The best playgrounds between Barcelona and the Costa Brava

Exploring Barcelona and the stretch of coastline up to the Costa Brava with kids is a wonderful experience. You’ll find lively seaside towns, beautiful beaches, and plenty of places where children can run, climb, and explore. But even on a holiday filled with sightseeing and beach days, children sometimes just want one simple thing: to play in a playground.
Luckily, outdoor living is a big part of life in Catalonia, which means there’s no shortage of great playgrounds along the coast north of Barcelona. Below I’m sharing some of the playgrounds my own children love most, and which make perfect stops during a family trip to Barcelona or its nearby coastal towns.

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Best playgrounds between Barcelona and the Costa Brava

From large city parks in Barcelona to natural playgrounds along the Catalan coast, these are some of our favorite playgrounds for families traveling with kids. All of them are free to visit and make great stops during a day trip or family holiday. In summer, don’t forget to bring plenty of water and sun protection, since some playground areas have limited shade.

Parc de Vallmora – El Masnou

Parc de Vallmora is a large park in El Masnou which is made up of different levels. It’s a beautiful green space where you can go for a walk, exercise or simply relax in nature. But most importantly (for everyone traveling with kids) there is an impressive playground to be found here. It’s a place for children of all ages and it truly provides hours of entertainment.
The playground is spread across different levels and most of the structures are partly made of wood, which gives this place a natural feel. There’s balancing and climbing structures, rope bridges, several slides and a zipline.
Since this is a place where children can easily spend a few hours, a great addition is the on-site bar El Pati de Casa, where you can sit down and take a break. They serve drinks, sandwiches and tapas here.
The easiest way to reach Parc la Vallmora is by car. I personally find having a car very convenient when exploring the coastline between Barcelona and the Costa Brava with kids, especially when visiting places that are located further away from the train station. If you’re traveling without your own vehicle, renting a car in Barcelona can make visiting places like this much easier. You can enter the playground via Carrer Felip Pedrell but if it’s difficult to park here, you could head around the corner to this area, where you can park for free.

Parc de les Glòries – Barcelona

If you’re staying in Barcelona and looking for a playground to entertain your kids for a while, I can really recommend the park near the Westfield Glòries shopping center. The park has been recently built and has become one of the best places to enjoy a nice break in the city. You can have a lovely picnic in the grass, enjoy a game of table tennis or basketball etc. The park is also home to two of the best playgrounds in Barcelona: Parc infantil El Rosc de Glòries and Parc infantil Glòries. The one in the picture above is the modern El Rosc and consists of slides, climbing ropes, swings, and even a fireman pole. The other playground is mainly focused on immense slides and there is a small part for the youngest ones too.
These two playgrounds both are popular with local families and if you come here during the weekend, expect it to be busy. Please mind that in summer the metal structures can get quite hot, so it’s not a great place to go to in the middle of the day. The park is centrally located and easy to reach by metro or tram, but if you come by car, parking is available at Westfield Glòries shopping center.

Parc de la Ciutadella – Barcelona

Parc de la Ciutadella is probably the most popular park in the center of Barcelona and a must-visit when you’re in the city. It’s a great place for families, because kids can run around freely, enjoy the ducks and boats in the beautiful lake, the mammoth statue and the incredible fountains. But what many people don’t know is that this park also has two playground areas that are especially worth mentioning and are great for people traveling with kids. Even though these are two separate areas rather than one large playground, they work perfectly together. Because they are close to each other and the park is so easy to navigate between sightseeing stops, it’s a great place to pause with kids during a day in Barcelona.
One of the playgrounds is located near Institut Verdaguer and is perfect for toddlers. It has a natural feel, with wooden playhouses, stepping stones, tree trunks and rocks that children can climb over and explore freely. It’s a space that encourages imaginative play rather than structured equipment, which makes it especially appealing for little ones.

The best thing about this playground is the supervised play area that opens in the mornings and on selected afternoons. During these hours, staff are present and add extra play materials to the area, such as buckets, shovels, balls and small climbing elements. In the warmer months, water play is often included as well, which makes it a big favorite when we come to the city during summer. There is also an indoor section with books, toys and musical instruments where children can explore further.

The second playground is located a little further away from the lake and closer to the Parròquia Castrense. This one is suitable for slightly older kids as well. It includes swings, slides and other classic playground equipment. It is less obvious at first glance, which is why many visitors miss it but it’s fun for families visiting Barcelona.
Thanks to its central location, Parc de la Ciutadella is easy to reach on foot or by public transport, making it a very convenient family stop right in the middle of the city.

Parque de Can Solei i Ca l’Arnús – Badalona

In nearby Badalona, this beautiful Parque de Can Solei i Ca l’Arnús is incredible. It’s a very old park and it’s lovely for a stroll with your family. In the park you’ll come across a clock tower, an orchard, an insect hotel and a pond, where you can spot turtles. But besides all that, it also features two playgrounds. The best one is a spacious sandy playground suitable for all ages. It’s known locally as ‘Parque de las cuerdas’, because it has so many climbing ropes. Our children absolutely love coming to this playground near Barcelona and we have spent many hours here.
There’s plenty to do for all ages. Like I just mentioned, there are lots of ropes for climbing, but you’ll also find different kinds of swings, a wooden house and even a zipline. Besides that it’s a great place for sandcastle building. There are picnic tables and several benches on site so you can have a picnic here or just enjoy some free time while the kids are playing.
Since Badalona is Barcelona’s neighbour, it’s easy to reach by the purple metro line or by train. A short walk or bus ride will take you to the park. Free parking is available near Riera de Canyadó.

Parc polivalent Francesc Macià – Malgrat de Mar

I saved one of the best playgrounds between Barcelona and the Costa Brava for last. Parc polivalent Francesc Macià in Malgrat de Mar is a large park where families can easily spend a half day or more. The park is made up of several sections that are all perfect for children. If you want to make a day trip out of it, you can enjoy a nice lunch on one of the picnic tables. The part that makes it famous is the part where it feels like you’re stepping into a fairytale.
It’s completely different from most traditional playgrounds and is easily one of our children’s top picks. Here, everyday objects are supersized: a giant slice of cake, a huge mushroom, an enormous shoe, and even a candy house. Kids can climb all over them, and they also make fantastic photo backdrops.
But there is more to enjoy. Another section of the park is great for older kids, with a zipline, climbing structures, swings and a cool skate area.
You can best reach this playground by car. Admission and parking are free.

Final thoughts on the best playgrounds between Barcelona and the Costa Brava

Exploring the coastline between Barcelona and the Costa Brava with children becomes so much easier when you know where to find great playgrounds along the way. Whether you are spending time in the city, visiting seaside towns or driving further north along the coast, these playgrounds are perfect places to slow down and let kids simply enjoy being kids.
What I personally love about these playgrounds is how different they all are. Some are located in the middle of lively cities, while others are surrounded by greenery.
If you are traveling between Barcelona and the Costa Brava with kids, I highly recommend adding a few of these playgrounds to your itinerary. They are ideal for breaking up sightseeing days, enjoying some outdoor time and discovering a more relaxed, family-friendly side of the Catalan coast.