Free things to do in Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona offers endless tourist attractions for every taste, and sometimes you don’t have to pay to enjoy them. To wander around its Gothic Quarter, admire its modernist buildings (at least, their façades), swim in the sea, or watch the fabulous show of the Magic Fountain are some of the best things you can do in Barcelona for free. They are the most popular as well, but the cultural attractions and leisure activities are endless. Let’s explore the best places to visit in Barcelona for free.
Things to do in Barcelona when travelling on a budget
Barcelona’s free museums
There is no other place like the Comital City, and its museums are proof of it. Its many museums, such as the National Art Museum of Catalonia, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Picasso Museum, and the European Museum of Modern Art, should be on every itinerary. And they are budget-friendly because they are free on certain days and offer open days.
These free opening hours usually happen on the weekend and significant days, such as the Day of Santa Eulalia and International Museum Day. If you want to visit Barcelona’s museums for free, be sure to check these dates on their websites. And here is a tip: don’t leave it for the last minute—there can be limited capacity, and you might need to register in advance.
Alternative art: Barcelona’s street art
Barcelona’s modernist architecture, its monuments, and the fascinating examples of urban art that hide in the most unexpected places make the city an open-air museum. Every art lover should hunt these masterpieces and take a picture of them.
The Carmel, Gràcia, Poblenou, and Raval districts offer their own routes that allow visitors to explore many mural paintings of exceptional quality. If you are keen on urban art, you will particularly enjoy the Banksy Museum. Inside you will find 130 works of the master of street art, but you will need a ticket.
Literary Barcelona
Barcelona became a UNESCO City of Literature in 2015. Its streets hide infinite corners that have served as the inspiration for wonderful stories and places that keep the essence of many writers alive. Discovering this literary heritage (or at least, a part of it) is a must see for bookworms, and you only need to wear your most comfortable shoes.
This literary journey will take you to the Cuatro Naciones hotel where Stendhal and George Sand stayed, and the Royal Square or Plaza Real, where Gustave Flaubert's Bibliomania takes place. Barcelona’s Town Hall has created a literary map so you don’t get lost while looking for these places that will charm every avid reader.
Barcelona from a bird’s eye view
The most beautiful postcards of Barcelona are the ones that can be seen from the heights of the city, in particular during sunsets, when the picture of the city and the Mediterranean Sea in the background show magical colours. The Montjuïc and Tibidabo mountains are a must-see, but there are many other privileged viewpoints that deserve a mention.
The Carmel bunker, old anti-aircraft warfare from the Spanish Civil War that has turned into a viewpoint, is one of the places with the best views of Barcelona. This place allows visitors to observe the peculiar urban landscape, the pure geometry of the Eixample, and the labyrinth of streets of Carmel. And of course, it teaches some history lessons.
The lively Mercat dels Encants
Flea markets hold the essence of Spanish cities, and Barcelona’s invites us to get lost in it for hours. Meet the Mercat dels Encants, an ultramodern space that hosts one of Europe’s oldest flea markets. It was already celebrated in the 14th century, but the location changed many times until it was held in this spot near the unmistakable Agbar Tower.
Antiquities, clothes, books, or electronics gadgets—any possible item can be found in its more than 300 stands. Besides, it is the only European market that still holds the traditional auctions. They take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday early in the morning, and everyone can access them. Visiting the Mercat dels Encants is one of the best things to do for free in Barcelona, at least if you don’t succumb to the temptation of buying something.
The Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens
This is more than the usual park. The Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens are home to cacti and other exotic succulents that only grow naturally in remote places. Examples of more than 800 different species live in this singular Eden that has been declared as one of the best gardens in the world on different occasions.
This place has many secrets, like its own location, since it sits in a microclimate of Montjuïc Mountain. Besides, this is less crowded than other parks in the Comital City. And there is one more ingredient that makes it perfect: fabulous views of the coast and the port.
A historical prison, La Modelo
La Modelo, Barcelona Men's Penitentiary Centre, witnessed Barcelona’s history for more than a century until it was closed. Its cells hosted politicians, criminals, artists, and many other famous Spanish figures.
This building, which was designed to set a good example for a new prison system, closed its doors in 2017. But its history didn’t end here. La Modelo is now a space for reminiscing about the past. To walk down its galleries, cells, and yards, can be an overwhelming experience. You can visit it for free from Friday to Sunday.
The local festivities
Participating like a true local in Barcelona's festivities is the best way to enjoy Barcelona without spending any money. Besides, these events are frequent and varied. Some examples are the spring festivities of Sant Jordi, when the city fills with books and roses, and the festivities of Gràcia that take place in the summer and paint the area vibrant colours.
Some important events, such as the festivities of Santa Eulalia or Nuestra Señora de la Merced, are the best moment to dive into the most striking Catalan festivities. Their emblematic human towers (the castells) and the shows performed by the correfocs (literally, ‘fire runs’) are an unforgettable memory.
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