Les Piscines del Montseny
Recommended by Carrie Frais
"Les Piscines de Montseny" are located bear the village of Montseny admist the beautiful Natural Park of Montseny. As well as the outdoor pool (around 4 euros to enter) there is a picnic and place for a BBQ, both of which are located next to a fresh water river.
There are also horses for riding the nature trails and quads to hire.
http://www.piscinesmontseny.com/primeraAngles.htm
Comments:
" My kids absolutely loved this area of the Montseny. The pool had an area for smaller children as well as slides and loungers. The river was absolutely stunning. The kids loved seeing the tadpoles and fish, beautiful dragonflies and butterflies. It's a great day out!" (CF, June 2011)
Aqua Leon
Recommended by The Catalan Tourist Board
A great water park with an animal safari. Located in the Baix Penedes region, the park accounts for more than 60 thousand metres squared of water park as well as 600 animals of 50 or so different species which you will be able to see up-close from a double decker Safari
Finca les Basses s/n 43716 Albinyana, Tarragona. 977687656 www.aqualeon.es
Comments:
Children love it here as there are such a variety of activities such as a nature school, mini zoo, swimming pools (including one wave swimming pool) and aquatic toboggans
Aventura Park
Recommended by Rebecca Lovell
Aventura Park is a soft park with branches located all over Spain, including a park in Martaro, Terrassa, Diagonal Mar, Barcelona, Granollers and Sabadell. All of the parks are open in the evenings and at weekends and have two main play areas; one for children between the ages of 2 and 4 and another for children from 5 to 10 years of age.
Collformic 63, Urb. Can Borrell
La Roca del Vallés (Barcelona) 08430
Tel. 93.842.44.70 aventurapark@aventurapark.com www.aventurapark.com
Comments:
"Like most soft parks, Aventura Park boasts a huge area for children to run around, a bouncy castle, ball pools, slides and soft, safe climbing frames, as well as a drinks and snacks area. Aventura Park also host children’s parties and always has monitors circulating for security. It only costs a few euros and is a great place for kids to burn off energy on a rainy day" (RL, March 08)
Barcelona Aquarium
This is the largest aquarium in Europe and includes a fun interactive space called Explora. Admission: Adults 13 euros. Children 4-12 years 9 euros. Under 4s free. There is also a yearly pass for 90 euros for 2 adults and 2 children, which also gives you discounts in the shop and cafe, and most importantly you don´t have to queue! Open 9:30am -9pm.
Moll d'Espanya, Port Vell. Metro Drassanes. 932217474 www.aquariumbcn.com
Comments:
Worth it just for walking in the vast transparent shark tunnel! Really good children´s area also
Barcelona Zoo
Recommended by Tara Cemlyn-Jones
Barcelona Zoo is in the Ciutadella Park and is open every day of the week but opening hours vary throughout the year. There is a children´s zoo and a train that runs around the park. For the lazier among you there are also electric cars which can take a family of four.
Parc de La Ciutudella s/n 932256780 Metro: Barceloneta (L4), Marina and Arc de Triomf (L1) www.zoobarcelona.com
Comments:
The zoo runs a very good summer school (casal) from 9 to 4pm and also can be used as a venue for birthday parties. You leave the kids for 2-3 hours and collect when the time is up – the birthday boy / girl gets to meet the dolphins – in person. There is also a great playground area for kids aged 2 . Every Saturday Zoo-Club organizes activities and games in the morning for children (4-11). The park is great for babies and toddlers because it is so clean and the grass is free from litter while providing well needed shade.
Cable Car ride
Recommended by Rebecca Shallcross
The kids will love the spectacular views over the city and the sea. Catch the cable far from the end of Paseo Joan de Borbó or from Montjuic. 3,70 euros for a single journey. 4,80 return. Return for children 3,70 euros. Jan-March 10am-6pm, April-May 10am-7pm, June-Sep 10am-9pm, October 10am-7pm November-December 10am-6pm
To get to Montjuic take the metro to Paral-lel and then the Funicular de Montjuic or get the tourist bus and get out at Montjuic stop or numbers 50, 55 or 61 local buses. 933289003
Comments:
There are now new cable cars installed replacing the rather rickety antique ones
Catalunya en Miniatura
Recommended by Rebecca Laidlaw
Catalunya en Miniatura is the biggest touristic and cultural complex in miniature in the world, and the only one in Spain.
08629 Torrelles de Llobregat Barcelona (+34) 936890960 www.catalunyaenminiatura.com
Comments:
Surprisingly good day out considering the place looked like it was built in the 80s (hasnt been renovated since!) and was virtually deserted! My son had an AMAZING time and I can highly recommend it for anyone with toddlers! Its basically a miniature village featuring all the major sites in Catalunya. Nearly all of the sites have a button the children can press and a train will start up, a factory will start working, a fire engine will put out a fire, cable cars will go up Monserrat, cars will move on a motorway, boats on a lake, skiiers on a mountain.....etc etc. The models were really well made and everything was very clean and well maintained. A major attraction was the train that children can go on that goes round entire place. Entrance was 10 euros with free entrance for kids. Take your own food as the restaurant is not to be recommended!!!! For older kids there is an adventure playground/climbing course. My son is 2 and 1/2 and he hasnt stopped talking about it since! I have had to promise to take him back again soon!" (RL, May 07)
Catamaran Orsom
Recommended by Carrie Frais
Barcelona´s largest Catamaran leaves from the bottom of Las Ramblas every day for sailing cruising lasting around an hour and a half.
