We decided to review the best ways to Travel on a budget to Spain Countryside, whether by car, excursion or train, and know the Famous Spain Countryside.
Is already known most of the tourists like prefer to visit hyped cities like Barcelona and Madrid, but they forget that Spain is much more than this 2 cities. We quote below 15 small regions with many beautiful landscapes and possibly much more cheaper than big cities that you can visit on the next summer.
Why should you travel to Spain countryside?
Before talking about a trip to the Spain Countryside and how much it costs to visit, it is worth answering a question that possibly arose for you when associating Spain with the hinterland: “why go to the countryside on summer?”, after all, Spain is among the 5 most visited countries in Europe and the main driver of millions of those annual visits are its most famous cities and tourist attractions.
So, why would going to a rural area instead of the popular cities, or including it in your itinerary be advantageous? Let’s list some of them!
- Escape from the cliché. Visiting the Spain Countryside means leaving the beaten track behind to discover new and different places that will impress you (not to mention escaping from the wave of tourists who opt for the traditional).
- Beautiful landscapes. The sculptures and picturesque natural attractions are as beautiful as Gaudi’s works, with a bonus of all the impressive and enchanting atmosphere that only the countryside can give you. Your souvenir photos will be incomparable!
- Unique experiences. Whether cultural, gastronomic or ‘living’, the interior has a completely different energy that can take you to another reality while welcoming you in a cosy way.
15 Countryside cities to discover in 2023
We couldn’t talk about the Spain Countryside without mentioning here some of the best cities to visit in summer 2023.
- Mallorca and the Balearic Islands
- Burgos
- Marbella
- Aranjuez
- Avila
- Granada and Alhambra
- Salamanca
- Malaga
- Toledo
- Segovia
- Seville
- Valencia
- Guadalest
- Xativa
- Aragon
- Albarracini
- Sos del Rey Catholic
- Catalonia
- Sa Tuna
- Castellfollit de la Roça
- Sitges
- Andalusia
- Arcos de la Frontera
- Setenil de las Bodega
- Mijas
- Nerja
- Round
- Pampan
How to enjoy the Spain Countryside on a budget?
- Enjoy the local culture. Whether it’s the history, the more rustic atmosphere or the ancient traditions still passed on, the countryside culture can provide you with countless attractions, from festivals, dishes, recipes, drinks or even incredible monuments.
- Appreciate the environment. The interior brings a completely different environment from the big city, the metropolis and when you experience it, it is extremely relaxing. Not to mention the opportunity to get in touch with nature and the exuberant natural landscapes you can enjoy.
- Know everything you can. Sometimes you may want to see a country and its most famous cities and not be able to see and experience everything because there is so much to see, so little time or not enough budget. In the countryside, however, you have more chances to enjoy a bit more. So live and see everything you can!
Ways to travel on a budget to Spain Countryside
This depends exclusively on your availability and budget. There are three ways of getting to know the interior: by car, by excursion or by rail.
First option to travel to Spain Countryside on a budget: CAR
Touring the countryside by car is an excellent option for those who want to enjoy the ride at their own pace, visit the places they find most attractive and do only the activities they prefer.
For this option you can be researching which city or cities you want to visit, the sights that you will go and rent a car that best suits the amount of people travelling with you. This way you create your own travel itinerary.
Second way to visit the Interior of Spain: Trains
Another way to travel around the Spain countryside are the trains. It’s still a very free way to explore the countryside, hopping from train to train to the towns you want to visit. We even recommend the train travel combos, as we’ve already mentioned, with several tickets without having to worry about buying them at each station, which you can find out more about by looking at railway in Europe 2023: the complete guide.
There are still the panoramic trains, with longer journeys, between several cities and some even with accommodation, with the intention of following a touristic route so that tourists get to know the best of Spain.
Third way to visit the Hinterland of Spain: Excursion
Another option, similar to the train are the excursions, which can even include train travel and accommodation on trains instead of hotels. The difference is that the excursions are designed exclusively to present the city and its sights, as well as having activities geared towards tourists, all planned by a specialist.
