Backpacking Spain Travel Guide

This backpacking Spain travel guide is for travelers who want to get the most out of their trip.

In this ultimate guide you will find local advice, itinerary for traveling and backpacking through Spain, and next-level travel tips so you can travel the Iberian Peninsula like a Spaniard.

Because you’re going to need it – Spain is one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe! It also features an extensive coastline and is home to some of the most amazing beaches, stunning landscapes, and heritage places. The land of sun, siesta, and sangría is, in fact, a melting pot where different cultures have left their mark thought out the centuries.

But no matter what you want to do, whether it’s taking a road trip through the Ribera del Duero wine region of the north, enjoying the awe-inspiring blend of Moorish and Christian architecture, or simply relaxing by the sea in Barcelona – this backpacking Spain travel guide is here to help you.

With the help of this insider guide, you’ll be able to easily navigate your way around Spain, and know exactly where it is that you want to visit. I will cover the majority of the top things to do in Spain in this budget guide.

Where to Go Backpacking in Spain

If you’re wondering where to go in Spain, you’ll be spoiled for choice. As one of the biggest countries in Europe, there are beautiful islands and golden beaches, vibrant nightlife, and fascinating history behind the complex problems the country facing today.

In fact, there are so many that it would be some feat to cram everything into one trip! Don’t forget that as well as mainland Spain there is also the Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco and the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean! Both of these island chains are attractive destinations for tourists. The thing you should know is that the Balearics could be added as an extension to your southern Spain itinerary!

All of that being said, I think the best part about backpacking Spain is experiencing Spain’s uniquely different regions step by step: prosperous Catalonia, laid-back Andalucía, luscious Galicia, etc.

Travel Itinerary for Backpacking Spain in 12 Days

Start your trip in Barcelona, which has an international airport. You can arrive via bus, train, or flight from France (if you are doing a multi-destination trip in Europe). Don’t miss out on visiting Passeig de Gracia, Montjuic and Parc Guell!

After spending at least 3 days in Barcelona, I recommend heading to Valencia for a day, and then Seville for a few more. There is so much to do and see in Seville, which is a cultural and historic city of Southern Spain’s Andalusia region. You’re lucky to be visiting Seville around Semana Santa, when there are week-long festivities. Get ready for a fascinating array of architectural styles and delicious serranito sandwiches!

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Next head to Málaga, known for its glistening white-washed villages. The city boasts the biggest airport in the South of Spain, so this will most likely be the easiest city to fly out of. If you can allocate more time for Ronda with its breathtaking Puente Nuevo, or “New Bridge”, the trip well worth the effort!

From Málaga, Granada or Seville you can easily travel onwards to Morocco via flight or ferry. It takes just about an hour to get to Tangier, Morocco from Algeciras by ferry.

Another great city to visit in Southern Spain is the marvelous city of Cádiz. I spontaneously visited this city by the sea and had a great time. Like the rest of the cities in Andalusia, there are plenty of cafés and tapas bars, some beautiful plazas to enjoy a cup of coffee, and cathedrals to marvel at. Tarifa (the jump-off point to Morocco) is famous for its kite surfing.

If you are already visiting Málaga, I think you can choose to just visit Málaga or Cádiz. Both cities have a similar feel being on the beach.

Spend your last couple of days in Madrid, a bustling city that requires at least 3 days to appreciate. You can go on a free walking tour around the most famous tourist attractions or explore an incredible art scene, nightlife, and some of Spain’s top restaurants. Some of the world’s leading art museums can be found in Madrid, including Museo del Prado and El Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.

Best Time to Visit Spain

Backpacking Spain instantly conjures images of enchanting sun-drenched beaches, super laid-back atmosphere, and quaint medieval villages. For a good reason. While the weather can vary markedly depending on where you go in Spain, the temperatures in most parts of Spain can get blisteringly hot during the summer, particularly in Andalucia. It is not unusual for the temperature to rise into the high 30s Celsius from June to August.

Let me tell you that is way too hot! If you’re planning on visiting southern Spain in the height of the summer season I would strongly discourage you from doing it. Shoulder season marks the best time to go to Spain for savings! That said, the best times to visit Spain are from March to May and between September and November, when the air is more breathable and the crowds are less oppressive. It’s absolutely vital to take the best time to travel to Spain into consideration when travelling there. It’s a vast country and the weather depends on when and where you go!

