Am I? When it comes down to it, I don’t like swimming with plastic bags and other things that I won’t describe here.

So, when I go to the beach to take the waters, I head out of Barcelona. Here are a few swim-friendly destinations I’d stick a big toe in:

Best beaches near Barcelona

Sitges

I’ll admit that Sitges beaches are a bit packed in the summer months, mostly with men (this is a gay getaway). It can be hard to find a plot of sand upon which to lay. Get a sun umbrella and a chair for €5-€10 a day and enjoy.

Garraf, Spain. Photo: Eduard Maluquer

Sitges also makes my list because it’s close to Barcelona (45 minutes to the south), easy to get to by Renfe train, and is basically just a really fun little city. Lots of choices here for eating out, bars, nightlife and cafes. Makes for an excellent day-trip or weekend away from Barcelona. Read more here.

Garraf

I looked at houses here and imagined moving to Garraf, a small village a couple train stops before Sitges, snug in the mountains and overlooking the Mediterranean.

Sigh. It’s lovely.

Alas, the issue with Garraf is that not all trains stop in this petite beach town, so be careful to get a Renfe train that hits all the stops or you might chug right on by. Also note that Garraf is a village, but also a region. In the village there are two main beaches: one which is large and more popular, and another which is much smaller on the other side of the port. It takes about 35 minutes to get to Garraf from Barcelona’s Pssg de Gracia station.

The beaches of Sant Pol de Mar. Photo: Olivier Bruchez

Sant Pol de Mar

About an hour north of Barcelona in the Maresme area of the Catalan coastline, Sant Pol is about as charming as Mediterranean fishing villages come.

Does it have all the boutiques and cafes that Sitges does? No, not even close. It’s tranquil, not crowded and I recall the sand being especially fluffy (that may just be me). An ideal day-trip for those who want to swim, read, nap and snack on a picnic lunch.

More beaches near Barcelona

Farther away from Barcelona and only accessed by bus and car, I recommend the Costa Brava, especially Cap de Creus, Tamariu and Begur. To the south try some of the many beaches around Tarragona. Tarragona, the city, also has an ample beach (Tarragona is reached by train).

Also in our guide: If you’re planning a trip to Barcelona and looking for the perfect affordable place to stay, make sure you check out our budget hotel recommendations. Our editors have scouted out the best deals on accommodation in the city’s historic center. Read more in our Barcelona guide.

The post Best Beaches Near Barcelona appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

On top of that list, you can add friendly locals, beautiful architecture, natural scenery, and more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than you can possibly experience on any one trip. And if you need any extra convincing, just compare prices in Spain to other popular destinations in Europe, and you’ve got a can’t-miss vacation that’s easy on your pocketbook.

10 reasons to visit Spain in 2017

Still need more reasons? Here are 10 more reasons to visit Spain in 2017.

1. The favorable Dollar to Euro exchange rate

Spain has always been a budget traveler’s paradise. The country’s inexpensive wine, food, and public transportation are even more wallet-friendly when the Euro takes a nose-dive, and since 2016, it’s started a downward trend that looks like it’ll last well into 2017.

At the time of writing, $1 buys €0.96, which means you can now estimate prices at a 1 to 1 ratio. Score!

2. Cheaper flights to Spain courtesy of new providers

Now you can fly to Spain from the US cheaper than ever with Norwegian Air. Starting in June 2017, the budget air carrier is adding flights from the U.S. cities of Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Newark Liberty, and Oakland to Barcelona with fares starting at $179 each way.

Related: 10 Tips for flying Norwegian to Europe

And if you can’t wait until June, you can always grab a budget fare to another European hub city and add a Spanish city to your European itinerary with bargain fares from low-cost airlines like Vueling, RyanAir, easyJet, and Air Berlin. For the cheapest fares, book as far in advance as possible (or gamble on a last-minute fare days before departure) between two major destinations – think London and Barcelona, Paris and Madrid, etc.

Fly the Cheapo skies within Spain on Ryanair. Photo: magnus_d

3. Competitively priced air travel within Spain

While the increased competition in transatlantic flights is bound to lower the price of fares to Spain from abroad, it’s also important to note that the growing number of low-cost providers flying between Spain’s regional airports have made it cheaper than ever to fly inside the country.