It is an excellent way of getting to know the Spain Countryside with a well-planned itinerary, all you have to do is choose the one that suits you best (and your pocket too!), not to mention that there is usually a guide who speaks your language.
How much does it cost to travel to Spain?
Before getting to know the interior of Spain, you need to get there, especially considering that most flights are to cosmopolitan cities and not the treasures unknown to the tourist masses. But you have no idea how much it costs to travel to Europe, do you?
That being the case, we have separated the two main travel options:
FIRST CLASS FLIGHT COST TO SPAIN
Individual: $853 to $2,603
Couple: $ 1,706 to $ 5,207
Family: $3,412 to $10,414
COST OF ECONOMY FLIGHT TO SPAIN
Individual: $ 342 to $ 1,035
Couple: $ 683 to $ 2,069
Family: $1,367 to $4,138
If you choose to travel economically, be aware that prices vary greatly depending on the airport and season. In any case, the average price of a return air ticket from North America to Spain is US$550 per person and from the world to any airport in Spain US$665 to US$1,103 per person.
*Ps: For further questions about flight prices visit Champion Traveler.
- Creating your own travel budget
Whenever we talk about travel and prices, the term variable is constantly mentioned and this is not for nothing. How much it costs to get to know a place depends on your choices, so we’ve created a way to help you create your own budget!
Average cost of a trip to Spain
The most economical way to travel is always the most opted for. Knowing how much a traditional trip to Spain, such as Madrid and Barcelona, costs is a good benchmark to find out whether or not it is more economical to visit the interior of the country.
On a one-week itinerary, a trip to Spain costs an average of US$2,465.
| Estimated Average Cost | |
| Air ticket (round trip) | $ 550 |
| Accommodation | $ 850 |
| Local transport | $ 400 |
| Attractions | $ 175 |
| Food | $ 260 |
| Extra expenses | $ 100 |
| Total | $ 2.465 |
*values updated as of early 2023.
Obviously prices may vary for several factors such as city, airport and type of travel. However, in a direct way, aiming at the average cost, this was the estimated value for:
- 7 day trip;
- Accommodation in a medium-sized hotel;
- Transport by train (travel combo pass) and bus;
- Visit at some attractions;
- Extra money for shopping and any needs that arise.
Calculating your own travel costs
As many values have several dependencies, a good option to make your own travel expense calculation is to separate one-time and daily costs. The total will be the sum of the one-time expenses and the other expenses multiplied by the amount of days you will stay.
| One-off expenditure | |
| Air ticket (round trip) | $ 550 |
| Transport (travel combo) | $ 300 |
| Daily expenditure | |
| Medium-sized hotel (per night) | $ 140 |
| Attractions | $ 25 |
| Breakfast | $ 7 |
| Lunch | $ 10 |
| Dinner | $ 20 |
We put the transport as a fixed value since the train travel combos are sometimes more economical because they guarantee several trips for one price paid in advance, as are also the car rentals. If you choose the bus, this value becomes a variant. In the same logic, the food is another variable point, after all, sometimes you will go to a restaurant and sometimes not, not to mention how difficult it is to resist to a snack or other during the tour, isn’t it?
With this separation of value, however, you can create your own budget, remembering to set aside an amount for extra expenses, of course. If you already have a notion of how spendthrift you are, you should already imagine how much you should set aside, right?
How much does it cost to visit the interior of Spain by excursion?
The price of a tour varies according to its duration. Short trips lasting a few days or a few hours cost from US$ 350. Longer itineraries of a week or more are from US$ 1,000.
For those who want to leave their trip in the hands of professionals, it is good to choose a quality tour, with an excellent itinerary. For that, the price of a good service should be equivalent and therefore, a priori, the price may seem high, but most of the most expensive tours (the longest ones) include accommodation and food, making the amount close to the average cost of a trip to popular cities in Spain.
Here are some recommendations for excursions:
Camino de Santiago Encompassed
Camino de Santiago is a fascinating route of immeasurable cultural richness. Many of the people who discover it, want to come back more often to relive the experience.
