10 free things to do in Barcelona

Like in most touristic cities, a lot of what Barcelona has to offer involves an entrance fee. Even the once free for all Parc Güell and the Montjuïc Castle now charge visitors to go in. However, it is still possible to have a fantastic time in Barcelona without having to reach for your wallet. Keep reading this article to discover the top 4 free things to do in Barcelona.

Table of Contents

1. Going to the beach

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Barcelona has a number of great beaches which fortunately do not charge entrance fees. The only money you will have to spend on the beach is if you want to buy something being offered by the numerous vendors, such as pareos, necklaces, sunglasses or even massages. Some beaches closer to the center also have deckchairs and beach umbrellas to rent but those tend to be kind of pricy. So if you are happy with getting a sandy bottom, then sitting on the beach, soaking up the suns rays and listening to the sound of the sea arriving and departing won’t cost you a dime.

2. Visiting the parks

Barcelona is home to some beautiful and very unique parks. If you don’t want to pay the ticket to get into Parc Güell, you can still visit the forested areas at the back and the hill of the three crosses, and get a glimpse of Gaudí’s construction from the outside.

Parc Guinardó, not a stone’s throw from Parc Güell, is a lovely undulating park almost untouched by tourism. Go to the top to find the Carmel Bunkers, which offer fantastic 360-degree views of the entire city.

Parc de la Ciutadella is the most centrally-located park in the city and is certainly one of the most popular. This park covers a large area between the Barcelona Zoo and Passeig de Lluís Companys, which leads up to Arc de Triomf. Parc de la Ciutadella is also one of the most animated parks in the city, where you will usually find people playing instruments, dancing, walking on slacklines, juggling, practicing yoga, playing ping pong, and even having birthday parties.

Parc de Cervantes is not as famous as Parc Güell or Parc de la Ciutadella, but it is just as worthy to be visited. This park is located up in Les Corts, and it can be visited entirely for free, even during the annual Rose Festival, which showcases some truly spectacular flowers.

3. Admiring the architecture

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Barcelona is famous for its impressive and innovative architecture, and while it may not be the same as taking a tour inside, admiring the architecture from the outside can still be a very rewarding experience. A good place to start your architecture-gazing is at Passeig de Gràcia, where you will find some of the most famous architectural landmarks in the city, such as Casa Lleó Morera, Casa Amatller, Casa Batlló, and La Pedrera.

Other beautiful sites that can be admired from the outside are Palau de la Musica Catalana, La Sagrada Familia, Casa Vicens, Palau Güell, Casa Macaya, Casa de les Punxes, Casa Planells, and Casa Comalat. If you prefer more modern lines, visit the Design Museum, Torre Agbar, Museu Blau, and the PRBB building.

4. Visiting museums

If you are new to the city you may not yet have learned one of its most valuable “secrets”, which is that many of the local museums have free entrance on Sundays after 3 pm. Museu Picasso, Museu d’Història de Barcelona, Museu Marítim de Barcelona, CCCB, Museu Frederic Marès, Museu de la Música, and Museu Blau are all free every Sunday after 3 pm, while other museums such as CosmoCaixa Museu de la Ciencia, Museu d’Història de Catalunya, and Palau Güell are only free on the first Sunday of the month. MNAC is free every Saturday after 3 pm, and the Botanical Gardens, which are not technically a museum but still appear on the same list, can be visited for free every Sunday after 3 pm.