Interrailing through Spain and Portugal on a budget

Before visiting Lisbon, I already knew I was going to eat my own weight in pastéis de nata. And with each pastel de nata costing somewhere between €1,50–2,50, it was easy and cheap to try as many as I could over the course of my time in the city. Now, I can easily tell people which pastelaria makes the best ones.

If you’re a foodie like me and enjoy exploring the local food culture without breaking the bank, you can easily apply the same mindset in any destination—from trying croissants in Paris, to crema catalana in Barcelona to bougatsa in Thessaloniki. Simply research a local delicacy and try it at as many different places as you can, embracing your inner food critic as you make a ranked list of your favourites.

With restaurant prices constantly going up, consider visiting local food markets rather than dining out for every meal. Besides fresh produce, many markets sell local delicacies or full meals at a far cheaper price than restaurants—plus, markets are a great way to live like a local and connect with farmers and other shoppers.

In Lisbon, I loved visiting the main market, Mercado da Ribeira (or Time Out Market), which featured a variety of goods by local vendors, from fresh organic produce to savoury delicacies and desserts. My favourite treat was a freshly-baked, sweet bread I found for €6; it was fluffy, flavourful and offered multiple servings.

I visited Castelo de Tavira—which is free to enter—and paid only €3 for a combined ticket to the nearby Museum of Tavira and the Islamic Museum. The castle, with its colourful garden, served as a relaxing break after a long tour of the city, while both museums had meticulously curated exhibitions that revealed many insights into Tavira’s historical and geopolitical standing.

Fado is a traditional Portuguese music genre originating in Lisbon’s working-class neighbourhoods in the 19th century. It's characterised by an emotional, melancholic tone. You’ll find most Fado performances in Lisbon’s taverns, where you have to pay at least €50 per person to dine and watch the show.

In Tavira, however, I found a Fado concert at the main church (Igreja da Misericórdia) for just €10! The ambience was mesmerising, the vocals were haunting, and for a 45-minute show I paid a fraction of what I’d pay elsewhere. The attraction is called “Fado com História” and the musicians host concerts every day.

One of my favourite things to do after a hectic day of sightseeing is sit down at a relaxed café away from the crowds, order a refreshing beverage and unwind with a good book.

No matter where you travel, you’ll most likely be able to find several cafés with a quiet atmosphere, ideal for disconnecting from the real world and diving into a fictional one. You only have to spend €3–4 for a beverage and you just secured a cheap, rejuvenating activity for a few hours. And, trust me—you’d be surprised by how much more memorable your book feels when reading it in a new city.

When visiting Seville, for example, I stumbled upon El Viajero Sedentario, a cosy little café right in front of the Alameda de Hércules square that boasts ample outdoor seating in the warm sun and a peaceful ambience for reading.

I don’t think I’ve ever been to another European city with as many free museums as Cádiz. I explored the Ibero-American House of Cádiz, the Teatro Romano de Cádiz (not really a museum but still had some exhibits) and Cádiz Museum without spending a single cent.

Pro tip: Even major European museums and galleries, like the Louvre in Paris or the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, have specific days of the month with free entrance. Some of those places recommend booking tickets early in advance due to their popularity, so plan your visit ahead of time.

The best part about visiting a coastal Mediterranean destination between May and September? You can hit the beach anytime!

Even if you’re not a fan of swimming, you can still enjoy the sun, play board games, read a book or just unwind and enjoy a good conversation with a friend by the sea—all of which are free. Pair these with fresh summer fruits and other snacks bought from a local market and you just unlocked a classic summer experience for just a few euros.

My friends and I loved setting up our umbrellas at Playa de la Malagueta for almost the entire day, playing card games while downing refreshing iced coffee and juicy strawberries from Mercado de Atarazanas.