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 Hotel Market 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 €95 (£81) a night.

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 €76 (£65) a night.

If you don’t mind sharing a dormitory, consider a hostel for an even cheaper night’s sleep. Onefam Paralelo Hostel and Sant Jordi Hostels 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 (£3.50 - £5) 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/£13, 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 around €9 to €17 a head (£8 - £14.50).

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 (£17) a person.

Free and cheap things to see in Barcelona

The tourist office issues three- to five-day ‘Barcelona Cards’ (from €57/£48.60) 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).

Plan your own itinerary with these low-cost sights and attractions instead.

Architecture

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.

There are plenty of other beautiful buildings in Barcelona that you can admire from the outside for free. Head to the Gothic Quarter to see the towering spires of Barcelona Cathedral or El Born to gaze at the elaborate facade of the Palau de la Música Catalana music hall.

Museums

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 7pm to 9pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, otherwise €12/£10.25). 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.

Tickets for the Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA) start from a more reasonable €7.30 (£6.20), where you can see vast Roman remains and exhibits that trace the evolution of the city.

If museums are a priority for you, consider an Articket (€38/£32.40) 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.

Outdoor spaces

Barcelona is full of gorgeous outdoor spaces that don’t cost a penny to enjoy. For something green, head to Ciutadella Park to enjoy leisurely strolls past fountains and picnics on the pretty lawns, or the Botanical Garden of Barcelona on the slopes of Montjuïc for a melody of Mediterranean plants. Entry is free on the first Sunday of the month and after 3pm on all other Sundays. Otherwise it's €5 (£4.25) for general admission (€2.50/£2.10 for 16-29s).

Prefer golden sand? Barcelona has ten glorious beaches to choose from. Platja del Bogatell is considered one of the best with tons of space and family-friendly amenities. Swim or sunbathe until your heart’s content, or bring your own snorkel or surf board to enjoy watersports on the cheap.

Elsewhere, you can people-watch or window-shop along the tree-lined boulevard of the city’s most famous street, La Rambla, for free.

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 (€12.85/£11 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 €12.55 (£10.70) 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 (13p), then €0.50 (43p) 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 as of 25 April 2025.