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Cheap Things to do in Barcelona

It can be tough managing your vacation fund, what with the travel, accommodation, and the urge to try every new type of food you come across. So, if you've drained the pot and have a couple days left in the city, you'll want some cheap things to do in Barcelona. Worry not, friend; we've got you covered. These are our pics of the best cheap things to do in Barcelona!

Including:

  • Museu d'Historia de Catalunya
  • Park Güell
  • Barceloneta Beach
  • Picasso Museum
  • Explore Old Town
  • and more!

 

History, city style

Barcelona, while technically in Spain, is actually the capital of Catalonia, a region of the country that has its own language and economy. So, if you want to learn more about Catalonian history and culture, check out Museu d'Historia de Catalunya. It's only €8 to get in, and entry is completely free on the first Sunday of the month. So really, you have no excuse not to check it out and absorb some sweet, sweet culture.

 

Gaudí, not gaudy!

For those not in the know, Gaudi was one of the world's most renowned architects. And if you're vacationing in Barcelona, it's impossible to not see his influence. From the Sagrada Familia to Casa Batlló, his works are literally everywhere. The same can be said for Park Güell, one of the city's best and brightest green spaces. Feel free to stroll around and see the park's sights for yourself, but due to Gaudi's worldwide popularity, some of the park's more awe-inspiring features are behind a paywall. So why not take a guided tour of the park, learn more about Gaudi and the gardens, and see everything up close?

 

Get your beach on

Sun, sand, and sea - the ideal components for the perfect vacation. If you're visiting Barcelona, you'll want to check out the beach scene. Arguably the city's biggest and best beach is Barceloneta, and given it's a public beach, it's ultimately free to go! Bring your towel and sunscreen, find a spot to spread out, and soak up those powerful UV rays. And, if you get bored, hungry, or thirsty, there are plenty of activities, restaurants, and bars right on the beachfront. Easily one of the best cheap things to do in Barcelona. And, if you're looking for something less crowded or child-friendly, we've done a deep dive on every beach in the city. Find whichever suits you best and make it your own.

 

Picasso Museum

Picasso is one of the most famed painters of the last millennia, with his works paving the way for Cubism and collages, and having captured the horrors of war in his own unique style. Having lived through periods of great upheaval during the 20th century, it's no wonder people want to know more about his life. Enter the Picasso Museum, where you'll learn more about his life through his works, from his more realist youth to his more creative peak. Every Sunday from 3-7pm, it's completely free to enter, and the turnstiles stay open all day on the first Sunday of the month. Or, if you want a more curated experience, take a guided tour of the museum and learn even more about the famed painter.

 

Explore Old Town

Take a step back in time to Barcelona's Old Town and Gothic Quarter. Much of the city's Medieval architecture still stands, and you'll find more than a few Grammable opportunities should your social media need some attention. Get lost in a maze of cobbled streets, residential corridors, and ancient markets. Or, get very much more familiar with the area on a guided tour! Learn about Barcelona's long history, and the many different factions and cultures that have called it home for over a thousand years.

 

Picnic in a park

Parks are brilliant, aren't they? A portal into the rural, they let you escape the busy city and just relax in a perfect pocket of nature. Luckily for you, Barcelona is brimming with green spaces. So, no matter what kinda thing you're looking for, you'll find the perfect park for you.

Relax in Parc de Montjuïc's botanical gardens and explore the planet's different climates in its myriad greenhouses.

Get lost in the green at Parc del Laberint d'Horta's maze. Then, when you've escaped, explore the surrounding gardens and the ancient medieval palace.

Or, take a refreshing break at Parc de la Ciutadella, thanks to the massive water features and fountains.

Each of these is a prime location for a picnic. So pick a park, pack a basket, and go touch some grass!

 

Cosmic culture

Need some awe-inspiring sights to brighten up your Earthbound day? Look no further than Barcelona's very own science museum at CosmoCaixa. With over 30,000sq meters of brilliant exhibits, interactive displays, and much, much more, you'll learn a whole lot about our planet, the solar system, and what lies beyond.

It's only €6 to get in, and with so much to discover, you'll spend more than a few hours exploring every nook and cranny.

 

Historical architecture!

