Discover Parchís – Spain’s Favourite Family Board Game

If you’re exploring Barcelona and looking to experience a slice of Spanish tradition, don’t miss out on one of Spain’s most beloved pastimes — Parchís. It’s the perfect way to enjoy an evening with friends or family, whether in a cozy home, a local café, or a sunny Catalan terrace.

Everyone loves a good board game, but surprisingly, not everyone outside Spain has heard of Parchís. While the world plays Monopoly and Scrabble, this colourful classic remains a cherished Spanish board game — though its origins go all the way back to India.

Traditionally played by four players — red, blue, yellow, and green — Parchís challenges you to move your tokens around the board and bring them safely “home” before your rivals. Some modern editions even allow up to eight players, making it the ultimate group activity in Barcelona.

All you need is a dice and a bit of luck. In many Spanish families (mine included), missing dice or tokens never stopped the fun — buttons or coins worked just fine. That’s part of the charm: Parchís is simple, social, and always full of laughter.

Over the years, creative versions appeared — from sleek plastic boards with built-in dice rollers to nostalgic editions like the beloved Smurfs Parchís. I remember spending hours lining up tiny Smurfs across the board — pure joy! Sadly, the Smurfs edition was discontinued in 2012 after a 28-year run by Comansi, but it lives on in many childhood memories.

I still have my original Smurf board tucked away somewhere — though the little Smurf houses have mysteriously disappeared. Maybe they’re still hiding in my mum’s attic... fingers crossed!

Whether you’re visiting Barcelona or rediscovering Spanish culture at home, give Parchís a try. It’s more than just a game — it’s a timeless tradition that brings people together, one roll of the dice at a time.

How to Play Parchís – Official Rules Explained

Ready to master Parchís? Whether you’re visiting Barcelona or exploring classic Spanish board games, learning the rules is part of the fun. Here’s a clear and friendly guide to get you started.

Home Door

Your home door (the colored space next to your nest) is:

• The starting point of your journey
• Your safest space on the board
• The only place where you can bring new tokens into play
• A special zone where you can also “eat” (capture) opponents under certain conditions

The goal of Parchís is simple: move all four of your tokens around the board and back to your colored “home” triangle before anyone else.

The classic board has 68 spaces. If you can’t make a legal move on your turn, you must pass and let the next player roll.

Colours

Each player chooses one of four colors: red, blue, yellow, or green. When two different colors land on the same non-safe spot, one token “eats” (captures) the other, sending it back to its nest.

Safe and Non-Safe Spots

There are 12 safe spots on the Parchís board. Tokens resting here cannot be eaten — with a few exceptions.

Out of the 12, 4 safe spots can temporarily become non-safe if two tokens of different colors share them. In those cases, other players may still pass through.

Dice Rules

The game uses one dice. Here’s how each key roll works:

• Roll a 5: You must release a token from your nest — unless all are already on the board.
• Roll a 6: The “magic six” offers special powers:
  • Earn an extra turn.
  • If all your tokens are out, the 6 counts as a 7.
  • If you’ve built a fence (two of your tokens together), you must open it unless blocked by another player’s fence.
  • If you roll three consecutive sixes, the last token you moved returns home — unless you are already in the final stretch or couldn’t move at all.

Eating Rules

Capturing another token (also called “eating”) gives you a 20-space bonus — move any of your tokens forward 20 spaces.

Tokens on safe spots cannot be eaten — except at your own home door if:

• Both door spaces are occupied.
• You roll a 5.
• You have a token ready to come out of your nest.

In that case, your new token “eats” the one blocking the door. But remember, others can do the same to you!

Fence Power

Place two of your tokens on the same space to create a fence. No other player can pass through it — unless they roll a 6. Fences are powerful defensive tools and part of Parchís strategy.

Getting Home

Once you move your token into your colored home column, it’s completely safe — no one can eat it anymore.

Successfully getting a token home rewards you with a 10-space bonus for one of your other tokens still in play.

To reach your home triangle, you must roll the exact number needed. If you roll too high (for example, 3 when you only need 2), move backward and forward until you can land exactly on the final space.

Other Fun Facts

Want to practice before your next Parchís night in Barcelona? There are plenty of Parchís apps available for iPhone and Android — though nothing beats the real board, dice, and laughter shared with friends.

And for a bit of local humor — in Spain, people joke about “Parchís men”: someone who’s only had one date but counts it as twenty. 😉

(P.S. The term “eat” is used instead of “kill” to keep the game-friendly and family-safe.)