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Spain is the country that taught the world how to live well. Late dinners under string lights, afternoon siestas with no guilt, tapas crawls that turn into five-hour conversations, architecture that makes you stop mid-sentence — Spain does not rush, and after ten days here, neither will you.
This itinerary takes you from Gaudí’s surreal Barcelona to the art-filled streets of Madrid to the flamenco soul of Seville to the Moorish grandeur of Granada’s Alhambra. It is built for comfortable, mid-range travel: well-located 3-star hotels and boutique stays, proper restaurants alongside pintxos bars, and skip-the-line access to Spain’s greatest attractions. Total: under $2,500 USD (excluding international flights).
Check our Europe packing list — essentials for Spanish heat, museums, tapas bars, and beach towns.
📷 Already know your dates? Check our Spain packing guide for a full season-by-season checklist.
Quick Budget Overview: 10 Days in Spain
| Category | Budget (10 days) | Per Day |
|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Accommodation (3-star / boutique) | $800 – $1,600 | $80 – $160 |
| 🍱 Food & drinks | $350 – $600 | $35 – $60 |
| 🚆 Transport (trains + local) | $150 – $280 | ~$15 – $28 |
| 🎫 Museums & attractions | $100 – $180 | $10 – $18 |
| 📱 eSIM & misc | $30 – $50 | ~$3 – $5 |
| Total (excl. international flights) | $1,430 – $2,710 | $143 – $271 |
The sweet spot for this itinerary is $1,800–$2,200. At that level, you are sleeping in charming, central hotels, eating tapas and paella at excellent restaurants, and visiting every major attraction with skip-the-line access. Spain is exceptional value compared to France or Italy.
✈️ Compare flight prices to Spain.
The Route: Barcelona → Madrid → Seville → Granada
| Days | City | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Barcelona | Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Gothic Quarter, La Boqueria, beach |
| 4–6 | Madrid | Prado, Reina Sofía, Retiro Park, tapas crawl, Mercado San Miguel |
| 7–8 | Seville | Alcázar, Cathedral, flamenco, Plaza de España, tapas bars |
| 9–10 | Granada | Alhambra, Albaicín, free tapas culture, Sierra Nevada views |
Day 1: Barcelona — Gaudí & the Gothic Quarter
Est. cost: $140–$220🌅 Morning: Sagrada Familia
Book skip-the-line tickets weeks in advance (€26 / $28, tower access €36 / $39). Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece is unlike any church on earth — forest-like columns, kaleidoscopic stained glass, and an exterior that looks like it was grown rather than built. Go early for the best light through the east-facing windows. Allow 1.5–2 hours.
🍴 Lunch: La Boqueria Market
Walk down to La Rambla and duck into La Boqueria, Barcelona’s most famous food market. Fresh fruit smoothies (€3), jamón ibérico sliced to order (€5–8), seafood cones, and the best tortilla española you have ever had. Eat at the counter bars inside the market — budget €10–20 ($11–$22) for a generous lunch.
🌉 Evening: Gothic Quarter & El Born
Get lost in the Barri Gòtic — Barcelona’s medieval quarter with narrow alleys, hidden plazas, and the stunning Barcelona Cathedral (free to enter before 12:45 PM, €9 otherwise). Cross into El Born for cocktails and pintxos. Try Paradiso (a speakeasy hidden behind a pastrami bar — ring the fridge door to enter) for inventive cocktails (€14–18 / $15–$20).
🎫 Book skip-the-line Sagrada Familia & Park Güell tours on GetYourGuide — avoid the 2-hour queues.
Day 2: Barcelona — Park Güell, Montjuïc & Beach
Est. cost: $100–$170🌅 Morning: Park Güell
Gaudí’s whimsical hilltop park (€10 / $11, timed entry — book ahead). The mosaic salamander, the undulating bench with city views, and the gingerbread-style gatehouses are all here. The free zone outside the monumental area has great views and is worth exploring. Take the Metro to Lesseps and walk up, or book a tour with transport included.
