Skip Casa Batlló’s pricey entrance-fee and just enjoy its exterior

A visit to Barcelona’s myriad of awesome sights can certainly take a toll on one’s wallet, so here are a few ways to get to know the Catalan city without burning all of your spending money.

See Gaudí’s Barcelona from the outside

Whether it’s La Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera or Casa Batlló, many of Gaudí’s creations are equally impressive on the outside as they are on the inside (in some cases, more so). So if you’re strapped for cash, skip those hefty entrance fees and take in some of Barcelona’s best sights from the outside, leaving the interiors to your imagination….or your next visit.

Museums

If you’re not too keen on paying to see works by your favorite artists, then get strategic by visiting museums during free hours. The Museo de Picasso offers free hours every Sunday after 3pm, and all day during the first Sunday of each month. Then the Museo Nacional d’Art de Catalunya also offers free entrance on the first Sunday of each month and on Saturdays after 3pm. Note that both museums are free for visitors under 16 or over 65.

Barcelona Cathedral

Speaking of free entry, the Barcelona Cathedral is free to enter after 5:15pm each day. Take advantage of your trip there to scope out – freely – its surrounding neighorhood, the old-world Barri Gotic.

Hit the beach

One of the city’s biggest attractions is nothing but free: the beach. With La Barceloneta, Playa de Sant Sebastià and Playa de Bogatell among some of Barcelona’s best beaches, you’ve got more than your fair share of sunny and shoreside options that won’t cost you a penny. It’s one of the easiest free things to do in Barcelona!

Browse local markets

Almost a museum in their own right, local markets provide a cost-free peak into Barcelona lifestyle. Make stops at markets like La Boquería or Santa Caterina for a look at all things culinary, from stands overflowing with fresh fruit and veggies, to stacks of artensal cheeses, and coolers full of peculiar meats and fish (better yet, if you’re willing to splurge, consider a gourmet Barcelona food tour for a better taste of these markets). Or, head to Mercat del Encants for a proper flea market experience. If you can resist making purchases, it’s great way to get to know the city and its people without spending a cent.

- Contributed by Erin Ridley

Free Things to Do in Barcelona from Barcelona Things to Do

Barcelona’s Camp Nou

There are few better ways to dive head-first into the culture of a country than to embrace its national sporting obsession. In a country like Spain, that means going to a soccer game – and in Barcelona, that means heading directly for FC Barcelona’s stadium, no questions asked.

The FC Barcelona stadium, known as Camp Nou, is grand on a scale that’s difficult to imagine without actually being there. The seating capacity is more than 99,350 – it’s Europe’s largest stadium – and Barcelona’s home games often draw sell-out crowds. The Camp Nou was built in the 1950s to replace the team’s old (and much smaller) stadium, and although they intended to call the new stadium “Estadi del FC Barcelona,” it was nicknamed “Camp Nou” (meaning “new ground”) during construction to differentiate it from the old stadium. Finally in the year 2000, the name was officially changed to Camp Nou.

Even if you can’t get a ticket to an FC Barcelona home game (or you just don’t want to try), you can still visit the team’s famous stadium. There’s a museum in the FC Barcelona stadium that includes an interactive history of the club and display cases holding the trophies Barcelona has won over the years, and your ticket to the museum includes a visit into the stadium itself. The Camp Nou Museum is open Monday-Saturday 10am-8pm (10am-2:30pm on Sundays and public holidays) April 2-October 7, and Monday-Saturday from 10am-6:30pm (10am-2:30pm on Sundays and public holidays) the rest of the year. There are also special schedules on the days when there are matches at the stadium. You can find out the complete schedule here, and the current ticket prices here.

You can reach the FC Barcelona stadium via public transportation in Barcelona, using Metro lines L3 or L5 at stations Palau Reial, Maria Cristina, Les Corts, Badal, and Collblanc; the Trambaix Avinguda de Xile tramway station; and numerous bus lines.

-Jessica Festa

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FC Barcelona Stadium from Barcelona Things to Do

The La Pedrera rooftop

Walking down Barcelona’s famous shopping street Passeig de Gracia, you’ll come across more than just stores, but also one of the city’s most iconic structures: La Pedrera. With an undulating façade decorated with leafy-like wrought-iron balconies, it’s a sight to be seen both inside, outside and from above.

Meaning “The Quarry,” La Pedrera’s official name is actually Casa Milà, after the family that commissioned its construction. The eccentric structure was indeed built between 1906 and 1912 at the request of wealthy widow Rosario Segimon i Artells and her then husband, industrialist Pere Milà i Camps. They intended to live there and also offer the other apartments up for rent.