On this tour you will be able to enjoy the route in your own time, walk around the site and enjoy delicious meals.
- Duration: 10 days
- Type of tour: Small group
- Guiding method: Guided
- Language: English
- Price: from $ 1,367
Murcia is a very interesting old and picturesque town with Arab origins and surrounded by a mountain range. It is a destination for exploring culture and historical monuments and plenty of activities to do.
This tour is geared towards cycling through the sights of the region.
- Duration: 7 days
- Type of tour: Small group
- Guiding method: Guided
- Language: English
- Price: from $ 1,160
Walking in Spain – White Villages of Andalucia
Andalusia is considered one of the most beautiful regions of Spain, with a fascinating cultural mix that will make you want to know every little bit of it.
The excursion is a walking tour of charming Andalusia, exploring the beautiful landscapes.
- Duration: 8 days
- Type of tour: Small group
- Guiding method: Guided
- Language: English
- Price: from $ 1,070
Day Trip to Ronda and Andalusian Villages
Still focusing on Andalusia, this one-day excursion aims to see some beautiful villages in the region.
The tour even offers wine and olive oil at the end, so you can taste some of the local wealth.
- Duration: 9 hours
- Type of tour: Private
- Guiding method: Guided
- Language: English
- Price: from $ 350
For those who like a more expansive trip, this tuor goes through more than one country, visiting the fields and villages and providing wine and dish tasting. A unique experience!
Spain to Morocco Rail Adventure
- Duration: 11 days
- Type of tour: Private
- Guiding method: Guided
- Language: English
- Price: from $2,419
*Ps: In case you want to find other tours for 2023, you have:
- Week-long excursions at Cosmo;
- Tours for May, on Tour Radar;
- One-day excursions, at Get Your Guide.
How much does it cost to visit the interior of Spain by car?
The cost of travelling in the Spain Countryside by car is the sum of car rental, fuel and tolls. Therefore, there is no set amount, especially since the total amount includes accommodation, attractions and extra expenses.
However, for you to have an average of the expenses, we have separated the items and their respective values.
PRICE OF CAR HIRE IN SPAIN
| Adults | Bags | Price |
| 2 | 2 | $ 10 to 28 / day |
| 4 | 2 | $ 14 to 29 / day |
| 5 | 2 | $ 36 to 58 / day |
| 5 | 3 | $ 14 to 29 / day |
| 5 | 5 | $ 13 to 131 / day |
- Cheap car rental? Check out Kayak.
- Self-drive car hire? Check out Avis or Auto Europe.
FUEL PRICE IN SPAIN
| Average Cost (in litre) | |
| Gasoil (diesel) | € 1,10 / $ 1,20 |
| Gasoline 95 (common petrol) | € 1,20 / $ 1,31 |
TOLLS IN SPAIN
| Barcelona – El Vendrell | € 6,38 / $ 6,97 |
| Barcelona – Tarragona | € 9,72 / $ 9,72 |
| La Jonquera – Girona – North | € 5,87 / $ 6,42 |
| Alicante – Monforte del Cid | € 3,75 / $ 4,10 |
| Malaga – Marbella | € 4,73 / $ 5,17 |
| Marbella – Estepona | € 3,24 / $ 3,54 |
| Tarragona – Valencia | € 26,01 / $ 28,43 |
| Valencia – Alicante | € 17,81 / $ 19,46 |
| Seville- Cadiz | € 7,52 / $ 8,22 |
| A Coruña – Santiago | € 6,59 / $ 7,20 |
| Bilbao – Zaragoza | € 32,69 / $ 35,73 |
| Barcelona – Malgrat / Palafolls | € 3,54 / $ 3,87 |
| Madrid – Arganda | € 3,29 / $ 3,60 |
| Madrid – Guadalajara | € 6,33 / $ 6,92 |
| Madrid – Ocana | € 10,75 / $ 11,75 |
| Madrid – Navalcarnero | € 4,84 / $ 5,29 |
| Madrid – Toledo | € 7,87 / $ 8,60 |
| Madrid – Barajas | € 2,06 / $ 2,25 |
How much does it cost to visit the Spain countryside by train?
