Family holidays in Barcelona and beyond

Family Holidays

Our tailor-made family holidays to Barcelona, Catalonia, and beyond are designed with the right mix of interest and adventure to ensure the whole family is catered for and happy.

Whether you want to spend your holiday in Barcelona, explore Catalonia, or combine the two, we like to consider ourselves pretty expert at knowing which ingredients make for a great family holiday and take pride in knowing what works best for children of all ages and tastes, while also making sure Mum and Dad are kept entertained and happy.

Although we believe Catalonia is one of the best parts of Spain for a family holiday, we’ve got plenty of ideas for fun-packed family adventures all over Spain and plenty of suggestions for fun and unusual places to stay. Whether you are looking for an all-out, high-energy adventure or something more leisurely and relaxed; whether you prefer beaches and the sea or horse-riding and mountain biking, we will put together exactly the kind of holiday you and your family are dreaming of.

Family Holidays In Barcelona

Barcelona is an excellent destination for a family holiday with kids.

Like the rest of Spain, the city and its inhabitants are very family-friendly, and children are welcome nearly everywhere, meaning family holidays can be more laid back and stress-free than in some other parts of the world.

There are plenty of ideas for things you can include on your holiday, from visiting the most playful and creative buildings of Antoni Gaudi, to exploring some great interactive museums and adventure playgrounds.

Whatever kind of holiday you want, there’s lots on offer in Barcelona to keep families of all ages entertained and happy.

Whether you are in the city for a few days or longer, we’ll make sure you discover Barcelona’s hidden secrets and make your stay here unforgettable.

Below are a few examples of the kind of things we can include on your Barcelona family holiday.

E-biking in Collserola

If you feel the need for some nature and some exercise on your Barcelona family holiday, the natural park of Collserola is right on your doorstep and is a great option for escaping the buzz of the city for a while.

At 84 km2 it is surprisingly big, easily one of the biggest metropolitan parks in the world, at 22 times the size of Central Park, NY. Mainly made up of pine forest and evergreen oak woods, Collserola is a real nature reserve and is perfect for exploring on E-bikes.

We arrange everything you need – your bikes, transport and guide – and we can also include a traditional Catalan brunch for you at a favourite little restaurant of ours, tucked away among the pine trees.

Parc Guell

Gaudi’s magical park, Parc Güell, is loved by all ages and is a must-see for any family holiday in Barcelona. Not surprisingly it’s one of the city’s best-loved attractions as Parc Guell shows us the most imaginative and creative side of Catalonia’s best-loved architect.

The mixture of styles and materials Gaudi used, make it a great place to explore, and there are lots of space for younger ones to run around and climb.

Other Gaudi buildings that will grab the attention of the youngest members of the family are Casa Batllo, with its dragon-like roof and incredible interior, and of course, the Sagrada Familia.

Recognizing that tours and children are not always a good mix, we have a Gaudi Q&A Gymkhana for under 10s, which keeps them happy discovering the secrets of Gaudi’s buildings while the rest of the family enjoys the full tour with the guide.

Tibidabo Funfair

High on the hills behind Barcelona, Tibidabo Funfair is a long-time favourite destination for generations of Catalans.

Apart from its amazing location, with spectacular views of the city, the funfair itself is a great way to spend an afternoon with the family. Not too big to be imposing, it still has a lot of the charm of funfairs of old, while still having a good number of rides and attractions to keep the whole family happy.

While you are there you can also visit the impressive Church of the Sacred Heart, whose statue of Christ with outstretched arms oversees Barcelona, much like Christ the Redeemer in Rio.

Montjuic

Highly recommended when you are in Barcelona is to catch the cable car from the old port up to the hillside of Montjuic, which overlooks the city. At the top, you can explore the 17th-century fortress, visit the Miro museum or Olympic stadium or take a walk through the many gardens and soak in the views of the city and its port. There is also a huge adventure playground on Montjuic for the young ones.

Family Holidays in Catalonia

From the beautiful coves of the Costa Brava to the majestic Pyrenees mountains, Catalonia, with its endless possibilities, is one of the best places for a family holiday in Spain, no matter when you want to travel.

If you prefer the coast, we have great options for fantastic beach escapes, where you can try every kind of water sport or take a boat to the Costa Brava’s most beautiful, unspoilt coves.

Inland there’s plenty of opportunity for adventure in the Mediterranean forests and mediaeval towns and villages of central Catalonia, where you can do some days cycling, horse riding, or even take a hot air balloon trip over the gorgeous landscape.

And of course, there is also the beautiful Pyrenees, where adventure includes whitewater rafting on the Llavorsi river, canyoning down mountain streams, or escaping to some of the most beautiful scenery in Spain, in the mountains and lakes of the Sant Maurici National Park.

A boat trip around Cap de Creus

There are plenty of places to take a boat along the coast of Catalonia, but none better than the lovely Cap de Creus peninsula with its dramatic, unspoilt coastline that juts out into the Mediterranean.

The best way to spend a day at Cap de Creus is on a boat, simply stopping to swim and snorkel in the turquoise waters of its deserted coves. There are snacks and cold drinks on board for you, as well as snorkeling gear.

For lunch, we take you to a hidden-away, award-winning chiringuito, that’s only reachable by boat, where you can try the best lobster rice in Catalonia and admire the views.

Hot Air Ballooning over the Garrotxa National Park

The Garrotxa national park in Girona is best known for its extinct volcanos. There are over 40 volcanos in the Garrotxa National Park, made up of 15,000 hectares of oak and beech forest, and the best way to see them is from the air.

After the balloon trip, you celebrate your flight with a hearty Catalan grilled brunch with tomato bread drizzled in olive oil, local cheeses and meats or veg, and a glass or two of cava. And if you want to make a day of it we can arrange a horse and cart ride through the dappled beech forests of La Fageda.

Star Gazing at the Montsec Astronomical Park

Classed as a UNESCO starlight reserve, the Serra de Montsec mountain range in Lerida is one of the best places for star gazing in Europe, with zero light pollution and clear skies. The Montsec Astronomical Park has two telescopes, a planetarium, and an open starlight room.

Apart from the magnificent night sky, you can spend the day hiking the Montsec mountains, going cycling, or kayaking on the nearby lake Tarradets. You stay the night in a comfortable hotel that overlooks the lake, and for lunch, there’s a great local restaurant that specialises in seasonal local produce.

Cycling the Green Ways

The Vias Verdes or Green Ways is a network of over 200 km of cycle paths that crisscross Catalonia following abandoned railway lines. They take you through the beautiful countryside and a great way to see Catalonia with the family is to explore one of them, stopping at a good local restaurant for lunch en route.