Barcelona is a beautiful city, but as beautiful as it is, it’s also expensive. Fortunately, there are several tips and ways to save in Barcelona. On entrance fees to sights, transport and food. And today we’ll take a look at a few of them.
Barcelona is one of the most visited cities in Europe. But it is also one of the most expensive. Admission to many sights and attractions is around €30. You can calculate the entrance fee from the article“What to see in Barcelona“.
In this article, we’ll take a step-by-step look at how to save money in Barcelona – on admission to the sights, on transport or on accommodation.
HOW TO SAVE ON SIGHTSEEING IN BARCELONA
BARCELONA PASS
GO City Barcelona Pass is a tourist card that has been designed in collaboration with the sights and attractions of Barcelona, so you can save on admission fees or simplify your exploration of Barcelona.
The card includes free admission to more than 45 sights, museums and attractions, so it can save you tens of euros. In addition, it offers a number of other benefits, which we will now introduce in more detail.
The Barcelona Pass is offered in two versions so that everyone can choose according to their budget and needs:
- All-Inclusive option is based on the fact that you buy the period for which you will use the discounted card – 2, 3, 4 or 5 consecutive days. The card is valid for calendar days, so it is better to think in advance whether it is worth activating it in the evening or leave it until the morning.
- With the Explorer option, you choose how many attractions you want to visit – 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions in total 35 attractions. You have 60 days from activation to visit the selected sites, so you are not limited by time. You activate your card by entering the 1st attraction.
What are the benefits of the GO City Barcelona Pass?
- Free entry to more than 45 sights, museums and experiences
- Priority access to selected Barcelona monuments
- Free one-day sightseeing bus ride. Many of the important sights are spread all over Barcelona and are difficult to reach on foot – the bus stops at all the sights and runs every 5-25 minutes.
- You can choose the number of days or the number of attractions you want depending on the length of your stay.
- 90 day money back guarantee.
- You have two years to activate your card
- A free comprehensive guide to help you plan your trip around Barcelona. Here you will find detailed information about the attractions including contact details, opening times and how to get there + a tourist map of Barcelona, a metro map and a bus map.
How does GO City Barcelona Pass work?
- On the official website you can choose a card in one of two variants – All-Inclusive for the number of days or Explorer for the number of attractions.
- You can download the card via the Go City app on your mobile phone or print a paper copy. For us, we can recommend a combination of both if, for example, your phone runs out of power.
- Activate your card by presenting it at the gate of the first attraction.
- At every other attraction you just scan or show your card and in you go!
What attractions and sights are included in the GO City Barcelona Pass?
Barcelona Pass includes entry to over 45 venues in Barcelona including:
- Casa Batlló (35 €)
- Sagrada Familia guided tour (49 €)
- Park Güell with a guide (35 €)
- Casa Milá-La Pedrera (25 €)
- Casa Vicens (22,50 €)
- Barcelona Bus Touristic sightseeing bus ride (33 €)
- Barcelona Zoo (21,40 €)
- FC Barcelona Camp Nou stadium + museum (28 €)
- Hospital Sant Pau (16 €)
- Aquarium Barcelona (25 €)
- Boat trip (10,50 €)
- Pablo Espanyol (14 €)
- Cable car to Montjuic (15 €)
- Mirador Torre Glories Skydeck (15 €)
- Day trip to Andorra and France with transport (129 €)
- …and many more (A complete list of attractions can be found here)
Please note: Barcelona is extremely popular, so for some places you will need to book online after purchasing your card. This also applies to guided tours. All booking information will be emailed to you after you purchase your card.
Moving on to the most important thing…
What is the price of GO City Barcelona Pass?
Prices for the Barcelona Pass vary depending on how many days you buy the card for or how many attractions you choose.
The prices for the All-Inclusive option are as follows:
The prices for the Explorer variant are as follows:
Tip: There are often discounts that can get you up to 10% off.
How much will I save with the Barcelona Pass?
We’ll show you if a tourist card is worth it with a real-life example. At least 3 days are ideal to better explore Barcelona. The itinerary could look something like this:
- La Pedrera (25 €)
- Casa Battló (35 €)
- Sagrada Familia guided tour (65 €)
- Poble Espanyol (14 €)
- Sightseeing bus ride (33 €)
- Hospital Sant Pau (16 €)
- Boat trip (10,50 €)
- Park Guël with a guide (35 €)
- L’Aquarium Barcelona (25 €)
Without the card you will pay 258,50 € for the attractions, i.e. with the 3-day card you would save up to €75. Save an extra full day on public transport in Barcelona with a sightseeing bus that stops at the main tourist spots and picks you up again. But it’s a case by case basis, so do the math beforehand and see if the card pays off for you.
