Here are the 50 best things to do today in Barcelona for free

Whether you were born in Barcelona or have lived there recently, we all share a certainty: our city is not exactly cheap. Maybe it’s because we approach leisure from consumption, snacks and drinks.

But the democratization of culture goes through accessibility, and thanks to this premise and the amount of art in our city, here we leave you 50 free plans in Barcelona such as museums, gardens and churches.

The truth  is that having a drink and a tapa can be a blow to the pocket, and therefore it is worth remembering that, although it seems difficult, in Barcelona there are plenty of plans that can be enjoyed without spending a penny and that will allow us to know other sides of the city.

Someone’s trash can be someone else’s treasure… at second hand flea markets

No, we are not referring to the Boquería or Sant Antoni (which also). We are talking about some flea markets such as the Flea Market or the On The Garage, markets of different products (second-hand, designer or whatever that weekend decides) that just visiting them is fun and stimulating.

Visit Park Güell

Yes. It is possible to marvel at the Güel for free. There is an area of the park that can be visited at any time. But not another Zone. All areas of Gaudí’s building are open to the public if you enter before 8 o’clock and in the evening -the time of access varies depending on the time of year, from October 29 to December 31 you can visit from 18:30 to 23:59-.

Free museums once a week

The barcelona museums are free during the Nit dels Museus, on Sunday afternoons, during La Mercè and Santa Eulàlia Open Days…. There are no excuses. Find your expo, find your day, and go to the galleries.

Movie passages

This would be a self-made visit. Barcelona is full of passages you might not have noticed but which form some of the most beautiful and interesting corners of the city. Look for them and take a route through the historic passages of Barcelona (some of them are the same as the ones in famous movies) without paying a euro.

Enjoy the best Catalan theater with the Reverse Box Office system

This system has been in place for quite some time, and may remind us a bit of the free tours, but this time, Catalan theater version of the best quality. The audience attends the theater without paying the ticket and it is at the end of the play when each of the spectators must go to the box office and pay whatever they want or, if they choose, pay nothing. This system is known internationally as “pay what you want” (PWYW): Pay What You Want).

And if the weather is good, open-air cinema

While it is true that this only occurs during the summer and on certain days, it is a great option to spend an atypical night at the beach. Cinema between sand and salt water, cinema in the mountains, cinema in the squares… Barcelona fills up in summer with outdoor cinema, the best culture, in the best place and clearly at the best price.

Viewpoints 

It is well known that Collserola and Montjuïc offer us some spectacular viewpoints. But there are more, many more. At the sea, o in the middle of the city barcelona can be seen from a bird’s eye view from many different angles and always without paying a penny for it.

Festivities of Gràcia

This plan is also seasonal. And unavoidable. If you are in Barcelona during the third week of August, you have to take a look around through each and every one of the streets of the neighborhood of Gràcia. Yes or yes. Getting there is free, walking around and seeing the sets is free, concerts, of course, are free. You will only have to pay for the mojitos you decide to drink along the way.

Spending fear in abandoned places

We are not responsible for the legality or illegality of this plan. The only thing we assure you is that it’s free, and that a little adrenaline never hurts anyone. The most important thing is to be careful, not to touch anything, and to respect the facilities as we have found them. Having said that, will you dare to investigate all these buildings? Here is a list in case you don’t know where to start.

Chocolate with churros in a discotheque

No, we are not talking about these churros. One Sunday a month, in the afternoon, Sala Apolo organizes one of the most fun parties you can enjoy in Barcelona. The ticket is also free (with a surprise in the middle of the afternoon).

Exchanging stickers during a Sunday at Sant Antoni Market

Something as old as trading cards is still done every Sunday morning in the surroundings of the Mercat de Sant Antoni. An encounter with the aroma of another era that allows us to do something as non-digital as taking paper stamps and exchanging them (without money) for others. If we don’t even want to buy the cards we like, we can simply go and look, because it is also worth it.

Picnic in the sun

Barcelona has many parks. A picnic in one of them like the Ciutadella is a great option if the day has dawned sunny and there is a nice breeze in the city.

Les Encants market

Perhaps the one with the most Encanto in Barcelona.Its former location, so authentic the new one does justice to the market, and the truth is that the experience of peeking through the main entrance to the pit where they sell  thousand and one things without apparent order or reason is still one of the most beautiful shows you can see in Barelona.

Temple of Augustus

To be found by mistake or voluntarily with the Roman columns of the Temple of Augustus while walking through the alleys of the Gothic Quarter is an indescribable sensation. No one would say that in such a space there are columns of that size and, above all, no one would say that in front of it there are pillars with nearly two thousand years of life.

The fountains of Montjuïc

Probably to see it you have to dodge Japanese, Americans and French. Even if it is a tourist attraction, you have to enjoy it of water and light show which takes place every day at the Montjuïc fountain.

