Two Weeks in Spain: Madrid, Barcelona, Seville & Granada (By Train)

For those who want to combine two of Spain’s largest cities with a visit to Andalusia, you’ll love this Spain itinerary.

This itinerary includes the top places to visit in Spain for first time visitors.

With two weeks in Spain, visit the amazing art galleries in Madrid, day trip to the photogenic city of Toledo, explore Barcelona and all of the treasures it has to offer, tour the Alhambra, see the stunning Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba, and spend a few days in sunny Seville.

We have visited Spain multiple times. Our most recent trip was a month-long road trip through Spain that concentrated on Madrid and Andalusia (Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Ronda, and Gibraltar) with an additional week in the beautiful Rioja wine region. On a prior trip, we spent over a week in Barcelona, using some of this time to day trip to Girona and Montserrat.

With two weeks in Spain, you will have to skip over a few of these places, but if you can add on more time, consider adding in Ronda and Gibraltar. We cover how to do this (plus how to shorten this itinerary, should you have less than two weeks) at the end of this guide.

Places You Will Visit on This Itinerary:

Madrid
Toledo
Seville
Córdoba
Granada
Barcelona
Montserrat or Girona (optional)

With more time, you can add on Ronda, Gibraltar, and Tangier, Morocco.

14 Day Spain Itinerary

Day 1: Seville
Day 2: Seville
Day 3: Seville
Day 4: Córdoba
Day 5: Granada
Day 6: Granada and the Alhambra
Day 7: Madrid
Day 8: Madrid
Day 9: Madrid day trip
Day 10: Barcelona
Day 11: Barcelona
Day 12: Barcelona
Day 13: Day trip from Barcelona
Day 14: Fly home

About this Spain Itinerary

There is no need to rent a car for this itinerary. To get around Spain, you will use the fantastic network of high-speed trains. All of the places listed in this itinerary are very easy to get to by train. If you choose to rent a car, most days it will be parked at your hotel or in a parking garage (for an added expense). Travel times between cities in most cases is slower by car compared to trains.

This itinerary is done point-to-point, starting in Seville and ending in Barcelona. These two cities have international airports, so if you are flying to Spain from outside of Europe, it should be relatively easy to fly in and out of these two cities.

It is also possible to do this itinerary in the opposite direction. I chose to end it in Barcelona, since this is a favorite city of many travelers. Spending four days in Barcelona is a memorable way to end a big trip through Spain.

This itinerary can be done all year, but the best times to do it are from mid-April through June and September through October, when the weather is pleasant. Summers can be hot, crowded times to visit Spain and temperatures in Andalusia are the hottest in Europe. You can do this itinerary in July and August, just be prepared for temperatures easily climbing above 35°C/95°F in Seville and Córdoba.

On our most recent visit to Spain, we were here from mid-April through mid-May, visiting Madrid and Andalusia. Temperatures ranged from 21°C/70°F to 26°C/80°F for most it.

We have lots of information about Spain, which you can see in our Spain Travel Guide. In this itinerary, I will give links to our other guides, which have much more detailed information about each place to visit, including where to eat and stay.

Park Güell, Barcelona

Is Two Weeks in Spain Enough Time?

Two weeks gives you just enough time to visit Spain’s two largest cities, Madrid and Barcelona, plus visit the highlights in Andalusia. Even so, to do all of this, you will be moving rather quickly.

Spain is a large country with a lot of beautiful places to visit. If it’s your first visit here, I know it can be tempting to pack in a lot of cities.

On our most recent trip, we spent a month here and here is how we planned our time: 9 days in Madrid (there is a lot to do in Madrid and a long list of very interesting day trips to do), two weeks in Andalusia (Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Ronda, Tarifa, and Tangier, Morocco), and one week in the Rioja wine region.

On a separate trip, we spent over a week in Barcelona, using this time to do some day trips, plus Tim raced IRONMAN Barcelona.

There is still so much to explore in Spain and even with almost 6 weeks here, we feel as if we barely scratched the surface.

We don’t recommend adding more places to the itinerary below, unless you can also add on more time. This itinerary takes you through these cities faster than we did them, and with that you will have limited time to see the main sights and explore the local cuisines.

