10 days lets you see real Spain: Madrid (3 nights), Seville (2 nights), Granada (1 night), Barcelona (3 nights). Fast trains connect everything in 2-3 hours.
The TL;DR
Duration: 10 days
Estimated cost: $2,000-3,800 per person excluding flights
Day-by-day plan
Day 1: Arrive Madrid
Land MAD. Take metro to hotel near Sol/Plaza Mayor. Tapas crawl at Mercado de San Miguel + Calle de Cava Baja.
Day 2: Madrid art + Royal Palace
Prado Museum morning (book online), lunch at Casa Lucio (cocido madrileño), Royal Palace afternoon, dinner at Sala de Despiece.
Day 3: Madrid + day trip Toledo
Day trip to Toledo (30 min AVE train) – cathedral, Jewish quarter, marzipan. Evening flamenco show at Corral de la Morería.
Day 4: AVE train Madrid to Seville
2h 30m AVE train. Check in old town. Walk the Cathedral + La Giralda, Alcázar gardens, sunset rooftop drink at La Terraza del EME.
Day 5: Seville
Plaza de España morning, lunch at Eslava (free tapas with drink), Casa de Pilatos, evening flamenco in Triana neighborhood.
Day 6: Seville to Granada
3h train to Granada. Walking the Albaicín old Moorish quarter, sunset at Mirador de San Nicolás (Alhambra view), tapas crawl on Calle Elvira.
Day 7: Alhambra + Granada to Barcelona
Morning Alhambra (book 3+ months ahead, $20 ticket). Afternoon flight or train to Barcelona. Evening Las Ramblas walk.
Day 8: Barcelona Gaudí
Sagrada Familia morning (book skip-the-line), Park Güell afternoon, dinner at Cal Pep or Tickets.
Day 9: Barcelona Gothic + beach
Gothic Quarter walking morning, lunch at El Quim de la Boqueria, afternoon Barceloneta beach, dinner Disfrutar (Michelin).
Day 10: Departure
Picasso Museum if time, lunch at La Cova Fumada, flight home from BCN.
What to book in advance
- Flights: 10-16 weeks ahead via Google Flights + Going alerts
- Hotels: 8-12 weeks ahead for popular destinations
- Major attractions: 4+ weeks ahead for skip-the-line tickets
- Travel insurance: Within 14 days of first deposit (real claims tested)
Travel essentials for Spain
- Travel credit card with no foreign transaction fees
- eSIM data plan
- When to actually visit Spain
- Real cost of 1 week in Spain
- Pre-travel checklist
FAQs
Is 10 days enough for Spain?
10 days covers the essentials without rushing. For deeper exploration, add 3-5 days.
How much does this Spain itinerary cost?
$2,000-3,800 per person excluding flights. See our travel credit card guide to cover up to 50% with sign-up bonus points.
When’s the best time for this itinerary?
Generally shoulder seasons (May-June and September-October). See our best time to visit Spain.
Can I do this Spain trip on a budget?
Yes – the low end of the cost range assumes hostels/guesthouses, local food, and public transit. Mid-range and luxury options are detailed in our cost guide.
What’s the biggest mistake first-time visitors make?
Over-scheduling. Pack 2-3 activities per day max. Build in buffer time for jet lag recovery and spontaneous discoveries.