8 Day Barcelona, Madrid, & Southern Spain Itinerary

An alluring destination for people all around the world, Spain is a place that transforms you and makes you feel alive.  The Spanish people are full of life; they work hard and play even harder.  It’s hard to not get swept up, living fast and loud, spending your days munching on tapas, drinking local spirits, and hanging with friends.  The good weather, interesting history, incredible food, and insatiable nightlife make Spain a destination for those of any age, from young to old.  It’s easy to spend more than eight days in this country and once you start to appreciate the Spanish lifestyle, it’s hard to go back to life pre-Spain.  This 8 day Barcelona, Madrid, & Southern Spain itinerary will highlight some of the most influential cities in Spain and give you a taste of what local culture is truly like.

 

While anyone can follow this itinerary, it was designed for my “8 Day Vacay” series; a travel series aimed at nurses who are looking to take 8 days off from the hospital (with no need to take PTO).  For more information, don’t miss…

• A Guide to the “8 Day Vacay”
• How to Make the Most Out of Your “8 Day Vacay”

 

IF YOU’RE A NURSE INTERESTED IN TRAVELING WITH OTHER NURSES, MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY BESPOKE GROUP TRIPS FOR NURSES AROUND THE WORLD WHERE THE “8 DAY VACAY” COMES TO LIFE!

 

Best Time to Visit Spain

In Spain, the best time to explore Barcelona, Madrid, and Southern Spain depends on how you feel about crowds and the heat.  In Barcelona, the peak tourist season spans July to August, with crowded beaches and soaring temperatures.  Shoulder season is from April to June and September to October where you’ll also experience milder weather.  In Madrid, expect peak tourism from June to August with hot days and cultural festivals, while April to May and September to November bring milder warmth.  Southern Spain, particularly Seville and Granada, faces scorching heat and bustling festivals in summer, but spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) bring pleasant sightseeing temperatures and cultural highlights without the intense heat.  Overall, I recommend this itinerary during shoulder season in the spring or the fall.

For the cheapest prices and the least amount of crowds, you could do this trip in the winter months.  However, Madrid will be colder at this time so you’ll need to dress for both mild and cold weather.  I did this trip in December and enjoyed it.

 

If you’re planning a trip to Spain, don’t miss…

• Everything You Need to Know About Planning a Trip to Spain
• The Ultimate Spain Packing List

 

How Many Days Should You Spend in Spain?

Because this is part of my “8 Day Vacay” series, I designed this trip to last 8 days.  However, you could spend months in Spain and not scratch the surface.  Ultimately, I would say that the minimum amount of time to spend in Spain is a week and comfortably, I’d recommend two weeks.

If you plan to spend more time, you could also venture from Madrid north to Bilbao and San Sebastián.  Or you could add Valencia on between visiting Barcelona and Southern Spain.

 

How to Get to Spain/Tips for Travelers Visiting Spain from the USA

For purposes of this itinerary, you’ll fly into Barcelona and fly out of Madrid.  However, I recommend checking prices because you could also start in Madrid and end in Barcelona if that’s cheaper.  To ensure the best flight price, I like to use a big search engine to compare prices across multiple different airlines.

 

Tips for Getting to Spain from the USA

If you’re planning a trip to Spain from the USA the journey is relatively comfortable (especially if you’re leaving from the east coast).  To make your journey the most comfortable, and maybe even more affordable, here are some simple tips…

• If you live in a small city, buy a flight out of a bigger city to save money
  • For example, I live in Omaha, NE so I use points to fly to Chicago in the morning, then get a night flight out of Chicago to my destination
• If you’re flexible on travel dates, play around with dates when it comes to arriving/departing for the cheapest flight
• Open a travel credit card to earn points to potentially use for your flight
• Sign up for a platform like Going (they have a free version) that will send you cheap flight notifications
• Purchase travel insurance (before traveling) in case anything goes wrong with your flight
• Bring a good eye mask on the airplane for a chance at some shut eye

 

BOOK YOUR FLIGHT TO SPAIN HERE!

 

How to Get Around Spain

There are two main ways to get around Spain for this itinerary.  One option would be train travel, and the other option would be to rent a car and go at your own pace.

 

TAKING A TRAIN

One of my favorite things about Spain is that train travel is incredible!  The trains are high speed, clean, trustworthy, and travel just about everywhere.  If you’re scared to drive or don’t like driving in a foreign country, this would be the way to go.  When searching for trains in Spain, I prefer to use Omio.