On future trips, you can more thoroughly explore Andalusia, walk the Camino de Santiago, explore the Rioja wine region and Basque country, visit Costa Brava, and road trip through northern Spain. These are all things we can’t wait to do on our next trip to Spain.

Plaza de España, Seville

Two Weeks in Spain

Day 1: Arrive in Seville

On this itinerary, you have three full days in Seville, which is plenty of time to see the main sights and get to know this lovely city.

If you arrive in Seville on a red-eye flight, this first day can be tough. Plus, your flight could get in at midday, which makes it very difficult to make any big plans on this first day. Get settled in your hotel and do your best to adjust to the time change.

We don’t recommend making big plans today, just in case you have travel delays, a later flight, or a bad case of jetlag.

However, if you will be arriving to Seville in the morning and will be full of energy, you can use this day for sightseeing.

Where to Stay in Seville

You will spend three nights in Seville.

Our top hotel picks are the Radisson Collection Hotel in Magdalena Plaza (a 5-star hotel that gets rave reviews), Puerta Catedral Suites (check out the view of the Seville Cathedral…it’s amazing!), Joya del Casco Boutique Hotel (great location with rooftop views of Seville), and La Banda Rooftop Hostel and Toc Hostel. Apartamento Living by Cathedral is a great pick for families.

We list more recommended properties in our 2 Days in Seville itinerary.

Days 2 & 3: Seville

Things to Do in Seville

There is a lot you can see and do with 2 days in Seville.

There are three main sights to see in Seville: the Seville Cathedral, the Royal Alcazar of Seville, and Plaza de España. Both the Seville Cathedral and the Royal Alcazar require a timed entry ticket purchased in advance.

In addition to these three main attractions, Seville is filled with beautiful palaces to visit, a lovely city center to explore, and a few more historical sites and churches.

Palacio de las Duenas

La Giralda

Plaza de España

Royal Alcazar

We cover the full list of things to do in our article Things to Do in Seville, but below is a list of the places you will visit over the next 2 days:

The Seville Cathedral
The Royal Alcazar
Plaza de España
The historic city center
Torre del Oro
Visit a historic palace

You will also dine on tapas, visit a few rooftop bars if like, and have the option to see a Flamenco show.

In our detailed 2 Day Seville Itinerary, we cover exactly how to spend your time each day, walking routes, recommended restaurants, and helpful tips ↓

Seville Itinerary

How to Spend 2 Days in Seville

A detailed 2 day itinerary for Seville, with walking maps and advice on where to stay and where to eat.

Two Days in Seville

Here is an overview of each day:

Day 1 in Seville

9:30 am: Plaza de España and Plaza de América
11:00 am: The Seville Cathedral
12:30 pm: Lunch
2:00 pm: Torre del Oro & Guadalquivir River
3:30 pm: City center, rooftop bars, tapas food tour
Evening: Dinner and optional Flamenco show

Day 2 in Seville

9:30 am: Royal Alcazar of Seville
11:30 am: Barrio de Santa Cruz
12:00 pm: Lunch
2:00 pm: Visit One of Seville’s Historic Palaces
3:30 pm: Setas de Sevilla (Metropol Parasol)
4:30 pm: Free time
Evening: Dinner & Plaza de España at Sunset

Make Your Reservations in Advance

We cover this in our 2 Day Seville Itinerary, but here are the places where you will need to make a reservation in advance:

Seville Cathedral

Day 4: Córdoba

Today, travel to Córdoba by train and spend the remainder of the day in Córdoba.

Morning: Train to Córdoba

High-speed trains connect Seville to Córdoba in roughly 45 minutes. If you take an 8 am train, you’ll be in Córdoba by 9 am, giving you a full day in the city.

Booking Your Train Tickets

There are two third-party websites that can also be used to learn more about these train routes and to book your tickets: Omio and RailNinja.

When booking our train tickets, we prefer to use the official website (in Spain, that is Renfe) but sometimes the official websites can be harder to use, plus I have heard reports that some credit cards are not accepted on the Renfe site.

If you run into these problems, take a look at Omio and RailNinja. These are third-party websites that have a lot of helpful information about these train routes and can be used to book your tickets.

For high-speed trains in Spain, book your tickets in advance. You will take a high-speed train several times on this itinerary: Seville to Córdoba, Córdoba to Granada, Granada to Madrid, and Madrid to Barcelona.

