Spain Travel Guide
Sofia Laurent· Europe Editor
Updated September 12, 2026 · 9 min read
Spain runs three great cities and one great south: Madrid's art vaults, Barcelona's Gaudí, Valencia's paella, and Andalusia's Moorish trio — Córdoba, Seville, Granada. Planning figures: Madrid and Barcelona ~€110–120/day, Andalusia ~€90.
The AVE high-speed rail connects them all; dinner starts at 9:30pm and nobody apologizes.
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Madrid (3) is the art-and-tapas capital. Barcelona (3) is Gaudí and the beach. Andalusia (4–5) is the Alhambra, the Mezquita and the flamenco. San Sebastián is the food pilgrimage.
- Classic: Madrid 3 → Barcelona 3 → Andalusia 4.
- Andalusia-deep: Seville 3 → Córdoba 1 → Granada 2.
- Food-first: San Sebastián 3 → Rioja 2.
The Dinner Clock
Spain runs on a shifted clock: lunch at 2, dinner at 9:30, bars at midnight. The menú del día lunch (€12–15) is Europe's best-value meal; the vermut hour bridges the evening wait.
The Classic Route
Madrid, Barcelona, Andalusia.
Day 1 · Madrid — Prado
The masters and Retiro.
Day 2 · Madrid — palace & Guernica
The royal rooms and the white wall.
Day 3 · AVE to Barcelona
Gaudí's first block; the tapas.
Day 4 · Barcelona — Sagrada & Gothic
The booked basilica; the medieval lanes.
Day 5 · Barcelona — beach & Montjuïc
The cable car; the vermut hour.
Day 6 · AVE to Seville
The Alcázar's Mudéjar halls.
Day 7 · Seville — cathedral & flamenco
The Giralda; the tablaos night.
Day 8 · Córdoba
The Mezquita's column forest.
Day 9 · Granada — Alhambra
The Nasrid palaces at their slot.
Day 10 · Departure
The final tapas; AGP or MAD.
Practical planning info
Money
- Madrid/Barcelona ~€110–120/day, Andalusia ~€90.
- The menú del día is the budget's best friend.
When
- March–June and September–October are ideal.
- Andalusian summers exceed 40°C — patios by day.
Frequently asked questions
Madrid or Barcelona first?
Madrid — it's the rail hub and the art capital. Barcelona follows by AVE in 2h30.
Is Spain expensive?
Mid-priced: €90–120/day, with the menú del día doing heavy lifting.
How many days for Spain?
Ten days does Madrid, Barcelona and Andalusia; a week picks two.
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Plan your Spain trip with AI →Keep reading
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