Barcelona for Free: 14 Things We Love Doing Every Year

It’s funny, every summer we housesit in Barcelona for a month, and while we try new things each year, our favorite activities are always free.

Sure, we paid for the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell during our first visits and while they were great to see, we haven’t felt the urge to repeat them.

But the free experiences? We can’t get enough of them.

From free museum days to local beach spots, hiking up Tibidabo for a city view, and wandering around Montjuïc cemetery – this is how we love to explore.

It saves us money, lets us practice our Spanish, and brings us much closer to local neighborhood life than standing in ticket queues ever could.

Plus, thanks to my friends who live here, we have picked up great insider tips, like watching correfoc (a wild parade with fireworks and demons) and castellers (human towers) during street festivals.

So if you want to explore Barcelona on a budget, dive into local culture and have experiences beyond the typical tourist sights, add these free things to your itinerary!

1. Wander Around Gràcia

Gràcia is hands-down one of our favorite barrios in Barcelona. It’s where we housesit every year, so it’s the neighborhood we spend the most time in.

What we love most about Gràcia is that it’s close enough to Barcelona’s city center and famous sites like the Sagrada Familia, but far enough away to not be overly touristy.

It’s a walkable, affordable and local area filled with little shops, fruterias, beautiful architecture and squares where Spanish people sip beers all day.

Park Güell and Casa Vicens, both designed by Gaudí, are located here, as well as a less commercial shopping street, hip cafes and local bars.

We wrote a neighborhood guide on Gràcia where you can get all our insider tips, but our favorite free things to do here are:

• Visit our most-loved second-hand English bookstore Hibernian
  
• Walk down the notable shopping street Carrer Gran de Gracia with little shops in beautiful buildings
  
• Hang out with locals at Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia
  
• Take photos outside Casa Vicens and Casa Homet
  
• Walk up Mirador de la Farma above Park Güell for epic 360° city views
  
• Join Gràcia’s festes majors in August, an awesome street festival where you can see a human pyramid and much more!

Most of our favorite Barcelona cafes are also in Gràcia, where we love to sit down and get a cup of deliciously brewed speciality coffee.

2. Join Festes Majors

Taking part in festes majors (“main festivals”) is one of the coolest free things in Barcelona we love doing every year.

These Catalan street festivals take place every month of the year in a different neighborhood of Barcelona.

For example, it’s happening in Sant Antoni in January, around Sagrada Familia in April, in Poble Sec in July, in Gràcia and the Gothic Quarter in August, and in Barceloneta in September.

So no matter when you are visiting, you should be able to catch some of the festivities that usually include:

• Correfoc (“fire runs”): People with drums and dressed as red devils dance through the streets with a demon figure shooting out an insane amount of fireworks. It’s crazy to see!
  
• Castellers (“human towers”): A group of people build a scary-high multi-story tower of people in public squares. Impressive!
  
• Gegants (“giants”): Picture a crowd of people carrying massive piñatas based on historical characters or legends through narrow streets while dressed-up musicians play a loud and high-pitched wooden pipe.
  
• Sardanes: Are traditional Catalan circle dances where locals of all ages come together on squares to form a big ring by holding hands and dancing the evening away.
  
• Concerts & meals: Every night some streets are blocked off to car traffic and set up with stages for live bands, DJs and communal dinners. It’s great fun to join! But we were told that many locals who have flats right above it actually leave these days to escape the noise at night.

3. Go into Museums for Free

In Barcelona, we particularly love visiting the Picasso Museum, the Barcelona City History Museum, and Palau Güell designed by Gaudí.

And the best part? We visited all of them for free!

That’s because most museums in Barcelona offer free entry every Sunday from 3 pm or on the first Sunday of the month.

Most of them you can just walk in, but for very popular ones, like the Picasso Museum, Palau Güell, and the National Art Museum of Catalonia, you will need to reserve a free ticket for a time slot in advance.

For more details, check out our favorite free museums in Barcelona, where we list all of their free entry days and free ticket reservations.