Spending the Day in Córdoba

Córdoba is a smaller city than Seville. With one busy, well-planned day, you have just enough time to visit the highlights.

Here is a list of the best things to do in Córdoba. See the full list in our article Best Things to Do in Córdoba.

Visit the amazing Mosque-Cathedral
Climb the bell tower of the Mosque-Cathedral
Photograph the Córdoba patios
Visit the Alcazar of Christian Kings
Explore the Jewish Quarter
Walk across the Roman Bridge
Enjoy the view from the top of Calahorra Tower
See a flamenco show

Inside the Mosque-Cathedral

The Roman Bridge

How to Plan Your Time in Córdoba

To plan your time today, follow the one day Córdoba itinerary in our Córdoba Itinerary ↓

Córdoba Itinerary

How to Spend One & Two Days in Córdoba

Detailed one day and two day itineraries for Córdoba.

Below is an overview of that itinerary with one change. You will not be able to start that itinerary right at 9 am, unless you take a very early morning train to Córdoba. Once you arrive at the Córdoba train station, it will take approximately 60 to 90 minutes to get to your hotel, drop off your luggage, and then get to the Mosque-Cathedral.

You will need to purchase timed entry tickets in advance for the Mosque-Cathedral and the bell tower, so make sure you give yourself enough time to get there, which means you either have to take a 7 am train or shift the itinerary later, visiting the Mosque-Cathedral at 10:30 or 11:00 am.

Below, I’ve adjusted the itinerary to start at 11:00 am, but then you will move quicker through lunch and the patios, to get to some sights before they close.

11:00 am: Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba
12:30 pm: Climb the bell tower of the Mosque-Cathedral
1:00 pm: Lunch
2:00 pm: Patios of Córdoba
3:30 pm: The Alcazar of Christian Kings
4:30 pm: Roman Bridge and Calahorra Tower
5:30 pm: Rooftop bar
7:00 pm: Dinner & optional Flamenco show

Where to Stay in Córdoba

Refer to the Where to Stay section at the end of the Córdoba Itinerary for recommendations on where to stay. On this itinerary, you will spend one night in Córdoba.

Patios of Cordoba

The view from a Córdoba rooftop bar

Day 5: Granada

Morning: Travel to Granada

By high-speed train, it takes an hour and a half to 2 hours to travel to Granada. Purchase this train ticket in advance.

Afternoon in Granada

The #1 attraction in Granada is the Alhambra. You’ll be there tomorrow morning, but getting a view of it from the hilly Albaicín neighborhood is one of the best things to do in Granada.

This afternoon, go for a stroll in the Sacromonte and Albaicín neighborhoods, getting breathtaking views of the Alhambra. It’s a bit of a workout, walking these steep, narrow streets, but the views are incredible.

The view of the Alhambra from Sacromonte

Mirador de San Nicolás Granada Sunset Photo

The view from Mirador de San Nicolás at sunset

For dinner, Carmen Mirador de Aixa and Carmen El Agua are two hilltop restaurants with amazing views of the Alhambra.

As you stroll back into the heart of the city, walk along Calle Calderería Nueva, a famous street also called “Little Morocco,” for its teahouses and shops selling souvenirs.

Where to Stay in Granada

We list recommended hotels, apartments, and budget properties in our guide to Granada (link below). This article also has recommended restaurants, cocktail bars, and helpful planning information for Granada.

You will spend two nights in Granada.

Granada, Spain

How to Visit Granada, Spain: Things to Do, Where to Eat & Stay

Detailed guide on how to visit Granada.

Day 6: Granada & the Alhambra

Morning: The Alhambra

The Alhambra is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Europe. This is one of the best-preserved palaces of the historic Islamic world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Spain.

Court of the Lions

We cover exactly how to visit the Alhambra in our article How to Visit the Alhambra. But here are a few key things to know:

This is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Spain, so expect big crowds here.
Plan to arrive by 9:30 am, to visit some sights before they get crowded.
There is a lot to do at the Alhambra. Top places to visit include the Nasrid Palaces, the Alcazaba (the fort), the gardens and palaces at Generalife, and the El Partal Gardens.
It takes 3 to 4 hours to visit the Alhambra.
Tickets are limited and sell out in advance. Purchase them 2 to 3 months in advance to get the time slot you want. If they are sold out, check GetYourGuide.

