16 plans to enjoy the school vacations with children

In Barcelona we have incredible entertainment options for school vacations. While it is true that work conciliation is a challenge at this time of the year, fun plans can get you out of the routine.

We propose activities to enjoy with grandparents or as a family for children of all ages. From exciting outdoor excursions to cultural experiences. Find the perfect combination to satisfy the whole family while enjoying educational leisure time.

A playground…

Barcelona’s parks and gardens represent a fundamental space as a place for meeting and outdoor leisure. The metropolitan network of parks is made up of 34 parks spread over 25 municipalities, with a total surface area of 200 hectares, and most of them have a children’s area.

Take a stroll through the Parc del Fòrum, go to the Parc de Glòries to jump down its slides, enjoy the thousand square meter play area in the Parc de Can Batlló, discover the giant octopus in the Parc de la Pegaso, the giant whale in the Parc Central de Nou Barris, or the little train in the Parc de l’Oreneta are some of the ideas we put on the table.

Discover the 7 best parks in Barcelona.

A thematic museum…

In Barcelona there are more than 55 museums that are worthwhile,(well for tastes colors). Some of them are free every first Sunday of the month, others the rest of Sundays of the year from 15h, and most of them have free or reduced admission for children. So don’t think twice and enjoy all of them (especially on days when you don’t have to pay).

It is a very good option for educational leisure and there are some for all ages. The best known is the Cosmocaixa, the former Museu de la Ciència, but there is also the Museu Marítim, the Museu de Cera, the Museu de Xocolata, the CaixaForum (with many children’s workshops), the Museu d’Història or the Disseny Hub.

➕ So that money is not an excuse to miss out on cultural activities, check out the free museums here.

An interactive museum…

In museums, the rule says you can’t touch anything (and often not even photograph). But in Paradox Museum the rules are there to be broken: this museum invites you to interact with all its rooms, with dozens of optical and perspective games based on the concept of paradox. In addition, it is impossible not to take photos and videos in its facilities. An infallible plan to entertain your children and, without realizing it, they are learning new concepts of logic or mathematics.

Discover other immersive experiences suitable for all ages.

An excursion…

The coastal serralada is always a good plan. And if you want to stay closer you can walk along Collserola: the paths that take you to the Vallvidrera reservoir, the Aigües road or the Collserola Tower.

More options: walk for 4.5 km through the Bosc Encantat de La Roca del Vallès, climb La Mola by the “camí dels Monjos”, visit the Llobregat Delta by bike or go hiking to Montpedrós, the volcano of Baix Llobregat.

➕ The few times we do not talk about Barcelona we do it in our excursions section.

A restaurant…

Eating with the family in Barcelona can be a fascinating experience in every way, as there are restaurants very oriented to the family public so that also the little ones have a great time while eating.

Some of the restaurants with this look towards childhood best known are the Karli Family Space, with many dishes for children and children’s menu for groups and birthdays, the vegan vegetarian restaurant Aguaribay, with a small corner with books and wooden toys, the restaurant chain Muerde la Pasta, with giant ball parks in most of its establishments, or the Nüa Smart Restaurant a surprising sensory option.

➕ And if you want a romantic plan to retake your couple space here you have the most beautiful restaurants in the city.

An amusement park…

The amusement park par excellence in Barcelona is the Tibidabo. Of course, there are other parks a little further away, such as Port Aventura, Granja Aventura Park, Sould Park, or Barcelona Bosc Urbà that usually triumph among the little ones, and the not so little ones.

All the historical amusement parks of Barcelona you have here.

A toy library…

It is an ideal plan with children for rainy days, cold or extreme heat. The toy libraries are quality facilities where children can enjoy age-appropriate games, psychomotor spaces, symbolic play areas or group games.

In Barcelona there is a network of municipal toy libraries with a calendar full of socio-cultural activities. There are also private ones, where you can celebrate your birthday or go to spend the afternoon. Some of them are Las Casitas Ludoteca, in Sant Salvador street, with Pikler Furniture and free play, or the PeekaBoo, in Santaló street.

➕ 5 super playgrounds that you will find in Barcelona.

A space for parenting…

There are parenting spaces in every neighborhood in which to raise in community and share life experiences and hours of play. In some of them you will find play elements, but they are basically a meeting point for mothers and fathers.

