Our 5 Night Splurge in Barcelona (Spain) – Pretty But Pricey!

January 20, 2025 Mark

When we left Galicia on January 3rd, our next planned slow travel destination was returning to Albania to spend time in Sarande on the Adriatic coast.

But how should we get there from Spain? One of the best options was to fly out of Barcelona. So we decided to fly there from Galicia and explore the city over 5 nights, before moving onward to Albania.

Barcelona is a famous travel destination, so we were curious to see what the city would offer for slow travelers like us.

And what we found was a little surprising!

Why Did We Visit Barcelona?

Aside from being a convenient departure point to Albania, the answer to this question probably is self-evident.

Barcelona is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world!

Wikipedia does a much better job of describing everything Barcelona has to offer, so I will defer to them for that information.

Normally we wouldn’t go anywhere near Barcelona due to the throng of tourists that invade the city during high season. And the recent protests by locals against over-tourism further punctuate that this place would not normally be a destination for us, since we dislike over-tourism too!

But we would be visiting Barcelona deep in the off-season.

So we hoped we might enjoy the city under more “normal” conditions…at least from a local’s point of view.

How Did We Get To Barcelona?

As described in our last post from Galicia, on January 3rd we flew one-way direct on Vueling Airlines from Santiago de Compostela to Barcelona. Our tickets cost $143.51 USD in total, and included checked bags and exit row seats (with lots of legroom).

My knees aren’t jammed against the seat in front of me for once!

Normally, we wouldn’t check bags. But our main bags barely exceed discount airline cabin bag size allowances, so we didn’t want any issues when we boarded. And since the flight was direct, the chances that our luggage would be lost would be minimized.

We arrived in Barcelona at around 1:30 pm without issue, picked up our bags, and took the metro from the airport to the historic center where our hotel was located ($11.41 USD for 2 tickets).

By the way, I want to give two thumbs up to Vueling Airlines. We had a great experience, considering it was a budget airline.

Where Did We Stay In Barcelona?

We booked a basic room (with a private bathroom) at Pension 45, a bare-bones hotel located in the center of the historic district.

The location was perfect for exploring the city on foot.

The room was pretty spartan, but we knew this in advance. Besides, we wouldn’t spend much time in our room except for sleeping! And having a bathroom to ourselves was nice.

We paid €347 for 5 nights (not counting the €5 per person per night tourist city tax), which was a good deal all things considered. The total cost in USD was $396.50.

Take Our Money Barcelona!

Although we were expecting to pay more for most everything in Barcelona, it was more severe than expected.

This was especially true for admission to the most famous sites.

€26.00 per person to get into Basílica de la Sagrada Família? €35.00 per person to get into Casa Batlló? €21.40 to enter the Barcelona Zoo?

Yeah, no.

I’d say that admission fees were roughly double what we experienced in Madrid for equivalent quality and awe-inspiration.

Did we pay to visit any attractions?

Sure.

But we were VERY choosy about where we spent our money.

The feeling that Barcelona was making a money grab was strong, which is something we haven’t felt since overnighting in Cancun, Mexico in 2023.

Thankfully just wandering the streets of Barcelona was entertaining, and cost nothing.

And if you visit Barcelona at the right time, you can get free admission to all sorts of places.

I’ll explain.

Sometimes Luck Trumps Proper Planning

We had the good fortune to have scheduled our trip during a period that included the first Sunday of January.

Why is this important?

On the first Sunday of each month, many paid attractions in Barcelona have free admission ALL DAY! These locations always have free admission on Sundays after 3 pm, but the first Sunday of each month is completely open to visitors the entire day.

We discovered this when we were exploring parks in the Montjuïc area on January 5th. Quite by accident, we wandered to Montjuïc Castle and were considering a splurge to pay for admission. But at €12 per person, it would have been a hard pass considering there wasn’t that much to see.

However, when I consulted the Montjuïc Castle website I noticed that there was no admission ALL DAY on the first Sunday of each month. I also checked admission for the nearby Barcelona Botanical Garden (normally €3.50, and well worth paying), and it was the same for them too.