If you’re going a shorter distance, another option is to take a bus.  If you want to look for buses, I suggest Bookaway.

 

BOOK A TRAIN IN SPAIN HERE OR A BUS IN SPAIN HERE

 

RENTING A CAR

If you want more freedom and like to move at your own pace, another option is to rent a car.  You won’t need a car in Barcelona, and this itinerary is designed to go from Barcelona to Southern Spain (which is a very far drive), so I don’t recommend picking up a car until you’re already in Southern Spain.  For car rentals, I recommend Discover Cars.

 

For more information on driving in Spain, don’t miss…

• Everything You Need to Know About Renting a Car in Spain

 

 

Ultimate Spain Itinerary – 8 Days Exploring Barcelona, Madrid, & Southern Spain

 

Wednesday – Fly to Barcelona, Spain

One of the easiest European destinations to get to from the USA, Spain is located in the southwestern part of the continent.  If you travel to Spain from a major city hub in the US, you can typically fly into Barcelona without needing to make any connections.  Ideally, you’ll take a night flight which will leave on Wednesday and get you into Barcelona on Thursday.  Remember – you can also look at starting in Madrid if it’s cheaper.

 

BOOK YOUR FLIGHT TO SPAIN HERE!

 

Thursday – Barcelona

Highlights of Barcelona:  Visiting Gaudí’s Works + Barceloneta Beach

 

Transportation:  To get from the airport to your hotel in Barcelona, you can take a taxi or an Uber.  While grabbing a taxi is more convenient, you do have a higher chance of being ripped off.  For that reason, if you get a taxi – make sure that the meter is working!  Another choice is to book a reliable driver ahead of time.

Where to Stay in Barcelona:  There are tons of great hotels in Barcelona!  Here are my top recommendations….

• Catalonia Magdalenes
• Colon Hotel Barcelona
• Gaudi Hotel
• Ohla Barcelona

 

Upon arrival to Spain and checking into your accommodation, head out for food before venturing out to see some of Barcelona’s most famous sites.  If you land in Barcelona in the early morning I recommend a takeaway pastry from Chok.  If you’ve arrived later in the day and are looking for a more hearty meal sit down for tapas at Vinitus.  Once you’ve filled your stomach it’s time to hit the ground running and see some of the most famous sites in the world, courtesy of Antoni Gaudí, a famous Spanish architect.

In Barcelona, Gaudí has created multiple architectural wonders making Barcelona one of the most unique cities I’ve ever visited.  The most famous sites include Parc Güell, La Sagrada Familia, Casa Milà, and Casa Batlló.  Depending on what time you arrive in Barcelona, I would try to see all of these sites, but if you’re short on time make La Sagrada Familia and Parc Güell a priority.

 

La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia is a church and UNESCO World Heritage Site designed by Gaudí with construction beginning in 1882.  The incredible thing about this church is the amount of ornate detail that has gone into its design, telling the story of Jesus Christ from birth to death.  There’s so much detail in fact, that the church still isn’t finished and isn’t predicted to be finished until 2026.  Luckily, Gaudí realized that he wouldn’t be able to see the church through to its completion so he mapped out detailed plans to allow others to finish it long after he passed.  La Sagrada Familia is incredibly popular so don’t expect to show up and buy a ticket at the door.  To ensure access to this incredible church buy a ticket ahead of time and show up for your time slot.  I’d also recommend purchasing the audio guide for a more complete picture of what the church represents.

If you want to skip the line and join a guided tour, you can do so here.  Or if you want a private tour with an expert guide, you can book here.

 

Parc Güell

Parc Güell, also designed by Gaudí and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, serves an entirely different function than La Sagrada Familia.  Parc Güell is an open-air park sitting atop Carmel Hill in the La Salut neighborhood and overlooking the city of Barcelona.  It’s most famous for having the longest bench in the world.  To enter Parc Güell you’ll need to purchase a ticket ahead of time.

If you want a guided tour to both La Sagrada Familia and Parc Güell, you can purchase a combined ticket here.  Or if you’re just interested in a guided tour to Parc Güell, you can book a ticket here.

 

Once you’ve seen the infamous Gaudí architectural wonders, head back towards El Poble-Sec for a quick dinner at Quimet & Quimet before heading off to the beach.  Overlooking the Balearic Sea, head to Barceloneta beach to watch the sunset.  Either grab a spot in the sand or grab a table out of one of the many lively restaurants lining the beach for sunset cocktails.  If you’re looking for a fancier experience, head to the end of the beach where the W Hotel sits.  On the 26th floor of the hotel, you’ll find Eclipse, a cocktail bar overlooking Barcelona.  The bar opens at 6 pm and it’s common for a line to form before then.