And finally, let's end today's list with some more Earthly discoveries. Located in the heart of Montjuïc, within walking distance of the park's iconic fountain, is Poble Espanyol. It's an open-air architectural museum, which exemplifies Spanish culture, art, and cuisine throughout the centuries. For all intents and purposes, it's a miniature time capsule of the country all in one place.

With over 100 buildings and streets from across the country recreated, it has to be seen to be believed. One minute you'll be walking through a 17th-century neighborhood; the next, you'll end up at a medieval market.

You'll also find over 300 works from some of Spain's contemporary art giants. The likes of Picasso and Dali are on proud display, and are frankly worth the entry alone. And, if you need some gift ideas for when you go back home, there are a multitude of craftsmen on-site that make anything from bags to jewelry. Easily one of the best cheap things to do in Barcelona, and should be on everyone's itinerary when they visit!

And that's our list of cheap things to do in Barcelona!

Dom Bewley
Go City Travel Expert

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Interior of Casa Batlló
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Casa Batlló Vs Casa Milà Comparison - Gaudí Houses Compared

Gaudí masterpieces don’t come much more spectacular than Casa Batlló and Casa Milá, eye-popping architectural stars of Barcelona’s fashionable Eixample district. Designed and completed by Gaudí in the early 20th Century, these near-neighbors should be considered bucket listers for aficionados of the maestro’s work. Though, frankly, they’re pretty much essential viewing for anyone who possesses a) even a passing interest in unusual architectural design and/or b) an Instagram account. We took a closer look at these iconic Gaudí houses in our Casa Batlló Vs Casa Milà comparison. Scroll for the lowdown… Antoni Gaudí: a (Very) Short History Born in rural Catalonia in 1852, Antoni Gaudí i Cornet rose from humble beginnings to become the chief exponent of Catalan Modernisme, popularizing an architectural style that’s near-impossible to categorize but is always distinctly, inimitably Gaudí. His calling cards included geometrical forms, neo-Gothic flair, colorful mosaic tiling and structures influenced by his deep love of nature – think bones, tree trunks, butterfly wings, and so on. The majority of Gaudí’s buildings – 12 in all – can be found in Barcelona, and are among the most-visited attractions in town. We’re talking the Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Casa Vicens and two of his most flamboyant confections: the UNESCO-listed Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, all of which are included with a Barcelona pass from Go City. Find out more about the pass and how to get yours here. Casa Batlló: The Lowdown Name: Casa Batlló is named for textile magnate Josep Batlló, who commissioned Gaudí’s building redesign in 1904. It’s known locally as the casa dels ossos (house of bones), for reasons which will become apparent… Vital Statistics: Completed in 1906, it took 99 years before Casa Batlló was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. It’s located on the stylish Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona’s Eixample district, and is one of the city’s most popular attractions, welcoming around a million visitors every year.  