Spain Travel Guide to Getting Around

Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport and El Prat Airport in Barcelona are the busiest international airports in Spain by passenger traffic. They serve flights from all over Europe, North America, and Asia. There are many airlines that fly from the United States directly to Spain such as American, Delta, Iberia or Air Europa. If you’re coming from Asia, Emirates, Qatar or KLM are great options too.

That said, Spain is a very well connected country. Local carriers, Iberia and Vueling, as well as Easyjet, WizzAir, and Ryanair, have a big presence in Spain, and prices are very competitive. Flying can be your best bet if you’re pressed for time. However, if time is on your side slow it down and go overland unless you’re going to the Canary or Balearic islands, in which case you might need to travel by air.

Luckily for travelers, Spain’s rail network has improved immensely over the past few years and its high-speed AVE trains now connect virtually every notable tourist destination at speeds over 300km/h. The train service can be more expensive than buses, but more comfortable and quicker, particularly when traveling between Madrid and Barcelona. If you’re travelling to multiple European countries, you may want to purchase a Eurail pass. Alternatively, if you don’t want to take the highways, compare flight and train prices. Keep in mind, RENFE trains will drop you off in the centre of town. Just relax in your seat while watching the scenery rapidly pass by.

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Spanish buses can get you pretty much everywhere, offer great routes, allowing you to travel around the country comfortably and on a budget. The main bus operator in Spain is ALSA and they have a premium service with snacks, movies, and wifi that could be worth splashing the extra cash on. Some routes are a far bit longer on the bus, like Barcelona to Madrid, which will take more than six hours on wheels, and three on the train. Make sure you book your bus seats in advance! Take my advice, book your mode of transportation in advance if you want to save money. You can get around Spain using Omio. This website helps you compare and book the best trains, buses or flights to get around Spain (or Europe).

In major cities like Madrid and Barcelona, the metro system is really well-connected, although be aware that pickpockets are still there and can cause some troubles! Be sure to watch your belonging, especially when boarding a train with a rush of passengers or traveling to Spain alone for the first time. Metro tickets cost around 2 – 3 EUR per trip. The same goes for Granada, but if you want to go hiking, you can also rely on the local bus system which is easily accessible. Ask the hostel/hotel staff for information on which bus number to take to go somewhere.

Spain Visa Requirements

Spain is part of the European Union, so if you’re a EU citizen, you won’t need a visa to travel and work in Spain. Similarly, citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United States don’t need to pre-apply for a visa; their valid passport will be stamped on arrival. However, if you’re not from an EU country or the countries above, then you will need to get a Schengen visa beforehand. It will set you back €60 and allows to travel to Schengen countries in Europe for 90 days out of every 180 days. It’s always best to check what your country’s immigration department says about getting a visa before you go. While these things can vary from country to country, here’s a website where you can find the most up-to-date information.

Backpacker Accommodation In Spain

There are a lot of accommodation options in Spain and it can be a little daunting at times to find the best one. There’s a wide array of hotels, hostels and other options in the country, primarily as tourism in Spain is one of the biggest contributors to the economy! When I went backpacking in Spain, I mostly stayed in hostels, as I’m a frugal traveller.

Hostels in Spain

Virtually every big city in Spain has a lot of hostels in it, so you’re normally spoilt for choice. While the country is still growing as a backpackers’ destination, there is a plethora of hostels in almost every city and you’d be smart to investigate the reviews before making your choice. Outside the tourist hotspots hostels can be as cheap as €10 a night, for a dorm bed, going up to €30 and more for the upscale hostels in cosmopolitan cities. Expect to pay more for private dorm rooms, and dorm rooms for female travelers. Sometimes it’s wise to bring your own towel, though normally all hostels provide sheets and linen. Again, just check before you book and an email to the hostel before you arrive won’t hurt either. HostelWorld is one of my favourite resources to compare prices and ratings.

Hotels in Spain

This option varies greatly from place to place, but for the hotspots, like Madrid, Barcelona and Granada, hotels are not only expensive, but often booked out. Especially when the festivals are in full swing. Sometimes, however, you feel like treating yourself and enjoying a little extra privacy. I like to check Agoda for special deals, particularly in less popular places. Some hotels offer seasonal promotional rates and other off-peak reductions.

Camping in Spain

For many travellers, Spain is popular with camping fans, and its seaside campsites delight campers of all ages. Whether you’re going on a solo backpacking trip, a surfing trip, to explore cities, or to enjoy nature, there are campsites in all corners of the country to suit all budgets. That said, you generally won’t have to book in advance. If you’re planning to rent a car and feeling real adventurous, consider picking up a backpacking hammock and a portable backpacking stove. Keep in mind, though, that wild camping is totally illegal in Spain.

