Tips for a Great Family Holiday in Barcelona

If you’re desperately searching for some inspiration for where to take the family on holiday this year, it can be tough to find something that really gets you excited or that you know 100% that you’ll all love. After all, it can be hard to keep a whole family happy!

"Sagrada Familia 02" by Bernard Gagnon - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

A place you may not have considered is Barcelona, and it may be a really great option for you all. I went years ago and loved it. Here are some tips for a great family holiday in Barcelona!

Consider an apartment instead of a hotel
Having a family cramped into a hotel can sometimes be a bit of a nightmare, and luckily, you can rent a whole apartment for your stay in Barcelona just as cheaply, in most cases, as a hotel! Check sites like ClassBedroom for some more info on apartments in the different districts of Barcelona to see what you can get for your money, and to see which of the many fabulous districts takes your fancy for your stay.

For us, being a larger family, we find apartments to be a great way to be more comfortable and also a great way to save money.  When you don't have to eat out all the time you quickly see the savings.  Apartments are typically similarly priced as hotels and their per person policies but even when they are a bit more expensive we've found that it pays off quickly in the end on family sanity and kitchen use alone.

Getting around is easier than you think
Public transport in Barcelona is not only really reliable but really family friendly. Almost all metro stations and buses are accessible with pushchairs so you won’t have to worry about the struggle of getting on and off too much. There are metro and bus stations near most of the major attractions too so you can relax knowing you won’t have to walk far when you get off. You probably won’t even need a car in Barcelona, which is a huge plus and will save you lots of cash.

"Tramway de barcelone 1" by Fabien1309 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 fr via Wikimedia Commons.

When I took my trip through Western Europe, I used public transport alone and had no issues with it at all, in fact I think it is far less stressful than trying to figure out where you are going and navigating city driving in a new place.  As a tip though when booking a spot to stay it is much nicer to be close to a metro station!  

Check out the family friendly attractions
As it’s such a popular city with tourists, there are plenty of things for the whole family to do so you won’t have to worry about struggling to find fun and entertainment to suit the whole tribe. The L’Aquarium is one of our favourites (and is sure to be a favourite with the little ones too!) and you can get discounted tickets online, too. There is also an interactive science museum which is well worth a visit as well.

You could even take a family friendly tour of Barcelona too which is a great way to see as much of the city as possible in a shorter amount of time. Simply walking around the city we found to be fun, the unique architecture, Sagrada Familia, inside and out, Olympic park, etc.  There is no shortage of fun to be had around the city!

Give your little ones a taste of true Catalonian cuisine
Everyone knows that Spanish food is incredible, and the people of Barcelona put their own special twist on it to make it even better. Your kids will love trying the unique dishes such as Fideua (like paella but with noodles instead of rice and a slightly different sauce) and Calcots, and you can make a day of it by trying them out at one of the city’s many incredible food markets. They’re free to enter and most of them boast high quality products at really cheap prices – often much cheaper than eating at a restaurant.

Alternatively you can also get set up in a cooking class for you or even for your kids.  That way you can bring those amazing culinary aromas and flavors home with you to enjoy forever!