subject: Spend More Time In Barcelona, And Less Money [print this page] To dine out inexpensively pay attention to the venues serving menu del dia, the best kept secret for a truly enjoyable meal in Spain, some of which are even 4 courses. Offers are normally chalked up on blackboards either inside or outside the restaurants, with prices anywhere between 6 EUR at casual corner cafes to 25 EUR at higher class establishments. Desserts are often of the classic variety, like a sponge cream cake, and promptly served at the end of the meal. Buenas Migas is a fast food chain which can be found in various corners of Barcelona and has yummy focaccias, salads, sandwiches and other refreshments with prices between 4 EUR and 5 EUR.
There are often supplementary items to familiarise yourself with when dining in the city, first make sure to check if the price includes tax as a VAT tax can push the bill up by 7 percent. Some places charge extra on top for bread, or 'pan', so look out for them if you want to save money. Make a note to yourself that lunch is eaten late in the afternoon generally from 1-3.45 and take care to never leave any personal possessions unattended, particularly on the terrace tables of a restaurant as they make an easy target for thieves and pickpockets. It's not necessary to tip either in Barcelona, by all means leave some loose change if you want to, but there's no problem if you prefer not to.
With the ease most people have using the internet these days there's a wealth of information for you to access, make travel plans in advance so you can check out what's free, and which art galleries and museums are worth visiting. The large number of museums on hand in the city means there's guaranteed to be some that offer free admission daily, others are free only on Wednesdays and Sundays. Unquestionably, one of the most famous is The Picasso Museum, free every first Sunday of the month, and they often hold free guided tours although you have to pay normal entrance fee to tag along.
The MACBA, (Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art), often hosts complimentary workshops and has a great collection of books, publications and archives that are offered free of charge to look at for the general public. Many of the city's parks are also free and provide a sanctuary far from the chaos of the streets and noisy roads, so make sure to visit the Parc de la Ciutadella, one of the leading parks in the city and ideal for chilling out in the extensive grounds, Parc Guell is another unique area to discover and will have you mesmerised with its magical monuments and figures, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as 'Works of Antoni Gaudi', its weird sculptures are heavily influenced by nature, elements of which can be seen in many aspects.
Progressive and modern architecture struggles for prime position next to the ancient monuments and buildings, and standing upright and proud where it can be seen by one and all is the splendid skyscraper created by the French architect, Jean Nouvel. Named the Torre Agbar it soars into the sky exceeding an impressive 34 stories tall and more than 142 meters in height.
A trip to accommodatie Barcelona doesn't have to cost you the earth because there are lots of places to visit for a taste of the place, as well as apartments for rent well within your means they are also convenient for those who long to splurge on a longer period of time in this magnificent city.
