10 days in Spain: itinerary

The 10-day route runs west along Spain's high-speed spine: Barcelona on the Mediterranean, Madrid in the centre, then Seville in Andalusia with a night in Córdoba between them. Every leg is a direct AVE train, so you never lose a day to a transfer.

Three hotel changes in 10 days is the practical ceiling. Adding Granada means a fourth base and a slower Seville–Granada leg by bus or train, so treat it as a swap, not an addition: drop Madrid to 2 nights or Seville to 2 and give Granada 2.

Do not fold in Mallorca, the Canary Islands or the north coast. Each needs its own flight and 4–7 nights, and squeezing one in turns the trip into an airport tour.

Days 1–3, Barcelona. Land, drop bags and walk the Gothic Quarter and the Boqueria in the evening. Give the Sagrada Família a timed morning slot — book online, the walk-up queue can eat two hours. Use the third day for Montjuïc or one Gaudí house, then eat late; Barcelona dines at 21:30.

Days 4–6, Madrid. Take the morning AVE from Barcelona and you are in Madrid before lunch. The Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen are all on the same boulevard, so pick two. Day 6 is a Toledo day trip: 33 minutes each way by AVE, then a walk uphill to the old town. Madrid's nightlife starts after 23:00.

Days 7–8, Córdoba and Seville. Stop in Córdoba on the way south. The Mosque–Cathedral is the reason to come; the patios are best in spring. Next morning, a short train ride to Seville. Book the Alcázar and the cathedral online, then spend the evening in the Santa Cruz lanes.

Days 9–10, Seville. Triana across the river for ceramics and tapas, a flamenco show at a small tablao, and the Plaza de España at sunset. Fly home from Seville if you can; otherwise the AVE back to Madrid takes about 2 h 30.

Spain's AVE high-speed network does the work here. Barcelona–Madrid is about 2 h 30, Madrid–Córdoba about 1 h 45, Córdoba–Seville about 45 minutes and Madrid–Seville about 2 h 30. Book 2–8 weeks ahead for the cheapest fares; walk-up tickets can cost several times more.

Inside cities, metro singles in Madrid and Barcelona are cheap and taxis are reasonable for short hops. For the Barcelona–Madrid leg, flying is not faster once you add airport time. If you want Granada, the Seville–Granada train is slower and less frequent than the bus, so check both before booking.

Carry a contactless card for city transport and keep train tickets on your phone; Spanish stations scan QR codes at the gate.

In Barcelona, the Eixample puts you near the Gaudí sights and the metro; the Gothic Quarter is prettier but noisier at night. In Madrid, stay around Huertas or Chueca for walkable dinners, or near Atocha if you want an easy train morning.

In Córdoba, one night near the Mosque–Cathedral or in the Judería keeps everything on foot. In Seville, Santa Cruz is the postcard and also the busiest; Triana and the Alameda are quieter and still central.

Book Seville and Granada accommodation early for March–May and September–October, when the city fills with Spanish and international visitors.

A mid-range 10-day trip in Spain costs roughly €110–200 per person per day in 2026, excluding flights: €90–160 for a double room, €25–45 for meals, €10–20 for city transport and €30–120 per intercity train leg. Hostel beds run €25–45 and luxury hotels start around €250.

Trains are the biggest variable. Booking the Barcelona–Madrid and Madrid–Seville AVEs two months out can cut the fare by half or more. Museum entries are €10–20 each; many museums are free in the last hours of the day, so check before you pay.

Add a buffer of about 10% for strikes, delays or a missed connection. Spain's rail and air networks are reliable but not immune to disruption.

Swap Madrid for Granada. Fly into Barcelona, take the AVE to Seville, then bus or train to Granada for 2 nights and home from Granada or Málaga. You trade the Prado for the Alhambra, which suits a second visit or a slower pace.

Swap Barcelona for Valencia. Valencia is 3 hours from Madrid by AVE, cheaper, and gives you paella and the City of Arts and Sciences. It works well if you have already seen Barcelona or want a beach stop without the crowds.

If 10 days feels tight, cut to 7 days and do Madrid plus Andalusia only. If you have more time, stretch to 14 days and add Granada, Toledo and Málaga.