Affordable Hotels in Castelldefels: Your Budget-Friendly Guide to Visiting Barcelona august 22, 2024 – Posted in: Spain, Travel – Tags: Attractions, Barcelona, Busses, Castelldefels, History, Holiday, Holiday On A Budget, Restaurants, Spain, Train, Vacation

Castelldefels: An Affordable Alternative to Barcelona

Barcelona, a city filled with culture, history, and vibrant streets, attracts travelers from around the world every year. However, with rising accommodation prices, especially after the extensive regulation of Airbnb rentals, finding a reasonably priced hotel in Barcelona can be challenging. If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative, the small suburb of Castelldefels is the perfect option.

It takes about 20 minutes by train from Castelldefels to reach one of Barcelona’s major stations, Barcelona-Sants. From there, you can easily connect to the rest of the city via various lines.

Castelldefels – Affordable Hotels Close to Barcelona

An affordable alternative to the expensive hotels in Barcelona can be found in the charming coastal town of Castelldefels. You can choose to stay close to the station or right by the long, white sandy beaches. If you stay at one of the beach hotels in Castelldefels, it’s about a half-hour walk to the station, or you can take bus number L96. The bus ride costs just a couple of euros.

We stayed right in the middle, on a quiet residential street at the apartment hotel Apartamentos Velor. Our trip to Barcelona was a spontaneous decision, and we booked very late, with Velor being one of the few options still available in the area. During our walks along the beach, we found many wonderful hotels, and you can see them all by clicking this link: Hotels in Castelldefels. Your can also make your own search for hotels in Castelldefels and the Barcelona area right here:

Booking.com

5 km of Beautiful Sandy Beaches in Castelldefels

One of the most appealing features of Castelldefels is its beaches. Kilometers of golden sand and clear water stretch out before you, making it an ideal place to relax or participate in water sports. Whether you prefer sunbathing, swimming in the refreshing sea, or trying windsurfing, there’s plenty of space for it all.

Along the cozy promenade, you’ll find cafés and restaurants lined up side by side. The promenade is bustling with locals, especially on weekends, when they come to enjoy the sun and work up an appetite before lunch.

Castelldefels – A Family-Friendly Vacation Near Barcelona

If you’re planning a vacation in Barcelona with children who might not be interested in cathedrals and museums for several days in a row, it’s good to know that in Castelldefels, you can combine both a beach holiday and a city break in one. The lovely sandy beaches are just a short walk away and aren’t as crowded as those in Barcelona. In the charming seaside town there’s plenty of space on the long sandy beach. You can spend your days building sandcastles, visiting the many charming cafés, or exploring the impressive medieval castle Castell de Fels, after which the town is named.

If your children quickly tire of too much hustle and bustle, you can limit your time in Barcelona to just a day or two and enjoy the rest of your vacation with the family-friendly experiences in Castelldefels.

Great Restaurants in Castelldefels

One of the things we wondered about before arriving was whether there would be good places to eat. And we can assure you, there are! Besides the restaurants along the beach promenade, we also enjoyed meals at the 3-4 cafés and taverns located on Avinguda del la Pineda. Here, you can enjoy a lovely breakfast, and especially Rostisseria La Pineda is popular with locals who gather for Sunday lunch or take home one of the many delicious dishes.

Near the station, you’ll also find the local pedestrian street, Av. Santa Maria. Here, the evening life is vibrant, with both young and old enjoying a beer and some of the many tasty snacks. We tried the gourmet hotdogs at Urartu al foc, and they were a definite hit!

How to Get to Castelldefels

A Hola Barcelona Travel Card is unfortunately only valid for Zone 1 in Barcelona, whereas Castelldefels is located in Zone 2. There may be discounts available with another ticket type, but you should inquire at the ticket office in one of the stations.

We never figured it out because train travel in Spain is so affordable. In 2024, it costs €2.55 from Barcelona to Castelldefels. So we simply bought a ticket from the machine at the station and hopped on the R2S, which runs between Barcelona and Castelldefels.

Note: If you find out which discount card to purchase for the train to and from Castelldefels, we would love to hear from you so we can update this article. You can write to us at: mail@sittingunderapalmtree.com.

Castelldefels from the Airport

If you’re coming from the airport, you’ll need to change trains at the El Prat station. Note that there is an airport surcharge on your train ticket.

Castelldefels by Bus

There are also several buses that run between Barcelona and Castelldefels. The L95 bus goes to Gran Via in Barcelona, and it takes about 70 minutes. The express bus X95 can get you there in about 40 minutes to Plaça Catalunya.

The last train from Barcelona to Castelldefels departs at midnight, so it’s also good to know that there is a night bus that runs between the two cities, specifically line N16.

Enjoy an Affordable Vacation in Barcelona

By staying in Castelldefels, you can keep the cost of your vacation in Barcelona down. But Castelldefels is not just a budget-friendly alternative to Barcelona; it’s also a wonderful beach holiday destination in its own right. With its stunning beaches, cozy restaurants, and easy access to the Catalan capital, Castelldefels offers a new way to vacation when visiting Barcelona.