🌊 Afternoon: Barceloneta Beach
Head to Barceloneta for Barcelona’s best city beach. Rent a lounger (€7–10), swim in the Mediterranean, and grab a seafood paella at a beachfront chiringuito. Can Paixano (La Xampanyeria) nearby serves excellent cava and tapas at student prices — €8–15 ($9–$16) for a full spread.
🌉 Evening: Montjuïc & Magic Fountain
Take the cable car (€13 / $14 one way) to Montjuïc hill for panoramic views over the city and port. Visit the Joan Miró Foundation (€15 / $16) if you love modern art. On Thursday to Saturday evenings (spring/summer), the Magic Fountain puts on a free light and music show at 9:30 PM — it is touristy but genuinely spectacular.
Day 3: Barcelona — Hidden Gems & Food Tour
Est. cost: $110–$180🌅 Morning: Casa Batlló & Passeig de Gràcia
Walk Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona’s grandest boulevard, to see two Gaudí masterpieces. Casa Batlló (€35 / $38, immersive experience with augmented reality) is the more dramatic of the two — the rooftop dragon spine alone is worth the ticket. Casa Milà (La Pedrera, €25 / $27) across the street has rooftop warrior chimneys and an excellent Gaudí exhibition.
🍴 Lunch: Gràcia neighbourhood
Walk north into Gràcia, Barcelona’s most local neighbourhood. Tiny plazas, independent shops, and excellent vermouth bars. Try La Pepita for gourmet bocadillos (€8–12 / $9–$13) or Bodega Sepulveda for traditional Catalan dishes. Gràcia feels like a small town inside the city.
🌉 Evening: Tapas crawl in El Poble-sec
El Poble-sec is Barcelona’s best tapas neighbourhood. Walk Carrer de Blai, a pedestrian street lined with pintxos bars where each bite costs €1–2. Quimet & Quimet (standing room only, extraordinary conservas and montaditos) is a Barcelona institution. Budget €15–25 ($16–$27) for an excellent evening of eating and drinking.
📱 Stay connected throughout your trip. Get a Yesim eSIM for Spain — activate before you fly, data ready at landing.
Day 4: Madrid — The Prado & Retiro Park
Est. cost: $150–$230🚆 Morning: AVE to Madrid
Take an early AVE high-speed train from Barcelona Sants to Madrid Puerta de Atocha (2.5 hours, €30–80). Check into your hotel — mid-range options near Sol or Malasaña like Hotel Preciados or Hat Madrid run $80–$140/night. Madrid’s city centre is compact and walkable.
🌅 Late Morning: Museo del Prado
One of the world’s greatest art museums (€15 / $16, free entry 6–8 PM Mon–Sat). Velázquez’s Las Meninas, Goya’s Black Paintings, Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights, and rooms of El Greco, Titian, and Rubens. Allow 2–3 hours minimum. The free evening slot gets crowded — paid morning entry with skip-the-line is worth it.
🍴 Lunch: Mercado de San Miguel
This gorgeous iron-and-glass market near Plaza Mayor serves upscale tapas, oysters, wine, and croquetas. It is touristy but the quality is high. Budget €15–25 ($16–$27). For something more local, Bar La Campana on Plaza Mayor does a classic bocadillo de calamares (squid sandwich, €3.50) — Madrid’s quintessential cheap eat.
🌉 Evening: Retiro Park & rooftop drinks
Madrid’s Central Park equivalent. Row a boat on the lake (€6 / $7 for 45 min), visit the Crystal Palace (free exhibitions), and watch the sunset from the hill near the Fallen Angel statue. Afterwards, head to Círculo de Bellas Artes (€5 entry) for the best rooftop terrace view in Madrid — the entire city skyline and Metropolis building lit up at dusk.
Day 5: Madrid — Royal Palace, Reina Sofía & Tapas Crawl
Est. cost: $120–$190🌅 Morning: Royal Palace & Almudena Cathedral
The Palacio Real (€12 / $13, free for EU citizens 5–7 PM) is the largest royal palace in Western Europe. The Throne Room, the Royal Armoury, and the Pharmacy are highlights. Next door, Almudena Cathedral (free, €1 donation suggested) has a surprisingly modern interior. The palace gardens (Campo del Moro) are free and peaceful.
