Diana Badosa of Barcelona-based children's line PLAY ACTIVE is a product designer and textile engineer with a wealth of experience in the activewear industry. She started her professional career in the United States designing for some of the most renowned brands in the field—including Reebok, Puma, and Under Armour.
Motivated by her conviction that play is crucial to a child's development, Diana returned to her hometown of Barcelona to start PLAY ACTIVE. Her goal is to empower parents to create a rich and enjoyable environment for their children to learn, grow, and flourish.
Through her innovative and playful designs, as well as the use of the best natural textiles, Diana encourages children to embrace the joy of movement and exploration, as well as to develop their independence and self esteem.
Whether it's through sports, games, or simply running around and having fun, PLAY ACTIVE's products inspire families to celebrate childhood through play (which also make them ideal wardrobe staples for travel!).
Diana is a loving mother of two, Marc and Abril, and together with her husband, they embody PLAY ACTIVE's values in their own lives. As a family, they prioritize play and strive to create a fun and enriching environment for their children to thrive.
Danrie’s founder is headed to Barcelona with her family this month and we were lucky enough to get the insider scoop from Diana on her favorite family-friendly spots, what not to miss, and, most importantly, where to PLAY in the beautiful city she and her family call home.
Diana's Family Guide to Barcelona
What makes Barcelona is an ideal family destination?
The weather is always very nice and the city is small to get around easily.
Best time of year to visit?
Spring. It’s always very nice out and there are plenty of activities to do outdoors.
Where to eat:
Seafood and paella: Restaurante Barceloneta
Xurros: Granja Pallaresa
Vermut (it’s a little snack and drink that is normally taken during weekends around 12 PM, make sure to order the vermouth drink (grownups only—it is an alcoholic drink) and something to eat like olives and chips: Tierra Trágame or Terraza Martinez
Coffee Lovers: Dalston Coffee
Breakfast: Baluard Barceloneta
Tapas: Bar Cañete
Modern and fun place to eat: La Pepita
What to experience:
If you go as a family you have to go to the amusement park Tibidabo. It’s such an iconic place and also on top of the mountain so you get amazing views of the city.
Make sure to visit:
Gaudí’s buildings. From Parc Güell, La Sagrada familia, La Pedrera, Casa Batlló, or my favorite, but one of the smallest and less famous buildings, Casa Vicens.
Best place(s) to stay:
What to pack:
Spring clothes, cool sneakers, your PLAY outfit and a bathing suit just in case you go to the beach!
Where to shop:
The Born neighborhood has plenty of cool well curated stores as well as Rambla Catalunya and Passeig de Gràcia. I also recommend walking around the Turó Park area for an interesting selection of local high end stores.
Your kids’ favorite places to PLAY:
My kids love to PLAY in Carretera de les Aigues, we go there to bike, run or just for a walk while we enjoy nature as well as get to see a great view of the city. We also like Playa de la Barceloneta, it’s a great place to enjoy the mediterranean sea as well as skateboard around that area. Barcelona has a big skate culture and my children also like to enjoy that sport. Lastly, Parc de la Ciutadella is a big and beautiful park to visit and play around.
Simple Spanish phrases you can practice with your kids:
Hola, buenos días (Hello, good morning)
Hablas inglés? (Do you speak english?)
Me llamo… (My name is … )
Una ración de xurros, por favor (One bag of “xurros” please)
Insider tips for traveling in Barcelona with kids?
Take note of the Spanish schedule for meals: 9 AM -11 AM (breakfast), 1 PM - 3 PM (lunch), 5 PM (“merienda,” an afternoon snack), and 9 PM - 10 PM (dinner). Make sure you know the schedule and pack snacks for your children!
Barcelona is great for museums and I would recommend a few: Moco Museum, Fundació Miró, and Museu Picasso.
Food is also very deep in our culture and each neighborhood has its own market, but the most famous and impressive one is Mercat de la Boqueria, worth checking out!
Let's go!
Don't forget to stock up on PLAY for your trip!
