If you plan to visit Barcelona as a family or live here and do not know what to do on Christmas holidays without immersing yourself in the maelstrom of the consumerism typical of these holidays, you will surely find our services useful Free plans to do with children in Barcelona.
We include Christmas activities, but most of the options are valid throughout the year, although the schedule of activities may vary. So before embarking on the fun adventure, we suggest you check schedules and availability. You dare?
Art and culture
Holidays have to combine activities for all ages, as well as culture, leisure and history and art. And, although it seems that they are still small to understand and that they are going to get bored, we are wrong. Try and see.
In Babies and more Going with the children of museums: a fun plan for everyone1. National Museum of Art of Catalonia
Photo: National Museum of Art of Catalonia The best way to have a global vision of the art of Catalonia throughout history, from the Romanesque (considered one of the most complete collections in the world) to modernism or the avant-garde, with works by Velázquez, Zurbarán, El Greco, Picasso, Gaudí, Dalí ...
Free on Saturdays from 3pm, the first Sunday of the month, the Museum Day and the Days of Catalonia and La Mercè.
In addition, at Christmas the MNAC offers a free workshop for children from three years and their families, led by artists. In this year's, the theme of engraving and stamping will be worked in a fun way. Check schedules and activities.
2. Museum of Natural Sciences: Blau Museum
Photo: Museum of Natural Sciences It has 9,000 square meters distributed in two floors. In addition to conserving a huge heritage of specimens, it deals with dissemination and learning, trying to bring science to all audiences.
His reference exhibition is 'Planet Life', a journey through the history of life and its evolution on our planet and a portrait of its present.
The space 'The Nest of Science' is a space dedicated to children from 0 to 6 years to promote knowledge of science through play and experimentation. Make free activities every Saturday (from 11am to 2pm) and Sundays (from 11am to 2pm and from 4pm to 7pm).
Free entry for children under 16 years. For everyone, the first Sunday of each month throughout the day, and every Sunday after 3pm.
It also has a media library and workshop areas, and throughout the year performs a lot of activities for the whole family.
At Christmas, for example the Science Museum offers:
Nature closely, from December 22 to January 5, from Wednesday to Sunday, two shifts, at 11 am / 1:30 pm.
Christmas concert, on December 27, from 5pm to 6pm.
Science nest, from December 22 to January 6, from Wednesday to Sunday, six shifts, from 11 to 13.30 (every half hour).
Check the calendar of activities.
3. Museum of the History of Catalonia
Photo: Museum of History of Catalonia From the Plaza del Rei to the cathedral there are about 4,000 m2 of underground Roman excavations: streets, villas and oil and wine stores, which were discovered by chance in the late 20s, when part of the Gothic Quarter was built to build the Via Laietana
This underground labyrinth can be accessed by Casa Padellàs, a merchant palace from the year 1498, which was moved stone by stone to the Plaza del Rei.
Admission is free on Sundays from 3pm and the first Sunday of each month all day, in addition to the day of Santa Eulàlia, on September 24 and May 18. Check schedules and activities.
4. Maritime Museum of Barcelona
Photo: Maritime Museum of Barcelona It is located in the building of the Royal Atarazanas, on the maritime facade of the city and at the foot of the mountain of Montjuïc. It is a museum dedicated to Mediterranean cultures.
You will discover, among other curiosities, if the sky moves or why the moon changes shape. You will see bow masks, all kinds of navigation instruments, an incredible collection of nautical cartography, as well as a pictorial and sculptural background related to the maritime world.
The visit is free on Sundays from 3pm, Museum Day and Mercè Day.
In addition, it offers different activities throughout the year. For example, children can visit the royal mailman on January 2, 3 and 4 from 11 am to 7 pm. And also see the Magi arrive in the Pailebote Santa Eulàlia.
5. Agbar Museum of les Aigües
Photo: Water Museum The permanent exhibition is located inside a large modernist building and discovers a world-class industrial heritage.
Dedicated to water, it proposes a journey through the history of the supply to the city of Barcelona and its metropolitan area, as well as an approach to aspects related to hygiene and health, the physical and chemical properties of water and even its taste and smell , through objects and documents that dialogue with interactive and audiovisual modules.
Children have a great time researching, interacting with water in educational activities designed for them. Check the workshops here.
