Free things to do in Barcelona is what this article is all about. I hope this blog post helps you make the most of your holiday in Barcelona. So, without further ado, let’s dive into it.
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MY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BARCELONA
Barcelona is a beautiful and historical city with lots of beautiful history and monuments. Although most people come to the world’s best architectural monuments, designed by none other than Gaudí, but there are also free things to do in Barcelona. The charming city offers something for everyone, whether you’re a tourist, live in Barcelona, or are a student.
In this blog post, I’m going to guide you as to where you should start off sightseeing so that you can cover all the famous spots that come along your way as you’re exploring, thus making the most out of your holiday in Barcelona.
So, let’s dive into some of the free things you can do in Barcelona.
Obviously, depending on where you’re staying, your plan for the day might differ, but if you’re staying in the centre of the town, then follow the list, which is the order in which you should be checking out Barcelona city.
PLAÇA DE CATALUNYA
Plaça de Catalunya is a beautiful square is in the heart of Barcelona and is really beautiful. It’s a perfect place for taking photos. This plaza is surrounded by loads of big, beautiful buildings, a shopping centre, an underground station by the same name, and trains. There are also several bus stops that take you to different parts of the city, including the airport.
I think this is the spot from which you should be starting your day out in Barcelona, as La Rambla is just across the road. Whenever I see the pigeons at Plaça de Catalunya, I always think of Trafalgar Square.
LA RAMBLA
La Rambla is just opposite Plaza Catalunya. Being one of the must-see places, a stroll down La Rambla is highly recommended if you’re ever in Barcelona, for it’ll give you that real Barcelona feel. I mean, La Rambla is the most iconic pedestrian walk that defines Barcelona—from architecture to typical local kiosks, stalls, bar and restaurant terraces, and street artists entertaining visitors—all in all, La Rambla is always full of life and entertainment.
As you walk along, you’ll see many side streets on either side, among them is the very famous street called, Carrer de Ferran; it is one of the most popular streets, and the same street leads you to many beautiful sights, such as the Palau de la Generalitat, the beautiful alleyways of the Gothic Quarter, and beautiful squares.
LA BOQUERIA
The Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, or commonly, known as La Boqueria, is a large public market, with an entrance from La Rambla. The market has been in the city since 1836 and has a vast variety of fresh groceries and local products. It often gets too crowded, but it’s worth checking out.
WHY IS THERE A COLUMBUS MOMENT IN BARCELONA?
The iconic Columbus Monument in Barcelona is located at the beginning of La Rambla, in front of the port area of Barcelona, popularly known as Port Vell. The statue is dedicated to Christopher Columbus, who, upon his return from discovering America, reported to Queen Isabella and King Fernando.
The 60-metre-high statue is located on the site where Christopher Columbus returned from discovering America in 1493 and reported to Queen Isabella and King Fernando about his discovery. The monument was constructed for the Universal Exhibition that was held in Barcelona in the year 1888.
PORT VELL AND RAMBLA DEL MAR
Once you’ve seen the Columbus Monument, you’ll see the port and the harbour area in front of you, which connect to Rambla de Mar, which is a promenade in Barcelona’s Old Town district. It is a floating-wooden bridge connecting Plaça del Portal de la Pau with Moll d’Espanya, where the Barcelona Aquarium and the Maremagnum shopping centre are located. It is considered the natural extension of the Rambla, and its structure swivels to open to allow boats to pass in and out of the marina.
The bridge provides a fantastic view of the hills of Montjüic and also of the other parts of the city, it’s an ideal place to sit and relax, as there are lots of benches—the perfect spot for enjoying stunningly beautiful views, especially, sunset.
COOL CAFÉS IN BARCELONA
ALthough there are tons of cafés in Barcelona, I’m going to share some of my favourite with you guys.
- EL BOSC DE LES FADES
Please note that none of them are paid promotions. I’m just sharing the ones that I like best.
Once you’ve enjoyed your walk through the port area, head back to La Rambla, and if you feel like having a drink, or a coffee or tea, do stop by a famous café, called “El Bosc de Fades.”I’d highly recommend checking it out, as the atmosphere inside makes one feel as if they’re in the middle of a forest. It’s cosy and romantic and would appeal to anyone.