Afternoon: More Things to Do in Granada

Here are a few places to visit this afternoon in Granada. Pick three or four of them. You can learn more about each of them in our article Best Things to Do in Granada.

Carrera del Darro. This shopping street runs along the Darro River. El Bañuelo, a historic hammam, is located on this street.

The Granada Cathedral. This is Granada’s largest, grandest cathedral. Tickets can be purchased online in advance on the official website.

The Granada Cathedral

The Royal Chapel of Granada. This is the burial place of Spanish monarchs, with Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand being the famous. It is located next to the cathedral. Purchase your ticket in advance.

La Alcaicería. Called the Grand Bazaar of Granada, this touristy street has shops selling souvenirs, fabrics, and clothing. It’s right around the corner from the Granada Cathedral.

Basilica de San Juan de Dios. This basilica is worth the quick visit to see one of the most elaborately gilded naves in Europe. Combine a visit here with the Royal Monastery of St. Jerome, a monastery founded by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, which is located near the Basilica.

Watch a flamenco show. One of the best places to watch flamenco in Granada is the Sacromonte district, at Cueva La Rocio or Cueva Maria la Canastera.

Tonight, sleep in Granada.

Day 7: Travel to Madrid

Morning: Train to Madrid

The train from Granada to Madrid is the longest on this itinerary. Even though Granada is closer to Madrid than Barcelona, it is a rather lengthy journey to get from Granada to Madrid and most routes have at least one transfer.

For the fastest journey, choose a direct train, which takes about 3 hours and 40 minutes to get to Madrid. Train routes with a transfer take 4 hours and longer. Omio and RailNinja are great websites to learn more about this route and book your tickets. Ideally, book this train ticket 3 months in advance, when tickets are typically the cheapest.

Afternoon in Madrid

With an early, direct train to Madrid, you could be in town by noon, giving you the full afternoon in the city.

On this Spain itinerary, you have limited time in Madrid, so if you have any additional time you can add on (making this a 15-day itinerary), consider putting a day into Madrid. I debated taking some time from Seville or Barcelona and adding it to Madrid, but we enjoyed our time in those two cities more than Madrid.

The Royal Palace & Almudena Cathedral

There are two big sites to visit in Madrid: the Prado National Museum and the Royal Palace. I recommend splitting them into two different days, to avoid having one huge, overwhelming day of sightseeing in Madrid.

This afternoon, visit the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral, which sit side-by-side.

The Royal Palace of Madrid

The Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real de Madrid) is the official residence of the royal family. Now it is only used for royal ceremonies. With more than 3,000 rooms, it is the largest functioning royal palace in Europe.

On a visit here, you will tour the rooms of the palace and the Royal Armoury.

How to Visit the Royal Palace of Madrid

When to Purchase Tickets: Purchase your ticket online in advance on the official website. You will purchase a timed entry slot. Tickets can be purchased onsite and through GetYourGuide (a great option if they are sold out on the official website). If you wait to purchase your ticket onsite, the ticket line can be incredibly long and slow moving.

Ticket Options: There are several ticket options. Royal Palace: This is the main ticket to tour the palace. Royal Palace Kitchen: A guided tour (in Spanish) of the kitchen

Guided Tour: If you prefer to visit the palace with a guide, this guided tour gets rave reviews and you have the option to add on the Royal Collections.

Entry: It is best to get in line anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes before your entry time. Midday, there is a long line to enter the palace, even for those with timed entry tickets.

Hours and Pricing: Get updated hours and pricing on the official website.

Time: A visit here lasts 2 to 4 hours, depending on crowd levels and how quickly you move through the palace.

Almudena Cathedral

This beautiful cathedral sits next to the Royal Palace. Tim and I enjoyed our visit here, more so than the Royal Palace, with its hidden crypt and rooftop views. There is a lot to do here, enough to keep you busy for an hour, depending on how much you want to see.

For free, you can visit the cathedral floor. The ceiling of the nave is covered with colorful geometric designs giving the interior a very unique and somewhat unexpected appearance.

