A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Barcelona vs. Positano for Food, Nightlife, Beaches, and Old Town

Europe / Comparisons /
Jump to  down-arrow

Should you visit Barcelona or Positano?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Barcelona and Positano can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Barcelona

Barcelona is a laid-back, historic, and cultural city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. Many visitors also come here because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and live music.

Positano

Positano is a picturesque, colorful, and stunning Mediterranean village. This is also a fantastic small town with plenty of charm and local activities. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It also has that perfectly quaint feel that is like no other place. It's also known for food, beaches, and hiking.

How is Barcelona different from Positano?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Is Barcelona or Positano better for Food?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine in both Barcelona and Positano.

Many restaurants in Barcelona have been singled out for their culinary prowess. With easy access to fresh produce, there are many food markets around town. You'll also find great fresh local dishes at the many restaurants. Make sure you try the paella, croquettes, and Jamon Iberico.

Eat your way through Positano, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. Seafood is the obvious choice along the Amalfi Coast but Positano is also famous for its salami, chestnuts, cheese, and figs.


Is Barcelona or Positano better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will usually choose Barcelona over Positano.

Barcelona is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. The city offers an amazing nightlife at a much more affordable price than many places in Europe. There are beach parties, boat parties, and bars that stay packed late into the night. The city also hosts many street fiestas and music festivals.

Positano doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. The town has a relaxing nightlife that is usually centered around the clubs found at nearby resorts.

Is Barcelona or Positano better for Beaches?

While Positano and Barcelona are both popular beach destinations, overall the beaches at Barcelona have more to offer.

Barcelona is considered to be a world-class beach destination. The city features long sandy beaches where you can soak up the Mediterranean sun right in the heart of town. Popular beaches include Bogatell Beach, Barceloneta Beach, and Nova Icària.

Positano offers a nice beach destination. Like the rest of the Amalfi Coast, beaches near Positano tend to be pebbly instead of sandy. They can also get a bit crowded during the summer months. Still, the picturesque setting makes these beaches truly amazing. The main beach at the edge of town is Spiaggia Grande, but there are several others nearby as well.

Is Barcelona or Positano better for its Old Town?

Both Barcelona and Positano have historic old towns worth visiting.

The old town of Barcelona is one of the most recognized in the world. Dating back 2,000 years the Gothic Quarter remains a hub of life and activity. It's fun to explore the wandering streets or people watch in one of the plazas. There are also many fascinating boutique shops and restaurants.

The rich history of Positano can be explored in its historical center. Exploring the old town, soaking up the atmosphere, and simply enjoying the colorful buildings is what a trip to Positano is all about.

Is Barcelona or Positano better for Shopping?

Both Barcelona and Positano are good shopping destinations.

Barcelona is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. Head to Portal De L’Angel, Rambla de Catalunya, or Passeig De Gracia for some of the city's best shopping districts.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Positano. The main street in town is lined with quaint shops that sell local lemon products, ceramics, clothing, and more.


Is Barcelona or Positano better for Families?

Both Barcelona and Positano are fun to visit with kids.

Barcelona is a very family-friendly place to visit. Check out the Magic Fountains Show near Plaça d’Espanya, wander through the aquarium, or sample some chocolate at the Chocolate Museum. There are also many great parks and playgrounds around town.

Positano offers lots of family activities. Fun activities include boat rides, eating gelato, and hanging out at the beach. Some of the best family-friendly beaches are Spiaggia Grande, Fornillo Beach, and Arienzo Beach.

Is Barcelona or Positano better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

While Positano and Barcelona are both good for backpackers, overall Barcelona is more popular.

Barcelona is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. There are many hostels around town, each with its own personality. Many of the hostels also organize activities or dinners for guests so it's easy to meet other travelers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Positano. The town has a handful of great hostels that make the Amalfi Coast accessible to backpackers on a budget.

Is Barcelona or Positano better for Public Transit?

While Positano and Barcelona both provide public transit, overall the system in Barcelona is considered to be better.