So we happily entered the castle and visited the nearby botanical garden, totally for free!

Better to be lucky than good, I guess.

So if you plan on visiting Barcelona on a Sunday, check the locations you want to visit to see if you can get in for free. Just remember that for the popular sites, you may need to reserve your free admission well in advance!

So What Did We Do In Barcelona?

A bunch of stuff!

And yes, we did throw down money for some of the more famous sites in Barcelona. But due to the inflated ticket prices, we didn’t see as many of the iconic sites as we might have.

In no particular order, we explored the following places:

The La Barceloneta Waterfront Area (Free)

Always a nice way to get some salt air and take in the gorgeous views, we visited the La Barceloneta waterfront area several times.

And the many city beaches were quite pretty. We hear they are absolutely packed in the summertime!

Museum of the History of Catalonia (€6 entry per person)

A nice museum that describes the complex history of Catalonia. Well worth the price of entry and was a great way to kill a couple of hours.

From prehistory through modern times, the museum did an excellent job presenting Catalonian history.

And the cafe on the top of the museum building was an added plus!

It was nice to sip coffee with this view!

The Gothic Quarter (Free)

The Gothic Quarter, or Barri Gòtic, is the historic heart of Barcelona, a maze of narrow, winding streets, hidden squares, and centuries-old buildings. This neighborhood offers a glimpse into the city’s past, with Roman ruins, medieval churches, and remnants of the Jewish Quarter all contributing to its unique character.

It was easy to get lost in the winding alleyways. And we found a couple of nice cafes that were a great way to warm ourselves up from the chilly weather.

The Gothic Quarter, appropriately named for its architectural style.

The Montjuïc Area (Free)

Montjuïc encompasses a small mountain close to the port region of Barcelona, whose historic claim to fame was being a defensive strategic location for the infamous Montjuïc Castle.

We enjoyed hiking the footpaths and exploring the many (free) parks in the area.

This reproduction of a Roman amphitheater was a neat, random find.

Montjuïc Castle (Free on Sunday)

Worth a visit on free admission days, but we wouldn’t advise paying the entry fee otherwise.

The small museum inside was informative about the history of the castle, and the views from the top were fantastic.

The castle exterior was the star of the show, with the interior being relatively empty.

But the view from the artillery batteries was spectacular.

You can see the port area well from here!

But we’ve seen much better castles elsewhere in Spain for much less money.

Barcelona Botanical Garden (Free on Sunday)

Most plants weren’t in bloom when we went, but we were still impressed with the facility. It was well laid out with many biomes represented.

Concrete walkways snaked throughout the botanical garden.

One of my favorites from the bonsai collection.

Well worth the modest €3.50 entry fee, but even better if you can visit for free on a Sunday.

Park Güell (€18 entry per person)

Park Güell is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is pricey to enter. But we thought it was worth it. It isn’t every day that you get to see an entire park designed by Antoni Gaudi!

The visuals certainly didn’t disappoint.

We were happy that we went during the offseason, as the crowds started to build as the day went on. We can only imagine how crowded this place would be in July!

Passeig de Gràcia Architecture Walk (Free)

Passeig de Gràcia is an avenue in Barcelona that serves as a commercial hub and a showcase for some of the city’s most iconic architecture. This boulevard, lined with towering trees and elegant buildings, was once a gathering place for the city’s bourgeoisie. It’s particularly renowned for its concentration of Modernisme buildings, a Catalan Art Nouveau style that flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Near the beginning of **Passeig de Gràcia**, you get a taste of the architectural treats that are in store.

So many of these buildings are spectacular!

Day or night, this was a fun street for us to explore.

Basílica de la Sagrada Família (Exterior Only)

The Basílica de la Sagrada Família is known as one of Antoni Gaudí’s most iconic and unfinished works. This structure, a testament to Catalan Modernism, attracts visitors with its blend of Gothic and Art Nouveau styles.

Construction began in 1882 and continues to this day.