If you are here in May, don’t miss Barcelona’s Museum Night, for free access to all museums with live concerts, shows and special installations.

4. Overlook the City from Mirador de la Farma

Every time we go up to Mirador de la Farma for sunset, we are surprised by how few people there are – because the views are amazing!

It’s a steep road up the hill that turns into a dirt path through pine trees halfway. So expect to get sweaty and bring water.

We always start at the outdoor escalators that go up to Parque Güell. If you don’t have a ticket, you can’t access the park.

But we take this route around it, have a break at Mirador de Joan Sales, and then hike up to Mirador de la Farma, which is the real deal!

This whole way up, we barely see any tourists, only locals walking their dogs or bouldering on a cobblestone wall that goes along the street before the trails start.

It’s a great free way to get your heart rate up, escape the city crowds, and enjoy epic 360° views over the whole city.

5. Hike Up Tibidabo

Another great way to get exercise and enjoy an amazing view over Barcelona for free is to hike up Tibidabo.

I have never done it (still on my wish list), but Allan has. He started next to the Tibidabo funicular and it took him about 45 minutes to reach the amusement park.

It’s a narrow dirt path through pine trees that snakes up Tibidabo. Many different trails go up the hill, so at some points it can be a little confusing which way to go.

But as long as you follow this route on AllTrails, you shouldn’t get lost.

There is a beautiful church at the top and an amusement park that are good spots to rest before you make your way back down again.

I can’t wait to do it as well!

6. Visit Montjuic Cemetery

Recommending to explore a cemetery probably sounds odd, but we loved it. It’s for sure not an ordinary attraction.

Montjuic Cemetery rises up the hill, overlooking the ocean. There are lots of graves stacked on top of each other with ancient grave tops.

Between the rows of graves are many mausoleums, statues, and chapels to explore while you snake your way higher up the hillside.

We were the only tourists visiting and while I first thought this is a weird thing to do, I actually left with a sense of awe and peace.

We later found out that there is a museum about funeral carriages on site which you can visit for free every weekend between 10 am and 2 pm. They offer a free guided tour at 12 pm in Spanish, which people seem to love in the reviews.

So maybe it’s not such an odd visit after all 😉

7. Explore Montjuic Hill

Montjuic cemetery isn’t the only reason to come and explore Montjuic, where there is lots to see for free, including city views!

We particularly like wandering in and around the:

• Montjuic Castle
• Montjuic Palace
• Botanical Garden
• Greek Theater
• La Font del Gat restaurant

You can enter the Castle, Palace and Botanical Garden every Sunday from 3 pm for free!

While some attractions like the cable car or the magic fountain show are naturally touristy, locals also use Montjuic as an outdoor city escape or event location.

If you have a few euros to spare, I highly recommend having a sunset drink at Salts Montjuic. Grab a seat on the tribune overlooking the city and a swimming pool that was built for the 1992 Olympics.

8. Watch the Magic Fountain Show

Watching the Magic Fountain show in front of Montjuic is for sure no local secret. But we still love doing it!

In summer, every evening from Wednesday to Sunday at 9:30 and 10:30 pm, the huge fountain shoots up into the sky, lit up in all different colors while music plays in the background.

While it’s not as impressive as other fountain shows we have seen, like in Singapore for example, it’s still good fun and we love the atmosphere.

All the stairs leading up to the palace are filled with people, kids are running around and street breakdancers are performing before the show starts.

So if you are looking for a cool free activity in Barcelona at night, this might be it!

9. Browse Els Encants Flea Market

We kicked off our exploration of Barcelona’s neighborhood Poblenau at the Mercat dels Encants.

It’s one of Europe’s oldest flea markets, but what I found most interesting was the golden-shaped building it is in.

Rather than looking at the pre-loved items, I was fascinated by taking photos of the market’s reflection in the golden roof.

Make sure to explore all different floors to take in all angles and views. We initially missed the third floor, where there is a seating area with food.

While I don’t think the items sold are super high value or for vintage hunters, the building itself and atmosphere were worth a visit to me.

