From €79PortAventura World with Kids
What it is
PortAventura World is Spain's biggest theme park resort, about an hour south of Barcelona near Salou, and the headline family day trip from the city. It combines a classic theme park split into six themed worlds, the adjacent Ferrari Land and the Caribe Aquatic Park water park, so families can mix gentle rides for little ones with serious roller coasters for thrill-seeking teenagers all in one place. The original park is organised into lands themed around the Mediterranean, the Wild West, Mexico, China, Polynesia and SesamoAventura, the dedicated children's zone built around Sesame Street characters with carousels, a small train and rides scaled for under-eights. Older kids and teenagers head straight for the bigger attractions, including towering drop rides and one of Europe's tallest and fastest coasters in Ferrari Land, while in summer the Caribe water park adds wave pools, lazy rivers and slides for cooling off. The scale means there really is something for every age and height in a single resort, which is exactly why it works so well for families with children of different ages who rarely want to do the same thing.
How to visit with kids
Most families visit on a full-day trip from Barcelona, often with transport included so you avoid the drive, the motorway tolls and the hunt for parking, and so the day fits neatly around the park's opening hours. Buy tickets ahead and decide in advance whether you want the theme park alone, a combined ticket with Ferrari Land, or a water park day in summer, as adding parks changes both the price and how you plan the day. Arrive at opening to ride the most popular attractions before the queues build through the morning, then use a midday break in the shade or over lunch to reset with younger children before an afternoon in the calmer SesamoAventura zone. Check the minimum height requirements before you travel so older kids are not disappointed at the gate, and remember that the gentle children's rides have no height limit. Bring swimwear, towels and water shoes if Caribe is part of your plan, plus sun cream, hats and refillable bottles whatever the season, as the park is large and walking between lands adds up. With careful pacing, a single day is enough to keep a mixed-age family happy from the carousel to the coasters.
Hours & practical info
Open seasonally, typically 10am to 8pm with longer summer hours. Buy day tickets in advance.
Insider tips for families
- ✓ Book a day trip with transport to skip the drive and parking.
- ✓ Arrive at opening to ride the headline coasters before the queues.
- ✓ Bring swimwear in summer if you add the Caribe water park.
Tours featuring PortAventura World
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do you get to PortAventura from Barcelona?
- It is about an hour south of Barcelona by direct train or road. Many families book a day trip with transport included to avoid driving and parking, which also fits the park's opening hours.
- Is PortAventura suitable for toddlers and young children?
- Yes. The SesamoAventura zone is built for under-eights with gentle rides and characters, while older kids and teens have the bigger coasters. There is something for every age across the resort.