Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
end of Aug transform from an urban garden into a beach, complete with sand and paddling
pool.
Parks
In the city, the Parc de la Ciutadella has the best range of attractions, with a boating
lake and a zoo. Older children will love the bizarre gardens and buildings of Gaudí's Parc
Güell, while the Parc del Collserola is a good target for a walk in the hills and a picnic. At
ParcdelCastelldel'Oreneta(daily10am-dusk),behindPedralbesmonastery,therearemini-
ature train rides and pony rides on Sun and public holidays (not Aug); it's at the end of c/de
Montevideo (take bus #66 from Pl. Catalunya or #64 from Pl. Universitat to the end of the
Playgrounds
Most city kids use the squares as playgrounds, under parental supervision. In
Gràcia, Pl. de la Virreina and Pl. de Rius i Taulet are handsome traffic-free spaces with good
bars with attached
terrassas
. Wherever your children play, however, you need to keep an
eagleeyeoutfordogdirt.Intheoldtown,thenicestdog-andtraffic-freeplaygroundisinPl.
de Vicenç Martorell, in El Raval, where there are some fenced-off swings in front of a great
café,
Kasparo
. Parc del Fòrum, at Diagonal Mar, also has a good children's playground and
lots of other child-oriented attractions.
RIDES AND VIEWS
Bike tours
Join a group bike tour for a safe way to see the sights on two wheels.
Cablecars
The two best rides in the city are the
cross-harbour cable car
from Barceloneta to
Montjuïc, and the
Telefèric de Montjuïc
, which then takes you up to the castle at the top of
Montjuïc. Neither is for the faint-hearted child or sickly infant.
Las Golondrinas
Sightseeing boat rides around the port and local coast.
Mirador de Colón
See the city from the top of the Columbus statue at the bottom of the
Ramblas.
Torre de Collserola
Stunning views from the telecommunications tower near Tibidabo.
Under-3s go free.
THEME PARKS
Catalunya en Miniatura
Torrelles de Llobregat, 17km southwest of Barcelona (A2 high-
way, exit 5) 936 890 960,
catalunyaenminiatura.com
.
A theme park with 170 Catalan
monuments in miniature, plus mini-train rides, children's shows and playground.
March-June & Sept daily 10am-6pm, July & Aug daily 10am-7pm, Oct-Jan Tues-Sun
10am-6pm. Admission €13.50, under-12s €9.50, under-3s free.
Illa Fantasia
Vilassar de Dalt, 25km north of Barcelona, just short of Mataró (exit 92 on
the main highway) 937 514 553,
illafantasia.com
.
Supposedly the largest water park in
Europe,withslides,splashpools,swimmingpools,watergamesandpicnicareas.Buyacom-
binedticket(
billetecombinado
)atBarcelonaSantsstationandyoucantravelfreeonthetrain