🍴 Lunch: La Latina tapas district
Madrid’s best tapas neighbourhood. Cava Baja is the main street — lined with tapas bars on both sides. Casa Lucio (famous for huevos rotos — broken eggs over jamón and chips, €14 / $15), Taberna Los Huevos de Lucio, and Juana La Loca (truffle tortilla, outstanding) are all here. On Sundays, El Rastro flea market fills the surrounding streets.
🌃 Afternoon: Reina Sofía & Guernica
The Museo Reina Sofía (€12 / $13, free 7–9 PM Mon & Wed–Sat, free all day Sunday 1:30–7 PM) houses Picasso’s Guernica — one of the most powerful anti-war paintings ever made. The Dalí and Miró collections are also world-class. Allow 1.5–2 hours.
🌉 Evening: Malasaña nightlife
Malasaña is Madrid’s coolest neighbourhood — vintage shops, craft cocktail bars, and live music venues clustered around Plaza del Dos de Mayo. Try Sala Equis (a cinema turned cocktail bar with a retractable roof) or 1862 Dry Bar for classic cocktails (€10–14 / $11–$15). Madrid comes alive after 10 PM — adjust your clock.
Day 6: Madrid — Day Trip to Toledo or Free Day
Est. cost: $100–$170🌅 Option A: Day trip to Toledo
The medieval “City of Three Cultures” is 30 minutes from Madrid by high-speed train (€13 / $14 each way). Toledo was where Christians, Muslims, and Jews coexisted for centuries, and the architecture reflects all three. Visit the Cathedral (€12.50), wander the labyrinthine old town, and see El Greco’s masterpiece in the Church of Santo Tomé (€3). Marzipan from Santo Tomé is the souvenir. Budget €40–60 ($43–$65) for the day including transport, entry, and lunch.
🌅 Option B: Madrid at your pace
Visit the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (€13 / $14) for everything the Prado and Reina Sofía miss — Impressionists, Pop Art, and photography. Explore the Chueca neighbourhood for brunch and boutique shopping. Or simply sit in a plaza with a caña (small beer, €1.50–2) and watch Madrid go by. The Temple of Debod (free) — an authentic Egyptian temple gifted to Spain — is magical at sunset.
🎫 Book Madrid walking tours & Toledo day trips on GetYourGuide — skip-the-line Prado and palace tours.
Day 7: Seville — Alcázar & Cathedral
Est. cost: $150–$230🚆 Morning: AVE to Seville
Take an early AVE from Madrid Puerta de Atocha to Sevilla Santa Justa (2.5 hours, €30–70). Check into your hotel in Santa Cruz or Arenal — Hotel Amadeus or Hotel Rey Alfonso X offer charm and central location for $70–$130/night. Seville is immediately warmer, louder, and more dramatic than Madrid.
🌅 Late Morning: Real Alcázar
Seville’s stunning Moorish palace (€14.50 / $16, book timed-entry online). The Alcázar is a working royal palace — the oldest in Europe still in use — with jaw-dropping geometric tilework, lush gardens, and the unmistakable feeling of stepping into Game of Thrones (several scenes were filmed here). The gardens alone justify the visit. Go early to avoid crowds.
🍴 Lunch: Santa Cruz tapas
The Santa Cruz neighbourhood surrounding the Alcázar is packed with tapas bars. Bodega Santa Cruz (Las Columnas) serves classic Sevillano tapas at standing-room counters — spinach with chickpeas, pringa (slow-cooked meat), and montaditos for €2–4 each. Budget €10–18 ($11–$20) for a generous lunch.
🌉 Evening: Seville Cathedral & Giralda Tower
The largest Gothic cathedral in the world (€12 / $13, free Mon 4:30–6 PM). Climb the Giralda Tower — a former minaret with ramps instead of stairs (designed so the mu’azzin could ride a horse up) — for 360-degree views of Seville. Inside, look for Christopher Columbus’s tomb, carried by four allegorical statues. Allow 1.5 hours.