Also don’t miss out on grabbing a specialty coffee at Maktub, which is just a 5-minute walk away, and one of our favorite coffee shops in Barcelona.

10. Enjoy Barcelona’s City Beaches

No list of the best free things to do in Barcelona would be complete without mentioning its city beaches.

While they are overrun with tourists in summer, we still love hanging out there. And there are plenty to choose from!

Most tourists go to Barceloneta Beach, and while that’s a great spot, you can walk or cycle further down the promenade and explore less-crowded bays.

We particularly like the more local beaches close to Poblenou:

• Playa de Bogatell
• Playa de la Mar Bella
• Playa Llevant

Between Playa de la Mar Bella and Playa Llevant is another nice beach called Platja de la Nova Mar Bella, but it’s a nude beach, so be warned 🍑😉

If we are in Barceloneta, we usually go close to this free calisthenics park that is right at the end of Barceloneta Beach, where Allan often does pull-ups with an ocean view!

11. Gaze at the Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia is truly unique and the most iconic building in Barcelona that you have to see.

While going inside the Sagrada Familia is quite pricey (but so worth it!), viewing the outside is totally free and also very impressive.

We were lucky enough to stay at a friend’s place just two blocks away, so we walked around the basilica multiple times a day.

From the outside, you can see thousands of details covering the building and towers, which is truly fascinating to look at.

We were particularly excited to take a look this year, as 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s death, who designed the Sagrada Familia and many other complex and unique buildings around the city.

In his honor, the central tower was completed, making it the tallest church in the world.

But the Sagrada Familia isn’t finished yet! It has been under construction for more than 140 years because the only sources of funding are ticket sales and private donations.

So if you have money to spare, I highly recommend getting a ticket.

We went inside a few years ago and were blown away by the unique architecture and Gaudí’s play with natural light coming through the windows!

🎟️ Since the main tower was finished in 2026, tickets sell out fast. Book official tickets 2-3 weeks in advance or check Viator and GetYourGuide for last-minute time slots if you want to go inside.

12. See 3 Famous Gaudi Houses

Antoni Gaudí left his mark all over the city, designing many unique buildings. So a visit to Barcelona would not be complete without seeing a few of his projects.

Going inside them is a little expensive, though.

Luckily, the outsides of the buildings are also super interesting, so you can just do your own free walking tour and check out their facades.

I have already mentioned the Sagrada Familia and Palau Güell, but 3 more buildings that I recommend looking at are:

• Casa Vicens – is the first major project completed by Gaudí, built between 1878 and 1880. It is in the Gracia neighborhood, which at the time was a separate town from Barcelona, and Gaudí built it as a summer house for the owner. The outside is covered with tiles inspired by art from India, Persia and Japan.
  
• Casa Batlló – was redesigned in 1904 by Gaudí because its design made it unattractive to buyers. So the owners contacted Gaudí to make it more interesting, which was clearly a success.
  
• Casa Mila – was constructed between 1906 -1912 and while it’s the least colorful, it has some very interesting-looking wrought iron balconies, which you can see in a few of Gaudí’s works.

All of these Gaudí houses are pretty much on the same street (Passeig de Gràcia) and it takes about a 30-minute walk to see all of them.

📸 If you come early, you will have fewer people standing in front of them to take pictures or lining up for tickets.

13. Stop at Sant Felip Neri Square

The Sant Felip Neri Square is a small square in the Gothic Quarter just around the corner from the impressive Barcelona Cathedral.

We like coming here to find some quiet from the crowds as it’s tucked away from the busy streets.

But it has quite a dark history.

During the Spanish Civil War in 1938, a bomb was dropped on the square’s church. The bombing killed 42 people, most of whom were children, as the church was used as an orphanage.

Today you can still see the holes in the walls of the square caused by the bombs.

I found it to be a unique place to visit and very different from anywhere else in Barcelona, especially because it feels so hidden among the busy streets.

👟 This highly rated free walking tour starts at the Barcelona Cathedral and visits this square – that’s how we found out about it!

