family trip Barcelona

Top 3 to do's for a family trip in Barcelona

1. Admiring the street performances on the Ramblas
2. Discovering the scary sharks in Barcelona's aquarium
3. Fun for all the family on the beaches

Despite a population of over 3 million, Barcelona is a very easy city to find your way around. The combination of sunshine, great architecture, parks and attractions as well as great public transport makes Barcelona a great city for a family holiday. Hotels in Barcelona are welcoming to families and often offer special family deals. There's something for everyone. Dad can go to the football, Mum shopping and the kids, well, the list is endless.

Kids activities in Barcelona
Kids up to 7 will enjoy Ludoteca Castell de Jocs (Games Castle) in the Eixample neighbourhood. This play-o-theque allows children to play wonderfully with toys and educational materials suitable for their age range in a fuly-supervised environment. Children from diverse international backgrounds can meet and play with one another. Birthdays and children's parties are catered for.
Beside the city's main park at Ciutadella you'll find the zoo which has over 7,000 exotic animals that delight children and adults alike.
The Ramblas area has something for everybody especially during the daytime as families will enjoy the street theature which includes mime artists, human statues and magicians. The great news is it's all free (although the artists do like a euro or two as a sign of appreciation!).
One of the major attractions on the waterfront, the Barcelona aquarium is a treasure trove of marine life from all over the world. The highlight are the scary sharks (but well caged away from little hands). There's also a kids' playroom.
A fun way to get to know Spanish architecture is to visit the scale model Poble Espanyol (Spanish village) at scenic Montjuic hill. See how the architecture has evolved over time while enjoying great views over the city and sea.
Consider bringing ping pong bats with you on your trip. Most of the parks in Barcelona have free open air table tennis facilities which are a lot of fun for kids and adults alike. There are four tables worth visiting in the beautiful Ciutadella park beside the zoo. Kids of course also love the Barcelona beaches and there are plenty of family friendly beaches near the Olympic Village which get sunshine all day. There are free showers and rest facilities, as well as bars and cafes to suit all budgets.

Family hotels in Barcelona
Families will enjoy being close to the sea, in hotels on the seafront or along the beaches there are lots of options to consider. An alternative to the seafront, the Monjuic area offers lots of green space as well as a host of attractions to keep everyone in the family happy.