Barcelona has a great public transit system. There's a metro, bus, and tram system that navigates the city.

While Positano offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. You can walk everywhere once you arrive, and the SITA bus travels to and from the town.

Is Barcelona or Positano a more walkable city?

Barcelona and Positano both are comparable when exploring on foot.

Barcelona is very walkable. The city is more spread out than some other major European cities, but there are many plazas and outdoor areas that are fun to explore on foot. The city has designed "superilles," which are areas where car traffic has been directed around pedestrian-friendly plazas so visitors can explore, relax, or play.

Positano is a very easy city to get around on foot. The town is best explored on foot. You can wander the quaint streets or take the foot path to the beach or nearby castles.


Barcelona and Positano: Pros and Cons

Barcelona
Pros
  • Good nightlife
  • Popular beach
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Good public transit
  • Big city activities
  • Impressive beauty
Positano
Pros
  • Family-friendly
  • Small town charm
  • Impressive beauty
  • Quaint atmosphere
Cons
  • Less popular for nightlife
  • Less attractive beach
  • Less popular with backpackers
  • Public transit not as usable


Should I spend more time in Positano or Barcelona?

How long in Barcelona or Positano?

Both Barcelona and Positano have a number of activities to choose from. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either.

The ideal length of time for a trip to Barcelona is 3-7 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Positano is 2-7 days.


  • How many days in Barcelona or Positano? Ideal Length of Stay
    Barcelona 3-7 
    Positano 2-7

One day in Barcelona or Positano?

Barcelona is a big city with plenty to do. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Even though Positano is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Barcelona or Positano?

Barcelona is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered around the area.

Positano is a small town where visitors enjoy the shopping and food. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this Mediterranean village has to offer. This Mediterranean village offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Barcelona or Positano?

Barcelona is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Barcelona, five days is sufficent for most. The entire area has lots to do.

Positano is a small town with plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this Mediterranean village makes for a great vacation. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Most people head to the area for the food. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this Mediterranean village has to offer.

A week in Barcelona or Positano?

Barcelona is a great place to explore. It is common to spend one week here. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Barcelona has to offer. This city offers something for everyone.

Positano is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Positano, one week is sufficent for most. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Which city is cheaper, Positano or Barcelona?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Barcelona is €123, while the average daily cost in Positano is €180. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Barcelona and Positano in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Barcelona €75
    Positano €120
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Barcelona €150
    Positano €240

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Barcelona €15
    Positano €6.19
Typical Local Transportation prices in Barcelona

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Barcelona are as follows:


  • 10 Trip Metro Ticket
    €7.80
  • Airport Bus
    €5.00
  • Metro
    €2.10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Barcelona

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Barcelona:

  • Private 5 days in Barcelona with private transfers and private tours: $1,524
  • Private 5 days in Barcelona with tours and transfers and pick up and drop off: $1,213
  • Private Round-Trip transfer from Barcelona Airport or Barcelona city to Andorra: $876
  • Private 3 days in Barcelona with private tours and transfers: $796
  • Montserrat Monastery Tour & Hot Air Balloon Flight, Including Transfer, Lunch, Photos, Cava: $791
  • Private Transfer & Tours to Andorra from Barcelona 10 Hours: $597
  • Barcelona city or airport to Andorra Private Transfer: $564
  • Private Transfer from Barcelona travel to Andorra: $554
  • Transfer Barcelona-Madrid: $531
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer to Montserrat from Barcelona: $529
  • Private Transfer: Andorra to Barcelona City or BCN Airport by Luxury Van: $522
  • Barcelona city to Andorra Private Transfer: $520

Typical Local Transportation prices in Positano

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Positano:


