This Spain Itinerary for one week plus weekends gives you 10 amazing days in this spectacular country. The best times to visit Spain depends on your preferences, summer is hot and busy, Spring and Fall are less busy and warm, and winter is also less crowded but can be cold in some areas.
Travel Tips for Spain:
-Siesta time is generally from noon until 2-4pm. During this time, most stores and even some restaurants are closed. Take this time to rest or visit outdoor parks and sights.
-Pickpocketing is common in the big cities, always keep your valuables and passports safe and don’t keep items like wallets/phones in your pockets.
-Knees and shoulders need to be covered for visiting religious sights.
Day 1-2 Barcelona
Land in Barcelona and after you settle into the hotel be sure not to miss any of these amazing sights: Sagrada Familia (the most popular sight in Barcelona), Hop-on Hop-off bus, Park Guell (a park filled with beautiful Gaudi structures), Mercat de la Boqueria (large market), Casa Batilo. The easiest way to see all of this is by joining a group tour.
If you need more ideas of things to do in Barcelona you can also check out the Aquarium, Picasso Museum, Barcelona History Museum, and the wide walking and shopping street called “La Rambla”.
Don’t forget to stop and try Fideua (a Catalan take on Paella) and Crema Catalana (a creamy dessert similar to creme brulee).
Day 3 Valencia
Valencia is a beautiful city on the eastern coast of Spain, known for its historic landmarks, modern architecture, and delicious food and wine. Here are some of the things you should see when visiting Valencia: Science Museum and Aquarium (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias), Valencia Cathedral, Valencia Central Market, Mercado de Colón (another great market), La Lonja de la Seda (a beautiful Gothic-style silk exchange building that dates back to the 15th century), Turia Gardens, Albufera Natural Park, Bioparc Valencia (a unique zoo), and Malvarrosa Beach for some sun and swimming.
Day 4-5 Granada
Granada is a beautiful city in the southern region of Andalusia, Spain, known for its stunning architecture, plentiful history, and delicious tapas.
There is so much to see and do in and around Granada, it is definitely worth taking some organized tours to save you time and hassle.
The sights you should definitely check out in Granada include: The Alhambra (a Moorish palace and the most visited site in Granada), Generalife (stunning gardens and complex with city and mountain views), Albaicin (hillside neighborhood with shopping and restaurants), Tapas bars (free food with every drink you order), Flamenco shows (traditional dance performance).
A short distance outside of Granada offers many more things to see including: Sierra Nevada mountains (spectacular mountains with skiing, hiking, biking and more), Guadix (a town with cave and underground houses as well as a cave museum), Las Alpujarras (white villages with traditional shops and restaurants), Ronda (a stunning and very popular village with a famous stone bridge), Ubeda (small town in Andalusia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its beautiful Renaissance architecture), and Seville (spetacular historic architecture some of which was part of Game of Thrones filming).
If you an extra day, you can definitely take a day trip to Tangier, Morrocco from Granada (about a 6 hour drive).
Day 6-7 Toledo and Madrid
Toledo is a stunning medieval city near Madrid known for its historic landmarks, narrow streets, and rich cultural heritage. It’s also famous for its traditional marzipan.
In Toledo, you can visit the Alcazar of Toledo (a stunning fortress with great views), Toledo Cathedral (magnificent Gothic cathedral), Santo Tome Church, El Greco Museum (museum dedicated to this famous painter), Puente de San MartÃn (beautiful bridge), Puente de San MartÃn and Synagogue of El Tránsito (beautiful sunagogues), and Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes.
Don’t forget to visit the Plaza de Zocodover, a beautiful square with shops and restaurants, and the ancient Toledo City Walls.
In Madrid, you can take one of many great tours to take in sights such as the Prado Museum, the Royal Palace of Madrid, Retiro Park, the Plaza Mayor, and Mercado de San Miguel (market). You can also catch a soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Day 8 Segovia
Segovia is a historic city located in central Spain, known for its stunning Roman aqueduct, medieval castle, and Gothic cathedral.
While you are here, be sure not to miss seeing the Roman aqueduct, Alcázar of Segovia (medieval castle), Segovia Cathedral, Jewish Quarter, Casa-Museo de Antonio Machado (famous poet’s museum), the ancient Segovia City Walls, and Casa de los Picos (building with stunning architecture and unique facade made of granite stones in the shape of diamonds).
Day 9-10 Bilbao
Make your way to Bilbao area for 1-2 days, if you want you can fly home from here or head back to Barcelona or Madrid on day 10.
Bilbao is a vibrant city in the Basque Country of Spain, very close to France so you could even take a quick day trip over to Biarritz or Bayonne France!
In Bilbao, you can see so many things such as the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Casco Viejo (old town), Puente Colgante (stunning bridge), San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (small island located off the coast of Bilbao, known for its stunning natural beauty), Basque Museum, Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, Monte Artxanda (hill known for its stunning views of the city), Mercado de la Ribera (market).
Don’t forget to take a Rioja wine tour as the wines in this area are fantastic.