There are more than 25 within the Network of Municipal Family Nurturing Spaces and they offer a service of support, attention and accompaniment to families with children up to 3 years old.

But there are also wonderful parenting spaces and groups fruits of private initiative such as the Espai Familiar Casa dels Colors, in Sants Montjuïc, the Papapà parenting group, at the Joan Pelegrí school, l’Espai Crèixer, the Tikai space, EcoTribu, Pell A Pell, Mamayoga or Fem Tribu.

➕ You can’t miss with your parenting group the children’s space, with 800 square meters, in Poblenou.

A farm…

A great activity for children to get in touch with nature. Of course, we will have to move a little away from the city. One of the experiences with a more suitable environment for children can be found at the EcoResort, which offers guided tours of its farm and orchards Verger Cerdà, where you can feed the animals and spend unforgettable days.

Other well-known farms are Can Gel, Mas Casablanca (these are two of the farms where i3 and i4 students from public and subsidized schools in Barcelona usually go), Soler de n’Hug, the Restaurant Granja Can Castellví, the Granja Escola Can Pere del Garraf or Can Jardí, in the municipality of Rubí.

The best outdoor activities to have fun in Barcelona.

A show…

Musicals, puppet shows, children’s plays… shows are a great cultural way to entertain and a nice way to learn art and culture.

If you’re a music lover at home, you and your little ones can indulge your musical passion with a Candlelight concert. These shows are a great way to introduce children to music from all eras and introduce them to classical instruments, such as the piano or a quartet of horns,

➕ The cultural offer of the city is very varied. Follow the cultural plans here.

A workshop…

There are handicrafts, dance and theater, cooking or science, nature and environment. In Barcelona we have a very extensive offer in museums, but also in the streets, promoted by the City Council or groups of businesses in various festivals and popular festivals. In the network of Civic Centers you will find many activities and workshops for all audiences.

➕ Unlock your artistic activities with this workshop to paint in the dark.

A library…

The best public library in the world is in Barcelona, it is the Gabriel García Marquez Library and has a huge area dedicated especially to children’s literature. Some of the most dynamic libraries for children are Jaume Fuster, Sagrada Familia, Esquerra de l’Eixample Agustí Centelles Library, or Camp de l’Arpa.

There are also children’s bookstores with entire spaces dedicated to children. At Abacus Balmes they even have a Lego creation space, at Ona bookstore there is the PetitOna space and then there are exclusive bookstores aimed at the little ones, such as La Petita, in the Sant Martí district….

➕ You don’t have to be a bookworm to enjoy the best ones.

A store…

We propose you the most fun stores in Barcelona to go with children. An original proposal to stroll around the city and promote trade in the area.

Beyond the Lego of Passeig de Gràcia and the Camp Nou store, there are other possibilities, such as walking through Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley in Barcelona or buying an ice cream in a store that seems to be NASA.

➕ 7 stores to go with kids that you can’t miss.

A cafeteria with a play space…

Cafés with play spaces have become a haven for families who want to relax and chat with other adults to share experiences while their children play in a safe and welcoming environment.

One of the most famous is on Calle Bilbao and is called Cafeïne . If we go into the heart of Sarrià we find “Pinhan, el Jardí Secret” and in Sant Feliu de Llobregat you will find a family area ideal for snacking, with playroom and outdoor garden called “La Jungla Family Café”, yes, you have to send a WhatsApp or call before to book.

A monument or site of cultural interest…

Visiting a monument or a site of special tourist interest in the city is a good way to learn about the history of where we come from. In almost all of them you will find family visits and children’s programming.

La Pedrera offers a series of activities for children to learn about modernism, they will love Park Güell, Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló or Casa Milá. There are a number of spaces, such as the Cathedral of Barcelona that are free if you live in the city or metropolitan area. So take advantage of the opportunity.

➕ 15 monuments you can’t miss.

A swimming pool…

Whether in winter, in indoor pools, or in summer, in open-air pools, aquatic activity greatly strengthens the muscles, enhances coordination and breathing. Beyond a recreational activity, it is a complete workout that, in addition to making you enjoy it, will bring multiple benefits to your body.

In summer the most spectacular pools to go with children are the lake of La Creueta, Can Dragó or Picornell pools and in winter we recommend Can Felipa, which also offers activities for babies, Lenoarmi in Sarrià, also for babies and family plan, or any municipal pool at popular prices.

Theseare our favorite pools in Barcelona.