Free things to do in Barcelona?

You're lucky! Barcelona is full of free stuff to do!

If you like nature, Montjuïc has a lot to offer to you. Climb to the top to admire the views and on the way you can visit marvelous gardens like Jardins Mossèn Costa i Llobera

Another great point for a little bit of nature and a different point of view of Barcelona is Turó de La Rovira

Then you must walk around the 3 neighborhoods of old town (Barceló Raval, Barrio Gótico de Barcelona and El Born) for hours. Maybe this map of a 1 day route through Gótico and Raval can help you.

Finally, Casa Museu Gaudí and ART NOUVEAU BCN architecture are other highlights you can't miss. This other Barcelona itinerary of Gaudí and Modernism could be useful too. Visiting their interiors it's expensive but you should maybe consider paying the fee for the Sagrada Família and La Pedrera or Casa Batlló.

But there's much more: Barceloneta neighborhood and beach, Gràcia neighborhood, Neighborhood Summer Festivals, human towers (castellers) ...

The cathedral in the Gothic Quarter...free. Also, after you stroll through the Petit Palace Boquería, walk down La Rambla to the water. You can stop and have a cocktail on the beach and people watch on the cheap.

Hi Ida! Try googling "free tours barcelona". I used free tours for the first time in Barcelona and it is so great. Sometimes they offer a general 2hr walking tour of certain quarters. Other times they focus on certain architecture or film locations or markets. Because it is free it is good to tip at the end. Tip what you can, if you can. Give it a try!

Go to El pueblito español a reproduction of many nice places in Spain. See all what you can of Gaudí´s buildings, unique in this world. The rest, is up to you for fun. Unfortunately, be ready to hear a lot of Catalán, their dialect, something between Spanish and bad French... Food is VERY GOOD. Wish you all the best!

Barcelona is such a big city, you'll find plenty to do. There are so many cool things to do for free, here are the local favorites:

Walk down La Rambla, it can get a little crowded but it's a fun lively area to be in with a lot of locals and markets to browse through. Also try the Petit Palace Boquería and then, for a place you have to see to believe, go to the Parc Güell. 

The La Pedrera is always a cool/werid site to see. I've honestly lived here my whole life and I never get tired of this place. It's so unique to the world and I've never seen anything quite like it. The entrance fee is 24 dollars I think but just a free stroll around the outside is cool enough.

Spend a day at the Barceloneta beach. Fun crowds and it's a really nice beach, and you don't have to pay anything :)

Hi Ida,

First, have to comment that you're from Durham, NH - I grew up in Barrington and graduated from UNH before moving to California. I miss it so much! :(

Anyway, I just went to Barcelona for the first time and have a few suggestions for you:

• Visit Arc de Triomf and Parc de la Ciutadella - they are beautiful and make great backdrops for pictures!
• Barceloneta, the beach in Barcelona, is awesome - and free to enjoy. :)
  
• Walk La Rambla and the big boulevards in Eixample
• Admire Gaudi's works from the outside: Sagrada Família (though the ticket for entry is fairly inexpensive), Casa Batlló, La Pedrera and Parc Güell. We only went to the free part of Park Guell, which I regret - but it was still breathtaking! 
• Explore El Born, a more gothic feeling neighborhood. The Picasso Museum is here, along with tons of neat street art and independently owned boutiques.
• Montjuïc & the The Magic Fountain of Montjuic: This free 30 minute light/water show is awesome! Check the dates/times before you go though, as they vary throughout the year.
  

I listed a few other learnings and ways to save money (buy the Metro pass - the transportation system is really easy, clean and efficient!) in a recent post here, and am happy to answer any other questions you might have.

Barcelona is *awesome*, and you will have a blast!

Have to say you should visit La Rambla street which has it all - atmosphere, flowers, food, beach nearby, shopping, absolutely lovely. There are other things to do in Barcelona like taking the tourist bus, Mont Juice but nothing comes close to a visit to La Rambla street.