Most blogs about Barcelona have their list of free things to do in Barcelona. Here is mine and it is based on what I like to do for free here in Barcelona.

 

1 – Stroll around the city

 

Walking is the most sensible free thing to do in Barcelona. You can walk to your office, to your appointment or just go for a stroll. You can do it in winter, you can do it in summer. Anytime you want. And it is without doubt the best of the free things to do in Barcelona. First because you exercise and move your body but moreover because Barcelona has some stunning architecture and decorative urban elements everywhere.

 

You can see some modern design such as the Torre Agbar or Gehry’s fish as well as some older architecture like the ones on the Gothic Quarter and all the modernist buildings the city is famous for (such as the Sagrada Familia) and the Golden Quarter that you can find between Carrer Aribau and the Passeig de Sant Joan, around the Passeig de Gràcia where the best examples of Art Nouveau buildings are located. You can also witness remnants of the Roman life in Barcelona.

 

Regardless of where you look here, you will find intricacies on the façades of even ordinary houses, statues, windows and balcony ornaments, and details on the streets. You don’t have to look at a famous structure to enjoy a feast for your eyes.

 

2 – Go to the beach

 

This is one the reasons why many people from all over the world come to Barcelona: more than 4 km of shoreline to be enjoyed in the winter and summer. In the winter, I enjoy walking along the Passeig Maritim, a promenade that runs from Barceloneta Beach to as far as Mataro in the north of Barcelona. It makes a pleasant hike along the seaside and along the rail tracks.

I don’t really like Barceloneta Beach in the centre. It is fine if you are only going for a short visit; otherwise, they are crowded and not always clean. You must always be aware of your belongings because of pickpockets.

 

Beach days are possible in the summer. I favor the beaches on the north side of Barcelona, from Poblenou onward, which are easily accessible by metro and train. And those outside the city in the south side such as Gavà, Castelldefels, or Garraf. In the near future, I will write about my preferred ones.

 

3 – Book free events on eventbrite

 

Yes. An original approach to find free events but actually most events organisers utilise this platform to propose tickets for free events. I suppose to know how many people will attend and to set limitations.

 

After checking eventbrite, we were able to attend a useful conference about menstrual cycle in an exclusive women’s member club in Barcelona and we came home with a nice gift bag of 5 high-quality cosmetics.

 

There are some filters on the website that allow you to select “Barcelona” and “free” events. A list will appear. There are activities in fashion, culture, business, music and much more can be found here.

 

4 – Visit museums as part of the free things to do in Barcelona

 

On the first Sunday of each month, various museums in Barcelona are open to the public for free. To check which one offer this possibility, go to the website of the museum that interest you and look at the pricing and opening hours section. It is communicated there.

 

Some cultural institutes and museums also offer free admission to the general public at certain times on a specific day. For example, with a prior online booking, you can view exhibitions at the CCCB every Sunday from 15h to 20h and the MNAC every saturday after 15h.

 

Museums are also free during the Night of the museums and the Museums International Day.

 

5 – Have fun at a street party

 

One of the things I like about Barcelona is the abundance of street parties held throughout the year. Each neighbourhood organises its own Festa Major (street festival) in turn.

 

Other towns and villages around Barcelona also have their own street parties. The Barcelona street parties are an opportunity to enjoy live musics in the streets, drinks, street decorations in some fiestas, cultural events and some of Catalonia’s famed traditions: the Sardana dance, the gegants (giants), the Castells (Human towers) and the correfocs (fire-runs).

 

In this blog, I talked about the Mercè one, which is my all-time favourite, Gracia‘s and a fairly new one, the Fiestas of the Gothic Quarter.

 

6 – The Magic Fountain show

 

The Magic Fountain show was suspended for two years during the height of the COVID pandemic. It resumed on April 1st.

 

The Magic Fountain was built for the International Expo in 1929 and has since become a popular attraction in Barcelona. The Magic Fountain show is known for its sound and light performances using that incorporate a variety of musical themes ranging from the 1980s to cartoon soundtracks (like the Disney ones).

 

Thursday, Friday and Saturday/ from 9 pm to 10 pm/ Sessions with music and color

 

Location and how to get there

 

Address: Plaça de Carles Buïgas, 1Neighborhood / District: el Poble-sec (Sants-Montjuïc)

 

Transports: FGC and metro (L1 and L3, stop Espanya)

 

Bus (55 and tourist bus, stop MNAC)

 

Bike and Bicing parking racks.

 

I will add more free things to do in Barcelona as I experience them. So stay tuned!