Day 8: Seville — Flamenco, Plaza de España & River Walk
Est. cost: $120–$200🌅 Morning: Plaza de España & María Luisa Park
This grandiose semicircular plaza was built for the 1929 Expo and is free to visit. Each alcove represents a different Spanish province with hand-painted tile murals. Rent a rowing boat on the canal (€6 / $7 for 35 min) for the classic photo. Then walk through María Luisa Park — Seville’s lush botanical garden with fountains, pavilions, and orange trees.
🍴 Lunch: Triana neighbourhood
Cross the Guadalquivir River to Triana, Seville’s most authentic neighbourhood. The Mercado de Triana (built over a former Inquisition castle) has excellent stalls — try Bar Las Golondrinas for caracoles (snails in cumin broth, a Seville speciality) or fresh fried fish. Budget €10–18 ($11–$20). Triana is also Seville’s historic ceramics quarter — browse the ateliers along Calle Alfarerería.
🌉 Evening: Flamenco show
Seville is flamenco’s birthplace and seeing it here is non-negotiable. Skip the tourist tablao shows and go to a smaller, more intimate venue: Casa de la Memoria (€22 / $24), Casa del Flamenco (€20 / $22), or La Carboneria (free entry, buy drinks). The raw emotion of live flamenco — guitar, voice, dance, and handclaps — in a candlelit courtyard is one of Spain’s most unforgettable experiences.
📱 Stay connected throughout your trip. Get a Yesim eSIM for Spain — activate before you fly, data ready at landing.
Day 9: Granada — The Alhambra
Est. cost: $130–$210🚆 Morning: Bus to Granada
Take an ALSA bus from Seville to Granada (2.5–3 hours, €15–25, departures every 1–2 hours). Alternatively, BlaBlaCar rideshares are common (€10–15). Check into your hotel — Hotel Casa 1800 Granada or Palacio de Santa Inés in the Albaicín offer stunning views for $70–$130/night.
🌅 Afternoon: The Alhambra
Book tickets months in advance — the Alhambra sells out weeks ahead (€14 / $15 general, €19 / $21 with Nasrid Palaces). This is Spain’s most visited monument and arguably the finest Islamic architecture in the Western world. The Nasrid Palaces are the crown jewel — intricate stucco carvings, reflecting pools, and the impossibly beautiful Court of the Lions. The Generalife gardens above offer sweeping views of Granada and the Sierra Nevada. Allow 3–4 hours.
🌉 Evening: Albaicín & free tapas
Granada is the last city in Spain where you still get a free tapa with every drink. Walk the winding lanes of the Albaicín, the old Moorish quarter (UNESCO-listed), to Mirador de San Nicolás for the iconic sunset view of the Alhambra with the Sierra Nevada behind it. Then start your free tapas crawl: order a caña (€2.50) and receive a plate of food — repeat four or five times and you have dinner for €12–15 ($13–$16). Try Bodegas Castañeda, Bar Los Diamantes, and Om Kalsum.
Day 10: Granada — Albaicín, Sacromonte & Departure
Est. cost: $90–$160🌅 Morning: Cathedral & Royal Chapel
Granada’s Renaissance Cathedral (€5 / $5.50) and the adjacent Capilla Real (€5 / $5.50) where Ferdinand and Isabella — the monarchs who unified Spain and funded Columbus — are buried. The Royal Chapel’s Flemish art collection is surprisingly excellent. Afterwards, stroll Calle Caldería Nueva (the Moorish tea street) for mint tea and Arabic pastries in a teterería (€4–6 / $4–$7).
🍴 Lunch: More free tapas
Make the most of Granada’s legendary free tapas tradition. Plaza Nueva and Calle Navas are packed with bars. Each drink comes with an increasingly generous plate of food. A proper farewell lunch of 4–5 drinks with tapas costs €10–15 ($11–$16) — unbeatable value anywhere in Europe.