Tel 934410537 www.barcelona-orsom.com
Comments:
You can also charter Orsom for one-off special occasion with live music
Illa Fantasia
Recommended by Barcelona Bounce
A very popular water park in the Maresme district of Barcelona, Illa Fantasia offers numerous activities for the kids. There are 22 water attractions, three big pools, a large picnic area, leisure, a dry children’s area and a series of small pools and toboggans. Services: Picnic area, “El Cheff” restaurant and disco. Times: The park is open from 27 May to 11 September from 10am to 7pm. The restaurant is open all year round Prices: adults: 15,50 euros; children: 12 euros.
Finca Más Brassó, s/n 08339 Vilassar de Dalt, Maresme. 937514553
Comments:
special rates for booking online
Mammoth Museum
Recommended by Martina
The Barcelona Mammoth Museum is a museum dedicated to mammoths and houses one of the best-preserved proboscidean skeletons and a huge life model using yak hair. There are also horns, fossils and various other exhibits.
C/Montcada 1, Barcelona www.museodelmamut.com
Comments:
"Last week we went to the Mammoth Museum in the Gothic area. We spent a really fun time there! The kids could touch the animals and the parents could enjoy the collection of authentic skeletons of the ice age animals and take fascinating pictures! I strongly recommend it" (Jan 2011)
Mas Casablanca
Recommended by Sandra Gliffe Frandon
Mas Casablanca is a family-run working farm which organizes tours for kids and groups
Carrer Jaume I, Taradell 08552 Barcelona
Tel 93 880 05 46 Demaneu per la Roser
Mail: roser@mascasablanca.com
www.mascasablanca.com/CA/index.html
Comments:
"a very nice location for the kids to see/ discover the animals of the farm (ducks, horses, cows, pigs...). Guided tour on Saturday and Sunday for kids and parents, events on a regular basis (watch their web!), own production of books for kids (really nice, only inconvenient: in catalan!) and huge garden. Less than 1 hour from Barcelona: a bright idea for a day trip" (SGF, April 2011)
Mirador Torre Collserola
Recommended by Tracy Flowerday
Opened for the '92 Olympics, the telecommunications tower at Tibidabo is nearly 300 metres high and is accessed by an external glass lift giving great views of the city. Open wed-fri 11am-2.30pm and 3.30pm-7pm. . Entry 5 euros.
Carretera de Vallvidrera al Tibidabo s/n Take the funicular to Tibidabo and there´s free transport to the tower from Plaza Tibidabo 934069354 informacion@torredecollserola.com www.torredecollserola.com
Nou Camp Tour
Recommended by Carrie Frais
This is an absolute must for all football-mad kids. The guided tour of the third biggest football stadium in the world includes visiting the grounds and pitch area as well as the Barcelona FC Museum.
Avenida Aristides Maillo 12-18 902189000 www.fcbarcelona.com
Comments:
Check out the stars' changing rooms, the trophy-laden museum and get up close to the pitch which has seen so much success over the years.
Outdoor Adventure Park - Marseme
Recommended by The Catalan Tourist Board
Here you´ll find twenty-two different ways of discovering the forest.: bridges made of tree trunks and wood, climbing walls, 100-metre abseiling descents and giant swings. In addition there is quad biking, touch ball, horse riding and archery.
Outdoor Adventure Activ-Natura Adventure Park, Camí de la Riera, s/n 08398 Santa Susanna ,Maresme. 679443095 www.activ.natura.com
Parc Etnologic de Tagamanent
Recommended by Jemma Trobe
About an hours drive from Barcelona in the direction of Vic is "La Calma", the Parc Etnologic de Tagamanent. Beautiful views and a great country Masia (El Bellver) serving only local and organic food.
937445082 info@lacalma.net www.lacalma.net
Parc del Laberint d' Horta
Recommended by Julie Stephenson
This 18th century Neoclassical Park with a maze is a hit with the kids. There are also some beautiful gardens to have a wander around. Admission 1,90 euros
Passeig Castanyers,1-bxs. Metro: Mundet L3
934282500 www.bcn.cat/parcsijardins
Comments:
The park also has a picnic and play area
Science Museum
Recommended by Louise Vaughan
This is a must for curious kids. Many have heralded the museum as the best of its kind in Europe. The exhibitions are distributed throughout various rooms, including the Amazon Forest, the Geological Wall and the Planetarium. Visitors can interact with many of the scientific experiments, making the whole experience more entertaining. Admission: 3 euros. Free every 1st Sunday of the month . Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 8pm. Closed on Mondays (except holidays)
Calle Teodor Roviralta, 47-51. 902223040 www.fundacio.lacaixa.es Bus Lines: 17, 22, 58, 60, 73, 75. Metro & FGC: First go to Diagonal Station (L5), connect with Ferrocarils de la Generalitat to Avinguda del Tibidabo Station, then take the "Tramvía Blau", (Blue Tram)
Comments:
"There are usually offers at the Science museum, whereby you can use one ticket for entry there and also at other child-friendly locations such as the Zoo, the botanical gardens and the Maritime Museum" (LV, Jan 08)
"I was dubious as to whether my 4 year old and 2 year old would really get anything out of a visit to a science museum, but CosmoCaixa is amazing... buttons positioned so that even the 2 year old could reach them, lots of space, fun, movement, calming Amazonic fish tanks. A great place to encourage a positive attitude to learning about how the world works. Children under 7 free, adults 3 euros, but if you plan on going a few times a year, the family Tarjeta Amiga is only 12 euros." (Shilpa, May 08)
