Should you visit Valencia or Catalonia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Valencia or Catalonia, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Valencia or Catalonia?
Valencia
Valencia is a port city that sits on Spain's southeastern Orange Blossom coast, where the Turia River meets the Mediterranean Sea. As the nation's third-largest city, it is continually innovative in the arts and sciences with some futuristic architecture including a planetarium, oceanarium, and an interactive museum. The nightlife and daytime culture both thrive in their own ways, bustling with limitless opportunities for sight-seeing and entertainment. While the city is surrounded by fertile farmland, its center is a modern metropolis, skirted by beautiful beaches.
Catalonia
Catalonia is a famous autonomous community in Spain. It is situated in the northeastern part of the country and consists of four provinces. The provinces consist of Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona. Barcelona is not only the capital of Catalonia, but is also the biggest city in the region. Because Barcelona is such a large city and Catalonia’s long history of international trade, the area is a very popular tourist destination. Another reason for Catalonia’s success is its temperate climate. Two other reasons that make Catalonia different from other areas in Spain are, people speak Catalan, Spanish and Aranese, and its climate has both beaches and mountain ranges.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Madrid, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona.
Which place is cheaper, Catalonia or Valencia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Valencia is €153, while the average daily cost in Catalonia is €195. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Valencia and Catalonia in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Valencia or Catalonia? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here:
Valencia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Valencia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Valencia:
-
Valencia hotels to Valencia Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer:
$57
-
Valencia Cruise Port to Valencia Airport (VLC) - Departure Private Transfer:
$57
-
Valencia City, Airport, Cruise Terminal Private Transfer:
$94
-
Valencia Airport (VLC) to Valencia Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$113
-
Valencia Airport (VLC) to Valencia - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$113
-
Valencia Airport (VLC) to Valencia - Arrival Private Transfer:
$57
-
Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Valencia HTL-APT (VLC):
$58
-
Transfer: Valencia City Center to Valencia Airport (VLC):
$28
-
Transfer: Valencia Airport (VLC) to Valencia City Center:
$29
-
Private arrival OR departure transfer in Valencia (hotel OR airport pick-up):
$73
-
Private Transfer: Valencia Airport VLC to Valencia in Luxury Van:
$98
-
Private Transfer from Valencia Cruise Port to Valencia hotels:
$57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Catalonia
Also for Catalonia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
24 Hour Private Transfer from Barcelona Airport to City Centre:
$24
-
Airport Transfer:
$177
-
Arrival Private Transfer by Sedan from BCN airport to Barcelona:
$92
-
Arrival Transfer from Barcelona Airport BCN to Barcelona in Private Car/Van:
$87
-
Arrival Transfer: Airport BCN to Barcelona by Business Car:
$93
-
Arrival Transfer: Cruise Port to Barcelona by Business Car:
$93
-
Barcelona Airport (BCN) Private Transfer to/from Barcelona City:
$45
-
Barcelona Airport (BCN) to Barcelona - Arrival Private Transfer:
$33
-
Barcelona Airport (BNC) to Palamós - Arrival Private Transfer:
$289
-
Barcelona Airport (BNC) to Port Aventura/Salou Arrival Transfer:
$209
-
Barcelona Airport (BNC) to Sitges - Arrival Private Transfer:
$117
-
Barcelona Airport BCN Round-Trip Private Transfer by Luxury Van:
$196
Is it cheaper to fly into Valencia or Catalonia?
Prices for flights to both Catalonia and Valencia 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
Valencia €70
Catalonia €74
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Valencia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Valencia.