The highlight for us was climbing to the top of the dome. From here, you get 360° views of Madrid and the Royal Palace. There is a small fee to do this.

The crypt is the final resting place for the royal family and it one of the things to see here are its 400+ columns, each with a different capital. The entrance is on Calle Mayor Street. It is free to visit but donations are appreciated.

Dinner

To sample a wide array of tapas, Spanish foods, beer and wine, it is a short walk to Mercado San Miguel. This can be a very busy place, but we loved trying the small plates, so much so that we visited this market several times while in Madrid.

Where to Stay in Madrid

On this itinerary, you will spend 3 nights in Madrid.

A few notable places that we recommend in the city center include Hotel Moderno Puerta del Sol (mid-range hotel with a fantastic location in Puerta del Sol), PlazaMayorSuites (a mid-range property that has studio and one-bedroom apartments), Sonder Santa Ana (apartments that are perfect for families and larger groups of friends), and the JW Marriott Hotel (where we stayed; a luxury hotel in the city center).

Day 8: Madrid

With two more days in Madrid, you have two options on how to spend that time. You can spend both days in the city, as there is a lot to do here. However, there are some amazing day trips you can take from Madrid.

We recommend spending one busy day in Madrid and taking one day trip from Madrid. We cover your day trip options more on day 9 of this itinerary.

Here is how we recommend planning your time in Madrid today.

Best Things to Do in Madrid

If it is your first time in Madrid, below is a list of the top experiences to have in the city. You can see the full list in our article Things to Do in Madrid. Not listed below are the places you visited yesterday, the Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral, and Mercado San Miguel.

Prado National Museum, Madrid’s top art museum and #1 attraction
Gran Vía, Madrid’s most famous street
Plaza Mayor & Puerta del Sol
Retiro Park, Madrid’s largest park
Barrio de la Latina, a historic neighborhood and great place to go tapas hopping
Palacio de Cibeles and Mirador Madrid
Have dinner and drinks at a rooftop bar or restaurant

The view from Mirador Madrid

Madrid Itinerary

With one day in Madrid, there is enough time to visit all of the places listed above. We cover how to do this on Day 1 of our 2 Days in Madrid Itinerary.

Here is an overview of today’s itinerary:

9:00 am: Parque del Retiro. Go for a stroll through a beautiful park that is filled with a long list of famous landmarks and gardens. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

10:00 am: Prado National Museum. Tour Madrid’s most popular art museum. Purchase your tickets in advance because this is the #1 attraction for tourists in Madrid and is a very busy place to visit.

12:30 pm: Palacio de Cibeles & Mirador Madrid. Visit one of the most beautiful buildings in Madrid and take an elevated, iconic photo of Gran Vía.

1:15 pm: Azotea del Círculo. Have lunch at one of Madrid’s most famous rooftop bars and restaurants.

2:30 pm: City Center. Spend the afternoon exploring the historic city center. Visit Gran Vía, the Church of Saint Anthony of the German, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, and have chocolate and churros at Chocolatería San Ginés.

Evening: Barrio de la Latina. Spend the evening hopping from tapas restaurant to tapas restaurant in Barrio de la Latina, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Madrid.

Barrio de la Latina

Day 9: Day Trip to Toledo

One of the best things to do while in Madrid is to take a day trip. There are quite a few to choose from, but our #1 recommendation is Toledo.

Best Day Trips from Madrid

Toledo Day Trip from Madrid

Toledo is the most popular day trip from Madrid. We personally liked visiting Toledo more than Madrid. This is a very picturesque city and full of history, as it was the capital of Spain until 1561. We recommend spending the full day here, rather than combining it with Segovia or Ávila.

We recommend dedicating the full day to Toledo. This small city is packed with a lot of things to do and it takes an extremely busy day to see and do everything here. We have two guides to help you plan your visit.

