Tibidabo: one of the best amusement parks in Barcelona (Spain)

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Amusement parks in Barcelona: Tibidabo

All the best Barcelona amusement parks & theme parks

COMPLETE LIST OF THEME PARKS IN BARCELONA & AROUND

Vacations aren’t complete without a visit to some cool theme park. Either because you want to treat your kids, or because you love the adrenaline high of scary rides, visiting an amusement park is always a fun complement to any trip. And Barcelona doesn’t lack of an exciting offer! There’s options conveniently located in the city, if you only have a few hours to spare, and there’s choices outside of Barcelona in case you can invest an entire day out of time. And in the Summer season… the offer duplicates with water parks!

Best amusement parks in Barcelona

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Tibidabo, THE amusement park in Barcelona

Child at the Airplane of Tibidabo, one of the oldest Theme Parks in Barcelona, Spain

The Parc d'Atraccions del Tibidabo is the oldest amusement park in Spain, and the 5th oldest in Europe. Inaugurated in 1901, this theme park is located at the top of the Tibidabo Hill, overlooking Barcelona, what makes the views from many rides a remarkable part of the experience. The Blue Tram (tramvia blau - now out of service) and the Funicular (now known as Cuca de Llum) were some of the earliest rides, followed by the Ferrocarril Aereo (a panoramic gondola still functioning under the name of Embruixabruixes, now with added sound and light effects).

Another emblematic ride, the Talaia, wasn’t added until the 1920’s: a lookout tower with two carts that turn around an axe. The Haunted Castle (now not so scary anymore and themed in fairy tales as Castell dels Contes) came in the 1950, and the bumper cars followed in the 1960’s, and after the 1980’s the goal was to incorporate modern rides. Presently the amusement park is divided in two main areas: the Panoramic Area in the upper level, including emblematic and vintage rides such as the Talaia, the Airplane, the Giradabo (ferris wheel), the Carousel and the Museum of Automats. 

Then the full pass ticket allows you access to all the other levels. Some of the best rides are the flying chairs, the terror tunnel, the mine train with 3D glasses, the roller coaster, the bumper cars, the water coaster, the pirate boat… The age range that enjoys this park the most is 6 to 12yo, as once they are 110cm / 43.5 inches height they can access most rides, although for a small number they’ll have to wait until they are 120cm/ 47.50 inches height, or go with an adult. Younger kids also have some options, but not so many (and it can be frustrating for them if they go with older siblings). And teenagers will also have fun, as long as you set the right expectations, as there aren’t many adrenaline rides here.

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Other cool rides and attractions in Barcelona city

Gaudi Experience

If you are a fan of 3D and 4D experiences, don’t miss this ride located a couple of blocks away from Park Guell. It’s a 4D movie inspired in the Gaudi sites, but more than trying to be educating, it’s designed with the idea of adventure and fun in mind.

Bosc Urba

If you aren’t scared of heights, and climbing and zip lines are your thing, you need to check the only Adventure Park in Barcelona. They have itineraries from 8 years old and up, and kids 5 and older have the option of their trampolines at 5 meters of height.

Galeria de les Il·lusions & Magic World.

The first museum in Europe dedicated to optical illusions. Walk through cool 3D murals that will challenge your perception and make you laugh. Plus it guarantees lots of instagrammable moments! Very similar is Magic World, the other trick art museum in Barcelona.

Big Fun Museum

By the creators of the Galeria de les I·lusions, this unusual facility consists of 7 different spaces or “museums” to challenge your idea of the world: a world record section, a giant house, an upside-down house, the world of Alice in Wonderland, a museum of madness, a museum of sweets and a food art area. Ready for a crazy time?

Indoor Jumping Club Barcelona

Created in 2016, it’s the first trampoline park in Barcelona city. It features a kids area (0 to 8 years old), and a very complete adults zone with over 40 trampolines, two of them Olympic ones, airbag, battle bar, jumpingsmash, interactive walls and much more. Located in the edge of the Poblenou district, getting there by public transportation is possible, but you’ll have to take the L1 subway line to Glories and switch to the Tram to get to the Sant Marti de Provençals stop.

