Barcelona Mum

Fun for the parents and the little ones!

If you come to Barcelona with your children, fear not! We can organize a tour in the old town which can be enjoyed by parents and offspring alike. The idea is to include visits, games and stories to keep the attention of the younger ones (and the odd easily-distracted adults). These might include an artisanal sweet shop where they can see how the candies are made, an original toy workshop, an old-fashioned milk bar where they can indulge in a creamy traditional milkshake, guessing games in the food market, and more.With the little ones occupied, there is time to explain to the grown-ups of the group the anecdotes on the history, culture, cuisine and associated tales of the city.
They can also organize lots of snack stops and something perhaps stronger for the adults! Every day except Sunday from 10 to 2 or from 4 to 8. Price 160 euros per group. Limited to 10 people. Contact enquiries@intoBarcelona.com or Carrie on 620586655

Comments:
The tours can be given in English, Dutch or Spanish.
 

Recommended by Tracy Flowerday

Poble Espanyol

This is a mini-disneyland with every Spanish region in cameo and it provides great day out for children. Entry is 8 euros for adults and 5 euros for kids. Family ticket 16 euros (with children between 7 and 12 years). Opening times Monday 9am - 8pm Tuesday to Thursday 9am - 2am Friday 9am - 4am Saturday 9am - 5am Sunday 9am -midnight 
Metro Espanya. Buses 55, 13. Tourist Bus Stop:Poble Espanyol (+34) 935086300 www.poble-espanyol.com
 

Comments:
Great day out with a variety of craft workshops, shows, games and story-telling sessions.

Recommended by Tracy Flowerday

Tibidabo Amusement Park

Mix of fun rides and state-of-the-art attractions including a multimedia experience which allows children become part of a cartoon. There is also a mechanical Puppet museum dating back to 1899.  Entrance fee: adults 15 euros, children under 110cm height 4 euros. Unlimited use of rides and attractions. Open every day from 11am apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day 
3-4 Plaza del Tibidabo By Train: Get FGC from Plaza Catalunya to Avenida Tibidabo then follow signposts to the Tramvia Blau at the end of Balmes in Placa John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Take the Tramvia to the Mirablau and then the Funicular to the top of the Mountain. By Bus: Take the Tibibus from Plaza Catalunya (from 10.30am) (+34) 932117942 www.tibidabo.com

Comments:
Journey up to Tibidabo great for kids. Views are breathtaking once there. You can get a refund for the cost of the fare for both the Tibibus and the Funicular by handing in proof of payment at Tibidabo´s ticket office when you buy an entrance ticket.

Recommended by Louise Vaughan

Port Aventura

Hugely popular theme park around an hour outside Barcelona. You can be flung around eight inverted loops on Dragon Khan (supposedly the largest roller-coaster in Europe) or get soaked on Tutuki Splash. There are also shows with bubbles, birds of paradise, Mexican and Chinese themes.
Located near Salou/La Pineda, off A7. Buses go from from Passeig de Sant Joan and for trains from Passeig de Gracia. Look for trains on the Salou line and you need to get off at Port Aventura  www.portaventura.es

Comments:
The park also has areas designated for small children such as play areas, small rides, children´s swimming pools and the hotels offer special services for children such as menus, entertainment and monitor led activities. There are many baby changing facilities at the park and you are also able to rent prams.

Chocolate Museum

Located in an ancient convent in Calle Comerc (number 36) in el Borne, children can learn everything about chocolate including its medicinal, nutritional and aphrodisiac qualities. There are also some fantastic chocolate sculputures and workshops to teach you how to make chocolate. Best of all you can sample the goods! Admission 3,6 euros 
Calle  Comerç 36 (+34) 932687878 Metro Barceloneta or Arc de Trionfo museu@pastisseria.cat www.pastisseria.com 
 

Comments:
You can taste some of the best hot chocolate in Barcelona in the cafe/shop, which is also a must during Easter and Christmas for very tasty gifts! Very close to one of Barcelona´s most famous restaurants Comerç 24 which offers a fantastic tasting menu.

Recommended by Louise Vaughan

Las Golondrinas

Double decker pleasureboats take you from the harbour to the breakwater. Good fun, good value with some great views of the city. Every half hour leaving from the bottom of Las Ramblas until 7pm. Adults 5 euros children up to 12 years 2,50 euros 
(+34) 934423106 www.lasgolondrinas.com
 

Comments:
If you prefer to take a Catamaran trip try 'Orsom' which also leaves daily from the bottom of Las Ramblas. .

