Let me share with you a 3-day itinerary for visiting Barcelona with kids, and explain why I believe Barcelona is an amazing destination for families. Kids will be fascinated by the city’s vibrant atmosphere, and seeing Gaudí’s stunning architecture in person is a must for them!

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3 days in Barcelona with Kids Itinerary

Is Barcelona worth visiting with family?

For most international visitors, Barcelona is the top destination on any Spain bucket list, and it’s also an excellent choice for family travelers. Spain is a very child-friendly country where you can take kids almost anywhere, but Barcelona stands out thanks to its many child-focused museums and the mind-blowing Gaudi architecture, which is perfect for sparking the imagination of little ones.

What is Barcelona known for?

Barcelona is one of the most-visited places in Europe, known for its architectural marvels created by Antoni Gaudi, one of the most famous Spaniards ever. Even though George Orwell in one of his wanderlust books called Barcelona’s La Sagrada Familia “one of the most hideous buildings in the world” – officially, it´s one of the most unique cathedrals in Spain. Also, the city of Barcelona is beloved by filmmakers, particularly appealing in Woody Allen’s romantic travel movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008). While the Catalan capital is home to many of Spain’s most iconic landmarks, you can also discover plenty of hidden gems in Barcelona.

What are the Gaudi sites in Barcelona?

The impressive Gaudi landmarks in Barcelona include Park Guell, La Pedrera, Las Farolas del Pla de Palau, Puerta de la Finca Miralles, Colegio de las Teresianas, Casa Calvet, Bellesguard, Casa Vicens, Palacio Guell, Pabellones Guell, Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, Casa-museo Gaudi. (Blog subscribers don´t forget your Free Gaudi Checklist pdf.)

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Exploring the Gothic Quarter during one of my Barcelona weekends

Where to stay in Barcelona with kids

There are plenty of accommodations in Barcelona to suit all tastes and preferences. Here are a few top-rated child-friendly Barcelona hotels with family rooms: Barcelo Sants, Torre Melina, Majestic Hotel&SPA, AC Diagonal, Novotel Barcelona City, Radisson Blu, and Acacia Premium Suite.

Barcelona Travel Inspiration

Check out my lists of Spain Coffee Table Books and Children’s Books about Spain to discover new inspiring places and people of Barcelona. You might also give the little ones a brief preview of the city via Spain Virtual Tours. For the adults, check out my list of Contemporary Spanish Novels (especially The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon).

barcelona weekend with kids
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Mar, featured in Spanish TV shows and Contemporary novels

Barcelona Travel Tips

3 days in Barcelona with Kids Itinerary

Barcelona Family Itinerary – Day 1

Our top priorities for these 3 days in Barcelona with Kids were the Gaudi Landmarks, and interactive museums, like Museu Blau – Natural History Museum of Barcelona (since it had a cute interactive expo dedicated to fairytales).

Sagrada Familia

First thing in the morning we headed to visit La Sagrada Familia – one of the most stunning cathedrals in Spain. If you plan to visit it later during the day, consider getting Fast-Track Access (the lines to access this iconic Spanish landmark usually move fast, but they are huge). Also, you can prepare your kids for the visit, since La Sagrada Familia offers a virtual tour.

Hop-on Hop-of bus

Afterward, we took a Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour to give the kids a general impression of the city without tiring them out. We got off the bus to visit Park Güell and saw Casa Milà and Casa Batlló from the outside.

sagrada familia barcelona weekend with kids

Barcelona Family Itinerary – Day 2

Museu Blau

On the second day of our Barcelona itinerary with kids, we spent the entire morning at Museu Blau, Barcelona’s Natural History Museum. The museum is fascinating for all ages, but the highlight for our children was the temporary interactive fairytale exhibit. They were so captivated, we thought we’d never leave! It turned out to be one of the best moments of our 3-day trip to Barcelona for them.

Barcelona Aquarium

In the afternoon, we headed to the port area to visit the Barcelona Aquarium, since the kids were excited to see it. They loved it, but personally, I liked it less than the L´Oceanographic in Valencia or Aquarium of Mallorca.

Las Ramblas and Columbus

We also had an evening walk at Barcelona’s famous street Las Ramblas and enjoyed the iconic Columbus Monument. My kids were babies when we were exploring the Columbus Sites in Andalusia, so it was a great chance to tell them more about the Age of Discoveries and how Columbus sailed from Cadiz in search of the new world. If you have more time, you can also visit the Columbus Monument in Barcelona.

