Spain Itineraries

Spain’s rich diversity makes it impossible to see everything in just one trip, so we’ve designed 7, 10, and 14-day itineraries to help you experience its best sights. Looking to explore the vibrant south, the scenic north, or even combine Spain and Portugal? You’ll find the perfect itinerary here. Short on time? No worries - each plan captures the essence of Spain, letting you dive deep into a single region or enjoy a mix of highlights across the country. From coastal towns to cultural treasures, these itineraries are packed with must-see spots and hidden gems for an unforgettable adventure.

Planning your Spain itinerary

Spain is a vibrant mix of traditions, landscapes, and experiences, with each region - from the bustling streets of Madrid to the tranquil beaches of the Costa Brava - having its character. A well-designed itinerary is the best way to make the most of your visit. You want to be sure you can discover the hidden gems and cultural highlights that make your trip to Spain truly unforgettable (for more ideas, see the full guide to planning a trip to Spain).

Are you here because you're already planning a trip and want guidance? With our Spain travel experts, you'll find the planning process easy. Explore historic cities, enjoy local cuisine or hike in the Pyrenees — whatever your travel style, we'll design an itinerary just for you. Let us create your perfect Spanish adventure with our tailor-made trips.

Best time to vacation in Spain

When to go to Spain depends on your travel style. Spring (March through May) and fall (September through November) are our favorite times because of the pleasant weather and fewer tourists. During these months you can comfortably explore cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Seville in temperatures between 60°F to 80°F (15°C to 27°C).

Summer (June to August) is better for beach lovers heading to the Costa del Sol or Balearic Islands, but expect hot temperatures, especially in southern Spain, where they can rise above 90°F (32°C). Coastal towns, however, remain cool and lively thanks to festivals.

Winter (December to February) is great for escaping the crowds in the major cities and experiencing Spain's unique Christmas traditions. While mild weather persists on the south coast, central and northern Spain can be chilly and areas such as the Pyrenees occasionally get snow, making it an ideal destination for winter sports enthusiasts.

Grand tour of Spain

Planning your Spain trip itinerary? Our Grand Tour puts you on the right track for 10 days in Spain. For those seeking the best itinerary for Spain that covers all the highlights, this route is perfect.

This trip can be a bit of a whirlwind, so if you have the extra days, you could easily spend more time in each destination with a 14 days Spain itinerary.

Duration: around 10 days 

Madrid: 2 days

Today, Madrid is a vast, predominantly modern city, with a population of some six million and growing. The journey in – through a stream of soulless suburbs and high-rise apartment blocks – isn't pretty, but the streets at the heart of the city are a pleasant surprise, with pockets of medieval buildings and narrow, atmospheric alleys, dotted with the oddest of shops and bars, and interspersed with eighteenth-century Bourbon squares. As you plan your Spain travel itinerary, allow at least two full days to explore Madrid's contrasts of medieval charm and modern energy.  

Next destination: Toledo: take Renfe train from Madrid Atocha to Toledo (30 minutes)

Toledo: day trip

Many Spain itineraries include Toledo as a day trip, and for good reason. Toledo remains one of Spain's great cities. Redolent of past glories, it is packed with memorable sights – hence the whole city's status as a National Monument and UNESCO Patrimony of Mankind – and enjoys an incomparable setting.

Set in a landscape of abrasive desolation, Toledo sits on a rocky mound where every available inch has been built upon: churches, synagogues, mosques and houses are heaped upon one another in a haphazard, cobblestoned spiral. This is one of the best things to do in Spain.

Next destination: Take AVE high-speed train from Toledo to Madrid Atocha (30 min), then connect to AVE to Seville Santa Justa (2.5 hours)

Seville: 2 days

The heart and soul of Andalusia, Seville captivates visitors with its blend of Moorish architecture, flamenco culture, and vibrant street life. The city's historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site, houses the world's largest Gothic cathedral and the stunning Real Alcázar palace complex. In the medieval Jewish quarter of Santa Cruz, narrow cobblestone streets wind between white-washed houses adorned with wrought-iron balconies and fragrant orange trees. 

When crafting the best itinerary for Spain, Seville deserves at least two full days to properly experience its enchanting atmosphere. See where's the best area to stay in Seville. 

Next destination: Take AVE high-speed train from Seville Santa Justa to Valencia Joaquín Sorolla (4 hours)

Valencia: 1 day

While some Southern Spain itinerary options skip Valencia, we absolutely recommend it. Valencia shines with its futuristic City of Arts and Sciences complex and beautifully preserved old town and is the perfect city break. The UNESCO-listed La Lonja silk exchange exemplifies the city's medieval mercantile power, while the sprawling Mercado Central remains one of Europe's oldest running food markets. The converted riverbed park, Turia Gardens, winds through the city like a green ribbon, leading to the Mediterranean beaches. 

