Is three days enough for a first visit to Barcelona with kids? You can certainly make the most of your family trip with a few days in the city. You might want to start with Gaudí’s best-known sights, spend a day in the old town and Ciutadella Park, then head up to Montjuïc. Each day has a main route, and the ideas at the end show how you can adapt your plan to your children’s ages.
Day 1: Sagrada Família and Park Güell
Start at Sagrada Família in the Eixample, then head uphill to Park Güell in the afternoon. The park has slopes and steps, and a free wooded area to explore around it.
Morning: Sagrada Família
Sagrada Família is Gaudí’s world-famous basilica and probably the one attraction you do not want to miss. With its tree-like columns, soaring height and coloured light pouring through the stained glass windows, it is a fascinating sight for all ages.
Children under 11 go free. Tickets are timed and often sell out, so book ahead.
Afternoon: Park Güell
Park Güell is another of Gaudí’s best-known works and one of Barcelona’s main attractions. In the Monumental Zone, you can see the famous mosaic dragon on the entrance stairway and take in views across the city from the curving bench on the main terrace.
Children aged 0–6 go free and ages 7–12 pay a reduced price. The surrounding woodland is free for everyone to explore. Entry works with timed visiting slots, so book ahead.
Day 2: Gothic Quarter, Ciutadella Park and the Barcelona Zoo
Ciutadella Park is on the edge of El Born, a short walk from the Gothic Quarter. Mostly flat, good for pushchairs.
Morning: Gothic Quarter and Ciutadella Park
The narrow streets and squares of the Gothic Quarter and El Born lead to Parc de la Ciutadella. A welcome break with kids after exploring Barcelona’s old town, the park has a monumental fountain, a boating lake with rowing boats and playgrounds.
Afternoon: Barcelona Zoo
Barcelona Zoo is right next door to Ciutadella Park. Giraffes, elephants, gorillas, sea lions and Komodo dragons live in leafy grounds, and at the farm young children can meet and pet goats, sheep and rabbits.
There is also a big wooden playground with climbing structures, bridges and slides. A visit takes 3–4 hours. Under-3s go free, and you can book online for 10% off and save queueing time.
Rainy day: Aquarium or Chocolate Museum
Barcelona Aquarium on the Port Vell waterfront has an 80-metre shark tunnel, penguins and play areas for younger children. Under-3s go free. Book online to skip the line.
The Chocolate Museum in El Born, close to the park, follows the journey of chocolate making from cacao beans to today’s sweets. Enjoy chocolate creations of buildings and characters, and you can eat your own chocolate entry ticket. Under-7s go free.
Day 3: Montjuïc Castle, the cable car and Poble Espanyol
Ride the cable car up to the castle at the top of Montjuïc.
Morning: Cable car and Montjuïc Castle
Take the Montjuïc cable car from Parc de Montjuïc up to the hilltop fortress. The ride gives you a view over Barcelona as you climb, and from the ramparts of Montjuïc Castle you can look out over the port and along the coast.
Under-16s get free entry to the castle, and under-4s ride the cable car for free. If you’re paying for both, you can book a combined cable car and castle ticket.
Afternoon: Poble Espanyol
Poble Espanyol is an open-air village of streets and squares built in the styles of different regions of Spain, with craft workshops. It is fun to explore as a family, with no cars, lots of little streets, and cafés and restaurants. You can buy a family ticket online, and look at our What’s On guide for seasonal events for kids during the year.
Optional evening stop: the Magic Fountain below the National Art Museum. See our Magic Fountain page for dates.
More time? Barcelona’s fun and interactive museums
If you have more time, or would rather visit some of Barcelona’s fun and interactive museums, here are some of the best choices for families.
CosmoCaixa
CosmoCaixa is Barcelona’s science museum, with a flooded Amazon forest, a wall of real rock and a planetarium. Under-16s go free.
Big Fun Museum
Big Fun Museum has eight themed spaces of illusions and giant photo sets on La Rambla. Under-5s go free, and code BCNFORKIDS gives 10% off.
Museum of Illusions
The Museum of Illusions has more than 30 hand-painted 3D murals to step into and photograph, just off La Rambla. Under-5s go free, and code BCNFORKIDS gives 10% off.
House of Candy
House of Candy has 10 sweet-themed rooms of colours, textures and smells in the Eixample. Under-3s go free, and code BCNFORKIDS gives 15% off.
How to adapt your 3 days in Barcelona with kids by age
Babies, toddlers and under-6s
Make the Zoo and Parc de la Ciutadella the main outing of the day. Spend the morning at the Zoo, then have a picnic and stop at a playground in the park. You might also want to explore one of Barcelona’s markets. See our Barcelona parks and playgrounds guide.
Ages 6–12
Set aside a day for the rides at Tibidabo, the amusement park on the hill above Barcelona. If you’d prefer an indoor outing, spend a morning or afternoon at CosmoCaixa, where children can try hands-on science exhibits and walk through a recreated flooded rainforest.
Teenagers
White Rabbit explores Barcelona culture through immersive installations, while Moco Museum combines contemporary art with digital installations. If you’re choosing a Gaudí house, Casa Batlló has a tiled lightwell and a dragon-inspired roof. Check our What’s On for immersive exhibitions and fun things happening during your visit.
Siblings of different ages
If you’re spending a day on Montjuïc, make Poble Espanyol one of your stops. This open-air village brings together buildings inspired by different regions of Spain, with narrow pedestrian streets leading into courtyards and squares. Take your time exploring the side streets and stop by the craft workshops to see artisans at work. The Plaça Major, the village’s main square, is a good spot to take a break. You can also enjoy the nearby Montjuïc gardens on the way up or down.
Good to know
Some of these attractions have discounts with our code BCNFORKIDS.
For free entry ages and free museum days, see Free Things to Do.
Planning several attractions? You might save with the Barcelona Family Card. Compare Barcelona city passes →
