Family activities (updated)

Here are some nice places to go specially if you travel with children although adults will also enjoy it.

Barcelona Zoo
Founded in 1892, it has more than 7500 animales of 400 different specifies from all around the world. It is situated in the Parc de la Ciutadella. Barcelona zoo is famous for its albino gorilla Floquet de Neu (Snowflake). He was the first know albino gorilla. Arrived in Barcelona the 1st of November 1966 and died on the 24th of November 2003 as a result of skin cancer.

Other highlights include dolphin and killer whale show.

Hours: 10-17h daily (Jan, Feb, Nov and Dec), 10-18h daily (Mar – May and Oct), 10-19h (Jun-Sep)
Admission: €14.50 adults; €8.75 ages 3-12; €11.30 groups of adults (twenty or more); €7.70 pensioners; €64 anual family memberships.
Directions: Parc de la Ciutadella s/n. Metro Barceloneta (L4 – Yellow) or Arc de Triomf (L1 – Red). Click here for further details

The Aquarium
It has already been visited by 14 million people since opened on the 8th of September 1995. With 35 tanks, 11.000 animals, 450 different specifies and an 80 metre long underwater tunnel it is the largest aquarium in Europe.

The Aquarium is highly recommended, I would describe it as “must see”.

Hours: 9:30 – 21h Monday to Friday (Jan – May and Oct – Dec), 9:30 – 21:30 Weekend, public holidays and daily (Jun and Sep). 9:30 – 23h August.
Admission: €15 adults; €10 children ages 4-12; €12 pensioners. Tickets can also be bought online at the Aquarium webpage.
Directions: Moll d’Espanya del Port Vell, s/n. Metro Barceloneta (L4 – Yellow), Drassanes (L3 – Green). Touristic Bus (blue south route).

Parc Güell
Designed by Antonio Gaudí, it is one of the most beautiful places in Barcelona. It is the perfect place to spend a lovely day as it allows enjoying Gaudi´s architecture, and it offers amazing views of Barcelona.

How to get there: The easiest way is to take the public bus number 24 at the starting point in front of El Corte Inglés at the Plaça Catalunya. Bus 24 will drop you just in front of Parc Güell. Free entrance.

Parc de la Ciutadella
This 75 acre park is one of the most beautiful places in Barcelona. Located in the Barri Gotic, just behind the Arc de Triomf.

Very popular for both tourists and locals, it is the perfect place to spend a sunny day and just walk around enjoying the beauty of the park. For those of you who like taking pictures, just empty your memory card before getting into the park as you will take lots of pictures.

I would recommend having a sandwich there although don’t buy it at the food stands inside the park as they are a little bit pricy so just get it anywhere outside the park.

Inside the park there is also a life-size status of a Mammoth, which will allow you to understand how big these creatures were. Kids will love it.

Main attractions in the park are the zoo (see details above), Zoological and Geological museums and the art museum. The zoological museum is located at the magnificent Castell dels Tres Dragons (Three Dragons Castle) which was designed by Domènech i Montaner.

My favourite part of the park is probably the waterfall and the lake where you can rent rowboats. The plaza in front of the lake is often used for concerts and shows or fairs.

Click here for a list of places to visit in Barcelona.

Shopping in Barcelona

Women will love Barcelona for its shopping oportunities so guys, be ready for long shopping sessions.

There are lots of shopping areas all over the city, but lets focus on city centre.

El Corte Inglés is probably the most important and known department store with different branches although the biggest and most popular one is located in Plaça Catalunya so it is impossible to miss it. You can buy almost anything in there, from stationery to household appliances.

Tip: There is a restaurant on the top floor with really nice views of Plaça Catalunya so if you are looking for a nice break, take the lift up and have a coffee there.

Just in front of El Corte Inglés, there is ‘El Triangle’, triangular shape building with a large number of shops. The most ‘interesting’ ones are FNAC (books, DVDs, CDs and electronic stuff) and Sephora (perfume store), although there are several others.

