Full of culture, history, and art, Barcelona is a city that embraces us with all its beauty and gives us a unique sense of belonging.
For this and many other reasons, it’s the perfect city to explore as a family at any time of year.
In addition to the city’s most famous sites, marked by the genius of the architect Antoni Gaudí, many places are off the beaten track, which the whole family will love to visit.
Come with us and discover incredible places to visit with the family that will certainly create unforgettable memories.
The Gothic Quarter
We can’t help but start our suggestions with one of Barcelona’s most charismatic neighborhoods. The Gothic Quarter, the location for films such as Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, is a fabulous gateway to a past full of glory and mystery. You can spend endless hours exploring this neighborhood’s narrow, labyrinthine streets with its medieval ambiance without ceasing to be surprised by every nook and cranny. We’ll suggest other specific places within this neighborhood, but it’s worth touring its entire length at least once.
Plaça Reial
Arriving at Plaça Reial, still in the Gothic Quarter, is like entering a universe that mixes mystery and excitement in equal doses. If you go at night, you’ll find a stunning setting, with palm trees lit up by dozens of lights, surrounded by beautiful and mysterious Gothic architecture. Take the opportunity to dine on the terrace of one of the local restaurants and enjoy the admirable performances of the various street artists every night.
Columns of the Temple of Augustus
If history especially fascinates you, you will enjoy discovering the ruins of an ancient Roman temple dedicated to Emperor Augustus, hidden inside a building in the Gothic Quarter. The four marble columns date from the 1st century BC and were discovered in the 19th century.
Parc del Laberint d’Horta
Barcelona’s oldest park, built in the 18th century, is well-known for its cypress maze, where the whole family can have fun trying to find the path out. Enjoy a stroll through this fascinating place where there is no shortage of charming neoclassical and romantic gardens, fountains, statues, and even a palace.
Casa Vicens
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, Casa Vicens is Gaudí’s first masterpiece and an impressive testimony to the architect’s visionary talent and ability to blend elements of nature with a unique architectural style. The house’s façade is distinguished by its use of colored ceramic tiles and decorative bricks, and its interior is made up of a mixture of styles, including Moorish, Gothic, and even Eastern elements.
Bunkers del Carmel
A former military bunker that served as a defense during the Spanish Civil War, it is now a viewpoint with one of Barcelona’s most beautiful panoramic views. You can get here by cab or bus or, if you want to exercise with the family, you can walk up a steep hill. If you go at the end of the day, you’ll be treated to a magnificent sunset, which is especially beautiful here.
Tibidabo
Barcelona’s highest point, at 512 meters, offers spectacular views of the city and the sea. The little ones and others will especially enjoy the Tibidabo Amusement Park, with classic and modern attractions such as the Ferris wheel, the carousel, the roller coaster, and the airplane. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Temple of the Sacred Heart, a neo-Gothic church on the mountaintop.
Hospital de Sant Pau
The Hospital de Sant Pau is a modernist architectural complex designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, the same architect as the Palau de la Música Catalana. The hospital operated until 2009 and was restored and opened to the public as a cultural and heritage space. Here, you can enjoy the pavilions decorated with mosaics, stained glass, and ceramics, as well as the gardens and underground tunnels.
CosmoCaixa
On a more family-oriented level, we suggest a visit to an interactive science museum that offers fun and educational experiences for all ages. Here, you’ll find exhibitions about the universe, life on Earth, matter, the Amazon rainforest, and much more. The museum also has a planetarium, an astronomical observatory, and a geological garden.
Museum of Chocolate
If you’re a chocolate lover, you’ll particularly like our last suggestion. It’s a museum dedicated to chocolate’s history, culture, and art, where you can see chocolate sculptures of famous characters, monuments, and historical scenes and learn about chocolate’s origin, production, and consumption. The museum also offers workshops, tastings, and activities for children.
Make the most of the arrival of fall, with its renewed energy and milder weather, to take that family trip you’ve been dreaming of. Barcelona is sure to be an excellent choice.
Book your flights here.
