Looking for budget stays in Barcelona? This section is designed to save you time, money, and unnecessary stress. We've got insider tips to help you find affordable hostels and the cheapest places to stay in Barcelona.
There are a few things you should know about hostels in Barcelona and the city in general. Besides comparing the best and cheapest hostels in Barcelona for you, we also highlight what we have liked, disliked and things to look out for.
First of all, I would love to solve all your doubts about youth hostels in Barcelona. After that, I will give you some recommendations and tips for Barcelona and how to make the most of your time in the city.
Guide to Hostels in Barcelona
Let's dip in to the most important hostel questions:
1. Are hostels safe in Barcelona?
Hostels, in general, are safe. Nevertheless, it will also depend on you, the people who stay at the hostel and the behavior of all these people all together. If you leave your wallet open in the sofa, it might be lost, or maybe the person who finds it will give it directly to the receptionist...
We never know how other people will react in this situations, right? People who stay at hostels are backpackers, like you, like me.
Read: Are Hostels Safe? 11 safety tips for hostel travel.
The stories about having someting stolen at hostel are very few, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Therefore, you should always use the lockers on the room to put all your valuables. And use a good padlock to lock it.
Another good thing to look at is to check that the hostel has reception 24/7. The receptionist on the desk always has an eye on people going in and out and will be checking that nobody who is not staying in the hostel enters.
Next time, if the receptionist asks you which is your room number, remember it is good as it is a security issue. For Barcelona hostels, you should make sure the hostel is not in a bad neighborhood so you feel safe also and good when you go in and out.
For solo-female travelers specially, avoid staying at el Raval. This area is a bit sketchy nowadays. You won't feel good walking alone at night after a party.
2. Where should I stay in Barcelona?
There are many nice and good areas in Barcelona. It is a big city so it will depend what you are looking for. Nevertheless, think about these 2 facts before choosing your hostel:
a) Barcelona is big, so the more central you stay, the less time you will be commuting. The most central areas are: Sant Antoni, Gothic Quarter, Las Ramblas, Passeig de Gràcia.
Nevertheless, Barcelona is a well connected city, so as long as you are near a metro stop, you will be ok. Try and find a hostel that's just a few minutes walk from a metro.
b) When having a specific request, try to stay in an area that accomplishes that request. E.g:
- If you want to stay in a local hipster area, stay in Gràcia. A good hostel in Gràcia is Yeah Barcelona Hostel.
- Looking for a hostel with many social activities? Black Swan Hostel Barcelona is good for that.
- Wanna spend most of your time at the beach? Staying at Unite Hostel Barcelona is just a short walk to one of the best beaches in the city.
- A hostel in Barcelona with private rooms is what you are looking for? Check Urbany hostel
- The priority is having a bar in the house? Generator Hostel Barcelona has one.
- Great social vibes for youths can be had at Mediterranean Youth Hostel Barcelona.
- 360 Hostel Barcelona is a top choice in El Born area.
- Are you an older traveller? Born Barcelona Hostel is great for +50 travellers.
- TOC Hostel Barcelona is excellent for digital nomads.
- The most beautiful boutique hostel in the city is Casa Gracia.
- A top option for the female solo traveller is Pars Teatro Hostel.
- A cheap hostel Barcelona offers is Bedcelona Gracia Hostel. In fact, it's the cheapest hostel in Barcelona!
Sant Jordi hostels are big in Barcelona - there are 3 located in different areas of the city! The best one has to be Sant Jordi Hostel Gracia.
Looking for a hostel located in a quiet area? Eixample is the place. If you prefer a quiet rest, we suggest booking your stay at Barcelona Central Garden Hostel.
These are just some of the best hostels in Barcelona!
Use the filters to make sure the hostel has what you are looking for. When a cheap hostel is your priority, select sort by price, and the system will order the hostels by price.
Remember to add your travel dates, as prices change during the year. You can find a hostel under 15€/ night in January, but most probably not in August.
You can also check the cheap hostels page, where we collected a graphic which displays prices per month.
What about hostels in Barcelona Spain near airport? Barcelona International Airport is only 20-minutes from the city centre. So really, it doesn't matter too much which hostel you stay in as they are all within easy reach.
Which are some cute neighborhoods to stay?
I love Barcelona and know a lot about the city, so I could argue that most of the neighborhoods offer a unique stay in a different way. But I have many friends that came to Barcelona from abroad to visit, so I noticed their reactions to the different places.
The most loved districts, where you can also spend time because they have cool vibes, are:
- Gràcia,
- Sant Antoni
- Gothic Quarter in the city centre
As mentioned, if you want to stay in any other area go for it. As far as you are near a metro stop, you will be well connected in Barcelona. Metro runs daily until 12 at night. That means Barcelona central is never far away.
On Fridays you have metro from 5am until 2am and on Saturdays there is metro all night long.
Barcelona Hostel Reviews
A good way to check the hostel you like is what you are looking for is also to read the reviews.
