The first is Caixa Forum. This is a museum run by the bank, La Caixa, and until May 2013, entrance to its rotating exhibitions was free. Say so long to an inexpensive Sunday at the museums! The funny thing about the Caixa Forum charging is that it is not a government-run entity (where most of our cuts are taking place in Spain), but a bank… or wait a minute, maybe those two are one in the same these days?

Hard to say, but in any case they will charge you €4 to get into the museum unless you’re a Caixa bank member. Most visitors to Barcelona are not Caixa bank members. Which leads us to the logical question: Is it worth 4? Eh…. Depends on what exhibition is on and your interest level, but probably not. There are other museums I’d pay to get into before Caixa Forum, like MNAC.

In addition, the beloved and crowded Park Güell is going to have an entrance fee come October 2013. Honestly, this is not that surprising. Park Güell, along with La Sagrada Familia, are two of the biggest Gaudí draws in the city. I can’t believe they haven’t been charging folks to get in there for years. Such as it is, the party is over. Unless you live in the area, you’ll have to pay €8 euros to get in.

Is it worth it? Hmmm, yeah, probably. I’d pay to go in Park Güell before paying to go in La Sagrada Familia. I’d see La Sagrada Familia from the outside and Park Güell from the inside.

You’ll be pleased to know that walking on the beach and breathing air are still free activities in Barcelona. But it may only be a matter of time!

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I adore its weird mosaics, spooky fairyland houses and dramatic “market” area. Touring the park gives visitors a more in-depth look at Gaudí’s genius.

While it’s a bit of a drag getting up to the park, it’s worth it, especially on a sunny, clear day when you will be able to see the entire city spread out before you like an apron tied around the tummy of the mountain.

It’s a spectacular vista indeed from the park’s 3,000 sq. meter mosaic patio, with the Mediterranean in the distance. This is where you will want to get a couple choice photos to put up on Facebook immediately. All your friends will be jealous of your fabulous Barcelona vacation.

So here are a few tips for making the most of your trip up to Gaudí’s wonderland:

Hydrate!

First of all, bring H2O or some other beverage. If not you’ll be forced to buy from the cafe on-site which is really pricey. They sell sangria at this cafe. Do yourself a favor and don’t buy it, because it’s not of good quality (most sangria is not, and most Spaniards don’t drink it, go figure).

If you’re going up to the park for the day, pack a lunch and then have a picnic off one of the trails.

Stay alert

As you’re strolling along the paths that wind through the vast park, be alert and keep an eye on your stuff.

It’s sad to say, but Barcelona has a ton of petty crime. Where there are tourists, there are thieves. Don’t wander the upper trails with your $900 camera around your neck and you should be fine.

As a woman, I don’t think I would walk those upper trails sola. That was my impression on my last visit a couple months ago, due to the men I saw lurking in the bushes and running off into the forest. However, please don’t think that Park Güell is dangerous, it’s not. Just be aware, that’s all.

Go home with Gaudi

Gaudí’s home is open to visitors and should definitely be on your “to do” list. The house was built in 1903 and the famous architect lived there for about 20 years. Many of his belongings are still exhibited in the house, and it’s an interesting look into what life was like in the early 20th century.

Go to market

Afterward, hear music by local guitarists while you admire the intricate rosette ceiling in the covered market place. The covered area is held up by 90 columns and is a sweet spot to get out of the sun and chill for a bit while hearing some, usually, very talented buskers.

Walking to and from the Metro

Walk up and back from the park from the Lesseps Metro stop. You need to be in shape to do this jaunt as it is uphill for a good 15 to 20 minutes. Coming back is easier.

Or take buses 24 – 31 – 32 – 74 – 92 which will get you close to the main gate. If there are four of you, split a cab up to the parkby far the easies way to get there.

Admission: The park was free to visit until 2013, when the city announced that they will start charging €8 to visit in October 2013.

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You have a coffee, munch a croissant, ride the bus and buy a postcard for your mom and BAM!…. another €10 is gone! This is a city where it is very easy to spend money at a rapid clip. Here are a few places where it pays to lay down your euro bucks:

1. Rent a bike

A bike tour with most cycle companies in the city is about €20. Instead, rent a bike for four hours for €10, get out your map and create your own bike tour! It’s best to stick to the bike lanes and paths near the beach. http://www.barcelonarentabike.com/en/

2. See a Spanish movie

Obviously there is a language issue with this idea, but if you do speak Castellano, then try out your verbs and vocabulary at one of Barcelona’s many cinemas! This can be a relaxing way to end an evening if you have been trekking around the metropolis all day. Renoir is my cinema pick for Spanish films and other original version films. Films cost about €7 each. (Watch out; popcorn will put you over €10.)

