Free Things to Do in Barcelona
Places with no entry charge
Barcelona's beaches, squares, most city parks and the Bunkers del Carmel viewpoint cost nothing to enter. Check each page for current rules, since some gardens keep set hours.
45 places
All year When
The places
Landmark · El Raval Antic Hospital de la Santa Creu A Gothic hospital complex around a quiet cloister, now home to the Biblioteca de Catalunya and other institutions. The garden courtyard is open to the public.
Landmark · El Born Arc de Triomf A red-brick arch built as the entrance to the 1888 Universal Exposition. It opens onto a wide tree-lined promenade to the Parc de la Ciutadella.
Viewpoint · Horta-Guinardó Búnquers del Carmel The remains of anti-aircraft batteries on Turó de la Rovira, with an open 360-degree view of the city. Locals come at sunset.
Landmark · El Born Carrer de Montcada A narrow medieval street of merchants' palaces. It holds the Museu Picasso and the Museu de Cultures del Món.
Shopping · Barri Gòtic Carrer de Petritxol A narrow street of art galleries and granjas off Plaça del Pi, known for hot chocolate.
Shopping · Gràcia Carrer de Verdi A lively street in Gràcia with independent shops, cafés and the Verdi cinema.
Landmark · Montjuïc Font Màgica de Montjuïc A fountain below the Palau Nacional that runs light, music and water shows on set evenings. You watch from the steps and the avenue of Plaça de Carles Buïgas.
Park · Sarrià-Sant Gervasi Jardins de la Tamarita A quiet garden at the foot of Tibidabo, next to the Tramvia Blau stop.
Park · Montjuïc Jardins de Laribal A terraced garden on the slope of Montjuïc with a staircase water channel and pergolas, close to the Poble Espanyol.
Park · Poble-sec Jardins de Mossèn Costa i Llobera A hillside cactus and succulent garden on Montjuïc facing the sea, with views of the port.
Park · El Raval Jardins de Rubió i Lluch A small garden courtyard in the Raval behind the Biblioteca de Catalunya, open to the public.
Park · Les Corts Jardins del Palau de Pedralbes Quiet gardens with fountains and a pavilion by Gaudí at the entrance. They sit beside the Palau Reial on Avinguda Diagonal.
Park · Poble-sec Jardins del Teatre Grec Gardens around the open-air Teatre Grec, which hosts concerts and plays in summer.
Landmark · Barri Gòtic La Rambla The tree-lined pedestrian boulevard that runs from Plaça de Catalunya down to the port. The Boqueria, the Liceu and Plaça Reial all open off it.
Viewpoint · Montjuïc Mirador de l'Alcalde A viewpoint on Montjuïc looking over the port and the city, with sculptures and a small garden.
Viewpoint · Montjuïc Mirador del Migdia A terrace on the south side of Montjuïc facing the sea and the container port, reachable on foot from the Poble-sec side.
Viewpoint · Poble-sec Mirador del Poble-sec A hillside lookout above the Poble-sec streets with a view of the harbour and Raval rooftops.
Park · Poblenou Parc Central de Poblenou A park by Jean Nouvel with gardens, a water garden and a cylinder of vertical planting.
Park · Sarrià-Sant Gervasi Parc de Collserola A large forested natural park above the city with marked trails, picnic areas and viewpoints. It is the green edge of Barcelona.
Park · Poblenou Parc de Diagonal Mar A large modern park by the sea near the Fòrum, designed by Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue.
Park · Eixample Esquerra Parc de Joan Miró A park built on the site of a former slaughterhouse, with a tall mosaic sculpture by Joan Miró called Dona i Ocell.
Park · Sants Parc de l'Espanya Industrial A park near Sants station, built on a former textile factory, with a lake and a row of watchtower-like sculptures.
Park · El Born Parc de la Ciutadella The city's central park, laid out on the site of a military citadel. It holds the Catalan parliament, the zoo, a lake with rowing boats and a monumental fountain.
Park · Poblenou Parc del Clot A park created from a former railway workshop, with industrial remains, a waterfall and a pond.
Park · Horta-Guinardó Parc del Guinardó A hillside park with winding paths, wooded corners and views over the city.
Shopping · Eixample Dreta Passeig de Gràcia The main shopping boulevard of Barcelona, lined with international fashion stores and Modernista buildings including Casa Batlló and La Pedrera.
Landmark · Eixample Dreta Passeig de Sant Joan A broad, tree-lined avenue connecting the Arc de Triomf with the Eixample, with cafés and Modernista buildings.
Landmark · Eixample Dreta Plaça de Catalunya The square that joins the old city with the Eixample, with fountains, statues and pigeons. The Rambla, Portal de l'Àngel and Passeig de Gràcia all start here.
Landmark · Gràcia Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia The square in front of Gràcia's old town hall, with a clock tower built in 1862.
Landmark · Barri Gòtic Plaça de Sant Felip Neri A small, quiet square in the Gothic Quarter in front of the Sant Felip Neri church. The church façade still shows shrapnel marks from the Civil War.
Landmark · Barri Gòtic Plaça de Sant Jaume The civic square of the old city, facing the Palau de la Generalitat and the Ajuntament. It was the site of the Roman forum.
Landmark · Gràcia Plaça del Sol A pedestrian square in Gràcia with terraces, popular for evening drinks.
Landmark · Barri Gòtic Plaça Reial An arcaded 19th-century square just off the Rambla, with palm trees, a fountain and lamp posts designed by Gaudí. Cafés and bars fill the arcades.
Beach · Barceloneta Platja de la Barceloneta The city's most central beach, a long strip of sand along Barceloneta with beach bars and the seafront promenade.
Beach · Poblenou Platja de la Mar Bella A beach in the Poblenou area with sailing and windsurf clubs and a clothing-optional section at its eastern end.
Beach · Poblenou Platja de la Nova Icària A family-friendly beach in the Olympic Village area, near restaurants and the Port Olímpic.
Beach · Poblenou Platja de la Nova Mar Bella A wide beach at the northern end of the city, with a sheltered area for swimmers and a sailing school.
Beach · Poblenou Platja de Llevant A long, quiet beach near the Diagonal Mar park, popular with locals and with a dog area.
Beach · Barceloneta Platja de Sant Miquel A beach between Sant Sebastià and Barceloneta, close to the old fishermen's streets.
Beach · Barceloneta Platja de Sant Sebastià The western end of the Barceloneta beaches, near the Torre de Sant Sebastià cable car station and the Hotel Vela.
Beach · Poblenou Platja del Bogatell A wide beach in Poblenou that is popular with runners and beach volleyball players.
Beach · Barceloneta Platja del Somorrostro A beach beside the Port Olímpic, named after a former seaside neighbourhood. It has a quieter feel than the main Barceloneta stretch.
Shopping · Barri Gòtic Portal de l'Àngel A busy pedestrian shopping street running from Plaça de Catalunya towards the cathedral.
Landmark · Eixample Dreta Rambla de Catalunya A calm, tree-lined boulevard in the Eixample, parallel to Passeig de Gràcia, with cafés and shops.
Landmark · Poblenou Rambla del Poblenou A tree-lined pedestrian street with cafés and terraces, leading to the beach.