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La Pedrera – one of the top Gaudi landmarks in Barcelona

Barcelona Family Itinerary – Day 3

Montjuïc

On our third day in Barcelona with kids, we headed to Montjuïc, which offers plenty of family-friendly activities. We especially enjoyed the Historic Botanical Garden and the cable car up to Montjuïc Castle, known for its breathtaking views of Barcelona from the Mirador del Alcalde. Our girls also had fun in the recreational areas and loved the Montjuïc slides. Later, we visited the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia (MAC), which houses Greco-Roman and prehistoric artifacts. It’s a must-visit for history lovers in Spain.

Ciutadella Park and Chocolate Museum

In the late afternoon, we explored Ciutadella Park and stopped by the Chocolate Museum, which showcases artwork made entirely of chocolate. The museum offers workshops for both kids and adults. The Barcelona Zoo is also nearby, but it closes around 4:30 p.m., so if you plan to visit, it’s best to go in the morning.

Barcelona Family Bucket List

This is your ultimate checklist of cool places to visit in Barcelona for both kids and parents:

  • La Sagrada Familia – one of the most stunning cathedrals in Spain (book now to get Fast-Track Access)
  • Park Guell ( book now to get Skip-the-Line Access)
  • Casa Batllo & Casa Mila – some of the top Gaudi buildings in Barcelona ( get the guided tour to skip the line)
  • Monjuic Magic Fountain ( a free show of water and lights every 15 minutes)
  • Gaudi 4D Experience – discover more about the works of Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudí, with innovative audiovisual technology (book now)
  • Montjuic Cable Car – a cool way to admire the city sights and views of the sea as you soar to the top of the hill of Montjuïc (get the roundtrip ticket now)
  • Hop-on Hop-off bus tour of Barcelona – a great way to see the city without tiring out the little ones (book it now)
  • Trencadís Mosaic Class – a class for the whole family to learn Gaudí’s Technique (check availability now)
  •  FC Barcelona Museum – a must-stop for soccer fans ( get Barça Immersive Tour)
barcelona bucket list with kids
Museu Blau – a must-do during our Barcelona weekend with kids

Cool places to visit in Barcelona with kids

These places are especially cool to impress the little ones during any trip to Barcelona:

  • Cosmocaixa – a unique science museum with lots of touch-the-button sections
  • Tibidabo Amusement Park – a small vintage amusement park with beautiful views of Barcelona
  • Barcelona Aquarium ( get Skip-the-Line Admission Ticket)
  • Chocolate Museum of Barcelona
  • Barcelona Zoo ( get a 1-Day ticket now)
  • Labyrinth Park of Horta, one of the most magical park gardens in Spain
  • Museu Blau – Natural History Museum of Barcelona
  • Barcelona Bosc Urba – an adventurous climbing area for kids 8+
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The highlight of our Barcelona weekend with kids – a temporary fairytale exposition at the Natural History Museum

Unique tours in Barcelona for kids

If you are short on time, booking one of the child-focused tours might be a great way to make the most of your Barcelona itinerary with kids. Check out these unique family-friendly experiences in Barcelona:

aquarium barcelona with kids
Always enjoy visiting Aquariums while exploring Spain with kids (although the one in Barcelona is not my personal favorite)

Top Barcelona Day Trips with kids

While there are many unique day trips and hidden gems around Barcelona, two places are especially popular with kids. Firstly, Port Aventura is often a highlight of any family holiday in Spain. Yet, surprisingly, many children are also fascinated by the surrealist creations of Salvador Dali.

If you are visiting Barcelona in winter, check this post on where to Enjoy Snow in Spain with Kids (you can easily make a few day trips to the Pyrenees from Barcelona).

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Exploring the Dali Triangle
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Read more about our visit to PortAventura World with kids

Read more about exploring Spain with kids:

  • 10-day Spain Itinerary for Families from Barcelona (read it)
  • Our Favorite Travel Essentials for Kids +Toys On The Go (read it)
  • Where to Enjoy Snow in Spain with Kids (read it)
  • Cute Spain Books for Kids You´ll Love (read it)
  • Valencia With Kids: Top Places Your Children Will Love (read it)
  • 5 Epic Reasons to Visit the Spanish Pyrenees with Kids (read it)
  • A Weekend in Mallorca with Kids (read it)
  • My Favorite Cool Places to Visit in Spain with Kids (read it)
  • Travel-themed Activities With Kids: Our Creative Playroom Tour (read it)
  • Kids Bookish Inspiration: Favorite International Illustrators Around the World (read it)
  • Visiting PortAventura with kids (read it)

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Barcelona Weekend with Kids: Top things to see and do

For more Spain travel tips check out my Pinterest board Spain Travel Collection and Flipboard Travel to Spain.

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