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Articles > Europe > Spain > Barcelona > Barcelona, Spain as a Family Vacation Location
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Barcelona, Spain as a Family Vacation Location
When choosing a family holiday, parents often opt for all-inclusive hotels, beach resorts, countryside retreats, or hotels with pools. A city break is often never top of any parent's list. However, Barcelona in Spain is a very child-friendly city and is definitely an option to consider.
For a start, and in Spain in general, it is very normal for children to be seen late at night. Terraces are almost always full in summer, and always accompanied by young children. Restaurants in Spain in general (unless they permit smoking) always welcome children and this is an important factor when thinking about dining out. Barcelona also has thousands of tourist apartments, which offer much more comfort to a family who may be restricted by normal hotel hours, and enjoy the benefits of their own kitchen, living room and often a balcony or terrace.
Barcelona also has various parks and gardens which children always enjoy. The garden of Barcelona "La Cuitadella" is a very large park with rowing boats, fountains with swans and ducks to feed (while the adults admire the fountain designed by Gaudi – one of the most famous architects of the city). There is also a children's park, and various green spaces to have a picnic. Sundays are also a lovely time to visit the park, with various musical improvisations.
The Cuitadella Park is also home to the city's zoo, which is a popular tourist site and has various enclosures. One of the top 10 tourist attractions is also the city's Aquarium and is a great place to take children. There are small tanks with octopus, various fish and seahorses, penguins, etc. but perhaps the best part is the Jaws-style tunnel whichj guides you slowly through the main tank as sting-rays, moon fish and sharks swim above you.
Up on Montjüic mountain there are botanical gardens where many a family can be seen enjoying a picnic with the amazing views of Barcelona, and a cactus park. This is also home to two fantastic treats for children – the Barcelona cable cars. One of the cable cars starts just along from the Olympic diving boards, and takes you all the way up to the top of Montjüic where the castle is and fantastic views of the port and the harbour can be enjoyed. The other cable car leaves from the "Mirador (outlook) de Montjüic" and crosses all the way over the Mediterranean sea to the Barceloneta beach.
Barcelona has various beaches to enjoy, too – the old fisherman's quarters of Barceloneta starts the stretch which continues all the way along to the Forum Park and has various activities for children along the way; the wooden boardwalk to cycle or rollerblade, the spider's web climbing frame an Nova Icaria, where you can also find an English cinema and shopping mall.
Finally the most famous street of Barcelona, Las Ramblas, is a must for all families. Street performers, human statues, artists and caricature painters dot this Mediterranean avenue and one can easily pass a hour or so strolling down towards Christopher Columbus monument to admire the fish at the Rambla de Mar bridge, too.
For a start, and in Spain in general, it is very normal for children to be seen late at night. Terraces are almost always full in summer, and always accompanied by young children. Restaurants in Spain in general (unless they permit smoking) always welcome children and this is an important factor when thinking about dining out. Barcelona also has thousands of tourist apartments, which offer much more comfort to a family who may be restricted by normal hotel hours, and enjoy the benefits of their own kitchen, living room and often a balcony or terrace.
Barcelona also has various parks and gardens which children always enjoy. The garden of Barcelona "La Cuitadella" is a very large park with rowing boats, fountains with swans and ducks to feed (while the adults admire the fountain designed by Gaudi – one of the most famous architects of the city). There is also a children's park, and various green spaces to have a picnic. Sundays are also a lovely time to visit the park, with various musical improvisations.
The Cuitadella Park is also home to the city's zoo, which is a popular tourist site and has various enclosures. One of the top 10 tourist attractions is also the city's Aquarium and is a great place to take children. There are small tanks with octopus, various fish and seahorses, penguins, etc. but perhaps the best part is the Jaws-style tunnel whichj guides you slowly through the main tank as sting-rays, moon fish and sharks swim above you.
Up on Montjüic mountain there are botanical gardens where many a family can be seen enjoying a picnic with the amazing views of Barcelona, and a cactus park. This is also home to two fantastic treats for children – the Barcelona cable cars. One of the cable cars starts just along from the Olympic diving boards, and takes you all the way up to the top of Montjüic where the castle is and fantastic views of the port and the harbour can be enjoyed. The other cable car leaves from the "Mirador (outlook) de Montjüic" and crosses all the way over the Mediterranean sea to the Barceloneta beach.
Barcelona has various beaches to enjoy, too – the old fisherman's quarters of Barceloneta starts the stretch which continues all the way along to the Forum Park and has various activities for children along the way; the wooden boardwalk to cycle or rollerblade, the spider's web climbing frame an Nova Icaria, where you can also find an English cinema and shopping mall.
Finally the most famous street of Barcelona, Las Ramblas, is a must for all families. Street performers, human statues, artists and caricature painters dot this Mediterranean avenue and one can easily pass a hour or so strolling down towards Christopher Columbus monument to admire the fish at the Rambla de Mar bridge, too.
About the Author
David Brydon is an Englishman living in Barcelona, Spain. He is married and has 2 children. He has been working in the vacation apartment rentals business for 7 years. David writes about Cheap Barcelona apartments.
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