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Where are you going?
Where are you going?
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Barcelona, Spain
5(1658)
15 Guests Max
2.5 hrs
24h Free CancellationIt’s no secret that Barcelona has become a top tourist destination in recent years, making it more expensive than ever before to find accommodation and enjoy some of its paid attractions (I mean, there’s a reason why La Sagrada Familia isn’t finished yet, and it’s not just because of Gaudí’s “vision”). Bars, restaurants, and shops have been hiking up their prices to milk tourists for money, but don’t worry–it’s still possible to visit Barcelona on a budget. Here are our top budget-friendly things to do in Barcelona that will allow you to still discover the city without breaking the bank.
This guide was written by Mariah Girouard, a travel writer, comedian, and spoken word poet based in Barcelona. All of our articles are authored by local writers who know their cities inside out & provide commission-free recommendations.
Nothing in life is free, except for the beach. Every year, thousands of British and Scandinavian tourists flock to Barcelona to escape bad weather in their home countries and sunbathe on the Egyptian (yeah, you read that right, the sand is from Egypt) sands. Unlike other cities, Barcelona’s beaches are free to enter, making it a nice activity for big spenders, budget travellers and everyone in between. Get a tapestry, have a picnic, and swim to your heart’s content, but just remember not to leave your belongings on the beach unattended-- otherwise you’ll end up paying more than you bargained for!
Check out our blog for more Barcelona Do’s and Don'ts.
La Boqueria Market
Shopaholics and foodies will be in their glory while market-hopping throughout the city. Whether you want to buy knickknacks for friends back home, savour a bite and cerveza at midday, or simply go window shopping—browsing Barcelona’s markets is the perfect way to kill time and interact with locals while on a budget.
Market | Type | Address/Hours | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
Art 🎨 | In Plaça de Sant Josep Oriol Saturdays (11:00-23:00) Sundays (10:00- 15:00) | If art is what you’re after, you can see a small group of ten to fifteen local artists scattered in the shadow of the church, perched in front of easels, painting everything from landscapes to abstract works of art. | |
Flea 💽 | Plaça Reial Sundays (10:00-14:30) | A quaint market for coin collectors and trinket-hunters of all sorts, situated in a picturesque square. | |
Flea 💽 | Carrer de los Castillejos, 158 Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (9:00-20:00) | Browse one of Barcelona’s oldest, most beloved and bizarre markets where you’ll find everything from adult videos to valuable antiques. You know what they say, one man’s trash is a tourist’s treasure! | |
Food 🥘 | La Rambla 91 Monday-Saturday (8:00-20:30) | Explore Barcelona’s most famous market, and try everything from tropical fruit to fresh fish and even a sheep’s head, you know, if you’re into things like that. | |
Food 🥘 | Plaça del Pi Friday and Saturday of the month (this may change depending on the season; check their socials for an updated calendar) | Also known as “Honey Market”, this is where you’ll find delicious honey-infused cheeses and homemade cakes from local food vendors and traditional Catalan products. | |
Food 🥘 | Avinguda de Francesc Cambó, 16 Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays (7:30-15:00) Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays (7:30-20:00) | With over 150 years of history, this colourful market has become one of the most recognisable buildings in the El Born neighbourhood, with tasty offerings for tourists and locals alike. |
Want more markets? Check out our guide to the best food markets in Barcelona!
Comedian Trevor Noah Performing at the Comedy Clubhouse- Photo by Olga Camacho
You might not expect Barcelona to have such a buzzing English stand-up comedy scene, but it’s actually one of the biggest in Europe, with multiple shows every night of the week. Venues like Secret Comedy Club and The Comedy Clubhouse host stand-up, improv, and format comedy shows featuring local and international comedians from around the globe.
The majority of English comedy shows are between 7€ and 15€, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get the chance to see famous comics like Michelle Wolf and even Trevor Noah for less than the price of a Netflix subscription. If that’s not enough, both venues have some shows where you get to pay what you want (PWYW), meaning you can register for free and decide what you want to spend when the show ends — talk about a bargain! But if you’re really ballin' on a budget, there are some free weekly comedy shows and workshops at The Comedy Clubhouse:
💩 Mondays at 21:00: Sh*tty Mic, a walk-in open-mic where you can sign up to test out your best 3 minutes of material, or watch aspiring comics do the same.