Casa Batlló in Brief: Casa Batlló is a pure flight of fantasy, with a hallucinatory exterior that will appeal to everybody from high-art aficionados to fans of Game of Thrones. Considered one of Gaudí’s crowning glories, it’s truly a sight to behold. The striking dragon-crest roof fairly shimmers with blue-and-green ‘dragon scale’ tiles. Glass, stone and ceramic mosaic gives the facade a textured, rough-hewn look, while the skeletal carapace and creepy skull-mask balconies on the lower levels are what earned Casa Batlló its ‘house of bones’ nickname. Things are no less bonkers inside, where the staircase is designed to resemble a spine and the entrance hall feels  a bit like being in an underwater cave, complete with tortoise-shell skylights. Three Highlights of Casa Batlló: The Noble Floor. The former residence of the Batlló family features a gently undulating ceiling, mushroom-shaped fireplace and huge gallery which protrudes far over the Passeig de Gràcia. Roof Terrace. Ogle fairytale mosaiced chimneys and get close-up views of the dragon’s scaly back. Indoor Garden. This highly decorative terrace, with colorfully tiled floor and flowerpots is a tiny oasis in the heart of Barcelona. Casa Milà: The Lowdown Name: Casa Milà is more commonly known locally as La Pedrera, aka ‘the quarry’, thanks to its unusual rough-hewn facade. Vital Statistics: The last house Gaudí worked on before applying himself full-time to the Sagrada Família, Casa Milá was built between 1906 and 1912, and designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. No more or less popular than its near-neighbor Casa Batlló, La Pedrera also attracts around a million annual visitors. Casa Milá in Brief: La Pedrera was pretty controversial when it was first built. And by controversial we mean the locals hated it. Hence the somewhat unfair nickname. History has of course been much kinder to Gaudí’s legacy and this Barcelona icon is now widely accepted to be one of the finest examples of Catalan Modernisme, all sinuous limestone curves, intricate wrought-iron balconies, and soaring mosaic-clad chimneys. Great paintings, tapestries and frescoes adorn the eye-popping interiors; rooms are also kitted out with curvaceous furnishings by Gaudí himself, each designed to slot seamlessly into the building’s flowing waves and curves. Three Highlights of Casa Milá: Roof Terrace: a total of 28 extraordinary warrior-like stone chimneys stand sentinel on the Casa Milá rooftop, vying for attention against some fairly spectacular 360-degree views of the city skyline. The Whale Attic. Come over all Jonah as you enter what appears to be the belly of a leviathan, thanks to 270 arches representing a whale’s ribcage. If that’s not enough, there’s also a quite excellent Gaudí exhibition to explore up here. Courtyards don’t come much trippier than La Pedrera’s Flower Courtyard and Butterfly Courtyard, in which you can expect fantastical shapes and colors, complemented by beautiful blooms and great Ballard-esque insects that are quite at odds with the far more sober exterior. Casa Batlló Vs Casa Milà Comparison: Which is Best? Who could possibly pick a favorite from these two extraordinary Gaudí Houses? Both Casa Batlló and Casa Milà are like nothing you’ve seen before, each with its own set of architectural quirks and fantastic visual spectacles. Here’s the good news: you don’t have to visit just one or the other. Not only are these dreamlike townhouses just a few minutes’ walk from each other; both are included with a Barcelona pass from Go City. The pass is ideal if you’re planning to see a number of top attractions on your vacation, and includes entry to Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, plus other Gaudí masterpieces including Casa Vicens and tours of the Sagrada Família and Park Güell. It also gives you access to many more Barcelona tours, activities and attractions, like the Picasso Museum and Barcelona Zoo, and could save you up to 50% on regular prices. Find out more about the pass and get yours here. Save on Attractions, Tours and Activities in Barcelona Save money on Barcelona attractions, tours and activities with a pass from Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Group of people silhouetted against a beach bonfire at night
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Things to do in Barcelona for Sant Joan's Night

