If you have just moved to Catalonia and your child says they have been invited to a birthday, here is what usually happens: the party is held at a specialist venue, as a set package, with a snack, a cake and a couple of hours of activity, most often on a weekend afternoon. Someone has normally booked it weeks ahead. This guide sums up how it typically works, with the usual warning: every family and every venue does things a little differently.

Where is it held?

Parties outside the home are very common: play centres, ball pits, trampoline parks, farms, escape rooms, go-karts or sports centres. Parties at home or in a park happen too, but a venue package is widespread because the venue sets up, serves and clears away. Our search covers 372 places across Catalonia, and you can filter by city, age and type of activity.

What a typical package includes

A "pack" is usually a price per child or a fixed price for a group, and what it includes varies a lot. Based on the venues in our catalogue, 59% offer a private room, 45% include a snack, 28% include an entertainer or monitor, 26% include drinks and 17% include the cake. Very few include invitations (6%) or party bags (7%). So always ask what is in the price and what costs extra. If you want the snack included, see parties with a snack; if a space just for your group matters to you, see private room.

The merienda, the cake and the piñata

The merienda (berenar in Catalan) is the mid-afternoon snack, and at a birthday it is often the centre of the party: small sandwiches, crisps, drinks, sweets and the cake. Quite often there is a birthday song ("Cumpleaños feliz" or "Per molts anys"), the candles and then the cake. The piñata is also popular at children's parties in Spain, though not every venue offers one: ask whether it is included or whether you can bring your own.

Another frequent custom is the party bag (bolsa de cumpleaños in Spanish, bossa d'aniversari in Catalan): a small bag of sweets or a little gift handed to each guest at the end. It is not compulsory and can be very simple.

Age, number of guests and timing

Children usually invite classmates plus a few friends and relatives. Some families invite the whole class and others a small group. At venues with published data, the median minimum number of children to book is 8 and 75% ask for 10 or fewer. A typical party lasts about 2 hours (median 120 minutes; most between 90 and 150). On the age 5 page and the pages for other ages you can see which kinds of venue tend to fit best.

The most common slot is a Saturday or Sunday in the afternoon, though mornings exist too. Weekdays are possible but less usual.

Booking ahead and paying a deposit

Popular weekends fill up, especially in autumn and spring. The safe approach is to book several weeks ahead. Venues often ask for a deposit (señal in Spanish, paga i senyal in Catalan) to confirm the date, with the rest paid on the day or before. Ask about the cancellation policy and whether the price is per child or per group. Some useful phrases are in our guide to booking in Spanish and Catalan.

Allergies and food

Mention allergies and intolerances when you book, not on the day. Many venues ask for a list of the guests' allergens, and some let you bring your own cake or an alternative; others do not. Do not assume: ask, and if the matter is serious, ask for the answer in writing. This is general information, not medical advice.

Do parents stay?

It varies. At some parties parents drop the children off and come back to collect them; at others they stay, chat and have a coffee, especially with younger children. At ages 3–5 it is normal for at least one adult to stay; from about 8–9 many parents leave. If you are unsure, just ask the host.

Invitations and gifts

Invitations may be on paper, handed out at school, or a message in the class WhatsApp group, which in many schools is the main channel. They usually give the date, time and address, and sometimes ask you to confirm and mention allergies. Reply promptly, because the host pays per child. Gifts are brought wrapped and are sometimes opened on the spot and sometimes later; some families organise a group gift or ask for something small. There is no fixed rule.

Staff languages

At most venues the staff speak Catalan and Spanish. At some, especially in big cities and tourist areas, there is also someone who speaks English, but it is not guaranteed. A short, clear message in Spanish or Catalan often works better than a long one in English.

How does this compare with other countries?

Without generalising: if you come from the UK or the US, the idea of a party at a venue with a cake and a party bag will feel familiar; what may surprise you is the timing (afternoon, later than in some countries), the weight of the merienda and the piñata, and the role of the WhatsApp group. If you come from a background where parties happen at home, here the venue usually handles set-up and cleaning. In every case, the host is your best guide.

How much does it cost?

Based on 242 venues with a public price on 23 October 2026, the estimated cost of a party for 15 children has a median of €220; the middle half of venues falls between €113 and €275 (minimum €25, maximum €675). Per child, the median is about €18. These are approximate figures taken from venues' own websites, so always confirm the current price. We take no commission; here is how the site works.

Quick questions

How far ahead should I book?

Several weeks in busy periods; a few days may be enough on quiet dates.

Do I have to invite the whole class?

No. Many families do, others do not; the key is to avoid making it obvious who was left out.

Can I bring my own cake?

It depends on the venue; ask first.

Ready to start? Try the search, or look first at options in Girona.