Barcelona can be an incredibly expensive city if you go all out and just do everything. It is one of the reasons why we constantly put off visiting the city even though it has been high on our bucket list for years.
One of the ways that we reduced costs when we finally visited was by incorporating a lot of free things to do in Barcelona in our itinerary. The items on this list may be free but they are also mesmerizing. This particularly true when it comes to the old iconic buildings and markets.
Curious? Keep reading to know how you can visit many interesting sights in the city without paying a dime or in this case a cent!
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Table of Contents
Parks
Barcelona has loads of parks. I was really surprised by how green the whole city was. These parks are meeting spots for the locals where they come to chill and enjoy. You will find people enjoying a wide array of activities here. Most of them are free.
There are some parks that are more popular than others. Park Guell which was designed by Gaudi, is one example. The park is now paid and the tickets sell out quickly so make sure you book your tickets online and in advance.
Previously you could enter the park for free with the exception of the Gaudi buildings. We realized that my information was old when we huffed and puffed our way up. We thought we would buy tickets on the spot but that wasn’t an option either since it was sold out.
We got to check out the park from the outside and catch a glimpse of the Gaudi buildings. I would however not recommend going out of your way to visit if you aren’t going in the park itself.
1. Cascada del Parc de la Ciutadella
One of the most beautiful free things to do is to visit the Cascada del parc de la Ciutadella.
Parc De La Ciutadella was my favorite park in the city. This park is huge. It has a number of different attractions that will catch your interest and is definitely one of the free things in Barcelona that you should not miss.
The most famous attraction in the park is the Cascada del parc de la Ciutadella. This is a classical 2 tier fountain and monument. It is one of the prettiest places in the city. There is also a lake in the park that you can rent a boat at. You don’t have to though. You can easily enjoy the view from one of the numerous benches.
Markets
Barcelona is a great place if you want to shop. From the high style boutiques to the flea markets, this city has it all. It is also a great place to shop if you are on the lookout for souvenirs from Spain.
I personally visit the markets not because I want to buy something but because they are a hub of activity and in a way the heart of the city. I find them immensely interesting and they are technically one of the free things to do in Barcelona. If you don’t get too tempted and buy stuff that is.
2. Mercat Dels Encants (Flea Market)
One of my favorite things to do in Barcelona is the Flea Market!
We stumbled across the Mercat dels Encants quite by accident. We were walking to the city from our accommodation when we saw everyone entering and then spotted the numerous stalls. This market has everything. Seriously. From old antiques to shoes, kids books to probably the kitchen sink!
The best part about the Mercat del Encants is that everything is really cheap. Visiting it is one of the fun free things to do in Barcelona should you have the time.
3. La Rambla
La Rambla features on almost all itineraries to Barcelona. This street is iconic and well I would say it is an experience. There are loads of old buildings in the area which make walking this street really worthwhile.
On the flipside, it gets really crowded. There are loads of touts. It is also the spot where you are most likely to get pocketed in Barcelona. If you watch closely, you will notice that all the locals have a hand on their bags. Backpacks are strapped in the front rather than at the back and a very close eye is kept on children.
Despite all this, La Rambla is a fun place to visit. It has a lot of attractions around it so you are bound to cross it at some point. Oh and did I mention that it is one of the free things to do in Barcelona?
Just make sure not to buy anything here because everything is really costly. If you head out of the street and just walk a couple of blocks, you will get the same item for half the price. The same goes for the restaurants.
4. Mercat De La Boqueria
The Mercat De La Boqueria is an ultra cool public market. Most people just refer to it as La Boqueria. This market has a lot of produce and meats on sale so if you are looking for any food related souvenirs from Barcelona then this is the place to be.
Its proximity to La Rambla makes it easy to visit. It is also a fun place to photograph because the building is really cute.
Address: La Rambla, 91, 08001 Barcelona, Spain
Timings: Open everyday from 8am – 8:30pm, Closed on Sunday
Religious Structures
You probably don’t know it but Barcelona has loads of religious structures all over the city. Many of these do not require an entrance fee which means that they should rank high on your list of free things to do in Barcelona. Why? Well they are really old, very pretty and fun to explore. Here are a few that we found while we visited.
5. Basilica Of Santa Maria Del Mar
One of the best religious structures to visit is the Basilica Of Santa Maria Del Mar. This is one of the iconic churches in Barcelona and was built in the 14th century. It took just 50 years to build it which is truly amazing considering its size and structure.
Today it is the only surviving church that was built in the pure Catalan Gothic style. Ordinarily you would have to pay €5 to enter but if you visit between 1pm to 5pm you will find that the entrance is free. Guided tours to the rooftop on the other hand will cost you €8.50.
Address: Plaça de Santa Maria, 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Timings: 9am – 1pm, 5-8:30pm
Iconic Buildings
You can’t visit the city without visiting the numerous monuments in the city. Many of these require an entrance ticket. Luckily many of the iconic buildings can be visited for free! These are a couple that you should bookmark as free things to do in Barcelona.