14. Stroll Through Ciutadella Park

Taking a walk through Parc de la Ciutadella is another great way to combine sightseeing with watching locals and tourists come by.

The park is centrally located in El Born, so we often walk through on the way to Barceloneta, passing many sculptures and monuments along the way.

At one end is a massive archway called the Arc de Triomf, similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It was built in 1888 for the World Fair held in Barcelona to welcome visitors.

Another sight you have to check out is the Cascada del Parc de la Ciutadella, a huge fountain partially designed by Gaudí, which looks similar to the Trevi Fountain in Rome.

The park is big, so it’s also a great green break from the city. I once joined a bootcamp there facing the archway, which was sweaty and good fun!

How to Get Around Barcelona Affordably

Luckily, you won’t need to spend any money on cabs or car rental here.

We usually walk everywhere – that’s why our daily step count is always crazy high after our month in Barcelona.

If it’s too far to walk or we need to save time, we catch public transport, which has air-con and is super efficient and affordable.

You can get a 10-ride pass for €13 or a monthly pass for €22.80. The monthly pass includes the orange L9 metro to the airport, which makes it crazy cheap!

Both tickets are for Zone 1, which is more than enough, as it covers Barcelona and some nearby towns.

We usually don’t buy these passes online, but at the machines as soon as we land.

Once, we also rented Donkey Bikes for a few hours, as Barcelona is a great city to explore by bike. You usually get a discount if you sign up for the first time.

How to Save Money on Airport Transport

Most tourists take the Aerobus from and to the airport, which we did on our first visits too. It’s a fast and reliable option, but costs about €7.50 one-way.

So we use the local options that are much cheaper:

• If we have the 10-ride pass, we take the Renfe train (R2 Nord) from Terminal 2 to Passeig de Gràcia, which also includes taking any bus or metro afterwards to our final destination. The trains only run every 30 minutes, but the whole journey only costs €1.30!
  
• If we have the monthly pass, we take the orange L9 metro from Terminal 1 or 2. These two airport stops are not included in a single ticket or the 10-ride pass. But in the monthly pass they are – turning this into a €0 ride!

Explore More of Barcelona on a Budget

Being a budget traveler in Barcelona doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the best of it. To us, it’s the opposite!

For the ultimate savings and experience, I highly recommend trying to get a housesit. It’s a great way to afford a longer stay and live in Barcelona like a local.

Otherwise, check out our Barcelona budget hotel guide, where we list great value-for-money options in different neighborhoods.

If you have any questions, leave a comment below. Disfruta Barcelona!

READ ALSO

• Our 11 Favorite Free Museums in Barcelona
• Exploring Barcelona’s Best Neighborhood Gràcia
• Ultimate Digital Nomad Guide to Barcelona
• Where to Sip Barcelona’s Best Coffee

BARCELONA TRAVEL CHECKLIST

These are the exact sites we use whenever we stay in Barcelona. For more, check out our Slow Travel Resources.

✔ TrustedHousesitters – How we stay in Barcelona for free by pet sitting! Use code TRUSTED15 for 15% off your membership.

✔ Saily – The reliable eSIM we use for mobile data in Spain. It’s set up in minutes and includes free NordVPN security. Use code NOMADS9597 for $5 off!

✔ Wise – The free travel debit card we use for all our daily payments and ATM withdrawals in Spain. It lets us hold and convert euros at the real exchange rate without hidden bank or markup fees.

✔ SafetyWing – The travel health insurance we use for all our trips, including Spain. It’s super easy to manage and only costs us about $2/day. Click the pink camera on their homepage and use code NOMADSBEYOND for 2 months of free electronics coverage!

✔ AllTrails – Did you know there’s lots of nature around Barcelona? We always find local trails and hikes on AllTrails – it’s free!

✔ GuruWalk – Our go-to site for free walking tours in Barcelona. We find it the best way to explore a city and get cool local insights from a guide. So if it’s your first visit, make sure to join one.