Best of Toledo: 17 Unique Things to Do in Spain’s Historic Capital

Stroll through the picturesque city center, visit the awe inspiring Toledo Cathedral, taste Manchego cheese and local wine, visit the city’s important religious sites, and enjoy the view from a long list of stunning viewpoints…these are all things to do in Toledo, Spain. Visiting Toledo was one of our favorite experiences in Spain, which is […]

One Perfect Day in Toledo: Day Trip from Madrid

Located in central Spain, nestled on a bend on the Tagus River, sits the extremely photogenic city of Toledo. With its picturesque streets, important religious sites, boutique shops, and gorgeous viewpoints, Toledo is an absolute joy to visit. In fact, it is one of the most popular day trips from Madrid. We spent over a […]

Visiting Toledo is easy to do independently using public transportation. You can also join a tour. This tour is our top pick, since it gets great reviews, includes the viewpoints across the river, a guided tour of the city center, and free time to explore the city.

Segovia and/or Ávila Day Trip from Madrid

Segovia is famous for its Roman Aqueduct and historic city center. It is often combined with Ávila.

Segovia

Ávila is a small city surrounded by medieval walls. It is quick to visit so it can easily be combined with Segovia or El Escorial.

Ávila

The Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is the largest Renaissance building in the world, a royal pantheon, museum, and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is commonly combined with Ávila.

Like Toledo, Segovia, Ávila, and El Escorial can all be visited independently using public transportation.

By tour, combine Toledo with Segovia on this highly rated tour.

It is possible to visit all three cities in one busy day but be aware that you will have very limited time in each of them. This full day tour includes Ávila, Toledo, and Segovia.

Spain Travel Guide

See all of our articles about Spain

Days 10, 11 & 12: Barcelona

On this itinerary, you have three days in Barcelona, plus an additional day that can be used to day trip to Montserrat or Girona. This is the perfect way to conclude an unforgettable trip through Spain.

But first, you have to get here.

Traveling from Madrid to Barcelona

Even though Madrid and Barcelona look far away on a map, by train it’s surprisingly quick to get between these two cities…just two and a half hours. Again, you can learn more about this route and book your tickets on Renfe, RailNinja, or Omio.

Take an early morning train, ideally arriving by 11 am, so you have the full afternoon in Barcelona.

Things to Do in Barcelona

Barcelona is a big city with a long to-do list. We cover the full list in our guide Best Things to Do in Barcelona, but here are the must-have experiences in Barcelona.

Visit the Sagrada Familia
Explore the Gothic Quarter
Visit Gaudí’s masterpieces (Casa Batlló, Casa Milà, Park Güell, Palau Güell)
Dine on Tapas
Sip on Cava or vermouth at an outdoor café
Enjoy the view from a rooftop bar
Visit Tibidabo & Sagrat Cor
See the Cathedral of Barcelona

With two and a half days in Barcelona, you will be able to do all of these things and more.

Sagrat Cor on Mt. Tibidabo

How to Plan Your Time in Barcelona

To plan your time in Barcelona, follow our 3 Days in Barcelona itinerary, with some minor modifications. Today, follow Day 3, which is a lighter day where you pick from several sites in the city, since you are getting a late start today. Then, on the next two days, follow Days 1 and 2 of the Barcelona itinerary.

Here is an overview on how to plan your time in Barcelona.

Day 1 in Barcelona

Follow Day 3 of our 3 Day Barcelona Itinerary. Take your pick between visiting the museums on Montjuic Hill, explore the Gothic Quarter (this is one of Barcelona’s most scenic neighborhoods and worth visiting more than once), visit Palau Güell, relax on the beach, or tour or watch a game at Camp Nou (the home stadium of FC Barcelona).

Day 2 in Barcelona

Follow Day 1 of our 3 Day Barcelona Itinerary:

Morning: Visit Gaudí’s best masterpieces, Casa Batlló and Casa Milà. Book these tickets in advance.
Midday: Lunch
Afternoon & Evening: Go for a stroll on Las Ramblas, visit Mercado de la Boqueria, and spend late afternoon and evening exploring the Gothic Quarter.

Casa Batlló

Day 3 in Barcelona

Follow Day 2 of our 3 Day Barcelona Itinerary:

Morning: Start your day at the amazing Sagrada Familia and afterwards, go for a stroll through Park Güell. Again, these tickets must be purchased in advance.
Midday: Lunch
Afternoon: Visit Mt. Tibidabo and the Sagrat Cor for gorgeous views of Barcelona.
Evening: Visit a rooftop bar for drinks and a view of the sunset over Barcelona.