Here’s the address: Passatge de la Banca, 7, 08002 Barcelona. And the website: https://www.boscdelesfades.com/en/
- PETRITXOL XOCOA CAFÉ
This café has the same name as the street itself, Carrer Petrixol. They’re known for their absolutely delicious hot chocolate. I’ve been to this café many times. They also have more seating in the back; that’s where I like to sit. I’d highly recommend checking out this cosy café. Their coffee is also good.
Address: C/ de Petritxol, 11, 08002 Barcelona. Website: https://www.petritxol.com/
- CAFÉ CAELUM
Café Caelum is a beautiful coffee and cake shop, that’s worth checking out. You’ll find lots of delicious desserts here. They also have different kinds of sweets and other products for sale that are made in monasteries and convents. It’s a gem of a place, especially if you’re out on a date with someone—a bit expensive, but definitely worth checking out.
I don’t have any photos to share, but here’s a link to their Instagram. I couldn’t find their website though:
https://www.instagram.com/caelumbcn/
Address: Carrer de la Palla, 8, 08002 Barcelona
PLAZA REAL
Then you can get back to La Rambla, and somewhere in the middle you’ll see a massive passageway leading to a beautiful square called Plaça Reial, or Plaza Real in Spanish. This square is a must-see as it’s one of the most iconic plazas in Barcelona, with a beautiful fountain in the middle and plenty of bars and restaurants all around. They even have a few nightclubs in the square. All in all, it’s a perfect place to hang out.
CARRER FERRAN
This most important street in Barcelona has already been mentioned in this post. One of the exits from Plaza Real takes you directly onto Carrer de Ferran, which, in my opinion, is one of the best streets, as it leads you to many alleyways of the old quarter, otherwise, known as Barrio Gotico. The same street also leads you to several other emblematic monuments in Barcelona.
PLAZA DEL PINO / PLAÇA DEL PI
Plaza del Pino, or Plaça del Pi in Catalan, is in the heart of Barrio Gotico. There’s a very beautiful church called “Basílica de Santa Maria del Pi” in the square, and there’s also a market, which sells local products. A very good place to buy honey, and other food products.
PALAU DE LA GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA
The Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya is a historical palace in Barcelona that houses the offices of the Presidency of Catalonia. The main façade is the work of Pere Blai, the main example of Renaissance civil architecture in Catalonia.
CARRER DE BISBE
Right in front of Palau de la Generalitat is the beautiful little street called, Carrer del Bisbe. You definitely don’t want to miss this one. On this very street is Catalonia’s most iconic bridge, called “El Pont del Bisbe”. Built in the 1920s, this neo-Gothic bridge is adorned with sculptures, and was designed by an architect called, Joan Rubió i Bellver. It undoubtedly ranks as the number one photography spot in Barcelona.
BARCELONA CATHEDRAL
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, also known as Barcelona Cathedral, is a Gothic cathedral that dates back to the 5th century, though construction continued for centuries, with the neo-Gothic facade added in the 19th century.
The cathedral of Barcelona looks beautiful from the outside, just as it does from the inside. Do check it out.
PLAZA DEL REY
This is a lovely, less crowded square. In the plaza is an old church called “La Capilla de Santa Agata,”, which is what makes the historical spot even more beautiful than it already is. Plaça del Rei is quite a romantic place at night.
PLAZA DE ESPAÑA
One of the symbols of Barcelona is the Plaza de España. It has two twin towers, which attract many tourists each year. There used to be a Magic Fountain show held at weekends, with the fountain changing colours and music being played. The show would attract a huge crowd of locals and tourists, but I think, as of late, the show has been suspended due to drought conditions, but I reckon they will start the show again in the near future. There’s no entrance fee.
