Barcelona on a Budget: Free Things to See and Do

As Barcelona, Spain becomes a more popular tourist destination, the prices will rise for both hotels and attractions. If you want to visit Barcelona on a budget, check out these free things to see and do that won’t drain your wallet.

What Free Things Can You Do in Barcelona, Spain?

Barcelona has free attractions that are perfect for architecture lovers, artists, shopaholics, and beach lovers alike. You can use these suggestions to make an entire day of budget travel in the city, or you can sprinkle these free activities throughout your trip to give your wallet a break.

Admire Sagrada Família From the Outside

The Basílica de la Sagrada Família is an incredible minor basilica designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. Construction on the church began in 1882, and it isn’t even completed yet. The estimated completion date is 2026. The Spanish Civil War, revolutions, and lost design plans all contributed to the church’s slow construction.

While admiring from the outside alone will mean you miss out on the splendor of the church’s interior, it’s also free and less of a hassle to admire from the outside. Even early in the day, the line to enter Sagrada Família is impossibly long.

The basilica is such a work of art from the outside that you’ll have plenty to look at and should be satisfied enough to save some money on this attraction.

Related Budget Tour: Guided Tour of Sagrada Familia Exterior — Stories, Secrets & Symbols

Explore Parts of Park Güell

Park Güell is another of Antoni Gaudí’s works. The park was originally meant to be part of a housing development, but when that failed, it was turned into a public park.

While the parts of Park Güell that contain Gaudí’s work do require a ticket, a lot of the park is free to visit. You can see some of his work from afar as you pass by the entrance to the ticketed zone. But the rest of the park is worth-while for its green space and amazing views of the city.

Related Budget Tour: Barcelona Self-Guided Audio Tour

Walk Along La Rambla

La Rambla is a tree-lined pedestrian street in the center of Barcelona. Would you believe this used to be a sewage stream in medieval times? Now it’s one of the city’s most identifiable landmarks.

It can get very crowded with tourists and souvenir stands, and you’ll need to be wary of pickpockets in this area.

Want to learn how to be a budget travel pro? Check out my Travel For Cheap course here.

Hit the Beach

Barcelona has 100 miles of beachline. There are four main beach areas just 10 minutes away from the city center (and the end of La Rambla!).

You can even find some nudist beaches, if you’re into that sort of thing. Go on and dip your toes into the Mediterranean Sea!

Save on Barcelona’s Top Attractions

Want to save big on Barcelona’s top attractions? With the Go City Barcelona attraction pass, you can save up to 55% on the cost of entrance tickets to museums, tours, and attractions all around the city!

Visit bucket list attractions, enjoy top tours, and discover hidden gems handpicked by local experts. With one price and one pass, you have everything you need right on your phone.

Get your Go City Barcelona pass here.

Read next: Top 10 Tours in Barcelona, Spain

Where to Stay in Barcelona on a Budget

For cheap places to stay in Barcelona, Spain, look for hostels and Bed & Breakfasts. Barcelona has plenty of options for budget travelers. Check out these top cheap accommodations:

• Bird House
• Casa Balmes
• Garden House Hostel Barcelona
• Hostal Argo Barcelona

Read next: A Day in Madrid: Things To Do in Spain’s Capital City

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Ready to visit Barcelona, Spain? Plan your trip with these tips.

• Book your flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
• Find Accommodation: You can find top cheap hotels in Barcelona using Booking.com.
• Get a Guide Book: Check out the guide books from Fodor’s, Lonely Planet, or Rick Steves for in depth info about traveling to Spain.
• Save on Attractions: Save big on admission to Barcelona’s top attractions using the Go City Barcelona pass or the Barcelona Unlimited iVenture Card.

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Cheers!

Paige

What are your favorite free things to do in Barcelona, Spain? Let me know in the comments!