And as we mentioned before, it is pricey to enter! We chose to just admire it from afar.

Although it is still under construction, the exterior is spectacular!

Picasso Museum Barcelona (€14 entry per person when purchased online)

We aren’t huge fans of Picasso, but we appreciate his impact on the world of art. The museum did a great job displaying some of his most influential works, as well as showing his artistic development throughout his life.

Hundreds of Picasso’s painted works were represented. Of course, some of these were his more famous pieces.

But his ceramic works were on full display too.

The works of Picasso’s Parisian contemporaries were also represented, as they apparently fed off of each other’s creativity.

Sadly, my favorite piece in the museum wasn’t a Picasso. It was “The Four Seasons” by Gaspar Camps.

El Born Center for Culture and Memory (Free)

El Born Centre de Cultura in Barcelona is a unique cultural center that blends archaeology and contemporary art. Housed within a beautifully restored 19th-century market building, it houses an extensive archaeological site showcasing well-preserved ruins of the old city of Barcelona from the 1700s.

And it is 100% free to visit.

It was fun to check it out, and 20 minutes is all you need assuming you take the time to read the various informational signs around the dig site.

Sorry for the lack of photos. We forgot to take any!

Ciutadella Park (Free)

Ciutadella Park is Barcelona’s largest and most central park. Originally the site of a 17th-century military citadel, the park was created in the 19th century following the demolition of the fortress. Within its grounds, there is a lake, a zoo, and several museums. The park also features several monuments, including a fountain designed by Josep Fontserè.

The Josep Fontserè fountain monument was pretty impressive!

The park itself had a network of well-manicured footpaths that led you to some really interesting historical buildings.

It was a nice place to walk around and explore for an hour or two.

Closing Thoughts On Our Stay In Barcelona

We were happy to have visited Barcelona, but after five nights we were ready to move on.

We fully appreciated the appeal of the city, but there were too many red flags for us to have enjoyed staying here for a month.

Between the crazy expensive rent, elevated costs for admissions, tourist taxes, and the pricey vibe of the city in general, we definitely would rather slow travel in Madrid. It was just much easier (and cheaper) to do almost everything there, once accommodations were figured out.

That said, we enjoyed our time in Barcelona. Though we wonder if this would have been true if we visited during the high season!

But on January 8th it was time to move on to our next slow travel destination, Sarande, Albania. We were looking forward to enjoying all of the coastal perks of Barcelona for 1/4th the cost!

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2 thoughts on “Our 5 Night Splurge in Barcelona (Spain) – Pretty But Pricey!”

Svetlana says:
January 20, 2025 at 9:34 pm
Thank you for this report! I was reluctant to travel to Barcelona for exactly the same reasons but looks like you made the best of it! I will definitely keep your experience in mind if we get there at some point.
From your pictures it looks like it was not very crowded (at least outside of the most famous sites). Is this a correct impression? Or did you just got lucky with your pictures?
For comparison, we visited Paris in early December and it was crowded, both streets and attractions. Even small museums I found online like “hidden gems” or “off the beaten path” were super busy. Although of course, December is not a low season in Paris…
And I hear you on attraction prices! It is really sad when such places are not affordable for a lot of people.
I did love London UK as they have so many free first class museums. I think London is an awesome place to visit off season…but of course accommodation must be brutal.
1. Mark says:
  January 21, 2025 at 2:47 am
  Hello!
  In our opinion, the crowds were all manageable in January. The biggest ones were in Park Guell, the Picasso Museum, and the Castle I’d say. But again, they weren’t crazy. And in the case of the castle, remember we did that on a free Sunday! But most importantly, try to get into the popular places as close to opening as possible to minimize the buildup of humanity over the course of the day.
  This all said, compared to the crowd sizes described to us in June by visiting friends, we had it very easy. Bottom line, none of the crowds were bad enough to make us change our minds about visiting any attraction.
  So Barcelona is totally worth visiting in January! Just prepare for a little cool weather and you’ll have a great time.