Spain’s high speed trains make a 7 day Spain itinerary far more ambitious than the map suggests. Barcelona to Madrid takes about two and a half hours, and Madrid to Seville about the same, so you can see three genuinely different cities in a week without a single early flight.
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Quick facts before you book
Best time to go: April to early June, or September to October. Seville and Madrid are punishing in July and August, when inland temperatures regularly pass forty degrees and locals leave for the coast.
Daily budget: around 115 US dollars a day for a comfortable mid range trip, or roughly 70 US dollars a day in hostels and eating on set lunch menus.
Visa: Spain is in the Schengen Area. Many nationalities enter visa free for short stays, others need a Schengen visa in advance. Check yours in the GlobeDude Explorer.
The route at a glance
Barcelona for three nights, Madrid for two, Seville for two. All connected by high speed rail, flying home from Seville so you never retrace your steps.
Day by day
Day 1: Arrive in Barcelona
Base yourself in the Eixample or Gothic Quarter. Wander the narrow lanes around the cathedral, then walk down to the waterfront at Barceloneta. Late dinner, because nobody here eats before nine, and the tapas bars only get going after that.
Day 2: Gaudi day
Sagrada Familia first thing with a pre booked timed ticket, ideally in morning light through the eastern windows. Then Park Guell for the mosaics and the view over the city. Afternoon at Casa Batllo or La Pedrera, evening in Gracia where the neighbourhood squares fill with locals.
Day 3: Markets, museums and the beach
La Boqueria market for breakfast, the Picasso Museum or MACBA depending on your taste, and the Born district for its boutiques and wine bars. Afternoon swim if the weather allows, or take the cable car up Montjuic for the panorama.
Day 4: Train to Madrid
Morning AVE to Madrid. Drop bags and head straight to the Prado, one of the great museums of the world, then walk through Retiro Park as the light drops. Evening tapas crawl around La Latina, moving bar to bar rather than settling in one.
Day 5: Madrid or Toledo
Either go deeper into Madrid with the Reina Sofia for Guernica and the Royal Palace, or take the thirty minute train to Toledo, a walled hilltop city of cathedrals, synagogues and mosques stacked on top of each other. Toledo is the better day if you want a change of scale.
Day 6: Train to Seville
South to Andalusia. The Plaza de Espana is worth the walk, the old Jewish quarter of Santa Cruz is worth getting lost in, and a flamenco show in a small venue rather than a big theatre is worth the ticket. The heat here changes the rhythm of the day.
Day 7: Alcazar and fly out
Book the Real Alcazar early, because it is the highlight and it sells out. The Moorish tilework and gardens are extraordinary. Climb the Giralda tower if you have energy, then head to the airport.
What this week actually costs
Per person for a mid range trip. Pick your home country above and the flight row updates with live return fares from your nearest hub:
| Expense | Per person |
|---|---|
| Accommodation, six nights | 480 US dollars |
| Food and drink | 265 US dollars |
| Trains and transport | 195 US dollars |
| Entries and shows | 125 US dollars |
| Est. flights from your country | Pick your country above |
| Total for the week, with flights | 1,065 US dollars |
See how that sits against your income in the Salary Goes Furthest tool.
Where to stay
Barcelona’s Eixample is well connected and calmer than the Gothic Quarter at night. In Madrid, stay between Sol and Retiro. In Seville, Santa Cruz puts everything on your doorstep. Find hotels in Spain.
Getting around
Book AVE tickets well ahead, where the difference between an advance fare and a walk up fare is substantial. Within cities the metro is fast and cheap. You do not need a car anywhere on this route.
Book ahead
Sagrada Familia, the Real Alcazar and the Alhambra if you add Granada all require timed tickets, often weeks in advance in high season. Browse tours and skip the line tickets in Spain on GetYourGuide.
Stay connected
Train tickets, museum entries and maps all live on your phone here.
Pay at the real rate: always choose to be charged in euros when a card machine offers your home currency, and use a Wise account to avoid the markup.
Cover the trip: SafetyWing is a low cost monthly plan built for travelers.
Find the fare: Compare flights to Spain, flying into Barcelona and out of Seville.
Frequently asked questions
Is 7 days enough for Spain?
Seven days comfortably covers three cities linked by high speed rail, such as Barcelona, Madrid and Seville. It is not enough to add the north coast, Granada and the islands without the week becoming a blur of stations.
How much does a week in Spain cost?
Around 1,065 US dollars per person for a mid range week excluding international flights, covering hotels, food, high speed trains and entry tickets. A budget version using hostels and set lunches runs closer to 650.
What is the best month to visit Spain?
April to June and September to October give warm weather without the extreme inland heat. July and August are very hot in Madrid and Seville, though the northern coast stays comfortable.
Barcelona or Madrid, which is better?
Barcelona has the architecture, the beach and Gaudi, while Madrid has the better art museums, the livelier tapas culture and easier access to Toledo and Segovia. On a week long trip the train makes choosing unnecessary.
Do I need to book Spanish attractions in advance?
Yes for Sagrada Familia, the Real Alcazar in Seville and the Alhambra in Granada, all of which use timed entry and sell out. Most other museums can be booked a day or two ahead.
Is Spain expensive compared to Portugal?
Spain costs noticeably more than Portugal for accommodation and eating out, though it remains cheaper than France or Italy. The set lunch menu is the best value meal in the country.
This itinerary is AI assisted and reviewed before publishing. Costs, opening hours and transport schedules change, so confirm current details before you book. Some links above are affiliate links that support GlobeDude at no extra cost to you.
