Something that really surprised me when I first arrived in Barcelona was the number of free classes or trial sessions you can find. It’s like the city gently pushes you to discover new things without making you commit from day one. And honestly, I say this with love: sometimes you don’t even know what you like until you try it. And I’m not just talking about gyms. There are dance, music, sports, writing, acroyoga, pole dance, theater. Most studios or centers will offer at least one free class or a super cheap trial so you can experience it before deciding. For me, that was one of the best surprises when I got here.

In my case, I jumped straight into dance classes. I went to a contemporary one and another in twerking – both in studios that offered the first class for free or for €5. The vibe is usually super relaxed, lots of people come alone, and no one’s judging you. But what inspires me even more is seeing friends trying things they never thought they would. One friend took an indoor climbing class, another one tried music production, and someone else went for African dance, improv theater, and even something called ecstatic dance – which sounds weird but is apparently a whole experience. Studios like Swing Maniacs, La Caldera, Dance Emotion, or Yogalinda often offer first classes for free. Big gyms like Dir, VivaGym, Anytime Fitness, or Altafit also have trial days. Sometimes you just have to ask, other times you sign up online – but the option is usually there.

Beyond physical movement, I’ve also seen free spaces for creative writing, guided meditation, singing, ukulele, restorative yoga, or even uncommon languages. Many cultural centers (Japanese, Greek, Russian…) host open days with free workshops during the summer. And the best part? You don’t need to go with anyone. In fact, sometimes going alone is what really lets you drop your guard and just go for it.