Barcelona on a Budget: A Complete Budget Travel Guide

Barcelona is one of my absolute favorite cities to visit. It’s the perfect combination of Mediterranean coast, stunning Gothic architecture, incredible food, and lively energy that you can actually enjoy without blowing your savings. It’s also surprisingly easy to explore Barcelona on a budget if you know a few insider tricks.

Whether you’re dreaming of tapas by the sea, wandering the colorful streets of the Gothic Quarter, or standing in awe at the Sagrada Familia, you don’t have to spend a fortune to experience it all. As a long-time budget traveler, I found Barcelona offers countless ways to save money — both with and without points and miles.

In this guide, I’m sharing my best money-saving tips, real trip costs, and travel hacks to help you plan your own unforgettable trip to Barcelona without breaking the bank.

Let’s dive into how you can visit Barcelona on a budget!

Estimated Budget to Visit Barcelona

Barcelona is one of the most affordable major cities in Europe for travelers — especially compared to places like Paris, London, or Amsterdam. Hotels, transportation, and even dining out are all much more reasonable here, making it a great choice for anyone trying to stretch their travel budget without sacrificing culture, food, or iconic sights.

But just like anywhere, your Barcelona travel budget can vary depending on when you visit and how you spend. Prices tend to rise during peak tourist seasons (May–September), but if you travel during the off-season (November–February), you can score some serious deals — sometimes up to 40–50% cheaper on hotels and flights.

All this to say: any Barcelona travel budget is just a guideline. Your real costs will depend on the time of year, how you like to travel, and how much you want to splurge (or save) along the way. With smart planning, it’s absolutely possible to have an amazing trip to Barcelona without spending a fortune.

My Real World Cost Breakdown

When we visited Barcelona, my husband and I spent 7 days in the city and averaged $158 per day once we arrived. That total includes hotel stays, meals, transportation, activities, and all the little extras along the way.

Granted, we used points for 4 of our 7 hotel nights, which greatly reduced our overall costs. And, we used a Thrifty Traveler deal for roundtrip airfare from Kansas City for just $455 per person roundtrip.

A few notes on how we kept costs low: we used IHG points to cover four of our hotel nights, took advantage of cheap (and excellent) public transportation, booked a few free walking tours, and chose a couple of paid experiences that were really worth it — like a tapas tour.

>> Be sure to download these 14 travel apps before your trip to Spain!

We also mixed eating out with quick bites from markets and kept bigger meals for special occasions. Trust me, Barcelona’s food scene is amazing — but it doesn’t have to be expensive if you know where to look.

Getting To Barcelona Cheaply

Barcelona is one of the cheapest major European cities to fly into from the U.S. Roundtrip flights from East Coast hubs often drop as low as $350–$450 during low season. Even in peak summer, you can usually find fares under $700.

Major airlines like American, Delta, and Iberia offer nonstop flights from cities like New York, Miami, and Chicago. If you’re starting from a smaller airport, consider a positioning flight to a larger hub to save even more.

For the best deals, aim to travel between November and March when flights are cheapest and the city is less crowded. Signing up for a flight alert service like Thrifty Traveler Premium can also help you snag roundtrip fares under $400—easily covering the cost of the membership with just one deal.

How To Fly To Barcelona Using Points And Miles

While cheap cash flights to Barcelona are fairly common, using points and miles can be an even smarter move—especially if you’re traveling during peak summer months when cash prices climb.

If you have transferable points from travel credit cards like Chase, Capital One, American Express, or Citi, you’re already in a great spot. These points can be transferred to airline partners like Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Iberia Plus, or American Airlines to book flights to Spain.

For the easiest award searches, I recommend using Point.Me. This tool aggregates all your award flight options in one place and shows you exactly how to book them, even if you’re transferring points from your credit card.

💡 Want help figuring out the best way to book your flight to Barcelona—whether with cash or points? I offer 1-on-1 coaching calls where we build a customized strategy based on your exact points balances and travel plans. Book a call and let’s make your Barcelona trip even cheaper!

One important thing to keep in mind: because Barcelona often has cheap cash flights, using points doesn’t always give you the best value. If a roundtrip cash ticket is under $400, it might be smarter to pay cash, save your points, and earn more miles from the purchase.

But if cash fares are high, or you want to fly in business class for less, points and miles can be the way to go. Flexibility with your airports and dates will give you the most options—and the best deals.

