Free things to do in Barcelona when you're 18 to 26
Updated on
You can fill a week in Barcelona without buying a single ticket. About a dozen museums are free on Sunday afternoons, and many are also free all day on the first Sunday of the month. The MNAC adds Saturdays from 3 pm. Beaches, the Carmel bunkers and libraries cost nothing. In late September, La Mercè fills the city with free open-air concerts.
Everything below was checked against official websites on the date this guide was updated. Opening times change with the seasons, so click through before you set off.
Free museums: Sunday afternoons and the first Sunday
This is the most useful rule in the city. The council sums it up on its free museum Sundays page.
| Museum | When it's free | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| MUHBA (every site except Park Güell) | Sunday afternoons, first Sunday all day | Not stated |
| Museu de la Música and Museu del Disseny | Sundays from 3 pm, first Sunday all day | Not stated |
| Museu Blau and Jardí Botànic | Sundays from 3 pm, first Sunday all day | Not stated |
| Museu Frederic Marès, Pedralbes Monastery and Museu de Cultures del Món | Sunday afternoons, first Sunday all day | Not stated |
| Montjuïc Castle | Sundays from 3 pm, first Sunday all day | Not stated |
| Museu Marítim | Sundays from 3 pm | Not stated |
| CCCB | Sundays, 3 pm to 8 pm | Yes |
| Museu Picasso | First Sunday of the month | Yes |
| MNAC | Saturdays from 3 pm, first Sunday of the month | Yes, online |
For the MNAC, book your free slot on its opening hours and prices page. Can't make a weekend? A Carnet Jove (the Catalan youth card) gets you 50% off the general ticket.
Once a year it all goes up a notch. Museum Night takes place in May: in 2026 it fell on Saturday 16 May, from 7 pm to 1 am, with 94 venues open and free entry.
Montjuïc for nothing
Walk up from Plaça d'Espanya. On a Saturday afternoon, stop at the MNAC, then carry on to Montjuïc Castle. It has a 360-degree viewpoint, and entry is free on Sunday afternoons. The castle opens daily from 10 am to 8 pm until 31 October, then 10 am to 6 pm from November to February.
After dark, the Magic Fountain puts on open-air water, light and music shows. Days and times change with the season, so check the official Magic Fountain show times first.
Viewpoints: yes to the bunkers, no to Collserola
The "bunkers del Carmel" are the old anti-aircraft battery on Turó de la Rovira, now run by the Barcelona History Museum. Access is free. The exhibition spaces open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. From October to May the hours are 10 am to 2 pm, and they change in summer, according to the official Turó de la Rovira page. The hilltop site is locked at night.
Collserola is off the table for now. Since 12 March 2026, access to the natural areas of the whole park has been closed because of African swine fever. Leisure and sport are not allowed in the woodland or on unpaved paths and tracks. At the time of writing the restriction is still in force. Check the Collserola Natural Park page on swine fever before planning a hike.
Beaches
Under Spain's Coastal Law, beaches are free and open to everyone. In Barcelona they run from Sant Sebastià to Llevant and the Fòrum bathing area. In between come La Barceloneta, Somorrostro, Nova Icària, Bogatell and Mar Bella. In 2026 lifeguards were on duty in stages between 28 March and 4 October. Outside the bathing season there is no lifeguard service, only the 112 emergency line. Each year's calendar is on the bathing season page.
Free festivals and concerts
La Mercè is Barcelona's main festival, built around 24 September (a public holiday in the city). In 2026 it ran from 23 to 27 September with 109 concerts, a correfoc (fire run) and street shows across all ten districts. Entry to the activities is free, though a few need booking. The programme goes up every year on the official La Mercè website.
Every August, the Festa Major de Gràcia brings streets decorated by the residents themselves. Our guide to things to do in Gràcia covers it.
Libraries: the everyday free option
A Barcelona library card is free. Apply online, pick it up at the library of your choice and use it at every public library in the city. You get loans and wifi, reading clubs and a newsletter with discounts at museums, theatres and cinemas.
Revising for exams? Biblioteca Jaume Fuster (Plaça de Lesseps) has a late-night study room open Monday to Thursday from 8.30 pm to midnight, between 1 September and 31 July.
Where to see what's on this week
The Guia Barcelona listings bring together events across the city, and each listing has a prices section. To get between neighbourhoods without counting every fare, read our T-jove guide. Just arrived? Start with the Erasmus paperwork checklist.
FAQ
What museums are free in Barcelona on Sundays?
Council-run museums such as the MUHBA, the Museu del Disseny, the Museu Blau and Montjuïc Castle are free in the afternoon, most of them from 3 pm. So are the Museu Marítim and the CCCB (booking needed). On the first Sunday of the month the council museums are free all day.
Which museums are free on the first Sunday of the month?
The council museums all day, plus the Museu Picasso and the MNAC. Both of those ask you to book your free ticket online.
What free things can I do in Barcelona this weekend?
Check the listings on guia.barcelona.cat, where each event shows its price. If it's Sunday afternoon, the council museums won't charge you.
Are the Bunkers del Carmel free?
Yes, access is free. The exhibition spaces keep shorter hours and the site is locked at night.
Can I go hiking in Collserola right now?
Not in the woodland. Access to the natural areas has been closed since 12 March 2026 because of African swine fever, and no reopening date has been set so far.
When is La Mercè in Barcelona?
Around 24 September. In 2026 it ran from 23 to 27 September, and each year's programme is published at barcelona.cat/lamerce.