Go Big But Don’t Go Broke – The best of Barcelona on a Budget

Beautiful Barcelona truly has it all. Sensational shopping, delicious tapas treats and Antoni Gaudi’s spectacular architectural masterpieces – all nestled between the sea and the magnificent Montserrat mountains.

But with so much to explore, you might need some help figuring out how to do as much as possible for as little (money) as possible! That’s why Klook has put together a list of attractions and experiences to help you enjoy the best of Barcelona on a budget. We’ve rounded up some great-value, must-see sights, alongside top tips for travellers looking for experiences beyond the usual tourist trail. So, before you go, download the Klook app and enjoy fun and affordable travel adventures with Klook always at your side.

Exploring Barcelona on a budget can seem daunting, but with wide pedestrian boulevards, this is the perfect city to explore on foot. 

Las Ramblas, the busy, buzzy, tree-lined street, is well known, but not everyone realises that its only one of several ‘Ramblas’, which literally means an avenue or promenade for walking.

Roam – or ramble – as the mood takes you around the Old Town, the Gothic Quarter and the historic Eixample district, where you’ll discover some of Gaudi’s most famous buildings. Las Ramblas extends from the main Place de Catalunya down to the vibrant waterfront. There you can join La Rambla Del Mar (“the walk by the sea”), a wooden boardwalk leading to shops, eateries and the Barcelona Aquarium.

Beyond the sailboats and luxury yachts moored in Port Vell, you’ll find fashionable restaurants, cafes and bars, alongside the beautiful beaches of Barceloneta. One way to get an overview of some of the city’s most interesting areas, is to take Klook’s Private Kickstart Walking Tour with a Local which will help you get a feel for the Catalan culture as you explore the charming streets and squares from the Old Town, down to the sea, all with the help of an enthusiastic local guide.

The fascinating Gothic and Born Quarters Walking Tour covers some different ground. Go back 2,000 years to see the temple of St Augustus – one of the oldest and best hidden sites in Barcelona. Dating from the 1st century BC, these ancient columns are now available to view (for free) tucked away in someone’s backyard!

Fast forward to the medieval period for monumental gothic structures including Barcelona’s imposing Cathedral. Free to enter, it’s known by locals as Santa Eulalia and is not to be confused with the Sagrada Familia! The streets of El Born (the Jewish quarter) are amongst the most fashionable in the city; after all that culture, you’ll be ready to chill in the charming back streets where you’ll find the coolest shops and the trendiest bars.

Both tours take in La Boqueria – another great place to visit for free (though we can’t promise you won’t be tempted to try some tasty treats!)

As one of Europe’s most famous food markets, it’s popular with tourists but it’s also where the locals buy their produce from specialist stalls with amazing displays of fruit and vegetables, cured meats, fish, cheese, olives, spices and more.

Pick up some picnic ingredients, choose a brightly coloured fruit smoothie, or snack on a ‘cone de jamon’. Or make like the locals and chow down on churros dipped in thick hot chocolate or linger with a glass of cava at one of the tapas bars whilst you watch the world go by.

If walking isn’t for you – or you simply want to cover more ground – a Hop on Hop off bus tour is an easy and economical way to see all of the city’s sights. Choose a one or two-day pass, relax on the open top deck, tune in to the audio commentary and hop off at the places that most interest you.

Of course, it’s impossible to visit Barcelona without catching more than a glimpse of Gaudi’s ground-breaking architectural innovations. From the soaring (and still unfinished) Sagrada Familia, to the quirky private residences and the irregular lines of Parc Guell, his unrivalled creativity is in evidence across the city. Trying to visit them all can prove costly, but fortunately, in addition to guided tours, Klook has a wide range of affordable tickets for those travellers who want to watch the pennies without missing out on Gaudi’s unmistakable marvels.