Ceiling of the Sagrada Familia

Where to Stay in Barcelona

For recommendations on where to stay in Barcelona, take a look at our guide Where to Stay in Barcelona.

On this itinerary, you will stay in Barcelona for 4 nights.

Day 13: Day Trip to Montserrat or Girona

Today, take your pick between two day trips from Barcelona. Both of these day trips take a full day, although you will be back in Barcelona in time for dinner, especially since dinner doesn’t typically start until 8 or 9 pm.

How to Day Trip to Montserrat

What is Montserrat: Montserrat is a rocky mountain range that is located northwest of Barcelona. Sitting atop this mountain range is Santa Maria de Montserrat, a monastery that holds the Virgin of Montserrat, one of the few black Madonnas in Europe.

Things to do in Montserrat:

Visit the monastery and abbey
See the Boys Choir
Visit Santa Cova Chapel
Walk up to Sant Miquel’s Cross
Hike to Sant Jeroni
Enjoy the amazing views from the mountain peaks

Riding the cable car, funiculars, and rack railway also add to the experience.

How to Get to Montserrat: By train, it takes about one hour to travel out to Aeri de Montserrat and Monistrol de Montserrat, two tiny towns at the base of the mountain. From these towns, you can ride the cable car or rack railway up to Montserrat. You can also hike up to Montserrat, which takes about an hour and a half. There is something special about arriving at the monastery on your own two feet. Learn how in our detailed Montserrat Hiking Guide ↓

Trail Guide

How to Hike to Montserrat

Step-by-step guide to get to the trailhead and hike to Montserrat.

Plan Your Montserrat Day Trip: We cover how to plan your day in our Montserrat Day Trip guide, which covers transportation options, prices, links to purchase tickets in advance, and recommended tours, if you want to add on visits to wineries or don’t want the hassle of arranging transportation.

Montserrat Day Trip

How to Plan a Montserrat Day Trip from Barcelona

Everything you need to know to plan your Montserrat day trip from Barcelona.

How to Day Trip to Girona

Girona is small city that is located between Barcelona and Costa Brava. It is easy to get to by train and exploring its medieval streets and Jewish Quarter are the main things to do here. Game of Thrones fans will recognize many landmarks in Girona, as it was a filming location.

Things to Do in Girona:

Walk the medieval walls
Explore the Jewish Quarter, which is one of the best preserved in the world
Visit the Girona Cathedral
Walk across Eiffel Bridge
Take the iconic shot of the Onyar River
Tour the Game of Thrones filming sites

How to Get to Girona: By train, it takes about 40 minutes to travel between Barcelona and Girona. Trains run approximately every 45 minutes.

Plan Your Girona Day Trip: We cover what to do in Girona and how to plan your day trip in our Guide to Girona.

Girona

How to Plan a Day Trip to Girona

Things to do in Girona and how to plan your day trip.

Day 14: Fly home

Today, fly home or continue your travels.

Two Weeks in Spain: In the Opposite Direction

If you want to do this itinerary in the opposite direction, either because you found cheaper, more convenient flights or it works better with other travel you have planned, here is an overview:

Day 1: Arrive in Barcelona
Day 2: Barcelona
Day 3: Barcelona
Day 4: Barcelona
Day 5: Day trip from Barcelona (Montserrat or Girona)
Day 6: Morning train to Madrid, afternoon in Madrid
Day 7: Madrid
Day 8: Day trip from Madrid (Toledo, Segovia, and/or Ávila)
Day 9: Morning train to Granada, afternoon in Granada
Day 10: The Alhambra and Granada
Day 11: Morning train to Córdoba, remainder of the day in Córdoba
Day 12: Morning train to Seville, afternoon in Seville
Day 13: Seville
Day 14: Fly home

Another Modification: Starting in Madrid and Ending in Barcelona

Here is one more way to plan a your Spain itinerary. This one has the advantage of flying in and out of two major international airports, Barcelona and Madrid. You can even turn it into a loop, by returning to Madrid by high-speed train from Barcelona.

This is how I was originally going to write up this itinerary, but the downside is the long travel time between Granada and Barcelona. It takes 6 to 7 hours to travel from Granada to Barcelona by train, and for most people, not exactly how you want to spend a chunk of your time in Spain. There is the option to fly instead, but this is not much faster, once you add in travel times to and from the airports and time for airport security, not to mention the carbon footprint of flying.

