Barcelona with Family: Rooftop Pools, Tattoos & the Festa Major
Barcelona was the final stop on our Spanish adventure, and it gave us everything we needed: family time, good food, sangria, and a few surprises we couldn’t have planned for. From rooftop pools to street festivals, it was a fun and vibrant way to wrap up our Euro Summer.
Where We Stayed
We split our time in Barcelona between two hotels:
- Hotel Claris – We spent one night here thanks to a Luxury Escapes deal, and it was a special one. We booked two Junior Suites using Velocity points (worth over $1,100) and ended up in a boutique, art-filled hotel with antique furniture, whirlpool bathtubs and a super chic rooftop bar. Breakfast happened to fall on our son’s birthday, and the hotel even added a few sweet touches to mark the occasion.
- Olivia Balmes Hotel – For the rest of our stay, we moved to Olivia Balmes in the Eixample neighbourhood. It was bright, modern and a perfect fit for a larger family. The rooftop pool was the highlight—ideal for meeting up with extended family who flew in from the UK. The kids were in and out of the water all day while the grown-ups caught up in the shade, drinking cervezas and Aperol spritzes galore.
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus vs Cable Car
We gave the famous hop-on hop-off bus a go, but sitting on the top deck in the middle of summer, with no shade, wasn’t our brightest idea. By the time we reached the Miramar stop, the heat and those sticky plastic seats had drained the fun right out of it. We made the collective decision to hop off sooner than planned.
After a quick drink and a cool-down overlooking the Bernat Picornell Pools on Montjuïc, we instead jumped on the Barcelona cable car, which absolutely saved the day. It gave us a breezy ride and sweeping views of the coastline. The kids loved it, and frankly, so did we. Sometimes choosing the path with more air circulation is the right call.
Places to eat in Barcelona
Barcelona is full of food worth writing home about, and we definitely made the most of it.
- La Colosal – A lively pavement-side spot where we ordered padron peppers, garlic shrimp, croquettes and burrata. The adults sipped sangria while the kids opted for McDonald’s on a nearby park bench. A memory in its own right.
- Marana Restaurant – Casual and reliable for jamon, croquettes and cold drinks.
- Hotel Roma – A basic lunch but served in a shady spot with plenty of people-watching. Not every meal needs to be unforgettable to serve its purpose.
- Casa Amalia – We saved the best for last. Our final night meal at Casa Amalia was an absolute standout. The seafood paella with scampi and red prawns was excellent, but it was the mountain paella with rabbit, wild mushrooms, and pork sausage that really stole the show.
Tattoos, Street Art & Serendipity
In a wonderfully silly and spontaneous moment, my friend Naomi (who had also flown out to meet us) and I ended up at Meatshop Tattoo in Ciutat Vella. A tattoo was something I’d been thinking about for years, but the timing never quite felt right… until one night in Barca. A semi-colon for me, and a wave for her. The artist was brilliant: careful, precise, and calming.
I love that I now carry a souvenir from our trip with me; something permanent to mark a fleeting but pertinent time for us.
Barcelona pulsed with creative energy. The kids chased bubbles in city squares, ran through flocks of pigeons, and watched Hare Krishnas dance through the streets. We didn’t plan those moments, but they were some of the best.
Festa Major de Raval
By pure luck, our visit coincided with the Festa Major de Raval. We landed front-row seats at a pavement café and watched the neighbourhood transform into a celebration of Catalan culture: giant puppet parades, human towers (castellers), live music and colourful costumes.
We didn’t know what we were watching half the time, but it didn’t matter. The energy was infectious, and the kids were absolutely transfixed.
Final Thoughts
Barcelona was the perfect finale: part family reunion and part chaotic, sun-drenched playground. We didn’t see everything, and that’s fine. What we did get were a few golden days full of flavour, music, conversation and memory-making… and just enough ink to remember it all by.
What a fantastic, detailed guide for families! The tip about pre-booking Sagrada Familia tickets way in advance is crucial—saved us so much hassle on our last trip.
I’m curious about the food aspect: did you find it difficult to get kid-friendly dinner times in Barcelona (where they eat so late), or did sticking to tapas bars make it easier? Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you had better luck than us with the Sagrada Familia! Food-wise, whenever we are travelling we tend to drop routine when it comes to eating and simply eat whatever we want, when we want. The kids always eat out with us (which is later in Spain as you mention), but we avoid anyone getting ‘hangry’ with the liberal use of snacks and pitstops throughout the day!