Next destination: Take Euromed train from Valencia Nord to Barcelona Santos (3 hours)

Barcelona: 2 days

Spain's most cosmopolitan city, The city's heart beats strongest in Las Ramblas, a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard stretching from Plaça Catalunya to the waterfront. Gaudí's fantastical creations, including the unfinished Sagrada Família and the whimsical Park Güell, define the city's skyline. See where's best to stay in Barcelona.  

Next destination: Take AVE high-speed train from Barcelona Sants to Figueres Vilafant (55 minutes)

Figueres: day trip

It is a testament to Dalí’s enduring popularity that his eponymous museum, in the middle of Figueres, 35km northeast of Girona, is one of the most visited sites in the region. There’s more to Figueres, of course, but you wouldn’t immediately know it from the crowds tripping over themselves to get to the museum. 

By all means make the museum your first stop – but leave yourself some time to roam Figueres afterwards. Cutting a wide swathe through the center of town is La Rambla de Figueres, a graceful, leafy pedestrian street lined with modern houses and outdoor cafés. The Museu de l’Empordà features local archeological finds and the nearby Castell de Sant Ferran is a massive fortification on sprawling grounds.

Next destination: Take AVE from Figueres Vilafant to Barcelona Sants (55 min), then connect to Alvia train to Logroño (3.5 hours)

Logroño: 1 day 

Logroño, lying on the Río Ebro, is a prosperous city of around 153,000 – a pleasant place of elegant streets, open squares and riverside parkland. The wine trade is not as immediately apparent here as in, say, Haro, and there are few cultural attractions that demand attention. But the big draw is the city’s lively old quarter, the so-called casco viejo, with its unparalleled selection of excellent tapas bars, for which it’s worth making a considerable detour. 

Best of Andalusia

This Spain 7 day itinerary in Andalusia captures the Spain's Moorish heritage, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture. From the sunny Costa del Sol to charming white villages, explore iconic cities like Granada and Seville, savor tapas, and experience authentic flamenco. Perfect for first-timers, it blends urban highlights with rural charm. 

Duration: around 7 days 

Málaga: 1 day

Málaga is the second city of the south (after Seville), with a population of over half a million. Though the clusters of high-rises look pretty grim as you approach, there's lots of things to do in Malaga. The elegant central zone is now largely pedestrianized with the focal and marble-paved Calle Marqués de Larios – lined with fashionable stores – its most elegant thoroughfare. 

Málaga is also renowned for its fish and seafood, which can be sampled at tapas bars and restaurants throughout the city, as well as at the old fishing villages of El Palo and Pedregalejo, now absorbed into the suburbs, where there’s a seafront paseo lined with some of the best marisquerías and chiringuitos (beachside fish restaurants) in the province.

As you plan your itinerary Spain adventure, consider spending an extra day in Málaga if you're interested in its emerging art scene.

Next destination: Take ALSA bus from Málaga Bus Station to Ronda (2 hours)

Ronda: 1 day

Any Spain itinerary through Andalusia should include this dramatic clifftop town, even if just for a day (see our favorite places to stay in Andalusia).

The full natural drama of Ronda, rising amid a ring of dark, angular mountains, is best appreciated as you enter the town. Built on an isolated ridge of the sierra, it’s split in half by a gaping river gorge, El Tajo, which drops sheer for 130m on three sides. 

Still more spectacular, the gorge is spanned by a stupendous eighteenth-century arched bridge, the Puente Nuevo, while tall, whitewashed houses lean from its precipitous edges. 

Much of the attraction of Ronda lies in this extraordinary view, or in walking down by the Río Guadalvín, following one of the donkey tracks through the rich green valley. 

Next destination: From Ronda, take a regional train (via Antequera) to Seville Santa Justa station (2.75 hours)

Seville: 2 days

Seville’s old city, centered on the east bank of the Guadalquivir, is where you’ll likely spend most of your time. Its heart features three iconic monuments: the Giralda tower, the Catedral, and the Alcázar, surrounded by the narrow streets of Barrio Santa Cruz, once the Jewish quarter and now a lively tourist hub. 

Known as one of Europe’s hottest cities, Seville’s intense summer heat begins as early as May. Beyond its history and landmarks, Seville embodies the spirit of southern Spain, celebrated in tales of Carmen, Don Juan, and Figaro—a city that truly captures the essence of Andalusian charm. 