Flying from Madrid or Barcelona to amazing cities in Spain like Granada, Santiago, and Malaga would cost you a pretty penny before this year. For the most part, you were limited to full-service airlines like Iberia, however, now budget carriers Ryanair and Vueling offer bargain fares booked year-round by savvy locals and travelers alike.

Start planning your 2017 trip! Search for budget flights in Europe.

4. World-famous musicians in Barcelona and Madrid

Who says you can’t build your trip to the Iberian Peninsula around a musical event? Beyond major music festivals like Primavera Sound in Barcelona (May 31- June 4) and the Mad Cool Festival in Madrid (July 6-8), concert halls in Spain’s two largest cities will host quite a few world-famous acts for 2017.

Related: Affordable hotels in Barcelona near top attractions

Barcelona will feature Lana Del Rey on February 1, Sting on March 21, Macy Gray April 1, and Suzanne Vega on June 10.

Madrid: Beginning in April and continuing through early summer, some big names in music will stop in Madrid: Bruno Mars (April 3rd), Guns N’ Roses (June 4), Aerosmith (June 29), Food Fighters with Belle and Sebastian (July 6th), Green Day (July 7th), and Kings of Leon with Wilco (July 8th).

To find more musical events, search by city and genre of music, and for discounted concert tickets, try atrapalo.com.

5. Midsummer festivities in Alicante

Every year in Spain, locals and visitors alike welcome warm weather with St. John’s Eve celebrations. The most famous of these take place in Alicante, a beautiful port city located on the Costa Blanca, where locals combine the more widespread midsummer tradition of bonfires with the burning of large-scale sculptures and effigies like those used in Valencia’s renowned Las Fallas festival.

Related: Find a budget hotel in Alicante

Beyond the wild festivities, there are street parties with live music as well as traditional dancing, parades, and beauty contests. Of course, you’ll also find very affordable food and drink on every corner of the city.

6. New Year’s  and Three Kings celebrations in Barcelona

New Year’s (December 31  – January 1) in Barcelona is a fun affair for visitors of all ages. Beyond the widespread Spanish custom of eating 12 grapes, one with each chime at the stroke of midnight for good luck, the locals have some interesting New Year’s traditions of their own.

Come New Year’s Eve day, l’home dels nassos, or the “nose-man”, a character that has as many noses as days are left in the year, that children are encouraged to spot for good luck every year on December 31st (the only day of the year that he looks like everyone else).  Closer to midnight, you can take in fireworks and the colorful waters of Montjuïc’s magic fountain dancing to holiday music.

After ringing in the New Year like a local,  you’d be best advised to stay in the city until at least January 5th and see the always entertaining menagerie of performers and whimsical floats in the Three Kings Parade through the city center.

Carnival in Sitges is a festive and colorful event. Photo Joan. G.

7. Carnival in Sitges

While Venice’s masquerades and the Canary Island’s Brazilian-style celebrations get most of the hype in Europe, the Carnival parades and events in Sitges, known as “Carnestoltes“, are a generous dose of fun to add to your European itinerary.

Related: A Budget guide to visiting Sitges, Spain

The 2017 festivities kick off on Fat Thursday (February 23rd) with the arrival of King Carnestoltes and the presentation of his queen. The fun continues through Ash Wednesday (March 1st) when a sardine is paraded around town with plenty of mock seriousness and then “laid to rest” in a surprisingly cheerful ceremony symbolic of burying the past in the hopes of creating a better future.

Looking for an affordable place to stay? Search over 300 hotels in Sitges, Spain. 

8. The Wine-Throwing Festival in Rioja

Another good reason to come to Spain in 2017? For the famous San Vino Wine Festival in Haro in La Rioja on June 28-30. Hike up a mountain with thirsty locals for the epic Wine Battle on St. Peter’s Feast Day.

On the mountaintop, there are water trucks and buckets full of wine that you can make use of to douse anyone and everyone around you before heading back down the mountain to Haro for a night of dancing and wine drinking. Just be sure to pack a set of clothes you don’t care about much for this event. A pair of (wine) goggles wouldn’t be a bad idea, either.

