The Spanish are well-known for their child-friendly attitude and Barcelona is no exception. The city has a great range of entertainment venues and activities to keep children occupied and happy. From parks and beaches to theatre, fiestas and theme parks you are guaranteed to find something your child will like and return home with happy memories of the family holiday.

Barcelona is a very friendly city and it's quite usual for families to go everywhere together, young children are often seen out accompanying their parents late in the evenings, especially if it is during the warm summer months. There are no disapproving looks here if children are running around enjoying themselves. Due to this easy-going approach there are plenty of activities and attractions arranged for children as tourists.

Locals in Barcelona love kids, the younger and cuter the more attention they will receive and you'll be warmly welcomed in most venues and apartments, whether you are shopping, eating out, visiting the museums or at the beach.

The beach is immensely popular with families as it stretches far and wide and is clean and sandy, ideal for kids to run around and build sandcastles. Barcelona beaches are cleaned every morning and evening and are a great place to cool down if the city should get too hot for the youngsters. Take a picnic and have a swim, a great way for a family to relax together.

During the school holidays there are lots of fiestas and carnivals to get excited about. Puppet shows are a favourite on the beach front and as it is mostly mime then language isn't a problem. The kids will find lots of things to keep them entertained in the processions, colourful costumes and decorated floats.

You may think that museums and art galleries are only for adults, however this isn't true as most of them have interactive displays where everything is hands on, with exhibitions and displays that are both educational and a fun way to learn.

There are plenty of places to take the kids and have a great family time in Barcelona, and many of them are free into the bargain. How many cities can you say that about in Europe these days? Las Ramblas is the most famous street in the city where all kinds of interesting characters hang out and keep you fascinated. Watch out for the human statues and try to catch them moving, get your portrait painted by a street artist and do a little street shopping.

At the end of Las Ramblas is the Aquarium with its massive moving walkway tunnel, the kids will be fascinated by the moon fish, sharks and sting rays as they practically swim right over the top of you. There's also a penguin enclosure and seahorses to watch, as well as interactive models of whales and submarines.

Park Guell is one of the many famous attractions designed by Gaudi and is a great place to visit with children. Let them have a run around, take their photo at the symbolic dragon fountain and be in awe of the Hansel and Gretel houses at the flamboyant entrance.

Barcelona has 2 cable car rides, the Transbordador Aeri del Port - port cable car, this is a impressive ride with great views of Barcelona. It takes you across the port of Barcelona from Montjuic to San Sebastian beach. The other is Telefèric de Montjuïc - Montjuic hill cable car which connects with the funicular mountain train to take you up Montjuic Mountain where you can visit the old military fort. Kids will love either one of them.

Ciutadella Park is the garden of Barcelona, and is a great place to hang out on the weekend. The kids can feed the ducks and geese, hire a rowing boat and explore the lakes. There is a splendid fountain designed by Gaudi, and a incredible scale model of a Mammoth that will have them clambering all over it.

At Tibidabo you get the chance to take a ride on the last working tram in Barcelona, the quaint Tramvia Blau. Then take the funicular train up to the theme park, built in 1889, at the top of the mountain and spend a few hours on the log flumes and other small rides that date back to the era it was constructed. This means no bare-knuckle rides, but the scenery and ambience is worth it.

As a family it can be expensive to stay in a hotel. The ideal accommodation is to rent an apartment in the city as it offers you space, convenience and is more economical.