You will also save money with the Explorer variant. The more attractions, the more you save. Especially if you plan to visit expensive sights such as the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera or L’Aquarium Barcelona. There is a lot to see in Barcelona and most places are really worth visiting.
Where the card doesn’t pay much, on the other hand, are the children. Children often have free admission to many places in Barcelona, or they can go to a number of places in the city for free. reduced entrance fee. But it always depends on the specific places you plan to visit.
HOW TO SAVE IN BARCELONA
GET YOUR TICKETS ONLINE
It is better to book tickets in advance for the most famous places in Barcelona. You will save time and sometimes even money. Where is it cheaper to buy tickets online in advance?
Where to book tickets in advance:
Tickets to Casa Batlló – online discount 8 €
Casa Batlló tickets with skip-the-line and 10D experience
La Pedrera tickets with skip the lines – online discount 2 €
Tickets to the Sagrada Familia – booking required
Tickets to Park Güell – often sold out in advance
HOW TO SAVE IN BARCELONA
HOLA BARCELONA TRAVEL CARD
Hola BCN is a card that allows you unlimited use of public transport in Barcelona. This includes the metro, buses, trams, but also suburban railways and the cable car to Monjuïc Hill.
Hola BCN is valid in hours. So if you have a card for 48 days and you mark it at 9:00am on Friday, it will be valid until 8:59am on Sunday. You activate the card with your first use on public transport.
The prices for the Hola Barcelona Travel Card are as follows:
As far as public transport for children is concerned, children up to 4 years of age can travel for free and older children need to buy standard tickets. There is no children’s version of Hola BCN. For more about Barcelona with children, see the separate article.
Tip: An alternative to HolaBCN is Barcelona Essentials Pass which includes unlimited free transport and entry to 2 of Barcelona’s most popular attractions – the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell.
You buy your card online and then simply pick it up from a machine at the airport metro station or any metro station in the city. In the bottom left corner you will see the “Online Collection” button – click on it, enter the number from your reservation and the machine will print the card for you.
HOW TO SAVE IN BARCELONA
SAVE ON ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation can get pretty expensive in Barcelona. While Barcelona offers plenty of options for where to stay, many hotels are quickly running out. And the prices of other accommodation are rising unpleasantly at the last minute.
Choose your hotel in advance
If you’re not sure of the dates, many hotels on Booking.com offer a free cancellation option. In the left column, filter “Free cancellation”. If your travel plans change, you can cancel your accommodation free of charge. The money will be automatically credited back to your account within a few days.
Book your accommodation in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat
L’Hospitalet de Llobregat is a part of Barcelona located between the city centre and the airport. This gives you excellent connections to the airport and for exploring the city.
In addition, thanks to the location outside the centre, hotels tend to be at great prices. You can get four-star hotels for the price of three-star hotels in the centre.
The whole area is clean, modern and safe. The metro, buses and trains pass through, so it’s easy to get where you need to go.
Here are the best hotels in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat:
- Hotel SB Plaza Europa: Four-star hotel with rooftop pool
- Leonardo Royal Hotel: Stylish hotel with rooftop pool at a great price
- Hotel Porta Fira: Modern hotel with quality service and rich breakfast
But that doesn’t mean you can’t find affordable, yet quality accommodation in the centre, by the beach and nearby:
- Motel One is one of the best hotels in Barcelona – great value for money, strategically located by the Arc de Triomphe, close to the sights and the beach, and at an affordable price.
- If you’re looking for a hotel by the beach, a great choice is Hotel Acta Voraport.
- Hotel Ronda House is a cosy and modern hotel with good quality service just 10 minutes from La Rambla.
- Hotel ibis Styles is another great value hotel with a rooftop pool and family rooms.
- As for cheap hotel in the centre, the River Hotel you’ll get good service at a low price.
HOW TO SAVE IN BARCELONA
BARCELONA CARD
They sound almost identical, but the difference is big. The Barcelona Card is Barcelona’s official card, ideal for those planning to visit museums in particular. It also offers unlimited free public transport and discounts to popular Barcelona attractions.
What are the benefits of the Barcelona Card?
- Unlimited use of public transport for the duration of the card’s validity. This includes metro transport to/from the airport.
- Free entry to museums in Barcelona including Fundació Joan Miró, MACBA, MNAC, Museu Picasso (advance booking required), CaixaForum, Museu Egipci de Barcelona, MUHBA Plaça del Rei and more.
- Discounted admission to selected sights and attractions in the city. The discount is most often in the range of 20-25%.
- The Barcelona Card is valid for 3, 4 or 5 days, so you can choose the card for the period that suits you best.
- Along with the card you will receive a guidebook with a map of the city.
How does the Barcelona Card work?
- You choose the card according to the number of days.
- After payment, you will receive a confirmation in your email.