  • Bus Ticket
    €1.60

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Positano

Also for Positano, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Positano – Sorrento / Private Van Transfer: $29
  • Private Transfer: From Positano to Sorrento with hotel pick-up and drop-off: $42
  • Positano – Sorrento / Private Car Transfer: $44
  • Private Transfer to Sorrento, Rome or Naples: $50
  • Sorrento: Private Positano Minivan Transfer: $56
  • Positano - Napoli Airport (NAP) / Private Departure Van Transfer: $56
  • Private Transfer from Positano to Naples, Door-to-Door, English-speaking driver: $82
  • Private Transfer: From Positano (hotel) to Naples (hotel-airport-train station): $83
  • Positano or Ravello to Naples Airport Private Departure Transfer: $83
  • Private transfer from Naples to positano or reverse: $91
  • Private transfer from Positano to Naples by the scenic coast: $93
  • Private transfer from Positano to Naples or Salerno: $93

Is it cheaper to fly into Barcelona or Positano?

Prices for flights to both Positano and Barcelona change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Barcelona €27
    Positano €42
Typical Food prices in Barcelona

Some typical examples of dining costs in Barcelona are as follows:


  • Hot Cocoa & Churro
    €4.15
  • Sandwich
    €1.70
  • Baguette & Horchata
    €3.80
  • Tapas on the beach
    €8.28
  • Gelatto
    €2.50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Barcelona

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Barcelona.

  • Live from Potato Gnocchi Online Cooking Class: $23
  • Live from Barcelona to China: Potato Gnocchi Online Cooking Class: $23
  • Barcelona organic dinner in a beautiful rooftop garden: $35
  • Paella Cooking Experience + Boqueria Market Tour: $48
  • Interactive Spanish Cooking Experience in Barcelona: $49
  • Hands-on Brunch Cooking Class with Bottomless Mimosas!: $50
  • Born district food tour and tasting in Barcelona: $51
  • Street Food Tour & Gothic Quater Sightseeing with Local Expert: $52
  • Barcelona Street Food Tour: Local Market & Gothic Quarter with Expert Guide: $52
  • Tasty Barcelona Street Food Tour With Local Market Visit: $59
  • Skip the Line: Flamenco Show and Dinner Ticket: $62
  • 2-Hour Bites & Flavors Private Food Tour: $66

Typical Food prices in Positano

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Positano:


  • Sitdown Dinner (for Two)
    €31
  • Pizza in a Restaurant
    €9.32
  • Sandwich in a Restaurant
    €12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Positano

For Positano, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Positano for Foodies- The authentic food tour in Town: $106
  • Dining experience at a local's home in Positano & cooking demo: $106
  • Dining experience at a local's home in Positano with show cooking: $106
  • Small-group Street food tour in Positano: $111
  • Market tour and lunch or dinner at a local's home in Positano: $173
  • Private Pizza & Tiramisu Class at a local's home with tasting in Positano: $180
  • Private cooking class at a local's home with tasting in Positano: $180
  • Vico Equense: Market Tour, Home Cooking Class, and Dinner: $214
  • Local market visit and private cooking class at a local's home in Positano: $235
  • Exclusive hands-on cooking class with a local in Positano: $372
  • Sorrento: Private Local Products and Food Tour: $510

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Barcelona €27
    Positano €48
Typical Entertainment prices in Barcelona

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Barcelona are as follows:


  • Picasso Walking Tour and Museum Pass
    €42
  • Souvenir Gaudi Book
    €8.55
  • Admission to Museo Picasso
    €6.00

Tours and Activities in Barcelona

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Barcelona are as follows:

  • #1dayBarcelona. 6-Hour Action Packed Private City Discovery Tour: $549
  • 'Game Of Thrones' Small Group Tour in Girona from Barcelona: $125
  • 1 hour private sailing tour: $158
  • 1,5 hour Vermut & Sailing Experience Barcelona with drinks and snacks!: $41
  • 1-hour Private Speedboat Cruise from Barcelona: $372
  • 1.5-Hour Sights of Barcelona E-Bike Tour Led by a Local Guide: $34
  • 2 Hours Private Sailing Tour for Family and Friends: $316
  • 2 Hours Running Tour in Barcelona with Local Guide: $35
  • 2 hour Private Sunset Sailing Cruise Barcelona: $372
  • 2 hour Sailing Cruise Barcelona: $47
  • 2 hour Sunset Sailing Cruise Barcelona: $47
  • 2 hours Exclusive Sunrise Sailing Experience from Port Vell: $335

Typical Entertainment prices in Positano

For Positano, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Chair & Umbrella at Spiaggia Grande
    €17
  • Day Trip of Capri & Amalfi
    €80
  • Sunset Cruise
    €24
  • Full Day Wine Tour
    €97
  • Cooking Class
    €65

Tours and Activities in Positano

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Positano.

