subject: Things to do in Barcelona [print this page] Things to do in Barcelona Things to do in Barcelona
Barcelona is a wonderful city to visit and it need not be expensive. There are free gardens, exhibitions and galleries, and discovering the city's ancient quarters, markets, boulevards and churches is completely free - you just need to know where to look. So here are my top ten free things to do in Barcelona.
Sagrada Familia from the outside. You can see Sagrada Familia, the famous church which is still being built and was designed by Gaudi. Without paying to go in you already have an excellent view from the outside and there are many great photo opportunities from the outside.
The Boardwalk is free and walking along the boardwalk and simply enjoying the fresh air and views costs nothing at all. The boardwalk is long and offers you a pleasant walk.
Parc Gell.
Designed by Antoni Gaud, Barcelona's celebrated architect, the park is just outside the centre, situated on a hill overlooking the city. Designed originally as a residential park, it's a joy to visit and you can easily spend several hours there.
Montjuc is the large hill to the south of Barcelona overlooking the city, and has many gardens, parks, buildings and attractions. To reach Montjuc the most dramatic way, take the cable car from the old port, or approach from Plaa Espanya between two huge Venetian towers - this is the area of the magic fountains, which perform in the evenings during the summer months.
Take the metro out of the city to Mount Tibidabo. According to legend, this was where the Devil tempted Jesus by offering him the whole world in return for his worship. It's an uphill struggle from the Metro to the mountain, so save your legs by taking the tram - it's so quaint it would make Judy Garland blush. From there, tumble into a cable car and let it haul you up to the mountain-top, bizarrely shared by an enormous church and a slightly dated theme park.
