Ah, there is nothing like a lazy Sunday in Barcelona. Only the birds are to be heard in the early morning as shopkeepers sleep in on this holy day of rest.
If it’s Sunday and you’re visiting Barcelona for the first time, thinking you’ve entered a ghost town, do not fear. Barcelonians take their Sundays very seriously – but don’t let the pockets of peace in the city fool you.
Some of the best cultural events happen on Sundays, and you’ll find residents and tourists alike enjoying the natural scenery on the outskirts of the city. Here are some of ShBarcelona‘s suggestions for cultural activities and places to visit this next lazy Sunday.
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What to do in Barcelona on a Sunday
Free Museum Entry
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A precious insider’s tip about Barcelona: on Sundays, many museums offer free admission! While tourists usually flock to museums at any hour of the day, locals know to wait for Sundays, when museums open their doors to all, often also offering fun concerts and events!
MUHBA (Museu d’Historia de Barcelona), Museu d’Historia de Catalunya, Museu de la Musica, CCCB (Centre de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona) are just a few of the many museums that open Finally, MNAC (Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya in the neighbourhood of Poble Sec) hosts a majority of Catalunya’s artistic, historical treasures.
From 13th Century Gothic church paintings found in the Pyrenees mountains, to a comprehensive exhibit sharing the development of the famous Catalan modernism movement starting in the late 19th century, an afternoon at MNAC is a sure way to get your art history fix while enjoying your lazy Sunday afternoon in Barcelona.
Montjuïc
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Barcelona’s Parc de Montjuïc in the district of Sants-Montjuïc is a fantastic place to walk around on a Sunday afternoon. Actually, a very large hill, at it’s highest point Montjuïc looks over Barcelona’s blue Mediterranean coast, while offering stunning views of the city.
On Montjuïc, you’ll find a variety of cultural centers and museums, including the Joan Miró Foundation, Museu Etnologic, Montjuïc Castle, botanical gardens, and the 1992 Olympic Stadium.
Whether you choose to walk from Plaça España, up the regal staircases past the famous Montjuïc “magic fountain” and up to MNAC’s doors, or opt for the Funicular (cable car) offering a fun ride up the hill, it’s likely you’ll enjoy traveling around Montjuïc as much as visiting its attractions.
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Vermut
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Perhaps it’s instilled from a long history and tradition, but to the Catalan the word “vermut” almost has a synonymous ring with “Sunday.” On Sundays, the question isn’t “what shall we drink?”… it’s “where shall we drink vermut?”
You’ll find people enjoying vermut starting at 11 in the morning, chatting the afternoon away, usually on a sunny terrace, while picking at olives and homemade potato chips.
Look for the house-made vermut – if you do, you’re likely to find yourself in good local company, spending the afternoon sharing and hearing juicy local gossip, philosophizing, and enjoying lots of laughs!
How do you spend your Sundays in Barcelona?
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