Are you not sure if you should put Barcelona on your list, because it might be too expensive? You should! It's an incredible city and there are many things you can visit for free. I lived in Barcelona for 8 months and did many of these things often, as BCN is not the cheapest place to live in.
What to expect in this article:
- 1. Montjuïc - Hill in Barcelona
- 2. Bunkers el Carmel - views of Barcelona
- 3. Barcelona's famous Sagrada Família
- 4. The Kissing Wall (Kiss of Freedom) in Barcelona
- 5. Park Güell Barcelona
- 6. Beaches of Barcelona
- 7. Casa Battló and Casa Milà
- 8. Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria in Barcelona
- 9. Park de la Ciutadella
- 10. Free Walking Tour Barcelona
- 11. Mirador d'Horta - Viewpoint in Barcelona
- 12. Tibidabo Hill - Lookout over Barcelona
- 13. Streets / squares / neighborhoods of Barcelona
- 14. Port Vell - Barcelona
- 15. My last tip - museums
1. Montjuïc - hill in Barcelona
Montjuïc is basically a large hill in Barcelona, with some splendid viewpoints. I have been here often, during New Year’s Eve, to see all the fireworks.
Once I had a picnic in Montjuïc and I would definitely recommend this to you. Enjoy your food (that you brought from home, that doesn’t cost anything right 😉 and be amazed by the views!
It’s a large park and you can visit many things on this site, so you can wander around for hours here. There is a Botanical Garden, an Olympic sports stadium, and a fountain show. There is even a cable car, that can lead you to the castle, but for this, you will have to pay for it.
Montjuïc Hill even offers hiking trails and incredible city views. Lastly, did you know that you can visit Montjuïc Castle for free on Sundays after 3 p.m.?
On this website you can find more information
2. Bunkers el Carmel - views of Barcelona
Another incredible viewpoint, and all for free!
If you want to take some shots of the stunning views of Barcelona, this is the place to go.
It´s a good place to hang out, have a drink, and enjoy the sights of Barcelona. Even on a cloudy day, I loved it here.
It’s especially famous for tourists, and groups of friends, but it is also very romantic, so you will see many couples.
These former anti-aircraft bunkers provide one of the best panoramic views of Barcelona. It’s a great spot for a picnic and sunset watching.
Information:
- Address: Carrer de Marià Labèrnia, s/n, 08032 Barcelona, Spain
It is a 20 minutes walk from Park Guëll - Costs: Nothing /nada
- Here is the website for more information.
3. Barcelona's famous Sagrada Família
The Sagrada Família is one of the highlights of Barcelona, maybe even of Spain.
And for me, the magic is all on the outside of the Sagrada. I have been inside (which you do have to pay for), but as it is quite new, it did not impress me too much. The outside is incredible.
In the 8 months I was living in Barcelona, I had to admire the church/ temple every time I came across it. I did see some differences and fewer cranes at the end of the 8 months, so I hope they will finish working on it soon. Google says it will be finished in 2026.
As it does not cost anything to see the Sagrada Família from the outside/ a distance, it definitely belongs to the list of free amazing spots in Barcelona.
Do you want to enjoy a rooftop with a great view of the Sagrada? Then read this article.
Information:
- Address:C/ de Mallorca, 401, 08013 Barcelona, Spain
It is a 40 minutes walk from the Catedral de Barcelona - Costs: Nothing from outside.
26 euros pp if you want to go inside - Check out this website.
4. The Kissing Wall (Kiss of Freedom) in Barcelona
Also called ”El món neix en cada besada‘ – the Kissing Wall is a famous piece of art in the metropole of Barcelona that you can check out for free!
Once you come close to the ‘Kiss of Freedom Mural’ or ‘The World Begins with Every Kiss’, you might think is a large graffiti, but it is actually thousands of tiny ceramic tiles.
Every tile is different and printed with a photo of a person, a place, a moment, an event, or something that in some way represents an expression of freedom. How original!?
Information:
- Address: Carrer dels Capellans, 16, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
It is a 3 minutes walk from the Catedral de Barcelona - Costs: Nothing/nada
- Check out this website.
Can I go back and live in this wonderful city again? 🙁
5. Park Güell Barcelona
Park Güell is one of the famous parks of Spain, known for the cute tiles designed by the famous architect Antonio Gaudí. Did you know it is a UNESCO World Heritage site?
There is a free section where you can enjoy the colorful mosaics, unique architecture, and, importantly, panoramic views of the city.
While the monumental area within Park Güell requires a ticket, you can still experience Gaudí’s creativity for free in the public zone. You can still wander around for a few hours and maybe even have a picnic in the grass, don’t forget to buy some tapas!
Information:
Address: Carrer d’Olot, 13, 08024 Barcelona, Spain
It is a 30-minute walk from the Sagrada Família
Visit the website here.
6. Beaches of Barcelona
More free activities in Barcelona? Well, there are enough beaches! Spend some time at the city’s beaches, including Barceloneta Beach.
You can relax in the sun, swim in the Mediterranean Sea, or simply take a nice stroll along the boardwalk.
Even during the winter, it is a must-visit. On sunny days it is even crowded. Enough beaches to choose from!
Costs: Nothing/Nada!
7. Casa Batlló and Casa Milà
These two Casas (houses) in Barcelona are also very well-known all over the world.
