Things to Do With Kids in Barcelona: Prices and Ages for 2026

Barcelona works well with children. The big family sights are spread across the city, from the science museum in the hills to the aquarium by the port, but the metro, a funicular and a cable car link them up, and getting there is half the fun. Most places have clear age bands and free entry for the youngest, so it is worth checking heights and birthdays before you buy tickets.

Below are the best family plans, with the 2026 prices and ages each one publishes. For flights and a weekend plan, see our weekend in Barcelona from Cyprus and the Barcelona destination page. If you are comparing destinations for the school holidays, our guide to half-term trips with direct flights from Cyprus puts Barcelona next to shorter flights.

Prices and opening days can change, so check before you go.

CosmoCaixa: the science museum

CosmoCaixa is Barcelona's science museum, at Carrer d'Isaac Newton 26 in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, near the Avinguda Tibidabo station on the FGC line. It opens every day from 10:00 to 20:00, with earlier closing on 24 and 31 December and 5 January, and it closes on 25 December and 1 and 6 January. General entry is about €8 (2026) and covers the permanent and temporary exhibitions.

For younger children, look for Clik on floor −3, a hands-on space where families experiment with air, light, water and simple machines, from a wind tube and bubble tube to paper planes and gear circuits, supervised by educators. Planetarium shows and workshops are extra, and places are limited, so book them when you buy your entry.

Good for: a rainy day, curious children of any age, and parents who like science as much as the kids do.

L'Aquàrium de Barcelona

The aquarium is on the Moll d'Espanya in Port Vell, the old harbour. It is open every day of the year, and children pay from the age of 3, so under-3s go free. The ticket offices close an hour before the aquarium does, so don't arrive late in the day. Prices change by season and by ticket type, so check the aquarium's own site before you go.

Good for: toddlers and younger children, and a wet afternoon. Combine it with a walk along the harbour.

Tibidabo Amusement Park

Tibidabo is the amusement park on top of the hill behind the city, with rides and views over Barcelona. The Cuca de Llum funicular takes you up the hill to the park.

Prices (as of 2026):

Prices are by height, not age, so measure your children before you buy.

When it opens: in July and August the full park opens Wednesday to Sunday. The rest of the year it opens on weekends, holidays and set dates, so check the park's calendar for your dates. The Panoramic Area, with the park's emblematic rides, opens every day from March to December, except 25 and 26 December, which makes it a good fallback on a weekday.

Good for: children who love rides, and anyone who wants the best view of the city.

Parc de la Ciutadella and Barcelona Zoo

Parc de la Ciutadella is the big park next to the Born, open every day from 07:00 until dusk. Children love the monumental waterfall, the life-size stone mammoth, the playgrounds and the rowing boats on the lake. From October to March the boats run from 10:00 to 18:00, and from April to September from 10:00 to 20:00. In summer a 30-minute boat costs about €7 for one or two people, €10 for three and €11 for four or five (2026).

Barcelona Zoo takes up about half of the park. Tickets cost about €23 for adults and €13.90 for children aged 3 to 12, and under-3s go free (2026). From 24 October to 20 December it opens 10:00–16:30 on weekdays and 10:00–17:30 at weekends and on holidays; from 21 December to 7 January it opens every day from 10:00 to 17:30, closing at 14:00 on 25 December. The ticket offices close an hour before the zoo does.

Good for: a whole morning, with a picnic in the park afterwards.

Park Güell

Gaudí's park in Gràcia, open all year, is a good outdoor change for children who have had enough of museums. Entry works on timed tickets:

• General ticket: about €18 (2026)
• Children aged 7 to 12: about €13.50
• Children aged 0 to 6: free, but they still need a ticket

You can go in up to 30 minutes after your time slot and stay as long as you like, but you can't go back in once you leave. Buy tickets in advance, especially at weekends. Our Gaudí tickets guide covers the other Gaudí sites.

Good for: families who want a Gaudí sight in the fresh air, with free entry for the under-7s.

The beaches

Barcelona's city beaches include La Barceloneta, Nova Icària and Bogatell. In 2026 lifeguards were on duty every day from 30 May to 13 September (10:30–19:30), and on certain dates from late March to May and in late September and early October (10:30–18:30). Outside those dates there are no lifeguards, only the 112 emergency number, so keep paddling to the summer.

In the low season the beaches are still lovely for a walk, sandcastles and an ice cream. Public toilets at Sant Sebastià, Somorrostro, Bogatell and Nova Mar Bella stay open from 10:00 to 19:00 in the low season.

Good for: summer trips, and a break from sightseeing at any time of year.

Poble Espanyol

Poble Espanyol, on Montjuïc at Avinguda de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia 13, is an open-air village of streets and squares with artisans' workshops and shops. It's a relaxed, traffic-free place for children to explore.

• Adults: about €15 at the gate or €13.50 online (2026)
• Children aged 4 to 12: about €10 at the gate or €9 online
• Under-4s: free
• Family pack (two adults and two children): about €40

It opens from 10:00 to 20:00 on Mondays and from 10:00 to midnight from Tuesday to Sunday. The craft shops have shorter hours, from 10:00 to 18:00 between November and February.

Good for: ages 4 to 10, and a gentle afternoon after the cable car.

The Montjuïc cable car

The Telefèric de Montjuïc climbs from Parc Montjuïc straight up to Montjuïc Castle, with views over the port and the city. On the way down you can stop at the Mirador de l'Alcalde viewpoint. To reach the bottom station, take the Montjuïc funicular from Paral·lel metro station (lines L2 and L3), or bus 55 or 150.

Prices (2026): a return ticket costs about €19 for adults and €13 for children aged 4 to 12, with a discount online. A single costs about €12 and €10, sold only at the ticket office. Under-4s ride free.

Hours: from November to December it runs from 10:00 to 18:00, and from 10:00 to 14:30 on 25 December and 1 and 6 January.

Good for: all ages. Pair it with Poble Espanyol for a Montjuïc day.

Sweet treats

No family day in Barcelona is complete without churros dipped in thick hot chocolate, and you will find churrerias all over the city. Decorated doughnuts are another favourite in bakery windows. For our favourite places, see where to eat in Barcelona.

Tips for families flying from Cyprus

• Documents: every child needs their own passport or ID card, and there are passport checks because Cyprus is not in Schengen.
• Measure and check ages: Tibidabo prices go by height, while the zoo, Park Güell, Poble Espanyol and the cable car go by age. Bring ID for older children in case you are asked.
• Book timed tickets ahead: Park Güell in particular.
• Plan for the flight: the direct flight from Larnaca takes about 4h 30m, so keep the first evening light.
• Bring EHICs: order one for each child before you travel.
• Getting around: our guide to getting around Barcelona covers the metro and tickets.

Related guides

• A weekend in Barcelona from Cyprus
• Gaudí in Barcelona: tickets for the Sagrada Família and Park Güell
• Barcelona at Christmas: markets and lights
• Shopping in Barcelona: the best areas
• Things to do with kids in Cyprus
• Half-term trips with kids: direct flights from Cyprus