If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, why not spend the day in one of the several waterparks situated nearby? We’ve given our honest reviews of the best waterparks in Barcelona and surrounding areas, with everything you need to know; from opening times and prices to those ‘not to be missed’ attractions within each park.

Top picks for waterparks near Barcelona:

• Illa Fantasia
• PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park 
• Aquopolis Costa Dorada
• Water World Lloret de Mar
• Aqualeon
• Marineland Catalunya

Illa Fantasia

Ila Fantasia is just 30 km from Barcelona, making it the nearest waterpark and one of the easiest to get to if you’re based in the city. This waterpark isn’t the biggest out there and needs a little bit of tlc in some areas. However, we have never found it to be overcrowded (as others often are) and we believe it has a good range of activities for visitors of all ages. 

One of the highlights of the park is the wave pool with a stage area, often where live music and pool parties are hosted during peak times. You can expect to find a variety of attractions such as multi-lane, boat and dark slides. For those who are feeling daring, there are a variety of thrill slides such as the Kamikaze, Spinner and Xtreme fall. 

For families with younger visitors like us, there is a pirate themed children’s area with shallow pools, mini-slides, and water jets. We find this waterpark to be slightly quieter and smaller compared to some others, which makes for a more enjoyable experience especially when visiting with younger children. You never have to walk far to get to the different slides and attractions. 

There are lockers, towels and sun loungers available to rent and a large wooded area that provides the perfect shaded spot for a picnic or a barbeque. It is worth noting that for safety reasons, you are not permitted to take glass items into the park and for those who are planning a barbeque, coal must be purchased on-site. The fact the park welcomes picnics and even barbeques is a huge plus, meaning you can cater for younger or fussier eaters whilst saving a few euros.

That being said, there are a range of amenities including restaurants, snack bars and shops so for those who wish to purchase food or souvenirs there are several options to choose from. 

The waterpark is easiest to reach by car and takes around 20 minutes. We travelled via taxi for convenience, but you can expect to pay around 30 – 40€ each way, so this is obviously not the most budget-friendly option. Catching a bus is the cheapest option and takes approximately 25 minutes. You can catch the 804 bus every 15 minutes from Barcelona Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes Passeig de Gràcia, which is a two minute walk from Plaça de Catalunya. 

You can also take a train from Plaça de Catalunya, Arc del Triomf, El Clot or Barcelona Sants Estació which takes around 30 minutes. The nearest station to Illa Fantasia is Premia de Mar train station. The park runs a free shuttle bus service from the station, although you should check before you travel if the service is running as it is otherwise a 30 minute walk to the waterpark. 

PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park 

Caribe Aquatic Park is part of the PortAventura World complex, which is one of the largest amusement parks in Europe. We have to say this park is one of the best water parks in mainland Spain in terms of popularity, theming and range of attractions on offer. We find this park to rank higher in terms of cleanliness and upkeep compared to some of the other options listed.

Caribe Aquatic Park is designed to offer a tropical Caribbean experience with its palm trees, tropical gardens, and colourful buildings. The upkeep of the park and attention to detail set it apart from the rest and so it really is worth a visit, especially for those who are staying in the nearby surrounding areas such as Salou, Tarragona, La Pineda, Sitges etc.  

Bye bye July 👋 Hello August 😎 But at PortAventura World we're still in #MoodAventura ! Click here and enjoy this unique promo 🖱️➡️ https://t.co/jviUBwurRG pic.twitter.com/vop4QSpe1Q

— PortAventura World UK (@PortAventura_UK) July 31, 2022

There are a range of attractions to keep everyone happy, including the relaxing Bahama Beach, wave pool and a number of junior areas with slides, pirate-themed play and water jets. The slides on offer for older children and adults range from pleasant family fun to downright terrifying! King Khajuna is the tallest free-fall slide in Europe and is definitely not one for the faint-hearted (we gave this one a miss). 

As the Park is so popular it can get rather busy, especially during peak months and so any adrenaline junkies who are keen to cram in as many thrills as possible may want to consider an express pass for 25€. The pass allows for unlimited access to six of the main waterslides and seems like a reasonable option for anyone wanting to get the most out of the day. That being said, even during the busiest of days you can still have a great day out making the most of the park’s many pools and taking in the tropical atmosphere. 