While entering these famous Gaudí-designed buildings requires a fee, you can still appreciate their unique architecture from the outside. Do you remember I spoke about the famous Spanish architect and designer Antoni Gaudí before?
Casa Batlló, in particular, is known for its dragon-like appearance. I have actually never been inside of the Casas, but I always loved walking close to it. Or admiring it from the bus. So it is free if you want to take a lot of pictures from outside.
Do you know that there are many more Casas like these in Barcelona?
Information:
8. Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria in Barcelona
This bustling market off La Rambla is a party for the senses. You can explore the market, admire the fresh produce and food stalls, and soak in the vibrant atmosphere.
I do have to admit, the first time I entered this market, someone told me to put my backpack on the front, as soon as I entered. Very safe did I not feel. After that time, I came here more often, mostly when we would visit La Rambla (most well-known street in central Barcelona) and if you are aware, nothing will happen.
Still, I have seen some cases of pickpockets in the busses, so always use your right mind.
Also, make sure to bargain with the sellers and don’t make the mistake of buying 5 tiny chocolates for 15 euros 😉
Don’t forget to visit La Rambla, as it is a fun street, where you can also walk through.
Information:
- Address: La Rambla, 91, 08001 Barcelona, Spain
- Costs: Nothing, unless you buy something
- Website of the market
9. Parc de la Ciutadella
The Parc de la Ciutadella is very amazing and a green oasis in the metropole of Barcelona.
You can come here to relax, walk around, row with a boat on a lake or my favorite, a picnic! Don’t forget to visit the Arc de Triumph, as it is worth seeing it. There are many street vendors and artists here, which makes it fun to walk through.
There is even a zoo in the park! I did not visit this, but I am pretty sure, you will need to pay for this, unless the rest of the park.
Information:
- Address: Passeig de Picasso, 21, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Costs: Nothing/ nada
- Website of the Park
10. Free Walking Tour Barcelona
There are many options in Barcelona to do a free walking tour. They will show you many major landmarks of this huge city.
The first time we visited BCN as tourists in 2019, we also did a free walking tour and they took us to the Gothic Quarter, El Born District to see sites like the Barcelona Cathedral, Santa Maria del Mar, Plaça Sant Jaume, and more.
You don’t have to pay, but it is based on tips. So if you like it, you can pay the guide whatever money you want.
Information:
- Costs: Nothing, except if you give a tip
- Website of the tour that we did with Sandeman
11. Mirador d'Horta - Viewpoint in Barcelona
If you want to go to a viewpoint that is not so famous, Mirador d’Horta is your go-to spot.
It has a scenic viewpoint in Barcelona that offers stunning panoramic vistas of the city and its surroundings.
Next to that, it is a pretty quiet spot, which can be great to escape the noise of the busy city. When we visited, we could not find the famous swing that is supposed to be here. So I hope you are lucky and will be able to find it.
Information:
- Address: Ctra. Horta a Cerdanyola, pk 10, 5, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Costs: Nothing/ nada - Website of the viewpoint
12. Tibidabo Hill - lookout over Barcelona
Tibidabo (hill) in Barcelona leaves you awe-struck. At its summit, you have panoramic vistas, offering a beautiful view of the entire city.
The Tibidabo Amusement Park, is fun, even though it requires a separate ticket.
Lastly, the Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor, a stunning church, is open to all for exploration at no cost! How cool!
You can hike to Tibidabo, which is awesome for nature enthusiasts. While the amusement park has an entry fee, enjoying the views and the sacred temple is free, making Tibidabo a multifaceted and accessible attraction for all.
Information:
- Costs: Nothing, except if you want to go to the amusement park
- Website of the amusement park
13. Streets/ squares / neighborhoods of Barcelona
Don’t forget to visit some cool squares, streets, and neighborhoods. Every area in Barcelona is a bit different and fun to walk through.
A few of them are Plaça Reial, which is a beautiful square, close to the La Rambla. Another street you should not miss.
Next to that is Passeig de Gracia a street you should not miss. There are many luxurious shops. You can not miss it if you visit Casa Mila and Battlo, which I have mentioned above.
You have the Gothic quarter (interesting for its history), Eixample (with many fun cafes), Poblenou (a bit more posh area), and El Raval (known as the ‘gothem’ of Barcelona).
I can write a whole article about the different areas and why you should visit them. So choose some that attract you the most. Barcelona is so big, I feel like I still have not seen everything, even though I tried to go out every weekend and explored, for the 8/9 months I was living there.
14. Port Vell - Barcelona
Port Vell is the waterfront harbor and part of the Port of Barcelona. It is fun to walk around here and see the different, and sometimes very luxurious boats and yachts. There is also a fun shopping mall, where you can walk through.
Soak in the Mediterranean atmosphere, as I hope the weather will be good for you.
Port Vell provides a perfect blend of history, modernity, and leisure, making it a nice spot to spend time, whether you’re on a budget or looking for a memorable or luxurious 😉 waterfront experience.
15. My last tip - museums
Museums
My last tip would be, to look for days and times on which museums are free. There are a couple, but the timings keep changing.
The Natural History Museum, Music Museum, and Picasso Museum are some of the names I have seen, that have some days/ specific timings off and you can visit for free.
On this website, you can find the best tips for free days if you are interested in visiting museums 🙂
I hope you got some inspiration of fun places in Barcelona to visit for free. This way your trip does not have to cost that much. Let me know if my tips have helped you and enjoy in this beautiful city!
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