Summer with children in Barcelona

If you are planning a little family vacation, Barcelona offers a whole range of unforgettable experiences for the children…and for the adults. Here are just a few:

The Zoo and the Ciutadella park is an open-air whole-day option, perfect for Barcelona’s climate. Zoos are always amusing for children. The iconic albino gorilla “Copito de nieve” (Snowflake) is no longer with us, but his memory lingers on and mingles with the dozens of species which will satisfy even the most demanding. Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and especially lemurs which, due to the film “Madagascar”, are real favorites. Few children can resist singing “I like to move it” while passing by these cuddly creatures.
Alter the animal kingdom you can enjoy the Ciutadella park: have a little pick-nick under the trees, rent a bicycle with one or two seats, enjoy a rowboat ride on the lake surrounded by friendly ducks of all colors and sizes.

The Aquarium, a closed space surrounded by water, is a perfect option for sultry days. Unique in Europe it has an 80-meter tunnel, an immense oceanario, and 35 aquariums which use about 6 million liters of water and house 450 maritime species.
Specialists have loyally reproduced the natural habitat of each of the species. On Wednesdays and weekends divers swim among the sharks which adds a touch of emotion to the show.

The Parc Güell is Antoni Gaudi’s gift to children: It is a veritable pleasurehouse for children, with so many colors and shapes. Walking through this original space is a kind of dream with a surprise around every corner. The star of the show is “el drac” (the dragon) which has become not only the icon of the park, but also that of the entire city.

The Caixa Forum & Cosmo Caixa is a exhibition center which offers various activities for children in addition to its usual expositions. Caixa Forum offers art workshops, guided visits, films, and concerts all of which are related to the themes of the exhibits. It is for those who prefer science over art and loathe “Do not touch” signs.
Simple games teach the laws of physics by letting children experiment and use their imaginations. If outer space is your thing, this Tibidabo museum offers a planetarium which explains the origins and evolution of the Earth through images which are more than realistic.

La Illa Fantasia (Fantasy island) is not like the mythic television series, but it is an excellent way to spend a summer day with your family. It is an aquatic park with swimming pools (one especially equipped with hoops to play “waterbasketball”), toboggans of all sizes, a minigolf course, and a race track. You are sure to find everything you need to spend a great day: shops, restaurants, and even a picknick area equipped for grilling meat.
This “island” is not surrounded by water, but by Premia del Mar, a beautiful coast town.
FREE bus for Hotel Principal's guest!!!

Summer with children in Barcelona

If you are planning a little family vacation, Barcelona offers a whole range of unforgettable experiences for the children…and for the adults. Here are just a few:


The Zoo and the Ciutadella park is an open-air whole-day option, perfect for Barcelona’s climate. Zoos are always amusing for children. The iconic albino gorilla “Copito de nieve” (Snowflake) is no longer with us, but his memory lingers on and mingles with the dozens of species which will satisfy even the most demanding. Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and especially lemurs which, due to the film “Madagascar”, are real favorites. Few children can resist singing “I like to move it” while passing by these cuddly creatures.
Alter the animal kingdom you can enjoy the Ciutadella park: have a little pick-nick under the trees, rent a bicycle with one or two seats, enjoy a rowboat ride on the lake surrounded by friendly ducks of all colors and sizes.

The Aquarium, a closed space surrounded by water, is a perfect option for sultry days. Unique in Europe it has an 80-meter tunnel, an immense oceanario, and 35 aquariums which use about 6 million liters of water and house 450 maritime species.
Specialists have loyally reproduced the natural habitat of each of the species. On Wednesdays and weekends divers swim among the sharks which adds a touch of emotion to the show.


The Parc Güell is Antoni Gaudi’s gift to children: It is a veritable pleasurehouse for children, with so many colors and shapes. Walking through this original space is a kind of dream with a surprise around every corner. The star of the show is “el drac” (the dragon) which has become not only the icon of the park, but also that of the entire city.


The Caixa Forum & Cosmo Caixa is a exhibition center which offers various activities for children in addition to its usual expositions. Caixa Forum offers art workshops, guided visits, films, and concerts all of which are related to the themes of the exhibits. It is for those who prefer science over art and loathe “Do not touch” signs.
Simple games teach the laws of physics by letting children experiment and use their imaginations. If outer space is your thing, this Tibidabo museum offers a planetarium which explains the origins and evolution of the Earth through images which are more than realistic.

La Illa Fantasia (Fantasy island) is not like the mythic television series, but it is an excellent way to spend a summer day with your family. It is an aquatic park with swimming pools (one especially equipped with hoops to play “waterbasketball”), toboggans of all sizes, a minigolf course, and a race track. You are sure to find everything you need to spend a great day: shops, restaurants, and even a picknick area equipped for grilling meat.
This “island” is not surrounded by water, but by Premia del Mar, a beautiful coast town.

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What to do in Barcelona? (1 of 4 parts)

Time Out has published a special report about Barcelona: 20 things to do in the city. We'll share this information with you in five posts, starting today.


1. Ramble down colourful La Rambla

One of the most famous boulevards in the world, La Rambla is worth a stroll down even if you only have one day in Barcelona. A gateway to rural Catalonia, the mile-long road bustles with tourists, artists, human statues, fortune-tellers, dancers and musicians. Vibrant flower stalls, a cultural and exhibition centre, the superb La Boqueria market, a Joan Miró mosaic, newspaper kiosks and cafés line the street. You may pay a fortune to sip a cola at a roadside café, but the people-watching opportunities will be worth the price.