Couchsurfing Spain

Couchsurfing can even effectively bring down the costs of your trip and it has certainly allowed me to travel for far longer than I would otherwise have been able to. It was a crucial crux when I travelled around Spain for 1 month on a budget of about €45 a day. This is a great way to save money but this isn’t really what it’s all about. It is more about landing on your feet with a social life and embracing the same common sense, of course.

You are staying with locals who know all of the best places and most fun things to do, you are shown hidden gems of a city that you could spend weeks, or even months failing to discover. When I got to Seville, for example, my host took me on a motorbike tour of the city, took me to an acting class in a leafy suburb and also showed me where I could get delicious tapas for less than €2. I’d say it’s an exchange of ideas and cultures.

Where to Stay in Spain

Below are a few of my favourite hostels and budget accommodation options when backpacking Spain:

Rodamon Hostel, Barcelona
Way Hostel, Madrid
Black Swan Hostel, Sevilla
We Hostel Palma, Majorca
Home Youth Hostel, Valencia
ECO Hostel, Granada
Hola Hostel, Alicante
Loop Inn Hostel, Cartagena
Surfing Etxea, San Sebastian
The Urban Jungle Hostel, Malaga
Casa Caracol, Cadiz

Top Tips For Backpacking Spain on a Budget

Like everywhere else in Europe, you can drastically cut your expenses while backpacking Spain by following these simple travel tips:

Find Self-Catering Accommodation

It doesn’t take long to understand that staying in hostels that have kitchens can save you money. Specify whether self-catering kitchens available in your hostel before booking. In fact, this is one of the best ways to save money while backpacking Spain, as small expenses can add up when it comes to eating out. Cooking a meal that will last you a few days is another great way to stay longer on the road!

Book Your Transportation Early

While booking your transport as far in advance as possible gives you less freedom to travel around Spain, both plane and train tickets are much cheaper if you purchase them in advance. I found this out to my cost, especially with RENFE trains. The prices do steadily increase the closer to your date of departure. The bus is almost always cheaper than the trains as well, but they do take longer.

Visit Off-Season

Aside from holidays like Las Fallas and Semana Santa, backpacking Spain during spring and fall are the best times to save money on accommodation and transportation.

Eat For Free

If you’re visiting Granada, Santiago or Leon then you’re in luck, as these cities are famous for their free tapas. Simply order a drink and you’ll get a plate of tapas with it for free! You might find this in other places such as A Coruña, Seville, and Madrid, but it’s much rarer. Alternatively, if you eat out get the meal of the day for the best deal. Lunch is always cheaper than dinner, while many bars offer a happy hour in the late afternoon!

Take a Walking Tour

Almost every city in Spain offers a free walking tour and they are generally excellent. Although they tend to work on a tip basis and therefore aren’t entirely free, they do usually offer exceptional value for money and are a great introduction to a city. A lot of the hostels offer free walking tours which you can join.

Backpacking Spain budget – How Much Will it cost?

It’s pretty tough to backpack Spain on €40 a day unless you’re participating in work exchange or home exchange. You can, however, backpack Spain for under €50 by doing the following:

If you want to score the best deal possible, shoulder season from April to May and October can be your best bet. This will be the cheapest time to fly to Spain. June and September are also affordable but stay away during July and August if you are backpacking Spain on a budget.

I recommend splitting costs with other travelers. You’ll end up paying more if you rent separate dorm beds. Rent an apartment with a few people instead. The best way to save money on accommodation is to stay away from the touristy areas, although this means you may have to spend additional money on transportation. Keep in mind, last-minute trains and plane tickets are potential budget killers. Pick 1-3 places to visit instead.

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Couch Surfing is the best way to meet locals and stay for free, but snagging a spot can be tough. If all else fails, Galicia and Andalucia have cheap camping! Keep in mind that wild camping is illegal, but you may be able to get away with it away from the tourist hotspots.

I spent an average €45 a day by splitting rental cars, apartments, and groceries with 3 other people. We were able to do everything we wanted to do, splurge on daily paella, and even eat out once and a while. We could have travelled for less, but it was more of a vacation. Renting apartments in smaller cities was affordable but if you camp or couch surf, you can get by on much less.

