Spain in 11 days: Madrid, Andalusia & Barcelona

Royal palaces and tapas bars, the Mosque of Córdoba, flamenco in Seville, the Alhambra and Gaudí’s Barcelona — a road trip across Spain.

Duration

11 days

Best time

May – June, Sep – Oct

Getting around

Rental car

or trains

Route

Madrid → Barcelona

I travelled

[Year?]

Spain is three countries in one: the grand boulevards of Madrid, the Moorish palaces and orange trees of Andalusia, and the beaches and modernist architecture of the Mediterranean coast.

This 11-day road trip links them all, from Madrid to Barcelona — and it works just as well in reverse.

The route at a glance

From Madrid to Barcelona

Tap a stop on the map to jump to that part of the trip

Madrid
2 nights

Córdoba
1 night

Seville
2 nights

Murcia
1 night

Valencia
2 nights

Barcelona
2 nights

Day by day

The itinerary

Days 1–2 · 2 nights

Madrid

Arrive and explore by metro. Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, El Retiro, Puerta del Sol, Gran Vía, Plaza de España, the Prado and Puerta de Alcalá — then tapas at the Mercado de San Miguel.

Day 3 · 1 night

Toledo & Córdoba

An hour south to Toledo: the Gothic chapel of San Bartolomé, the Alcázar, medieval bridges and Puerta de Alfonso. Then another 1.5 hours to Córdoba.

Days 4–5 · 2 nights

Córdoba & Seville

The Mosque-Cathedral and its Patio de los Naranjos, the Alcázar, the Roman bridge and the Jewish Quarter. Then Seville: the cathedral and La Giralda, the Real Alcázar, Plaza de España — and a flamenco show at night.

Day 6 · 1 night

Granada & Murcia

Head east to Granada for the Alhambra, the most beautiful palace in Spain, then continue north-east to Murcia.

Days 7–8 · 2 nights

Valencia

A morning in Murcia, then on to Valencia for two relaxed days of beach, paella and the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences.

Days 9–11 · 2 nights

Barcelona

A last swim and then north to Barcelona. The Sagrada Família, Park Güell, La Boqueria market, Casa Batlló and Casa Milà — and the beach before your flight home.

When to go