Planning a holiday abroad when you’ve got children takes cunning, wit and strategy – and now, this route guide. You want a carefully-crafted balance of fun that will suit the kids and the parents, and Barcelona is just the city to grant that wish. Not only is our transfer short enough the kids won’t get too bored of being in the car, the trip from Barcelona to Calella also passes by a multitude of family-friendly options.
There’s something for every personality type – the active adventurers, the wacky ones, the animal lovers and the thrill seekers. This route has enough diverse choices that even the pickiest of your group will find something they desperately want to do. From cage-diving with sharks to having lunch with fairies, our transfer is sure to give you some ideas for having a blast in Barcelona.
1. Illa Fantasia Water Park
The first attraction you’ll pass on your journey from the airport in Barcelona to Calella is one of Europe’s largest water parks: Illa Fantasia. With three enormous pools, over 22 slides and a large picnic area, it’s not difficult to see why people from all over the world flock here for a day of splash-filled fun.
This water park is the ideal adventure for active families who have children of varying ages. The ride speeds are low (such as when you paddle around in the wave pool), fast (like the twisty turn-y slides of Rapids) or extreme (the 18-metre drop of Kamikazes will have adrenaline coursing through your veins), so there’s something for all ages and levels of adventure-seeking. And if your kids are under 0.9 metres tall, they get in for free!
When you and your family get hungry, you can choose to either bring along your own food (or buy some from the onsite supermarket) and cook it at the barbecue area the park provides, or eat at one of the many restaurants offered (they’ve got everything from burgers to pancakes to ice cream). They offer other amenities such as a souvenir shop and a health area to make sure everyone is safe. Illa Fantasia is only open during the summer months, so make sure you check with the venue to ensure it’s open when you’re going to be in Barcelona – and once you’re positive it is, return for a fun-filled day with your family.
Recommended Visit Time: With over eight hours of entertainment to be found at Illa Fantasia, there are more than enough activities to occupy you and your family for the entire day.
2. Barcelona Wax Museum
Next on the list is of attractions you’ll be speeding by on your way from Barcelona to Calella is Museu de Cera –known in English as the Barcelona Wax Museum. Wacky families will love gazing upon the lifelike wax figures made in the image of royalty, artists, literary figures and more. This museum is suitable for all ages, although the dramatised night visit is only appropriate for ages eight and older. As well as the museum itself, there are guided tours, customised visits and Passatge del Temps – the ancient art of origami.
You can also have lunch in Bosc de les Fades, the imaginative and magical forest cafe. The little ones will love meeting all the inhabitants of this wood – the fairies, gnomes and mysterious trees being only some of the unexpected creatures you’ll find here. I would recommend this unique museum to families with children of all ages who are looking for something fantastical and unusual. Come back during your holiday for a unique and surreal experience.
Recommended Visit Time: Allot yourself at least a few hours, although with all of the weird and wonderful things to do at Barcelona Wax Museum, you and your family could find yourself spending half a day or longer here.
3. Barcelona Aquarium
In the same area as Barcelona Wax Museum is L’Aquàrium de Barcelona. Although you will only be driving past it as you journey from Barcelona to Calella, I highly recommend returning and spending some time here another day, especially if the kids are animal lovers.
With a plethora of themed aquariums that house all different types of aquatic animals (seahorses, molluscs and tropical fish are just the beginning), you’ll have the opportunity to see just about every water-dwelling creature you can imagine. And if you schedule your visit during feeding time, you can watch the sharks, penguins and rays chow down! If the bravest of your children are older than eight, you can even schedule a shark diving adventure or spend the night sleeping underneath the sharks. Other amenities include a restaurant and cafeteria, a gift shop and a souvenir photography service. Appropriate for all-ages, this is a great day out for parents looking to educate their children while they entertain them.
Recommended Visit Time: As little as two hours or as long as an entire night (if you’ve decided to book the shark sleepover). I would suggest spending at least half a day here to get the most out of your tickets.
4. Barcelona Bosc Urbà Adventure Park
By the end of your transfer, your family will probably have some pent up energy and be looking to stretch their legs – luckily, the last family-friendly place you’ll be driving by on your way from Barcelona to Calella is perfect for that. Barcelona Bosca Urbà is the city’s first adventure park and is the ideal day out for fearless families. With bungee jumping, zip lines and a climbing forest, this park is not for the faint of heart. There are circuits available for ages three and up. And if your kids are a bit older, they can partake in group activities such as an escape room, trust-building games or a personalised package you create yourself. I think this would be a great option for families who love a thrill and whose children are a bit older.
Recommended Visit Time: Circuits and packages tend to last a minimum of two hours but often go longer – plan accordingly so you’re not rushing through your adventure.
From Barcelona to Calella
The journey from Barcelona to Calella is only a little over an hour long, which will be a blessing for parents everywhere. Plus you’ll be driving through some interesting and busy parts of the city, so give your kids the window seat and they’ll be entertained the whole ride – and get them excited for the rest of your trip by asking for their help in deciding which family-friendly attraction you’re going to come back to first!
About Shuttle Direct
Whether you’re heading from Barcelona to Calella or your journey is taking you somewhere else in Europe or North Africa, Shuttle Direct is one of the best transfer services around. With a fast, professional and reliable service, we’re dedicated to getting you where you need to go. Get rid of airport stress and book a private or shared transfer today – we’re ready to take you and your family to your next adventure!
NB.This route guide has been compiled as an aid to visiting the region. Your airport transfer service from Barcelona to Calella does not include stops to these destinations.
