Travel budget for Catalonia: how much a getaway costs depending on the destination

Barcelona is magnetic: culture, gastronomy and nightlife. It is also one of the most expensive places to stay in high season if you book in the center.

• Accommodation in the center: €120–200 per night in high season.
• Peripheral neighborhoods with good metro: from €80.
• Food: daily menu €15–20; dinners in tourist areas from €40 per person.
• Transport: 48 h metro card around €16.40.
• Real budget option: at Mellow Hostel (our hostel in Horta) a bed in a shared room can cost around €20 per night.

Tip: If you want to enjoy Barcelona without blowing your budget, combine city days with cheap nights in well-connected areas (Horta is quiet and has a metro line). And if you prefer the sea and lower prices, consider staying in the Maresme and coming to the city by train: it takes about 40 minutes and you’ll pay much less per night.

The Maresme is the natural alternative if you want beaches close to Barcelona with friendlier prices.

• Accommodation: €55–90 per night (depending on date and location).
• Food: daily menus around €18; full dinners for €25–30.
• Free plans: wide beaches, seaside promenades and easy routes between sea and mountains.
• Extras: it’s an area with a tradition of spas and wellness, ideal for a relaxing getaway.

Recommendation: For a well-rounded plan, stay near the beach, enjoy seaside terraces and discover the full potential of the area.

If you are looking for nature, fresh air and postcard forests, Montseny is a gem just a step away from Barcelona. And here we speak from home: we’re telling you from Cubez Hostel, our hostel in Viladrau.

• Accommodation: from €50 per night in a hostel; more complete rural options from €70–90.
• Food: mountain menu €15–20; more elaborate dinners from €30.
• Free activities: hiking, mushroom picking in season, cycling routes and family walks through the Natural Park.

Recommendation: Perfect for a weekend getaway from Barcelona: close, cheaper than the city and you’ll enjoy the peace of the mountains. If you come in autumn, you’ll experience the colors of the forest and, with luck, mushrooms (always respect the rules).

The Pyrenees mean adrenaline in winter and absolute calm in summer. In Vielha we have two family-run accommodations: Hotel Hípic and Iori by Dynamic. This gives us a very clear picture of how budgets vary depending on the season.

• Accommodation: €70–100 per night during ski season; from €50 in summer.
• Food: menu from €15; dinners in mountain restaurants around €30.
• Ski: daily ski pass in top resorts (like Baqueira Beret) around €60–65.
• Free plans: hiking, glacial lakes, villages in the Aran Valley and cycling routes.

Tip: If you’re not skiing, come at the end of summer or in autumn: lower prices, fewer crowds and the valley at its best. Get inspired here: What to do in Vielha.

Hidden coves, coastal paths and medieval villages. In summer, prices rise; off-season, it’s a bargain.

• Accommodation: €100–180 in July and August; from €60 in May, June, September or October.
• Food: daily menu from €15; dinner by the sea €35–40.
• Free plans: hiking along the coastal paths, snorkeling in coves and visiting towns like Pals or Peratallada.

Tip: Travel in May or September and move early: easier parking, save on parking fees and enjoy the coves almost to yourself.

Family beaches, Roman heritage and, if you feel like it, theme parks. Our reference here is Hotel Canadá, on the outskirts of Tarragona.

• Accommodation: around €90 per night (depending on dates and availability).
• Food: menus from €12; dinners for €25–30.
• PortAventura: tickets can increase the daily budget significantly; if it’s not a priority, choose beach and culture.

Tip (Tarragona): Dedicate a day to the city: Amphitheater, Walls and historic center are best enjoyed on foot and with little expense. Combine it with an afternoon at the beach in Altafulla or Torredembarra for a very balanced plan in terms of price.