Barcelona Aquarium
The Aquarium (on the Moll d'Espanya - you can find Maremagnum, right?) has some pretty amazing creatures inside, most notably the huge shark tank. At €15 (€10 for the under 12s) a head, it's not the cheapest of day outs but the kids will love it.

The website is not what we'd describe as exciting but the Aquarium itself is (ahem) "worth" a visit.

•We liked: Those sharks...!
•Not so hot: The queues to get in (go first thing in the morning)
•Languages: English, Spanish, Catalan

Barcelona Zoo
Barcelona Zoo is sadly now without its star attraction - Snowflake (pictured, right), the world's only albino gorilla. Whether or not he should be stuffed was hotly debated here in Barcelona. There will be a statue and - don't worry, folks - a DVD is forthcoming.

The zoo is not really somewhere you want to head if you are a serious animal lover anywhere over the age of about 6...

•We liked: The information in the animal files and the idea of being able to view the animals via webcam, as well as the 360º panoramas but…
•Not so hot: Hey! Get those cameras up closer, please!
•Languages: English, Spanish, Catalan

Tibidabo Fun Fair
If you don't fancy the traipse all the way down to Port Aventura (see below), Barcelona has its own fun fair - which dates back to the time when, yes, they were really called fun fairs, not theme parks. In fact, the one on Tibidabo, the tallest of the hills that overlook Barcelona, has been there now for over 100 years. "It's not exactly Disney World, but my own kids just loved the haunted house bit," says Barcelona Online editor, Tom Walton.

The website looks like it was designed about 100 years ago, too, but not let it put you off. Check the opening times to make sure it's going to be open. Simplest access is via the Tramvia Blau and then the mountain railway (see transport page).

•We liked: The magnificent view of Barcelona from the top
•Not so hot: The website is so boring it makes you actually want to queue up to get into Port Aventura
•Languages: English, Spanish, Catalan

Outside Barcelona
Port Aventura
True, Port Aventura is not really a Barcelona site at all - but what's a 100km drive when you've got kids? It's an hour by car down the motorway but it is also possible to get there by train. Yourself, you may think it's packed and a right rip-off, but we guarantee your kids will (a) moan about having to wait to go on the rides, (b) scream with hysterical excitement once they get on them, and (c) then pester you for ice-creams.

Beyond the whiz-bang introduction, the website itself is a very bland experience. A totally static tour of the attractions…? I ask you! I went to the Wild West Games section and chose water pistols... and I can't actually fire them? What do you expect me to do, use my imagination? I thought the whole point of theme parks was that you didn't have to... Oh, forget it!

•We liked: The practical information section (how to get there, prices, etc)
•Not so hot: What, you mean... I can't bring my own sandwiches into the Park?
•Languages: English, Spanish, Catalan, French, German

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