Spain travel guide: the best cities and how to plan a trip
Spain is big, and the distances between its cities are longer than they look on a map. The fast trains make a city break easy, but a first trip works best with two or three bases, not six. Pick a region, give each place enough nights, and book the few things that sell out, such as the Alhambra in Granada and the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
The short answer
- First trip
- Madrid and Barcelona, joined by a fast train, or Seville, Granada and Málaga if you want the south. Both give you big sights, good food and easy transport.
- How long
- Ten days covers three cities without rushing. A week works for two cities plus a day trip. Fewer than five days is one city, or two if they are on the same train line.
- Best time to go
- April to early June and late September to October. July and August are very hot inland and in the south, and the coast and islands are at their busiest.
- Getting around
- Fast trains between the big cities, local metros and your feet inside them. A car helps only for villages, mountains and the less-visited coast.
- Money
- The euro. Cards are taken almost everywhere, but carry some cash for small bars and markets.
- Book ahead
- The Alhambra, the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, and the Guggenheim in busy months. Fast-train fares are lowest early.
Best cities to visit in Spain
Madrid
The capital, with big art museums, a late and lively street life and fast trains to most of the country. It suits first-timers and anyone who likes to eat out at night.
Give it 3 days
Barcelona
A coastal city of Gaudí buildings, old lanes and beaches, with more to see than a short trip allows. It suits first-timers, architecture fans and anyone who wants sea and city together.
Give it 3 to 4 days
Palma de Mallorca
The capital of Mallorca, with a Gothic cathedral, a walkable old town and beaches and mountains on the island. It suits a city-and-sea break, best outside July and August.
Give it 3 to 4 days
Seville
The Andalusian capital, with a cathedral, a royal palace and orange-lined streets. It suits people who want flamenco, tapas and old Spain, and it is very hot in summer.
Give it 2 to 3 days
Valencia
A flat, walkable city with a long beach, a big park and the home of paella. It suits a relaxed trip and costs less than Madrid or Barcelona.
Give it 2 to 3 days
Málaga
A port city with a hilltop fortress, good museums and a beach within reach of the center. It suits a sunny base for the Costa del Sol and the white villages.
Give it 2 to 3 days
Granada
A compact city under the Sierra Nevada, known for the Alhambra palace and free tapas in many bars. It suits anyone who wants history and a small-town pace.
Give it 2 days
San Sebastián
A small, elegant seaside city in the Basque Country, with a curved beach and a reputation for food. It suits eating trips and quiet beach days.
Give it 2 to 3 days
Bilbao
A former industrial city that has reinvented itself around the Guggenheim museum and a riverside walk. It suits art lovers and pairs well with San Sebastián.
Give it 2 days
Beyond the cities
Andalusia's white villages
Whitewashed hill towns such as Ronda and Frigiliana sit inland from the Costa del Sol. They are easiest with a car, or on a day tour from Málaga or Seville.
Toledo and Segovia
Two walled old towns an hour or less from Madrid, with a castle, a cathedral and an aqueduct between them. Both work as a day trip by train or bus.
Galicia and Santiago de Compostela
A green, wet north-west with seafood, coast and the pilgrim city of Santiago. It is far from the usual route, so fly or take the train from Madrid and allow a few days.
The Canary Islands
Volcanic islands with warm weather in winter, a flight away from the mainland. They suit a beach and hiking trip rather than a city break.
The Costa Brava
A rocky coast with small coves, north of Barcelona. A car or a regional bus from Girona makes it easiest to reach.
Spain itineraries
- Five days: Madrid and Toledo
Four nights in Madrid, with a day in Toledo by train. Spend one day on the big museums, one on the old center and one slowly, in a park or a market. It is the easiest short trip, with no transfers.
- Seven days: Madrid and Barcelona
Three nights in Madrid and four in Barcelona. The fast train takes about two and a half to three hours. Fly into one and out of the other to avoid going back.
- Ten days: Madrid, Seville, Granada
Three nights in Madrid, three in Seville and three in Granada. The train to Seville is about two and a half hours, then a train or bus to Granada of about three. Book the Alhambra first, then build the dates round it.
- Fourteen days: Barcelona to Andalusia
Start in Barcelona, take the train to Valencia, then Madrid, Seville, Granada and Málaga, with two or three nights in each. Fly home from Málaga. Add Palma or San Sebastián only if you can spare a few more days.
Best time to visit Spain
Spring and early autumn are best for a city break. April to early June and late September to October are warm and bright, with fewer crowds than July and August. Seville and the south are at their best in spring, when the orange trees are in bloom, and they are very hot by July.