More Comfortable Spain Backpacker Budget

If you want to splurge a bit while backpacking Spain, then I recommend budgeting at least €60 a day. This will cover eating out more frequently, renting a car during high season, and splurging on the occasional party, or food tour.

Food in Spain

Fresh and local produce is an important component of Spanish cuisine. However, the thing that unites the entire nation is that meals here are for sharing. You will see a lot of people eating out and socializing, communal eating is key here and a great way to try a larger array of Spanish treats. In addition, eating in Spain is cheap! You can try a lot of stuff without spending a fortune.

You’ve probably heard a lot about the country’s tapas culture. There are restaurants across Spain dedicated to tapas that are perfect for sharing. Bread with aioli, patatas bravas, ham croquetas and pimientos de padron are paramount on any tapas menu. These small bite-size pieces are also perfect to fill the gap between a small breakfast and a big lunch. Seville, Granada and San Sebastian are the best places to try these delicious dishes.

Many backpackers visit Spain solely to try sangria. To ensure you have an exceptional wine drinking experience, ask for sangría casera rather than tinto de verano. The latter is a low-quality red wine mixed with gaseosa, which is sparkling, light lemonade. The authentic sangría is finished with rum, sugar, orange juice and fruit. With so many amazing vineyards throughout the country, you can tour some of the best ones in the La Rioja wine region before sampling the wine.

What you eat in Spain is equally as important as when you eat. Breakfast is generally eaten late and can be as simple as a coffee and a croissant, toast with cheese or marmalade, and fried churros. You will need to sit down for lunch between 2 pm and 3 pm, and dinner from 10 pm onward. Take my advice: dinnertime is when you can get together and try more plates while doing a decent pre-drink for the night ahead.

Spanish Festivals

Attending a festival in Spain is an experience like no other. The country boasts numerous festivals that range from religious holidays, cultural events, all-night parties to internationally acclaimed music festivals. Here’s a little list of the best Spanish festivals:

Las Fallas de San José

This incredible cultural celebration takes place in Valencia. Although officially taking place from the 15th to 19th of March, for Valencians Las Fallas is a month-long event all about saying goodbye chilly weather and welcoming spring. Each neighborhood in Valencia builds fallas – huge sculptures of paper maché on wood – which are later burned in the streets to honour Saint José, the patron saint of carpentry.

The Haro Wine Festival

This festival takes place in the town of Haro in the La Rioja region of northern Spain. Batalla del Vino (in the local language) is one of the first summer fiestas in Spain when participants squirt, splash, dump and pour leftover wine on absolutely everybody. This leads to a celebration that takes place each year between the 27th and 30th of June. However, on June 29th, the day of the patron saint San Pedro, the celebration reaches its peak.

La Tomatina

Thousands of people flock to the village of Buñol near the city of Valencia to join the world’s biggest tomato fight that takes place every year on the last Wednesday of August. The town provides about 150,000 kilograms of overripe tomatoes for participants, and within seconds, tomato goo covers everyone and everything. The tomato throw takes exactly one hour, from 11 a.m. to noon, but the party goes on all day! La Tomatina is the best way to waste otherwise edible salad vegetables and fill your every orifice with tomato seeds for days to come.

Semana Santa

Holy Week is arguably the most important festival in Spain. Throughout many parts of Spain, extravagant parades and religious processions take to the streets every day throughout the week leading up to Easter as members of local parishes and people in pointed hooks carrying crosses, banners and statues of their church’s patron saint, surrounded by burning candles.

These processions have been taking place throughout Spain for centuries, and look much the same as they did hundreds of years ago. The intricate floats, traditional costumes, and somber and haunting music played by live bands make for an Easter celebration unlike any other.

You can catch Semana Santa processions in many cities throughout Spain, but Andalusian cities, as well as Salamanca, Valladolid, and Zamora are home to some of the most famous. Don’t underestimate the celebrations in Castilla y León, either—the cities of Valladolid and León also host incredible processions.

The Running Of The Bulls (San Fermin)

Pamplona’s San Fermin fiesta is so much more than the infamous, brave and crazy run. The Running of the Bulls is, in fact, the massive street party packed with live music performances and other entertainment. Folks from all over the world enjoy hundreds of years of tradition. The whole thing (called the encierro) takes less than five minutes during the Festival of San Fermín. At the same time, the party lasts for 24 hours, over eight days. San Fermin is by no means a party for madcaps only, it’s for partygoers, culture lovers, and sangria enthusiasts alike.