Is Barcelona Expensive? How Much to Budget Per Day

Accommodation in Barcelona can be expensive during high season (July – September) but is more affordable in the off-season.

We stayed at Hotel Villa Emilia, a highly-rated mid-range hotel with a roof terrace. It was €150 per night for a double room at the end of February. Just a few weeks later in March, weekend prices had already risen above €200 per night.

We’d recommend trying to find a place in the heart of the city to avoid long metro rides. However, during peak season, areas like Barrio Gótico, El Born, and Barceloneta Beach can get crowded. For a quieter, more local experience, consider staying in charming neighbourhoods like Gràcia, Eixample or Sant Antoni.

🏡 No Airbnb: Short-term rentals like Airbnb have been heavily restricted in Barcelona to combat housing shortages and rising rent prices for locals. As a result, finding an entire apartment to rent legally is difficult. Instead, stay in hotels, hostels or guesthouses.

💰 On a budget? Try Homestay.com where private rooms in homestays start from £11 per night — a great way to save money and experience Barcelona like a local!

Eating out in Barcelona is expensive. A meal in a restaurant can easily cost €30+ for two people. However, it is possible to eat on a budget in Barcelona:

A coffee and a croissant for breakfast usually costs around €3 – €5.
Look out for menu del dia (menu of the day) at lunchtimes. It is often scribbled on a chalkboard outside restaurants at lunchtime. A good menu del dia includes a first and second course and a drink or dessert for a set price.
Expect to pay €25-€40 per person for a meal in a mid-range restaurant, assuming you also have drinks.

🥙 Bonus Tip: Head to a Maoz for a cheap meal of falafel, pita and as much salad as you can pack into your pita. There are a few branches across Barcelona.

All-you-can-stuff-in falafel wraps from Maoz

Barcelona Drink Prices

Compared to the UK, drinking in Barcelona is affordable. Here are the typical prices for alcoholic drinks:

Glass of wine – €4-5
Beer – €3
Cocktail – €10-15

Avoid drinking on the main tourist strip, Las Ramblas, where prices are significantly higher. Some friends of ours ended up paying €10 for a beer there. You’ll also see large glasses of sangria being sold, but they’re overpriced as well. While sangria is available in Barcelona, it actually originates from southern Spain.

For a more authentic cultural and budget-friendly experience, opt for locally produced drinks. Barcelona’s signature drink is vermouth (vermut in Spanish). The local beers, Estrella and Moritz, are popular choices, and Catalan wines are generally more affordable than imported ones.

Barcelona Drinking Culture

Experiencing Barcelona’s late-night tapas culture is a must! Locals typically don’t eat until late — 9PM is considered early — so many restaurants don’t open before 7 PM, and weekend dining spots are busiest between 9 and 11PM. Before dinner, both tourists and locals can be found in the city’s many bars, enjoying tapas and drinks.

We discovered a small wine shop near La Boqueria selling organic, sustainably sourced wine for as little as €3 per bottle. During our stay, it felt like there was always a party happening somewhere. It’s common for people to gather in parks, play music, and share a bottle of beer — an inexpensive and popular social activity known as botellón. However, keep in mind that drinking in public spaces is technically illegal in Barcelona.

Street vendors also sell beer illegally. These so-called “cerveza beer men” call out to passersby in both Spanish and English, asking, “Cerveza? Beer?” A can usually costs €1, though they might charge more if you seem unfamiliar with the city. These vendors are especially common at festivals. When the police show up, they quickly disappear, often hiding their (warm) beers in bushes or gutters, only to return once the coast is clear — so be sure to wipe down your can before drinking!

Barcelona Public Transport Cost

Barcelona is a great city to get around by foot. Many of the bigger sights are within walking distance of each other (except for Park Guell). For longer distances, the metro is your best way to get around the city. Barcelona’s metro is fast, reliable, and covers most tourist spots. The buses, trams, and local trains (Rodalies) are also well-connected.

Airport to Plaça d’Espanya bus ticket (one-way) – €7.25 (AI)
Single metro/bus ticket – €2.55
T-casual (10 rides) – €11.35
Airport Metro Ticket – €5.50 (L9 Sud)

A 10-journey ticket offers better value than buying multiple single tickets. It can be used across the metro, buses, funiculars, and certain train and tram services. As long as your journey is completed within 90 minutes, it will count as a single trip, even if you transfer between these modes of transport.

For those staying out late — which is nearly everyone in Barcelona — night buses are a great option when the metro closes. They are just as affordable (you can use your 10-journey ticket) and cover various routes, including the N16 and N17, which connect to the airport. These buses run throughout the night and into the early morning hours.

Barcelona Attractions Prices

Visiting multiple tourist attractions in Barcelona can get expensive, so it’s helpful to plan ahead. Here are the entrance fees for some of the city’s most popular attractions:

Sagrada Familia – €26
Parc Guell – €18
Montjuic Castle – €12

It’s best to book tickets for Sagrada Familia and Parc Güell in advance, as they tend to sell out quickly. You can also find discounts and concessions when booking ahead.

If you’re traveling on a budget, Barcelona offers plenty of free activities. The city is filled with beautiful parks, squares, and beaches, and you can join free walking tours (though tips are expected). If you enjoy walking, you can create your own self-guided tour to admire Barcelona’s stunning architecture.

Check out our Barcelona travel guide for more budget-friendly activities!

Cheap Flights to Barcelona

Flights to Barcelona from London and other European capitals can be quite affordable, especially during the off-season. To find the best deals, check prices regularly and compare different dates. Avoid traveling during peak season, when fares tend to be significantly higher.

You can fly direct from London Gatwick to Barcelona in under 2 hours. In February 2025, we booked a round-trip flight (Friday to Sunday) for £100 per person without additional baggage.

💡 Cheap Flights Tip! We use Skyscanner to compare prices and book flights. When searching, select “flexible dates” view to easily spot the cheapest travel dates.