With a beautiful beach, fantastic food and a laid back vibe, Barcelona is one of the most popular places in the world to visit for a weekend break. While other popular destinations in Spain like Madrid and Valencia can be costly, Barcelona can be enjoyed on a relatively low budget. Here are some of our favourite things to do for free or just a small amount of money.
Visit the museums
Like many big cities, a handful of museums in Barcelona are entirely free to visit at certain times. Between 3pm and 8pm on Sundays museums like the Museu Picasso and MUHBA are free of charge.
Park Guell
One of the most popular tourist sites in Spain, Park Guell captures the imagination and genius of one of its most famous citizens – Antoni Gaudi. With buildings full of mosaic and colour, Park Guell can be explored mostly for free and there are fantastic views of the city and the coast.
La Sagrada Familia
Gaudi’s most famous creation – La Sagrada Familia is perhaps the most iconic building in Barcelona. With construction beginning in 1883, the building still remains unfinished and the latest construction estimates put the completion date to be 2026 – a century after the death of its chief architect. An avant garde Cathedral unlike any other on the planet, the view even from the outside is breathtaking.
Las Ramblas
Linking the shopping quarters of Placa De Catalunya to the beach, Las Ramblas is a long street with a pedestrian walkway that extends past bars, restaurants, shops, vendors and street performers. It’s a great place to people watch and there are plenty of places to stop and have a coffee or grab a bite to eat if you have the time. History buffs take note of the bullet holes in the brickwork of many of the buildings - foot notes from the Spanish Civil War.
Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter)
The Barri Gotic or Gothic Quarter is one of the city’s most charming areas. A stone’s throw from the beach, its narrow streets and squares are full of impressive architecture like the Cathedral of Barcelona. You will also find plenty of free walking tours which will help you to better appreciate its rich heritage.
Food markets
Delicious food is one of the big draws of Barcelona. Food markets are dotted across the city and even if you’re not eating the sights and smells are a delight for the senses. La Boqueria is known as Europe’s biggest food market and can be found just off Las Ramblas. Santa Caterina meanwhile is less well known but preferred by the locals for a more authentic selection of food.
Visit the beach
Your feet will probably be aching after a long day exploring the nooks and crannies of Barcelona. So end your day with a visit to the beach where you can rest up, go for a swim and soak up the sun entirely free of charge.
Have you visited Barcelona? What did you do with your time? Tweet us at @TimeForYouGroup and let us know.