 

FOOD TOURS IN BARCELONA

Barcelona has incredible food, and if you’re a foodie at heart, another great way to spend your day/evening is on a food tour!  Check out my top recommended food tours here…

• Barcelona at Sunset:  Tapas & Wine Tour
• Barcelona Tapas and Wine Experience
• Barcelona Tapas, Taverns, & History
• Barcelona Tapas Walking Tour:  Food, Wine, & History
• Barcelona Walking Food Tour
• Tastes and Traditions of Barcelona Food Tour

 

If you’re planning on spending more time in Barcelona or want more information on the city, don’t miss…

• 72 Hours in Barcelona
• The Ultimate Guide to Barcelona, Spain
• The Best Food Tours in Barcelona

 

Friday – Málaga

Highlights of Málaga:  Visiting the Alcazaba of Málaga and Castle of Gibralfaro

 

Transportation:  To get to Malaga from Barcelona, I recommend taking a train which takes about six hours.  Alternatively, you could fly but in my opinion, that would be second choice.

Where to Stay in Malaga:  I recommend staying near the city center.  My top hotel recommendations include…

• ICON Malabar
• Malaga Premium Hotel
• Soho Boutique Colon
• Soho Boutique Equitativa
• Soho Boutique Urban

 

The first stop in Southern Spain brings you to the coastal town of Málaga near the Alboran Sea. Málaga is a popular vacation spot for fellow Europeans looking to escape the winter. Málaga only sees about 20 days of rain per year and temperatures range from the 60s-80s throughout the year.  There’s a lot to see and do in Málaga so I’d recommend getting on the earliest flight/train out of Barcelona so that you can soak up this Spanish city before heading out!

Once you’ve arrived in town, set out to see the two things that make Málaga, Málaga – the Alcazaba of Málaga and the Castle of Gibralfaro.  Both of these structures give you an idea of Málaga’s history and set the city apart from the rest of Southern Spain.  Make time to visit both whiles in town.

 

Alcazaba of Málaga

Start your sightseeing at the Alcazaba of Málaga (opening times vary depending on the time of the season and closed on Mondays.  You can check times and prices here.)  The Alcazaba was a fortification built in the 11th-century by the Hammudid Dynasty.  It also happens to be the most well-preserved fortification in all of Spain!  The Alcazaba is quite impressive, offering sweeping views over Malaga and an inside look at what life may have been like back in the day.  You can easily purchase tickets from machines before entering the fortress.  If you want to book a guided tour, book here.

 

Castle of Gibralfaro

Once you’ve finished roaming around the fortress make the grueling hike up the hill to the Castle of Gibralfaro.  Please note that you can purchase a combined ticket (both Alcazaba and Castle) for cheaper than purchasing them separately.  The Castle sits upon a 425+ foothill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.  If you aren’t up for walking, the No. 35 bus will drive you up the hill and drop you out front.

 

Like Barcelona, the highlights of Southern Spain include the incredible food and night scene.  Once you’re done sightseeing, end your day in Málaga by visiting Antigua Casa de Guardi for a taste of the local sweet wine.  For dinner opt for tapas at Casa Lola, El Pimpi, or La Medusa Ostrería.  And for a nightcap finish off your day on the Larios Terrace rooftop overlooking the main shopping street in town – Calle Larios.

If you’re interested in joining a food tour, my top recommendations include…

• 3 Hours Malaga Tapas Crawl Tour
• Malaga Street Food & Market Tour
• Taste of Malaga Tour:  Tapas, History, & Local Customs
• The Genuine Malaga Wine & Tapas Tour
• Ultimate Malaga History & Tapas

 

For more information on Málaga, don’t miss…

• How to Spend One Day in Málaga, Spain

 

Saturday – Seville

Highlights of Seville:  Royal Alcázar of Seville + Catedral de Seville

 

Transportation:  From Málaga, it’s only a 2-hour train ride to get to Seville.  Another option is to rent a car in Malaga and drive to Seville.  I would recommend leaving Málaga early in the morning to have plenty of time in Seville.