🧠 Wednesdays at 20:00: Pub Quiz League, a free pub quiz where teams go head-to-head with a local comedian to win the ultimate prize...free drinks
🎸 Thursdays at 20:30: Banned Camp, a free live music jam session
🎶 Fridays at 23:00: Clubhouse Karaoke, come along, sing a song
✍️ Saturdays from 15:00-17:00: Comedy Writing Workshop, led by a different comedian every week, on a different topic. (They accept donations at the end)
🎤 Saturdays at 17:00: Show Up Go Up, exactly what the name suggests. It’s an open mic where if you show up, you get to go up (on stage).
🎭 Sundays 15:00-17:30: Improv/Clowning Workshop, open to anyone who likes to act out scenes on the fly, or watch grown adult humans improvise. (They accept donations at the end).
From comedy and poetry to pub quizzes and live music, there are so many budget-friendly English-language events in Barcelona that let you connect with locals and fellow travellers.
Event | Type | Location/Time | How much? |
|---|---|---|---|
Comedy 😂 | Imprfcto Bar (Parallel) Thursdays at 21:00 | Free to enter, pay what you want at the end | |
Pub Quiz 🧠 | Imprfcto Bar (Poble Nou) Thursdays at 7:30 pm Imprfcto Bar (Parallel) Sundays at 21:00 | 4 euros per person (teams up to 6 people) | |
Comedy 😂 | Mint Bar Sundays at 20:30 | Less than 10 euros | |
Comedy 😂 | Space Cowboy Bar Fridays at 20:30 | Free to enter, pay what you want at the end | |
Live Music 🎸 | Dr Flow Bar Mondays at 21:00 | Free to enter, pay what you want at the end | |
Live Music 🎸 | Various Events every week | Most events are free |
Want more budget-friendly events in Barcelona? Check out TownSpot for weekly highlights.
While Barcelona is a beautiful city, it lacks vast green spaces like London’s Hyde Park or Central Park in New York. Parc Ciutadella is one of the few places in the city where you can stop, breathe and sprawl out in some grass. Unlike Parc Güell, Parc Ciutadella is completely free to enter, and there’s still a lot to see. Take a photo with the iconic woolly mammoth statue, see a fountain designed in part by Antoni Gaudí, get your green-fix in one of the greenhouses, or peruse the Natural History Museum. Aside from these free activities, you can also pay 10€ to hire a rowboat in the duck pond, or see more animals at Barcelona’s zoo.
Sure, there’s plenty to discover in Barcelona on your own, but aimlessly wandering the streets of the Old Town doesn’t allow you to truly understand the rich context of what you’re looking at. Barcelona is more than a pretty face; it has a complex culture and history too. If you want a chance to meet other travellers, see top sites, and learn fascinating facts and legends about this beautiful city, you can join our guided walking tour of Barcelona, which takes you through the Gothic Quarter in just under two hours, for only 20€! Plus, your guide can give you recommendations for more things to do to enjoy Barcelona on a budget.
Palau Nacional at Montjuïc
If you want a city escape without actually escaping from the city, Montjuïc is the place to be! This historic hill offers a triple threat of fun, fusing nature with culture and panoramic views. You don’t need to travel very far to feel like you’ve stepped out of the hustle and bustle of Barcelona and into a tranquil oasis; just hop on the metro to Plaça Espanya and begin your ascent.
Along the way, you can admire the imposing exterior of the Palau Nacional, and if it’s Sunday, you can enter it for free to see Catalan art. Tour the Olympic Ring and the area surrounding the Olympic stadium, and stroll through gardens like Jardins de Joan Brossa or Jardins de Laribal, also free to explore. Depending on the route you take, you’ll also catch a glimpse of sculptures and public art installations from notable artists such as Joan Miró. When you reach the top of Montjuïc Hill, you’ll get to enjoy stunning cityscape views and views of the city port, all well worth the price of breaking a bit of a sweat!
There’s more to Barcelona than just Gaudi, and you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a healthy dose of culture and history. If there’s one thing that Catalans value, it's learning about their culture and sharing it with others. Many of Barcelona’s museums are free to enter year-round, or on the first Sunday of every month.