Best theme parks near Barcelona

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Port Aventura World

Port Aventura World is the most visited theme park in Spain, was inaugurated in 1995 in Vilaseca i Salou (Tarragona, 1 hour and 15 minutes drive from Barcelona, and easily accessible by train). The complex is now divided in several areas: Port Aventura Park (the actual amusement park), Ferrari land (the only Ferrari theme park in Europe), PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park (a water park open in the Summer season), the golf club Mediterranea Beach & Golf, and 5 luxury hotels.

Port Aventura Park

Port Aventura Park is divided in 5 different themed areas or “worlds”, and the rides are inspired in each area theme. For instance, in Polynesia you’ll find the water coaster Tutuki Splash, in Chine the extreme roller coasters of Dragon Khan and Shambhala. The top ride of the Far West is the Stampida, and in the Mediterranean stands out Furious Baco, the fastest roller coaster in Europe. There’s also Mexico and the free fall of Hurakan Condor, and SesamoAventura for the youngest of the family. 

There’s also lots of shows and parades, themed restaurants and much more. The most extreme rides (Furious Baco, Shambhala, Dragon Khan and Hurakan Condor) require a height of 140cm / 55 inches, what makes Port Ventura the best theme park for teens. Younger kids will also find things for them, but the youngest might not find much outside of SesamoAventura…

Ferrari Land

Open in 2017, there’s only one more Ferrari park in the world, the one in Abu Dhabi. The rides of this amusement park are based on the idea of speed, and the top ride is Red Force, the highest and fastest roller coaster in Europe (minimum height 140cm/55 inches – but the youngest can have a go at the kids version of it: Junior Red Force. The other ride limited to 40cm/55 inches is a F1 simulator. Then kids 130cm / 51 inches with an escort can access the free fall and bouncing towers.  But other than that kids 90cm/35.5 inches tall will find plenty of rides for them.

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Smaller theme parks outside of Barcelona

Catalunya en Miniatura

Located in Torrelles de Llobregat (30 minutes ride from Barcelona, but hard to reach by public transportation), this is a park displaying miniature models of famous landmarks of Catalonia, including many Gaudi sites such as Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Casa Mila or Casa Batllo but also facilities such as the Barcelona Airport, the FC Barcelona Stadium, the Montserrat Mountain, the Dali Museum, the Cathedral of Girona and much more. It’s a great idea for young kids, specially if your trip will include visiting some of the sites included in the theme park. 

And to round up your day, they have an adjacent Adventure park with 4 different circuits of different degrees of difficulties, starting at 4 years old.

Indoor Skydiving

If you want to feel the thrill of flying, there’s two places in Catalonia where you can do it. Windoor Realfly is located in the Barcelona subburb of Cornella de Llobregat and reachable by subway. They also have another venue in Empuriabrava (Costa Brava, 1.5 hours drive from Barcelona). 

Amusement Parks in Costa Brava

If you are spending your beach vacation in the Costa Brava, your kids will love a trip to one of its small family-friendly amusement parks. Platja d’Aro is famous for its PP’s Park, open daily during the Summer season, and every weekend the rest of the year. It features an 8D cinema, water and roller coasters, a mistery Mississipi boat and much more.

In Lloret de Mar you’ll find the Gnomo Park, a theme park for kids up to 12 years old, inspired in the world of gnomes. Open only in the Summer season, it has a very complete playground with indoor and outdoor sections, ball pools, a mini-disco, inflatables, trampolines and a wet area with pools and fountains. It is required to use socks, swimsuit, flip-flops, towel and sunscreen to use the facilities.

Finally, in L’Estartit you’ll find the less ambitious but still fun Jocs amusement park. Giant slides, bumper boats, flying chairs, trampolines and lots of things to delight the youngest of the family.

Other trampoline parks near Barcelona

Check out CostaJump in Gavà considered the best in Catalonia and reachable by suburban train (R2S line to Gavà – 30 minutes ride), Vens a Saltar in Sant Cugat del Valles (S1 and S2 FFCC, Can Magí station) and Salting L’Hospitalet (subway L1, Bellvitge station). 