Related: See our list of 12 hotels in Haro, Spain

Santo Toribio de Liébana monastery was founded in 1125. Photo: Guillén Pérez

9. A Jubilee Pilgrimage on the Lebaniego Way

This lesser-known pilgrimage route in Cantabria (northern Spain) is always an interesting and less-crowded alternative to the more popular St. James Way. With a length of 72 km, the Lebaniego Way is also a great starter’s route — the whole route can be walked in three days.

2017 is an especially attractive year to follow the red arrow that signals the route. Starting on April 16, Santo Toribio Monastery (where the route ends) enters a jubilee year. Even if you’re not particularly interested in viewing the largest surviving fragment of the cross, known as the Lignum Crucis at the way’s end, the spectacular scenery and the special religious and cultural events to celebrate the jubilee year will make all that walking worth your while.

Cheapo tip: Besides, all things considered, walking is way cheaper than renting a car, and you won’t have to worry about finding budget accommodations with a gym to keep up with your workout schedule.

10. The Barcelona Marathon

Whether you’re a regular runner or just need a fitness goal to look forward to, why not make a resolution to start running and sign up for Barcelona’s 2017 marathon on March 12th, sponsored by Zurich Insurance Group.

You’ll have to register before March 6th, and the sooner the better, as the price goes up with the number of participants. That said, even at the max price of €84, it’s a bargain compared to some other big-name marathons stateside such as the Boston Marathon ($150) and the New York Marathon ($255). Besides, it’s the perfect excuse for an early spring escape to the Catalan capital.

Plan ahead!

And remember, whatever your reasons are for visiting Spain in 2017, be sure to book ahead for the best deals, especially if you plan to arrange your visit around a popular event or fiesta. Book those hotels, cars, flights and train tickets as early as possible for the best rates.

The post 10 great reasons to visit Spain in 2017 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

When you get tired of soaking of the sun, just stroll the palm-lined boardwalk or head to the whitewashed, charming Old Town for a look around.

Related: Easy and affordable day trips from Barcelona

How to get there and get around

The nearest airport to Sitges is Barcelona’s El Prat and there are flights from cities throughout Europe starting at €50. From Barcelona, getting to Sitges costs around €3-6 via train (42 minutes) or  about €4 via bus (30 minutes).

Sitges is only half an hour away by car, and 40 minutes by ferry from Barcelona’s port (€20 one way, €29 round trip). Once you get there, the city is flat and walkable, so there’s no need to hop transit to get around.

Free & Cheap Things to Do

Leisure time and tourism in Sitges revolves around the seafront. Sure, there are the festivals, a few museums to see, and a charming old town, but the main event here is the beach.

Take a dip in the Mediterranean just steps from the town. Photo: Jorge F.

Beaches

Building sandcastles, playing Frisbee, and frolicking in the Mediterranean are your best bet for activities on a budget in Sitges. Unfortunately, seaside luxuries like jet ski rentals, sailing lessons, and scuba diving are not cheap.

However you decide to spend your time by the seaside, just be sure to choose your Sitges beach carefully. Three of them, Platja dels Balmains, Platja d’Aiguadolç, and Playa del Muerto are nudist.

Free events and festivals

The city’s wild Carnaval (late February to early March) and Festa Major (August 20-25) are a great time to take in dozens of free events from concerts to dramatic regional traditions like fire-runners and human towers. Sci-fi and fantasy film aficionados may find it worthwhile to attend the Sitges Film Festival in October and even participate in its zombie parade, although accommodation fills up fast for above-normal prices.

Free art

While Sitges has a few museums, there are no free days (or even a free afternoon). Luckily, for Cheapos, the city’s cobblestone streets are crowded with private galleries of all shapes and sizes. For an afternoon or morning of free art, don’t be shy — walk into any that catch your fancy and have a look around, even if buying original art isn’t in your budget this trip.

Budget-friendly Eats and Nightlife

Xató is to Sitges as paella is to Valencia. This typical local dish is an endive salad topped with cod, tuna, anchovies, eggplant, and black olives then drizzled with a thick pepper, almond, and garlic sauce.

