Forbidden Dark History, Spanish

Free Tour Forbidden Barcelona

★ 4.85/5 320 reviews on GuruWalk

Free pay what you want Extra cost on this walk

Run by an independent local guide on GuruWalk

Takes you to the guide's GuruWalk page, where a free place is reserved directly. The guiding itself stays pay what you want.

Duration: 2 hours
Language: Spanish
Meeting point: Plaça Nova, Cathedral
Where it walks: Gothic Quarter
Guide: DonkeyTours Barcelona
What it costs: Free, pay what you want

Overview

This walk spends its full two hours on the darker side of the Old Town, centred on El Raval, and it runs in Spanish only. The guide leads from Plaça Nova, next to the Barcelona Cathedral, under a yellow umbrella, and from there the route works through legends, ghosts, deaths and the story of the Vampire of Raval, described on the tour's GuruWalk page as the most prolific murderer in the country's history. Along the way the group also touches on the neighbourhood's brothels, prostitution and street art, and passes bars frequented by Hemingway, Dalí and Picasso.

Stone medieval street in the Gothic Quarter with tall walls and a distant bell tower

The stops named on the GuruWalk page include Santa María del Pi, Plaza Sant Josep Oriol, a work by Joan Miró, the old brothels, Bar Marsella, Rambla del Raval, Hospital de la Santa Creu, MACBA and the prostitution street. Marijuana in Barcelona is another topic on the route. The tour's own description calls it roughly two hours of mystery and adrenaline, which sets expectations for tone: this is a stories-and-scandals walk, not a conventional sightseeing circuit.

It suits Spanish speakers who want the Raval's lesser-known history rather than the standard Gothic Quarter route. It is free to book, pay what you want at the end, and reservations are handled through GuruWalk. The tour's GuruWalk page notes that spots are limited, so book ahead.

Itinerary

Stop	What Happens
Meet at Plaça Nova	The walk starts at Plaça Nova, beside the Barcelona Cathedral. Look for the yellow umbrella.
Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi	The route's first named stop after the square.
Plaça de Sant Josep Oriol	The next stop, close to the basilica in the Old Town.
Into El Raval	The tour then crosses into El Raval, covering the neighbourhood's history, its old brothels, the Vampire of Raval and topics such as street art and marijuana in Barcelona.
Bar Marsella and Rambla del Raval	The group visits bars associated with Hemingway, Dalí and Picasso, including Bar Marsella, plus Rambla del Raval and Hospital de la Santa Creu.
MACBA and the prostitution street	MACBA and the prostitution street are also among the route's stops.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the tour's own description are worth knowing before you reserve a spot.

Language check. This walk runs in Spanish only. If you do not follow spoken Spanish comfortably, pick an English-language walk instead.
Finding the guide. The guide carries a yellow umbrella at Plaça Nova, next to the Barcelona Cathedral. The tour's GuruWalk page asks you to look for the yellow umbrella specifically.
WhatsApp contact. When booking, the guide asks for a phone number with WhatsApp so the real-time location can be sent if you are running late. Have that ready when you reserve on GuruWalk.
Booking matters. The tour's GuruWalk page states that spots are limited and asks you to reserve only if you are actually coming. Reserve through the walk's GuruWalk page.

Duration	Language	Meeting point	What it costs
2 hours	Spanish	Plaça Nova, Cathedral	Free, pay what you want

Paying what you want. Booking is free and you pay the guide what you think the walk was worth at the end. No amount is set in advance.
Two hours on foot. The route lasts about two hours and covers several streets across the Old Town and El Raval. Wear shoes you can walk in for that length of time.

Common issues. The tour's own description carries a caveat worth weighing. Any group of more than six people, even across separate reservations, must pay the guide a minimum amount per person before the tour begins, so check the walk's GuruWalk page for the exact terms if you are booking for several people.

What Else Costs Nothing

Place	Free Or Ticketed	What Is Free	What You Still Pay For
Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic) streets	Free	Public space, free to walk.	Nothing. There is no ticket to buy here.

Before You Take A Free Walk

Is This Tour Really Free?

Booking is free and the walk is pay what you want: you pay the guide what you think the tour was worth at the end. Reservations are made on GuruWalk, where the walk is.

Where Does The Tour Meet?

The meeting point is Plaça Nova, beside the Barcelona Cathedral. Look for the yellow umbrella. There is no pickup; you make your own way to the square.

How Long Does The Walk Last?

The tour lasts about two hours, as stated on the walk's GuruWalk page. The route has several stops across the Old Town and El Raval.

Is There Anything Extra To Pay?

The walk itself is pay what you want. However, the tour's own terms set a minimum payment per person for groups of more than six, even with separate reservations. Groups should check those terms before booking.

What Should I Bring?

The tour's GuruWalk page asks for a phone number with WhatsApp at booking so the guide can send the real-time location if you are late. Beyond that, bring comfortable shoes and whatever you plan to give the guide at the end.

Can I Just Show Up Without Booking?

The tour's GuruWalk page asks you to reserve if you are coming, because the tour has limited spots. Book through the walk's page on GuruWalk rather than turning up on the day.