Recommended by Victoria Ging

Montserrat

Half the fun is getting there. The cog railway up the mountain is a must for children and railway enthusiasts alike .Once there, children will be awestruck by the wacky shaped rocks and for the more active there are numerous walking tracks, caves. Montserrat is of course famous for being the home of Our Lady of Montserrat and a Benedictine monastery.
Trains (R5) go from Placa d'Espanya metro.You can either get a train and cable car ride or just the train (and rack railway). Journey is approx one hour and they leave at a quarter to the hour. Get out at Montserrat Aeri Station if you have chosen the cable car or in Monistrol de Montserrat station to change to the Rack railway. Price: 12 Euros Oficina d'Informació de Montserrat (+34) 938777701 informacio@larsa-montserrat.com www.montserratvisita.com

Comments: 
you can also get there by car but parking is pricey
 

Recommended by Carrie Frais

Magic Fountains of Montjuic (Font Magica)

This is a great stop for some evening entertainment for the children. The Font Magica is a colourful water and classical music extravaganza held each night. Thurs-Sun 9pm, 9.30pm, 10pm, 10.30pm, 11pm. From October to April just Fridays and Saturdays 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm and 8.30pm
La plaza de Carles Buïgas, just above the Avenida de Maria Cristina. Metro Espanya .Walk towards the MNAC between the two large towers at Placa Espanya

Recommended by Lara Pennington

Nou Camp Tour

An absolute must for all football-mad kids. The guided tour of the third biggest football stadium in the world includes visiting the stadium,tunnel & pitch area. Admission: 11,50 euros adults 9,20 euros for children under 13 years.
Av. Aristides Maillo 12-18  Metro Collblanc, Les Corts, Badal or Maria Christina (+34) 902189000 www.fcbarcelona.com

Comments: 
The museum entrance fee is extra (7.50 euros and 6 euros)

Recommended by Carrie Frais

Visit to the Zoo

Zoos aren´t everyone´s cup of tea, but Barcelona Zoo has a lot to offer children. As well as big cats, penguins, gorillas, hippos, bears etc there is a twice daily dolphin show at and a children´s farm with pigs, horses, rabbits & guinea pigs.The play area in the centre of the zoo is excellent, including a mini absail area and climbing frames. On the downside drinks & snacks are quite expensive and it gets very crowded at weekends. Open from 10am until 7pm in summer and until 6pm in the winter.
Parc Zoologic de Barcelona S.A, Parc de la Ciutadela s/n, 08003 Barcelona Metro Arc de Trionfo or Barceloneta (+34) 932256780 www.zoobarcelona.com

Comments: 
The Zoo is located within the Parc de la Ciutudela, where there is a great play area for the younger children next to the lake.

Recommended by Elinor Ridler

Barcelona Aquarium

This is the largest aquarium in Europe and includes an interactive space called Explora. Admission: Adults 13 euros. Children 4-12 years 9 euros. Under 4s free. Open 9.30am - 9pm.
Moll d'Espanya, Port Vell. Metro Drassanes (+34) 932217474 www.aquariumbcn.com

Comments:
Worth it just for walking in the vast transparent shark tunnel! There is a really good interactive children´s area. You are also among the shops and restaurants of the Maremagnum - a good place for lunch.
 

Recommended by Rebecca Laidlaw

Montseny

Montseny is the mountain range north of Barcelona and makes a great day trip or weekend away. It contains the highest mountains in the area south of the Pyrenees and dominates the valley south of Girona. The area is renowned for chestnut picking and mushroom hunting, which kids will love.
Ctra. de Sant Celoni al Turó de l'Home, km 10,8 08470 Fogars de Montclús  938475102 p.montseny@diba.cat  www.diba.cat/parcsn/parcs/index.asp?Parc=3

Comments:
The national park was made a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1978
 

Recommended by Yasmina Old

Donkey Rides - Maresme

Fun donkey rides for adults and children in Maremse, or if you prefer to walk, the donkey can just take the bags! You’ll also be able to watch recreations of people at work in the fields, harvesting, transporting water and wood as these tasks used to be done in the old days. The routes are accompanied by a guide and are all within the Montnegre i el Corredor Natural Park. Any of the activities can include a typical country meal. Guided excursions, instructors, bar and shop selling souvenirs also available. Prices: one hour on a donkey + lunch: 31 euros. Please enquire about other rates.  Prior booking required.
Rucs del Corredor Donkey Rides, Vïnat Rimbles, s/n Apartado Correos, 23 08818 Canyamars, Maresme. (+34) 610899926 rucsdelcorredor@hotmail.com www.rucsdelcorredor.com

Comments: 
Discounts for children. Closed from 23 December to 1 February
 

Recommended by The Catalan Tourist Board

Paintballing - Maresme

Paintballing  in natural woodland covering ten thousand metres squared in the Parque Natural de Montnegre. Price 22 euros, which includes all the equipment.
Paint Ball Duaka Adventures, Moragas i Barret, 38, 08397 Pineda de Mar, Maresme. (+34) 617024145 info@duaka.com www.duaka.com

Comments: 
Duaka offer a range of activities including quad biking and  human table football
 

Recommended by The Catalan Tourist Board

Outdoor Adventure Park - Marseme

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

Recommended by The Catalan Tourist Board