The Visit is free every first Sunday of the month from 10am to 2pm.
6. Picasso Museum
Photo: Cultural Heritage of the Generalitat de Catalunya It occupies five large palaces on Montcada street. The original buildings date from the 11th-14th centuries and are a good example of Catalan civil Gothic. They have a common structure, around a patio, with access to the noble floor by an open exterior staircase.
Within them you will discover the first and only museum that was created by Picasso's express will. It focuses on the origins of Picasso and houses the largest and most complete collection of his first works, with a fund of more than 3,800 works.
The visit is free on Sundays from 3pm, the first Sunday of each month, Museum Day and the celebrations of Santa Eulalia and de la Mercè. Check schedules and expisitions.
7. Botanical Garden of Barcelona
Photo: Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona It offers a different walk in each season, as it gives a unique spectacle of the vegetation of the five regions of the world with Mediterranean climate.
Become an element of dissemination of botanical and naturalistic culture is a good option to enjoy with the family.
Admission is free for children under 16 and, for all the first Sunday of each month throughout the day, and every Sunday after 3 pm.
In addition, there are many activities offered throughout the year, from winter or spring itineraries to activities for children aged 7 to 14.
8. Center of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona
Photo: Center of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona The CCCB focuses its activity on creative research through thematic exhibitions and other face-to-face and digital formats and projects that deal in an integrated manner with the culture of the 21st century and the great transformations of the digital era.
Also experimental film projects. For example, for Christmas, they present a fun and beautiful selection of seven short films by different authors, countries and animation techniques, full of surprises, ingenuity and creativity.
The point in common is that the protagonists of all the stories are little heroes who, in one way or another, try to face different vital challenges with all their ingenuity.
Check schedules and program of activities.
9. CosmoCaixa
Photo: CosmoCaixa It is an impressive museum located next to Tibidabo Avenue. Here both children and parents will discover the space and scientific curiosities about life on the planet.
There are temporary and other exhibitions that are permanent and, all of them, will guarantee you to live a unique family experience.
In addition, they have an area set as if it were the Amazon with amazing animals that will captivate children.
Admission to this science museum is completely free for children up to 16 years. Check schedules and activities.
10. Montjuïc Castle
This old fortress and military museum is open to all audiences. In addition, it organizes workshops for children from five years on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays and guided tours every day.
Montjuïc Castle was declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest (BCIN) in 1988 and is considered one of the best examples of fortification with bastions in Europe and the world, thanks to its dimensions and the quality of its manufacture.
Free admission every Sunday from 3pm and the first Sunday of the month all day. Check activities and schedules.
Nature walk
The bourgeois of Barcelona built their mansions surrounded by beautiful gardens. Many have become public property, so you can enjoy them with the family and enjoy a quiet morning or afternoon away from the bustle of the city.
11. Tamarita Gardens
Photo: Barcelona Tourist Office In the heart of the city, behind a wall of stone and wrought iron, there is a beautiful place where you can rest and enjoy a pleasant walk with the children.
Tamarita Park is landscaped and full of fountains, springs and small ponds. Some of the decorative elements are terracotta figures, stone and marble cups or ornamental pots.
You can get there by bike or walking with the family and relax while the children play on swings and slides. Or play football on a large esplanade and ping pong at the tables.
12. Turó Park
Photo: Barcelona Tourist Office Walking through this natural paradise called Turó Park is a gift for your eyes, for its great scenic beauty, its good biodiversity and interesting elements of art and architecture.
It is one of the most emblematic parks of the city of Barcelona. These gardens, dedicated to the poet Eduard Marquina, have their origin in an old amusement park that was here between 1912 to 1929.
You can alternate a while of games in the playground, with numerous swings, and a tour of the park: poetic or botanical. The first allows you to follow the sculptures that are inside the garden, such as Pau Casals, or the Biga de la Font de l'Aurora, a spectacular horse-drawn carriage.
In the botanical tour you will find magnolias, poplars, holm oaks, lime trees, bananas, love trees, tipuanas, date palms, oleanders, roses, water lilies, and many more.
13. Montjüic Mountain and its magic fountain
Photo: Barcelona City Hall Going on an excursion is free and kids love it, and without slir of Barcelona. The city has the mountain of Montjuïc, an area full of green areas, parks and spaces with games that are perfect for family travel.
