Surrounded by green areas and well-maintained parks, the city of Barcelona is an ideal place for family vacations and travel with children. Visitors can choose among any of the central parks for a stroll around Barcelona, as all offer interesting activities and allow visitors to find quiet spots for relaxation and recreation.
Ciutadella Park
Ciutadella Park is one of the most popular locations in the center of Barcelona, in Born district. This is a common location for numerous exhibitions and performances, scientific conferences, yoga master classes, and art classes. This park was named after the fortress that was erected here in 1714 and demolished in the middle of the 19th century. Not much of the landscape recalls the great fortress any more, with the exception of the arsenal building, chapel, and governor’s palace. After the International Exhibition of 1888, the park underwent global reorganization. As a result, the architectural masterpieces we admire today were introduced to the park structure later. These include Guiseppe Vilaseca’s Arc of Triumph, the park lampposts, and the obelisk at the entrance created after sketches by Pere Falqués i Urpí. In one of the ponds rests the sculpture, “Despair,” created by the famous Catalan sculptor Josep Llimona, while at the northern edge of the park visitors are sure to enjoy the monumental fountain. The piece, “Cascada,” is embellished with a sculptural ensemble featuring the bronze quadriga of Aurora. This gorgeous piece was created by the Catalonian architect Josep Fontsere and sculptors Rosende Nobas, Venansi Vallmitjana, and Antonio Gaudi when he was still an unknown architect. Tourists are sure to enjoy this park, where they can find boat rentals, a botanical mini-garden, a zoological museum, and numerous restaurants and cafeterias. The bright green parrots flying overhead have become symbols of the park, even if they produce sounds unusual for this urban environment. Next door to the park is the Barcelona Zoo.
- Address: Passeig de Picasso, 21
- Hours: daily, from 10:00 until sunset (around 9 pm)
Park Güell
Barcelona’s Park Güell is one of the creations of the great Gaudi and is composed of an incredible juxtaposition of gardens and residential areas, achievable only by the imagination of an architectural genius. Among the parks and gardens of Barcelona, Güell stands out not only for the usual curves and fantastic forms of the pavilions for which the architect is renowned, but also for its quaint alleys and pillars, atop which are "birds’ nests." The alleys run directly from the hill slopes and seem to be fused with them, creating an unusual visual effect and a play on perspectives. The Hypostylia hall, Austrian gardens, ancient theater, and Portico of the Washerwoman will amaze even those tourists who do not place architectural wonders at the top of their sight-seeing lists. There are several zones in the park, one of which hosts the Gaudi house-museum, for which visitors must purchase a separate ticket. The park grounds also host restaurants, a gift shop, and free Wi-Fi throughout. A ticket to the park costs 8 euros and is free for children under 6 years old.
- Address: C/ Olot, s/n
- Hours: daily, from 8:00 until 20:30
Parc Industrial
This is probably the most futuristic of all the parks in Barcelona and Spain in general. The combination of slender rows of cypresses, murmuring fountains, and classical sculptures next to the remains of an old factory on the site it was built in 1985, all make an incredible impression. A huge pool with crystal clear water reflects the monumental buildings and doubles the impression, creating the effect of an "underwater kingdom," which is especially enjoyable on hot days. There are playgrounds and cafes, tennis, badminton and basketball courts, and a green area with tall trees where visitors can relax in the shade.
- Address: C/ Muntadas, 1*37
- Hours: daily, from 10:00 until 0:00, on weekends from 10:00 until 23:00
Laberint d'Horta Park
If you want to see genuine park mazes in an English style and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of English novels of the 19th century, you definitely need to go to Laberint d'Horta. If you are interested in parks and recreation in Barcelona, you are sure to find what you are looking for here. The park is particularly well-suited to romantic walks, as evidenced by such details as a sculpture of the god Eros that is hidden in one of the intricate labyrinths. Elegant pavilions beside small pools resemble the grottoes of Versailles, and the rotunda seems more like a classic Italian piece. The general atmosphere is so pacifying that you will not want to leave the park until it is closing time.
- Address: Pg Castanyers, 1
- Hours: daily, from 10:00 until 20:30
"INEEDSpain" company will help you organize your time in Spain for maximum relaxation and cultural immersion, according to your preferences. We select ideal tourist itineraries for our clients and optimal options for recreation. For a consultation, please contact us via the phone number or email indicated on the main page of the website.