My Weekend Expenses on Dining and Vintage Shopping in Barcelona

In our A Total Trip series, writers share their expenses from recent travels. This edition features Amy Mulvaney detailing her costs for a weekend of dining, sightseeing, and vintage shopping in Barcelona, Spain.

Although I've had the privilege of traveling to many countries, I’ve never actually lived overseas. Now in my late twenties and with a wedding planned in two years, my fiancé and I decided to spend this summer experiencing life in a different country before embarking on our next (expensive) chapter.

With a quick two-and-a-half-hour flight from our home in Dublin, an abundance of trendy bars and restaurants, and nearly guaranteed pleasant weather, Barcelona was the first city that came to mind for our summer living and freelancing adventure.

We were there from early June to late August, but even that wasn’t enough to check off everything on our list. We had a strict weekly budget to follow, and for the most part, we managed to stick to it, thanks to the diverse options available in the city.

If you're planning a trip to Barcelona and are curious about potential expenses, here's a detailed breakdown from one of our favorite weekends in the city. I hope this helps you estimate similar costs for your getaway.

Pre-trip Expenses

We booked an Airbnb for our entire stay, costing €85 per night (€42.50 each). This price includes a city tourist tax of €1 per person per night. Our apartment was located in El Born, a neighborhood favored by locals for its trendy independent bars, restaurants, and shops. This prime location meant we were always close to a café serving delicious oat flat whites or a traditional restaurant offering fresh paella or fideuà.

Since we arrived during the peak of summer, our flights were pricey, costing around €400 each, which included our luggage. There are several buses that connect the airport to Plaça de Catalunya in the city center, but we chose the most convenient option and took a taxi for €40. A more economical choice would be to take the metro or train for just €8.

Total: €127.50 for three nights of lodging

Daily Expenses

Friday

Breakfast and Exploration: We kickstarted our day with an iced coffee and a flat white made with oat milk for €7 (€0 for my portion) at our go-to cafe in El Born, Hidden Coffee, before heading to Castell de Montjuïc (Montjuïc Castle). We each purchased a T-Casual ticket for €11.35, which allows for 10 trips on public transport within one zone (if you're visiting Barcelona, I strongly recommend getting this ticket—it will likely cover your transport needs for the entire weekend).

The T-Casual ticket includes access to the Montjuïc Funicular, which takes you to the start of the Telefèric de Montjuïc (Montjuïc cable car) at Parc de Montjuïc. A round-trip ticket for the cable car was €10. While the views of the city from the cable car were stunning, they might not justify the price for such a brief ride, especially since we could have used our T-Casual ticket to get to Castell de Montjuïc.

Drinks: We stumbled upon a quaint bar near the castle where we enjoyed a beer and a bottle of water each, totaling €5.50 per person. We had also planned to visit Poble Espanyol during this trip but didn't realize it would require a 40-minute walk (or a 20-minute bus ride) from the castle.

Drinks: Prior to dinner, we dropped by a cozy bar we often visited during our stay. Fa Patxoca is a tapas spot tucked away on a shaded side street in El Born, where we enjoyed sitting outside on stools with a cold beer (usually more than one) to escape the heat. Two cañas (small beers) and two gluten-free bottled beers set us back €11.30 (€5.65 each).

Dinner: A favorite among celebrities (including Emily Ratajkowski and Hailey Bieber) and savvy tourists, we secured a reservation at Bar Brutal two weeks before arriving. This bar and restaurant is famous for its natural wines and modern Spanish and Catalan cuisine. We shared three dishes, with the standout being the sea bass accompanied by pistachio emulsion and grilled pineapple, grilled cucumber, and mezcal, along with a bottle of wine recommended by a very attentive waiter.

Including a bottle of water and two desserts, our total came to a delightful €103 (€51.50 each). This was one of our pricier meals, but we would have gladly returned for a second visit if our budget permitted.

Total: €91

Saturday

Breakfast: As someone with coeliac disease, Barcelona's amazing array of gluten-free options was a major factor in our summer stay. One of my go-to breakfasts (on weekends or weekdays, honestly) was a cinnamon roll paired with a mini vanilla chocolate cookie from Chök. This Saturday was no exception, and my treat totaled €6.05.

Shopping: We planned to explore the city's numerous vintage shops today, and after some research, we discovered that Carrer dels Tallers was the perfect starting point. We spent hours strolling down this street, popping into as many stores as we could. While luck didn't favor me in the vintage department, my fiancé scored a stylish red bomber jacket at Flamingos Vintage Kilo for €20. Although not vintage, I couldn't resist a beautiful handmade dress I spotted in a small boutique called Urbana for €69. After all that shopping, we quenched our thirst with a bottle of water each for €1.

Dinner: We headed to Gràcia for dinner, a delightful neighborhood in Barcelona. The bus ride from El Born took about 25 minutes and was covered by our T-Casual card. Gràcia has a more local vibe compared to other areas we explored, yet it boasts an abundance of fantastic bistros and wine bars. Our dining choice for the evening was Baby Jalebi, which focuses on Indian and Pakistani street food. We ordered a variety of dishes, with the lamb madrasi being a particular highlight. The total came to €47.10 (€25 each).

Total: €30.60 (€99.60 if including the dress - but I’m not counting that)

Sunday

Breakfast: To wrap up the weekend perfectly, we skipped the crowded Barceloneta Beach and opted for the tranquil Sant Pol de Mar. About an hour's train ride from El Born, Sant Pol de Mar is a charming village with lovely beaches just a five-minute stroll from the train station. Before boarding, I grabbed a pain au chocolat from Hanai Vegana, a vegan and gluten-free bakery, for €3.60.

Beach day: Our T-Casual tickets didn't cover the fare to Sant Pol de Mar, so we purchased a return ticket for €11 each at the station. The train ride is breathtaking, showcasing coastal views all along the way. Upon arrival, we headed straight to the supermarket to grab water and crisps (potato chips) for a quick snack (€1.57 each).

We made our way to Platja de Sant Pol and rented sun loungers from a beachside restaurant, Banys Tarridas, for €5 each for the day. Bringing our own umbrella saved us another €5. Platja de Sant Pol is significantly less crowded than the beaches in Barcelona, and the water is crystal clear—so clear that I could see fish swimming around my feet when I took a dip!

Dinner and drinks: After hours of basking in the sun with a good book, my partner strolled to a nearby eatery, La Casa Nostra, to pick up a margarita pizza for us to share (€6 each) while we admired the sunset on the beach. Sunburned and satisfied, we took the train back to the city, stopping at Rec Comtal 21, a relaxed bar with a view of the Arc de Triomf, for a sangria de cava (€6.30 each).

Total: €33.47

The final tally (my share)

• Accommodation for three nights via Airbnb: €127.50

• Total spending over three days (including the dress): €224.07

Grand Total = €351.57