Spain on a budget

Cheapest months to go

Peak is April, May, June, September, October. The weeks either side of that window usually carry most of the weather with much less of the price.

Getting around for less

Realistic options in Spain:

• Strong domestic rail coverage links the largest cities, including high-speed services
• Frequent domestic flights to the Balearic and Canary Islands
• Long-distance coaches reach towns off the rail network
• A rental car is useful for Andalusia, the north coast and rural regions

Where to base yourself

Fewer bases means fewer paid transfers. Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia cover a lot between them.