Toddler-Friendly Barcelona: Top 7 Activities for Families

Barcelona has to be one of my favourite European cities - it’s vibrant, by the beach, small enough that you can walk everywhere, it has great food, beautiful architecture, good museums, and, as it turns out, it’s super child-friendly!

This was probably my 6th or 7th time visiting, but my first time visiting with my husband and toddler. We went off-season in October, so we didn’t get the summer heat, but it was the perfect city sightseeing weather (around 20°C). 

We spent 5 nights in Barcelona, and although people perhaps see Barcelona as more of a weekend trip, there is plenty to do here should you choose to stay longer!

If you are planning on doing a few different attractions, it might be worth looking at combo tickets that combine things like the Sagrada Família, Park Güell and public transport - there’s a range of different combinations, so you can usually find something that suits your needs. 

Below are my top tips for visiting the city with a toddler or young child.

1. Barcelona Zoo

When I was 7 years old, my parents took me to Barcelona Zoo whilst on holiday in Barcelona. 26 years later and I still remember this place vividly, so I knew I had to take my daughter here! 

The zoo is home to over 300 species and approximately 2,000 animals, including lions, giraffes, elephants, and a wide variety of reptiles and birds. It is also known for its focus on conservation and education, and participates in numerous international programs aimed at protecting endangered species.

The big park is divided into different areas based on the animals' geographic origin, which makes it easy to navigate and plan what animals to see. There are also cafes, restaurants, picnic areas and a massive playground in the middle of the park (it’s almost worth going for the playground alone!).   

This was such a highlight for both of us and she still talks about all the animals we saw (though she was most excited by a couple of pigeons that sat down next to us while we were watching the gorillas…). 

Prices

Adults: €21.40

Children (ages 3-12): €12.95

Children under 3: Free

(When we went, tickets bought online were half price, so keep an eye out for promotions!)

2. Park Güell

Park Güell is one of the most iconic works by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí. It’s a whimsical park located on Carmel Hill that blends nature, art and architecture, creating a fairytale-like space that offers beautiful views of the city and the sea beyond. 

To enter the park, you can choose to book either general admission or a guided tour, all tickets have to be bought online and it is recommend to book your tickets well in advance as the park gets really busy and spaces are limited (we booked a week in advance and had to book a guided tour as general admission was completely sold out!). Children under the age of 6 are free, but still require a ticket.

My 2-year-old daughter really enjoyed exploring the park - there were plenty of open spaces where she could run around and the whole park is accessible by pram. We also found a small playground at the top of the park, which was a great place to start the visit. There is a cafe on site, however as it started pouring it down with rain while we were there, the café, unsurprisingly, got very busy very quickly, so we decided to have lunch in the nearby trendy area of Gracia instead.   

Prices

General Admission: €18

Children (ages 7 to 12): €13.50

Children (ages 0 to 6): Free (still need ticket)

3. Monastery of Montserrat

If you are looking for a day trip outside of Barcelona, then Montserrat Monastery might be just for you. Located about an hour away by public transport, this Benedictine monastery is nestled in the rocky Montserrat Mountains. You can visit the basilica, listen to the Montserrat Boys Choir (oldest boys choir in Europe) or take a hike in the mountains.   

The monastery is accessible via a combination of train, cable car (Aeri de Montserrat), or rack railway (Cremallera de Montserrat). Depending on which option you choose, the combination ticket is around €26 and can be bought directly in the ticket machine at the Plaça de Espanya station, where the train departs from. We chose the rack railway, which was really impressive as it follows the old railway up to the monastery. For this option, get off the train at Monistrol de Montserrat and then get the rack train from the same station. 

Apart from the basilica, there is a small museum, a playground, a souvenir shop and a few different cafés and restaurants (sadly we had a bit of a dog poo situation at the playground, so our daughter’s play break was short-lived!). There are also market stalls selling local goat’s cheese and other delicacies.

From here, you can also take the Sant Joan Funicular up to a viewpoint of the monastery, which is also the base point for a lot of hiking trails. This was an additional €16.50, so not the cheapest, but the views from the top were absolutely gorgeous!

Our daughter was asleep in the pram when we got to the top (but luckily woke up before we headed back down so we could show her the view!), and, to our surprise, the trails at the top were actually pram friendly (at least the parts closest to the funicular - I’m sure if you decide to go further, you would have to go without a pram). We walked for a bit in both directions to get the views on both sides. For being so close to Barcelona, it really feels like you’re in the middle of nature when you’re up in these mountains. This part also felt a lot less touristy as most people either don’t come up at all, or they just go up to the viewpoint at the top of the funicular and then back down again.   

Prices

Train+Rack Railway Combo Return Ticket from Plaça de Espanya

Adults: €26.30

Children (ages 4-13): €19.30

Children under 4: Free

Sant Joan funicular return

Adults: €16.50

Children (ages 4-13): €8.25

Children under 4: Free

4. Barceloneta Beach

No visit to Barcelona is complete without hitting the beach! If you are going in the summer, you will likely want to explore the beaches a bit more and maybe even do a couple of day trips to the coastal towns and beaches outside of Barcelona (Sitges, Castelldefels, Canet de Mar, etc). As we went in October and it was only around 20°C and quite windy, we only went to two beaches - Platja de la Mar Bella (as we stayed in hotel nearby for our last night in Barcelona) and Barceloneta Beach, which is right in the city centre. 

Barceloneta Beach is located in the historic fishing neighborhood of Barceloneta and is a hotspot for both locals and tourists. The beach offers something for everyone, from sunbathing and swimming to beach volleyball and watersports like paddleboarding and kite surfing. Along the promenade, you'll find an array of beachfront bars and restaurants. Its proximity to the city centre makes it the perfect break from a day of sightseeing.

