Plenty of things to do with children, such as the Poble Espanyol, Parc de la Ciutadella, L’Aquàrium Barcelona… the list goes on and on. But it's also a city designed to be enjoyed as a family, with hundreds of restaurants to please the tastes of adults and children alike. Plus, the size of the city means that it's easy to get around, whether by public transport or even on foot.

As someone born in Barcelona, as well as the proud aunt of two little girls, I can assure you that this city offers endless things to do as a family. Besides, there's recently been a growing awareness about this topic—such as how to make cities more liveable for children as well as adults—and that's certainly the case when you look at the activities on offer and see the number of things to choose from.

Here are just some of the reasons why Barcelona is so family-friendly:

It offers a fantastic range of leisure activities for the whole family

© Port Aventura

In Barcelona you'll find all kinds of activities: exhibitions, boat trips, bike or walking tours, workshops... From a visit to El Poble Espanyol to a morning with fish at L’Aquàrium Barcelona. Like football? Then you're in luck because FC Barcelona offers a tour where you can even walk on the pitch at Camp Nou.

And if it's thrills you're looking for, don't miss the Tibidabo amusement park, a landmark of the Barcelona skyline located on the highest peak of Collserola Hill with magnificent views of the city below. Or you can even take an excursion to the Port Aventura theme park, barely an hour and a half away from the city. For something less adrenaline-packed, take the lift inside the emblematic Mirador de Colom, 60 metres tall, to get a 360-degree view from the platform at the top of this monument to Christopher Columbus.

Children and adults alike will love the local cuisine

© Turisme de Barcelona

Mediterranean cuisine is very varied so it's easy to find something that everyone likes. Who doesn't enjoy delicious tomato bread, a platter of cold meats, butifarra sausage or crema catalana for pudding? And why not add something lighter like a fresh salad or escalivada (roasted peppers salad) made from locally-grown vegetables?

Plus, Barcelona is home to a vast range of restaurants serving dishes from all over the world. My advice: go with the flow, try anything and everything, and if you want some suggestions check out the local family-friendly restaurant guides. One thing for sure: you won't go hungry!

Barcelona has its own beach...

© Turisme de Barcelona

In fact, Barcelona has several beaches, not just one—Barceloneta, Sant Sebastià, Bogatell, Nova Icària, Mar Bella and more—not to mention the ones dotted along the coast which you can easily reach by train or bus. Whether you just want to sunbathe or take a boat trip, ride a jet ski, or do some kayaking or stand-up paddle surfing, there's plenty to do at all the local beaches. Here are few ideas for fun activities.

…. and plenty of parks

Barcelona isn't only home to Park Güell. There are plenty of other parks where you can take a stroll, have a picnic or simply enjoy a little peace and quiet.

It's a great learning experience

© Turisme de Barcelona

Barcelona is packed with fascinating museums. Some of them are specially designed for kids, like Cosmocaixa, but it's never too soon to start discovering the work of great Spanish artists like Picasso and Miró. The city ARTICKET includes admission to all of them.

It's easy to get around

© Turisme de Barcelona

Barcelona is an easy city to explore because it won't take you long to get from A to B. You can take public transport, such as the Barcelona Bus Turístic, which lets you get off and on again as many times as you want (great if you're travelling with kids who tend to be exhausted at the end of the day after so much walking) or any of the other fun modes of transport that you'll find in Barcelona.

The weather is usually good

Yes, it's true, Barcelona has an enviable Mediterranean climate. The city enjoys all four seasons with their characteristic weather conditions and occasional very hot days in summer, but in general the temperatures tend to be pleasant all year round.

So, tempted to visit us? Find cheap tickets to travel to Barcelona, take advantage of the benefits of the Family Fare and, if you're looking for ideas, check out these tips for travelling with kids.

Main image: © Poble Espanyol