People talk about if they liked the activities (a way to discover if the hostel organizes activities regularly), will describe if the hostel was clean or not so you will detect if it meets your high cleaning standards or not... and so on.
Cool Amenities Hostels Barcelona offer
Just quickly, here are some things we've seen are commonly included at hostels in Barcelona:
- Fully equipped kitchen (save money)
- Key card access to rooms (extra safety)
- Free WiFi (always appreciated)
- Free breakfast (yes please!)
- Laundry facilities (great for long-term travellers)
- Fun, memorable staff
Backpacking Barcelona
Let's reveal what you will find in this marvelous city. I could tell you Barcelona has it all: culture, beach, party, tasty food, happy people... and talk about it for hours and hours.
But let's get straight to the point and see what you should see, eat, and expect.
Also what you should avoid - this city is not perfect.
In this section you will find:
- What to see in Barcelona
- What to eat in Barcelona
- Things to prepare before your trip
- Let's have fun: nightlife tips
1. What to see in Barcelona
There are plenty of things you can see in Barcelona, but there is a top 5 Barcelona essentials you should not miss:
2 Days in Barcelona
1.1 Sagrada familia
This majestic church (yes, it is a church) is a Gaudí masterpiece. It has not been finished yet, so it is also interesting to see the evolution of it. For those willing to see the interior - it is worth it - I recommend you to purchase the tickets in advance.
Having the tickets beforehand you won't have to queue. I saw queues as long as 1-3 hours... The best moment to enter Sagrada familia is around 1 hour before sunset. The color changing inside the church adds even more beauty to the experience.
Not willing to enter? Make sure you go at least to watch it from the outside.
1.2 Park Güell
Another Gaudí masterpiece. The park offers also nice views of the city, so you have 2x1 here. Kindly note that in order to enter the most beautiful area in the Güell Park you need a ticket.
This ticket must be bought beforehand, you cannot just show up there and expect to get inside instantly, as the area has a limited amount of people per hour. In the best case scenario, if tickets are available, you would be able to enter in around 20-30 minutes.
Therefore, it is much better if you buy your entry beforehand. You will get a slot time where you can enter the closed area and enjoy it. At the park, there is still an area which is free, and it is Ok. You still have the views. And you might get to experience some street artist shows that are around that area. The ticket entry to the main area is totally worth it.
Tip: If you want to enter to the main area for free - and leagally - No wall squalling necessary! - go to there before/after the opening times. The park schedule is from 7.30 to 21.30.
1.3 Walk Passeig de Gracia and Las Ramblas
There are still free activities around Barcelona, at least, if you just wanna appreciate the beauty of the buildings from the outside. In Passeig de Gracia you will find also 2 more Gaudí Buildings:
: these clubs are where you should wear fancy clothes to get in easily. Fashion in Barcelona is very loose, so you will be able to bring your sport shoes here, but the security at the door can be a bit harsh and do not let you go if you are too loose.
- Pacha
- Catwalk
- Bling Bling
Normal Clubs: clubs where you don't have to be so dressed up to get in, with good music and great parties.
- Razzmatazz
- Otto Sutz
- Apollo
Fun clubs: these clubs where you go to have fun, not to show-off. Me and my friends, when we were very young students and could not get in the other clubs, went to these ones. These are less-known clubs among the tourist, but full of locals. They offer very fun nights.
- Paltaforma
- Macarena
- Almo2bar
Remember these clubs will start to fill up around 1:30-2 am. If they offer a guest list, just use google to find out, the guest list to enter for free will be opened 1-1:30. Nevertheless, it is worth it, as the entry fee might be around 15€.
4.8 Bars to go before the club
As i told you, the good time to get in the club is around 1.30pm. Normally, local people go to dinner at 22-22:30 and they finish dinner around 12, so they just go for a drink before entering the club. where can you go for a drink?
There are many bars around the city that offers music, cocktails, and great environment. These are also perfect places for those who just want to go out and have a drink, but do not want to join the club.
- Coco Vail
- Ovella Negra
- Kahiki
- Bar Marsella
- Lolita
You can also find bars to have a drink nearby the clubs you want to go, do some research in Google and read the comments before you decide which is a great place to go drinking. Some of them are just regular bars where people go to have a sandwich or do not offer a wide range of alcoholic drinks.
Summary Backpacking Barcelona
As you can see, you can travel to Barcelona on a budget with no problems. Transport in Barcelona is not expensive - buy travel cards instead of single rides - and many places are reachable within walking distance. when touring in Barcelona on your own, make sure you pay attention to your belongings.
Remember, if you want to swim at the beach, you should go with somebody that can take care of your belongings while you are in the water - if you go with your friends group one must stay watching the belongings while the others swim.
I know, that is not ideal, but please, please, avoid pick-pockets! I do not like to hear stories of pick-pocketing in my beloved city. I hope you found all the information you needed for your Barcelona trip. If you are traveling to Spain, check our backpacking Spain information site.
Happy travels!
Written by Travel Expert Barcelona
Mona