Getting Around Barcelona

Barcelona is actually a super walkable city, and that alone will save you a lot of money. If you base yourself near the Gothic Quarter, you’ll find that many of the city’s top sights are within easy walking distance. That said, when you want to explore further, Barcelona’s public transportation system makes it simple and cheap.

The city has an excellent metro, bus, and tram network, all clean, efficient, and very affordable. Plus, if you’re traveling in a group or planning to move around a lot, there are discount passes that can save you even more.

Where To Stay In Barcelona On A Budget

Compared to other major European cities, accommodations in Barcelona are surprisingly affordable. Mid-range hotels and private Airbnbs typically range from $150-200, even during busier seasons.

If you’re looking to stretch your budget further, consider traveling during the off-season (November to February). Prices for hotels can drop by 30–50%, especially for stays of a week or longer.

Another way to save? Booking local boutique hotels instead of large international chains. You’ll often find better prices, a more authentic atmosphere, and extra perks like free breakfasts or happy hours.

If you want a quick way to cut costs, use the Genius discounts on Booking.com. These exclusive offers can knock 10–20% off already reasonable prices and sometimes include extra perks like free breakfast or late checkout.

Choosing the right neighborhood also makes a difference. The Gothic Quarter, El Born, and Eixample all offer great central locations where you can walk to most attractions, saving even more on transportation. However, you’ll likely pay more on your hotel stays as a trade off.

Best Hotels to Say In On a Budget

Looking for a great place to stay in Barcelona without draining your travel fund? These budget-friendly hotels and hostels offer great locations, stylish design, and solid perks.

Using Points For Hotels In Barcelona

One of the best ways to dramatically lower your Barcelona trip cost is by using points to cover your hotel stays.

Barcelona offers plenty of options through all major hotel programs. The Kimpton Vividora is a standout if you have IHG points, especially with the IHG Premier card’s 4th Night Free perk.

The largest issue I found with hotels on points in Barcelona are the location of them. While boutique hotels are more centrally located, those on points tend to be outside the main, tourist areas. Making you rely more heavily on public transportation to get the savings.

You can also use flexible points from cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture to book boutique hotels through their travel portals. This can be a great way to stay at charming local properties while still using points to cover some (or all) of your costs.

If you’re new to points travel, consider opening a travel rewards card before your trip. The welcome bonus alone could cover several nights in Barcelona—and leave you extra points for your next adventure, too.

Barcelona on a Budget: How to Do Experiences for Less

Outside of flights and accommodations, experiences are where your Barcelona budget can start to creep up—especially if you book a lot of guided tours. Entry tickets to popular attractions like Sagrada Familia can run $25–$40 per person, and food tours or guided experiences can easily cost $75–$100 each.

The good news? Barcelona is packed with incredible free or low-cost things to do, and many of the best experiences don’t require a pricey guided tour. For example, instead of booking an expensive guided Sagrada Familia tour, you can buy a basic entry ticket directly and use the free app for a full self-guided tour.

If you do want to book tours, it pays to shop around. While it’s convenient to book through hotel desks or big-name platforms like Viator, it’s often cheaper to go directly to the tour company’s website or contact them through WhatsApp.

Traveling in the off-season also means smaller groups and more negotiating power, especially for private tours or day trips outside the city.

Eating in Barcelona on a Budget

Food is one of the absolute highlights of visiting Barcelona—and luckily, it’s also one of the easiest areas to save money without feeling like you’re sacrificing anything. With a little strategy, you can eat incredibly well in Barcelona for far less than you might expect in other major European cities.

>> Check out my complete guide to Barcelona’s cheap eats!

One of the biggest ways to save? Get away from the main tourist hubs. Restaurants around places like La Rambla or Sagrada Familia tend to be overpriced and underwhelming. Instead, head into neighborhoods like El Born, Gràcia, or Poble Sec where the food is better, more local, and much cheaper.

Another great trick is visiting local markets like Sant Antoni Market or La Boqueria. You can pick up tapas, sandwiches, or fresh produce for a fraction of what you’d pay at a sit-down restaurant—and often enjoy it right there at a counter with the locals.

Finally, keep an eye out for daily specials. Many restaurants offer menú del día (menu of the day) deals at lunch, where you can get a starter, main course, dessert, and sometimes even wine for €10–€15. It’s one of the best values you’ll find.