Visiting Barcelona with Teenagers: 10 Favorite Activities

Barcelona is the perfect city to wander through lazily, taking in the architecture, stopping for a coffee and seeing where the day takes you. But if you’re visiting Barcelona with teenagers, they’re bound to crave something more. Here are some top tips for activities the whole family will enjoy.

People standing next to the cascada monumental in
Visiting Barcelona with teens? Here’s what to do! Photo credit: Paul Berthelon Bravo

Without further ado, here are the top things to do when visiting Barcelona with teenagers.

Best outdoor activities

Head to the beach

Ever since the 1992 Olympics, when the city hall invested in developing Barcelona’s beaches, the city has become one of Europe’s favorite seaside cities. The nearly three miles of sandy beaches have play areas, showers, chiringuitos (small restaurants serving drinks and snacks) and even skate parks at the far end near Poblenou. 

Beach goers laying out on the sand at one of Barcelona's many sandy beaches
In Barcelona, you’re never too far from the beach. Photo credit: TJ DeGroat

Go skating

Barcelona is never behind the times for long. This, combined with its size, accessibility and international popularity, mean it’s a great place to rent some skates and see the city in a unique way. 

As you and your family skate along the beachfront, you could be forgiven for thinking you’re in California. As well as the official skate parks, the main skating zone in town is the area outside the MACBA, Barcelona’s contemporary art museum. Full of skaters all day long, this area is always alive with music as people skate, sit on the terraces with a drink and go to the art museum. Make a day of it with the whole family.

Take a bike tour

If you’re an active family, why not bike around Barcelona? There are loads of companies offering guided bike tours, as well as bike rentals if you want to go the self-guided route. Barcelona has an extensive network of cycle lanes that make it easy to safely cycle around the city, even if you’re unfamiliar with it. All bike rental companies offer maps so you can set out on a family adventure. You could even throw in some stops at a couple of tapas restaurants.

Pedestrians and bikers crossing the street at an urban intersection.
Biking around town is one of the best way to see the sites.

Explore Ciutadella Park

After the chocolate museum, be sure to visit Ciutadella Park not too far away. You can check out the famous fountain, rent a boat to ride around in the park’s lake, play table tennis on one of the many tables (be warned: it’s competitive), have your photo taken with the mammoth (yes, a giant mammoth) or simply relax, have a picnic, or toss a frisbee around.

Insider’s Tip: During the summer months, the park has numerous events, always with plenty of street food.

Ornate fountain surrounded by water on a warm spring day in Barcelona's Parc de la Ciutadella
There’s more to Barcelona than the beach and the city center. Don’t miss out on the city’s green spaces like Parc de la Ciutadella. Photo credit: Mark_M

Top cultural attractions for teens

Get up close with Gaudi

With eclectic motifs, funky colors, and hidden symbols, Gaudi’s quirky style fascinates visitors of all ages – teens included! A visit to Barcelona with teens definitely needs to include seeing at least one of Gaudi’s photo-worthy sites. We especially recommend Parc Guell for a fun outdoor outing. Casa Mila and the Sagrada Familia are also sure to impress even the most jaded of teens. 

Groups of tourists near an outdoor staircase leading up to a whimsical modernist building with pillars
We guarantee that teens will want to take photos of the whimsical Gaudi sites like Parc Guell.

Take a food four

We may be biased, but we firmly believe that one of the best ways to understand a city is to dive deep into its culture via the local dishes. And we encourage teens to try the Catalan fare, too!

We welcome teens (and kids of all ages) on our Tastes & Traditions of Barcelona Food Tour. This comprehensive tour includes 13 delicious tastes at 7 iconic establishments in Barcelona’s most historic neighborhoods. From beloved bakeries to tapas bars to the fishermen’s district, your local guide will highlight Barcelona’s most interesting corners. There’s never a dull moment, making our tour teen-approved. 

Two women shopping at a cheese stall inside a Spanish food market
Yes, snacking is encouraged on tour!

Spend the afternoon in Tibidabo

Looking over Barcelona is Tibidabo. During the day it can be hard to see, but at night, if you look towards the back of the city (the view up Carrer Balmes is the best), you’ll see a church and a ferris wheel lit up—this is Tibidabo Amusement Park. The church is surrounded by some pretty average restaurants, so consider bringing your own food, but it offers amazing views and the entrance to the theme park is right nearby.

Tibidabo has the full range of classic rides and makes a great option for a day out. You may even be lucky enough to see one of the wild boars that roam Collserola, the hill upon which Tibidabo sits. 

