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What to Do in Barcelona on Sundays
From the foodie to the art conseniour, Sunday just might become your favorite day in Barcelona! You may have saved up for your big vacation but it can actually be hard to spend money in Barcelona on a Sunday depending on the season. Walking through Placa Catalunya from September to June you can see confused visitors attempting to open the grand doors of Zara or trying to get their picnic items at the Boqueria Market with failed attempts as most retail businesses are closed.
It may not be the best day for a shopping spree, but I can tell you that a Sunday in Barcelona is the perfect day to enjoy life the Spanish way. The end of the weekend is the ideal time to explore weekend markets, discover your favorite museum, uncover one of Barcelona’s many famous churches, adventure outdoors or try any of the numerous streets lined with tapas and wine. There is a plethora of ways to spend a Sunday in Barcelona…
Go to a Weekend Market
La Boqueria market in Barcelona, image sourced from Wikimedia Commons
Looking for unique buys and gourmet treats from the windows of food trucks? One of the many Barcelona weekend markets could be the perfect way to spend your Sunday. Going to a specialty market in Barcelona has to be strategically planned as many of them only happen once a month, but that’s what makes them so special.
Although you can find pop up markets walking around the city, to make your life of planning a little bit easier I’ve listed my 3 favorites for anyone looking for fun and uncommon purchases alongside beer gardens and local vendors.
Palo Alto Market
Palo Alto Market in Barcelona, image by A Little Blonde in Paradise, sourced from Pinterest
The Palo Alto Market is a beautiful pop up market in an old factory. You’ll find food trucks, a beer and wine garden, local art, handmade clothing and jewelry. It’s my personal favorite market in Barcelona to relax and spend the day.
Sunday Hours: 11a.m-9p.m/ every first Sunday of the month
Get Tickets HERE: ($5 ENTRY)
Who doesn’t love a good flea market? I stumbled upon this hidden gem and found my favorite 50’s style sunglasses, a watermelon button up and my flashy glittery earring all for under twenty euros. Located in the middle of the city, you can find styles from every decade here in between old furniture, hand made jewelry and someone’s great grandfather’s record collection.
Fleadonia happens every first Sunday of the month at Placa Salvador Segui in El Raval and it’s sister market, El Flea, can be found the second Sunday of the month in Placa Blanquerna in El Raval.
Sunday Hours: 10a.m-7p.m /every first & second Sunday
Get More Info HERE
Barcelona Vintage Market
Market and gallery at Nau Bostik, image sourced from EllloBregat
Located off the beaten path in the neighborhood in La Sagrera at Nau Bostik. This is easily the hippest place to be on a Sunday. Aside from vintage finds and exceptional food trucks Nau Bostik is an old paint factory turned urban art haven.
From indoor galleries to incredible street murals this is worth a visit. The vintage market happens once month on varying weekends whereas the gallery walls are always open to the public.
Sunday Hours: 11a.m-10p.m/ One Sunday a Month
Get More Info HERE
Visit a Museum, for free
Visiting a museum in Barcelona on Sunday is a great option, but don’t forget to plan ahead. Many of the museums are free the first or third Sunday of the month or after 3p.m, but the cost is that they are often times sold out ahead of time, so get your tickets now! With over fifty-five museums to visit in the city, the options are endless for locals and travelers alike.
Picasso Museum
Picasso Museum in Barcelona, image sourced from Sellex.es
The Picasso museum is a must whilst in Barcelona as each room explores the evolution of Picasso’s creativity. Picasso is a legend in the city where you can find his art, his inspiration and his favorite watering holes scattered throughout the city center. The Picasso museum is free the first Sunday of the month. Be sure to book your tickets ahead as this attraction can be quite popular.
Sunday Hours: 9:00a.m-8: 30p.m
Get Your Tickets HERE
Museum of Natural Sciences Barcelona
Natural Sciences Museum, image sourced from Wikimedia Commons
Calling all nature lovers! The Museum of Natural Sciences often has exhibits going on about the biodiversity of Catalonia and current environmental issues.
Their exhibits are creative, moving and well worth the educational visit. Throughout the year an exhibition on planet life is also featured. It’s located in less crowded part of town with stunning views of the coastline.
Sunday Hours: 10a.m-8p.m
Get Your Tickets HERE
National Art Museum of Catalonia
Art Museum situation in the old Royal Palace, image sourced from Wikimedia Commons
The outside of this incredible building is a site to see of it’s own as it sits upon Montjuic with an epic display of fountains escalating towards the entrance. Within this grand castle you’ll find, among other things, Romanesque and medieval art.
