What budget for activities and outings Barcelona?
Admission to museums and other municipal attractions costs around €6 to €12 for adults, and is free for children under 16. In private institutions, prices are higher: from €26 for the Sagrada Familia, up to €29 for the Casa Batlló.
Many museums and cultural centers offer free admission on certain days and at certain times. The Museu Picasso is open from 6 p.m. on Thursdays. On Saturday afternoons, admission is free at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya and the MACBA. Finally, on Sundays from 3pm, you can visit the Museu Frederic Marès, the Monestir de Pedralbes, the Museu d'Història de la Ciutat de Barcelona, the Jardí Botànic de Barcelona, El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria, the Museu Blau, the Museu del Disseny, the Castell de Montjuïc and the CCCB.
Outside these free periods, there are a number of passes you can use to visit these sites for less. The Barcelona Card (barcelonacard.com) gives you free access to public transport and many of the city's museums (MNAC, Fundació Joan Miró, etc.). It costs from €27 for 48 hours. The Art Ticket (articketbcn.org) allows you to discover six museums and cultural foundations with a single ticket costing €38. It includes access to the Picasso Museum and the Macba. Finally, the Arqueoticket (€14.50 on bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com) gives access to 4 of the city's museums: the Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya (MAC), the Museu Egipci, the Museu d'Història de Barcelona (MUHBA) and the Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria.
If you want to attend a match at the Camp Nou without breaking the bank, you should know that Barça sets its prices according to the opposing team and the season. The cheapest period is the winter, roughly between November and February, when you'll be facing teams who have just been promoted to the top flight or who finished in the bottom three the previous year. Tickets for the King's Cup, whose matches take place around January-February, are generally very affordable. As are tickets for the Joan Gamper Trophy, which takes place around mid-August.
Zara, Massimo Dutti, Mango, Pull and Bear, Zara Home, Bershka, Oysho, Desigual: all these Spanish brands offer between 20% and 30% less than in France.
In Spain, end-of-stock or clearance-brand stores are called outlets. There are several in Carrer de Girona (Eixample) and El Cortes Inglés. If you have the time, don't miss a trip to La Roca Village (larocavillage.com), a veritable village dedicated to discount shopping, located some 30 km from Barcelona and accessible by bus.
Most trendy nightclubs have a guest list that gives you free entry at a certain time, or discounts on tickets for big nights. Check the website of the club you're interested in to get on its list.
The Gran Teatre del Liceu offers a 50% discount for under-26s, if you arrive 2 hours before the start of the show. Over-65s receive a 30% discount.
To find discounted tickets for the rest of the theaters, visit the Tiquet Ramblas area of the Palau de la Virreina about 3 hours before the start of the show. Depending on the program and availability, you'll get up to 50% off the price of tickets.
What budget to eat Barcelona?
Restaurants are a little cheaper than in France, but not much less! The difference is mainly in the drinks: while in France the budget for a bottle of wine is easily around 30 €, in Barcelona you'll pay less than 15 €. In any case, it costs around €25 per person for tapas to share in trendy taverns, €40 for a fish restaurant and over €70 for a gourmet table.
At lunchtime, many restaurants serve a menu del dia at around 15 €, an economical formula that usually includes a starter, main course, dessert and a drink. This is an excellent option for discovering the city's good restaurants at lower prices
As far as means of payment are concerned, you can pay by credit card in most of the city's restaurants. However, it is not impossible that you may be asked to pay cash in some of the city's bouis-bouis or old bodegas, so it is safer to carry some cash with you
Prices vary greatly depending on the neighbourhood and the location of each bar. Obviously, a drink on a terrace facing the sea will not cost you the same as in a local bodega. As a general rule of thumb, count €2 for a coffee, €3 for a beer or vermouth, between €3 and €5 for a glass of wine, and between €7 and €12 for a cocktail. A small tip is de rigueur if you enjoyed the service...
What is the budget for accommodation Barcelona?
Prices vary widely depending on the type of accommodation and the season you choose for your stay. A good-quality hotel at €80 for a double room in the off-season can easily go up to €200 in high summer! For those on a budget, the price of a bed in a dormitory varies on average from €20 to €45 per person. In luxury hotels, standard rooms range from €150 to €350 per night. To take advantage of the best prices, book in advance directly on hotel websites: many offer discounts for early bookers.
Travel budget Barcelona and cost of living
On the whole, life in Spain is less expensive than in France. However, don't get too enthusiastic, as some tourist spots in Barcelona are very expensive. On a low budget, you should expect to pay at least €70 per day: €35 for a dormitory bed in a hostel, €25 for food (tapas, sandwiches), €10 for transport (Hola Barcelona public transport pass). On a medium budget, you'll need to budget €130 per day: €60 per person for a double room in a charming hotel, €40 for meals (a €15 lunch menu and €25 gastro tapas), €10 for transport and €20 for sightseeing. With a high budget of over €200 per day, you can opt for a hotel with a swimming pool, book a flamenco show, try out gourmet restaurants, etc.
