Spain: Sun, Soul, and Seriously Good Food
From Barcelona’s backstreets to Andalusia’s white villages. Everything you need to plan your trip.
I keep going back to Spain. That’s the thing about it — you go once for Barcelona and tapas, and then you go again for the south, and then you go again because you heard about San Sebastián’s food scene and it turns out the rumours were underselling it. The country has this ability to feel completely different depending on where you are. Catalonia doesn’t feel like Andalusia. The Basque Country doesn’t feel like the Balearics. Madrid has an energy that’s entirely its own. And somehow it all costs less than most of Western Europe, the weather’s better than it has any right to be, and the wine rarely costs more than a coffee does back home. This guide covers all of it — city by city, cost by cost, with everything I’ve learned from years of going back.
2–2.5 hrs
From the UK
Apr–Jun / Sep–Oct
Best time
Spanish
Main language
EUR (€)
Currency
Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit Spain is in late spring (April to May) or early autumn (September to October), due to the pleasant temperatures and less crowds. However, the country’s diverse offerings mean you can find something to enjoy at any time of year.
Spring and fall offer the best combination of good weather, light crowds, long days, and plenty of tourist and cultural activities.
Spain has a mild climate, staying mostly dry year-round. Summers can be quite hot, especially in the south, and see an influx of European visitors heading to the popular beach resorts. Lower temperatures in the north make it a great option during the summer if you are worried about it being too hot.
For a month by month look click here
What To Expect
16°C
- Temperature
Capital: Madrid
Language: The official language of Spain is Spanish. ‘Hello’ and ‘Thank You’ in Spanish: “Hola” and “Gracias”
Currency: The official currency of Spain is the Euro (EUR). £1 GBP is equivalent to 1.18 EUR and $1 USD is 0.88 EUR. Check the latest rates here
Credit Cards & ATMs: You won’t have trouble finding ATMs around Spain unless you go really off the beaten track. If you are in country or a little village, it’s best to keep enough cash on you. Mastercard and Visa are accepted at most restaurants and shops. You will find that most ATMs have a fixed withdrawal fee.
Plugs: In Spain there are two associated plug types, types C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Spain operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. I recommend buying a universal adapter
Safety: Spain ranks number 38 out of 163 countries when it comes to safety and peace in the country. In Europe overall, Spain ranks 25 out of 36 countries. Violent crime is rare, and Spanish locals are usually very accommodating to tourists.
Random useful tips: Indulge in tapas culture. Travel by bus to save money. Try to take in at least one big festival. Look out for local celebrations and festivities. Explore the different neighborhoods. Try regional dishes and drinks.
Spain Travel Guides
City guides, island escapes, seasonal tips, and everything in between.
City Guides
Itineraries + Maps (coming soon)
Best Places to Visit & Things to Do
Best Time to Visit
Travel Tips
Everything Else (coming soon)
How Much Does Spain Cost?
Spain is one of the best-value countries in Western Europe. Here’s what to actually expect.
