VISITS AND VACATIONS

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about

FREE things to do in Barcelona

1- Explore the Roman remains of Barcino

Being built by the Romans, you can expect to find their remains scattered around. Sometimes these ruins are right in front of you and other times… well, you have to find those hidden places.

Roman city wall

You can actually walk around the whole perimeter of the Roman city following explanatory panels. The most spectacular parts are the city entrances at Plaça Nova at Pati Llimona Civic Center and the wall and towers at Plaça Ramon Berenguer. However, the wall is embedded all over the city. You can find it inside the buildings, like at the Mercer Hotel or in other houses along Avinyó Street.

Roman aqueduct

At Plaça del Vuit de Març, the remains of the original aqueduct discovered in the 1980s are on view attached to the walls. Nearby, inside Casa de l’Ardiaca, not only can you enjoy for free its beautiful patio but you can also see the end of the line with the deposit that distributed water to the whole city.

Roman Domus

There are two Roman houses that recently opened to the public: one at Carrer de la Fruita, 2 and the other one at Carrer d’Avinyó, 15. The highlight of the house at Avinyó street is the well-preserved wall murals. Both have a free entrance on the first Sunday of the month from 10 am to 2 pm.

Roman necropolis

Outside the perimeter of the Roman city, at Plaça de la Vila de Madrid, an unexpected burial site was uncovered in the 1950s. A few meters under street level you can see the funeral monuments lined up on both sides of the old road that led to Barcino.

Temple of Augustus

Sure you are not expecting to find the remains of a 2,000 years old temple stuck inside a house. But anything is possible in Barcelona. At the highest point of the Roman City (Carrer del Paradís, 10), after entering the house, four impressive columns are waiting for you. This is what is left of the original temple dedicated to Emperor Augustus, founder of the city.

City History Museum

This is the main place to admire and learn about the legacy of the Romans in Barcelona. The excavations of the 1930s and 1960s uncovered a very interesting part of Barcino, including baths, alleys, houses and wine cellars. It is a fascinating journey in time that I strongly recommend. The museum has a free entrance every Sunday from 3 pm to 8 pm and all day on the first Sunday of the month.

OUR LOCAL TIP: After the walk, have some delicious chocolate with churros at La Granja 1872. But don’t stay at the front! Ask for a table in the back room where you can enjoy your treat beside the late 3rd century AD Roman wall.

2- Enjoy the views from a hilltop

Barcelona is located between the sea and the mountains with Collserola Hill as the perfect backdrop. So, finding a place to climb up for a view is never a problem.

Montjüic Castle

An icon of Barcelona and a great place to take a look at the city and the port. Not only do you have fantastic views of the whole area but there is also a pleasant walk around the perimeter of the castle. A great plan is to get there by metro+funicular and go down on foot by Mirador de l’Alcalde, overlooking the city.

Tibidabo

The name comes from one of the temptations of Christ in the Bible. This time, Barcelona becomes the temptation! The 1905 amusement park and the Church of the Sacred Heart are both located at the top and, on a clear day, it is possible to see as far as Montserrat.

Turó de la Rovira

If you want the perfect photo of Barcelona with the Mediterranean as a backdrop, this is the place. The platforms to relax on are actually the remains of an anti-aircraft battery from the Spanish Civil War. Just try to avoid the sunset when, unfortunately in later years, the place seems to get too packed and noisy.

MNAC terraces

Maybe the views are not as high as in other places but the terrace in front of Catalonia’s National Art Museum is always a very picturesque viewpoint. A visit to the museum with a look at the Magic Fountain show makes it for a perfect evening in Barcelona.

Park Güell

The area outside the Monumental Zone is still free and this includes the Turó de les Tres Creus, the highest point in the park and a fantastic viewpoint overlooking Barcelona. You can even enter the Monumental Zone for free if you arrive before the ticket office opening time and stay inside as long as you want.

OUR LOCAL TIP: After a walk around Montjüic Castle, head towards Mirador del Migdia (a viewpoint on the other side) and end the evening with a drink in the secret cafe beside it. On summer nights there are even free concerts in the garden.

3- Take a Free Walking Tour with a local company

Walking is the best way to see Barcelona and joining a local Free Walking Tour will help you understand a lot better what you are seeing. Runner Bean Tours offers, not one, but two different Free Tours every day, rain or shine. Both tours start at Plaça Reial at 11 am and 4.30 pm (in summer) and 11 am (in winter) and last for approximately 2.5 hours. Numbers are limited so reservations are recommended although not strictly necessary. If you haven’t booked, arrive 20 minutes early to secure a space on the tour of your choice.

and as always have a chilled day fom