It’s free to visit Parc Guell, one of the largest green spaces in Barcelona. Founded in 1900, it’s where Gaudi perfected his unique style inspired by natural forms. Stroll around the beautiful gardens, then, for just a few Euros, pick up a ticket to the Monumental Zone, the heart of the park, where you’ll see iconic Gaudi creations. Look out for El Drac Salamander, his famous mosaic dragon and admire the view of the city from the undulating terrace, where the serpentine bench is one of the best examples of his distinctive “trencadis” technique (surfaces covered with irregular ceramic shapes).

Back in the city centre, it’s equally affordable to snap up a Skip the Line Ticket for Gaudi’s Casa Vicens, one of the first Art Nouveau buildings in the world. Recently restored, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, bursting with vivid colours.

Klook also offers great value entry for Gaudi’s magical Casa Battlo – located on Passeig de Gracia, one of Barcelona’s most vibrant shopping streets. Marvel at the mosaic-covered exterior facade and the beautifully quirky interior where nothing is as it seems, particularly when viewed through the screen of the ‘Augmented Reality Smart Guide’ which all visitors receive.

It’s a tough choice between Casa Battlo and a Skip the Line ticket to Casa Mila (also known as La Pedrera), the last private residence designed by Gaudi and one of the most important and imaginative buildings in the history of architecture. It is a breathtaking work of art both inside and out; be sure not to miss its spectacular roof terrace.

Whatever else you do in Barcelona, you won’t want to miss La Sagrada Familia, the most popular landmark in Spain. Tickets sell out well in advance so be sure to get ahead with Klook’s Sagrada Familia Fast Track Ticket and prepare to be amazed as you take in the Nativity facade, where every inch is decorated with beautifully sculpted details. The interior is equally breath-taking, with glowing stained glass and the towering, tree-like columns.

You can choose to add on an audio tour, a guided tour or a package with tower access to get up close and personal with Gaudi’s unrivalled imagination.

When you’re all cultured out, why not relax in Ciutadella Park, a green space that’s home to museums, waterfalls, monuments and Barcelona zoo? Or, for a real change of scene – and fun for all the family – drop by the Big Fun Museum, where happily, there’s only a small entry fee for all sorts of illusions, colourful mazes and 3D installations. Feel tiny in the ‘Giant’s House’, snap a selfie on the ceiling of the ‘Topsy Turvy House’ and end your visit with a plunge into a giant ball pool that’s not just limited to children!

Depending on when you visit, it’s fun (and free!) to check out the local festivals which take place all year round in different neighbourhoods. One famous Catalan tradition is for ‘Castells’ – spectacular human towers where a brave child is selected to climb to the top of a human tower 8 or 9 people high!

Parades of giants are also common. Enormous papier mache dolls of historical figures, along with ‘Capgrossos’ (big heads), dragons and other animals are brought out for special street dancing.

50 of the giants are exhibited at La Casa dels Entremos (Giant Museum) which is quirky, free to enter and where you can also pick up a calendar of events.

When night falls it’s free to watch the Magic Fountain Show – a city spectacle reinstated for the 1992 Olympics. Thousands of visitors gather on the steps of the MNAC museum, at the foot of Montjuic mountain, to watch the dazzling display of light, sound and cascading water. Check the show times according to the season so that you don’t miss out!

Montjuic has fantastic views of the city and the port and it’s not expensive to take a round trip aboard the Montjuic Cable Car. At the top you can visit the Palau Nacional, the Botanical Gardens and, of course Montjuic Castle. Explore the former military fortress and its dungeons before you head to Mirador del Migdia (a viewpoint on the far side) for a drink at the secret cafe there. It’s a great place to watch the sunset over Barcelona, and on summer evenings there are even free concerts in the garden.

So there’s a quick guide to Barcelona on a budget, and if you’ve budgeted well you might want to round off your day with a cocktail at one of the city’s renowned rooftop bars where you can make a toast to making even more memories, then maybe start planning your next activity or adventure, with Klook.com…

 

 

 

Original article researched and written by Klook contributor, Jo Cooke.