Summer is hot in Madrid, Seville and the interior, so plan indoor sights for the afternoon, as locals do. The north, from San Sebastián to Galicia, is cooler and wetter all year. Winter is quiet and cheap in most cities, and the south and the Canary Islands stay mild. Many Spaniards take holiday in August, and some small shops and restaurants shut then.
How to get around Spain
- Fast trainsSpain has a large high-speed network centered on Madrid. Renfe runs the AVE and other long-distance trains, and Iryo and Ouigo run rival services on some of the main lines. Fares move with demand, so book early. Madrid to Barcelona, Seville, Valencia and Málaga are all fast and frequent.
- Rail passesInterrail and Eurail passes work on Spanish trains, but seat reservations are required on the fast ones and add to the cost. For a short trip, point-to-point tickets are often cheaper.
- Regional trains and busesSlower and cheaper. Buses reach places the trains do not, such as Granada from Seville or many white villages, and they are often comfortable and on time.
- DrivingWorth it for villages, mountains and the less-visited coast, and not for the big cities. Many old centers restrict traffic and have little parking, so collect the car when you leave the city.
- FlightsFlying is sensible for the islands and for the far north-west. Low-cost airlines link most big cities, and the airports are connected to town by train, metro or bus.
What to book before you go
These are the ones that sell out across Spain. Each city guide has its own list.
- The Alhambra, Granada1 to 3 months ahead
Entry to the palace is in timed slots, and tickets sell out in busy months.
- The Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, Barcelona2 to 4 weeks ahead
Both use timed entry and fill up from spring to autumn.
- High-speed trainsAs soon as you know your dates
The cheapest fares go first, and the fast trains need a seat reservation.
- The Prado and the GuggenheimA few days ahead in busy months
Booking a slot saves time at the door, especially at weekends.
Money, tipping and practical things
- CurrencyThe euro.
- Cards and cashCards are accepted almost everywhere, including small shops and many bars. Cash is still handy for markets, kiosks and small tapas bars.
- TippingNot expected. Service is included in the price. Leaving small change or rounding up for good service is normal, and a few euros after a long meal is generous.
- Tourist taxesThere is no national tourist tax. Some regions and cities set their own, charged per person per night and collected by the hotel. Catalonia, including Barcelona, and the Balearic Islands charge one, and the rate depends on the type of accommodation.
- EntryNon-EU visitors are registered at the border by the EU's Entry/Exit System. Whether you need a visa, and an ETIAS travel authorization once it starts, depends on your passport: check the EU's official site, travel-europe.europa.eu, before you book.
- PlugsType C and type F sockets at 230 volts. A plain two-pin European adaptor works.
What to skip in Spain
- Too many cities in a week
Distances are long and a fast train still takes hours. Cut one city and give the rest an extra night.
- Midday sightseeing in summer
Inland and in the south the heat peaks between about 2 and 6 pm. Do the outdoor sights early and rest in the afternoon.
- Paella on a tourist street
Rice dishes are a lunch food and are made to order. A photo menu on a main square usually means a reheated one.
- Dinner at 6 pm
Most kitchens open at about 8:30 or 9 pm. Eat a late lunch and have tapas in the early evening.
Spain: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Spain?
Seven to ten days is enough for a first trip: three nights each in two or three cities. A long weekend suits one city, but a tour of the whole country in under a week means too much traveling.
What is the best month to visit Spain?
May and late September are the safest bets, warm and with lighter crowds than high summer. October suits the cities, and April is lovely in the south.
What are the best places to visit in Spain for first timers?
Madrid and Barcelona give the strongest mix of art, architecture and food, and a fast train links them. Add Seville and Granada for the south, or San Sebastián for the north coast.
Is Spain expensive to visit?
Less than France, Italy or the UK for most things. Costs rise in Barcelona, on the islands and in summer. Set lunch menus, tapas and regional trains keep a trip cheaper.
Do you need a car in Spain?
Not for a city trip. The trains link the big cities, and the cities have good metros. Hire a car only for villages, mountains or the coast.
Do you need to speak Spanish?
No. English is common in hotels and at the main sights, but less so in small bars and villages. A few words such as hola, gracias and la cuenta help. In Catalonia and the Basque Country, Spanish is understood everywhere.
Do I need to book Spanish trains in advance?
For the fast trains, yes if you want the lower fares, since prices rise as seats sell. A seat reservation is required on them even with a rail pass. Regional trains have fixed prices and can be bought on the day.
Does Spain have a tourist tax?
There is no national one. Catalonia and the Balearic Islands charge a per-person, per-night tax, and some other towns have their own. The hotel collects it, and children are often exempt.