Spain is a country of vibrant culture, stunning architecture, and mouthwatering cuisine. Whether you’re drawn to the artistic streets of Barcelona, the laid-back charm of Málaga, the Moorish palaces of Granada, or the flamenco rhythms of Seville, this itinerary will guide you through some of Spain’s most captivating destinations.
In the past, our trips to Europe were a hopscotch between different countries. This time though, we decided to take it slow and immerse ourselves in the sights, food and culture of one country. As we were travelling in November, Spain to us was a good choice as the cold weather is milder compared to some other European nations at this time of the year.
Summer is great but it gets really hot and more crowded. Travel Tip: Make sure you stay hydrated, carry hats and sunglasses and try to do the outdoor activities early morning or in the evenings.
Here is the suggested route – Fly into Barcelona, then travel to the Andalucía region covering Malága, Granada and Sevilla – from Sevilla travel to Madrid and fly out from there. Below you’ll see, suggested options to travel between destinations within Spain.
1️⃣ Barcelona → Málaga
- Option 1: A direct flight (✈️ ~1h 40m – cheapest & fastest).
- Option 2: Train – takes 5.5-6 hours with a transfer in Madrid.
2️⃣ Málaga → Granada
- Option 1: Direct bus (~2h, affordable & frequent).
- Option 2: Train (~1.5h, limited availability).
3️⃣ Granada → Seville
- Option 1: High-speed train (~2.5h).
- Option 2: Bus (~3h, slightly cheaper).
4️⃣ Seville → Madrid
- Option 1: High-speed train (~2.5h).
- Option 2: Flight (~1h but add airport time).
Here is a summarised version of our two weeks in Spain:
Barcelona (Day 1-4)
Accommodation: Our suggestion would be to stay in or close to the city center so you can spend more time exploring. We chose to stay in a hotel called Silken Diagonal.
Commuting: Spain overall is child-friendly so most of our commuting was on their metro and the rest was on-foot.
Things to do in Barcelona:
Barcelona has a lot to see and do but if this is your first time, here are the highlights we’d recommend.
🏰 Sagrada Familia – Gaudí’s masterpiece and Barcelona’s most iconic landmark, still under construction yet breathtaking inside and out.
🏛️ Gothic Quarter – Wander through medieval alleyways, hidden plazas, and historic buildings in the heart of the old city.
🛍️ La Boqueria Market – A feast for the senses – sample fresh fruits and juices, jams, chocolates, and local street food in this bustling market off La Rambla. Watch our food vlog from La Boqueria, at this link.
🎨 Park Güell – A whimsical park filled with colorful mosaics and surreal Gaudí designs, offering fantastic city views.
🎡 Mount Tibidabo – Ride to the top for a vintage amusement park, stunning panoramic views, and the charming Sagrat Cor church.
🏖️ Barceloneta Beach – Relax by the Mediterranean, enjoy seafood at a beachfront or take a scenic stroll along the boardwalk.
Málaga (Day 5-7)
Accommodation and Commuting: We stayed at this Airbnb in old town from where we could walk to most of the places of our interest. We also stayed in BuBu apartments which give you the convenience of having your own kitchenette and an extra room if you’re travelling with family. It’s also near the city center, making it easy to walk to many key attractions.
Things to do in Málaga:
Malaga is a laid-back charming port town that is perhaps not on the typical tourist map. As a first time visitor, here are some things we’d recommend:
🏛️ Explore the Old Town – Wander through charming streets, lively cafes and restaurants and historic buildings filled with Andalusian character. See our Malaga food vlog here.
🏰 Alcazaba – Step into this stunning Moorish fortress with breathtaking views and lush gardens, a true glimpse into Málaga’s past.
⛪ Málaga Cathedral – Admire this grand Renaissance-style cathedral, known as “La Manquita” (the one-armed lady) due to its unfinished tower.
🎨 Picasso Museum – Discover the works of Pablo Picasso, Málaga’s most famous artist, in this museum dedicated to his artistic journey.
🏖️ La Malagueta Beach – Soak up the sun on Málaga’s most popular beach, perfect for relaxing or enjoying fresh seafood by the sea.
Day Trips from Málaga:
You can also use Malaga as a base location to do some day trips nearby. Here are the ones we had shortlisted for ourselves but didn’t have enough time to visit. A rental car is recommended for these:
Ronda & Setenil de las Bodegas (1.5-2 hrs drive)
- The stunning cliffside town of Ronda, famous for the Puente Nuevo bridge, bullring, and breathtaking views.
- Setenil de las Bodegas, a unique village where houses are built into massive rock overhangs. Enjoy local tapas and wine in a cave-style restaurant.
Caminito del Rey & Ardales Lakes (1 hr drive)
- Caminito del Rey, a thrilling cliffside hike with breathtaking canyon views (advance booking needed).
- Ardales Lakes, a hidden gem for swimming, kayaking, or a lakeside picnic.
Granada (Day 8-10)
Accommodation and Commuting: We stayed in Sercotel Granada Suites, in a one room apartment which had a small kitchenette that made it easy to prepare some light snacks, tea/coffee. The apartment building is located right in the city centre (centro) that made it easy to walk to several places of interest. In other cases, you can easily walk to a bus stop.