Sunday Hours: 10a.m-3p.m
Get Tickets HERE
Go to Church
After all it is Sunday. Barcelona has some of most beautiful churches in the world and of course they are all open on Sunday. From mountain top cathedrals to Gaudi’s main masterpiece there are plenty of churches to awww you within this Mediterranean city.
Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, image sourced from Wikimedia Commons
Taking the bus here is half the experience as this church is located on top of Mount Tibidabo and can be seen from nearly any part of the city. Admission is free but for two euros you can take the elevator to the top tower and for four euros you can visit the garden terraces.
Sunday Hours: Visiting hours 11:00-8:45/ Mass
Get More Info HERE
Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, image sourced from Wikimedia Commons
I was astonished when I went inside the Sagrada Familia. The glow of the stain glass, the openness and the detail is beyond compare. This is a must see during any trip to Barcelona.
Booking ahead is crucial. I suggest getting tickets later in the day so the setting sun hits the back windows with just right intensity.
Sunday Hours: 9:00a.m-8:00p.m (depending on the season)
Get Your Tickets HERE
The Cathedral of Barcelona
Cathedral of Santa Eulalia in Barcelona, image sourced from Wikimedia Commons
Located in the gorgeous Gothic Quarter surrounded by street performers and small cafes stands the infamous Gothic Cathedral. Inside you’ll find you’ll find a true work of art with Gothic and Baroque alter artifacts.
Sunday Hours: 2-5:30 (different hours for mass)
Get Your Tickets HERE
Get Outside
With 300 days of sunshine a year there are many opportunities to get your daily dose of Vitamin D in Barcelona. The city is surrounded by coastline and mountains with a wide variety of parks to visit in between.
Montjuic
View from Montjuic, image by Kevin Ramirez sourced from Pixabay
Montjuic is the crème de la crème of parks to visit in Barcelona. You could easily spend the entire day getting lost in between gardens and spectacular views. You’ll find the 1992 Olympic Stadium up here along with a full sized Olympic pool with views of the city. The botanical gardens are also free on Sundays!
Sunday Hours: Vary depending on attraction/park open 24 hours
Get More Info HERE
The Labyrinth at Horta
Labyrinth at Horta, photo sourced from Nature Parks in Barcelona
I have a confession, this labyrinth is actually a maze and I never made it to the middle. I suppose it’s for the most patient adventurers but the whole area is gorgeous and reminiscent of a royal garden as it’s located in the oldest park of the city. Horta is out of the main city center and you’ll probably run into more locals than tourists attempting to work your way through.
Sunday Hours: 10a.m-8p.m
Get More Info HERE
The Bunkers El Carmel
Bunkers del Carmel view, image sourced from Wikimedia Commons
It’s about a 30-minute trek up to the top of the bunker’s in the El Carmel neighborhood but it’s while worth the 360-degree view of the city. This area has become a popular spot for sunset so arrive a bit early to find the best seat in the house.
Sunday Hours: 24 hours
Find More Info HERE
Eat and Drink
It’s very hard to go hungry in place like Barcelona where you can’t walk more than 2 minutes without stumbling upon tapas, pinchos or a full jug of sangria. Sunday’s are for relaxing, so why not find a seat outside, enjoy time with friends and celebrate life like a real local.
Eat pinchos on Carrer del Blai
Tapas bars Barcelona, image sourced from Blai Tonight
Carrer Del Blai, also known as Pincho Street, is an outdoor area lined with bars and pinchos. A pincho is easily described as a snack on bread with a stick in it. You eat however many pinchos you would like and the restaurant counts your sticks at the end. Forget bar hopping. Pincho hopping is the way to go on a Sunday afternoon in Barcelona.
Sunday Hours: Hours Vary but most restaurants are open by 1p.m
Brunch in Placa Real
Brunch in Barcelona, photo by Manjen Yuan sourced from Pinterest
Brunch is a growing trend in Barcelona but the most well known area for an assortment of brunch restaurants is the beautiful Placa Real. With numerous restaurants to choose from and a cluster of outdoor seating, Placa Real is the place to be for brunch.
Fun fact for you…the lampposts in the middle of the Plaza were designed by Antonio Gaudi himself.
Sunday Hours: Hours vary. Most restaurants open by 11:00a.m
Find More Info HERE
Drinks and Flamenco at Robadors 23
Flamenco dancers standing back to back, photo by Dolo Iglesias sourced from Unsplash
Okay this is a local secret, so I shouldn’t be telling you, but this is an amazing and authentic place to grab a drink and enjoy Flamenco. You’ll find yourself squeezed shoulder to shoulder in a tiny bar watching the emotion and true passion of Flamenco over a glass of vermouth. This is a special experience that you can thank me for later. DO arrive at opening as the secret is out and the seating is limited.