  • Positano Walking tour: $50
  • Half-Day Ancient Pompeii Tour from Amalfi Coast: $56
  • Half Day Herculaneum Guided Tour from Amalfi Coast: $56
  • Sorrento & Amalfi Drive guided tour from Amalfi Coast - small group tour: $62
  • Pompeii and Vesuvius guided group tour from Amalfi Coast: $65
  • Pompeii and Herculaneum group tour from Amalfi Coast: $81
  • From Sorrento: Amalfi Coast Tour: $91
  • Small-Group Amalfi Coast Day Cruise from Positano: $96
  • Amalfi Coast: Path of the Gods Private Walking Tour: $102
  • Amalfi Coast COLLECTIVE boat tour: $118
  • Positano Private Sunset Tour by Classic Car: $119
  • Private Full-Day Tour of Pompei Sorrento and Positano: $122

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Barcelona €14
    Positano €12

Sample the Local Flavors in Barcelona

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Barcelona:

  • Estrella Damm Brewery Guided Tour with Tasting: $9.08
  • Generation Pub Crawl in Barcelona: $19
  • Barcelona Pub Crawl: $20
  • Wine Tasting Experience in Barcelona: $22
  • Opera Samfaina: Food and Wine Tasting Interactive Experience in Barcelona: $26
  • Wine tasting & tapas: $39
  • Barcelona Guided Local Wine Tasting Tour: $44
  • Wine Tasting near Sagrada Familia: $47
  • Home Food and Wine Tasting with Wine Lover: $51
  • Fun Wine Tasting in Barcelona with a Sommelier!: $53
  • Spanish wine tasting in a historic building with a Sommelier: $54
  • Food Tasting Tapas and Wine Tour: $62

Typical Alcohol prices in Positano

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Positano:


  • Bottle of Limoncello
    €16

Sample the Local Flavors in Positano

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Positano:

  • Pompeii & Vesuvius Wine Tour from Amalfi Coast - small group tour: $162
  • Pompeii,Vesuvius with Lunch & wine tasting from Positano all inclusive: $260
  • Private Irpinia Wine Tour from Positano, Amalfi or Ravello with Sommelier: $301
  • Pompeii-Vesuvius-Wine Tasting tour with licensed guide included: $373
  • Paestum Temples+Bufala Mozzarella Farm+Wine tasting in Cilento (from Positano): $809

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Barcelona and Positano, we can see that Positano is more expensive. And not only is Barcelona much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Barcelona would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Barcelona and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Positano would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Positano than you might in Barcelona.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
Sign Up

More City Comparisons
Paphos vs. Barcelona
Paphos vs. Positano
Santorini vs. Barcelona
Santorini vs. Positano
Mykonos vs. Barcelona
Mykonos vs. Positano
Kos vs. Barcelona
Kos vs. Positano
Ios vs. Barcelona
Ios vs. Positano
Antalya vs. Barcelona
Antalya vs. Positano
Rhodes vs. Barcelona
Rhodes vs. Positano
Portimao vs. Barcelona
Portimao vs. Positano
Lagos vs. Barcelona
Lagos vs. Positano
Faro vs. Barcelona
Faro vs. Positano
Albufeira vs. Barcelona
Albufeira vs. Positano
Corfu vs. Barcelona
Corfu vs. Positano
Valencia vs. Barcelona
Valencia vs. Positano
Palma de Mallorca vs. Barcelona
Palma de Mallorca vs. Positano
Share This Page
Pin This Page
Barcelona vs. Positano Travel Comparison

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.