You can stroll through the Jardines del Teatre Grec, the Joan Brossa Gardens and the Jacint Verdaguer Gardens, where children can run and play.
But also stop at the Migdia Viewpoint. From here you can marvel at impeccable views of the coastline and the port and the city of Barcelona.
Located at the foot of the mountain of Montjuïc, you will find the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, which has become one of the typical images of the city.
During this Christmas you can enjoy the music and color show on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until January 5, 2018 from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
On the 31st, from 9.30 p.m. pyromusicals from previous years are projected and at 11.30 p.m. the end of the year show begins, waiting for the bells.
14. Laberint d'Horta
Photo: Tourism Office of Catalonia One of the most original and fun parks in the city. In the Sierra de Collserola, it is built as if it were a maze through which to lose yourself and play with the children through the different passages.
With a neoclassical and romantic-inspired design, Laberint d'Horta is a perfect place to relax from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
Just one detail. It will remain closed for maintenance until January 5, 2019.
Children's parks
They need to test, investigate and interact with children their age. And, among cultural visits, you have to leave room for them to play. Luckily, in Barcelona there are very cool children's recreational areas.
In Babies and more Family vacations: the 19 best theme parks in Spain to go with children15. Diagonal Mar Park
Photo: Barcelona City Hall It is the second largest park in Barcelona. It is an immense and sunny space, diaphanous, absolutely accessible, where the water of a large lake shares prominence with grassy hills and lush vegetation.
The Diagonal Mar park extends with a design that favors mixing with the city through a large and diaphanous space, which eventually connects with the sea.
They wanted to distribute the park in seven very different areas but all united by the theme of water: green areas, a lake, water sources, walkway over the lake ...
But where children will enjoy the most will be pulling down the giant slides.
16. Parque de la Espaya Industrial
Photo: Barcelona City Hall An iron dragon that is a giant slide, a large pond guarded by Neptune where Venus and sunny meadows are reflected: this is the Parque de la Espanya Industrial, with fire, water and earth as protagonists.
The 'Drac' is ideal for children to play and have fun. They can climb the dragon's tail and throw themselves through its mouth in the shape of a slide.
17. Joan Miró Park
Photo: Barcelona City Hall Integrated in the urban plot designed by Ildefons Cerdà, Joan Miró Park occupies the site of the old slaughterhouse in the city, equivalent to four blocks of L'Eixample.
They emphasize the important plantations of pines, holm oaks and palm trees, as well as the sculpture Dona i Ocell, work of the great painter, sculptor and ceramist Joan Miró.
It is ideal to go with children, because here is a children's area enabled with incredible games: among them a zip line.
Christmas typical
Immersed as we are at Christmas time, we could not miss activities of these dates, designed for the whole family, and present throughout the city: markets, nativity scenes, festivals ... We tell you the most outstanding.
In Babies and more, the Kings are here! The 11 best Three Kings rides in Spain18. Kings Fair of Gran Vía
Photo: Generalitat de Catalunya As every year the Kings Fair of Gran Vía makes it easy for your Majesties to prepare gifts for the holidays. Throughout the more than 270 stops of this Christmas market you will find a thousand and one ideas to give away: there are stalls dedicated to toys, pieces of jewelry and silverware, to ceramics, soaps, scarves, hats, clothing, lights or elements of decor.
The Kings Fair, which can be visited until January 6, 2016, is installed on the sidewalks of the road between the streets of Muntaner and Rocafort.
In addition, this year the fair also includes child revitalization. At the corner of the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes with Calàbria Street, until December 24 there will be a Christmas log, from 4 pm to 7.30 pm. From December 27 to January 5, in the same time slot, there will be a Reyes lantern workshop.
From December 27 to January 4, on the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes with Viladomat Street, there will be the royal mailman, who will collect the letters for the Magi from 12.00 to 14.00 hours and from 17.00 to 20.00 hours.
19. Santa Llúcia Fair
Photo: Fira de Santa Llucía It is the oldest Christmas decoration market in Barcelona. In it you can find nativity scenes and Christmas decorations of all kinds, in addition to special activities for children.
This year it celebrates its 232nd anniversary and does so with 285 stalls that will offer the most popular traditional Christmas products in Catalonia.
