Runner Bean Tours: A Review of the Barcelona Kids and family Walking Tour in the Gothic Quarter

We love exploring cities and finding out about their history and culture, and a walking tour is our favourite way to get an insight into a place. This is our review of the Runner Bean Tours, Kids and Family tour of the Gothic Quarter, Barcelona. We were visiting Barcelona with three children (aged 7, 10 and 13) we needed a family walking tour that would appeal to both them and us. Enough hands-on activities to keep them engaged, but enough historical information for the adults to enjoy.

After a quick internet search, we found Runner Bean Tours, a small, local, responsible business who focus only on Barcelona. They offer a Barcelona family walking tour of the Gothic Quarter designed specifically for children.

This tour promised to transform Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter into a living, breathing storybook. With tales of monsters, kings and queens, backpacks full of surprises, and plenty of hands-on fun, it kept both our 7-year-old and our teen hooked from start to finish.

Here’s our honest review of what made the tour so special — and why we think it’s one of the top family-friendly activities in Barcelona.

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If you are planning on visiting Barcelona, check out our family-friendly Barcelona itinerary. We’d recommend combining your visit with a trip to beautiful Tossa de Mar on the Costa Brava. Read our ultimate guide to Tossa de Mar for more inspiration.

If you’re looking for something a little different, try our guide to visiting Zermatt, Switzerland on a budget.

Why Choose a Kids Walking Tour in Barcelona?

Practical Details for the Barcelona Kids Walking Tour

• Best for families with children aged 4–12 (but engaging for teens too)
• Meeting point: Hotel Suizo near Jaume I metro station
• Small group, family-focused tour
• Duration: around 2½ hours
• Book early — tours are limited to 20 people and sell out quickly

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Highlights of the Tour

• Hidden Roman Temple of Augustus
• La Catedral and her gothic gargoyles
• Imaginative street art tucked into corners
• Learning local customs at the Giants Museum
• Catalan Christmas traditions explained
• Storytelling to understand how Spain became united

These stops are what make this one of the best things to do in Barcelona with kids. How does the family walking Tour Engage Children?

Runner Bean Tours Kids Gothic Quarter Walking Tour Review

We met our guide, Katharyn, outside Hotel Suizo, where we gathered with a few other families from around the world. Katharyn quickly engaged the youngest visitors with the suitably gory legend of Wolfric the Hairy and the Hand of Blood, a myth about how the Catalan flag came to be. The storytelling was excellent, complete with pictures to fire imaginations.

After the story, Katharyn handed out pocket backpacks, clipboards and pens, and set the children off on their first task. Despite initial reluctance, even our 13-year-old was soon hooked by the challenges and games. With the task completed, the kids were rewarded with a sweet from Barcelona’s oldest sweet shop — a lovely touch.

From here, Katharyn showed us historic shops, explaining their background. This was a world away from the ever-present tourist T-shirt shops that had been catching our 7-year-old’s attention earlier. As we delved deeper into the Gothic Quarter, the tall buildings and narrow streets felt surprisingly peaceful, far removed from the bustle of La Rambla.

History Brought to Life

Outside the Barcelona Museum, Katharyn asked for volunteers to act out the marriage of Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand of Aragon in 1474 — the union that created modern Spain. We also learned how Queen Isabella sent Christopher Columbus to seek new trade routes, accidentally leading to the ‘discovery’ of the New World. Our guide handled the darker side of colonial history thoughtfully, ensuring the children understood both the achievements and the problems of that period.

Unique Stops Along the Tour

After covering the main sights, our tour continued to lesser-known treasures. At the Giants Museum (La Casa dels Entremesos) we discovered local traditions that still exist today. The ‘giants’ are enormous costumes, some over three metres tall, paraded in local festivals. Some are mythological creatures (that breathe fire or shoot sweets!), while others represent community figures. It’s a quirky, fascinating stop we would never have found alone.

We ended outside La Catedral, where Katharyn explained some unusual Catalan Christmas traditions — including the cheeky nativity figure and Tió de Nadal (the Christmas log), who appears in every Spanish home during the festive season.

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What Our Kids Thought

Our 7- and 10-year-olds absolutely loved the tour. The activities kept them entertained and helped them remember the historical facts. A highlight for us was seeing them interact with children from other families — they bonded quickly through the games and challenges.

Our 13-year-old, initially reluctant, soon became absorbed by the gothic architecture, gargoyles, and street art. She also secretly enjoyed helping her brothers with the activities.

Final Thoughts – Is Runner Bean Tours Worth It for Families?

Absolutely! As parents we gained insights into Barcelona’s history that we’d never have uncovered alone. The kids had a fantastic time, loved the interaction, and learned so much. Without doubt, this is one of the best family walking tours in Barcelona.

If you’re visiting Barcelona with kids, the Runner Bean Tours Gothic Quarter tour should be high on your list. It combines history, legends, and games in a way that makes the city come alive for children — and for parents too.

We came away not only having learned about Roman ruins, gothic cathedrals, and quirky Catalan traditions, but also with kids who were genuinely excited about what they’d discovered. From gargoyles and giants to Christmas logs and legendary love stories, the tour had something for every age.

It turned what could have been “just another sightseeing day” into one of our family’s favourite memories in Barcelona. We loved it so much that we’re already planning to try one of Runner Bean’s evening tours on our next visit.

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FAQs About the Runner Bean Family Walking Tour of Barcelona