Barcelona water parks

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Maresme water parks

The Costa del Maresme are the sandy beaches between Barcelona and Blanes, where Costa Brava starts. Being closer to Barcelona, it’s easier to plan a daytrip there although public transportation isn’t always an easy option.

Isla Fantasia Water Park (Vilassar de Dalt)

The senior of the water parks in Catalonia, open in the 1980’s. It’s also one of the largest ones, with over 22 slides and 3 macro pools, the rides are divided according to the speed: slow, fast or extreme, and some of them require a minimum height of 120cm/47.2 inches.

Marineland Catalunya (Palafolls)

Wave pool, 15m / 5 ft half pipe, speed boats, tornado whirlpool, tunnel slides, twisters and kids area. Marineland also features a dolphinarium with dolphins, sea lions and seals.

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Costa Brava water parks

The Costa Brava is the portion of coast alongside the Mediterranean Sea, between Blanes and the French Border. It’s a popular beach destination, famous for its quaint seaside villages, rocky coves and some busy resorts mainly in Lloret de Mar. Their large leisure offer includes some great water parks 1 to 2 hours ride from Barcelona, only open during the Summer season:

Water World (Lloret de Mar)

Considered the largest water park in Catalonia, it’s a wonderful place for the whole family. The scariest rides include kamikaze slides, a storm whirpool, rapids and fast boats. The X-Treme Mountain is a 350m / 1150 ft long water coaster, and the Rafting River is the largest water ride in Europe (most of it in the dark!). There’s also a wave pool, lagoons, giant slides, rafting rivers, water coasters and activities for the youngest ones.

AquaDiver (Platja d’Aro)

Run by the same company as Water World Lloret, not for being smaller it’s less exciting. It features 5 thrill rides including a water fall, a fast river, two kamikaze slides and a water rocket. There’s also a wave pool, an adventure lake and a fun variety of water slides. The choices for the littlest ones is bigger here than in Water World. 

Aquabrava (Roses)

Maybe the greenest of the water parks near Barcelona, the lush tropical vegetation surrounding the rides allows for a relaxing day in between adrenaline highs. Their AquaXJump is their most extreme area, only for 16yo and up (ID prove is required to access this area). Besides this they have 5 more “very daring” rides including kamikaze slides and covered tubers as well as the cobra half-pipe. There’s another half a dozen collection of “daring” rides, most of them slides of different speeds with or without rubber rings (not super daring, though, our 6yo did most of them last year), plus a handful of more relaxed rides and kids areas. Their wave pool is the largest in Europe!

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Costa Daurada water parks

PortAventura Costa Caribe (Vila-seca)

The third theme park of Port Aventura World, reachable by train from Barcelona, it incorporates 16 different rides and pools. The most extreme rides are the Tropical Cyclone, a 100m / 328 ft long slide, and the King Khajuna, a wild free fall slide (minimum height 140cm / 4.5 feet tall). To 2 more fast slides require a minimum height of 120cm/ 4 feet. Everything else is accessible for everyone, as long as the kid goes with an adult. There's two kids areas located indoors.

Aquopolis Costa Daurada (La Pineda)

Incorporates a new surf area, Surf Waimea, unique in Catalonia. The extreme rides include kamikaze slides, black holes and the Boomerang half pipe and other high speed slides. There’s also lagoons, a wave beach, the Magic Oval rapid ride on rubber rings for up to 4 people at a time, a water adventure pool and much more.

Aqualeon (Albinyana)

Surrounded by Mediterranean greenery, this water park consists of 12 rides for different levels of daringness. The most extreme include kamikaze slides with and without rubber rings, and the Toboloko, a unique water coaster with a 13m / 42.5ft drop followed by an 8m / 28 ft rise. There’s also black holes, rapids, race slides, a kids pool and a water minipark, a wave pool and much more.

BONUS: Other Spain amusement parks to keep under your radar

What Barcelona theme parks are you planning to visit on your next trip?

Marta

Author Marta Laurent Veciana

AUTHOR BIO

Marta is the founder of ForeverBarcelona. She is a passionate tour guide that loves Barcelona and loves writing too. She is the main author of our Blog, and is committed to sharing her knowledge about Barcelona and her best tips with our readers.

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