The easiest way to reach the park from Barcelona is via car, with the journey taking around 1.5 hours, depending on traffic. There are a number of both direct and indirect trains running from stations in Barcelona to PortAventura World station on a daily basis, with a similar journey time to that of by car. The resort has a PortAventura World stop on the R-17 and RT2 lines of Rodalies de Catalunya. You can expect to pay between 7-9€ for a single train fare. 

For those who love theme parks, PortAventura World is up there with the best of them and we would definitely recommend extending your visit to experience all three of the parks on site- PortAventura Park, Ferrari Land and Caribe Aquatic Park. Consider options to split your trip between Barcelona and one of the many accommodation options the park has to offer, or take a look at nearby areas such as Salou or La Pienada which may offer more affordable accommodation whilst still being in close proximity to the parks. PortAventura offers a number of multi-ticket combinations across their parks so you can choose the best deal for your visit.

Aquopolis Costa Dorada

Aquopolis Costa Dorada is an exciting waterpark located in La Pineda. This park has a great range of waterslides on offer which will keep all ages entertained throughout the day. There are a number of boat slides, river rapids, a boomerang slide and if you’re brave enough, a drop slide that allows guests to ride on a board and glide right across the pool at the bottom. 

Aquopolis also has the Tsunami wave pool and a number of dedicated children’s areas to keep the little ones happy. There is a jungle-themed shallow pool, a mini park with slides and climbing frames and a treasure island attraction.

There are lots of sunbeds available to rent, along with large grassed areas for those not wishing to pay for a lounger. The park also has various VIP and chill out areas where guests can reserve a private cabana, Balinese bed or hammock. Access to these areas is quite pricey but are a great option for families with young children who will make use of a quiet shaded area, or those who may be celebrating an occasion and looking to make the day extra special.

perdón que te sal-pique 🫢💦 pic.twitter.com/HKDv62Ebro

— Aquopolis Costa Daurada (@Aquopolis_CD) January 13, 2023

There are a number of restaurants, self-serve dining options and kiosks on site. Guests are also permitted to bring in their own food and drink (no glass or cans) which we love as it can save those on a budget a few euros, especially larger families. 

Last time we visited Aquopolis they had a dolphinarium with sea lion shows, which we personally are not a fan of. We were happy to see that this part of the park has been removed, however, it is disappointing that Aquopolis have transferred their dolphins to China, where they will continue to be used for public shows. For most people, this will not take away from the fact Aquopolis is an enjoyable day out, just a side note for anyone who is concerned about animal welfare within this nature of attraction. 

If staying in Barcelona, Aquopolis is most conveniently reached by car, with a journey time of around 1.5 hours, depending on traffic. The park has direct public transport links from Salou, Tarragona, Cambrils, and Sitges. A daily bus runs every 20 minutes out of Tarragona bus station and so we would recommend catching the train from Barcelona to Tarragona if you wish to travel via public transport. Just be aware there is a 15 minute walk between Tarragona train and bus station. Alternatively, you could take a train from Barcelona to Salou and then either catch the regular bus which stops outside Aquopolis or take a 5 minute taxi ride to the park.

Water World Lloret de Mar 

Waterworld in Lloret de Mar is another reasonably close waterpark to Barcelona, taking around 1 hour to reach by car. In our opinion, Water World has the slight upper hand compared to Illa Fantasia based on attractions available and overall feel of the park, so the slightly longer journey time may be justified. 

The park has a somewhat laid back feel, with large grassy areas and plenty of trees that provide welcome shaded spots. Guests with mobility issues may want to note that a reasonable amount of uphill walking is required to explore the park, but it’s this hilly landscape that we feel gives Water World its unique charm.  

Don’t allow our ‘laid back’ description to fool you into thinking this waterpark lacks the thrills you’re after. In fact, Water World offers guests a great variety of slides and attractions and truly caters for all ages. If you’re planning on visiting during peak times you may wish to purchase a fast pass, as other guests have noted the long queue times for the bigger slides on busier days. We have only visited outside of school holidays and have never felt the fast pass would be necessary.  