Going with the whole family? See our guide to Seville with kids.

Next destination: From Seville Santa Justa, direct high-speed AVE train to Córdoba Central (45 minutes)

Córdoba: 1 days

Córdoba lies upstream from Seville beside a loop of the Guadalquivir, which was once navigable as far as here. It is today a minor provincial capital, prosperous in a modest sort of way. Once, however, it was the largest city of Roman Spain, and for three centuries it formed the heart of the western Islamic empire, the great medieval caliphate of the Moors.

It is from this era that the city’s major monument dates: the Mezquita, the grandest and most beautiful mosque ever constructed by the Moors in Spain. 

When designing your itinerary for Spain, try to time your Córdoba visit for spring when the patios are in full bloom. 

Next destination: From Córdoba, take an ALSA bus to Baeza and Úbeda (2.5 hours)

Baeza and Úbeda: 1 days

Baeza is tiny, compact and provincial, with a perpetual Sunday air about it. At its heart is the Pza. Mayor – comprising two linked plazas, Plaza de la Constitucíon at the southern end with a garden, and smaller Plaza de España to the north – flanked by cafés and very much the hub of the town’s limited animation. 

Úbeda, 9km east of Baeza and built on the same escarpment overlooking the valley of the Guadalquivir, looks less promising when you reach it. Don’t be put off by the modern suburbs, though, for hidden away in the old quarter is one of the finest architectural jewels in the whole of Spain, and perhaps even Europe. 

Next destination:  From Baeza/Úbeda, take the ALSA bus to Granada (2.75 hours)

Granada: 1 days

If you see only one town in Spain, it should be Granada. For here, extraordinarily well preserved and in a tremendous natural setting, stands the Alhambra – the most exciting, sensual and romantic of all European monuments.

Built on the slopes of three hills, the rest of the city basks in the Alhambra’s reflected glory. Because the Moorish influence here was so ruthlessly extinguished following capitulation to the Catholic monarchs Fernando and Isabel, Granada tends to be more sober in character and austere in its architecture than Andalucía’s other provincial capitals.  See the best things to do in Granada.

Best of Northern Spain

This Northern Spain itinerary offers a striking contrast to its Mediterranean image. Traveling along ancient pilgrimage routes and coastal paths, it links the refined Basque Country, the wild Cantabrian coast, and Galicia’s mystical charm. Highlights include San Sebastián’s renowned cuisine, the dramatic Picos de Europa mountains, and the spiritual aura of Santiago de Compostela. If you have time, from here, you can also explore neighboring European countries. See our Spain and Portugal itineraries.

Duration: around 10 days 

Bilbao: 2 days

The best spain itinerary for art lovers should include extra time in Bilbao for its world-class museums.  Stretching for 14km beside the Río Nervión, Bilboa (Bilbo) is a large city that seldom feels like one. Even though its urban sprawl fills the narrow valley, you can always see the green slopes of the mountains to either side, beyond the high-rise buildings of the city center. 

With around 350,000 people in its urban core, and a total fast approaching one million in the metropolitan district, modern Bilbao is much the biggest city in the Basque Country, and serves as the capital of Bizkaia province. See the best areas to stay in Bilbao.

Next destination: ake Euskotren from Bilbao Atxuri to San Sebastián Amara (2.5 hours) 

San Sebastián: 2 days

Many Spain itineraries rush through this culinary capital, but food enthusiasts planning 10 days in Spain often base themselves here longer. Making the most of its glorious location, curving languidly around a magnificent semicircular bay lined with golden sand, San Sebastián ranks among the great resort cities of Europe.
While the superb sheltered beach on its very doorstep is the biggest attraction of all, San Sebastián also boasts a charming old-town core, the Casco Viejo, squeezed up against the foot of verdant Monte Urgull and renowned for its high-quality food. 

Next destination: Take ALSA bus to Santander (2.5 hours), then local bus to Santillana del Mar (30 minutes)

Santillana del Mar: 1 day

The picturesque village of Santillana del Mar is the first major tourist destination west of Santander. No less an authority than Jean-Paul Sartre, in Nausea, hailed Santillana as “le plus joli village d’Espagne”. The crowds that flock here in summer have unquestionably dented its appeal, but on a quiet day it remains as beautiful as ever. 

Its cobbled lanes abound in gorgeous sandstone churches and mansions with flowery overhanging balconies, while the farms and fields that climb the adjacent hillsides give it a lovely rural atmosphere. Strolling is a delight, even if most of the ochre-colored buildings now hold restaurants, hotels or souvenir shops.

