Best Barcelona Neighbourhoods for Families ~ A Kid-Friendly Guide

Last updated on February 17, 2022

Visiting Barcelona with your family and looking for the best Barcelona neighbourhoods to stay with your kids?

This is the guide for you, with the best family-friendly “barrios” in Barcelona, based on things like convenience and suitability of location, public transport, general safety and access to family-friendly facilities.

These are the best family friendly neighbourhoods/barrios in Barcelona!

Eixample: For Luxury and Culture-Loving Families

Eixample is one of the largest and most elegant barrios areas in Barcelona – perfect for families looking to live “la buena vida”.

Unlike other areas in the Old Town, like Raval, Gothic Quarter and El Born, it is almost impossible to get lost in Eixample (due its simple grid system. This makes it an ideal place for families to stay in Barcelona

Eixample literally means “expansion” in Catalan and this beautiful barrio was originally built in 1850 as an expansion of the city.

Since Eixample is one of the newest neighbourhoods in Barcelona, there are plenty of public transportation options to give you and your family easy access to the best of Barcelona.

Eixample is known for its luxury hotels and elegant apartments, which means you and your family will feel very much at home during your stay in Barcelona.

Tip: Some of the most famous landmarks in Barcelona are situated in Eixample. You can visit the Sagrada Familia, which is probably the most famous attraction in the city, as well as Gaudi’s emblematic La Pedrera and Casa Batlló, which are both located on famous Passeig de Gràcia avenue in Eixample.

Poblenou: For Beach-Loving Families

If you are looking for a safe place to stay with your family that’s close to Barcelona’s beaches, Poblenou is the perfect neighbourhood for you.

Poblenou (“New Town/Village”) is a relatively new neighbourhood and borders Barcelona’s best and most family-friendly beaches.

La Rambla de Poblenou is the main boulevard, where families are treated to a wide range of child-friendly restaurants serving all sorts of delicious food. Lots of great little shops to explore here too.

Also be sure to check out the space-aged Torre Glòries skyscraper, as well as hugely popular Palo Alto creative market, which offers hipster food trucks, independent fashion stalls and fun activities for kids and grownups alike.

As well as being primarily a residential neighbourhood – with plenty of great family-friendly holiday apartments to choose from – it’s also walkable (or rideable by bike) from the city centre, and is well linked with the metro.

Tip: Poblenou is home to some of Barcelona’s best boutique shops and shopping malls, including Les Glòries and Diagonal Mar.

Gràcia: For Local-Life-Loving Families

Another quiet and safe neighbourhood to stay in with kids in Barcelona is Gràcia.

Village vibes in Gracia's lively Plaça de la Vila de Gracia — Village vibes in Gracia’s lively Placa de la Vila de Gracia

This leafy area used to be an independent village which was separated from Barcelona, only becoming part of Barcelona as the Eixample neighbourhood expanded and swallowed it up.

The area is full of locals, which makes it a perfect place to stay for families who want to experience an authentic slice of local life in Barcelona.

It is one of the safest areas in Barcelona, with lots of plazas (squares) fringed with cute cafes and bars – the perfect place for kids and grown-ups to play.

Visit during the Gràcia festival (every August) when it the streets are filled with colourful decorations, huge statues, free activities for kids, and plenty of street bars for mum and dad to enjoy too!

Tip: If you stay in Gràcia with your family then you will also be able to unwind with your family in the famous Park Guëll, which is located in the area. Here you can marvel at Antoni Gaudi’s serene, nature-inspired creation, and enjoy epic views over Barcelona. It’s also home to the newly-opened Casa Vicens, which was the first building Gaudi ever designed – a fun fix of culture that the whole family will love.

Sarrià-Sant Gervasi: For Tranquility-Loving Families

Not far from Gràcia, nestled at the foot of Barcelona’s glorious Serra de Collserola mountain range, you’ll find the neighbourhood of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi (an amalgamation of two old villages).

This is arguably Barcelona’s most quiet and peaceful neighbourhood and is known for being where the city’s wealthiest residents reside (say hello to Shakira and Piqué for me if you see them around!).

Sarrià-Sant Gervasi has the same village-like feel as Gràcia and is home to the historic village Sarrià, which is thought to date back all the way to 987. An idyllic place to wander from plaza to plaza and cafe to cafe.

Sarrià-Sant Gervasi is also home to the famous Tibidabo mountain. Ride the antique blue tram all the way up to the historic Tibidabo amusement park and church at the top, where your kids will love playing while you soak in the epic vistas. The perfect day out for all families in Barcelona!

Tip: This area is also where you’ll find the world-famous Camp Nou football stadium, home to FC Barcelona! Take your footy-mad kids to see a game and/or take the “Camp Nou Stadium Experience and Museum Tour”.

Accommodation for Families in Barcelona

Take a look at AB Apartment Barcelona to find the perfect apartment for your family holiday in Barcelona.

They have large number of apartments in all of the family-friendly neighbourhoods mentioned in this post.

If you plan to stay longer in Barcelona, there are plenty of long-term rental accommodation options across the city.

Public Transport Tips for Families in Barcelona

Barcelona’s meto system is fast, safe, reliable and extremely cheap – perfect for families!

Get the special T-Familiar ticket, a multi-person ticket that allows 8 trips around Barcelona – valid for a family of up to four.

The ticket costs €10 and it is valid for 30 days. With the T-Familiar you will be able to go to all the famous landmarks within minutes!

Make it Happen

Get there: I use and recommend the Omio portal to find and book the quickest and cheapest flights, trains and buses to and around Europe (and beyond).

Get around: I use and recommend using the Discover Cars portal to find the best deals on car rental.

Find local tours and experience: I use and recommend using the GetYourGuide app to quickly, cheaply and securely book travel tours and experiences wherever you are. From food tours and theatre tickets to skip-the-line entry to famous museums and landmarks, you can book it all with a few swipes of your phone.

Store your luggage: Wherever you’re travelling, free yourself up by storing your luggage with Eelway. Drop off your bags at their partner network shops and hotels, where your luggage is securely stored and insured. There’s no minimum or maximum storage time and most of their luggage storage drop-off points are open 24/7.