Top 10 Things to do for Free in Barcelona this Summer

Last Updated on March 12 , 2024 by acrossthewaterwithchelsita

Woohoo! It’s summer. The sangria-sipping, sunshine-filled days of your guiri* dreams can finally come true! There’s so much going on in Barcelona in summer that you really are spoilt for choice. But what happens if you’ve already spent too much money on the summer’s various festivals, drinking at overpriced terraces and eating those instagrammable brunches? Fortunately, there’s a tonne of stuff to do that won’t cost you a cent! This week I’m sharing my TOP 10 things to do in Barcelona when you’re strapped for cash. 

*I use this word a lot and I will actually write an article about it at some point in the near future but for now the quick explanation is that a “guiri” is someone who looks like a clueless holiday maker from Northern Europe, like me for example!

1. Hit the Beach

The first and most obvious choice is to cool down at the beach. Do as the locals do and avoid the worst of the crowds by getting out of the city and enjoying Catalonia’s almost 600km of coastline. If you missed my last blog post, check out the best places to go in Top 5 Beaches Near Barcelona.

2. Get on your Bike

If you’ve had your fill of lazing around at the beach, you might want to do something more active. Get those legs pumping and do some sight-seeing by bike.

One of my favourite routes is to start at Barceloneta beach and continue up north on the cycle path which hugs the coast. It’s flat, safe, and you have a constant sea view and light breeze blowing through your hair to keep you cool.

Top tip 1: go in the cool of the morning for the most pleasant bike ride before the city wakes up.

Top tip 2: Give the low-hanging palm trees a high five as you cycle under them. A friend told me to do this once and it may sound silly but it always makes me smile. Honestly, give it a try, it’ll probably make you smile too!

If you haven’t got a bike: If you haven’t already got a two-wheeled friend,don’t fret, you can hire one relatively cheaply at one of the city’s many rental shops. If you just want a bike for a couple of hours I would really recommend using the Donkey Republic app (no affiliation in any way). It’s so simple to use: just download the app, turn on your location and find the closest bikes to you, unlock them with your phone (via Bluetooth), get your bike and have a fabulous time, then return to one of the several parking spots littered around the city. The great thing about Donkey Republic is that it’s a 24/7 service, so it gives you total flexibility with pick up and drop off times and there’s a good availability of bikes throughout the city. It’s also among the cheapest bike rentals there is, at around €3 an hour. See more info here: https://www.donkey.bike/cities/bike-rental-barcelona/

3. Discover the City with a Free Walking Tour

If you’re not too tired from all the awesome cycling you can do, you should go on a free walking tour of the city. Whether you’re a tourist or you’ve lived here all your life, I think you will be surprised and learn a lot. There’s several tour guide companies that meet up every day at various locations throughout the city, offering a wide range of tours bearing titles such as: Tours of the Old Town, Alternative tours, Modernism tours and plenty more. A company I’ve been on walking tours with and would recommend is Runner Bean Tours. In fact, their free tour of the Gothic Quarter was the first thing I did when I moved to Barcelona over three years ago and I loved it! Check out their website for times and types of tours. https://runnerbeantours.com/

4. Marvel at Modernist Architecture on a self-guided Modernism Tour

Walking around Barcelona, especially in the district of Eixample, you may notice something peculiar if you look down. Aside from the beautiful paving stones decorated with intricate patterns, you will notice that some of them are red.

These stones mark out the Modernism Route, or ‘Ruta del Modernisme’. By following the red tiles, you can discover some of the most beautiful examples of Modernist architecture including many of Antoni Gaudí’s most famous masterpieces such as Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. They’re so beautiful that it’s even worth just seeing them from the outside and they make for some very snazzy Instagram photos. You can find more information about the main sites of the route here:
http://www.rutadelmodernisme.com/default.aspx?idioma=en&contenido=body_queeslarutaen.htm

5. Watch a Film at one of the Outdoor Cinemas

If all that walking and sightseeing has you tired out, you can kick back and relax at one of Barcelona’s many open air cinema nights. During the summer months, you can find all sorts of films being shown in a wide range of venues across the city. Some of the cinemas have a small ticket fee, but many are totally free.

Top tip: For the most comfortable experience, make sure to get there early to get a good spot and take a blanket/deckchairs (if no seating is provided) plus some snacks and drinks. Films are often shown in their original language, with either English or Spanish subtitles accordingly.

An extensive list of open air cinema nights can be found here (only available in Catalan but Google translate gets you far): https://irbarcelona.cat/oci-barcelona/cinema-aire-lliure-barcelona-estiu/

6. Take in Breathtaking Views of the City

Sea + mountains = AMAZING VIEWS. And you don’t have to go far or spend a single penny to find those Insta-worthy panoramas. One of my favourite spots for breathtaking views has to be Bunquers del Carmel where you can enjoy spectacular sunsets among the remains of an anti-aircraft battery from the Spanish Civil War. The Bunkers offer you a 360° view of the city from a height of 262 metres and is the best place in the city in my opinion to enjoy a drink and a picnic at sunset. Whilst relatively unknown until recently, it is now hugely popular with residents and tourists alike, which means that it can get extremely busy in the summer months. Don’t let that put you off though, it’s popular for a very good reason, and a trip to Barcelona wouldn’t be complete without a visit.

How to get there: If coming from the centre you can take the L4 metro line and get off at Alfons X followed by a 20 min uphill walk. Alternatively, if you don’t want to do as much walking, you could take the L3 and get off at Vallcarca followed by the 22 bus direction Carmel and get out at Gran Vista-Turó de la Rovira. For even less walking you can take the L3 and get off in Penitentes and then take the very cute 119 bus del barri direction Carmel and get off at Panorama Marià Lavèrnia.