6. Plaça Reial
Plaça Reial is a square in the Gothic area of Barcelona. It is close to La Rambla, easily accessible and has free access for everybody. Why is this square so interesting? Well, the architecture around it is pretty iconic. Plus, the place always has something going on.
We saw people playing different instruments, others performing stunts and loads of people just hanging out. Plaça Reial is really pretty and since it is easy to reach, you should really put it on your list of free things to do in Barcelona.
7. Arco del Triumfo de Barcelona
Another one of the great things to do in Barcelona is to visit Arco Del Triumfo de Barcelona.
You really can’t miss the Arco Del Triumfo De Barcelona. Sure the name is super long but the Arch is really pretty. You can easily reach it if you are headed to the Cascada del Parc de la Ciutadella.
Intriguingly enough, this arch was built as the entrance gate for the Barcelona world fair way back in 1888. The gorgeous arch is still standing tall and is one of the iconic landmarks in the city.
8. Barcelona’s Festivals
The Barcelona festivals are a lot of fun. These festivals have pop up stalls, loads of music, good food and lots of activities. You don’t really have to plan to visit at the right time. In Barcelona, there is always something going on. You probably should just ask your hotel receptionist what the activities that week are.
9. Admire Gaudi’s Work
One of the top free things to do in Barcelona is to admire Gaudi’s work!
Gaudi is the heart and soul of Barcelona. Everyone who visits the city will tell you that to get up close and personal with his work costs money. All the structures that he built have entrance fees and lines. In fact, you have to book your tickets way in advance if you want to visit them.
No one however will stop you from visiting and admiring the structures from outside. Trust me! It may not seem like it is worth it but it is! We visited most of them from the outside but only went into the Sagrada Familia. Interestingly enough, many of the cool captions about Barcelona that I collected were about this iconic building and its architect.
This is probably the best tip that I have ever received about the free things to do in Barcelona. In addition to the fact that it is costly, visiting each attraction in depth takes a lot of time which we were short of.
10. Visit One Of The Many Beaches
One of the best free things to do in Barcelona is to lounge on one of the many beaches. When people talk about the city they often talk about all the interesting buildings that Gaudi built and the other iconic buildings in the area.
Many forget that Barcelona is a coastal city and reaching one of the many beaches of Barcelona is usually just the question of a short walk. I particularly loved the beaches. They are smoke free, have loads of places to play games and even have a pavement for you to walk, run and cycle on in the shade of trees! Visiting the beaches is actually one of the best things to do in Spain!
11. Catch Some Epic Views Of Barcelona’s Skyline
Catching a glimpse of Barcelona’s skyline is very popular. Unfortunately not all the locations where you can do this fall under the free things to do in Barcelona. Park Guell is one example. Tibidabo is another. I mean you can head there but you have to pay for transport.
Luckily there are a couple of places where you can catch the view without really forking out much cash. MUBHA Turo De La Rovira is one such location. I haven’t been here personally but I have heard good things about it. Parc del Guinardo has some other good view points if you are interested.
12. Visit Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter
One of the coolest free things to do in Barcelona is to visit the Gothic Quarter.
Another name for this place is Barri Gotic so don’t get confused if you hear the names being used interchangeably.
The Gothic Quarter has narrow medieval streets that will take you back in time. I felt as if I was in Carlos Ruiz Zafron’s books! These streets are lined with restaurants and cute shops. I bought an ultra cute leather wallet here.
An interesting fact about the Gothic Quarter is that it goes back to when the Romans laid claim to the land in Barcelona. This is where they built their settlement. A thick wall was built to protect them.
Today, the Gothic Quarter is a fun place to explore and you could easily spend your whole day here. If you have the time that is!
13. Tap Your Feet Or Dance To Some Music
One thing that I have learned from my time in Barcelona is that the locals love their music. This is especially true during spring and summer when the weather is great. You will find pop up stalls, music festivals and just random spots where people sing and dance.
It is mesmerizing and eventually you get caught up in the enthusiasm and beat. So embrace it. Tap your feet to the music or just join the locals and dance!
14. Visit The Gardens Of Montjuic
You’ve probably heard of Montjuic castle and are wondering why I’ve included it in the list of free things to do in Barcelona. Well, it is true that you have to pay to get into the Montjuic castle but the castle gardens are free for everyone!
The Montjuic gardens are extremely pretty and really worth visiting. Most people choose to head here on the weekends because they provide a lovely green oasis and are a great place for picnics. Plus it is easy to get to them!
15. Don’t Forget To Explore Montjuic Cemetery
You can also pay a visit to the Montjuic Cemetery.
I get that the cemetery is not for everybody but if you don’t mind being a bit quirky like me, head to the Montjuic cemetery. This is definitely one of the free things to do in Barcelona. Wondering why it is worth a visit? Well there are loads of ornately carved gravestones and crypts which are hauntingly pretty.
We drove here on our way out and I was glad that we took the car. It is a steep climb up and the wind whips through you. The cemetery also has an amazing view of the bay below.
And there you have it! These are some of the most interesting free things to do in Barcelona that we encountered during our trip. They certainly kept us entertained while allowing us to keep our budget in check!
Are there any other free things to do in Barcelona that you think should be on this list? Let us know in the comments below!