Open-air cinema series in Barcelona
During summertime, don’t miss the numerous open-air cinemas in Barcelona! Action, animation, comedy, short-film…You choose!
Open-air cinema: Sala Montjuïc, the famous one
Sala Montjuïc is a veritable institution in Barcelona. It’s been running for over ten years, and continues to attract both locals and the tourist crowd. To find out more about this open-air cinema set against the ramparts of Montjuïc Castle, see our article: Sala Montjuïc: open-air cinema overlooking Barcelona.
How much? Around €6.50
When? From 29th of June to 3rd of August. 3 days a week during the month of July, from 8:30 pm
Where? Montjuïc Castle (Montjuïc). Funicular: from Paral·lel
The laid-back one: Cinema lliure a la platja
Ever seen a film with your feet in the sand? Now you can, thanks to the “Cinema lliure a la platja” (free cinema on the beach) festival, which features both short and full-length screenings. Films are selected from the best entries at a film festival held in Catalonia.
- Most of the films are Catalan or Spanish (with English subtitles), but a few foreign films sometimes make the cut.
The full programme is available on the Cinema lliure a la platja website.
How much? Free
When? From 28th of June to 2nd of August. Depending on the schedule, twice a week after 9pm
Where? Sant Sebastià beach. Metro: Barceloneta (L4)
The picturesque one: Mecal Air
Mecal Air is held on the terrace of the Silken Diagonal hotel or at Poble Espanyol, a timeless setting which is home to life-size models of emblematic monuments from several regions of Spain. It’s worth visiting the festival just for the extraordinary setting!
Film-wise, each Mecal Air session features a series of short films, adverts and/or musical clips based around a chosen theme. Everything is shown in the original language with subtitles in Spanish. There’s a huge variety on offer! Take a look at the Mecal programme and choose the theme which appeals the most.
How much? €6.50, or €3.50 on presentation of a flyer, which you can download from mecalbcn.org
When? June to September, at dusk
Where? Silken Diagonal Hotel or Poble Espanyol (Montjuïc). Metro: Espanya (L1, L3).
The family-friendly one: Cinema a la fresca, Parc de l’Espanya Industrial
Come and enjoy a free open-air screening in the Parc de l’Espanya Industrial!
How much? Free
When? Depending on the schedule
Where? Parc de l’Espanya Industrial. Metro: Tarragona (L3), Hostafrancs (L1) or Plaça de Sants (L1)
The alternative one: Puttanesca
Each summer, the Raval VERD association organises the Puttanesca, a “cinema a la fresca” (open-air cinema). The name is taken from a typical Italian dish, pasta puttanesca, as the theme of the first edition was Italian cinema.
How much? Free
When? TBC
Where? Plaça de Salvador Seguí (Raval). Metro: (L3)
The “intellectual” one: Gandules
is an open-air cinema set up on the terrace of the Barcelona Centre for Contemporary Culture (CCCB). Each year, the museum posts a selection of films on its website, and visitors vote for the ones they want to see at Gandules. Democratic open-air cinema at its best – and what’s more, entry is free!
Films are shown in their original language, and come from a variety of places. See the CCCB website for the full programme.
How much? Free
When? From 7th to 23rd of August, check the programme to get to know the schedule
Where? Patio de les Dones, CCCB (Raval). Metro: Universitat or Catalunya (L1, L2, L3)
