults and children.

Hilltop fairground Tibidabo, dating from 1889, has invested millions in getting itself bang up to date, with the terrifying freefall Pendulum and a hot-air-balloon-style ride for smaller children. There’s an 80km-per-hour rollercoaster, house of horrors, bumper cars and more, and don’t miss the antique mechanical puppets and contraptions at the Museu d'Autòmats. Find hourly puppet shows at the Marionetàrium (from 1pm), circus parades on weekends and in summer, correfocs (fire runs – parades where participants let off fireworks) and street theatre. The opening hours are fiendishly complex and vary from week to week. Check the website for details. 

Is it the shadow monster from Stranger Things? It may look like it, but it isn’t. It’s a giant octopus, and it’s the star of the new play area in Parque de la Pegaso, in the Sagrera neighbourhood, one of the city’s most unusual places to visit with children. A metal octopus with tentacles that double as slides, and a head filled with ropes and walkways for children to climb and slide down. The play area is part of the Public Space Play Plan launched by the City Council to improve children’s leisure time and encourage different types of play, replacing the outdated parks that still exist in the city and bringing them closer to European models.

Unless your kids are extremely afraid of heights, the Montjuïc cable cars is well worth a go. Take in some of the best views of Barcelona, with the city at your feet along a 750-metre route. You’ll spot Barcelona’s most iconic landmarks from a bird’s-eye perspective, and probably feel a bit like you’re floating on a cloud. Kids’ tickets are €11.70 for a return, or one-way for €10, but it’s free if they’re under four. 

As usual, the CCCB has announced its summer programme to beat the heat with exhibitions, films and activities for everyone. This much-anticipated initiative from the centre includes, this year, a new space where families can enjoy time with the little ones completely free of charge. Until September 7, the CCCB is hosting the ‘little, middle and big’ family space, a calm and cool area for kids under 10 where they can rest, draw and paint. In addition, every Saturday afternoon, ‘Small, Medium and Large’ will host a family-friendly summer cinema screening, part of a CCCB-run film series featuring a selection of works by artists who use different techniques to explore play and relationships between species.

Anything with the word chocolate in it is guaranteed to win over the kids, and the Chocolate Museum in El Born is no exception. This place takes you on a journey through time, tracing chocolate from its ancient origins to its arrival in Europe and its rise as something hovering between myth and everyday treat. But it’s not just about reading the panels. The museum runs a whole range of hands-on activities designed to get all the senses involved and spark a bit of creativity. Younger visitors (and any sweet-toothed grown-ups) can dive into workshops where they’ll happily get their hands covered in the stuff, learning how to make chocolate lollipops or a box of their own bonbons.

Parc del Castell de l’Oreneta is a vast woodland space that acts as a gateway to the Collserola hills – the stretch of forest that pushes right into the city. Opened to the public in 1978, it still preserves much of its original Mediterranean vegetation, with species typical of the Barcelona range. But the real star attraction? A miniature steam train that chugs its way around the park. Kids also have plenty of room to run wild, climb to their hearts’ content and make the most of a well-equipped play area.

Is it a universal experience, holding a snake in your arms at the age of eight? Many people in Barcelona still remember the day they went up to CosmoCaixa and took part in one of the activities at this science-focused museum. Walking through the flooded forest, greeting the capybara hiding among the plants, or licking a giant block of ice when no one was looking were some of CosmoCaixa’s greatest hits – and today the museum offers a whole range of activities adapted to modern times. You can visit the Bubble Planetarium, and for the more adventurous, even sleep over with the dinosaurs. 

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⛪ The best attractions in Barcelona
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📍 Ultimate guide to what to do in Barcelona