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Free Barcelona Walking Tours

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There are several types of free walking tours in Barcelona, Spain with most companies employing local guides and offering both a Gothic Quarter as well as a Gaudi/Modernism tour.

But there are also free tours that focus on street art as well as a free bike tour available.

In this post, we will explain your options, and provide schedules, and a calendar. 

In Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, there are many self-guided tours as well as talks at museums and historic sights that truly cost nothing.

It's easy to walk around Barcelona, especially the Gothic Quarter and other older neighborhoods.

However, most people understand the term 'free tours' to be guided walks that operate on a ‘name-your-own-price’ model or what’s usually called a ‘tips-only-basis’.

Free Tour Barcelona

There is no cost to take a tour. So, technically, these tours are free.

After the tour, you are encouraged to decide how much you thought it was worth or what you could afford, even nothing.

According to reviews on Google and TripAdvisor, past participants seem to leave between €5-€15 per adult.

The tours listed below are run through us. More tours are available in the following sections.

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Here is a calendar with more of the best free walking tours in Barcelona.

Many people are drawn to these tours because they are convenient, affordable, and entertaining.


TIP: If you are planning on purchasing a tourist attraction discount pass, such as the Barcelona Pass, then note that most already include a walking tour of the Old Town and Gothic Quarter for free (not pay-what-you-wish).

Free Walking Tour Barcelona Pass

These passes also include free tickets to museums as well as hop-on-hop-off bus tickets and boat tours.

Learn more about the different Barcelona tourist passes.


FREE TOURS GOTHIC QUARTER

Signs on the street that simply say, "Free Tour of Barcelona" are likely referring to this district.

Several companies offer pay-what-you-want walking tours in the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic). which is arguably the most historic area in the city.

Most companies are local, while a few offer tours here and throughout Europe.

Whether you want to see some of the most notable sites or you’re interested in learning about the significance of major landmarks, these free walking tours serve as an excellent introduction to Barcelona.

Free Gothic Quarter Tour

During these outings, you can expect to visit some of the following locations:

  • Plaça de L'Àngel
  • Mirador del Rei Martí
  • Plaça Sant Jaume
  • Palau de la Generalitat
  • Basilica de Santa María del Mar
  • Roman Necropolis
  • Las Ramblas
  • Old Jewish Quarter
  • And more!

If these sites are of interest, consider taking one of these free Gothic Quarter walking tours to learn more about them.

Some tours extend just outside of the quarter and visit sights such as the Arc de Triomf.


Barceno Tours

Donkey Tours Barcelona

We like Barceno Tours because they are founded and run by local Barcelonians and are very well-reviewed, with 5 of 5 stars on TripAdvisor.

Their Gothic District tour is available daily at 10:30 in English and Spanish, with more offerings for Spanish.

To start the tour, you will find your guide in PLAZA CATALUÑA #4 with a Pink Umbrella.

Book this tour or get more details.


Donkey Tours

Like Barceno, this is a local company with great reviews.

Their Gothic District tour is available daily at 10:00 am, 11:00 am & 15:30 pm in English and Spanish, with more offerings for Spanish.

The tour lasts for 2 hours and 15 minutes.

The meeting point of the tour is Plaça Nova, 1, 08002 Barcelona, Spain.

To find your guide, just look for the yellow umbrellas in Plaça Nova, next to the Barcelona Cathedral.

Book this tour or get more details.


Other Companies

  • Excursions Barcelona
  • Free Walking Tours Barcelona
  • Runner Bean Tours

SELF-GUIDED AND AUDIO TOURS

Rick Steves offers an excellent free audio tour you can use anytime you want.

His audio tours are well-produced, easy to follow, and a pleasure to listen to.

The only caveat is that his target audience is Americans, so you might occasionally hear measurements described in Imperial rather than Metric.

Self-Guided Gothic Tour of Barcelona:

This self-guided tour will show you all the main sights of the Mediterranean’s most vivacious city from the Barcelona Cathedral to the Jewish Quarter.

