Free Barcelona: 22 ideas for a budget vacation in the capital of Catalonia

Spain is a country that, when you think of it, immediately brings to mind not its capital, Madrid, but Barcelona. This city is truly magnificent. The famous buildings of Antoni Gaudí, a perpetual festive atmosphere, and bright sunshine — it’s the kind of pleasure that makes you want to come back again and again. Of course, this pleasure does not come cheap. That’s why today we’re sharing a few useful tips on how to enjoy budget-friendly yet exciting holidays in one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. So, shall we get started?

Free Museums in Barcelona

To truly immerse yourself in the Spanish atmosphere, we recommend starting with a journey into its past. Barcelona offers a wide selection of free museums that will help you do just that. Here are some of them:

• Barcelona History Museum (MUHBA Museu d'Història de Barcelona) tells the story of what the city has experienced on its way to becoming the vibrant place we know today. Free admission for all visitors on the first Sunday of each month during opening hours, as well as on any other Sunday from 3:00 pm.
• National Museum of Art of Catalonia (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya) promises a true aesthetic delight. Free admission for all visitors on the first Sunday of each month during opening hours, on Saturdays from 3:00 pm, as well as on February 12, May 18, September 11, and September 24.
• Picasso Museum (Museo Picasso) should not be missed, as it showcases works by one of the world’s most famous artists. Free admission for all visitors on the first Sunday of each month from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, as well as on Fridays from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm.

You can read more about free museums in Barcelona here.

You can book a hotel in Barcelona with a discount of up to 65% on the website.

Free excursions in Barcelona

We also recommend free guided tours:

• Free tours "Barcelona by Antoni Gaudi" and "Walking in the Old Town". During the summer period (from April 1 to September 30) the tours are offered twice a day: at 11:00 and at 16:30. In the winter period (from October 1 to March 31) there remains one tour per day — at 11:00.
• There is an opportunity to get on two free tours: the tour "Old Town" is held every day at 10:30 and 15:00, the tour "Gaudi Modernism" starts at 15:00. The tours are bilingual in Spanish and English.
• Three-hour sightseeing tours of Barcelona. They take place three times a day: at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00. Free of charge, of course.
• Three free daily walking tours of Barcelona's most famous sites.

Municipal beaches

While gaining new information to think about, you should not forget about resting your body. Barcelona has some of the best beaches on the Mediterranean coast. Choose the one that suits your location, grab your sunscreen and go enjoy your Spanish summer vacation:

• Sant Sebastia Beach. One of the largest and most crowded in Barcelona. It has the advantage of being in the center of the city. But it is also one of the cleanest beaches in the city. It is quite possible to get a fine for throwing garbage.
• Sant Miquel beach is not like the previous one. It is always quiet, there are no large crowds of people, and the rocky terrain gives a sense of unity with nature.
• Barceloneta beach is one of the oldest in the city and one of the best in the world. According to the Discovery Channel, it ranks third in the rating of the best beaches in the world. In addition to clean sea and warm sand, here you can do active rest. There are volleyball courts, ping-pong tables and other places for recreation.

Free events and attractions

• Singing Fountains. The colorful water and music show is held April through October, Thursday-Sunday from 9:00 am to 11:30 pm, and November through March, Friday and Saturday from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Shows start every half hour.
• Music lovers will be interested in the free classical and jazz concerts that take place from June through August during the Music in the Parks festival. The concerts usually start at 20:00-21:00 in different parks in Barcelona.
• In La Ciutadella Park you can listen to free jazz concerts all summer long on Wednesdays and Fridays at 22:00. This is one of the favorite places of the locals. There is a huge fountain, ponds with ducks, and just a cozy atmosphere.

• The Botanical Garden will allow you to plunge into the atmosphere of a real fairy tale. Here you can see the most unusual plants, and in case of bad weather the staff will give you umbrellas and raincoats. The garden is located on the slope of the Montjuïc mountain and offers a beautiful view. Free admission for visitors on Sundays from 15:00, on the first Sunday of the month during any working hours, as well as on February 12, May 18 and September 24.
• Orta Labyrinth Park. As the name implies, in addition to the usual trappings, this park also has a huge maze. In such a beautiful place, you won't be afraid to get lost.

Оbservation decks

Barcelona is a city of marvelous beauty, which you want to enjoy not only by strolling the refined streets, but also from a bird's eye view. For this there are many observation decks with the most colorful views:

• The observation deck at the National Palace (Palau Nacional)
• El Carmel Bunker, left over from the civil war, with an excellent panoramic view.
• Montjuïc Lookout. In summer, you can go up and down on a free shuttle bus for the audience of the Sala Montjuic open-air movie theater.

• The observation deck of the Arenas de Barcelona shopping mall in Plaza de España. You can go up for free on the escalators or for a couple of euros on a special elevator.
• Another observation deck is located on the top floor of the El Corte Ingles shopping center on Plaza Catalunya. You can go there for free by elevator.
• Want something unusual? You can take a bus up to Montjuïc Mountain. The view from there is beautiful, and in the summer there are open-air movie screenings in the evenings.