In addition, different activities are organized parallel to the celebration of the fair such as the Giant Trunk, which will be until December 10, and on December 15 and 16. Also the 25th edition of the Day of Traditions and Christmas Customs in Catalonia, on December 15.
It will be until December 23, every day, in the square of the Cathedral of Barcelona.
20. Christmas Fair of the Sagrada Familia
Barcelona's town hall It is another of the important markets of the city. There are more than 100 stores that you will find in front of the most emblematic monuments of Barcelona.
More than a hundred stalls along the square, which are distributed in four sectors: Christmas trees and plants, traditional mangers and figures, food and gifts.
It is a perfect place to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere until December 23. Every day there are entertainment groups that distribute balloons and candies to children, and tastings of cookies and wines are made.
It is also an ideal place to choose original and handmade gifts from different countries and artists.
21. Nativity scene of Sant Jaume Square
Photo: Barcelona City Hall There are all the protagonists of the traditional nativity scene: the Virgin Mary, the child Jesus, Saint Joseph, the ox and the mule, the Magi, a pastor and a shepherdess, the elders, the announcing angel and even the caganer.
But in this original birth, they have been personified in the elements of a traditional Christmas table, with a small nest in each dish, with light inside.
An artistic proposal, this manger, which you can see until January 6.
22. Classic Crib in the Frederic Marès Museum
Photo: Barcelona City Hall From November 23 to February 2, you can see the traditional manger made by the members of the Association of Pesebristas de Barcelona (founded in 1863).
Following the traditional style, this year the mangers have made a nativity scene made with natural materials such as cork, moss and other plant elements and wooden figures made by hand in Italy.
From November 30 to January 5, every Friday at 6pm and on Saturdays at 12pm, several children's choirs will offer Christmas concerts.
In addition, to get there you have to go through the courtyard of the Frederic Marès museum, set as a Catalan forest.
23. Three Kings Cavalcade
Photo: Europa Press Their majesties, the kings Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar, accompanied by their royal pages and postmen, will arrive by sea to the city at 4 p.m. on January 5.
They will stop at the Moll de la Fusta and then be received by the mayor of Barcelona.
Afterwards, they will start a long journey through the streets of the city, until they reach María Cristina Avenue, at 9 pm.
In this year's parade, Mr. Hivern, the 4-meter puppet, with his Gran Llibre de les Coses Petites and other puppets will not be missing.
They will lead the ride, followed by Kings of the East. Check the route and its schedules.
24. The City of Smiles
Photo: Barcelona City Hall The Plaza de Catalunya will once again be the center of Christmas in the city of Barcelona from December 21 to January 4. This year it will be transformed into the City of Smiles thanks to a large number of recreational and scenic activities.
Senyor Hivern, the protagonist of Christmas, will come alive at certain times of the day and will cross the square to the central stage, where he will star in a show by the Efímer company: 'La ciutat dels galets'.
Apart from the main show, other activities will also be organized, such as: 'la Llibreria', a proposal to enjoy reading, music and popular songs; 'el Teatre', which will carry puppet shows with Christmas themes; 'La Botiga' by Joguines, a space for experimentation with sound for children or 'La Botiga d'Esports', which will offer spaces to practice from basketball to futsal.
In addition, on January 2, 3 and 4, a space for royal pages and postmen will be enabled, with the presence of Estel and Omar pages.
The Plaza de Catalunya will also be the scene of the Fair of Responsible Consumption and Social and Solidarity Economy. Over two weeks, the fair will show how it can be bought and consumed in a sustainable and supportive way throughout the year and in all districts of the city.
At the fair, visitors will find about sixty social and solidarity economy projects, entities and companies that offer a wide range of handicrafts, food, clothing, culture and knowledge, books, health…
25. The Factory of the Magi
Photo: Barcelona City Hall The machines are already underway with the workers prepared for these last special days before the magic night of Reyes.
You will be able to enter with your children in a tour of the factory full of surprises and you will see firsthand how the thousands of letters and gifts that the Magi will distribute throughout the city are organized during the early hours of January 5.
In addition, they can deliver their letter to the Central Post Office to see how workers organize all the information to transform children's wishes into gifts.
From January 27 to 4, free entry from 5 p.m.. Check schedules and activities.
Photos | Pixabay
