Spain is a dream Mediterranean destination, and it’s a country that can make your trip feel full even when you don’t plan on spending big. Travelling on a budget doesn’t mean skipping the culture, food, or fun, it simply means knowing where to save and how to navigate the country efficiently.
There are many ways to do this, from an eSIM Spain plan that ensures you are always connected to cultural spots that offer free entry.
How to Travel Budget-Friendly to Spain Without Sacrificing Experience?
Grab a Spain eSIM Before You Go
The first thing you need to ensure is that you stay connected in an affordable way, which will then help you avoid unnecessary expenses. You’ll be able to book trains easily, check metro schedules, and find last-minute deals.
An eSIM gives travellers the best way to stay online, as you only need to get a Spain eSIM prepaid plan. This can be a few GBs or unlimited data, and it will mean you won’t need unpredictable or expensive data roaming plans from your home network.
To ensure you stay connected, get a plan before travelling and scan the QR code or install the provider’s app.
Travel Smart Between Cities
The local transport setup has a great mix of high-speed trains, regional rail, buses, and low-cost flights that allow you to stretch your budget while still enjoying the experience. You can rely on high-speed trains to make it easy to connect between cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, and Valencia in just a few hours.
For this, install the Renfe app and book 30-60 days out to get the best prices (up to 50% off!) There are also competitors like Avlo, Ouigo, and iryo that can come in handy when comparing last-minute fares.
For shorter trips, you’ll need regional public transport apps like the TMB App for Barcelona and EMT Madrid for buses/metro. If it fits your travel plan, you can buy a multi-journey pass like the T-Casual in Barcelona or a 10-trip Metrobus ticket in Madrid, as it’s quite cheap compared to single-journey tickets.
Enjoy El Menú del Día and Hidden Tapas Bars With the Locals
Food is key to experiencing Spain, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. One of the best ways to enjoy authentic Spanish cuisine on a budget is El Menú del Día.
This is a menu of the day fixed-price meal offered at many local restaurants, typically between 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM, on weekdays. It includes a starter, main course, dessert, and sometimes a drink, all for a fraction of what you’d pay for dinner (often ranging between €12 and €18).
In the evenings, you can enjoy a few snacks and drinks at local tapas bars. Unlike tourist-heavy alternatives, these are often small and off the beaten path, but they serve affordable, high-quality tapas. You can ask locals for recommendations and visit slightly outside peak hours to enjoy better service and smaller crowds.
Enjoy Spain’s Free and Low-cost Cultural Centres
Spain is full of culture, and you can enjoy many world-class museums and historic sites for free or at low-cost fees at specific times.
For example, the Prado Museum in Madrid offers free entry from 6 pm to 8 pm Monday to Saturdays, and 5 pm to 7 pm on Sundays and public holidays. Over in Barcelona, Museu Picasso and MNAC offer free access on select days or times each month.
The free entries are available across many cultural areas and destinations in Spain, so just check the local centres depending on your travel schedule. You can then confirm with official websites.
Alternatively, you can check out city tourist cards, as they often include multiple museums and transport discounts that reduce the cost of paying individually.