For traditional tapas in an authentic setting, grab a table at El Cable (c/ Barcelona, 1), but be prepared to make your order in Catalan for better service.

For a cheap daily menu, try the 3-course midday offering for €10 at Triana (Passeig de Vilanova, 12). It also includes wine or beer and an after dinner coffee.

For inexpensive vegetarian and healthy fare, head to Lizy’s Kitchen (c/Sant Bonaventura, 3).

When it comes to going out in Sitges, a lot of local establishments cater to gay clientele. For drinks on the wild and cheap side, head to Calle 1er de Maig, known to locals as the “Street of Sin”, full of partiers and music leaking out into the street. For a quieter night out on the town, pull up a chair on a bar terrace at Plaça del Cap de la Vila.

Cheap Sleeps

Sitges is popular year-round, but things really pick up in July and August and in the dates around the larger festivals, so book as far ahead as possible for the best selection at the best price.  For extra savings, try to book your stay in the middle of the week.

Even if you can’t wrangle an off-season, midweek stay, hotel and B&B rooms with private bathrooms can be had for around €85/night. Shared dorms at hostels start at €20/night.

A seaside double room at Hotel Subur. Photo: Booking.com

We like the comfortable, reasonably priced rooms and the pool at Hotel Galeon and Hotel Subur for their beachfront location. Avoid places just off the boardwalk with a menu in five languages as a rule of thumb; if it looks like a tourist trap and feels like a tourist trap, it’s probably a tourist trap.

Search over 600 hotels in Sitges, Spain. 

Your budget tips for Sitges, Spain

Have a tip to add to our list for visiting Sitges? Join the discussion by leaving a comment below!

The post Budget guide to Sitges, a quick hop from Barcelona appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Tarragona

This is a favorite, but it always takes a lot of convincing on my part to get my visitors to go there. When they return they always thank me, enchanted by the experience in this Roman city. Take the train from Barcelona to Tarragona from l’Estació de França, which will get you there in about an hour. Many trains head to Tarragona throughout the day.

Upon arrival, climb the steps to the city’s “balcony” where the Mediterranean Sea poses before you like a brazen movie star, waiting to have her photo taken. You’ll snap her photo, and then move onto the Roman amphitheater, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the old city quarter. There’s a lot to see here, so go early and plan to have lunch in one of Tarragona’s many breezy plazas.

For more information and for help planning your trip, check out the Tarragona Tourism website.

The mansions and gardens of La Garriga make for a relaxing respite from Barcelona’s bustle.

La Garriga

Not many tourists make it to La Garriga, which is part of its charm. A small village in the mountains near the Montseny Natural Park, expect cooler weather and lots of green. The main draw in La Garriga are its thermal springs. You can get a day pass to soak in the springs or spend the night in one of the few hotels in town.

Don’t miss the Saturday morning market, where a rainbow of local veggies are sold. La Garriga also has a large number of Art Nouveau mansions in its city limits, some crumbling and others in exemplary condition.

Read more about the hot springs at the website of the Blancafort Hotel and Spa.

Sitges is a great option for a Spanish beach getaway.

Sitges

As the weather warms, Sitges calls visitors back.  This is one of the top beach escapes within 45 minutes from Barcelona in that it offers swimming, sunbathing, shopping, art, history, nightlife and countless restaurants. It’s also one of Europe’s gay getaway spots (their Carnaval festivals in February are fabulous).

Related: Budget guide to Sitges

Go for the day and stroll the boardwalk, have lunch and then snooze on a beach lounger (which you will have to rent). Note that in the summer months you might feel a bit like a sardine on Sitges tiny beaches, which are very popular.

For more information about the city, check out the Sitges Tourism website.

Anything to add?

Do you have your own favorite day trips from Barcelona? What about advice on visiting Tarragona, La Garriga or Sitges?  Let us know by posting in the comment section below.

And be sure to check out our Barcelona hotel recommendations for a place to stay, as well as this article in our Barcelona guide for more information on great day trips from the city.

The post Barcelona: Day trips to Tarragona, La Garriga and Sitges appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.