Fun for the whole family - 2 days

This 2-days sightseeing tour is a lot of fun, especially for families. On the first day, bus or subway are hardly used, since almost everything is reachable on foot. On the second day, one takes a couple of times the subway.

The first day is devoted to the Rambla, the Old Town, the port and the Montjuïc.
The Eixample district and Gràcia with buildings of Gaudí and the beautiful Parc Güell are on the shedule of the second day.

The proposed sightseeing tour is quite extensive. Depending the stamina and interests of your children, you can simply omit one or the other sight. Since, expecially on the first day, it includes many walks , we have given you advice for short cuts.

The first day through Barcelona the whole family

You start at the Plaça Catalunya. Not that this square is a special attraction, but it is the centre of Barcelona and during the stay, one consistently gets by it. Especially young children have a lot of fun, feading the pigeons there.

El Corte Inglés, one of Barcelonas biggest department stores, is situated at the square. On the top floor, there is a restaurant with a spectacular view of the Plaça Catalunya. Good opportunity for a breakfast.

Starting at the Plaça Catalunya, you follow  the Ramblas in the direction of the sea. In the upper part, there are many marketeers who deal with animals, especially with little birds. Then, the florist come. Maybe not in the very early morning hours, but you will always encounter the living statues. Imaginatively dressed and masked, standing on small columns. Put some chage into the box and the statue will move quickly. For children always an experience.

Towards the end of the Rambla, seeing the Columbus statue before you, in height of the subway Drassanes, you turn left into a small alley. Here resides the Museum of waxworks. It is not as well known as Madamme Tussauds in London, but has its own charm, however. From the Museum of waxworks one comes directly to the Café "Bosc de la Fades", in english „Magic Forest“. It is decorated with dwarves, mermaids and fountains. If you have not eaten yet, good opportunity to do it here.

Back on the Rambla you see on your right the Museu Marítim, in the former shipyard accommodated Maritime Museum. The history of seafaring of all epochs. The dazzling highlight  is a replica of the original Rowing galley from the year 1571. The storm simulation on the ship will inspire children. The Museu Marítim has a nice café for a break.

Now , we continue in the direction of the sea. You will see the  about 60 metres high Columbus monument. It is possible to take a lift to go up.That is quite nice, but the program still offers one or the other view.

Crossing the Rambla de Mar to the Maremagnum. Depending on wether you are already hungry, you can wine and dine here or you wait after having visited the next attraction. In the Maremagnum there are a few restaurants, where you can eat quite  well. For the small hunger, there is the Pans & Company - Fast food with typical Spanish baguettes.

A must to visit is the Aquàrium with one of the the largest marine show in Europe. The Auqàrium is only a few metres from the Maremagum. It has a special focus on the interests of children. The highlight  is the glass tunnel through the shark tank. Not only sharks, but many other marine life, such as skates, can be amdired closely.

Now, you have two possibilities to continue. If your kids like the sea and beach experience, choose the first option, if not, then go for the second variant. At the Font Màgica , the two alternative routes meet.

1st route: sea and beach:  from the Aquàrium you head for the town, passing the IMAX cinema, keep right while walking dockside. When you return to the level of the Aquàrium, turn left  and walk directly to the sea through the Barceloneta district. Barceloneta, a former fishermen's quarter, offers execellent - but also very gruesome – food. Take a look at the restaurants in Barceloneta. Fish is popular.

Now, fetch the children from the beach and go to the terminal stop of the funicular „St. Sebastian“. Get a lift to the Montjuïc.

2nd route: Directly to Montjuïc: Go back a short distance towards  the  Columbus column, at the harbour wall to the left of the middle station „Jaume I.“, the funicular. They drive you directly onto the Montjuïc. Now you can directly climb up  the "mountain" or take the funicular from the Plaça de Sardanes. Here, you will experience a very impressive sight. Go now to the MNAC (M useu National d'Art de Catalunya), one of the most famous art museums. On your way you will pass the Picasso Museum.

Be lucky if your children are inspired by contemporary art, otherwise just pass the Picasso Museum and the MNAC towards the Poble Espanyol. This is a special open-air museum. The village consists of buildings from all regions of Spain. In the houses, there are traditional crafts shown, such as glassblowing. A couple of good restaurants provide you with excellent meals.

Go now to the last and shared station, the Plaça Espanya, by passing the MNAC and the exhibition. You should be there no later than 21:30. Every half an hour,  the Font Màgica starts to sprinkle to the sound of music and color.

By now, the children will be tired. At the metro station of the Plaça Espanya, you can take a train which brings you close to your hotel.

When the children are asleep,  we suggest seeing the Gothic quarter. Especially at night, when the cathedral is illuminated from the outside, it is a very beautiful place.

Possible shortcuts
On the first day, the whole route has a distance of 6,7-7,7 kilometres, depending on which route variant you choose.

• From the Plaça Catalunya, you can use the subway L3 directly to the Columbus Memorial Drive (Drassanes station). Therefore, you skip the Ramblas. You save about one kilometre.
• The alternative route 2 is 1 kilometre shorter than the route over the beach. Howeve, you miss out the beach.
• Instead of the funicular, use the underground  from the station Drassanes to the Plaça Espanya. From there it is a short walk to the Poble Espanyol. But, you will have to abstain from the funicular and the Montjuïc. Therefore, you save around 3 kilometres.

The second day of our city tour for the family

It starts again at the Plaça Catalunya. From there, you go by Line 4, towards "Canyelles" and get off at  "Passeig de Gracia". You will see the Casa Batlló, one of the most famous works of the architect Antoni Gaudí. The inner of the building might not be interesting for children, but show your children the roof. How does it look like?

Opposite to the Casa Batlló, there is another artwork from Antoni Gaudí, the Casa Milà, which is worthwhile visiting by all means. In particular, the roof inspire your children's imagination.

You can now return to the metro, drive on to the station "Sagrada Familia" and get off here. The Sagrada Familia, is probably the most famous work of Gaudí and THE landmark of Barcelona. The church is built since 1882 and will be completed in 2026. The construction is financed by donations and admission money. You should not miss to climb up of one of the towers.

Once again, you take the metro. You get off at the station Lesseps of line 3. It's about 10 minutes walk to the Parc Güell, also designed by Gaudí. Just enjoy the park and whilst taking a walk.

If the park is too boring for your  children, which is hard to imagine, then it is comforting to know that soon you will be on the way to the Tibidabo, Barcelona's very own mountain, and it´s amusement park.You go there by metro line 7 to the last stop „Av. Del Tibidabo“. You go on  with a famous unicum: the Tramvia Blau, the blue tram.
At the terminal stop, the rack railway brings you to to the summit. In the Parce d´Atraccions, the Museum of Vending Mashines will be interesting for your children. Your can also go to the television tower and go to the top. From above, you look through the glass ground into the profundity. On a clear day, one has a fantastic view until well into the back-country.
It is interesting in the Parque d'Atraccions the museum vending machine for your children. You can also go to the TV productions. They look up from a glass floor in the depths. The wonderful vision on a clear day until well into the hinterland.

Overall, you walk about three kilometres this day.

Now you are certainly hungry. Descend the mountain. The Gràcia district is a great place to have the finest food.
Our tip: Owners of the Barcelona Card have reduced admission for some of the here presented sights and can use the public transport for free.