There are two options for train journeys: follow your own route and follow the common itineraries to go to the places you want or board a panoramic train.
TRAIN TICKET PRICE
For both options you can choose to buy your ticket at the stations and how many were needed for your route. These tickets vary greatly depending on the city and class. You can save money by buying the Renfe Spain Pass, exclusive for tourists, online according to the number of journeys you find necessary. It allows you to travel for a certain number of days on medium and long-distance trains and the AVE. You can check the popular train routes on Renfe.
| Renfe Spain Pass | |
| 4 trips | € 195 / $ 213 |
| 6 trips | € 275 / $ 300 |
| 8 trips | € 350 / $ 382 |
| 10 trips | € 410 / $ 448 |
*ps: if you have difficulty with the purchase, use Trainline. If you need help with itineraries and building your route, customise your trip with kimkim.
PRICE OF PANORAMIC TRAINS
Barcelona to Montsserrat
Montserrat is a beautiful and popular mountain situated north west of Barcelona. The train is the best and fastest way to travel from Barcelona to Montserrat, with splendid scenery.
| Adults – one way only | € 13,25 / $ 14,50 |
| Children – one way only | € 9,85 / $ 10,77 |
| Adults – Round trip | € 24 / $ 26,25 |
| Children – outward and return | € 18,40 / $ 20,13 |
Strawberry Train (Tren de la Fresca)
This train passes through Madrid and the town of Aranjuez. The highlight of the trip (which gives the train its name) are the fresh, juicy strawberries produced in the small Spanish town.
| Routes | Strawberries with cream | Fresas del Tajo | Real Strawberries |
| Adults | € 30 / $ 32 | € 35 / $ 38 | € 35 / $ 38 |
| Children | € 20 / $ 22 | € 25 / $ | € 25 / $ |
Although the focus of many is on the cheaper prices, it is worth mentioning some luxury trains, such as and Spain’s first luxury train, the Transcantábrico. After all, nothing beats having an exquisite restaurant while enjoying the enchanting scenery of the north east of the country.
| Deluxe Double Suite | Deluxe Single Suite | Deluxe Suite with Sofa |
| € 5.500 / $ 6.000 | € 8.000 / $ 8.741 | € 13.500 / $ 14.751 |
Another luxury train, similar in experience and budget to the Transcantábrico is La Robla. The difference is in the scenery and activities. On this luxury train besides an amazing route, you can taste the local food of the picturesque northwest region.
| Deluxe Double Suite | Deluxe Single Suite | Deluxe Suite with Sofa |
| € 5.500 / $ 6.000 | € 8.000 / $ 8.741 | € 13.500 / $ 14.751 |
Find more scenic trains that take these scenic routes:
- Merida to Almadén;
- Almeria to Granada;
- Zaragoza to Huesca.
If train travel interests you, read more on how to travel within Europe by train: best routes to take!
More reasons to visit the Spanish hinterland
If you haven’t convinced yourself to visit the Spanish countryside yet, we have some good reasons to try and change your mind!
Desert of Taverns
As one of the few deserts in Europe, it is an unmissable destination to admire from Spain’s interior.
Ferment
A little known island with lush white sandy beaches and where Joni Mitchell wrote Blue is one of the best destinations to visit.
Basque Country
Diverse Basque villages, dramatic and stunning green valleys and impressive culture in art and gastronomy is what the Basque Country has to offer.
The marrows
What remains of the Roman Empire’s gold mine and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also an incredible place for a sightseeing trip.
Sierra Nevada
Sheltering a very high altitude (the highest point in mainland Spain), Sierra Nevada is the best destination for the ski season and your winter holidays.
Lanzarote vineyards
The best wines are made in rural regions and vehicle holidays are even better, even more so if those vineyards are on black volcanic soil!
There’s no shortage of reasons and options, not to mention great prices to discover the jewels of Spain. And you could still be opting to change your destination if Spain doesn’t suit you, and surely Italy countieside: Complete and best experiences for 2023 is perfect for you!