Stay:  These are my top hotel recommendations in Seville…

• Hotel Casa del Poeta
• Hotel Doña María
• Hotel Fernando III
• Sercotel Las Casas de los Mercaderes
• Querencia de Sevilla

 

No trip to Spain is complete without visiting one of the most beautiful and unique cities in Spain – Seville.  Located northwest of Málaga Seville buzzes with friendly energy, bright colors, history from once being under Moorish rule, and creativity.  Seville was where Flamenco was created, it is known for its bullfighting culture, thick and sweet orange wine, tapas culture, and more.  Plus, it was my favorite stop in Southern Spain!

 

Royal Alcázar of Seville

When you arrive in Seville and check into your accommodation, quickly head out for sightseeing.  Start at the Royal Alcázar of Seville where you will need to purchase tickets before arriving.  A general ticket with an audioguide costs 12.50 Euros.  If you want t join a small, guided tour you can book tickets here.  The Royal Alcázar is a palace that was once a Muslim fortress.  When the Christians overthrew the Muslims in 1492, which was known as the “Reconquista” of Spain, King Peter of Castile resided in this newly renovated palace.  Expect to spend a few hours touring around the grounds of the palace, a maze of bright colors where you’ll note both Muslim and Christian influence.  You may even recognize some of the rooms if you’re a Game of Thrones fan… some scenes were filmed in this Alcazar.

 

Catedral de Seville

Once you’re done touring the Alcazar, head just steps away to the largest gothic cathedral in the world, Catedral de Seville.  While you may have to wait in line for a ticket, it isn’t necessary to purchase before arriving.  To enter you can pay the ticket fee at the door – 9 Euros, allowing you to access both the cathedral and Giralda Tower.  I’d also recommend purchasing the audio guide which will cost an extra 3 Euros.  The reason this cathedral is so big and grand is that after the Reconquista Seville wanted to show how wealthy it was.  There are members from the cathedral quoted for saying, “Let us build a church so beautiful and grand so that those who see it finished will take us for mad.”  (If you want to book a guided tour of the cathedral, you can purchase tickets here).

 

Before evening, make sure to stroll through Plaza de España.  Made up of brick, tiles, and ceramic decorations, Plaza de España is free to access and is located in Parque de María Luisa.  The plaza was built for the Spanish-American Exposition of 1929 where multiple countries came to Seville to improve relations between themselves and Spain.

For dinner in Seville, my favorite spots for tapas and cocktails include Casa Morales and Casa Ricardo for tapas.  And Las Setas De Sevilla for cocktails and Taberna Álvaro Peregil for Sevilla’s famous orange wine.

If you’re interested in joining a food tour, my top recommendations include…

• Seville Tapas and Flamenco Tour
• Seville Tapas, Taverns, & History Tour
• Tastes, Tapas, & Traditions of Seville Food Tour

 

For more on Seville, don’t miss…

• Things to Do in Seville – 5 Experiences to Have

 

Sunday – Granada

Highlights of Granada Day 1:  Granada Cathedral + Royal Chapel of Granada

 

Transportation:  If you rented a car, the drive from Seville to Granada will be around 4.5 hours.  Alternatively, you can take a train or a bus to Granada (train travel is around 3 hours).

Stay:  When you visit Granada, I’d recommend staying in or near the city center.  My top hotel recommendations include…

 

When you’re visiting Southern Spain, also known as the Andalusia Region, you can’t miss the chance to stop in one of Spain’s most iconic towns – Granada.  With both Christian and Muslim influence, Granada sits at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, with the biggest tourist draw being the Alhambra.  Granada was founded in 711 AD by the “Moors” (referring to Muslim people), which is why you can still, to this day, see Muslim influence in Granada.  Once the “Reconquista” occurred and the Christians overthrew the Muslims, cathedrals, and churches largely replaced mosques and Muslims were required to convert to Catholicism.  The stories of the “Reconquista” can be found in the famous buildings throughout Granada.

 

Granada Cathedral + Royal Chapel of Granada

As mentioned earlier, when the Reconquista occurred, Muslim influence was replaced by Christian influence.  At the time the Granada Cathedral replaced a Mosque that was once at the heart of Granada.  The cathedral is unique for being the first cathedral to have renaissance art and is the fifth largest cathedral in the world.  It costs five Euros to enter and you’re given an audio guide explaining what everything is in the church.

Steps away from the Granada Cathedral is the Royal Chapel of Granada.  This is where the Spanish monarchs, Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand have been laid to rest.  Like the cathedral, it costs five Euros to enter and you will be given a complimentary audio guide walking you through the Chapel.  I was highly impressed with both the Cathedral and the Chapel and think it’s well worth it to visit both places.  It is not necessary to purchase a ticket beforehand for either the cathedral or the chapel.

