Enjoy laid-back leisure time in an exciting destination – Spain! The Iberian country boasts a wealth of diverse landscapes, with towering emerald mountains, vineyards and olive groves, golden sands and scrumptious Mediterranean food. With a colourful, vibrant culture and friendly people, it’s an outstanding destination filled with limitless adventures for all ages – but can you explore Spain on a budget? Let’s take a look!
Travelling to Spain can be expensive, particularly for a family with kids. If you plan your visit in advance, you can begin to counteract any additional costs you could potentially incur during your stay. There are hundreds of cheap and free things to do that won’t break your budget – from photographing historic landmarks to swimming, snorkelling, hiking country trails or discovering wildlife reserves.
Spain is also home to abundant cultural experiences with world-class museums and galleries (some of which are free to enter) and historic UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Then there’s the food – some of the finest in the world, with delicacies including paella, fresh seafood, tapas and churros – delicious doughnut-like strips dipped in hot chocolate.
Exploring Spain can be a magical, unforgettable experience, whether travelling solo, as a couple or with family. Below, we’ll look at how to visit this eclectic European country on a budget and discover how to make the most of your stay so you don’t miss anything!
Affordable Accommodation Options in Spain
What is the key to visiting Spain on a budget? Advance planning! One of the most costly travel elements is choosing the perfect accommodation in an area that suits your interests and those of everyone you’re travelling with.
If you have your sights set on exploring the charming Gothic Quarter, taking the cable car to Montjuic Mountain and admiring Gaudi’s impressive Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona, it’s worth considering that the city is one of the most expensive in Spain. That’s not to say it can’t be done on a budget – it just means a little extra planning and preparation may be required.
For example, you can stay 40 minutes outside Barcelona in a beach resort with cheaper accommodations and gain easy access to the city via train for under $5 per person each way. If you prefer to stay in Barcelona and immerse yourself in the vibrant local culture, you can take advantage of Barcelona’s hostels, pensiones, co-living shared accommodations and rooms in Airbnb, in neighbourhoods slightly away from the city centre.
Fancy heading out into the wilderness in Spain? Northern Spain is great for camping amid the lush mountains of the Pyrenees and near wild, rustic beaches.
If you’re considering where to stay in Madrid, the buzzing capital city boasts many cost-effective accommodations. One and two-star hotels, apartments, and small, friendly hotels in leafy neighbourhoods are located near local produce markets, tapas bars and urban parks for hiking, cycling or picnicking. The transport links are superb, allowing easy access to art galleries, museums, shops and nightlife. You can often find great deals on sites like Booking. com, and you can filter the search to suit your budget and location.
Alicante, Valencia, Malaga and the Canary Islands are blessed with 300+ days of sunshine annually. If you’re considering travelling to any of these destinations – take advantage of seasonal hotel offers (avoiding public holidays) to enjoy a beach and city stay combined for a fraction of peak season prices. Many hotels include breakfast or dinner options and a free shuttle service to and from the airport.
Saving Money on Food and Drinks
Eating like a local is the easiest way to save money on food in Spain. A top tip is to find the local markets – not the touristy ones selling clothing and souvenirs, but the colourful, bustling produce markets.
La Boqueria in Barcelona is one of the most famous markets; however, its location just off Las Ramblas – a major tourist hotspot makes it one of the most expensive. Instead, seek out the neighbourhood markets of Santa Caterina, Mercat de la Concepcio and Mercat de la Llibertat, with family-run stalls and tapas restaurants inside.
Madrid has exceptional food markets, including Mercado de Maravillas, with over 200 stalls selling freshly baked artisan breads, cheeses, olives, meats, fruit and vegetables. It also boasts tapas bars serving deliciously cheap, seasonal local dishes. Mercado de Vallehermosa is another neighbourhood gem, as is Mercado Anton Martin – a two-storey high building with different Spanish foods and organic offerings.
Venture to Granada to see the Alhambra Palace and visit the charming tapas bars along Calle Navas. When you purchase a drink, the bartender hands out free plates of Iberian ham, Manchego cheese, olives, tortilla (Spanish omelette) and bread. You’ll often find locals frequenting these characterful spots in the evenings after work.
In Bilbao, in northern Spain, head for the pintxo bars for cheap eats. Pintxos are the Basque equivalent of tapas – small, tasty bites usually served on rustic bread. They are delicious and reasonably priced, and you can leave satisfied for less than €10/$10,5, including a drink!
Make your main meal of the day lunch in coastal resorts and cities. You’ll often discover chalkboards outside local restaurants advertising a “Menu del Dia”. This is a fixed two or three-course menu with a few options costing between €10-15 per person. It often includes a starter (or dessert), an entree, a glass of wine, beer, or a soft drink. Although it’s not customary to tip in Spain, leaving a little something if you’re happy with the service is polite.
Budget-Friendly Transportation Tips
Many cities in Spain, including Bilbao, Valencia, Seville, Granada, Murcia and Malaga, are walkable, making it easy to reach landmarks and attractions on foot.
Barcelona has an enviable public transport network with Metro systems, buses, shared bike schemes and trains. If you plan to travel to different tourist attractions across this vast city, you can purchase a T-Casual ticket (formerly the T10), valid for ten rides on public transport. It costs just over €11/$12, and each ticket is valid for a travel time of 75 minutes per journey. If you plan your itinerary well, the ticket could last you for the entirety of your stay in the city.
