Barcelona on a Budget vs in Style

By Joan. I have never paid for a hotel in my own city, so treat this page as what I would tell a friend rather than as something I have personally tested.

A bed in Barcelona costs anywhere from 30 to 400 euros a night. Here is what each level buys you for a short trip and where I would put the money. Prices change, so check the current one before you plan a budget around them.

Budget, under 90 euros

Hostels in El Raval and Gracia with dorm beds from 30 to 45 euros, or simple guesthouses and private hostel rooms from 70 to 90 euros. Often a few metro stops out, so count the travel time before you congratulate yourself on the price. Best for solo travellers and for anyone who plans to be in the room only to sleep.

Mid-range, 90 to 200 euros

The band I would pick for a 2 day trip. Comfortable 3 to 4 star hotels and design apartments in the Eixample, Gothic Quarter or El Born, usually a flat walk or a short metro ride from the sights. Expect a lift, air conditioning and somewhere decent for breakfast nearby, which in August is not a luxury.

Luxury, 200 to 400 euros and up

Five star hotels on Passeig de Gracia and the seafront, rooftop pools and serious dining. Worth it for a trip that is meant to be special, or if you want to step out into the smartest part of the city. Book early, because the best rooms go months ahead.

Where to spend and where to save

On a short trip, spend on location. A central base saves hours of transit across 48 hours, and hours are the thing you are actually short of. Save on the room itself if you will mostly be out. A mid-range hotel in the centre usually beats a luxury room far away, and that is the single trade I would make first.

The experience budget

Whatever you spend on the bed, leave room for one or two guided experiences. A skip-the-line Gaudi tour or a day trip usually does more for a short trip than an upgraded room, and it removes the queues that eat into a tight schedule.

My advice by traveller

If the budget is tight, a private room in a hostel in Gracia is better value than a cheap hotel on the edge of the city. If you are travelling with children, pay for the lift and the extra space. If this is your first visit, mid-range and central. If it is an anniversary or something like it, this is the one time I would say book the expensive room and enjoy it without doing sums.

Two nights is not long enough for the room to become the holiday. Buy the location, then spend the rest on the city.