Travel Tip: When booking accommodation in Granada, it’s important to carefully consider the area you choose. For instance, neighborhoods like Albaicín and Sacromonte are rich in history and charm, offering stunning views, but they are located on elevated terrain—meaning you’ll have to walk uphill and downhill frequently. In contrast, staying in the city center provides greater convenience, with easy access to attractions, restaurants, and shops, making sightseeing much simpler. To ensure a comfortable stay, research different areas and pick one that best fits your needs.
Things to do in Granada:
🏰 Alhambra Palace – Explore the breathtaking Moorish fortress and palace complex with its stunning gardens, intricate tilework, and panoramic views of the city.
Travel Tips:
- Make sure you book the admission tickets much in advance as they get taken up fast. The entry to the Nasrid Palaces comes at an extra cost and you need to visit in the time slot selected (or available). In our opinion it’s the most beautiful part of the palace and worth the extra cost.
- Very importantly, carry your passport to be granted entry into the palace complex.
🌳 Generalife Gardens – Escape into these tranquil gardens, part of the Alhambra complex, filled with fountains, flowers, and stunning views. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy it here.
⛪ Granada Cathedral – Admire this grand Renaissance cathedral in the heart of the city, known for its beautiful facade and impressive interior.
🏙️ Albaicín District – Wander through the winding, narrow streets of this historic Moorish neighborhood, offering charming whitewashed houses and incredible views of the Alhambra.
🎶 Flamenco Show in Sacromonte – Head to the Sacromonte district, known for its cave houses, to enjoy an authentic flamenco performance that brings the passion of Andalusia to life.
Day Trips from Granada:
Granada is surrounded by natural landscapes, making it a perfect base for hiking day trips. One popular destination is the Sierra Nevada National Park that’s about an hour drive away.
Another option is Torcal de Antequera (~1.5 hours drive), best known for unique rock formations and family-friendly hikes. Walk among surreal limestone formations on the Green Route (3 km, easy) or the Yellow Route (6 km, moderate).
Seville (Day 11-12)
Accommodation and Commuting: We stayed at a great location in this Airbnb from where we could explore most places of our interest on foot.
Things to do in Seville:
Sevilla, as locals call it is one of the most magnificent towns in Spain with plenty of things to see and do here. Our favourite to-do of course was roaming in the alleyways and enjoying the tapas and vino. Other than that, here are some of the sights we did visit and highly recommend:
⛪ Seville Cathedral & La Giralda – Explore one of the world’s largest Gothic cathedrals, home to Christopher Columbus’ tomb, and climb La Giralda for panoramic city views.
🏰 Real Alcázar – Step into this breathtaking Moorish palace with intricate tilework, lush gardens, and Game of Thrones filming locations. It’s similar to Alhambra but it’s smaller in size.
🌇 Plaza de España – Stroll through this grand semicircular plaza, admire its tiled alcoves representing Spain’s provinces, or take a boat ride along the canal. It’s one of the most beautiful plazas we’ve ever visited.
🐴 Take a Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride – Experience the charm of Seville from a horse-drawn carriage, cruising through the city’s beautiful boulevards, gardens, and historic landmarks.
💃 Flamenco Dance Performance – Immerse yourself in an authentic flamenco show at a local tablao, where dancers, singers, and guitarists bring passion to life.
Other than the above, there are plenty of museums to explore for those interested. There’s tapas and good food of course that we tried, that you watch on YouTube, here.
Madrid (Day 13-15)
Accommodation and Commuting: We stayed very close to Sol metro station at this Airbnb, from where we could simply walk to several spots.
Things to do in Madrid:
As Madrid was the last stop on our trip, we only did a few things here. By now we had already visited many plazas, cathedrals and palaces so we chose to skip the same here.
In the days we were there, we enjoyed a lot of food and tapas – we visited a food market known as Mercado San Miguel and some bars where vegetarian tapas were available. We enjoyed delicious Churros with Hot Chocolate and good Coffee at a century old chocolateria called San Gines. Watch our Food Vlog from Madrid, at this link.
Here are a few other Things to do you can consider in Madrid:
🏰 Royal Palace of Madrid – Visit the grand royal residence, with its lavish rooms, beautiful gardens, and a glimpse into Spain’s royal history.
🌳 Retiro Park – Relax in Madrid’s most famous park, stroll through its beautiful gardens, take a boat ride on the lake, and discover hidden statues and monuments.
⛪ Almudena Cathedral – Visit this impressive neo-Gothic cathedral, located next to the Royal Palace, with stunning interiors and panoramic views from its dome.
🏛️ Puerta del Sol & Plaza Mayor – Explore two of Madrid’s most iconic squares. Puerta del Sol is the heart of the city, while Plaza Mayor is perfect for enjoying tapas and people-watching.
🍷 Tapas Crawl in La Latina – Wander through the vibrant La Latina district, hopping between traditional taverns and enjoying delicious tapas and drinks.
Here a few more Tips to help you plan better:
- Stores are usually closed on Sundays all over Spain so do not plan any shopping on a Sunday.
- Restaurants usually open late for lunch, around 1:00pm and close around 4:00pm. Restaurants / bars usually open late in the evening around 6:00pm onwards.
- Paywave / Digital Payments like Apple Pay work in most stores so you do not need to carry too much cash with you.
- For trains and attractions, e-tickets/digital tickets are acceptable. At train stations, you can print your tickets if you wish from their self-serve kiosks.
- Spain is a cycle / scooter friendly country and several places offer cycles / e-scooter sharing at several spots around towns.
Hopefully this post gives you a starting point when planning your own trip. Happy travels folks! And if you have any questions, leave them in the comments.