You'll discover some of the most beautiful views and awe-inspiring architecture spanning centuries.


MODERNISM + FREE GAUDI TOURS

Visitors who want to learn about the artistic history of Barcelona will be glad to hear that there are several free walking tours covering this subject.

On these outings, you’ll learn about how architects and artists such as Antoni Gaudi and Pablo Picasso contributed to the artistic movement of modernism.

You will see many of the sights that were inspired by their visions, some of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Sagrada Familia

These tours explain the representations of symbolism and help guests to understand the significance of the art and architecture they will see along the way.

Here are a few of the sites you can expect to see on these pay-what-you-wish tours:

  • La Sagrada Familia
  • Casa Lleó i Morera
  • Casa Batlló
  • Casa Ametller
  • Palau Güell
  • Casa Milá
  • Eixample District
  • And more!

Learn about all these locations and see the masterpieces by taking one of the following tours.


Barkeno

Their Gaudí, La Sagrada Familia, and Modernism Tour takes place daily at 10:00 am & 4:00 pm.

The total duration of the tour is 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Your tour will start outside the FNAC store at the corner of Bergara Street with Plaza Cataluña.

Your tour guide will wait with a PINK umbrella of Barkeno Tours.

Reservations are required. Book this tour here.


SELF-GUIDED GAUDI TOURS

We offer a self-guided tour covering all of the main Gaudí sites. As they are spread out, we will need to twice jump on the metro system.

If you are planning on paying to enter the Gaudí houses, the monumental zone of the Park Güell, or la Sagrada Família, you should plan and book tickets to avoid the lines.


FREE NIGHTLIFE BARCELONA TOUR

While most Barcelona night tours are paid outings, there is at least one free night tour available which shows guests a side of the city they probably won’t learn about anywhere else.

If you’re interested in learning how sex and drugs came to shape the city you see today, this pay-what-you-wish tour should be quite enlightening!

You can expect to see and discover more about some of the following sites and subjects on this journey:

  • Barrio Gótico
  • Barrio Chino
  • Historic Bars
  • Picasso’s favorite brothel
  • Famous Thieves
  • And more!

Additional Free Tours in Barcelona

There are a variety of other free walking tours provided in Barcelona, and they cover several different subjects that might be of interest.


Free Spanish Civil War Tour

Note: The tour is currently not taking bookings.

If you’re interested in learning about the history of the Civil War that once destroyed parts of Barcelona, Be Local Tours offers a free tour every Wednesday at 11 a.m. 

The tour takes around 2 hours and the meeting point of the tour is the Center of Plaza Universitat.


Raval Underground Tour

Note: Currently unavailable. The paid version of the tour is active.

Alternatively, you may also want to consider taking their Raval Underground tour to see some of the more interesting locations in a neighborhood filled with history, urban art, skaters, and more.

This 2-hour free walking tour is provided every Tuesday at 15:00 (3 p.m.) and every Friday at 11 a.m.


Secrets of El Born Tour

Note: Booking for this tour is currently unavailable..

Be Local Tours also offers a trip that covers some of the secrets and history behind the El Born neighborhood, including stops at locations like Santa Maria del Mar, Parc de la Ciutadella, Palau de la Música Catalana, and more.

Guests can take this 2-hour tour in both English and Spanish every Sunday at 11 a.m. and every Thursday at 15:00 (3 p.m.).

The meeting point of the tour is Plaza Catalunya – Centre of the square.


FREE BIKE TOUR OF BARCELONA

If you want to ride around the city on a bicycle instead of just walking, this free bike tour is an excellent opportunity to see some of the most notable sites in Barcelona on two wheels.

Free Bike Tour Barcelona

The only thing you have to pay for is a bike rental, and that’s very affordable at around €10 per person.

This tour is approximately 3 hours long and it’s available every day at 13:00 (1 pm).


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