Sunday in Barcelona means rest

It may seem like a simple question at first glance – what would you do on Sunday – but don't be fooled! The Spanish put a lot of value on traditions, so the last day of the week is a day of rest for them. This originally ecclesiastical tradition is supported in Barcelona by a law that forbids all private entities to be open on Sundays. In other words from the perspective of shopping and stores Sunday is killed. 

What does this mean in practice?

If you go shopping in the city on a Sunday, you will quickly cry - up to 90% of the shops that would otherwise be open are closed. This applies not only to souvenir shops or clothing shops, but also to food and all other markets. Buying food on Sunday is simply a problem, so my recommendation is simple: pre-stock on Saturday. 

But if you don't buy, you won't starve to death. Restaurants are working normally here, so you can go for some good paella, tapas or other typical spanish food.

So I really can't shop on Sundays? 

There are a few exceptions, but for how big Barcelona is, it's just a drop in the ocean. The only mall not far from the center that is open on Sundays is Mare Magnum nearby La Rambla port. Apart from it, with a bit of luck you will come across an open convenience store or other smaller shop. But it's not really great fame. You should just rest on Sunday. 

Go to the museum!

You can find it in Barcelona a really nice row of museums. And many of them use rest Sundays to offer free admission to their visitors! Some throughout the day, others after 15.00 p.m. This is precisely why this pastime on Sundays is the most popular with tourists, so if you too want to go out for culture on this festive day, I recommend going as soon as possible - this way you can avoid the queues. These are typical, for example, of Pablo Picasso's Museum, where hour-long queues on Sundays are nothing special. You can find a list of museums with free admission at the relevant page. 

Get out of town

If you don't want to stay in the city, Sunday is the perfect day for a little trip. You can, for example, take a train outside the city, for example to discover the beauty of the small town of Figueres, where it has its own Salvador Dali Museum, to historical Tarragona or a bit further away Girona. And what about the tourist resorts located to the north Costa Brava like Calella or Lloret de Mar? There are many options...

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👇 Don't miss this!

  • Discount tourist cards—save on city transportation and get free admission to museums and landmarks, plus great discounts at shops and restaurants.
  • Buy tickets online—save money, time, and stress by purchasing admission to attractions from the comfort of your home through the Barcelona Tourist Office’s online store; if you’ve never bought tickets online before, read my detailed guide along with my personal experience on how to do it.
  • Find Accommodations—plenty of hotels, hostels, and guesthouses at reasonable prices. You can book immediately and pay after your stay.
  • Rent a car—if you don’t want to walk or want to venture further out of Barcelona, try Rental Cars. They’ll deliver the car to the airport, and you won’t have to worry about a thing.

Map with my tips for places in Barcelona

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