(To be on the verge) to burn the eyebrows in a Correfoc

Its name could be translated almost literally: “firewall”. The correfocs is a Catalan tradition with an air of medieval paganism, which consists of the devils go out into the street to walk flames, fires and firecrackers while mortals run and dance in front of them.

Practically every major summer (and winter) festival has its own particular correfoc, and there is nothing more Barcelonian than tying a scarf around your head to protect your hair from the flames and jumping up to dance in front of the devils.

Playing the hippie in the Plaça del Sol

Going for a beer – well, letting yourself be invited, so it’s really free – in Plaça del sol, on a Friday, sitting on the floor of the square or on the steps surrounding it, among young Barcelonians welcoming the weekend, a must in the city.

BAM, the festival that shoots during La Mercè

During the festivities of La Mercé it is unnegotiable to go to one of the free concerts organized by Barcelona Acció Musical, the music festival as part of the Mercè festival more relevant and with better programming.

Going out for free tapas in Barcelona (even if it’s difficult)

Okay, this isn’t entirely free, but there’s something to it, and we can always try again to get invited. Therefore,in this article we made a list of bars in Barcelona where, with a drink, you get a tapa included. 

BCN Swing, dancing with swag the ancient dance

This musical association organizes quite frequently (see their calendar here) free open swing dance sessions. Swing may no longer be as fashionable in Barcelona as it was a few years ago, but watching the progress of experienced couples is still a pleasure.

CCCB

The Center of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona organizes, quite frequently, cycles to which attendance is free of charge. There are talks or screenings such as those at the Serielizados Fest that are a luxury. You just have to stay tuned.

Picasso Museum

On Thursday evenings (between 18:00 and 21:30) the tickets to the Picasso Museum are free. So that you don’t say that culture is expensive. Of course, go with time, because the queues are measured with a telescope.

Free entrance to CaixaFórum for being a customer

It is free, but exclusive. Or it is not free, because you have already paid for it with your participation in the bank, but the fact is that, if you did not know, Caixa customers have free access to Caixafórum or Cosmocaixa. They usually have very interesting exhibitions.

Get to know the most secret Barcelona with this list of places that don’t appear in the guidebooks

Discover places that do not appear in the tourist guides, such as the ones we told you in this article the city’s main attractions, both in the open air, in the city’s subsoil, and above ground. Don’t miss it, and don’t tell too much about it either….

Churches, cathedrals and other sanctuaries

Visiting the cathedral of Barcelona (and kissing the geese). Or Santa Maria del Mar or the Church of Pi. Barcelona’s churches are far from a secret, but they are, without a doubt, some of the most beautiful spaces you can visit without spending money (or even praying a little to ask for it).

Reinventing tourism

Take a walk around the Plaça de Sant Felip Neri being aware of its history, respecting the children of the Sant Felip Neri school who have their playground in this square and going to the hours when there are fewer people to avoid being part of the crowds.

A secret: the most beautiful time to visit the square is early in the morning or early in the morning, when the square is silent, the light barely enters and you can only hear the chirping of the pigeons resounding within its walls.

The best gardens in the world…

Visit the gardens of Mossèn Costa i Llobera , considered one of the ten best gardens in the world.

And the best gardens in Barcelona

The Parc de la Ciutadella, Laribal, Maragall.… Barcelona hides a lot of spectacular parks that are worth several days of visit.

Remembering the vestiges of war in the city’s subsoil

Enjoy a guided tour of the air-raid shelter 307 400 meters of living history of the Civil War excavated under the ground.

And if not, the shelter of Plaça del Diamant, in Gracia. Both excellent places to learn about the suffering experienced by the people of Barcelona not so long ago.

Enjoy the best beaches in Europe

Obviously bathing in the Mediterráneo (even if it is among balloons, prophylactics, tampons and other plastic utensils). And enjoy the beach, its sunrise, its sunset, its characters… In short, remember that having a city in front of the sea is a privilege.

Learning (or trying) to dance sardanas, the most Catalan dance

go to a nightclub and fail at twerkdancing? Nah, better to see a sardana and dance it in the Plaza Sant Jaume or in the Cathedral. We recommend watching a video to practice the steps beforehand.

Art galleries

Although the hipster and creative neighborhood is now the Poblenou neighborhood the street that has historically concentrated more art galleries is Enric Granados.

The Marlgborough, the N2… Granados continues to be the art mecca in Barcelona, and, in addition, one has a lot of options for snacks

Masonic Library

Visit one of the only Masonic libraries in the world,the Arús public library, a real treasure in the center of the city where you can go to feel like a member of a secret society.

Free Tours

Take a Free Tour. Two notes. It is necessary to free yourself from prejudices: just because it is aimed at tourists does not mean that you cannot learn about your city. The other, just because it’s free doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay. It is well born to be grateful. And you sure don’t want anyone to think you’re a badass.