Although it wasn’t necessarily beach weather when we went, Barceloneta Beach was still busy, with some people even braving the water (I was alone with my daughter, otherwise I would have gone in too!). My daughter enjoyed running around along the beach and watching the kite and wind surfers, so this was a great spot to spend a couple of hours.

5. Ciutadella Park

This park is situated right in the middle of the city, near the Gothic Quarter, El Born and Barceloneta Beach, and is a great spot to take your little ones when you need a break from exploring the city. It is also where you will find Barcelona Zoo. 

In the middle of the park, you’ll find people blowing soap bubbles for the kids - our daughter kept screaming “bubbles!” and chasing the bubbles around together with a bunch of other kids, so this was a real highlight! There is also a giant statue of a mammoth where kids can run in between the legs or hang from the trunk, which she also loved. In the pond, people can hire paddle boats, so we spent some time watching the boats and the ducks, before finishing off with a visit to the playground.  

If you’re going in the summer months you could easily bring a picnic and spend the day here!  

6. Visit the Sagrada Família

The Sagrada Família is an architectural masterpiece and one of the most visited landmarks in Spain. Designed by renowned architect Antoni Gaudí, the basilica is a unique blend of Gothic and Art Nouveau styles, with intricate symbolism and breathtaking design that continues to captivate millions of visitors annually.

The cathedral is finally nearing the end of its construction (which has been going on since 1882!), and when we were there, the scaffolding was pretty much gone (completion is currently anticipated for 2026, which would mark 100 years since Gaudí's death). Booking tickets far in advance is essential, as this is the most popular attraction in Barcelona and spaces fill up fast - we missed out on tickets so only viewed the cathedral from the outside, which is still worthwhile doing if you can't get tickets! There is a good playground right outside, so my daughter enjoyed playing while I got to view the cathedral.

I can't say how child-friendly going inside would be, but I could see ramps going up to the entrance, so it looks like it's accessible with a pram (could potentially be a good nap time activity if you have younger children!).

Prices

Basic Admission: €26

Guided Tour: €30

Admission with Tower Access: €36

Guided Tour with Tower Access: €40

Children under 11: Free

7. Wander through the different quarters

One thing I love about Barcelona is how easy it is to walk everywhere - as long as you wear some decent shoes, pretty much everything in the city centre is within walking distance! Get lost in the maze-like narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter, visit museums and boutique shops in El Born, explore the trendy and bohemian neighbourhood of Gracia and, if you're a fan of architecture, try and see how many Gaudí buildings you can see scattered around the city!

One thing that makes Barcelona so child-friendly, is the number and frequency of playgrounds in the city. We'd rarely have to look them up in advance as we'd usually just stumble upon them. This was great for walking around as we could make plenty of stops and let our daughter have a play.

Other things to do in Barcelona

There were a few things that were on my list that we didn’t get around to do, so I will put them here as well (though please note that as I haven’t been to these places, so I can’t say from personal experience if they’re worthwhile or not!).

Cable car up to Montjuïc 

We were planning on doing this for our last day in Barcelona, but after a full day at the Montserrat Monastery, we felt it was a bit much and decided to just have a final day of wandering around Barcelona. 

Montjuïc Hill offers panoramic views of the city and is home to a range of different points of interest such as Montjuïc Castle, the Magic Fountain, the Joan Miro Foun

Montjuïc is one of Barcelona’s most iconic hills, offering a blend of natural beauty, historical landmarks, cultural attractions, and spectacular views over the city and harbor. Its name, thought to derive from "Jewish Mountain," points to its historical role as a Jewish cemetery in medieval times. Today, it’s a hub of activity and exploration for locals and visitors alike.

Accessible via funicular from Paral·lel Metro Station, buses, or the Montjuïc Cable Car.

Prices (Return Ticket)

Adult: €17.00

Child (ages 4 to 12): €12.00

Children under 4 years: Free

Barcelona Aquarium 

Located in the Port Vell in the heart of the city, Barcelona Aquarium is one of Europe’s premier marine life centres. HIghlights include a massive tank with a 360-degree transparent tunnel, allowing visitors to walk through and view sharks, rays, and other marine creatures swimming overhead and around.

It’s a great option for a rainy day! 

Prices

Adult: €27.00

Children (ages 5 to 10): €20.00

Children (ages 3 to 4): €12.00

Children under 3: Free

Stephy's play cafe 

I was on my way here on a day when it was raining, but as I was walking it stopped raining and we ended up finding a couple of good playgrounds instead. From what I read online, it’s a nice little play café with lots of indoor toys and activities where you can grab a hot drink while your child plays. It’s located right next to the Arc de Triomf and when I looked, it cost €10/child, so it’s a great option if you need an indoor activity but don’t want to pay the hefty fee for Barcelona Aquarium.

Prices

Monday to Thursday: €10 per child (off season), €12 per child (summer)

Friday to Sunday & Holidays: 12€ per child (off season), €15 per child (summer)

The adults are required to consume something during their stay.

Tibidabo Amusement Park 

If you have slightly older kids, this could be a great option. Tibidabo Amusement Park is a historic theme park located on Mount Tibidabo, which offers a mix of vintage charm, thrilling rides, and stunning panoramic views of Barcelona. Opening times vary depending on the season, so make sure to check the website in advance for the most up-to-date schedule.

Prices

Adults (over 120 cm in height): €39.00

Children (90 cm to 120 cm in height): €14.00

Children under 90 cm in height: Free

In summary, Barcelona was a great destination for a family-friendly holiday with plenty to do for children and adults alike - we will definitely be back!