Visitors can enjoy a whole host of boated, free fall and multi-lane slides across the ‘thrill’ and ‘family fun’ genres. In addition to these, there is also an impressive wave pool, relaxing lagoon and numerous family pools. Be sure to give the Xtreme Mountain boat ride a go, which sees guests carried uphill and released upon this exciting water coaster. 

A special mention should be given to the attractions aimed at younger children. In addition to the usual shallow lagoon and climbing frame with small slides, there is also a splash park and pirate ship complete with fountains and water cannons. These areas are great for younger children as there are no pools here, so little ones can toddle about and explore without parents having to worry about water depth etc. There are numerous slides with lower height restrictions such as the Baby River which gives little ones the chance to experience a rubber ring slide (a personal favourite of our two year old). The park welcomes picnics with designated shaded areas for this- another win for families with young children. 

Those based in Barcelona who wish to use public transport can catch a train to Blanes (roughly a 1 hour 20 minute journey) and from there catch the shuttle bus to the park. If you plan to travel in this way, look out for discounted tickets including travel and entrance to the park, which are available to buy from train stations across Barcelona.

Aqualeon

Aqualeon is situated in Albinyana and can be reached from Barcelona in around one hour. It is also a great waterpark option for those staying in nearby areas such as Tarragona and Sitges. 

Unlike the other waterparks, Aqualeon is situated in the Spanish countryside, surrounded by beautiful greenery. Whilst its location gives the park a hilly landscape, it also means there are lots of grassy areas and plenty of trees to provide shade. 

The park is on the smaller side, but we think this allows for a more chilled out experience and a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the city. Size isn’t everything though and we do feel like Aqualeon has something for everyone. There are various adrenaline-inducing slides such as the Anaconda, Kamikazes and new Speed Boats. For those seeking some family fun, try the Crazy Race, Black Hole and River Rapids. Our favourite is the Toboloko slide, similar to a water coaster complete with exciting drops and uphill thrusts. 

Little ones have not been forgotten about. There is a children’s paradise play area with a shallow pool, fountains and small slides and the ‘Mini Park’ area, complete with a climbing frame, water slides and waterfalls. 

Many guests have suggested that the park is outdated and we agree it may appear slightly so in comparison to the likes of Caribe Aquatic. However, the setting of the park definitely gives it a unique charm and yes, whilst a bit of tlc may be required in some areas, Aqualeon should not be overlooked as a great day out. There is a designated picnic area for guests to use and we would recommend doing so, to avoid paying for the usual overpriced and underwhelming fast food options. 

You can drive to Aqualeon in around one hour (traffic depending). Due to its location, it is not the easiest to reach via public transport but it is doable if you get the train to Tarragona and then catch a bus from Tarragona bus station. However, pre-booking is advised for the bus transfer and it takes around 15 minutes to walk from Tarragona train station to the bus station.

Marineland Catalunya

We have included this waterpark as we know it is a popular attraction for travellers staying in Barcelona and nearby areas and want to provide a fair overview to our readers. However, as previously mentioned, we personally do not appreciate these kinds of attractions where animals are expected to perform for guests and so have never visited Marineland ourselves. 

That being said, we can see that the park has a good range of slides and other attractions and will appeal to guests of all ages. There are a variety of slides, a wave pool and two designated children’s areas- one for children over 1.15m and one for those under this height. 

Marineland provides designated picnic areas for guests, in addition to the numerous refreshment points around the park offering the usual snacks and fast food style meals. We can see that many guests have reported paying high prices for food and drink within the park; as is often the case with these kinds of attractions. It may be worth bringing a picnic, especially for guests on a budget or those with special dietary requirements. 

Marineland is the second closest waterpark to Barcelona. You can expect a journey time of just under an hour, if travelling by car. For those travelling via train, the nearest station is Blanes. From here, you will either need to catch a 5 minute taxi to park or look out for the free shuttle service from Blanes. The free shuttle service is also available for those visiting from Tossa de Mar, Lloret de Mar, Malgrat de Mar, Santa Susanna, Pineda de Mar and Calella.