Budget Friendly Barcelona

Barcelona is a great place to come if you want to have a budget friendly holiday. Everyone wants value for money from their hard earned cash right? With a bit of careful planning and research this is easily achievable. Check out my handy budget friendly tips below!

1. Accommodation and flights

Generally speaking, booking as far in advance as possible is the best bet. Budget friendly airlines tend to become more expensive the closer to your departure date it gets. If flights and hotels are expensive then try looking for a combined package as they are often cheaper. Hotel comparison sights are a good way of seeing whats out there, but always check the price with the hotel directly as they often have deals, etc for booking with them instead of a 3rd party. If there are more than two of you, a holiday rental may be a good idea and often works out better value than a hotel. Other things that can affect prices are the time of year and also when in the week you want to visit, e.g weekdays tend to be less expensive than weekends.

2. Sightseeing

There is an abundance of free things to do in Barcelona. Parks, gardens, walks, ruins and lots more. Do some research online about the things you specifically want to see and start to build up an idea of how much it is going to cost. Booking certain things in advance will save you time and money. Some museums are free on Sundays (usually the first of the month or after 3pm) and some tickets also include entrance to various other sights as well. Barcelona has a great festival scene too with many local festivals on all year round which provide great entertainment and best of all are free! You can check the city hall website here. There are also guided tours that you can take which are free, (you decide the price) which is a great way to introduce yourself to the city.

3. Transport

The metro and the bus are great ways to get around and cheap! You can buy tourist friendly tickets like the “Hola BCN” which are 2, 3, 4 and 5 day unlimited journeys on metro, bus (TMB) and the rest of Barcelona public transport — they are really great value for money. Alternatively you can buy a T10 ticket for €10.20 which has 10 journeys on it. Prices and info for the Hola BCN card here. The metro is open till midnight Sun-Thurs, 2am on a Fri and all night on a Saturday.

4. Food and Drink

The best part of the holiday for many! The “Menu del Día” is an excellent idea if you want to have a filling and cheap lunch. A lot of restaurants will offer this option. Starter, main and dessert, usually with a drink, water or coffee, you can get this from around €11-15. Tapas and sharing plates are a great way of trying the local food but keeping the cost low. Surprisingly filling, don’t be deceived by these small plates! Wine and beer are generally very cheap and the wines are almost always good! (it is Spain after all)! Don’t swerve the more simple looking bars propped up with locals, these are often the best value and best quality! Brunch is very popular in Barcelona and is a great way of fuelling up for the day ahead and maybe switch out lunch for a nice glass of Spanish wine later in the day.

5. Things to avoid that will save you money!

So you may have heard or read about it but it’s very important so your holiday isn’t ruined! As with any city, security is a thing you should be aware of and it would be silly to ignore the fact that Barcelona has, in certain tourist areas, gangs of pickpockets and sneak thieves. Just be vigilant! You can read more here You should visit the Ramblas but don’t eat or drink there, often the food and service will not be of good quality. Only a few steps to either side of the Ramblas is the Old Town. With its maze of streets and plazas you will find much better quality food and drinks with cheaper prices, making your hard earned cash go further. Lastly beware of the illegal street vendors. If caught buying from them you can be fined and your purchase confiscated. Not worth it! Especially as all that they sell is fake and of inferior quality to the many great locally made gifts you can buy in shops and markets around town at more than reasonable prices!

I hope you find these tips handy and they help you make the best of your holiday! Enjoy!

Photos by gemmareidphotography for heartBCN