Barcelona: Least and Most Child-Friendly Sights

Barcelona is full of arts and culture. After doing the rounds, here is our vote for the least and most child-friendly tourist attractions:

La Sagrada Familia: Barcelona’s Least Child-Friendly Sight

One of Spain’s most famous buildings, and a personal favorite, it pains me to designate the Sagrada Familia as the most child-unfriendly site in Barcelona. Gaudi’s masterpiece remains unfinished and that’s partly why it is so difficult to navigate with children.

You have to leave your pram at the information counter and pay euro 2.5 to take the lifts up to the towers, which are narrow and frankly quite dangerous if you have a child in your arms. We had Karam in his harness and my husband had the strap around his neck to prevent him from slipping. On the way down, you have the option to take the stairs but stick with the lift because the stairs are extremely narrow and windy as you get to the end.

Further, the construction work inside the church may affect sensitive children so it might be best to just visit from the outside.

The Picasso Museum: Barcelona’s Most Child-Friendly Sight

In sharp contrast to La Sagrada Familia, the Picasso Museum is downright easy with children and one of the best organized places in Spain! A separate entrance for babies and seniors so you get to skip the endless summer lines, clean and well-appointed change rooms, free lockers so you can unload some of your burden and a cute little cafe for post-viewing discussion. An attendant will take you up in an elevator to the permanent collection which you can easily navigate with a stroller. The bookshop is packed but there is a great section at the back for children offering books, art kits and souvenirs.

Not to mention of course that it contains some of the best known collections of the artist’s works including a superb analysis of his take on Velazquez’s La Meninas (but no spoilers here!).

A wonderfully easy cultural experience. When you are done, hang out in El Born for a coffee, drink or some shopping.