Jardins de la Torre de les Aigües

Jardins de la Torre de les Aigües is one of Barcelona's best-kept family secrets — a charming community garden tucked inside a typical Eixample city block on Carrer de Roger de Llúria. At the heart of the garden stands a historic 19th-century water tower (torre de les aigues), which once supplied water to the Eixample neighbourhood and now serves as the striking centrepiece of this peaceful green enclosure.

For families, the biggest draw is summer: between July and August, the gardens host one of Barcelona's only outdoor urban pools — a pop-up swimming installation that transforms the garden into a neighbourhood lido. For children, discovering a swimming pool in the middle of the city grid is a genuine delight, and for parents, it is an affordable and central way to keep kids cool during Barcelona's hot summers. Outside of the summer season, the gardens remain a lovely, quiet retreat where younger children can play and parents can sit in the shade.

The location in the heart of Eixample makes it extremely convenient for families staying in that part of the city, and the surrounding neighbourhood is packed with restaurants, cafes, and supermarkets. The concept of the 'interior de l'illa' — the hidden garden inside each Eixample city block — is also a fascinating piece of urban history to share with curious older children. Entrance is free throughout the year.