🎒
Backpacker
~€40 / £35 / $46 per day
- Hostel dorms from €15/night
- Supermarkets, bakeries, and menu del día
- Metro, buses, and walking
- Free beaches, parks, and cathedral plazas
🍜
Mid-Range
~€90 / £78 / $104 per day
- Budget hotels and Airbnb apartments
- Restaurants, tapas bars, local wine
- Mix of public transport and occasional taxi
- Museum entries, guided tours, day trips
🏨
Upscale
~€150+ / £130+ / $173+ per day
- Boutique hotels and paradores
- Fine dining and Michelin-starred restaurants
- Private tours and VIP experiences
- Car rental, AVE high-speed rail, domestic flights
Detailed Cost Breakdown
Budget
- Hostel dorm: €15–30 / £13–26 / $17–35
- Campsite: €10–20 / £9–17 / $12–23
- Budget hotel: €45–80 / £39–70 / $52–92
Mid–Luxury
- Airbnb apartment: €70+ / £61+ / $81+
- Boutique hotel: €100–200 / £87–174 / $115–231
- Parador (historic hotel): €120–250 / £104–217 / $138–289
City Travel
- Metro/tram single ride: €1.50–2.50 / £1.30–2.17 / $1.73–2.89
- Day pass: €5–10 / £4.35–8.70 / $5.78–11.56
- Taxi short trip: €6–15 / £5.22–13 / $6.93–17.34
Long Distance
- Intercity bus (e.g. Madrid–Seville): €20–40 / £17–35 / $23–46
- AVE high-speed rail (Madrid–Barcelona): €30–90 / £26–78 / $35–104
- Domestic flight: €25–80 / £22–70 / $29–92
- Car rental per day: €30–50 / £26–43 / $35–58
Eat Cheap
- Menu del día (set lunch): €10–14 / £8.70–12.17 / $11.56–16.18
- Fast food / bakery: €5–10 / £4.35–8.70 / $5.78–11.56
- Supermarket meal prep: €3–6 / £2.61–5.22 / $3.47–6.93
- Coffee (café con leche): €1.20–2.50 / £1.04–2.17 / $1.39–2.89
Eating Out
- Mid-range restaurant: €20–40 / £17–35 / $23–46
- Tapas (per dish): €3–8 / £2.61–6.96 / $3.47–9.25
- Glass of wine: €2–5 / £1.74–4.35 / $2.31–5.78
- Beer (caña): €2–4 / £1.74–3.48 / $2.31–4.62
Budget Fun
- Cathedral/museum entry: €8–15 / £6.96–13 / $9.25–17.34
- Free walking tour (tip): €5–10 / £4.35–8.70 / $5.78–11.56
- Beach day: Free
- City park/gardens: Free–€5 / Free–£4.35 / Free–$5.78
Big Experiences
- Alhambra entry: €14–19 / £12.17–16.52 / $16.18–21.97
- Sagrada Família entry: €26–36 / £22.61–31.30 / $30.06–41.62
- Boat tour / catamaran: €30–70 / £26–61 / $35–81
- Flamenco show: €25–50 / £22–43 / $29–58
Tips for Saving Money in Spain
💧 Bring a reusable water bottle — Tap water is safe across mainland Spain. Skip the overpriced bottled water entirely.
🚶 Walk everywhere — Spanish city centres are compact. Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter to the beach is 15 minutes on foot. Madrid’s centre is totally walkable.
🍽️ Eat the menu del día — Most restaurants do a fixed-price lunch for €10–14 including drink and dessert. Absolute steal. Don’t eat dinner at 7pm like a tourist; locals eat at 9 or 10 when prices and vibes are better.
🚇 Get a multi-day transport card — T-Casual in Barcelona (10 rides for around €12), Multi card in Madrid. Way cheaper than single tickets.
🏖️ Hit free beaches and parks — Spain has over 3,000 miles of coastline and most beaches are public and free. Retiro in Madrid, Güell in Barcelona (free zones), Turia gardens in Valencia.
🕐 Travel off-peak — April–May and September–October get you better weather than July/August, cheaper flights, cheaper hotels, and fewer crowds. Win on every front.
🍷 Drink local wine — House wine at restaurants is usually €2–3 a glass. It’s often excellent. No need to order by the bottle.
🏨 Stay outside city centres — A 15-minute metro ride from central Barcelona or Madrid can cut your hotel cost by 30–40%.
🎟️ Book attractions online — Sagrada Família, Alhambra, and Park Güell all sell out. Online tickets are often cheaper and skip the queue.
🚌 Use buses for intercity travel — ALSA and FlixBus run most routes. Madrid to Seville from around €20. Way cheaper than the AVE if you’re not in a rush.
Getting Around Spain
Spain’s transport network is genuinely impressive for the price. Here’s how to use it without overpaying.