But if it is cheaper or more direct for you to fly into Madrid and/or Barcelona (versus Seville), this is a good itinerary to consider.

Day 1: Arrive in Madrid
Day 2: Madrid
Day 3: Madrid
Day 4: Madrid day trip (Toledo, Segovia, and/or Ávila)
Day 5: Morning train to Seville, afternoon in Seville
Day 6: Seville
Day 7: Morning train to Córdoba, afternoon in Córdoba
Day 8: Morning train to Granada, afternoon in Granada
Day 9: The Alhambra and Granada
Day 10: Travel to Barcelona (6-to-7-hour train)
Day 11: Barcelona
Day 12: Barcelona
Day 13: Day trip from Barcelona (Montserrat or Girona)
Day 14: Fly home (optional: take a train to Madrid and fly home the evening of day 14 or add a day, flying home on day 15…this turns the itinerary into a loop)

If you have any questions about this itinerary, let us know in the comment section below and we’d be happy to help!

Córdoba

How to Do this Spain Itinerary with Less than 14 Days

It is very difficult to shorten this itinerary. It already moves rather quickly, so to have even less time in one of these cities makes it an overall very rushed experience.

If you have less than two weeks in Spain, I recommend taking out either Madrid or Barcelona. Doing this saves about 4 days, making it a 10-day itinerary.

It is tough to shorten the Andalusia section of the itinerary (Seville, Córdoba, and Granada), since this itinerary already moves so quickly through these cities.

Places to Add on to this Itinerary

If you have more than two weeks in Spain, here are some things you can do with that extra time:

Add more time into one or more cities in this itinerary. Adding more time to Madrid or Barcelona gives you the opportunity to do more day trips or see more of the city.

Add on Ronda. This small town is located in Andalusia. It is famous for its photogenic bridges and gorge. One day in Ronda is all you need to see the main sights. It would be possible to visit Ronda on a day trip from Seville or Córdoba.

Ronda

Add on Tarifa. Tarifa is a coastal Spanish city in Andalusia. From here, you can day trip to Gibraltar and day trip to Tangier, Morocco. To add on Tarifa and these day trips, you will need a total of three days.

The Rock of Gibraltar

Average Trip Costs

Here are some estimated costs per person (all prices are in USD during peak travel times).

Hotel Costs:

Budget Hotel, double room with two people: $50 – $150
Mid-Range Hotel, double room with two people: $150 – $300
Luxury Hotel, double room with two people: $350+

These are the prices for standard double rooms for each hotel class. Many hotels offer suites, rooms with a view, or apartments, and these will be more expensive than the price for a double room.

More Trip Costs

Train Travel: To travel from city to city, train fares range from $25 to $150, depending on the distance traveled and the speed of the train. Regional trains can take twice the length of time to cover the same distance as a high-speed train, and cost half as much, but you will be sacrificing sightseeing time.

Meals: Meals cost $8 to $25 per dish, depending on the restaurant. To save money, stay in a hotel that offers breakfast, put together picnic lunches, and skip the drinks at dinner.

Miscellaneous: Factor in approximately $50 USD per day per person for miscellaneous fees, such as a short taxi ride, souvenirs, etc.

Hotel Reservations

Here is a list of the cities where you will need to make a hotel reservation, plus a link to our hotel guide for each city.

Seville: 3 nights
Córdoba: 1 night
Granada: 2 nights
Madrid: 3 nights
Barcelona: 4 nights

How to Design a Custom Spain Itinerary

The itineraries listed above are great starting points for designing your own custom Spain itinerary. For more tips to help you plan the perfect trip, read this article:

7 Things to Know When Planning Your First Trip to Europe

We also have a 14 day Southern Spain and Portugal Itinerary, that includes the highlights of Andalusia and some beach time in the beautiful Algarve region of Portugal.

You can see all of our articles about Spain in our Spain Travel Guide. For more great itineraries in Europe and around the world, visit our Travel Itineraries page.

If you have any questions about how to plan your Spain itinerary, let us know in the comment section below.

More Information for Your Trip to Spain

Two Week Spain Itinerary Madrid Barcelona