Spain was the first ever country I traveled solo and I loved every bit of it. I highly encourage you to visit more of Spain other than the beaches as it offers so much more! This one-week itinerary in Spain focusses more on art, architecture, and of course, food!
Table of Contents
Barcelona, Spain: 2 Days
If you are flying into Spain, chances are you will end up landing in Barcelona. While Barcelona was not my favorite city in Spain, it is a cultural hub full of incredible architecture (hello, GaudÃ!), food, and flamenco dancing. In my personal opinion, two days is enough to experience my personal favorite parts of Barcelona.
Suggested Activities in Barcelona
- Visit the Picasso art museum – one of my favorite places in Barcelona!
- Attend a flamenco dance – I suggest finding one in the Gothic Quarter
- Bar hop – Barcelona is a hub for fun bars and clubs. I loved the shots bar Espit Chupitos
- Visit Park Guell, La Sagrada Familia, and the massive outdoor market: El Mercado de la Boqueria
Girona, Spain: 1 Day
Girona is a quick (40 minute) train ride away from Barcelona; perfect for a day trip. Game of Thrones fans will recognize the Girona Cathedral as the sight of the “shaming” scene and where Jaime Lannister rode his horse up the cathedral steps. Girona is full of other historic architecture and some delicious food to enjoy, but they embrace the Game of Thrones fans who come to visit as well.
Madrid, Spain: 2 Days
Madrid is the capital city of Spain and home to the notable “Golden Triangle of Art”: three distinguished art museums forming a triangle around the city. Although you can spend an entire day at each of these museums, I personally picked two of the three to visit in a day. Madrid is also home to some of the best food in Spain and an Egyptian temple.
Suggested Activities in Madrid
- Visit any of the three major art museums: Prado Museum, Reina SofÃa National Art Center, and Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum
- Have some drinking chocolate and churros at San Gines Chocolateria
- Visit the Temple of Debod – a famous ancient Egyptian temple
Seville, Spain: 2 Days
Seville is my favorite city of those I have visited in Spain. Located in the southern region of the country, the weather is warmer and everything feels more relaxed. Seville also has some of the best tapas in the country and some of my favorite architecture. Real Alcázar de Sevilla is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most stunning destinations I have ever seen. It, like Girona, was also the filming site for Game of Thrones: the city of Dorne.
Suggested Activities in Seville
- Take a tour of Real Alcázar de Sevilla – I suggest signing up for a private or small group tour ahead of time. It can be more expensive, but you will learn a lot and skip the entry line
- Visit the Seville Cathedral – a stunning piece of architecture at the center of the city
- Go crazy for tapas! Seville has over 3,000 tapas restaurants that are arguably the best in the country
Tips for Traveling in Spain
Spain’s high-speed train is often the best way to get from city to city. Although these cities are fairly far apart, the train gets you there almost as quickly as a plane but is often cheaper and definitely better for the environment. Barcelona to Madrid will take about 3.5 hours, and Madrid to Seville will take about 2 hours. The trains are way more comfortable than planes and a great place to get some work done!
Spain utilizes a mid-afternoon siesta that is often a shock for Americans coming to visit. Between the hours of 2 and 4pm most local businesses and restaurants close to give their workers a break. This is a great time to go on that city walk to admire the local architecture! In addition, dinner hours are much later than we are used to outside of Europe. Dinner hours at most restaurants will start at 9pm at the earliest. Tapas bars may open earlier to offer snacks before full meals.
Finally, I highly encourage you to take a free city walking tour at each of these destinations! Most hostels will offer free walking tours with the expectation of a small tip for the tour guide. Some hostels will even let you sign up if you are not a guest! Just double check with the staff before adding your name to the list.
Happy traveling!
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