Can Barcelona be a cheap city?

'Barcelona és bona si la bossa sona' this expression in Catalan means that Barcelona is good if the purse jingles, but I'm here to show you that you can have a very good time, even if your purse is empty or almost empty.


As Barcelona is a Mediterranean city, life is in the street; so many things can be done in it, but there are even cheaper choices than these. Let's see some of them:


Theater: Barcelona is plenty of them, but as in any part of the world you have to pay to see a play, except if you go to a rehearsal. At this moment, on February 2010,  American Buffalo of Julio Manrique can be seen at Teatre lliure in Plaça de Margarida Xirgu, 1 (Poble-sec) T. 93 289 27 70 (www.teatrelliure.com).


Balearic folklore in the street: if you are in Barcelona and you want to enjoy the atmosphere of popular festivals in Mallorca, you can stroll through Gracia quarter at the end of January. You will find els Foguerons de Sant Antoni de sa Pobla (Majorcan village) and the xeremiers, puppets, bagpipes, cercavila, "giants", trabucaires, "demons"... and finally, when the night comes the burning of bonfires, and dancing and singing around the fire. It has never been so cheap to go to the Balearic Iles (ses illes!). You will find it in Barcelona in Travessia de Sant Antoni, 6-8 (Gràcia) T. 93 218 44 85 (www.tradicionarius.com)


To dance: If what you want is to shake your bones without spending a pound, you have to go

to Marula. You will find there a wooden dancing floor to stomp until the floor breaks. You will find it at Escudellers, 49 (Gòtic) (www.marulacafe.com)


Barter: You don't have money, but you came with the burden of an appliance like a hair dryer or a ping pong paddle you don't want to carry back to your country. What to do with that? You can exchange it in some of the exchange markets temporarily installed in the city. You will find information about dates and schedules in: www.intercanvis.org

Puppets: I'm not talking about the american TV show the Muppets, I'm talking about traditional puppeteers, who are nomads and go from one part of the world to the other to show their art. In Barcelona we have Brazilian, French, Scottish, even Catalan puppeteers! who perform this noble profession. You will find them at the English Yard of CaixaForum at Av. del Marquès de Comillas, 6-8  (Montjuïc) T. 93 476 86 00 (obrasocial.lacaixa.es)


There are many activities that can be done without spending money, or just for a coffee; All you have to do is sit down at one of the several terraces in Barcelona and enjoy the human landscape that the city offers.


But if you still need information about free activities or very cheap activities in Barcelona you have to read this article. The only thing you have to do it is to learn Catalan. Easy!

Information offered by Holiday apartments in Barcelona. Old Barcelona Flats


If you are interested in to rent a flat in Barcelona near some of the areas I described, here I attach you some links:

- Ample apartment in Barcelona Gothic area

- Mercé apartment in Barcelona Gothic area

- Gotic apartment in Barcelona Gothic area


Pau Nadal
e-mail: info@oldbarcelonaflats.com
Tel +34 676 433 037