Anyone done Barcelona with a toddler? Transport advice please!

[TicTacsMum]

Off to Barcelona with dp and dd, 23 months this weekend. Will be there for 5 days.

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of the public transport system there with a baby/toddler. I'm tempted to buy a 'Barcelona Card' before we go but am loathe to spend £50 on it if the metro is inaccesible with a buggy. It also says that the Barcelona Card is not available for under 4s. Would that just be because they get free public transport anyway?

Any other tips for being in Barcelona with a wee one would be appreciated too.

Cheers

Hi, I live in Barcelona, so I'll try and help...

If you don't mind stairs, you'll be fine. Most of the metro stations have up escalators and many of the bigger central stations have lifts, but not all. In all honesty, I try to avoid taking the buggy on the metro when I'm on my own, but if there are two of you, you'll be fine.
And yes, transport is free for children under 4.

As for other tips, the zoo is always a winner, Parc Ciutadella is a good place to take little ones (take bread for the ducks), and they have free outdoor play sessions every evening from 5 and at weekends from 11 until 2 near the boating pond.

Have lovely time.. it's quite chilly here, but it's been very sunny.

not with a toddler but with a group of stroppy teenagers - we did a lot of walking, so I guess that should be ok if she's in the buggy and the weather is reasonable...have fun, its a lovely city

We went to Barcelona with two todders. Things they enjoyed included Parc Guell, and some of the open spaces and play areas on MontJuic. We went round the city on the tourist open topped bus (my children have a thing for open-topped buses) though it was very long and slow and they slept for a lot of that.

They also liked the waterfront where there were things like merry go rounds.

Thanks for info. Will definitely get to the parks and the zoo would be good too as we've never been to one.

Itwasntme/Fennel - can you recommend any toddler friendly cafes or restaurants? Is Barcelona generally ok for highchairs & baby changing etc?

All of Spain is lovely for babies/toddlers in cafes, IME. Very welcoming and accepting. There are some good outdoor cafes in squares in the middle of Barcelona where your child can run around while you eat. In the Ramblas and Barri Gotic areas.

I do remember a rather bad evening in Barcelona where my 2 toddlers wouldn't sit still and we had to leave a nice outdoor restaurant and resort to Pizza Hut (where they rolled around under the floor). but in general we have found Spanish cafes and restuarants to be good with children. There are often high chairs.

I can't remember about baby changing, sorry (DP always did it).

I went with my dd-- she was welcome everywhere.
And she loved the chocolate museum-- still talks about it now ( three years on)

Good to hear - Fennel. I did kind of think that Spain would be quite family friendly.

And bluejelly - the chocolate museum sounds fab!

We are going to Spain again after Christmas, we've been a few times with children as we have good friends there. The only thing we find hard is the times - eating dinner at 10pm is normal for the Spanish children we know and my toddlers used to go crazy if not fed by 6pm at the latest. But that's easier if you aren't actually staying with Spaniards.

ooh, can i ask a question, because in a bout of insomnia, i booked us a december break in barcelona What is the situation with taxis and car seats? I can't really take mine for a 19month old ds - is he legally allowed in a baxi with no car seat?

I went when I was 8 months pregnant, used the open top buses to get round as they cover the whole city. You can get on and off whenever you like and its pretty cheap for a 2 or 3 day ticket.

My tip for the open top buses.. the stops at the big arractions are normally busy and you will have to wait in a queue, if you walk to the stop before (usually not to far) you can squeeze on straightaway and when they all pile off at the big arraction you can grab a seat before the mob gets on.