How to do Barcelona on a budget

Cheap places to stay in Barcelona

Out of the tourist centre, but in the increasingly trendy neighbourhood of Sant Antoni, the Market Hotel is a great value option for those who don’t want to compromise on style. Small, smart bedrooms are decorated in black, white and red, and there are appreciated touches such as a bowl of apples at reception and free mineral water. Rooms range from single to superior suites and there is also a reasonably priced restaurant downstairs. You can pick up a double room from €126 a night in July and August or from €81 during the winter low season.

In the Eixample district, Praktik Garden has a plant-filled entrance and lobby made extra colourful by floor-to-ceiling books around the reception desk, and an astroturfed patio area on the first floor. Next to this is a funky lounge area where you can help yourself to Nespresso coffee. The rooms on this floor are more elaborate but more expensive – go for one of the simple economy rooms upstairs, which cost as little as €75 a night in low season.

If you don’t mind sharing a dormitory, consider a hostel for an even cheaper night’s sleep. Hostel One Paralelo and Sant Jordi Hostel Gracia are both good options.

Cheap eats in Barcelona

Tapas is a staple on most menus in Spain and it’s brilliantly cheap, averaging €4 - €6 a dish. Look to traditional bars and restaurants away from the main tourist streets to have your fill at local prices.

Equally good value is Spain’s menu del dia. Most restaurants offer this fixed-price menu at lunchtime (usually around €15, including one drink), so it’s a good idea to make this your main meal of the day.

Les Quinze Nits, is one of a chain of budget restaurants, though you’d never know, given the unique visual character of each. This one sits in the Plaça Reial, and has a large terrace under the arcades from which you can people-watch in the square. The food is a mix of Catalan and international dishes, and is a great price considering the elegant setting. Mains range from €9 to €18 a head.

It’s a shame to be on the Med and not try some seafood, but it can get very expensive. La Paradeta strips dining down to its essentials, with formica tables and a system where you collect your food from a hatch when it’s ready. The fish and shellfish – which you can choose yourself from a large, chipped ice-covered stall – is as fresh and superb quality as you’ll find anywhere. Enjoy a meal with drinks for under €20 a person.

Free and cheap things to see in Barcelona

The tourist office issues three- to five-day ‘Barcelona Cards’ (from €55) for transport and sightseeing, but they tend not to be value for money unless you have a punishing schedule of travelling and museum-hopping planned (and bear in mind that most places in Barcelona are within walking distance).

Better is the Articket (€38), which is valid for a year and allows entry to six of the city’s best art museums, including the Museu Picasso, the MACBA, the MNAC and the Fundació Miró.

A lot of Gaudí’s buildings are wildly expensive to get into, with long queues, but a stroll up the Passeig de Gràcia will take you past the façades of two of the finest: the colourfully tiled, dragon shaped Casa Batlló (no.43) and his maritime-themed apartment block La Pedrera.

You’ll also see plenty of other masterpieces of Modernisme architecture – just next to the Casa Batlló is the geometrically designed Casa Amatller, and on the southern corner of the same block, the frothy Casa Lleó i Morera.

Like all city-run museums in Barcelona, the Museu Picasso is free to visit on the first Sunday of the month, as well as at certain times during the week (from 5pm to 7pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons between 2 May and 31 October, otherwise €14). It’s housed in a set of beautifully preserved merchant’s mansions from the 15th century and contains hundreds of pieces of interest to Picasso fans. The museum also has some of the best temporary exhibitions in town.

The cheapest ways to get around Barcelona

The simplest way to get into town from the airport is on the Aerobus, with a journey time of around 35 minutes from the airport to Plaça Catalunya (€12.50 return). Alternatively, taxis are safe and reliable, with prices that are metered rather than fixed – split between multiple passengers, it can be a cost-effective option.

Barcelona is very easy to get around, and distances are – in most cases – walkable. If you do want to rest your feet, a T-casual (available in metro stations) starts at €12.15 for Zone 1 travel and allows ten journeys by bus, metro or local train (combinations are allowed), plus can be shared with more than one person.

You can also check out the city’s e-bike scheme, AMBici, which offers passes per use or at flat rates. The first 30 minutes costs just €0.15, then €0.50 for each additional 30 minutes up to 2 hours.

Insider tips

• If you can, avoid visiting the city in high season, particularly Easter week and between July and September, when hotel prices skyrocket and many restaurants are closed.
• Many sights offer online ticketing, which is generally 10-15% cheaper than buying tickets on the door. If you intend to take a trip on a tourist bus, do this first as they’ll give you discount vouchers for various attractions.
• Tap water is safe to drink in Barcelona so bring a reusable water bottle with you and fill up for free in your accommodation rather than buying bottled water.
• For cheap eats on the go, look out for daily food markets where you can pick up fresh breads, cheeses and fruit and vegetables for just a few euros.

*Please note: all prices correct at time of writing.