Spain captivates visitors with its vibrant culture, world-class cuisine, and stunning architecture from Barcelona's Sagrada Familia to Granada's Alhambra. From the sunny beaches of Costa del Sol to the artistic treasures of Madrid's museums, Spain offers an unforgettable blend of history, passion, and modern sophistication.
Local currency: Euro (€, EUR).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Spain.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- €12-20 dorm bed
- Budget
- €40-70 budget hotel double
- Midrange
- €90-160 3-star hotel
- Luxury
- €200-600+ 4-5 star hotel
Food
- Street
- €2-4 churros, tapa, or slice
- Local
- €10-15 menú del día 3-course lunch with wine
- Midrange
- €20-40 restaurant dinner per person
- Fine
- €70-150+ Michelin-influenced tasting menu
Transport
- Bus
- €1.50-2.50 city bus/metro
- Taxi
- €8-15 average city ride
- Airport
- €5-35 depending on city and method
- Daytrip
- €15-40 regional train or bus to nearby city
Activities
- Museum
- €8-18 major museum entry
- Sites
- €12-20 Alhambra, Sagrada Família, major monuments
- Tour
- €20-60 guided walking or food tour
- Excursion
- €50-120 full-day organized excursion
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Spain costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
€280-420/week (hostel + menú del días + public transport + free activities)
Midrange traveller
€700-1050/week (3-star hotel + restaurant meals + museums + day trips)
Luxury traveller
€2100-4200+/week (5-star hotels + fine dining + private tours + business class transport)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
The menú del día (daily lunch menu) is Spain's greatest budget secret - three courses with bread and wine for €10-14. Only available weekdays at lunch in non-tourist restaurants
Most major Spanish museums are free for under 18, EU students, and during designated free hours. Check websites in advance to plan around free periods
Interrail or Eurail passes offer excellent value for multi-city Spain travel. Renfe's España Pass (4-12 journeys) saves money on multiple long-distance trains
Avoid tourist menus and €25 paella near major attractions. Walk two streets away from La Rambla, Plaza Mayor, or Alhambra gate and prices drop dramatically
Supermarkets (Mercadona, Lidl, Carrefour) provide excellent picnic materials - Iberian charcuterie, cheese, olives, good wine - for €10-15 feeding two people well
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Prado Museum Free Entry
Madrid's Prado Museum offers free entry Monday-Saturday 6-8 PM and Sunday 5-7 PM. The permanent collection including Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco is completely free in these hours - arrive 15 minutes before opening.
Free Walking Tours
Pay-what-you-want walking tours depart daily from central squares in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, and Granada. English-speaking guides cover main landmarks, history, and culture over 2-3 hours - tip according to quality and budget.
El Retiro Park, Madrid
Madrid's enormous central park with boating lake, rose garden, and Crystal Palace glass greenhouse is free and open daily. Sunday afternoon concerts and street performers add entertainment at no cost.
La Boqueria Browse (Barcelona)
Exploring La Boqueria market as a visual and sensory experience is free - just browse the stalls, watch fishmongers at work, and absorb the atmosphere without buying anything. Sample a small juice for €3 if desired.
Barcelona Beach
Barceloneta and other Barcelona city beaches are completely free to use. Bring your own towel, water, and snacks for a cost-free Mediterranean beach day without paying for sunbeds.
Alhambra Exterior and Gardens
While the Nasrid Palace interior requires tickets, the Alhambra's exterior walls, the adjacent Albaicín neighborhood views from Mirador de San Nicolás, and the Generalife gardens lower area are freely accessible.
Seville's Triana Neighborhood
The traditional neighborhood of Triana across the Guadalquivir River from Seville's center is free to explore - ceramic shops, street art, the covered market, and the neighborhood's authentic atmosphere cost nothing.
Guggenheim Bilbao Exterior
Frank Gehry's extraordinary titanium building and the sculptures outside including Jeff Koons' Puppy and Louise Bourgeois' Maman spider are freely visible from the riverside promenade without paying museum entry.
Barcelona's Gothic Quarter
Wandering the medieval streets, squares, and alleys of Barcelona's Barri Gòtic is completely free. The Barcelona Cathedral courtyard with its geese is free to enter, though inner chapels charge €3.
Sunsets at Mirador del Tibidabo, Barcelona
The Tibidabo hill viewpoint accessible by tram and funicular offers panoramic Barcelona sunset views for the price of transport tickets (€7-10). The panoramic viewpoint itself is free.