At that time of La Pedrera’s construction, Passeig de Gracia, which connected the city of  Barcelona with neighboring Gracia, was at the center of a rising bourgeois neighborhood called Eixample. The structure represented Gaudí’s fourth and final work on the famous avenue, and was also his last civil work. And since it was built at the height of his skills, it was therefore considered quite innovative, especially when it came to its steel walls, double elevators and underground parking, which were all unique elements at the time.

Today, people visiting Barcelona’s La Pedrera can view the apartments, some of which are filled with expositions, or even staged with period furniture. You can also work your way up to the rooftop, where a playful setting all its own awaits, from archways framing vistas of the city, to space-aged-looking and mosaiced vents, and a unique view down at the interior of the structure.

La Pedrera, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, can be reached by taking a stroll away from Plaça de Catalunya and walking down the famous shopping street Passeig de Gracia, or by getting off on the metro stop Diagonal.

- Contributed by Erin Ridley

Visiting Barcelona’s La Pedrera from Barcelona Things to Do

The Barcelona coastline

While there may be loads to see and do in the city of Barcelona itself, no trip would be complete without a visit to its shoreline. Here are few of the city’s most famous beaches worth a sandy stroll.

Playa de la Barceloneta

Barceloneta is the city’s biggest beach and undoubtedly one of the world’s most famous. Given its easy accessibly to the metropolis, it typically attracts large crowds, but it also offers up loads of entertainment (like drummers and dancers), as well as a sweet selection of restaurants and chiringuitos (beach bars). And don’t forget to check out the stack of cubes: a sculpture in tribute to the beach restaurants that lined the shore until 1992.

Playa de la Mar bella

For a decidedly different beach atmosphere, set your sights on Mar Bella, the city’s unofficial nudist beach. Somewhat hidden behind a large sand dune of sorts, it’s known for more than just bathers in birthday suits, but also those who wish to keep their trunks on, as well as gays and lesbians.

Playa de Castelldefels

Escape the city by taking the train fifteen minutes south to Gavà-Castelldefels beach. There, you’ll find a several-mile stretch of beachy goodness, minus all the urban chaos. And not only sandy shores abound, but so do bar and restaurant options.

Playa de Bogatell

Also relatively close to the city center, Playa de Bogatell has fewer crowds and therefore makes for a good Barceloneta alternative. It’s situated about a 15-minute walk from the Bogatell metro stop, and offers paths for walking and jogging in case lying out isn’t your only beach-bound objective.

Playa de Sant Sebastià

Just south of Barceloneta Beach, is the most historic of all the city’s beaches. Situated nearby the city center, it attracts locals and tourists alike, and also has access for disabled persons.

- Contributed by Erin Ridley

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Barcelona tours and things to do, Barcelona attractions, and Barcelona travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in Spain for a customized tour!

Best beaches in Barcelona from Barcelona Things to Do

Take advantage of spring temperatures by taking a stroll down Las Ramblas

Few moments in the year hold more promise than spring in Barcelona: As the weather warms up, the city emerges from its winter hibernation, and so do all the activities that come along with it.

One of the best parts about spring is obviously the rising temperature, and really there’s no better way to take advantage of seaside Catalan culture than al fresco. Enjoy the warming weather by taking a stroll down Las Ramblas, or through famous parks like Parc de la Ciutadella or Parc Güell. Even better, simply sip on a cold glass of beer at one of many reappearing open-air terrazas, which crop up like flowers after a fresh spring rain.

Festivals are abundant too. One of the most popular is San Jordi, on April 23^rd, which not only celebrates the patron saint of Catalonia, but is also the Catalan equivalent of Valentine’s Day. For the holiday, sweethearts (and sometimes colleagues or friends) exchange gifts; typically the man gives a girl roses, a girl gives him a book. The occasion has also come to be celebrated as the Day of the Book (UNESCO has even adopted the holiday), which means the city (especially Las Ramblas) becomes dotted by impromptu rose and book stalls. Other festivals abound, too, from Easter’s processions, to Museum Day (May 18^th), when all museums are free to enter.

Spring is also ideal for satiating your taste buds with seasonal cuisine, and no other food captures this enthusiasm better than the Catalan calçot. The green onion-like veggie remains in season during the early spring months and is celebrated by a party of sorts called a calçotada. During the fiesta, wire-strung calçots are draped over blazing coals. After this, guests strip the stocks of their charred outer layer before dipping the centers in a romesco sauce and then into their mouths.

And then of course there’s soccer. With the season well underway, catch one of Football Club Barcelona’s games at the famous Camp Nou. Note that the ultimate match to put on your calendar will be El Clásico, when rivals Barça and Real Madrid go head to head in one of their several annual battles.

- Contributed by Erin Ridley

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Barcelona tours and things to do, Barcelona attractions, and Barcelona travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in Spain for a customized tour!

