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Children's attractions are concentrated around Montjuïc, Tibidabo and the Port Vell, and reaching them is part of the fun! Among the transportation choices are: funiculars, trams, cable cars and golondrines (swallow boats), as well as the open-top Bus Turístic.
The Poble Espanyol
The Poble Espanyol is popular with children, with a resident glass-blower, arts and crafts demonstrations and magic and circus shows most summer weekends. On a rainy day a good, though expensive, standby can be the IMAX giant-format cinema on premises.
Catalunya en Miniatura
Apparently the largest model village in Europe, with over 170 miniatures of Catalonian monuments and buildings, and a mini train to take you around.
Tibidabo Funfair
Admission charged.
Make a day of it by catching the Trvia Blau up the hill to the Funicular, which takes you through the woods to the top of the mountain and the funfair. Few amusement parks can compete with this spectacular mountaintop view. The park has bumper cars, Ferris wheel, as well as the infamous house of horrors, Hotel Krueger.
Museu d'Automates, a collection of old fairground machines. If you still have some energy at the end of the afternoon, consider a walk through the beautiful woods to the tram stop on the well marked path.
Zoo de Barcelona
Parc de la Ciutadella
93 225 67 80
Admission charged.
Children enjoy the green, shady picnic areas, meeting the animals, watching the regular shows at the Dolphinarium, petting the animals in the farm area, and the chance to meet Copito de Nieve (Snowflake), the only albino gorilla in captivity.
L'Aquàrium de Barcelona
Open Sept-August.
Admission charged.
One of the most attractive of its kind, the aquarium reproduces Mediterranean habitats in 21 tanks. The highlight is the 80 meter glass tunnel through a shark tank, allowing the visitor to walk through with scary sharks' teeth inches from the face. Little ones may prefer the upstairs area which features a touching pool.
New Park
This is on the order of a video arcade similar to those found in shopping Malls in the US. Floors of video games and high-tech simulation games all wait to receive the visitor's coins!
Nits hípiques a Barcelona (Horse shows)
Performances late June-Sept. Tickets tourist offices & Tel-entrada
Admission charged.
Every Friday during summer the city police's ornately-uniformed display team presents an exhibition of dressage on their Andalusian horses, which strut their fancy footwork to music.
Aqualeón Safari
An all-in-one water and safari park between Barcelona and Tarragona, with tigers, birds of prey and parrots as well as giant water slides, fun pools and wave machines. Captive dolphins too.
Parc de Cervantes
On the very edge of the city, this is one of Barcelona's most beautiful parks. The grass is always green, and it has a children's play area, a picnic site and lovely shaded lawns for relief from the heat of the afternoon.
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