Next destination: Take ALSA bus to Unquera (1 hour), then connect to bus to Potes (1 hour)

Picos de Europa: 2 days

The Picos de Europa may not be the highest mountains in Spain, but they’re the favorite of many walkers, trekkers and climbers. Designated a national park in its entirety, the range is a miniature masterpiece: a mere 40km across in either direction.

Hikes in the Picos are amazingly diverse, with trails to suit all levels, from a casual morning’s stroll to two- or three-day treks. The most spectacular and popular routes are along the 12km Cares Gorge, and around the high peaks reached from the cable car at Fuente Dé and the subterranean funicular railway at Poncebos, but dozens of alternative paths explore the river valleys or climb into the mountains.

When creating your Spain travel itinerary, consider adding an extra day here if you enjoy hiking or photography.

Next destination: Take ALSA bus from Potes to Oviedo (3 hours)

Oviedo: 1.5 days

As the Asturian capital, Oviedo has long been relatively wealthy, and its bourgeois culture contrasts sharply with the working-class ethos of the region’s other cities. Its history can be traced through the grand, lovingly restored administrative and religious buildings that render it among the most attractive cities in northern Spain. 

Next destination: Take Alvia train from Oviedo to Santiago de Compostela (7.5 hours)

Santiago de Compostela: 1.5 days

The ancient pilgrimage center of Santiago de Compostela ranks among the most beautiful cities in all of Spain. A superb ensemble of twisting stone lanes, majestic squares and historic churches, interspersed with countless hidden nooks and crannies, its medieval core remains a remarkably integrated whole, all the better for being very largely pedestrianized. 

Hewn from time-weathered granite, splashed with gold and silver lichen and sprouting vegetation from the unlikeliest crevices, the buildings and plazas, arcades and flagstones seem to blend imperceptibly one into the other. As you finalize your trip to Spain itinerary, remember that Santiago's famous markets are closed on Sundays, so plan accordingly.

Best of Southern Spain

This week-long journey explores Andalusia’s "Golden Triangle"—Seville, Córdoba, and Granada—before ending in lively Málaga. Highlights include iconic Moorish landmarks like Seville’s Real Alcázar and Granada’s Alhambra, along with flamenco traditions and renowned cuisine. Ideal for history lovers and first-time visitors, this itinerary balances cultural immersion with minimal travel between stops.

Duration: 7 days 

Seville: 3 days

You’ll want to start your trip with a day trip to Jerez to taste some sherry. Then, spend two full days exploring Seville’s must-sees like the Royal Alcázar, Cathedral, and the charming Santa Cruz quarter. Catch a flamenco show one night—it’s an unforgettable experience—and enjoy dinner afterward. Seville is full of life and the quintessential Spanish break, with buzzing tapas bars and peaceful orange-scented courtyards. Make time for the stunning Plaza de España with its colorful tiles and canals, and take a stroll along the Guadalquivir River. If you’re visiting in spring, you might be lucky enough to catch the Feria de Abril festival.

Next destination: Take a high-speed train to Córdoba (45 minutes)

Córdoba: 1 day

Spend the day in Córdoba visiting the incredible Mezquita, a masterpiece of Moorish architecture with its famous red-and-white arches. Wander through the Jewish Quarter, check out the medieval synagogue, and stroll down Calleja de las Flores, one of the prettiest streets in town. Don’t miss the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, where you’ll find stunning gardens and Roman mosaics. End your day at a cozy taberna, where you can enjoy some of Andalusia’s best traditional dishes. 

Next destination: Take a train from Seville to Granada (2.5 hours)

Granada: 2 days

Explore the Alhambra and the Generalife Gardens, the pinnacle of Moorish architecture in Spain. Stroll through the Albaicín, a historic neighborhood of whitewashed streets with incredible views of the Alhambra, and Sacromonte, known for its cave houses and flamenco performances. Granada’s tapas culture is a must, with many bars still offering free tapas with drinks

Next destination: Take a bus from Granada to Málaga (2 hours)

Málaga: 1 day

Finish your trip in Málaga by visiting the Old Quarter, Cathedral, and Alcazaba fortress, which offers great views of the city and the Mediterranean. Stop by the Picasso Museum to explore the artist’s legacy. Wrap up with a meal at a beachside chiringuito, where you can try the city’s famous pescaíto frito. Málaga’s pedestrian-friendly center, with its bustling markets and cultural spots, is a great way to end your trip.