Domestic Flights
Best for island hops and opposite-coast trips. Vueling, Ryanair, and Iberia Express all run cheap routes if you book ahead.
✅ Quick for long distances (Madrid to Canaries: 3hrs)
✅ Budget airlines from €25 one-way
❌ Luggage fees add up fast
Car Rental
Best for road trips along the coast, rural Andalusia, or anywhere the trains don’t go. The Costa Brava and Basque Country are brilliant by car.
✅ Total freedom, especially in rural areas
✅ From €30/day with booking ahead
❌ City driving and parking in Madrid/Barcelona is a nightmare
City Public Transport
Best for getting around within cities. Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, and Bilbao all have solid metro and bus networks.
✅ Cheap with a multi-ride card
✅ Reliable and frequent
❌ Late-night gaps between midnight and 6am in some cities
High-Speed Rail (AVE)
Best for city-to-city travel on the mainland. Madrid to Barcelona in 2.5 hours. Madrid to Seville in 2.5 hours. Comfortable, punctual, and genuinely pleasant.
✅ Fast and comfortable
✅ City-centre to city-centre (no airport faff)
❌ Peak prices can match flights
Intercity Bus
Best for budget travel between cities. ALSA and FlixBus cover most routes. Takes longer but costs a fraction of the AVE.
✅ Cheapest option from around €10
✅ Covers routes trains don’t
❌ Slower (Madrid to Barcelona is 7–8 hours by bus)
Ferries
Best for reaching the Balearic Islands from the mainland. Trasmediterranea and Baleària run regular routes from Barcelona and Valencia to Mallorca, Ibiza, and Menorca.
✅ Cheaper than flying if booked early
✅ You can bring your car
❌ Crossings take 4–8 hours depending on route
Which Is Right For You?
Exploring one city
Metro + walking. Get a multi-ride card
Hitting multiple cities
AVE trains or budget flights
Coastal road trip or rural areas
Rent a car, book ahead for best rates
Tight budget, no rush
Intercity bus. ALSA and FlixBus are your friends
Quick Tips
📅
Book AVE Early
Prices quadruple closer to departure. 4–6 weeks out is the sweet spot for the cheapest fares
💳
Get a Multi-Ride Card
T-Casual in Barcelona, Multi in Madrid. Way cheaper than buying single tickets every time
⏰
Adjust to Spanish Time
Lunch is 2–3pm, dinner is 9–10pm. Eat when locals eat and you’ll find better restaurants at better prices
📍
Don't Just Do Madrid + Barcelona
Seville, Granada, San Sebastián, Valencia, and Bilbao are all worth your time — and they’re cheaper
Book Tours & Tickets
Related Resources
Travel Problems
Missed flights, lost luggage, dodgy hotels. It happens. Here’s how to handle all of it without losing your mind.
Theft & Scams
Pickpockets, tourist traps, and cons you won’t see coming. We break down the most common ones and how to avoid every single one.
Travel Insurance
Don’t skip this one. Especially travelling solo. We compare the best policies and explain exactly what you actually need.
FAQs
Do I need a visa to visit Spain?
If you’re a UK, US, Canadian, Australian, or EU passport holder, you don’t need a visa for stays up to 90 days within a 180-day period. You do need a valid passport with at least 3 months’ validity beyond your planned departure date. Since October 2025, the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) has been rolling out across Schengen borders — it’s now fully operational as of April 2026, so expect biometric checks (fingerprints and facial scan) on your first entry. Looking ahead, the ETIAS travel authorisation system is scheduled to launch in Q4 2026. Once live, visa-exempt travellers will need to apply online (€20 fee, takes about 10 minutes) before travelling. But as of right now, no ETIAS application is required. Always check the latest requirements before you book.
Is Spain safe for tourists?