Getting lost in the labyrinth of Horta

Get lost, literally, through the Labyrinth of Horta and, when we find the exit, take a walk through the romantic gardens that surround it and the Palace of the Marquis of Alfarràs, one of the jewels of the city that will now be remodeled.

Or by the Tamarita Garden

Considered one of the most romantic gardens in the city, getting lost in it comes to romanticize the lack of orientation. Whether in the labyrinth of Horta, or in the stately gardens of Tamarita, all you have to do is bring your refreshments from home, and you’ve got a free plan.

Mountain trails through Collserola

Sometimes we forget that Collserola, however close to the city it is, is a mountain range in  full rule, crossed by lots of mountain trails that cry out to take a backpack, water bottle and sandwich and go on a route and enjoy nature and discover some of the secrets it hides.

A library that rents out plant seeds a wine bar, donkeys… choose your own adventure.

Enjoy the best theater at the Grec

One of the most important theatrical festivals in Spain takes place in Barcelona during the month of August. And although most of the shows are paid, there are a few that are free, scattered throughout the city. The performing arts are more at hand than ever in summer, enjoy them!

Organize a visit to Pedralbes Monastery

In Pedralbes, where the city of Barcelona merges with Collserola, hides a jewel of a building that many are unaware of because they forget that in the city there is precious medieval architecture far beyond the Gothic Quarter.

It is the Monestir de Pedralbes, a temple built 700 years ago by the Queen of the Crown of Aragon at the time, Elisenda Montcada, which the Poor Clare nuns have inhabited for almost a thousand years. Since 1983 it has been a public space open to visitors, and since this summer, free access at sunset. Well, don’t miss it: on Sundays from 3 pm the tickets are free.

Neighborhood parties

The definition of popular leisure: accessible, easy, open… We have mentioned the Fiestas de Gràcia, but you shouldn’t miss the Fiestas de Gràcia, either Sants those of Poblenou, those of Raval or those of the neighbors of Barcelona.

The route of the cans

Take a route to see all the cans hanging on the walls all over Barcelona. One of many ephemeral works of art hidden around the city.

The CCCB viewpoint

And if in Tibidabo we go up to the sky to look at the ground, at the CCCB we do exactly the opposite and look at the sky to see the center, the lowest part of the city, reflected. A real secret lookout that not everyone knows about.

Visit the gardens of Pedralbes Palace

The Pedralbes Palace is a building located in the middle of a large garden area in the Les Corts district of Barcelona and now the headquarters of La Unión para el Mediterráneo. During 1919-1931 it was the residence of the Spanish Royal Family during their visits to the city. The Palace currently houses the Museum of Ceramics and the Museum of Decorative Arts.

Recovering the historical memory of the Modelo, the downtown prison

A visit to the old Modelo prison is also a good option. Especially if you do it with the intention of seeing the gypsy chapel here. Guided tours that show us what it was like to live in the e life in this strange urban prison is like something out of a movie.

Walking Montjïc, the mountain where you always discover something new

Take a route through montjuïc cemetery… if you dare. And find tombs of famous guerrillas, incredible views over the city or a curious museum of hearses.

Visit Barcelona’s concept stores

We know it’s a bad example of a free plan in Barcelona, but if we include it is for a reason. These stores are true museums, with handmade pieces, or with prints and works worthy of any museum.

Strolling around and discovering what these places can offer you, can be a plan (almost) free. If you then decide to buy a whim, we are not responsible for it.

The Sagrada Familia, free of charge?

Yes, free of charge. And without your name being George and it being St. George or without you getting tickets in a raffle. This is a little less well known: on Sundays, the nine o’clock mass is free until full capacity, so get up early and enjoy, thank goodness, the most famous church in the city.

All the faces of modernism

As a modern city and modernist capital that Barcelona is, it is not a bad idea to go the first Sunday of every month between 9:30 and 14:30 to the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Santa Pau .

Or take a trip back in time in the Barcelona Modernist Fair, where the locals dress up as Gaudí’s contemporaries .

Or tour the route of the modernist plates… In short, there is no lack of ideas to feel Gaudinian.

Open air urban art museums, one of the best free plans in Barcelona

Take a route through Poblenou to see the graffiti. Or go for the long haul and go some of the routes from barcelona graffiti we have already explained to you.

Classical music on the beach

In June the Gran Teatre del Liceu moves to Platja de Bogatell to offer free classical music concerts open to everyone. The audience will be seated on the sand of the beach around a stage, so we recommend that you bring a folding chair and a large, comfortable towel to make the most of the concerts and not end up with back pain.

Simplify your life

Simply stroll and enjoy the whole city: its cobblestones, its roadways and its facades. And to make it even easier for you, here you have some walks that will take you to know other Barcelonas.