Beach days and the Gothic Quarter, all for free

Here's Barcelona's gift to the budget traveller: two of its best experiences cost nothing. The city beaches stretch for kilometres along the coast, free to enjoy with a towel and a few snacks from the supermarket. And the Gothic Quarter, the tangle of medieval lanes at the city's heart, is made for aimless wandering, with hidden squares, ancient churches, and buskers around every corner. Spend a morning lost in the old streets and an afternoon by the sea and you've had a perfect Barcelona day for the price of lunch. We'll suggest a route through the Gothic Quarter's best corners.