Six things to do in Barcelona with kids

As iconic cultural attractions go, Park Güell, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, might just be the most family-friendly. Its winding paths and mature planting are perfect for games of hide-and-seek, it’s full of squawking birds and interesting insects, and colourful mosaics that are as tactile as they are vibrant. The park gates are even guarded by iron dragons – it’s as if Gaudí intended it to be the stuff of fairytales. Get a guided tour of the park as well as of the artist’s unfinished modernist church, La Sagrada Familia, on the Gaudi-focused Princess excursion.

Barcelona’s aquarium is home to over 11,000 animals, so there’ll be something to amaze visitors of any age. At 11.30am each day the penguins are fed, and if you’re feeling brave you can even check the website to find out feeding times for the sharks. Hands-on interactive displays make learning about life under water easy, and even the littlest kids will enjoy the oceanarium, an 80-metre underwater glass tube that sees you surrounded by sea creatures. Enjoy a visit to the aquarium as part of the Discovery Family Barcelona City Tour & Aquarium excursion.

Of all the things to do in Barcelona with kids, this is the one that even teenagers will leap out of bed for. A fresh batch of – Spain’s version of doughnuts, which come as long, dippable fingers – is irresistible whether you’re having it for elevenses or an afternoon treat, especially when dunked in thick hot chocolate. At Chocolateria La Nena, not far from La Sagrada Familia, there’s even a child-sized table to seat little ones, which handily might stop them pinching your portion…

The Telefèric de Montjuïc is a cable car that whisks you up 213 metres of elevation on a 750-metre-long track, offering spectacular views over the city. Rides embark from downtown Parc Montjuïc and the five-minute journey is long enough to soak up the vista but not long enough for anyone to get bored! If you don’t fancy visiting Montjuïc Castle when you get to the top, follow the stairs a little further down from the cable car station and you’ll find two excellent slides to whizz down. Handily, under-fours travel in the cable car for free.

Everyone loves the beach and the pretty seaside town of Sitges is a delightful place to spend a sunny day. It’s just 20 miles down the Catalan coast from the city of Barcelona and can be enjoyed on a Princess Sitges Highlights excursion, which includes plenty of time for sandcastles and paddling. Plentiful sunbeds and beach bars make the outing plenty of fun for the parents, too.

Having been inspired by Barcelona’s many famous artists, why not get stuck into a creative workshop with all the family at Mosaiccos. All of you will receive a pre-prepared tile to stick brightly coloured mosaic onto in order to create your own mini masterpiece. Whether you copy the Gaudí creations from Park Güell, channel the neat lines of Dutch abstract painter Piet Mondrian or go channel your own creative energy is completely up to you.