 

For food options in Granada, I’d recommend either Bodegas Castañeda where you’ll get a true tapas experience.  (A true tapas experience is when you purchase a glass of alcohol and food comes with your drink).  Or Taberna Espirituosa for a more upscale experience.

If you want to join a food tour in Granada, these are the ones I’d recommend…

• Granada Flamenco & Tapas Tour
• Granada Tapas & Wine Tour

 

Monday – Granada

Highlights of Granada Day 2:  Alhambra

Perhaps the highlight of this entire Southern Spain vacation is visiting the Alhambra.  The Alhambra sits atop al-Sabika hill overlooking Granada.  The first historical documents of the Alhambra date back to the 9th-century where it is documented that it was used as a fortification system.  It wasn’t until the 13th-century that the Nasrid Dynasty arrived turning the Alhambra into a royal residence.  When the Christians overtook the Muslims in what is referred to as the “Reconquista,” the Alhambra was nearly torn down because it was representative of the Muslim faith.  Luckily plans were never enforced and the Alhambra still stands to this day.

If you’re coming to Granada to tour the Alhambra you must plan well in advance.  Only a certain number of visitors are allowed to enter the Alhambra per day.  You can buy Alhambra palace tickets here and hours vary based on the time of the year.  From April 1-October 14 hours are from 0830-2000 and from October 15-March 31 hours are from 0830-1800.  Make sure to show up at your allotted time or else you may not be able to enter.  A full visit to the Alhambra tends to take three+ hours.  For a private, guided tour of Alhambra, you can purchase tickets here.

On your way back to town from the Alhambra, I encourage you to walk along Paseo de Los Tristes, the street running parallel to the Darro River.  Paseo de Los Tristes is an idyllic street that takes you right back to the city center.

 

 

For a nightcap, before the sun sets, walk through town up to Mirador de San Nicolas.  Here you’ll have incredible views of the sun setting behind the Alhambra.  It’s sure to be crowded so arrive early for a front-row spot.  Or if you prefer a cocktail while watching the sunset, there’s a restaurant nearby – El Huerto de Juan Ranas that gives you front-row views.  This also tends to be quite crowded so make sure to arrive well before sunset to snag a seat.  (I would not advise eating here and service is quite awful.  I’d only recommend coming for sunset, having a drink or two, and moving on).

 

For more on Granada, don’t miss…

• How to Make the Most of One Day in Granada

 

Tuesday – Madrid

Highlights of Madrid:  Museo Nacional del Prado

 

Transportation:  If you rented a car, the drive from Granada to Madrid will be around 7 hours.  Alternatively, you can take a train or a bus to Granada (train travel is around 5 hours).  Your last option would be to drop your car off in Granada and take the train to the city because you won’t need a car once you get to Madrid.

Stay:  I recommend staying near the city center.  My top hotel recommendations include…

• Catalonia Puerta del Sol
• Emperador
• Only YOU Boutique Hotel Madrid
• Thompson Madrid

 

Upon arrival in Madrid, head to Mercado de San Miguel for lunch.  Mercado de San Miguel is a covered market that has been running since 1916 and has multiple food vendors serving Spanish cuisine throughout.  After lunch, visit the main Spanish national art museum, Prado Museum, open since 1819.  A general ticket runs at 15 Euros, and I recommend purchasing ahead of time so that you can skip the line.  You can spend as much or as little time in the museum as you’d like, but if you’re an art lover, expect to spend 3+ hours browsing through the many displays throughout the museum.  If you want to book a guided tour to the Prado Museum, you can purchase tickets here.  Or you can join a guided museum tour plus lunch here.

 

If you want to join a food tour in Madrid, these are the ones I’d recommend…

• Madrid Tapas & Flamenco Tour
• Madrid Tapas, Taverns, & History Tour
• Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour of Madrid

 

Wednesday – Depart Madrid, fly home

Because Europe is ahead of the US time-wise, you should be able to leave on Wednesday and arrive back to the states on Wednesday.  Just in time to clock in for your shift Thursday without taking any PTO!  And just like that, in 8 days your Barcelona, Madrid, and Southern Spain itinerary has come to an end.

 

Spain Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Spain

 

If you have any questions about spending 8 days in Spain or this Southern Spain itinerary, let me know in a comment below!

 

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For more information on things to see and do in the Spain, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinspain” or under my highlights for “Spain”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Spain” highlight

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