2. Get up close to Gaudí's grand designs:

In Barcelona, you can gaze in wonder at Gaudí's fairytale architecture. The Sagrada Familia is breathtaking and grotesque by turns. At first glance, it seems as though a careless giant has dripped melting wax over a Gothic cathedral, but a closer look reveals that the protuberances create a stone tapestry of Christ's life. Take the lift to the top for a breathtaking view. Park Güell is a magical place that emulates an English garden city. After seeing the gatehouses, based on designs for the opera Hansel and Gretel, you can walk up a splendid staircase, past a mosaic dragon to what once was a marketplace. Outside, climb to the heights of the park to gaze down at the magnificent panorama.

3. Hit a high note in concert:

Barcelona has its fair share of live music venues, such as Razzmatazz and

Bikini. But there are also marvellous concert halls. The Gran Teatre del Liceu is a spl endid p lace, decorated by gold leaf, plush red carpets and ornate carvings. L'Auditori is a sleek 2,400-seater venue that covers not only classical but also jazz and world music. The Palau de la Música Catalana is celebrated for its Modernista architecture, and sheer volume of musical activity. There are a cluster of music events, like the Festival Internacional de Jazz de Barcelona.

4. Picture the city of Picasso's youth:

Picasso remembered Barcelona as beautiful and bright, a city where he spent his early years. Follow in the footsteps of the artistic genius by visiting the landmarks that shaped his youth. Stroll along the Calle Reina Christina and then cross over to 3 Carrer de la Mercè to see where his family lived, though the building was later destroyed. For a break, stop by the Els Quatre Gats, a café frequented by Catalonia's fin-de-siècle avant-garde. Then, head straight to the Museu Picasso , a gallery that records Picasso's formative years.

5. Pick up a platter at a pintxo bar:

Picking on pintxos, platters of bite-sized food served on bread (a Basque version of tapas), is a popular culinary trend in Barcelona. Tradition calls for you to pick at the food with toothpicks, and at the end of the night you will be charged for the number of toothpicks that you have used. The Old Town Basque house Euskal Etxea invites you to savour dainty little croissants filled with jamón serano, chicken tempura with saffron mayonnaise, melted provolone with mango and ham, or a mini-brochette of pork and peppers.

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Have you been in Barcelona? What would be your "top 5" of things to do/see here?

Summer with children in Barcelona

If you are planning a little family vacation, Barcelona offers a whole range of unforgettable experiences for the children…and for the adults. Here are just a few:

The Tibidabo amusement park is one of Europe’s oldest but it is no way out-of-date. On the top of Monte Tibidabo it features spectacular vistas of the city as well as rides and shows for all children, young and old.
Among the most noteworthy is the PNDØL which takes you up 38 meters and then simulates a free fall which gets you up going 100 kl/hour in just 2.8 seconds. The “granota” (frog), the same idea but for children, is smaller in size but not in thrills.
You can find all the more traditional forms of entertainment: roller coasters for children and adults, houses of mirrors, houses of horrors, merry-go-rounds, miniature trains… And of course a full range of food and drink to replenish your strength. And don’t forget the “Diddado”, a four-screen cinema (in front, behind, on the left, and on the right) which outclasses any 3D show.

The Zoo and the Ciutadella park is an open-air whole-day option, perfect for Barcelona’s climate. Zoos are always amusing for children. The iconic albino gorilla “Copito de nieve” (Snowflake) is no longer with us, but his memory lingers on and mingles with the dozens of species which will satisfy even the most demanding. Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and especially lemurs which, due to the film “Madagascar”, are real favorites. Few children can resist singing “I like to move it” while passing by these cuddly creatures.
Alter the animal kingdom you can enjoy the Ciutadella park: have a little pick-nick under the trees, rent a bicycle with one or two seats, enjoy a rowboat ride on the lake surrounded by friendly ducks of all colors and sizes.

The Aquarium, a closed space surrounded by water, is a perfect option for sultry days. Unique in Europe it has an 80-meter tunnel, an immense oceanario, and 35 aquariums which use about 6 million liters of water and house 450 maritime species.
Specialists have loyally reproduced the natural habitat of each of the species. On Wednesdays and weekends divers swim among the sharks which adds a touch of emotion to the show.

The Parc Güell is Antoni Gaudi’s gift to children: It is a veritable pleasurehouse for children, with so many colors and shapes. Walking through this original space is a kind of dream with a surprise around every corner. The star of the show is “el drac” (the dragon) which has become not only the icon of the park, but also that of the entire city.

The Caixa Forum & Cosmo Caixa is a exhibition center which offers various activities for children in addition to its usual expositions. Caixa Forum offers art workshops, guided visits, films, and concerts all of which are related to the themes of the exhibits. It is for those who prefer science over art and loathe “Do not touch” signs.
Simple games teach the laws of physics by letting children experiment and use their imaginations. If outer space is your thing, this Tibidabo museum offers a planetarium which explains the origins and evolution of the Earth through images which are more than realistic.

La Illa Fantasia (Fantasy island) is not like the mythic television series, but it is an excellent way to spend a summer day with your family. It is an aquatic park with swimming pools (one especially equipped with hoops to play “waterbasketball”), toboggans of all sizes, a minigolf course, and a race track. You are sure to find everything you need to spend a great day: shops, restaurants, and even a picknick area equipped for grilling meat.
This “island” is not surrounded by water, but by Premia del Mar, a beautiful coast town.