Barcelona Zoo has two entrances and is easy to reach from the centre by metro, bus or train. What sets it apart for families is how much thought has gone into access. The children’s play area has a wheelchair-accessible route with adapted play equipment, so siblings can play together. There is also an inclusive comic that walks children through the visit in advance, which helps those who need to know what’s coming. Lanyards identify visitors with hidden disabilities, and in the Sahel and Terra de Dragons areas an accessible chatbot called ZooBot is being piloted.
The free wheelchair loan is meant for people who don’t normally use one but would find the walk easier with it, such as a grandparent who tires quickly.
The main thing to plan around is the ticket queue: the zoo itself suggests buying online to skip it. Ticket offices and entrances also close before the grounds do, and the hours change with the season, so check the day’s times before you set off late.
