Although this may well appeal to adults more than children, there is a fine chocolate museum located next to Parc Ciutadella and the Arc de Triomph. This museum traces the history of chocolate, and you can reward the kids at the end of the tour by sitting them down for a cup of delicious hot chocolate, or any of the other delicasies on offer. Not the place to visit if you're trying to avoid the calories. One of the best days out you can give the kids is a visit to the funfair at Tibidado. Located at the top of a mountain behind the city, the funfair is reached by taking a pleasant trip up the hill on an antique (to my mind) blue tram, and then transferring to a funicular railway, a journey both kids and adults will enjoy immensely. The rides aren't that terrifying, but new attractions are continually being added, including a new multi-media experience that allows kids to become part of an animated film.

To enjoy a day of pure sightseeing, take the Bus Turistic which will pass all the major, and some of the minor, attractions in the city, including Sagrada Familia, the Gaudi buildings, Parc Guell, Camp Nou, and the waterfront. There are three different routes, over 40 different stops and an audio commentary in 10 languages to choose from. One ticket will allow you to jump on and off whereever you like, so you can spend as much time as you like in whichever spots you fancy. It's also worth noting that the T10 ticket that you can buy at any metro or tram stop allows you ten journeys on the metro, tram, or buses, and also permits transfers from one mode to another without it being deemed another journey. They are excellent value for money, and last as long as you want them to last.

One of the most interesting museums in Barcelona is CosmoCaixa, a centre for experiencing many different aspects of science. There are always different children's activities, educational workshops, and facilities that allow children to experiment and engage with interactive media. Different sections explore specific fields of science, like astronomy, meteorology, mechanics and optics, and the centre also houses different temporary exhibitions. This is particularly popular with inquisitive kids and I recommend it highly.

Finally, if you or the kids are interested in maritime history, or just like looking at boats, a visit to the Maritime Museum will be well worth your while. It describes the history of the Catalan fleet through exhibitions of old sailing ships, paintings, figureheads, navigational instruments, maps and charts. There are two permanent exhibitions and educational activities for children, who can physically board both Don Juan de Austria's royal galleon and Narcís Monturiol's primative submarine. The museum is housed in the Reials Drassanes, a typical 13th century Catalan Gothic construction built on the orders of King Pere el Gran as a boat repair yard at a time when the Catalan fleet controlled many of the Mediterranean's important trade routes.

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