-
Make Valencian 'Pizza' in Ruzafa:
$71
-
Authentic Paella Dinner in Valencia:
$72
-
Valencia Evening Cruise with Dinner and Drinks:
$76
-
Paella cooking class: Sangria workshop, Tapas & Wine – evening:
$77
-
Real Paella Cooking Class – Market Visit & Sangría Workshop:
$77
-
Valencia Food Tour: Tapas, Drinks and Delights with a Local:
$77
-
Valencia Morning Food Tour with Central Market by Food Lover Tour:
$77
-
Authentic Valencian Paella Cooking Class:
$81
-
Paella Cooking Class, Wine Tasting & Central Market in Valencia:
$83
-
Valencia Paella & Tapas Home Cooking Class with Local Chef Jose:
$115
-
Tapas Dinner and Flamenco Show in Valencia:
$116
-
Spanish Tapas Cooking Class in Valencia (4- Course Meal):
$145
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Catalonia
For Catalonia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Hard Rock Cafe Barcelona with Set Lunch or Dinner:
$34
-
Tasty Barcelona Street Food Tour With Local Market Visit:
$53
-
Barcelona Street Food Tour with Local Market & City Center Visit:
$53
-
Top Awarded Flamenco Show Tablao Cordobes with dinner option:
$57
-
Barcelona Food Tour: Market & Gothic Quarter with Expert Guide:
$57
-
Barcelona: Wine Tasting and 5 Course Tapas Pairing Dinner:
$70
-
Barcelona Morning Tapas Crawl by Food Tour:
$70
-
Barcelona Boqueria Market e Barrio Gotico Street Food Tour:
$75
-
Evening Cruise with Dinner and Drinks in Barcelona:
$76
-
Barcelona: Paella & Tapas Cooking Class with Sangria Making:
$80
-
Paella Cooking Class in Barcelona — Hands-On Workshop with wine:
$81
-
Barcelona Culinary Experience: Paella & Tapas Cooking Class:
$88
Entertainment
Typical Entertainment Prices in Valencia
Here are a few typical costs in Valencia for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Valencia
Here are a few actual costs in Valencia for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
1-Hour Segway Tour in Valencia + Full-Day Bike Rental:
$47
-
2 Hour Monumental Tour in Valencia:
$42
-
3-Hour Private Dream Picnic Experience in Valencia:
$53
-
Adventure Paddle:
$41
-
Adventures day: Thermal Springs, Waterfalls, private guesthouse:
$105
-
Albufera Natural Park with Sunset Boat Tour from Valencia:
$46
-
Albufera Private Day Tour: Paella, Boat Cruise and Nature Walk:
$254
-
All-in-One Valencia Private Bike Tour:
$77
-
Between Two Gates: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Valencia:
$7.99
-
Bike & Boat Tour in Albufera, Nature and Culture:
$93
-
Chulilla Canyon Adventure and Hanging Bridges Hike:
$147
-
Chulilla Canyon Trail - private full day tour:
$189
Tours and Activities in Catalonia
For Catalonia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Barcelona Segway Tour:
$3.53
-
Welcome to Barcelona Segway and eScooter Tour:
$3.53
-
Self-Guided Tours Barcelona: 150+ Captivating Audio Stories:
$3.53
-
Self-Guided Private City Tour in Barcelona's Best Kept Secrets:
$3.53
-
Barcelona Guided Tour on Segway:
$3.53
-
Barcelona Electric Scooter Tour:
$3.53
-
Sagrada Familia Exterior Tour:
$3.53
-
Censored Barcelona Tour:
$3.54
-
Sagrada Familia External Audio Tour - The 3 Iconic Facades:
$3.54
-
Gaudi & Sagrada Familia Donation-Based Tour in English:
$3.54
-
Tarragona Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour:
$4.78
-
Tarragona Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour:
$5.13
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Valencia
Also in Valencia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Pub Crawl Tour in Valencia:
$19
-
Gourmet Tapas and Wine Tour in Valencia:
$53
-
Wine Tasting Experience with a Professional Sommelier in Valencia City Center:
$73
-
Vineyard Tour with Wine Tasting, Cava, and Snacks from Valencia:
$81
-
Ruzafa Evening Food and Wine Tour Tapas Drinks and Local Secrets:
$100
-
Cheese Factory Workshop with Wine Tasting in Requena, Valencia:
$164
-
Christmas Tapas and Wine Tour in Valencia:
$177
-
Private Wine Tour with Wine Tasting and Full Lunch (day trip):
$195
Sample the Local Flavors in Catalonia
Also in Catalonia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Amazing Bar Crawl in Barcelona:
$15
-
Barcelona Pub Crawl by KING -The Best Party tour & VIP Club Entry:
$18
-
Estrella Damm Brewery in El Prat de Llobregat tour with Tasting:
$18
-
Barcelona Pub Crawl Experience with VIP Nightclub Entry:
$18
-
Pub Crawl Barcelona: 4 nightclubs + skip-the-line entry:
$18
-
Barcelona Pub Crawl and VIP Club Experience:
$18
-
Largest Pub Crawl in Barcelona:
$18
-
Pub Crawl Barcelona by EVOLVE The BEST night experience:
$23
-
Barcelona: Magic Montjuïc Tour, Wine Tasting & Best photo spots!:
$26
-
Visit winery and wine tasting:
$29
-
Barcelona: Bar Crawl at Gaixample:
$29
-
Barcelona Speakeasy Pub Crawl With Hidden Bars & Optional Tapas:
$29
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Valencia and Catalonia, we can see that Catalonia is more expensive. And not only is Valencia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Valencia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Valencia 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 Catalonia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Catalonia than you might in Valencia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Valencia Expensive? and Is Catalonia Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Valencia or Catalonia?
Catalonia has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Valencia. When comparing the sizes of Valencia and Catalonia, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Related Articles for Valencia
Related Articles for Catalonia