Discover Barcelona for Free

Barcelona is a city full of things to do and interesting sites to explore. So, you’ll be pleased to know that many of them can be enjoyed for free.

Here you have some great things you can’t miss while staying in Barcelona apartments, so pay attention:

Walk down Las Ramblas

Las Ramblas is the most famous thoroughfare in Barcelona and often the first stop for many tourists. It runs from the port to Plaça Catalunya, just over a kilometre where you will find flower stalls, human statues or talented painters selling their works. Mid-way along Las Ramblas is the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the Opera House of Barcelona, which has a beautiful building. Shortly after the Liceu you can experience the marvels of La Boqueria Market, a great food market with architectural displays of fruit and vegetables. There you will also find from seafood to meats, wine and other delicatessen. At the bottom of La Rambla you’ll also find the monument to Christopher Columbus.

No doubt La Rambla is always fun and busy, full of colours and different people. But take into account that such places are often popular for pickpockets so be careful and keep an eye on your belongings.

Discover Gaudí Work

The Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family, commonly known as the Sagrada Família, is a large Roman Catholic Church designed by Antoni Gaudí. Although incomplete, the church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the most famous landmark of the city and although they charge admission to get in and climb to the top, appreciate the building from the outside is free.

Located on a hill above Gràcia you will find Parc Güell, also designed by Antoni Gaudí. The park includes several houses, wonderful structures and mosaic designs; you can spend hours here enjoying the views and the architecture. Some of the famous structures included in the park are the mosaic salamander at the entrance and the main terrace supported by pillars and surrounded at the top by an undulating mosaic bench. The Gaudí House Museum charges admission but everything else is free.

On Passeig de Gràcia 92 you will find Casa Milà, commonly known as La Pedrera. And in the number 43 of the same street there’s the Casa Batlló. Both are designs from Antoni Gaudí which deserve a visit even if it’s just to appreciate the building from the other side of the road.

Explore Barcelona Museums

There are many art museums in Barcelona that offer free entry all the time. One of the greatest is the CaixaForum, an art gallery housed in a beautiful building that used to be a textile factory. The permanent exhibition includes details of the CaixaForum building itself, its architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch and other contemporary artists of the Art Nouveau style. And among the temporary ones you can find from Delacroix and Goya along with photo exhibitions of the best artists.

Other great museums that offer free admission at certain times include the Museu Picasso (first Sunday of each month and every Sunday after 3pm), the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (first Wednesday of each month), the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (first Sunday of each month), the Museu d’Història de Catalunya (first Sunday of each month), the Museu Marítim (first Saturday of each month after 3pm), the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (free entry for exhibitions on their first day of opening). These free days tend to be very popular so you should get there as early as possible to try to avoid the queues.

There are a lot more things to do when staying in one of the apartments in Barcelona, so don’t forget to also visit the Montjuic Fountain, the Gothic neighbourhood or spend a day on the beach. Enjoy!