Arxiu de la Corona d’ Aragó: Want to learn about the Spanish Inquisition and the rise and fall of an empire? See the general archive of the Crown of Aragon for all things royal-related.
Arxiu Fotogràfic de Barcelona: For photography lovers who want to see the evolution of the city from 1839 to the present day.
Barcelona Historical Archive: History buffs will love scouring centuries-old bibliographic documents, newspapers, and magazines from mediaeval to modern times.
Centre d’Art Santa Monica: This one’s for art lovers who want to see contemporary art exhibitions featuring work from local and international artists.
Temple of Augustus: Roman history fans can stand on the highest point of the old Roman city and admire the ruins of this ancient temple and its four remaining columns.
Born Cultural Centre: This former market rocks—literally. The city’s first large-scale cast iron building houses a fascinating archaeological site that tells the story of Barcelona over the eras.
Montjuic Castle: Catch spectacular views of the city at this old military fortress dating back to the 1600s.
Botanical Gardens: Enjoy a lush, green city escape in the botanical gardens at Montjuic
El Call: Discover the history of Barcelona’s former Jewish Quarter
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC): Marvel at the Romanesque church paintings and other Catalan art decorating the walls of the imposing Palau Nacional
Picasso Museum: See over four thousand Picasso paintings in a permanent collection (you must book your free ticket in advance and it tends to get fully reserved fast, so wake up early and reserve ASAP).
Museu Olímpic: Are you a sports fan? See all the highlights of the Olympic games of ‘92 in one place!
Palau Güell: Couldn’t get tickets for Casa Batlló or Parc Güell? This domestic palace in the Gothic Quarter is the next best thing, and it's one of Gaudí's lesser-known creations.
There you have it! There are so many ways to explore Barcelona on a budget. If you want to know everything there is to know before visiting the Catalan capital, check out our Barcelona Guide.
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Barcelona, SpainThere’s a reason why Barcelona is one of the most beloved cities in Europe; art, architecture, history—what more could you ask for? The best way to see the city is through this Barcelona Walking Tour, with a local guide who will lead you through the whimsical streets of the Gothic Quarter and share a fascinating history spanning 2,000 years.
As you walk along the route you’ll see the city’s evolution starting from Roman-occupied Barcino through the Golden Age and all the way to the Barcelona that we know and love today. We’ll visit some must-see sites like the Barcelona Cathedral where you’ll hear about the brutal death of the city’s patron saint or Placa del Rey, where you’ll learn about the darker side of Spanish history during the Inquisition. Along the way we’ll also see some hidden gems and hear about urban legends.
By the end of this Barcelona Walking Tour you’ll have gained a new perspective into Catalan tradition and history that will leave you falling in love with Barcelona.
4.95(108)Barcelona, SpainTaste your way through the Catalan capital on our award-winning Barcelona Tapas Tour. We’ve handled the details so you can skip the crowds and go straight to the good stuff: real Spanish cuisine made by locals. Food is an essential part of Catalan culture, and no trip to Barcelona is complete without sharing tapas or “small plates.” Over two and a half hours, you’ll visit four of the city’s best tapa hotspots where you’ll try a variety of traditional tapas and drinks, meet the locals who make them, and see hidden cultural gems along the way.
We’ll explore two of the city's trendiest, historic neighbourhoods. See Roman ruins in the Gothic Quarter before heading into El Born to window-shop at artisanal shops and art galleries, marvel at the Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar, and wander through picturesque squares. In between sights, try small bites like spicy patatas bravas, fresh pimientos de Padrón, and crispy fried fish paired with local wine, vermouth, and cava. From crunchy croquettes and unique Basque pintxos to paella and a Catalan dessert, you’ll treat your taste buds to the best of Spanish gastronomy and Catalan classics and learn about the history and evolution of this world-class cuisine.
Whether you're on a family holiday, a team-building with colleagues, or a romantic couple's retreat, this is the best way to meet people with a passion for food. It's also especially good for solo-travellers who might otherwise miss out on the opportunity to sample an array of small plates when eating alone, so book a tour and get to sharing!
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