In times of rising prices, it’s still possible to find affordable options that let people keep enjoying travel. December holidays and the Christmas season don’t have to drain savings. The goal is simple: identify the cheapest destinations across popular comparison tools, both national and international, by air and rail from Barcelona. The examples show round‑trip prices per person, helping readers gauge what to expect when planning a short getaway for two with breakfast included in three‑star hotels.

5 cheapest domestic destinations by plane

Skyscanner offers a highly practical way to compare airfares. The tool can be set to fly from Barcelona toAnywhere, helping undecided travelers see how wide the world can feel. For instance, it allows selecting the five cheapest domestic destinations with round‑trip pricing per person.

Meanwhile, a hotel comparison tool like Trivago makes it easy to search for hotel rates, covering establishments up to three stars for two people including breakfast. The takeaway is clear:

1. Balearic Islands (Menorca, Ibiza and Palma): Flights from 15 euros and average hotel prices around 58 euros.

2. Seville: Flights from 22 euros and overnight stays averaging 72 euros.

3. Canary Islands (Lanzarote, Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria): Flights from 27 euros with hotels around 85 euros.

4. Malaga: Flights from 29 euros and two people can stay for about 90 euros on average.

5. Santiago de Compostela: Round‑trip tickets from 32 euros and average nightly costs around 55 euros.

Three affordable (and close) places just a train ride away

If rail travel is preferred, national destinations offer good value through the rail finder Rail Finder. It provides a practical snapshot of routes with low‑cost operators active in Spain such as Renfe’s budget options, OUIGO and IRIS. To estimate total costs, readers can again use a hotel comparator like Trivago to determine the average nightly price for two people in three‑star accommodations with breakfast.

Here are the results for the most cost‑effective train destinations (round trip per person):

1. Girona — From 14 euros for the train ticket and about 65 euros for one night’s stay in the city.

2. Zaragoza — From 19 euros for the train and around 50 euros per night for two people.

3. Valencia — From 26 euros for the train and hotels around 85 euros, with some options as low as 65 euros.

5 lowest priced international destinations

Cross‑border travel isn’t magic, and the prices for international trips tend to be higher than domestic ones. Still, low‑cost carriers remain strong allies, offering fares that can be quite attractive. As before, tools like Skyscanner and Trivago help uncover these value options.

1. Morocco (Marrakech and Fez): Around 28 euros round trip per person; hotels run about 45 euros per night for two people.

2. Porto, Portugal: Typical airfares near 30 euros, with hotels averaging around 50 euros per night.

3. Italy (Bologna, Milan and Turin): Tickets from about 33 euros. Hotels in Milan tend to be pricier, often exceeding 100 euros on average, while Bologna and Turin can offer around 75 euros per night.

4. Bordeaux, France: Flights from about 40 euros and hotels averaging 82 euros.

5. London, United Kingdom: From roughly 90 euros round trip, with similar night rates.