7 days in Spain: an itinerary by city
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 11 of 27 free; 16 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 7 days, 9:30 to 17:50 each day
- Start and finish
- Sagrada Família → Italica
- On foot
- ≈ 1 h 56 min in total
- Transport
- 5 rides, ≈ 2 h; 2 transfers between cities
- Lunch
- around 13:05
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- April–June and September–October. Madrid and Seville are very hot in summer, so sightsee early and late.
Cities in order
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Barcelona09:30–17:15 · 4 places · 7 h 50 min
Sagrada Família
· 2 h · Paid
- 20 min · transport or taxi
Casa Batlló
· 1 h 15 min · Paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 19 min · transport or taxi
La Rambla
· 1 h · Free
- 6 min on foot
Gothic Quarter
· 1 h 45 min · Free
Day 2 · Barcelona09:30–17:36 · 4 places · 8 h 10 min
Park Güell
· 1 h 45 min · Paid
- 22 min · transport or taxi
Casa Milà
· 1 h 15 min · Paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 23 min · transport or taxi
Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
· 45 min · Free
- 6 min on foot
National Art Museum of Catalonia
· 2 h 30 min · Paid
Day 3 · Barcelona09:30–17:07 · 4 places · 7 h 40 min
Parc de la Ciutadella
· 1 h 15 min · Free
- 11 min on foot
Picasso Museum
· 1 h 45 min · Paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 3 min on foot
Santa Maria del Mar
· 40 min · Free in the morning
- 13 min on foot
Barceloneta
· 2 h 30 min · Free
Day 4 · Madrid09:30–15:19 · 5 places · 5 h 50 min
Morning transfer: AVE, Ouigo or Iryo high-speed train · ≈ 2 h 30 min
Puerta del Sol
· 25 min · Free
- 6 min on foot
Plaza Mayor
· 40 min · Free
- 10 min on foot
Almudena Cathedral
· 45 min · Free
- 5 min on foot
Royal Palace of Madrid
· 1 h 45 min · Paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 13 min on foot
Temple of Debod
· 40 min · Free
Day 5 · Madrid09:30–17:03 · 3 places · 7 h 30 min
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
· 2 h · Paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 6 min on foot
Prado Museum
· 2 h 30 min · Paid
- 12 min on foot
Retiro Park
· 1 h 45 min · Free
Day 6 · Seville09:30–17:50 · 5 places · 8 h 20 min
Morning transfer: AVE, Ouigo or Iryo high-speed train · ≈ 2 h 30 min
Plaza de España
· 1 h 15 min · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 16 min on foot
Alcázar of Seville
· 2 h 30 min · Paid
- 3 min on foot
Archive of the Indies
· 45 min · Free
- 3 min on foot
Giralda
· 40 min · With cathedral ticket
- 3 min on foot
Seville Cathedral
· 1 h 45 min · Paid
Day 7 · Seville09:30–14:36 · 2 places · 5 h 10 min
Metropol Parasol
· 1 h · Paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 36 min · transport or taxi
Italica
· 2 h 30 min · Paid; free for EU citizens
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
11 of 27 are free; 16 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Sagrada Família | 69 | 2 h | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Casa Batlló | 55 | 1 h 15 min | Paid |
| 5 | Park Güell | 50 | 1 h 45 min | Paid |
| 6 | Casa Milà | 37 | 1 h 15 min | Paid |
| 8 | National Art Museum of Catalonia | 34 | 2 h 30 min | Paid |
| 10 | Picasso Museum | 36 | 1 h 45 min | Paid |
| 11 | Santa Maria del Mar | 39 | 40 min | Free in the morning |
| 16 | Royal Palace of Madrid | 53 | 1 h 45 min | Paid |
| 18 | Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum | 43 | 2 h | Paid |
| 19 | Prado Museum | 52 | 2 h 30 min | Paid |
| 22 | Alcázar of Seville | 50 | 2 h 30 min | Paid |
| 23 | Archive of the Indies | 44 | 45 min | Free |
| 24 | Giralda | 45 | 40 min | With cathedral ticket |
| 25 | Seville Cathedral | 53 | 1 h 45 min | Paid |
| 26 | Metropol Parasol | 44 | 1 h | Paid |
| 27 | Italica | 31 | 2 h 30 min | Paid; free for EU citizens |
| Other 11 places | 13 h | Free | ||
| Total | 39 h 20 min | 11 of 27 free |
Who this route is for
- A first trip to Spain
- Independent, by train
- Architecture, museums and southern flair in a week
- Granada and the Alhambra need 1–2 more days
- Beach-only trips: try the Costa del Sol or Mallorca
April–June and September–October. Madrid and Seville are very hot in summer, so sightsee early and late.