It has some of the best shopping, art and architecture in Europe, but those aren’t the only reasons to make a beeline for Barcelona in June. Sure, the Catalonian capital is beautiful in spring, but summer is party season, and what better way to kick it off than with the annual Sant Joan’s Night celebrations, held on the 23rd of June every year. It’s actually kind of a double whammy, marking both the birthday of Saint John the Baptist *and* the recent summer solstice. But you know Barcelona: any excuse for a party, right? We took a deep dive to discover what the fiesta is all about and all the best things to do in Barcelona for Sant Joan’s Night. What is Sant Joan’s Night? The feast of Sant Joan is a sort-of Catholic church cut-and-shut of a couple of significant calendrical events. The first is the summer solstice aka midsummer aka the astronomical start of the summer season, which usually falls on the 20th or 21st of June in the northern hemisphere. The second, John the Baptist’s birthday, falls on the 24th and is marked by a public holiday, perhaps to allow reveling Catalans to recover after all that cava, sangria and wild partying. Said partying kicks off on the evening of the 23rd, often carrying on well into the wee small hours of the 24th as families across Spain celebrate the San Juan Festival with beach fires, bar crawls and banquets. Those epic bonfires and firework displays? Well, it’s all part of an ancient pagan ritual. You see, the fires are said to feed and strengthen the sun – a symbol of wealth and fertility – as well as purifying, protecting, and warding off those pesky evil spirits. Meanwhile the traditional act of fire-jumping (exactly what it sounds like, health-and-safety fans) is said to bring luck to the leaper. Assuming, of course, you don’t accidentally end up feet first in the flames. Three fire leaps is the norm, but some brave and hardy souls jump up to nine times, to be sure to appease the ancient pagan gods. Just remember, kids: fires and cava don’t mix. Traditional Sant Joan’s Night Fun in Barcelona Not to put too fine a point on it, the biggest draws *wherever you are in Spain* on Sant Joan’s Night, are the bacchanalian bonfire parties. Those held on the Barcelona’s Nova Icària and Barceloneta beaches are particularly special, as friends and family gather to welcome in the summer over good food, great wine and fine entertainment.  The fun kicks off on the afternoon of the 23rd, when the Canigó Flame, carried here from a great blaze on the easterly Pyrenean mountain peak of Canigó, lights the central bonfire on Barcelona’s Plaça de Sant Jaume to wild cheering, music and general fanfare. Representatives of each district of Barcelona then light torches and carry them to their respective neighborhoods and beaches to start the evening revelries. Get to the beaches early if you want to stake your claim to a prime spot on the sand, and be aware that it can get *incredibly* busy and lively as the evening progresses and the 'Night of Fire’ gets into full swing. The atmosphere begins to build at sunset as bonfires are lit along the sand. There will be live music, lots of excited chatter and a fair bit of grape-based revelry before the aforementioned rituals get underway in earnest.  Having purified yourself by making the traditional fire-jump, you can relax and enjoy one of the most spectacular firework displays in all Spain, as the skies light up in a kaleidoscope of color, beautifully mirrored on the sea below. Bring a swimming costume and a towel if you plan to join your new friends for a moonlit dip, but be aware that evenings on the coast can get chilly. Yes, even in Barcelona in June. More Things to do in Barcelona on Sant Joan’s Night You can’t properly celebrate Sant Joan’s Night in Barcelona without indulging in the festival’s traditional twin delicacies. We’re talking about cava and, yes, the frankly unmissable coca de Sant Joan – a Catalonian speciality. This sweet bread, topped with candied fruit and sometimes stuffed with custard, cream or marzipan, is a great snack at any time of day, but perhaps particularly as a restorative late-night treat once the serious business of appeasing the pagan gods is taken care of. Barcelona’s main beaches are also lined with bars, many of which set up special outdoor serving areas that operate throughout the afternoon and evening. Don’t fancy the chaos and crowds of the beach? Fear not, you can also hit up the main plazas and squares around town for your Sant Joan festivities fix. Here’s where to catch exciting live shows and pyrotechnic performances as locals dress up in outlandish costumes – devils, sprites, spirits and the like – and race around setting off fireworks, crackers, sparklers and more. Of course, you don’t absolutely have to join in the Sant Joan revelries if you don’t want to. With locals crowding the beach and plazas, this is a great time to take advantage of the rest of the city’s relative solitude and explore some of Barcelona’s best backstreet tapas bars. Take an evening stroll around the colorful Eixample barrio, crammed with picture-perfect art nouveau-style buildings and several Gaudí architectural masterpieces. Don’t miss the maestro’s curvaceous Casa Batlló on Passeig de Gràcia if creepy bone-like facades complete with skull-mask balconies and dragon-scale tiling is your thang. Or lose yourself in the Gothic Quarter’s labyrinthine lanes, where blind alleys, hidden courtyards, and much adventure awaits. Spot the ghostly white geese that haunt Barcelona Cathedral’s cloisters, and the gruesome gargoyles that leer from its walls, and seek artistic inspiration on atmospheric Carrer d'Avinyó, where some dude called Pablo Picasso got his first break. Wonder whatever happened to him? Save on Tours, Attractions and Activities in Barcelona Save on admission to Barcelona attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Best Bus Tours in Barcelona
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Best Bus Tours in Barcelona

