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Come face to face with the teeming marine world of the Mediterranean at Barcelona’s impressive aquarium, the largest in Europe. The highlight is an 80-m (262-ft) long underwater tunnel equipped with a moving walkway that transports visitors through the deep blue unknown, while sharks glide menacingly close. A huge hit with the kids is the new Explora! floor, with interactive activities that allow you to explore the ecosystems of the Mediterranean.

One of Europe’s biggest aquariums, this underwater kingdom is made up of 21 enormous tanks brimming with nearly 400 marine species. The highlight of a visit is the Oceanari, where a walk-through glass tunnel will bring you face to face with three huge grey sharks – named Drake, Morgan and Maverick – lurking in 4.5 million litres (990,000 gallons) of water.Port Vell, Barceloneta & Port Olimpic

Unlike the nerve-jangling cable-car ride across the port, these smaller, lower-altitude cable car trips are a better option if you have children with you. The ride to the Montjuïc summit also has the added appeal of the castle (Castell de Montjuïc & Museu Militar) at the top, with cannons for the kids to clamber on.

The dramatic mount of Montserrat, with its remote Benedictine monastery (dating from 1025), is a religious symbol and a place of pilgrimage for the Catalan people. The Basilica houses a statue of Catalonia’s patron virgin, La Moreneta, also know as the “Black Virgin”. Some legends date the statue to AD 50, but research suggests it was carved in the 12th century. The monastery itself was largely destroyed in 1811 during the War of Independence, and rebuilt some 30 years later. Montserrat forms part of a ridge of mountains that rise suddenly from the plains. Take the funicular to the mountain’s unspoilt peaks, where paths run alongside spectacular gorges to numerous hermitages.

Barcelona’s most visited museum is a must for fans of the beautiful game. With football memorabilia of every conceivable kind, you can learn all about the club’s history. Work donated by some of Catalonia’s leading artists is also on display. Admission includes access to Barca’s 120,000-seater stadium, an impressive monument to the city’s love-affair with the game.

This child-friendly museum traces Catalonia’s history through a range of dynamic, interactive exhibits. The best of these allows visitors to get dressed up as medieval knights and gallop around on wooden horses. Very popular with Catalan school groups, it’s equally enjoyable for visitors. Every Saturday, the museum hosts a story hour when Catalan legends are re-enacted for children as well as other children’s activities. See Museu d’Història de Catalunya .

Housed in the Palau de Mar, a renovated portside warehouse, this museum offers a broad, interactive exploration of Catalonia’s history since prehistoric times. Kids (Museu d’Història de Catalunya), especially will have a ball with the engaging exhibits, such as a Civil War-era bunker and a recreated Catalan bar from the 1960s with an ancient futbolín (table football) game.

The fantastic Maritime Museum brings the seafaring world to life with the hollering of pirates, the report of cannons and the underwater gurgling of submarines. Well worth a look is the full-size Spanish galleon complete with sound and light effects. Set in the vast former medieval shipyards, the Drassanes, this is an absolute must for any budding sea captain. See Museu Marítim.