7 Free Things to Do in Barcelona

1.     Free museums on Sundays

All the city-run museums (including the Museu Picasso, MUHBA and MNAC) are free on Sunday afternoons, from 3pm to 8pm. Others are also free on one given day of the month, often the first Wednesday or Sunday – check individual websites for details.

2. Browse the Mercat de la Boqueria

This famous indoor market hall is a colourful explosion of fruit, vegetables, seafood, rows and rows of cured jamón and some mind-boggling butchers’ displays. There are tapas bars, pizza stalls and all manner of produce you can try before you buy.

3. Admire Modernisme architecture 

While many of Barcelona’s architectural gems have admission fees to see the interiors, the arguably more impressive facades can be seen for free. The mind-blowing workmanship of Gaudí’s magnum opus, the cathedral-like La Sagrada Família, for example, or the three stunning examples of Modernisme that sit side-by-side on the Passeig de Gràcia – the Casa Lleó Morera, the Casa Amatller and Gaudí’s Casa Batlló.

4. Bask on a beach

Barcelona has some wonderful beaches perfect for resting aching feet after days of sightseeing. Barceloneta is the most popular, with its lovely sweep of golden sand and promenade backed with restaurants. For something less crowded, walk further north towards the Fòrum area.

5. Sniff out free music, dancing and art

There’s always some sort of free cultural event going on around town, whether it’s jazz in the park, a poetry reading or a kids' workshop. Visit For Free page for information on upcoming events.

6. Lose your way in Barri Gòtic

Get lost in a warren of cobblestone alleyways lined with bars and quirky shops and dotted with quiet little plaças, in the atmospheric medieval quarter of Barri Gòtic. Eventually you’ll almost certainly surface on La Rambla, or the Via Laietana, which flanks the area on the other side.

7. Wander through Plaça Reial

At this arcaded plaça, reminiscent of a more modest version of St Mark’s Square in Venice, look out for Gaudí’s first piece of commissioned work for the city – lamp-posts featuring coiled dragon-headed serpents leading up to a winged helmet.