Five free things to do in Barcelona

There are no shortage of luxury hotels in Barcelona, as well as numerous designer shops and chic clubs. However sometimes you need something shoestring, basic or just downright free.  Here are my pics for the top five free things to do in Barcelona:

• See some Gaudi
The Catalan art nouveau architect turned parts of Bareclona into a giant objet d’art with his unique, surreal, designs. Some of the most stunning pieces of Gaudi’s work include the Sagrada Familia, which is the most visited attraction in Barcelona, and Park Guell; a garden area which is complete with giant mosaics, dragon statues and is also the site of Gaudi’s old home.

• Soak up some culture
Barcelona has a great art scene and, what’s more, many museums and galleries have free entry, meaning you can expand your mind without lightening your wallet .The Metronom houses experimental, cutting edge art, screenings and lectures whilst the Caixa Forum offers collections by national and international artists on a rotating basis. If you’re intrigued by the city’s Roman past head to Museu D’Arqueologica de Catalunya which offers a glimpse into the city’s Roman past for a bargain price of €3.00.

• Head to the beach
One of Barcelona’s greatest selling points is the 4.2 km of sandy beaches that line its coast, just ten minutes from the city centre. You can sunbathe, swim, drink a cocktail and enjoy the view or even windsurf; and all within the confines of a city break! Barceloneta beach is one of the more popular ones, however, be warned it can get crowded in peak season.

• Visit the cathedral
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia is a gothic cathedral that also acts as the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona. The cathedral wasn’t completed until the twentieth century; however, construction began as early as the thirteenth century. Interesting fact: there are always thirteen geese in the central courtyard of the cloister. Each goose represents on year in the life of the young virginal martyr from whom the church took its name.

• Head to Montjuic hill
Roughly translated as ‘the hill of the Jews’ in medieval Catalan language, Monjuic Hill has views overlooking Barcelona’s harbour and comes complete with a seventeenth century fortress, once used to house political prisoners. There are also numerous impressive constructions including the Palau Nacional, the Olympic Stadium and the beautiful Font Magica Fountains. Then Olympic Stadium was refurnished for the 1992 Summer Olympics and the diving pool was even used as the setting for Kylie Minogues ‘Slow’ music video!

This is a guest post written by Helen who works for travel site Simonseeks: inspirational travel guides and cheap Madrid Hotels.

Feel free to ask a question or leave a reply!