BEST VIEWPOINT IN BARCELONA
If you want to enjoy 360-degree panoramic views of Barcelona, then going to the roof terrace of Arenas de Barcelona, also known as Las Arenas shopping centre, is your best bet, it’s one of the best viewpoints in Barcelona. The former bullfighting arena in Barcelona, was turned into a shopping centre and opened its doors to the public in 2011. The rooftop is lined with bars and restaurants, and the front part, overlooks the very famous Montjüic area. Las Arenas shopping centre has a neo-Mudéjar façade. Like many other shopping centres, this mall has a supermarket and underground parking.
There’s no entrance fee to check out the viewpoint.
MONTJÜIC
Right in front of Plaza España and Las Arenas, is Montjüic, which is massive in size and has several monuments, among them the Olympic Stadium, and Palau de Sant Jordi, where, both local and international artists perform. Other than that, Montjüic is basically a hilly green area, where you can hike or go for a run. There’s a beautiful castle at the top, which you don’t have to enter if you do not wish, but you can still enjoy the views from the hilltop, which offers a panoramic view of the entire city. All in all, Montjüic is worth checking out as it’s free.
MONTJÜIC CABLE CAR
Just in case, you’re willing to try out the cable car ride, the route starts at Parc de Montjüic, where the cable car takes you directly to Castell de Montjüic without making any stops. When returning, the Montjüic Cable Car stops at a very beautiful viewpoint called, Mirador de L’Alcalde, and other spots from which you can have the best views of Barcelona. Although the return journey ends at the starting point, you can get off at the viewpoint stop and continue walking to Park de Montjüic.
ARCO DE TRIUNFO
Arc de Triomf is a huge monument on Passeig Llus Companys. The arch was a gateway to the Universal Exhibition of Barcelona held at Parc de la Ciutadella in 1888. To get to the Arc de Triomf is quite easy, you can either take the underground LI and get off at the station by the same name as the monument—the arc is right in front of the station. Alternatively, you could walk all the way from any central part of the city to the arc, but if you’re short on time, you might as well take the metro.
PARQUE DE LA CIUTADELLA
Parc de la Ciutadella, which opened in 1881 and hosted the Barcelona Universal Exhibition in 1888, is a short walk from the Arc de Triomf. Many cultural activities are held here, and the park is always full of life.
The walk from Arc de Triomf takes less than 10 minutes to get to the park. Parc de la Ciutadella is huge and has several monumental buildings inside, including a pond where you can enjoy a boat ride.
EL BORN CULTURE AND MEMORY CENTRE
Once you’ve seen the park, you can then walk towards El Born, where you’ll come across the Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria, one of the most important archaeological sites in Catalonia, located in the old Mercat del Born. It’s a 21st-century cultural facility that shows the lively and dynamic Barcelona of the 1700s and the events of 1714 in the context of the War of Succession. The centre contains archaeological remains of the neighbourhood where Philip V had the walls torn down. It is a multi-purpose space open to the public with an extensive programme that aims to invite reflection on the past, present, and future of Barcelona and Catalonia.
A network of keystones, streets, multiple rooms, houses, and palaces has been found. Craftsmen’s workshops, such as ironworks, cellars, and boilerworks, have been presented. There are also human skeletons, which would be related to a possible Muslim necropolis, and would have been dated between the 8th and 11th centuries.
EL BORN
If you really want to see where most locals and tourists prefer to hang out, then Passeig del Born at El Born is your best bet. There are loads of bars and cafes to choose from, and NO, they’re not tourist traps at all; otherwise, the locals wouldn’t go there at all. But, yes, like any big city, the prices are obviously slightly higher than when you go to your local neighbourhood café. There’s also a beautiful church called Santa María del Mar that you can check out in the same spot. There’s an entrance fee, but you can still enjoy the architecture from the outside.
PASEO DE GRACIA
If you’re willing to really check out the famous monuments, then, following is my recommendation in terms of the order in which to visit them. But, of course, depending on where you’re staying, the list of places of interest may differ accordingly. Let’s say you’re staying somewhere central, like close to Plaza Catalunya or Passeig de Gracia. You might as well go with this order first:
1. BARCELONA LEGO STORE
The Lego store in Barcelona is the biggest Lego store in Spain. The store has many iconic architectural monuments made from Lego bricks. You don’t really have to buy anything if you do not wish to. It is a must-see if you’re travelling with kids.