7. Get some Fresh Air in Serra de Collserola

As great as Barcelona city life is, sometimes you just need to escape the cars and pollution. Fortunately there’s a natural haven and breath of fresh air for walkers, runners and cyclists alike just a 15 min train ride from the city centre.

If you turn away from the dazzling Mediterranean sea for a moment and look inland you will see Collserola Natural Park providing the city’s beautiful green backdrop on the mountainside. Compared to many of Barcelona’s “parks”, which are tiny and sometimes don’t even have grass, Collserola is a real treat for nature lovers or just for those wanting to stretch their legs in a bigger area. The 8,000 hectares of protected park provides some well-needed fresh air for the city, stunning views and rich biodiversity, such as wild boar! (Watch out though, they’re cute but can get quite aggressive, especially if you stumble across a mother with her young.)

How to get there: Take one of the FGC trains from Plaça Catalunya, such as the S1 or S2, and get out at either Baixador de Vallvidrera, Les Planes or La Floresta. If you want to walk the most popular route Carretera de les Aigües (which ultimately takes you to the lovely little old-fashioned amusement park on the top called Tibidabo), I would suggest getting off at Baixador de Vallvidrera and then travelling one stop with the funicular from the same station to get to the start of the route. This can all be done easily and cheaply with a zone 1 ticket.There is a visitors centre close to this stop and they can provide you with routes, maps and advice.

Top tip: In summer I would strongly recommend going in the morning or evening to beat the summer heat. Make sure to take plenty of water and a picnic. And don’t forget to use sun protection and cover up, otherwise you will end up as red as a lobster, or “una gamba” (a prawn) as they say in Spain. 

Check out https://barcelonanavigator.com/hikes-in-collserola/ for some great hiking routes! 

8. Cool off at the Magic Fountain Followed by Pinchos in Poble Sec

The Magic Fountain is a set of cascading fountains which provide a lengthy and impressive light and sound show against the majestic backdrop of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya. Whilst it’s normally heaving with people and could be considered slightly cheesy to say the least, it’s so refreshing in summer to feel the water thundering down and spraying a cooling mist into the hot summer air. Since there’s always a very lively atmosphere with buskers, food stands and play areas, it’s fun for kids and adults. Plus, it’s completely free.

You can see the fountain pretty much all year round but the timetable changes with the seasons, so do check ahead before your visit. From 1 June- 30 September you can see the show Wednesday-Sunday from 9:30pm-10:30pm. Closest metro station is Plaça Espanya. https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/albums-en/magic-fountains-montjuic/index.html

Top tip: After cooling down at the fountain I would recommend walking along to Carrer Blai in Poble Sec to finish off the evening with some drinks and pinchos!
‘Pinchos’ or ‘pintxos’ in Basque, are heavenly bites of deliciousness which are indispensable eats for any visitor to Spain. They basically consist of a piece of bread with various toppings (which could literally be anything from everyday cheese and tomato to stuffed artichokes with octopus), all held together with a cocktail stick. You help yourself to as many as you want, whenever you want, while washing them down with copious cañas or sangria. At the end, the sticks are counted to determine your bill. At an average price of between €1- €2.50 per pincho it’s a meal all budgets can afford.

9. It’s Raining? Take Shelter in one of Barcelona’s Many Museums

You came to Spain in summer and it’s raining? Meanwhile at home everyone is making you green with envy by posting photos of themselves enjoying a few pints in the beer gardens in the “sweltering temperatures” of 25℃?

Don’t cry. Check out one of Barcelona’s fantastic museums instead.

Several of them offer free entry once a month, usually the first Sunday of every month. Read more about the beautiful Recinte Moderniste de Sant Pau (pictured above) and when you can visit for free in my blog post.

10. Party at a Festa Mayor

If you’ve lived in Barcelona any amount of time, you will know that a Festa Mayor is serious business. Every neighbourhood has its own celebration which can last over a week and whilst all of them are different, they typically include fantastic non-stop street parties, live music and much merry making for young and old. This is a great place to get a feel for the different neighbourhoods and experience some Catalan traditions such as castallers (building elaborate human towers), and gigantes (parades of paper-maché giants made by the local communities, usually schools) whilst at the same time getting a taste for some of the cultural traditions from the residents from other countries, like Bollywood dancing and African drumming.

Without a doubt the most famous Festa Mayor has to be Festa de Gràcia. This week-long festival which begins on 15 August, coinciding with the saint’s day of Sant Isidro, dates all the way back to 1817.

Like the other neighbourhood street parties, Festa de Gràcia offers plenty of live music, food and drink, dancing and guaranteed fun. But what sets this celebration apart is the street-decorating competition. All year long the neighbours work on elaborate decorations, often recycling everyday objects such as water bottles, to transform the streets of Gracia into rainforests, underwater worlds and movie sets, or transport you back in time to the Roman colosseum. Each competing street chooses a different theme every year such as the plight of honeybees, Ghostbusters or a Swiss ski resort (complete with working ski lift), to name just a few from previous years. But only one street can win. Make sure you vote for your favourite using the official Fiestas de Gracia app! This free app also contains a map of competing streets and photos from previous years.

Top tip: Even though it is always jam packed, go on the first evening of the festival, or as close to the start as you can. As it’s on the street, unfortunately if it rains, a lot of the decorations get ruined. Plus, after a lot of people have passed through them, the decorations start to look about as worse for wear as some of the party goers at the end of the night.

And there you have it my 10 Ten Tips for Summer in Barcelona without breaking the bank!

 I would love to hear from you in the comments section below if you have any other suggestions you think should be added.

Sending you positivity and sunshine from Barcelona! I hope you have a great day.