Very. Spain consistently ranks well on global safety indices and violent crime against tourists is rare. The main risks are petty theft and pickpocketing in busy tourist areas — Barcelona’s Las Ramblas and the Madrid metro are the usual hotspots. Keep your valuables close, use a crossbody bag or money belt, and be aware of common distraction scams. Outside the cities, Spain is about as safe as it gets. Use common sense, especially at night in unfamiliar areas, and you’ll be fine.
How many days do I need in Spain?
Depends what you want to see. A week is enough for one city plus a day trip or two — say Barcelona and the Costa Brava, or Madrid with a side trip to Toledo. Two weeks lets you cover a proper loop: Madrid, Seville, Granada, and Barcelona is a classic route. Three weeks or more opens up the Basque Country, the islands, or a proper Andalusian road trip. Spain rewards slow travel, so don’t try to cram too much in.
What's the best time to visit Spain?
April to June and September to October. You get warm weather without the crushing heat of July and August, lower prices, and far fewer crowds. The south (Andalusia) hits 40°C+ in midsummer — that’s not fun for sightseeing. Northern Spain (Basque Country, Galicia, Asturias) stays cooler and is actually great in summer when the south is too hot. The Canary Islands are warm year-round and work well as a winter escape. For a full month-by-month breakdown, check our best time to visit Spain guide.
Is Spain expensive?
Not compared to most of Western Europe. It’s cheaper than France, Italy (in the north), and significantly cheaper than Scandinavia or Switzerland. A backpacker can manage on around €40/day (£35/$46). Mid-range travellers typically spend €80–100/day (£70–87/$92–115). The menu del día at lunch (set meal for €10–14 including a drink) is one of the best-value meals anywhere in Europe. Wine in restaurants starts at €2 a glass. That alone saves a fortune. See the full cost breakdown above.
What is the menu del día and why should I care?
It’s a fixed-price set lunch offered by most Spanish restaurants, typically €10–14 for a starter, main, dessert, and a drink (usually wine, beer, or water). It’s what locals eat. It’s cooked fresh, it’s genuinely good, and it’s the single best money-saving trick in Spain. Available most weekdays from roughly 1pm–4pm. Dinner in Spain doesn’t really start until 9pm, so structure your eating around a big menu del día lunch and a lighter tapas dinner and your food budget drops dramatically.
How do I get around Spain?
Spain’s transport is solid. For city-to-city travel, the AVE high-speed trains are fast and comfortable (Madrid to Barcelona in 2.5 hours). Budget airlines like Vueling and Ryanair cover longer routes cheaply if you book ahead. Intercity buses (ALSA, FlixBus) are the cheapest option. Within cities, metro and bus networks are reliable and inexpensive — grab a multi-ride card. For road trips and rural areas, rent a car. See the full getting around breakdown above.
Do I need travel insurance for Spain?
Yes. If you’re a UK citizen, the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) gives you access to state healthcare in Spain, but it doesn’t cover everything — no repatriation, no dental, no private treatment, no lost luggage, and no trip cancellation. EU citizens can use their EHIC/GHIC for the same. For everyone else, including US and Canadian travellers, you’re paying full price without insurance. A decent policy costs £30–50 for a two-week trip. It’s not worth the gamble. Compare options in our travel insurance hub.
Can I drink the tap water in Spain?
Yes, across most of Spain. Tap water is safe and regulated in all major cities and most towns. Some areas in the south and on the islands have water that’s technically safe but tastes a bit off due to mineral content — locals in those areas often drink bottled or filtered water by preference, not necessity. Bring a reusable bottle and refill it. You’ll save money and skip the plastic.
What's the tipping culture in Spain?
Tipping isn’t expected in Spain the way it is in the US — but it’s appreciated. Rounding up the bill or leaving €1–2 at a café or restaurant is normal. For a longer sit-down meal, 5–10% is generous but not obligatory. Taxi drivers: round up to the nearest euro. Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 per day if you want to. Nobody will chase you down for not tipping. It’s genuinely optional.
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