Travelling never seems to get much cheaper these days. The admission to visit some of Barcelona’s best attractions can be expensive. However, Barcelona has many great sights and attractions you can visit for free.
In this blog, we explore the very best things to do for free in Barcelona. We share some of the very best sights, places, and attractions to visit for free in Barcelona. Travelling away for a city break always seems like a cheap mini break, but the costs can soon mount up. Purchasing flights, hotels, airport transfer, meals, and metro tickets can soon leave you with less spending money. The great news is, Barcelona can be visited for free when you know where to visit.
Barcelona’s main attractions, such as The Sagrada Família, Casa Batllo and Park Güell are all world-class attractions. However, the ticket prices soon add up. If you are traveling as a family, the cost of admission to these great attractions can soon leave you faint-hearted. However, you can still visit Barcelona, even with a family, and have a great break without spending a single Euro.
Things To Do For Free In Barcelona Outdoors
Barcelona enjoys a significant amount of sunshine most times of the year, which makes it great to visit for free, many outdoor things to do. We have prepared a list of our pick of the best things to do for free in Barcelona, outdoors.
- Barceloneta Beach – Who doesn’t enjoy a day at the beach! Barceloneta Beach is close to the center of Barcelona and has golden sandy beaches. You can swim in the warm Mediterranean Sea, play volley ball or just relax, the best part is, it won’t cost you anything.
- The Gothic Quarter – Spend an afternoon exploring the narrow medieval streets of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. As well as exploring the enchanted historic streets, you will be able to view Barcelona’s Cathedral, the Roman walls and towers and other historic sights.
- View Barcelona’s Modernist Buildings – Visit and view (from the outside) some of Barcelona’s modernist buildings such as Gaudí’s La Pedrera, Casa Milà and Casa Batllo, Casa Amatler and the Palau de la Musica Catalana among many others. You may not be able to enter for free at some of these, but at least you can say you have visited them.
- Magic Fountain Of Montjüic – Barcelona’s very own historic dancing fountain and light show. The fountain performs every night, however it is best to check operational status and times before visiting. The park and fountains make for a very pleasant evening, especially on a warm night.
- Visit The Arc de Triomf – The Arc de Triomf was the main entrance to the 1888 Worlds Fair, and today this monument stands as proud as ever. You can walk through this iconic gateway, view its intricate details and stare amazed at it colossal height. All this without spending a single Euro, great!
- Ciutadella Park – An historic park in the center of Barcelona. Cuitadella Park or Parc de la Ciutadella in Catalan, is a must-visit attraction. Here you can see a fountain built by Gaudí and you can also explore the lake. If you have saved enough money by visiting the places above, you may be able to afford to hire a boat for a row around the lake. Admission to the park is free.
- Port Vell / Barcelona Marina – A short walk down from La Rambla is the Port Vell areas of Barcelona. This is a great area to explore and has been recently renovated. You will be able to see the yachts and also visit Maremagnum shopping center.
- Watch The Street Performers On La Rambla – La Rambla is the heart of Barcelona, along this street you will find acrobats, artists and street performers. All these artists perform for free (or coins in the hat after the performance) and are an integral part of Barcelona city life.
- Explore The City Of Barcelona – Another great thing to do for free in Barcelona is to simply explore the city. Barcelona has some great districts and areas to visit, with many tree – lined streets and historic squares. You can venture along La Rambla, visit L’Exiample, or view the shops on the Passeig de la Gracià. Every street in Barcelona is bursting with life and is the reason millions arrive at this remarkable city.
- Visit Portal Miralles – If you are close to the district of Sarria de Sant Gervasi, you can visit Portal Miralles. Designed by Antoni Gaudí in 1901 as the gateway and entrance to what was the Finca Miralles. There is also a statue of Gaudí by the gateway for a photo opportunity.
Things To Do For Free In Barcelona Indoors
If the hot weather is too much, or you are visiting in the winter, Barcelona has some great indoor attractions. The best news is, these can be visited for free. We take a look at the best indoor attractions to visit for free in Barcelona.
- Museums On Sundays – In Barcelona, Sunday is a great day to visit museums as many offer free admission. Also, the fantastic Pablo Picasso museum is free to visitors on the first Sunday of each month.
- Visit Historic Old Churches – Many of the less known, but historically interesting churches are generally free to enter, light a candle or pray. You will find these churches dotted around the city in different neighborhoods. It is normal for the church to leave the door open, however in recent times there may be set hours to visit.
- Explore The Historic La Boqueria Market – A popular place both by the amount of tourists that visit and the general feedback of the experience. La Boqueria market is an old and traditional indoor market that sells almost everything. The market can be found along La Rambla, close to El Liceu theatre.
- Shopping Centers – Barcelona has some pretty massive shopping centers to visit. The Diagonal Mar shopping Center can be quickly reached from the city center by the metro line 4.
Other Ways To Save Money In Barcelona
There are many other ways you can reduce what you are spending in Barcelona. Below we select a handfull of ways you can save money when you visit Barcelona.
- Purchase A Hola Barcelona Travel Card – Buying tickets for every single trip you make can be expensive and time-consuming. Barcelona has its very own Hola Barcelona travel card that you can purchase for the exact number of days you are in the city. It can also be used to travel from the airport to the city. However, we still recommend the Aerobus airport shuttle service as it’s faster and more convenient.
- Avoid Shops And Cafés On Main Squares Or Streets – If you feel like an ice cream, you need to buy souvenirs or want to have a bite to eat, it is best to avoid the main tourist areas. You can save a lot of money stopping for a coffee on a side street than a main tourist street. As rents are very high in Barcelona, you will pay extra purchasing anything from places in prominent places.
- Download Apps – Try downloading apps such as Mcdonalds, KFC and Burger King to get access to promotions and coupons to save money. Remember you will need to download the Spanish apps to use in Spain.
- Plan And Budget – Always use commonsense to plan and budget for each day. Make sure you only visit what really interests you, and check how much each attraction will cost to enter before arriving. If an attraction is over budget, swap it for another that is cheaper to enter, and you will enjoy just as much.
If you have any other ideas on what to visit for free in Barcelona, leave a comment below.
