Budget Spain Travel Path: $40/Day — null travel guide
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Budget Spain Travel Path: $40/Day

August 15, 20265 min readBarcelona

Spain is one of the cheapest countries in Western Europe if you know where to go. The trick is: avoid Barcelona and Madrid, go south to Granada and Seville, eat the menú del día, and stay in hostels. Here's how to do Spain on $40/day (approximately €37).


Accommodation: €15 ($17) in Barcelona


Accommodation: €15 ($17)


Hostels in Granada, Seville, and Valencia cost €12-18/night for a dorm bed. The best: Oasis Backpackers Palace (Granada, €15, rooftop terrace with Alhambra view), The Yellow House (Seville, €14, bike rental included), and Red Nest House (Valencia, €13, free breakfast). Book on Hostelworld 1-2 weeks ahead.

Food: €12 ($13)

Breakfast: Coffee and a tostada (toast with tomato and olive oil) at a bar — €2.

Lunch: Menú del día — 3 courses with bread and a drink. €10-12. This is the best value meal in Spain. Every restaurant has one, posted on a board outside. First course: soup or salad. Second: meat or fish with fries. Dessert: flan or fruit. Drink: water, beer, or wine.

Dinner: Free tapas in Granada. Order a beer (€2.50) and a plate of food arrives — olives, croquetas, or a mini sandwich. Order 2-3 drinks and you've had dinner for €7.50. In Seville, tapas aren't free but are cheap — €3-5 per plate at a tapas bar.

Food total: €12-15


Transport: €5 ($5.50) in Barcelona


Transport: €5 ($5.50)


Walk. Spanish cities are walkable. When you can't, the bus is €1.30/ride. The metro in Valencia is €1.50. Inter-city buses (ALSA) are €15-25 between cities — budget €5/day amortized.

Attractions: €5 ($5.50)

Free: The Alhambra gardens (not the palaces) are free after 1 PM. The Seville Alcázar gardens are free on Mondays. The Prado in Madrid is free 5-7 PM (Mon-Sat) and all day Sunday. The Reina Sofía is free 7-9 PM. The Valencia Cathedral is €5 but the silk exchange (La Lonja, UNESCO) is €2.

Paid: The Alhambra full ticket is €14 — budget for it, it's worth it. Book ahead at tickets.alhambra.es.


Daily Budget in Barcelona


Daily Budget









Item$
Hostel15$17
Food12$13
Transport5$5.50
Attractions5$5.50
Total37$41

Cheapest Cities

    • Granada: Free tapas. The Alhambra. €15 hostels.
    • Seville: Cheap tapas. Free Alcázar on Mondays. €14 hostels.
    • Valencia: Beach is free. €13 hostels. Cheap markets.
    • Madrid: Free museum hours. €18 hostels. More expensive but doable.

Avoid: Barcelona (hostels €25+, no free tapas, everything costs more) and San Sebastián (beautiful but the most expensive city in Spain).

When to Go

October-April is cheapest — hostel prices drop 30%, and the weather is 15-20°C. July-August is 35-40°C and expensive. May-June is ideal but prices are higher.

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