- You can pick up your card at the Barcelona Tourist Information Office – you can pick it up right at the airport in both terminals, or at the popular Plaça de Catalunya, for example. You will receive the information in an email.
- At each attraction, present your card and hurry in!
What attractions and sights are included in the Barcelona Card?
Barcelona Card includes free or reduced admission to over 25 venues in Barcelona including:
- Free admission to the Fundació Joan Miró, MACBA, MNAC, Museu Picasso (advance booking required), CaixaForum, Museu Egipci de Barcelona, MUHBA Plaça del Rei and others
- Casa Milá-La Pedrera (€3 discount)
- Casa Vicens (25% discount)
- Barcelona Bus Touristic sightseeing bus ride (10% discount)
- Barcelona Zoo (20% discount)
- Casa Batlló (discount 3 €)
- Sant Pau (20% discount)
- Aquarium Barcelona (20% discount)
- Pablo Espanyol (20% discount)
- Palau de la Música Catalana (20% discount)
What is the price of the Barcelona Card?
Prices for the Barcelona Card vary depending on how many days you buy the card for – you can choose between 3, 4 or 5 days (not hours, although this is often misleadingly stated).
The prices are as follows:
HOW TO SAVE IN BARCELONA
VISIT MUSEUMS FOR FREE
Most of the museums in Barcelona are paid, but there are exceptions where you can get in for free. Many museums have free admission on the first Sunday of the month or every Sunday after 15:00. It’s not a rule, though, so check the website of the museum you’re going to beforehand.
Below is information on the most popular museums in Barcelona:
- Barcelona History Museum – MUHBA (Museu d’Historia de Barcelona) – free entry on the first Sunday of the month and every Sunday after 15:00
- National Art Museum of Catalonia – MNAC (Museu Nacional d´art de Catalunya) – free entry on the first Sunday of the month and on Saturdays after 15:00
- Natural History Museum – Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona – free entry on the first Sunday of the month and every Sunday after 15:00
- Maritime Museum – MMB (Museu Marítim de Barcelona) – free admission every Sunday after 15:00, free admission always to the exhibitions in the lobby and the Espai Mirador
- Picasso Museum – free admission on the first Sunday of the month and on Thursdays after 17:00. You must book your ticket in advance. Tickets are available from 4 days before the date and just get dusty.
- Gaudí’s Palau Güell – get in for free on the first Sunday of the month
- Monastery of Santa Maria de Pedralbes – free admission on the first Sunday of the month
- Museum of Contemporary Art – MACBA – free admission every Saturday from 16:00-20:00
MORE TIPS ON HOW TO SAVE IN BARCELONA
Go to a restaurant for lunch
Look for restaurants that offer a daily three-course menu (menu del dia), which will get you lunch for usually between €10-15. These menus tend to be offered mainly during the week, rarely at the weekend.
For a cheaper price, you can also try seafood near the beaches, which costs about three times as much during dinner.
Visit the city markets
The markets are a great way to try cheap local food, buy fresh produce and still support the local people. Plus, it’s the perfect place to soak up that famous neighbourhood atmosphere.
One of the largest markets, La Boquería, is right next to La Rambla.
Don’t shop on La Rambla
Take a stroll through, but avoid shopping unless you want overpriced goods. I never understood the excitement of La Rambla. Especially when Barcelona hides far more interesting places.
Visit Barcelona in the off-season
Barcelona is one of the most visited cities in Europe – long queues still form at many places in November. If you want to save money, head to Barcelona in the winter. Winters here are mild and reminiscent of a mild spring.
There are several benefits to visiting Barcelona in the low season – the weather is nice for sightseeing, flights and accommodation are much cheaper and there are noticeably fewer tourists.
Save on transport with T-Casual
If you’re not getting a HolaBCN, think about T-Casual. This is a “pre-loaded” ticket for 10 journeys. T-Casual costs €11.35, so it’s cheaper than buying tickets separately. Just beware – not valid for the metro from the airport.
These were our tips on how to save in Barcelona. Do you have a question? We’ll be happy to answer it in the comments below. Have a safe journey!
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BARCELONA
BARCELONA ITINERARY: Plan your trip with our 3-day itinerary for Barcelona. Check out the description and itinerary map on how to spend 4 days in Barcelona.
In a separate article, you can find out what the entrance fees are for sightseeing in Barcelona. We have also prepared a article on how to visit the Sagrada Familia (attractions, how to avoid queues, entrance fees, etc.) In a separate article, we share tips on what to visit in Barcelona with children.
BARCELONA GUIDE: Here is a detailed guide to transport in Barcelona and all the options to get from Barcelona – El Prat Airport to the city centre.
We’ve put together tips on the best places to stay in Barcelona (the best areas and hotels).
Read even more tips for travelling to Spain
