This 7-day itinerary showcases the best of what this vibrant, world-class city has to offer families.
Barcelona makes a perfect first trip to Europe for kids. There are amazing things to see, fun things to do, and tasty things to eat. Our kids fell in love with the city. At age 7 and 10, they initially were scared to travel outside the U.S., and they described the long plane ride as “annoying.” But by the end, the boys agreed, “it was totally worth it.”
DAY ONE
Where to stay?
We had just seven days to spend on this trip, and it turned out to be the perfect length of time. We found an apartment online in the historic Gothic Quarter of the city to rent. I’d recommend looking on websites like VRBO and Airbnb. It was much less expensive than a hotel and very close to wonderful sights. You can wander around the Gothic Quarter and see beautiful churches, cathedrals, and buildings from the 13th and 14th centuries. And around every corner, you’ll find a great restaurant, small market for necessities, and the all-important gelato shops to keep your kids motivated and energized.
KidTripster Tip: We went in July, and it was very hot, though it gets even hotter in August. The boys carried their own small backpacks with water bottles, as did we, but we had to buy water multiple times a day to survive the heat. Be prepared to spend money on water!
What to do and where to eat?
On the day we arrived, we went straight to our apartment and took a five-hour nap. Some people advise trying to stay up to get used to the time change, but we had the best results with letting the boys rest and acclimate slowly. After a nap, they were ready to get some food and see the city. As we walked around, we entertained the boys by asking them to choose their favorite doors on each block, as Barcelona doors are often intricate, historic or both.
Just a few steps from our apartment was the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar (Plaça de Santa Maria, 1), a 700-year-old church with colorful stained-glass windows that drew oohs and aahs from the kids and prompted them to take plenty of pictures. In the church crypt, there are tombs, dating back hundreds of years. The boys could really feel the history beneath their feet as we talked about the people buried right below us. The church is free to enter and a perfect first sight for tired travelers.
KidTripster Tip: We looked up some fun historic facts about the church online before we left and shared tidbits with the kids as we toured. This small step helped history come alive for them.
KidTripster Tip: While this church was free to enter, some others require tickets and can sell out quickly in the summer. Buy tickets online at least a day in advance to make sure you don’t make the long trek to a church, only to find that you can’t get in.
KidTripster Tip: Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar does offer guided tours that include the rooftop, rear chapels, and crypt for about $9/person. But for young visitors, a free stroll is probably enough.
After the church, we took in a dinner of Spanish tapas at a restaurant called Artesans (Calle Esparteria, 10), just a minute’s walk from the church. The kids begged to order hamburgers, but to their dismay, we insisted on real Spanish food. The boys haven’t been adventurous about trying new foods at home, but we required that they try every dish in Spain. The result? They loved about 50% of the dishes, tolerated about 30%, and did not like about 20%. I’ll take it! After days of new restaurants and being required to try everything, they’re now excited about new foods and even remind us to let them try new things, if we forget to offer!
KidTripster Tip: Tapas work great as a family meal, because you can try many different things and order more, if you are still hungry. Every family member can choose a tapa for the whole family to try and then talk about which ones they liked best and why.