Tibidabo ferris wheel overlooking Barcelona and the city's beach during the day
Can you imagine the views from the top of this ride? Photo credit: Richardjo53

Exploring Barcelona’s sports scene

Take a tour of Camp Nou

Barcelona isn’t just the home of FC Barcelona, but that’s not how your teens may see it if they’re sports fans. FC Barcelona is one of the most famous soccer clubs in the world. Stars such as Lionel Messi, and Gerard Pique light up the night sky at Camp Nou, which holds up to 100,000 people. If you prefer basketball, handball, or futsal, you can always head to one of those games, too. 

Another great way to see FC Barcelona is on a guided tour of the stadium. Options include a tour of the stadium and visit to the museum, or a much more expensive package with the chance to step onto the field, sit in the press box, and visit the changing room. It’s not the cheapest activity on our list, but it’s well worth considering if you and your family are into sports. 

Barcelona football stadium Camp Nou at night with bright lights and tons of fans filling the seats
Camp Nou is Barcelona’s biggest and most popular stadium. Photo credit: Xeno Meienberg

See Barcelona’s Olympic Village (and Montjuic)

You may, understandably, want to enjoy more views over the city, and there are few better places for this than Montjuic. You can enjoy incredible views of Barcelona and visit the castle, and in the summer they show films in the open air. You can even visit the Olympic Stadium, which is much less expensive than Camp Nou.

The highlight of a trip to Montjuic is the cable car, which has two possible routes, including one which connects to Barceloneta. The views are fantastic, and provide the most direct route from the castle to the beach. 

Montjuic cable car in Barcelona
You can’t miss out on the breathtaking views on Montjuic. Photo credit: Mike McBey

Shopping and souvenirs

Barcelona has no shortage of great shopping – for adults and teens alike! Here are some popular shopping destinations for teenagers in Barcelona:

Shopping malls

Malls like Maremagnum, Diagonal Mar, and La Maquinista are popular shopping destinations for teens, offering a variety of stores and entertainment options all in one place.

Portal de l’Àngel

This pedestrian shopping street is one of the busiest in Barcelona and is known for its diverse range of shops, including international and local fashion brands that appeal to teens.

El Raval

This trendy neighborhood has a youthful vibe and is home to many vintage shops, second-hand stores, and independent boutiques. Teens often enjoy exploring the unique and alternative fashion options here.

Gràcia District

Gràcia is known for its laid-back atmosphere and eclectic fashion scene. Teens often visit the area for its independent boutiques, vintage shops, and locally designed clothing.

A pair of flower earrings, a bracelet, and 3 gold rings on a jewelry dish with white background
Looking for small boutiques and independent stores? Gràcia and El Raval are both good options. Photo credit: Carmen Lopez

Passeig de Gràcia

This famous avenue is home to upscale boutiques and flagship stores of renowned fashion brands. While it can be expensive, some teens enjoy window shopping and getting style inspiration from the high-end fashion on display.

Bershka, Pull&Bear, Sfera, and Zara

These international fashion chains are popular among teens for their trendy and affordable clothing. You can find several outlets of these brands throughout Barcelona.

Skate shops and streetwear stores

Barcelona has a vibrant skate and streetwear culture, and teens interested in these styles can find plenty of specialized stores in neighborhoods like El Raval and El Gòtic.

Flea markets

Barcelona has several flea markets, such as Mercat dels Encants and Mercat de Sant Antoni, where teens can find unique and vintage clothing, accessories, and more. One funny souvenir is the caganer, Catalan figurines that depict world leaders and famous celebrities in a rather, ahem, interesting pose. 

Small figurines of famous people on a store shelf
Caganers pop up during Christmas markets but can be found all year long. Photo credit: Ajuntament Barcelona

FAQ: Visiting Barcelona with teens

What neighborhood do you recommend staying in?

We’re partial to the lively and trendy Born neighborhood, which is home to boutiques, tapas restaurants, historical monuments, and beautiful alleyways. It’s also great for teens—and only a 20-minute walk from the beach! 

How many days do you recommend spending in Barcelona with teens?

It really depends on how many activities your family would like to do, and how much time each will take. For example, if you plan to take a day trip or visit a beach in a neighboring city, we recommend adding one day per day trip. Overall, enjoy your visit! Barcelona is full of activities the whole family can enjoy. Take some time to plan your trip and no one will get bored.

Update notice: This article was updated on September 25, 2023. 

 

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