Free things to do · Barcelona · Spain
7 free things to do in Barcelona
Barcelona without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ChristianSchd, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Barcelona without paying an entry fee: Gothic Quarter walk, La Rambla, La Boqueria market and Barceloneta beach are all free. Buy a T-casual or Hola Barcelona card rather than single tickets, which cost much more per ride.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 7
- Low-cost extras
- 5
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- January
Free sights and experiences
Neighbourhood · Barri Gòtic
1.Gothic Quarter walk
Walk early in the morning or after 9pm, when the tour groups have gone.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Street · La Rambla
2.La Rambla
Walk it once for the Boqueria and the Liceu, then turn off into the Gothic Quarter or El Raval for food and drink.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
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Market · La Rambla
3.La Boqueria market
Come in the morning for breakfast at a counter bar, and buy fruit from the back stalls rather than pre-cut cups at the entrance.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
- Iconic
Beach · Barceloneta
4.Barceloneta beach
For more space, walk 15 minutes north to Nova Icària or Bogatell, and never leave bags unattended on the sand.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Iconic
Religious site · El Born
5.Santa Maria del Mar
Visit during free entry times for a quiet look at the nave, then book a rooftop tour for a different perspective.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Free
- Off the beaten path
Viewpoint · Montjuïc
6.Montjuïc
Ride the funicular from Paral·lel Metro, take the cable car up to the castle, then walk down through the gardens.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Free
- Kids
- History
Park · El Born
7.Parc de la Ciutadella
Rent a rowing boat on the lake, then picnic on the lawns with supplies from the nearby Santa Caterina market.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Barri Gòtic | Gothic Quarter walk | Half a day |
| La Rambla | La Rambla and La Boqueria market | 1 hour + 1 hour |
| Barceloneta | Barceloneta beach | Half a day |
| El Born | Santa Maria del Mar and Parc de la Ciutadella | 45 minutes + 1–2 hours |
| Montjuïc | Montjuïc | Half a day |
Worth a small ticket
Park · Gràcia
Park Güell
Take bus 24 towards the upper entrances to avoid the steep climb from Lesseps or Vallcarca Metro, and book the first or last slot of the day.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Views
- Outdoors
- Kids
Museum · Montjuïc
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC)
Head first to the Romanesque galleries, then step out onto the front terrace for sunset.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Views
- Rainy day
Architecture · Sant Pau
Sant Pau Recinte Modernista
Combine it with the Sagrada Família, walking the pedestrian Avinguda de Gaudí between the two.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
- History
- Photo spot
Architecture · El Raval
Palau Güell
Use the audio guide for the basement stables and the rooftop, and pause in the main hall to look up into the dome.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Sant Gervasi
CosmoCaixa science museum
Pair it with Tibidabo on the same day, as both sit on the northern edge of the city.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
More ways to save
- Buy a T-casual or Hola Barcelona card rather than single tickets, which cost much more per ride.
- Eat the menú del dia at lunch; it costs far less than an à la carte dinner.
- Several museums, including the Picasso Museum and MNAC, offer free entry at set times; you usually still need to reserve a slot.
- Gràcia, Sant Antoni and Poble-sec have better-value tapas than the Gothic Quarter and La Rambla.
- A tourist tax is added per person per night on top of hotel and apartment prices.
- Avoid big trade-fair weeks such as the Mobile World Congress, when hotel prices rise sharply.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Barcelona expensive to visit?
Barcelona is moderately priced for most visitors, but 7 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Barcelona?
Gothic Quarter walk: Walk early in the morning or after 9pm, when the tour groups have gone.