Valencia is a stunning city for inquisitive adventurers, with the epic City of Arts and Sciences – a futuristic landscape comprising a planetarium, garden walkways, aquariums and museums. In Valencia, the public bike share scheme is a great way to get around. The city has dedicated cycle paths that lead through expansive green spaces such as beautiful Turia Gardens. You can also cycle to Parque de Cabecera, with abundant kids activities, including swan boats, a bioparc, amusements and forests.
Madrid is another city with exceptional transport links. It has 300+ Metro stations, tram lines and bus services. Single journeys cost around €1,50. There are also TTP’s – Tourist Travel Passes, which can be purchased for the duration of your stay and topped up via ticket machines throughout the city. Madrid also has a bike share scheme known as BiciMAD with a green ring cycle zone that winds its way through the city.
Planning to stay in a Spanish coastal resort? They are often compact and easy to walk around, meaning no costly taxi fares!
Affordable Activities and Sightseeing
Spain is a beautiful country with golden beaches, vibrant cities, world-class art museums, palaces, art galleries and ancient castles. But how do you see everything on your itinerary without breaking your budget?
Let’s start with the museums. Many are free to visit on specific days of the year, including public holidays. In Barcelona, the MNAC (Museum of Contemporary Art Catalunya) and the excellent Picasso Museum have one evening each week when they are free to enter, and some further art galleries and museums are free on the first Sunday of each month.
In Madrid, the world-famous trio of art galleries, including the Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen-Bornemisza have free evening access (the last two hours of opening) several times a week.
Urban parks are also free to visit – great for picnics, bike rides and leisurely hikes. Casa de Campo and El Retiro in Madrid, Turia Park in Valencia, and Parc de la Ciutadella in Barcelona are some of Spain’s legendary green spaces.
In Seville, Plaza de España is a favourite spot for Instagrammers. An iconic square near Maria-Luisa Park with Spanish Renaissance-style buildings surrounding it. It’s the ideal place for photographs and doesn’t cost a thing. Seville is also the home of flamenco. Although most shows are expensive and geared toward tourists, several bars in the city centre offer free shows for the mere price of a drink.
Spain is renowned for its sun-kissed beaches. Miles of soft golden sands flanked by cliffs, palm trees and promenades punctuated with chiringuitos (local beach bars) serving fresh seafood. Relax with a picnic, snorkel or swim in sapphire waters or take a walk dipping your toes in the Mediterranean Sea – all for free.
If you research specific destinations before your trip, you can also discover free walking tours hosted by local guides. These tours are an amazing way to learn about a city’s history, food and culture.
Additional Tips for Travelling in Spain on a Budget
A country for foodies, sun-worshippers, history and culture lovers, Spain is a delight to visit. This is a place where the siesta still rules, and shops close for a few hours every afternoon so locals can head home for a nap. In a country where family comes first, centuries-old traditions hold strong and lively festivals that take place almost every month.
Many towns and cities designate a couple of weeks each year for their annual fiesta – a huge party complete with parades, live music, street food and dancing. If you have a specific destination in mind, hostels, hotels and apartments may increase their prices during these times. It’s wise to avoid them if you can, or stay outside the city to reduce costs.
Seek out accommodations that include breakfast in the room rate. A continental breakfast often includes yoghurt, bread rolls, fruit, cheeses and cured meats, making great lunchtime beach snacks. Alternatively, visit the local markets for fresh produce or go to a traditional tapas bar. In many neighbourhoods, it’s still possible to purchase tapas (small plates of food) for €1/$1 and a coffee or caña (small beer) for under €1,5/$1,60.
Outside peak season, many luxury hotels offer cheap room rates in beach resorts. The good news is you can enjoy winter sun at a fraction of peak season prices in places such as Alicante, Valencia, the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca. Also, take a look at the Canary Islands for a cheap break. With otherworldly landscapes, quaint villages, fabulous beaches and watersports activities, there’s much for the avid adventurer.
Some credit card companies can charge you to take money from an ATM in Spain or for using your card abroad. Counteract any potential fees by carrying a few euros with you at all times. This is also super helpful if you’re staying in rural locations, as many places still prefer to accept cash. Check out Wise if you want to sign up for a multicurrency account. You will have a single borderless account for the money you plan to hold, use, or send to others within 40+ currencies. Wise makes it easy to manage your money, whether you’re at home or on the go on the Wise app.
If you’re tempted by the idea of staying in the country for longer than a vacation, there are also options available for longer stays. Search for the cheapest places to live in Spain to calculate how much you’ll need to live per month on a budget. See which areas suit your interests and where has the nicest weather. Shared rooms, co-living residences and hostels are great for digital nomads who want to get to know other travellers, plus the WiFi is included. Apartments located slightly outside the city centre or in a beach resort may suit couples and families.
Hopefully, this article has given you a few ideas of the best ways to travel to Spain on a budget. You can experience most areas without feeling that you’re missing out. In fact, if you’re happy to feast on tapas, enjoy hiking, biking, evening museum visits, or simply soaking up the sun on the beach, you’ll have an incredible time in this vibrant European country.