Free things to do in Barcelona

If you are looking for free plans in Barcelona, the city offers many proposals and possibilities of all kinds that are not always taken into account or fully known. In this article we have selected the best free activities in the city so that you can give your pocket a break at some point during your trip without having to stop your activities.

Beach volleyball on the beach to meet people

From well into the spring and, of course, throughout the summer, beach volleyball games are scattered all over the beach in Barcelona. Just walk along the waterfront promenade and you will see groups playing and others waiting for their turn. Participating in them is totally free and all you have to do is come and ask if you can play. The only requirement is to be in good spirits, respect the rules of the game and the rules of coexistence and, of course, have some minimum knowledge about volleyball. But you don’t need to be an expert either, you just need to have fun without spending money and meet people from all over the world.

Baluard Gardens and the Santa Madrona Portal

This visit is free of charge during the first, third and fourth Sunday of each month from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. The gate of Santa Madrona is the only one that remains in the city of the old medieval wall of the fourteenth century. The welcome by the guard of the Asociación de Recreación Histórica de la Coronela de Barcelona (the militia in charge of the defense of the city during medieval times) will make the visit much more special.

Dancing sardanes in the cathedral square

The sardana is the traditional dance of the Catalan culture and arises in a rural environment, where women and men, young and old, gather around circles without hierarchy or individuality. There, the group is the priority and it is not even necessary to master a very sophisticated dance technique.

Every Sunday and on days when a patron saint’s day is celebrated, sardanas are organized in the cathedral square and, if you dare, you can also participate in the dance to learn and feel something of the genuine culture of Catalonia. And, of course, everything is free.

Free museums

The vast majority of Barcelona’s museums are free during the afternoons of the first Sunday of each month and, of course, every year on International Museum Day, when they are open all night. If you visit Barcelona during any of these dates, you can enjoy free exhibitions of contemporary and classical art, urban culture and other archaeological collections, paintings, sculptures and sounds. Among the most outstanding are the Picasso Museum, the Design Museum, the CCCB and the Music Museum.

Walking through the medieval quarter at night

Walking in Barcelona and in any city is free; this is nothing new. But walking through the medieval area of this city during the night is an experience you can’t miss and you won’t spend any money. The route we recommend starts in the Gothic Quarter, going through the old Jewish quarter (also called El Call), Plaza Reial, Plaza del Rei and Plaza Sant Jaume, to continue along the banks of the Born and enjoy the sunset of Barcelona along the harbor.

Free big screen movies

Each summer, the Institut de Cultura de Barcelona organizes a series of large-screen movie screenings and free of charge at these civic centers: La Sagrera ‘La Barraca’, Can Clariana Cultural, Sant Martí, Ateneo Fort Pienc, Pati Llimona, Josep Maria Trias y Peitx, Can Basté, La Sedeta, Villa Florida, Zona Norte and Casa Amarilla. The type of films shown are usually auteur films produced mainly in Barcelona or other parts of Spain, with the idea of promoting local creators. Tickets must be reserved on the website of each civic center.

Trading cards on a Sunday at the Sant Antoni Market

Another unique and free opportunity to experience the local life of the city of Barcelona is to attend the sticker exchange around the Sant Antoni market. Parents go with their children and cross paths with other parents and children to exchange figures of comic book characters and soccer players to complete their respective albums. An activity that is still alive and well and that the Internet and technology have not managed to kill. Afterwards you can take a walk through the used book market in the neighborhood of Sant Antoni every Sunday throughout the year.

Visit the Temple of Augustus

The great architectural jewel of Barcelona’s Roman period, when the city was called Barcino, can be visited free of charge. Visiting hours are as follows: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00 hours, Sundays from 10:00 to 20:00 hours and Mondays from 10:00 to 14:00 hours. The Temple of Augustus belongs to the Museum of History of Barcelona and to see it from the inside is impressive for the great height of its columns and its location, in the middle of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, between the Plaza del Rei and Plaza Sant Jaume. It has signs that explain in detail all its history.

The BAM festival: the most modern music

The most important festivities in Barcelona are the Fiestas de la Mercè, in honor of the patron saint of the city and where every year includes the Barcelona Acción Musical, a free music festival where you can discover great local and international talents who are doing new and experimental things. The BAM’s concert agenda is coupled with those of the Mercè Festival itself; that is, it usually takes place during the last days of September.

Swing dancing

The musical association BCN Swing organizes very often meetings in different squares of Barcelona to dance swing that are totally free. It is a good opportunity to spend a fun afternoon and learn about this legendary dance or put into practice what you already know, in case you are an experienced dancer. You can dance swing in its different currents: lindy-hop, balboa, blues and shag. Here you have all the information, including the calendar of events, its philosophy and the rules to approach and be part of this experience.

Dazzle yourself with the magic of the Montjuïc fountains

One of the most popular free activities for tourists visiting Barcelona is the sound and light show at the magic fountain of Montjuïc. A perfect show to enjoy as a couple, with friends or with the whole family, where everything is designed to dazzle and thrill both children and adults. Generally, three different choreographies are alternated: mix with music from the 80’s, soundtracks from cartoon movies and based on comics or Spanish classical music. Depending on the time of year, schedules vary, but free performances are guaranteed every day. The magic fountain calendar is available online.

A festival of architecture

If you are interested in architecture and want to know emblematic buildings of the city, the 48H Open House Barcelona festival has been held every October for thirteen years, during a whole weekend. Hundreds of buildings open their doors: museums, professional centers, luxury hotels and private homes. Experiences guided by expert staff are offered for a complete experience. And it is totally free, although with limited spaces in some cases, so you will have to waste a few minutes waiting in line because the entrance is managed on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be booked online.