3. Visit a market

Barcelona has some fantastic markets which are, of course, all free to visit. Stop into Santa Caterina Market in the morning and spend your €10 on lunch inside the market (Plaça de les Glories Catalane, C/ Dos de Maig, 186). Or head to Encants Market (Mon/Wed/Sat from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.) to check out Barcelona’s best flea market. You never know what treasures you may come across!

I love going to flea markets because in many ways it’s like a history lesson from the place I am visiting. Looking through people’s junk from 50 years ago, you get an idea of what life was like in Barcelona once-upon-a-time….

4. Tour Catalunya Caixa’s Casa Milà

Believe it or not, this one is FREE. So you just saved €10, which means more Spanish Rioja wine for you later. One of the best deals in the city, Catalunya Caixa’s Casa Milà houses rotating art exhibitions. Check ahead to see what’s on but know that their shows are always top quality. Casa Milà is also one of Gaudí’s most important buildings (but you’ll have to pay more to go into the Gaudí Museum part). http://www.lapedreraeducacio.org/

5. Groove at a Jamboree Jazz Concert

In the Gothic Quarter, I adore Jamboree and its fabulous line-up of jazz, blues and soul concerts nightly. The best part about it is that almost all their shows are €10. Sometimes they bring in a Big Dog in the jazz scene and tickets shoot up to €15 or €20, but this is an exception to the rule. See their line-up ahead of time and get your tickets in advance to save. http://www.masimas.com

6. Wander Park Guell

Another freebie! Well, almost free, seeing as you have to pay for the bus ticket up to the park. If you are in good shape do yourself a favor and don’t take the bus. Instead take the Metro to “Lesseps” and walk up, up, up to the park’s main entrance. Then walk some more inside this weird Gaudí wonderland. If you do take public transportation, you’ll only pay about €3 for transportation there and back. Use your remaining €7 to get a drink in the park and tip the many musicians who play along the pathways. http://www.gaudiallgaudi.com/

Update 2013: Sadly, the city announced that they will start charging €8 to visit Park Guell as of October 2013.

7. Jam Sessions at Jazz Si

This place is great and I would go there a lot more often if their concert times weren’t so early. By early I mean the Saturday Night Jazz Jam session begins at 7:45 p.m. Not early in most parts of the world, but basically the afternoon in Spain. Still, for €5 a concert, Jazz Si is a steal. Also consider their Rock-Pop-Blues-Funk Jam Session on Tuesdays. (Note: Get there early, as this place is popular!) Address: Club del Taller de Músics, C/ Requesens, 2 – Barcelona.

8. Picnic in the Park

On a sunny day, pack yourself a picnic of bread, cheese, ham and a bottle of Rioja and head to Park Ciutadella in Barcelona’s city center. Walk around the park taking a peek at the Zoo (warning: expensive to get in), the gardens, the palms, the man-made lake and the elaborate fountain.

On certain evenings in the summertime there is free live music at the gazebo in Park Ciutadella, one of my favorite Barcelona perks! The cost is in the food for this outing, as a visit to the park is free. If you want to take a boat out on the pond, that’s a bit more, and not really worth it.  http://www.bcn.es/

9. Castle on the mountain

Take the zipper train up the mountain to the Castillo de Montjuic. Again, the cost for this outing is in the transportation, as getting into the castle, which dates back to the early 1600’s and has a dark past, is free. Honestly, there are some fabulous views to be had from the castle and it’s well worth the trip to get an idea of how the city is laid out. There is a small restaurant inside the castle offering snacks and lunch, but not much else. http://www.castillomontjuic.com/

10. Tours with Runner Beans

Runner Beans offers free tours of Barcelona’s old city center every day at 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The guides take you on a two-hour tour and you tip them at the end depending on the experience.

Obviously, this is how the guides make all their money, so it is important to tip. I have not been on one of these tours, but have heard a lot about them, as this is a new concept in Barcelona. Would you tip your guide €10? Maybe. Or maybe €7 with €3 leftover for a cafe con leche. http://www.runnerbeantours.com/

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