2. CASA BATTLÓ
Casa Battló is famous for its fairytale-like façade. In fact, all of Gaudí’s works are like fairytales, with a combination of nature with religious or mythical creatures, each narrating a story. Make sure to check out Casa Battló while strolling along Paseo de Gracia. But here’s my article if you want to learn more about what this monument is all about.
In case, you wish to know all about Casa Battló, here’s my blog post: https://weekendinspain.com/category/spain/la-sagrada-familia/casa-battlo/
3. LA PEDRERA
La Pedrera (Casa Milà). It’s not too far away from Casa Battló and you can easily cover both monuments in less than 3 hours—some even see both in less than 2 and a half hours, but if one’s into photography, then maybe less than 4 hours. La Pedrera is famous for its wavy façade, uneven roof, chimneys, and courtyards. And again, here’s my blog post:
https://weekendinspain.com/category/spain/la-sagrada-familia/la-pedrera-la-sagrada-familia/
LA SAGRADA FAMILIA
You could easily cover Sagrada Familia on the same day without any problem, and would still have ample time to visit other places. Of course, if you’re staying somewhere near Sagrada Familia, you might as well check it out first, then follow the top order, with La Pedrera being your first choice.
Here’s my blog post: https://weekendinspain.com/best-time-to-visit-sagrada-familia/
PARK GÜELL
Part of Park Güell could be visited for free years ago, but during and after COVID-19, they made some changes, and I’m not sure if part of the park is back to being free or not. Regardless of whether you enter or not, I’d still recommend going there and checking out the Porter’s Lodge Pavilions, which are at the entrance and can be seen from the outside, they are extraordinarily beautiful and are, without a doubt, considered to be one of the finest works of Gaudï.
Here’s my blog post: https://weekendinspain.com/category/spain/la-sagrada-familia/park-guell/
BEST BEACHES IN BARCELONA
Obviously, depending on what time of the year, you intend to travel to Barcelona; a dip in the sea wouldn’t be a bad idea if you love swimming in the sea. If so, I’d recommend going to Llevant beach or Nova Mar Bella beach, both side by side. Although they’re a bit far from the city centre, they’re the best beaches, mainly because they’re clean and don’t attract as many beachgoers, as compared to La Barceloneta beach. Barceloneta beach is good for a walk, but I wouldn’t recommend going in for a swim, unless you go early in the morning. But even in the summer, the water is pretty cold, and it doesn’t get better until 11 or 12. The one in the picture is La Platja de Llevant, which is quite good.
WHERE TO EAT IN BARCELONA
Before I go any further with recommendations on where to eat in Barcelona, I’d just like to mention that I’m in no way getting paid by any of the restaurants. I’m merely sharing my own experience with both of them, but you may feel free to eat anywhere that you’d like. Barcelona is full of good restaurants.
RESTAURANTE SK
If you’re in the city centre, let’s say, somewhere near the cathedral, you could check out this restaurant called “Restaurante SK.” This is the address: Via Laietana, 45, 0803, Barcelona. I’ve been there a few times. It’s where locals go, too. It’s not bad, and it’s not that expensive either.
BODEGA DE PÀDUA
There’s another one that I like very much, it’s called “Bodega de Pàdua.” Now this one’s a guarantee that you’ll like it. Many locals go there, too. It’s a bit far from the city centre, but if you’re close to Calle Balmes, it’s just a short distance from there. Their address is: Calle de Pàdua, 92, 08006, Barcelona. Address.
And here’s their website: https://bodegapadua.com/en/padua-2/
TRAVEL TIPS FOR BARCELONA
No matter where you’re in Barcelona, if you see any restaurant where the locals are going during their lunch break, do not go on the internet to check reviews, just enter, because the locals won’t go to a restaurant that is bad.
And last, but certainly not least, make sure to keep your phone and wallet in the front pockets. Like any other big city, you can expect the unexpected in Barcelona as well. It’s not as bad as they say it is, but you’ve still got to be careful with your belongings.