Things to Do in Barcelona in Spring from Barcelona Things to Do

Passeig de Gracia’s wide sidewalks are perfect for window shopping. Photo courtesy of **Mary** via Flickr.

As Spain’s second-largest city, you can bet that shopping options in Barcelona are many. So in between checking out its most famous sights, consider scoping out a few of these spots to do some of your travel spending.

Passeig de Gracia

Passeig de Gracia earns fame as perhaps the city’s most famous street thanks to its selection of Gaudí sights like La Pedrera and Caso Batllo, but also for its abundance of shopping opportunities. Starting from Plaça de Catalunya, the wide avenue is dotted with recognizable brands ranging from Zara to high-fashion names like Loewe and Gucci.

Gracia

If you’re already in the Gracia neighborhood to visit Parc Güell, you might want to consider a little shopping excursion as well. The barrio, which once used to be its very own city, maintains a traditional and relatively tourist-free vibe, which means you can still come across authentic-but-unique gifts.

El Born

Here, in one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods, you’ll find the Picasso Museum, but also scores of other stores worth perusing. Think funky clothing boutiques and shoe shops, minus all the tourist frenzy that you’ll find elsewhere.

El Raval

If you still seek more choices off-the-tourist-shopping-path, go to El Raval. In this gentrifying neighborhood, you’ll discover a selection of alternative options from vintage boutiques to foreign-inspired shops.

El Corte Inglés

No list of shopping options would be complete without mentioning Spain’s largest department store El Corte Inglés. In Barcelona, there are several locations, with the largest situated in Plaça de Catalunya. Inside its walls you’ll find just about everything, from porcelain Lladro figurines to Barça soccer jerseys.

Diagonal Mar

For still more shopping under one roof, head to the Diagonal Mar shopping center, home to over 150 different stores. There, you’ll find all the mall amenities one might expect, from a food court, to a play area, and even free WiFi.

- Contributed by Erin Ridley

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Barcelona tours and things to do, Barcelona attractions, and Barcelona travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in Spain for a customized tour!

Where to Shop in Barcelona from Barcelona Things to Do

Panoramic views for Barcelona’s Park Güell

From panoramic views, to colorful tiled terraces, when it comes to sights in Barcelona, Spain, Park Güell is undoubtedly one of the city’s most iconic destinations.

Built between 1900 and 1914, Park Güell was originally meant to be the site of a housing development. Unsuccessful, it instead became the park you see today, designed by the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí.

To the right of the Gaudí-designed Gingerbread house-like entrance, you will in fact find Gaudí’s home, a remnant of the original park plan. Designed by Francesc Berenguer i Mestres, the house was initially built as a pilot to promote the purchase of plots in the would-be neighborhood. Instead, Gaudí designed the park, and ended up living in one of the homes, which is now a museum.

Also near the entrance is one of Barcelona’s most famous images: the dragon fountain. The colorful salamander sits mouth agape, as it appears to crawl down the middle of the staircase.

Beyond the dragon, park visitors will reach a hypostyle room of columns with a ceiling bedecked by circular mosaics. Not only does the space serve to support the above terrace, but it also drains water from above via its columns into an underground reservoir. With its mosaic serpentine-like benches and panoramic views of the city, the terrace that sits on top is undoubtedly the park’s most famous destination.

Around the park, you’ll also come across various pathways: Carob’s viaduct with its colonnaded wave-like footpath, Planter’s Viaduct with its Romanesque columns, and finally the gothic-style Museum’s Viaduct.

For still more views of the city, visit the park’s highest point: The Turó de les tres creus. While Gaudí originally intended to erect a chapel here, due to the discovery of prehistoric remains, it became the now-existing monument with three crosses.

To visit Park Güell, visitors can arrive by bus or Metro (Lesseps Metro stop), following the signs to find the entrance. Note, however, that upon arriving via public transportation, you must then take a 15-minute uphill walk.

- Contributed by Erin Ridley

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Barcelona tours and things to do, Barcelona attractions, and Barcelona travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in Spain for a customized tour!

Things to Do in Park Güell from Barcelona Things to Do

Barcelona’s Parc Güell

With attractions spread out from the waterside Olympic Port to the hillside Park Güell, Barcelona isn’t always easily conquerable by foot. Here are a few ways to get around Spain’s second-largest city so that you get more out of your visit.

The Metro

The Barcelona Metro can get travelers closer to many of the city’s top and not-always-so-close-by sights, such as La Sagrada Familia or Park Güell . If you plan to make more than a couple Metro journeys, consider investing in a T10 Metro ticket. It allows you to take 10 Metro journeys within Zone 1 (where most attractions are) for a discounted price – and of course saves you the hassle of constantly buying tickets.

Buses

If you’re looking to strictly see the sights, though, your best bet is the hop-on/hop-off tour bus. With three different lines, this bus allows riders to reach the far corners of the city to see all Barcelona has to offer, but without having to worry about navigating or getting lost. On top of that, the journey is narrated, so you can learn about the sights as you go.