Avda. Portal de l’Àngel and Passeig de Gràcia are the most popular shopping streets in Barcelona. They are located just beside Plaça Catalunya. In these streets you can find Zara, Mango, Massimo Dutti, Springfield, Secret Woman, H&M, Benetton, … women will love it !

There are also lots of different shops all around city centre so walking around is worth it as there are always interesting shops.

Music and DVDs are quite cheap in Barcelona, although they cannot beat online stores. There are several music shops located at Carrer Tallers. Most of these places are not very comercial so you can find really interesting stuff with very knowledgeable staff.

The most popular sport shop in town is Decathlon with several branches all over the city although the most popular one is the one located in city centre (Pl. Vila de Madrid 1). Reasonable prices and good quality make them very interesting.

Outside city centre, the biggest shopping area is Avda. Diagonal (Metro L3 Les Corts) with another branch of El Corte Inglés and L’Illa, a massive building with lots of shops so chances are you will find something you like.

Main sales season in Barcelona is at the beginning of January.

Tip: Use Google Maps to get the exact location of the different streets. (e.g. to get the location of the Plaça Catalunya, type ‘plaça catalunya, barcelona, barcelona’).

Spanish and Language Classes

Are you new in the city and have some language difficulties? First of all you should be aware that Barcelona is a bilingual city with both Catalan and Spanish. Catalan is the local language and Catalan people are very proud of it so people will really appreciate if you make the effort to learn Catalan. Although everybody speaks Spanish.

Looking for Spanish or Catalan lessons? Barcelona has a wide offer of language schools. However, some can be a waste of time and money.
We are including some interesting ones:

Escuela Oficial de Idiomas Drassanes
Av. Drassanes s/n
Metro Drassanes L3
Website: https://www.eoibd.es/
Email: eoibdrassanes@eoibd.es
Tel. +34 93 3249330

This is probably one of the most interesting options because it is sponsord by the local government so the prices are very reasonable. It has a wide offer of courses (up to 15 languages can be studied). Located in city centre, it is also a great place to meet people.

Escuela Oficial de Idiomas Vall d´Hebron
Av. Jordá
Metro Vall d´Hebron L3
Website: https://www.eoibcnvh.org/
Email: eoi2bcn@pangea.org
Tel: +34 93 4186833

Another branch of the above school. Wide offer of courses and reasonable prices although it is not located in city centre.

Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona UAB
Sant Antonio Maria Claret 171
Metro Hospital San Pablo L5, Guinardó L4
Website: https://www.uab-idiomes.com/
Email: info.idiomes@uab.es
Tel: +34 93 4335060

Barcelona Spanish School
Rocafort 104
Metro Rocafort L1
Website: https://www.barcelonaspanish.com/
Email: info@barcelonaspanish.com
Tel: +34 93 4269822

Museums

Barcelona has a rich cultural offer that includes a large number of museums such us the Picasso Museum, the MACBA and the Joan Miró foundation. The number of visits to Barcelona’s museums has increased dramatically in recent years.

Here is a list of some of the most important museums in Barcelona

Picasso Museum
Probably Barcelona’s most famous museum as it contains one of the most extensive collections of Picasso’s works although doesn’t contain him most important work ‘Guernica’.
Located at Carrer Montcada 15-23, (Metro Jaume I) .
Opening hours: 10am-8pm Tue-Sat: 10am-3pm Sun (last entry 30 min. before closing). Free guided tours to the permanent collection.

Admission Permanent collection only 5 €; 2,5€ concessions. With temporary exhibition 8€; 4,70 concessions. Free under-16s. Free (museum only) 1st Sun of month.

Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA)
The MACBA is probably of the most important museums in Barcelona. It has experienced a very significant increase in the number of visits since it opened to the public on November 28th, 1995. The MACBA which was designed by the American architect Richard Meier, hosts a number of collections and exhibitions/activities.
Locate at Plaça dels Ángels 1 (Metro Catalunya), just 2 min from Plaça Catalunya.
Opening hours: June-Sept 11am-8pm Mon, Wed-Fri; 10am-8pm Sat; 10-3pm Sun. Oct-May 11am-7:30pm Mond, Wed-Fri; 10am-8pm Sat; 10am-3pm Sun. Guided tours (catalan/Spanish) 6pm Wed, Sat; noon Sun. Admission Museum 5,50 €, Concessions 4€. Temporary exhibitions 4€, Concessions 3€. Combined ticket 7€, 5,50€ concessions.

Joan Miró Foundation
Located at Parc de Montjuïc (Metro Paral.lel, then Funicular de Montjuïc or take the bus no. 61) Opening hours: July-Sept 10am-8pm Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat; 10am-9.30pm Thur, 10am-2.30pm Sun. Oct-June 10am-7pm Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat; 10am-9.30pm Thur; 10am-2.30pm Sun. Guided tours 11.30pm Sat, Sun. Admission All exhibirions 7.20€, Concessions 3.90€. Permanent exhibitions 3,60 €; 1.80 € Concessions. Free under-14s

MNAC (Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya)
Focused on the history of the Catalan art from the Romanesque period to the twentieth century.
Located at Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc (Metro Espanya)
Opening hours: Open 10am-7pm Tue-Sat; 10am-2.30pm Sun. Admission: all exhibitions 6€, Concessions 4,20€. Free under-7s. Permanent exhibitions 4,80€; Concessions 3,30€. Temporary exhibitions 4,20€, Concessions 2,10€-2,90€.

Antoni Tàpies Foundation
Located at Carrer Aragó 255 (Metro Passeig de Gràcia)
Open 10am-8pm Tue-Sun. Admission 4,20€, Concessions 2,10€. Free under-16s.

Nou Camp – F.C.Barcelona
Believe it or not, this is Catalunya’s most visited museum.
Located at the Nou Camp, Avda. Arístides Maillol, acces 9, Les Corts (Metro Maria Cristina or Collblanc) .
Opening hours: 10am-6.30pm Mon-Sat ; 10am-2pm Sun. Admission 5,30€, Concessions 3,70 €; free under-5s. Guided tour 9,50 €; Concessions 6,60€.

Perfume Museum
Located at the Passeig de Gràcia 39 (Metro Passeig de Gràcia)
Opening hours: 10.30am-1.30pm, 4.30-8pm Mon-Fri ; 11am-2pm Sat. Admission free.

Maritime Museum
Located at Avda. De les Drassanes (Metro Drassanes)
Opening hours: 10am-7pm daily. Admission 5,40€, Concessions 2,70€. Free under-7s.

Palau de la Música Catalana
Located at Carrer Sant Francesc de Paula 2 (Metro Uriquinaona)
Bow office 10am-9pm Mon-Sat. Guided tours 10am-3.3pm daily. Admission 7€, Concessions 6€.

Chocolate Museum
Located at Antic convent de Sant Agustí, Plaça Pons I Clerch (Metro Jaume I)
Opening hours: 10am-7pm Mon, Wed-Sat 10am-3pm, Sun. Admission 3,80€, 3,20 € concessions. Free under-7s.

Textile and Clothing Museum
Address: C/ Montcada 12 (Metro Jaume I) – Tel. +34 93 319 76 03
Open 10am-6pm Tue-Sat, 10am-3pm Sun. Admission includes admission to Museu de Artes Decoratives and Museu de Ceràmica 3,50 €, Concessions 2 €. Free under-16s. Free 1st Sun of month.

Natural Science Museum (Geology museum and Zoology museum)
Address: Parc de la Ciutadella, s/n – Tel. +34 93 319 69 12

Open 10am-2:30pm Tue-Sun, 10am-6:pm Thursday and Sunday. Admission includes admission to Geology museum, zoology museum and botanical garden 5,00€, Concessions 3,50€. Free under-16s. Free 1st Sun of month.

Tip: Barcelona museums are free on the first Sunday of each month, except the City History Museum, which is free on the afternoon of the first Saturday in each month.