🌃 Afternoon: Sacromonte caves
If time allows, walk up to Sacromonte, the historic Roma (Romani) quarter built into hillside caves. The Sacromonte Abbey has fantastic views. Some cave houses are now cultural centres and flamenco venues. The Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte (€5 / $5.50) shows how cave dwellings were traditionally furnished.
✈️ Evening: Departure
Granada Federico García Lorca Airport is 20 minutes by taxi (€25–30 / $27–$33) or airport bus (€3). Alternatively, take a bus or train to Málaga (1.5–2 hours) for more international flight options. If flying from Madrid, the AVE from Granada takes 3.5 hours (€40–70).
🎫 Book Alhambra skip-the-line tours & flamenco shows on GetYourGuide — guaranteed Nasrid Palace entry.
Where to Stay: Mid-Range Picks
Thinking about Portugal too? — it is just across the border from southern Spain; many travelers combine both countries.
| City | Neighbourhood | Price Range | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | El Born / Eixample | $90–$160/night | Walk to Gaudí, Gothic Quarter, great food |
| Madrid | Malasaña / Sol | $80–$140/night | Central, walkable, nightlife, Prado access |
| Seville | Santa Cruz / Arenal | $70–$130/night | Walk to Alcázar, Cathedral, tapas bars |
| Granada | Albaicín / Centro | $60–$120/night | Alhambra views, free tapas, Moorish charm |
What to Eat: A Quick Spanish Food Guide
Pack for Spanish beaches — sun protection, beach gear, and swimwear for Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts.
| Dish | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Pintxos (Basque-style tapas) | Barcelona — Carrer de Blai, El Poble-sec | €1–3 each ($1–$3) |
| Paella Valenciana | Barcelona — beachfront chiringuitos | €12–18 ($13–$20) |
| Jamón ibérico | Everywhere — markets and ham bars | €5–15 ($5–$16) |
| Bocadillo de calamares | Madrid — Plaza Mayor area | €3–5 ($3–$5) |
| Huevos rotos | Madrid — Casa Lucio, La Latina | €10–16 ($11–$17) |
| Gazpacho / salmorejo | Seville & Andalusia — everywhere in summer | €4–8 ($4–$9) |
| Free tapas with drinks | Granada — every bar in the city | €2–3 per drink (tapa free) |
Essential Apps for Spain
Get travel insurance for Spain — medical coverage, trip cancellation, and lost baggage protection.
| App | What It Does | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Renfe | Book AVE high-speed trains — mobile tickets | Free |
| Google Maps | Navigation, restaurant reviews, walking directions | Free |
| Google Translate | Camera mode reads Spanish menus and signs | Free |
| GetYourGuide | Skip-the-line tickets for museums and attractions | Free |
| Cabify / FreeNow | Ride-hailing apps popular in Spain (Uber is limited) | Free |
| TheFork | Restaurant reservations with discounts | Free |
📱 Stay connected throughout your trip. Get a Yesim eSIM for Spain — activate before you fly, data ready at landing.
Best Time to Visit Spain
🌸 Spring (Apr–Jun)
The best time for this route. Warm (20–30°C), flowers blooming, Seville’s Feria de Abril, and manageable crowds. May is the sweet spot everywhere. Book Alhambra tickets 4–8 weeks ahead.
☀️ Summer (Jul–Aug)
Scorching in Andalusia — Seville and Granada regularly hit 40°C+. Barcelona and Madrid are hot but manageable (30–35°C). Crowded beaches. August: many locals leave cities for the coast. Not ideal for this route.
🍁 Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Excellent. Warm (18–28°C), thinner crowds, harvest season food, and wine festivals. September is arguably the best month for Andalusia — summer heat is gone but the sun remains. La Mercè festival in Barcelona (late September) is fantastic.
❄️ Winter (Nov–Feb)
Cool in Madrid and Barcelona (8–15°C), mild in Andalusia (12–18°C). Cheapest season with 30–50% hotel discounts. Christmas markets, fewer tourists, and atmospheric cities. Granada can see snow on the Sierra Nevada — gorgeous Alhambra views.
Frequently Asked Questions
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