The public bus is an option as well if you still wish to reach more distant and hidden places. Note that if you plan to use the Metro or public bus system for more than a couple of days, you might want to invest in a Barcelona card. The Barcelona card can cover between 2-5 days and allows travelers unlimited access to the Metro, buses, trams and even discounts on various attractions.

Beyond the public buses, the express Aerobus provides service to and from the airport and the city center for a totally affordable €5.75. Note, however, that transport on the Aerobus and on the hop-on/hop-off bus is not included in the Barcelona Card.

Taxis

Then, of course, like just about everywhere else, you can always grab a taxi. It’s not the most economical option, but can be the easiest.

- Contributed by Erin Ridley

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Barcelona tours and things to do, Barcelona attractions, and Barcelona travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in Spain for a customized tour!

Transportation in Barcelona from Barcelona Things to Do

Fiesta de Gràcia. Photo courtesy of Oh-Barcelona.com on Flickr.

Get to know the more authentic side of Barcelona, Spain, by spending a night out in the relatively undiscovered Gràcia neighborhood, just a quick metro-ride away from the city center.

Typically known by tourists for its famous Gaudí-designed Park Güell, Gràcia was once a village of its very own. Then, toward the end of the 19^th century, it joined the rest of the city when the nearby Eixample district was constructed.

Now it’s popular among a bohemian crowd, offering a unique taste of authentic Barcelona, minus the madness that you might find in the city center. Packed with bars, it’s a hot spot among locals for its lively nightlife, and is a lesser-known destination among travelers.

As eccentric as its inhabitants – from young artists to older folks – you’ll find an eclectic mix of boutiques, bars and restaurants, ranging from trendy to traditional, and local to international. To experience the area’s famous nightlife, head to one of its most famous streets, Carrer Verdi. There, you’ll find some of Gràcia’s most popular evening stops, like the dive bar Canigó and the French-style Le Baignoire.

But perhaps even more popular is Plaça del Sol, which is lined by still more bars (such as Sol Soler and the jazzy Woody Bar), restaurants, and, during summertime, also outdoor terraces ideal for sitting at while you map out the evening’s plans.

Then, if you’re in town during the month of August, nightlife fully hits the streets during the Fiesta de Gràcia. The celebration takes place over the course of five days, during which the neighborhood is decorated (there’s even a contest for best decorated street!), and, at night, becomes filled with drinking and live music.

Gràcia is located at the far end of Passeig de Gràcia, and is reachable by metro stops Fontana and Lesseps.

 - Contributed by Erin Ridley

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Barcelona tours and things to do, Barcelona attractions, and Barcelona travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in Spain for a customized tour!

Nightlife in Gràcia from Barcelona Things to Do

Gaudí’s Casa Batlló in Barcelona

From Guadí, to Picasso, Miró and more, Barcelona has long been an artistic playground. So when visiting Spain’s second-largest city be sure to take a tour of a few of the city’s most creatively inspired spots.

One of the Barcelona’s most popular artistic destinations sits tucked away in the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter. There, you’ll discover the Picasso Museum, which houses more than 3,800 works by the artist, honoring his fondness for city in which he spent his formative years.

Also of Catalan fame is Joan Miró and his contemporary masterpieces. To ponder his works, head to the Joan Miró Museum, where you can contemplate his often primary-colored collection of over 14,000 pieces. Or, if you’re strolling down Las Ramblas, keep an eye out for his pavement mosaic among the cement undulations of the central paseo.

Then of course there’s that famous architect Antoni Guadí, who is arguably modern-day Barcelona’s ultimate icon, both artistically and otherwise. Visit La Sagrada Familia, the unconventional cathedral started in 1882 that remains at least a decade away from completion. Or head to La Pedrera, where you can tour the once residential building and even visit its funky rooftop. Just down the street, stop by Casa Batlló to scope out its sparkling broken glass façade.

Beyond these more conventional stops, consider heading to the Frederic Mares Museum, which is filled with the sculptor’s collection of objects ranging from sculptures (of course) to other items like fans, pipes and photographs.

Still up for one more stop? Head to the Tàpies Foundation, which houses over 48,000 volumes of work that cover contemporary and modern art. Even without entering, you can ponder the peculiar jumble of chair and wires that hover above the building. Called “Cloud and Chair,” the chair – a recurring theme in Tàpies work – represents “meditative attitude” and “aesthetic contemplation.”

Take an art tour of Barcelona 

 - Contributed by Erin Ridley

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Barcelona tours and things to do, Barcelona attractions, and Barcelona travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in Spain for a customized tour!

Barcelona for Art Lovers from Barcelona Things to Do