If you want to make the most of an inevitably too-short vacation, where better to see the sights in one go than on a bus tour? With comfortable seating, air conditioning, and a guide in tow, you'll learn all about the city's best bits without overexerting yourself. So, if you're heading to Barcelona this year, you'll want to know which are the best bus tours in the city. Luckily, we've written all about them down below! So, take your seat and get ready to sing annoying bus-themed children's songs. All aboard! Including: Is there a bus tour of Barcelona? Are tours in Barcelona worth it? How many days is ideal for Barcelona? The best bus tours in Barcelona Is there a bus tour of Barcelona? We'd be wasting our time if there were no bus tours in Barcelona, so fear not. But we deal in nothing but the best here, so expect only the best detailed down below! Are tours in Barcelona worth it? Bus tours are one of the best ways to see as much of a new city as possible without worrying about taking public transport or driving on unfamiliar roads with illegible road signs and whatnot. How many days is ideal for Barcelona? Some cities are easy enough to do in a day—others, not so much. Barcelona firmly falls in the latter category, with a veritable mountain of history, experiences, and things to see; ideally, you need to take between 3 and 4 days to see it all. And that's just as well, because we have four of the best bus tours in Barcelona to talk about! What are the odds? So, now we've answered all your burning Barcelona questions, let's talk about the best bus tours in the city! The best bus tours in Barcelona Bus Turístic Tour If you want to see all of the city's best bits in one fell swoop, you won't get much better than a Bus Turístic Tour! With three routes to choose from, each taking you past many of the city's most recognizable landmarks, it's not just a great way to see it all in a day, but also to get your bearings in a new city. Your ticket gives you 24 hours on your bus of choice, and each one allows you to hop off at any stop that takes your fancy, have a look around and snap some vacation pics, and then hop back on the next bus and carry on with your journey! Plus, with 16 languages available via audio commentary, you'll learn all about them no matter where you're from. So, let's explore the three routes and what sights you'll be seeing on each! The Blue Route (around 2 hours in total) kicks things off at Placa de Catalunya before heading past some of Gaudí's most famous buildings, including Casa Battló, the Sagrada Familia, and Parc Guell, before heading on to the famous Camp Nou soccer stadium, where FC Barcelona ply their trade, before ending at the museums of MACBA & CCCB. There are plenty more stops in between, but talking about them would take days. Check out the full list here. The Red Route (again, around 2 hours) also leaves from Placa de Catalunya before heading through La Pedrera, Poble Espanyol, Montjuic, and many more, before ending at Barcelona Zoo. And finally, the Green Route is the shortest of all the tours, lasting just 40 minutes from end to end. On this one, you'll see Port Olimpic, Platja del Bogatell, Parc del Forum, and Parc Diagonal Mar before ending at Poblenou & its beaches. Whichever you pick, Bus Turístic Tours are some of the best in Barcelona. Andorra and France from Barcelona Typically, bus tours in Barcelona focus on the city itself or the areas in and around the city. But what if we told you that one of the best lets you see not one, not two, but three countries all in one day? You'd call us liars, surely? Well, we're not, and we can prove it. Take this Andorra and France from Barcelona tour, and you'll retract your accusation faster than you can say, "Three countries? One day? That's wild!" But what will you be seeing on your three-country tour? Well, you'll witness magnificent views of the Pyrenees as you travel between Barcelona and Andorra, where you'll stop at Thermes d'Ax, where your guide will show you the top sights, such as Casa de la Vall, San Esteve XII Century Church, and Dali ́s Watch. Then, you'll hit Andorra's streets for some great shopping opportunities, with plenty to pick for yourself, as well as souvenirs for back home. And finally, you'll reach El Pas de la Casa, which sits on the border between France and Spain, where you're free to cross the dividing line and stand in two countries at the same time. Marvelous. Montserrat One of Barcelona's most beautiful sights isn't even in the city itself, but about an hour's drive away. It's called Montserrat - or the serrated mountain - and it houses one of the area's best-kept secrets. And, with this bus tour, you needn't make the journey alone. At sunrise, you'll be picked up from Plaza de Catalunya first thing by an air-conditioned bus. From there, you'll make your journey up the mountain's many winding roads before finally reaching the top. From there, you can explore at your own pace. There's so much to see that we dedicated an entire article to it all, but if you haven't got time to read all those words, make sure you at least check out the nearly 1000-year-old Santa Maria de Montserrat Benedictine Monastery. Then, when you're all sigh-seed out, your bus will take you right back into the heart of Barcelona. Easily one of the best bus tours in the city. Vineyard & Wine Cellar Day Trip And finally, our final pick of the best bus tours in Barcelona is for grape enjoyers. After all, if you like a tipple, you could hardly visit Barcelona and not check out the wine scene! So why not go to the source on this Vineyard & Wine Cellar day trip? Hop aboard a bus and head out into the outskirts of Catalonia, where you'll visit local vineyards and wineries, find out how the good stuff is made, and even try some for yourself. Does it get much better than that? No, it does not. And those were our picks of the best bus tours in Barcelona! If you don't want to spend your entire vacation on a four-wheeled wonder, see all of Barcelona's best bits with Go City! Choose our All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass and make the most of the city's top attractions for one low price!
Dom Bewley

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