How the week works
The route runs from the north-east to the south: Barcelona — Madrid — Seville. Each day is a YesGo city itinerary: three days in Barcelona, two each in Madrid and Seville.
Fly into Barcelona and out of Seville so you never double back. High-speed trains between the cities are fast and comfortable, so you don't need a car; city-centre parking is expensive and the metro and your feet are quicker.
The cities on the route
Barcelona is the city of Gaudí and the sea: the Sagrada Família, the houses on Passeig de Gràcia, medieval lanes and beaches. Madrid is the capital of great museums: the Prado with Velázquez and Goya, the Royal Palace and green Retiro. Seville is the heart of Andalusia: the world's largest Gothic cathedral, the Moorish Alcázar and its gardens, and flamenco.
Getting around independently
Barcelona to Madrid: about 2 h 30 min by high-speed train; Madrid to Seville: also about 2 h 30 min. AVE, Ouigo and Iryo fares are much cheaper booked a few weeks ahead. Barcelona and Madrid have handy metros, and Seville is best on foot and by tram.
Where to stay
Three nights in Barcelona, in the Eixample or Gothic Quarter, close to Gaudí and the old town. Two nights in Madrid, by Puerta del Sol or Atocha station for trains south. Two nights in Seville, in the Santa Cruz quarter by the cathedral or near the Guadalquivir river.
Spain itinerary for 5 or 10 days
Five days: Barcelona 2, Madrid 1 and Seville 2, or just Barcelona and Madrid. Ten days: add Granada and the Alhambra after Seville, a trip to Toledo from Madrid and Valencia between Barcelona and Madrid. For the sea, add Málaga and the Costa del Sol, or Mallorca, an hour's flight from Barcelona.
How to do it right
- Book the Sagrada Família, the Alhambra and the Alcázar ahead.
- AVE, Ouigo and Iryo fares are cheaper a few weeks out.
- In summer in the south, sightsee early and late, museums at midday.
- Churches require covered shoulders and knees and no beachwear; walking around town in swimwear is not allowed.
- Spain uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. Book the Sagrada Família, Park Güell and the Gaudí houses ahead on their official sites, which list entry times and closing days.
Questions
What is a good 7-day Spain itinerary?
Barcelona for 3 days, Madrid for 2 and Seville for 2.
Can you travel around Spain independently?
Yes: high-speed trains link the main cities, and the centres are easy on foot.
How long from Barcelona to Madrid by train?
About 2 h 30 min by high-speed train.
How long from Madrid to Seville by train?
About 2 h 30 min by high-speed train.
Do I need a car in Spain?
Not for this route: trains are faster and city-centre parking is expensive.
What can I see in Spain in 5 days?
Barcelona and Madrid, or Barcelona and Seville with a flight.
When is the best time to visit Spain?
Spring and autumn: April–June and September–October.
Is it good with kids?
Yes; Barcelona and Madrid each have their own with-kids itinerary.
What should I wear in churches?
Churches require covered shoulders and knees and no beachwear; walking around town in swimwear is not allowed.
How do I pay in Spain?
Spain uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. Book the Sagrada Família, Park Güell and the Gaudí houses ahead on their official sites, which list entry times and closing days.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Spain's official tourism portal, spain.info
- Renfe, Ouigo and Iryo: high-speed trains
