Spain Itinerary: 7, 10 and 14 Days by Train
Seven days: Madrid, Seville and Granada, with two direct trains of under three hours each. Ten days: start in Barcelona, then Madrid, Seville and Granada. Fourteen days: add Valencia on the way, or swap the south for San Sebastián and Bilbao. Every leg is a direct train except Bilbao–San Sebastián, a 70-minute bus.
On this page
Every train time below comes from Renfe’s published timetable data for Wednesday 21 October 2026, downloaded 14 October 2026. Timetables change, so check before you book. Full details in getting around Spain.
7 days: Madrid, Seville and Granada
| Days | Base | Getting there |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Madrid | Fly into Madrid |
| 4–5 | Seville | Atocha → Santa Justa, 2 h 38 to 3 h 09 |
| 6–7 | Granada | Santa Justa → Granada, 2 h 37 to 2 h 45 (4 Avant trains a day) |
Day 1–3, Madrid. The Prado and the Paseo del Prado, the Royal Palace, the Retiro. Book the Prado and the Royal Palace ahead if you can.
Day 4–5, Seville. Take a morning AVE from Atocha. Book the Real Alcázar before you go: tickets are sold on its official site (general entry €15.50, checked 14 October 2026). Add the cathedral and an evening in Triana.
Day 6–7, Granada. Take the direct Avant train (07:40, 09:55, 12:17 or 19:15 from Santa Justa on our sample day). Book the Alhambra weeks ahead: the ticket gives you a fixed half-hour slot for the Nasrid Palaces (Alhambra FAQ). Spend the second day in the Albaicín.
Getting home. Direct trains run from Granada to Madrid Atocha (3 h 27 to 3 h 48, four on our sample day), or fly from Granada or Málaga. Granada to Málaga is about 1 h 30 by Avant train.
10 days: Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Granada
| Days | Base | Getting there |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Barcelona | Fly into Barcelona |
| 4–6 | Madrid | Sants → Atocha, 3 h 02 to 3 h 50 |
| 7–8 | Seville | Atocha → Santa Justa, 2 h 38 to 3 h 09 |
| 9–10 | Granada | Santa Justa → Granada, 2 h 37 to 2 h 45 |
This is the 7-day plan with Barcelona in front.
Day 1–3, Barcelona. The Sagrada Família (book on the official site: from €26, checked 14 October 2026), Gaudí’s other buildings, the Gothic Quarter and the beach.
Day 4–6, Madrid. The Madrid–Barcelona line is the busiest: Renfe ran 25 direct trains on our sample day, and Iryo and Ouigo add more.
Day 7–10. As in the 7-day plan: Seville, then Granada. Fly home from Granada or Málaga, or take the train back to Madrid.
Short on time? Drop Granada and do Barcelona (3), Madrid (3), Seville (3), then fly home from Seville.
14 days: two ways
Option A: add Valencia and Málaga
| Days | Base | Getting there |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Barcelona | Fly in |
| 4–5 | Valencia | Sants → Estació del Nord, 2 h 47 to 3 h 26 (Euromed) |
| 6–8 | Madrid | Joaquín Sorolla → Chamartín, 1 h 56 to 2 h 10 |
| 9–10 | Seville | Atocha → Santa Justa, 2 h 38 to 3 h 09 |
| 11–12 | Granada | Santa Justa → Granada, 2 h 37 to 2 h 45 |
| 13–14 | Málaga | Granada → María Zambrano, about 1 h 30 (Avant, 3 a day) |
Fly home from Málaga. Note the two Valencia stations: trains from Barcelona arrive at Estació del Nord, while most trains to Madrid leave from Joaquín Sorolla.
Option B: the south and the Basque Country
| Days | Base | Getting there |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Madrid | Fly in |
| 4–5 | Seville | Atocha → Santa Justa, 2 h 38 to 3 h 09 |
| 6–7 | Granada | Santa Justa → Granada, 2 h 37 to 2 h 45 |
| 8 | Back to Madrid | Granada → Atocha, 3 h 27 to 3 h 48 |
| 9–11 | San Sebastián | Chamartín → San Sebastián-Donostia, 5 h 25 to 5 h 37 (3 a day) |
| 12–14 | Bilbao | ALSA bus, 1 h 10 to 1 h 30 (12 a day) |
Fly home from Bilbao. Day 8 is a travel day; spend the evening in Madrid. If you’d rather save the time, fly from Seville or Málaga to Bilbao and do the Basque Country in reverse. We haven’t checked those flight schedules, so look them up first.
Which plan fits you
| You are… | Do this |
|---|---|
| On your first trip, one week | 7 days: Madrid, Seville, Granada |
| Flying into Barcelona | 10 days, ending in Granada or Málaga |
| Travelling in July or August | Option B, or spend more time in the north: Bilbao averages 25.4°C in July against 36.3°C in Seville (best time to visit) |
| Here for food | Option B, for San Sebastián’s pintxo bars |
| Coming at Easter | Book Seville first: Holy Week 2027 runs 21–28 March |
For where to sleep in each city, see where to stay. For tickets and tours, see Spain tours and tickets.
Madrid tours and tickets
Madrid: Prado Museum Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket
Skip-the-line Prado ticket and a 90-minute tour with a professional guide, in English or Spanish.
From €45on GetYourGuide →
Madrid: Royal Palace Expert Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line
Entry to the Royal Palace and its gardens, a professional guide and headphones; the walk in goes through Plaza de Oriente.
From €37on GetYourGuide →
Madrid: Royal Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
Guided walk from Calle Mayor past Plaza Mayor, San Miguel market and Plaza de la Villa, then a skip-the-line tour of the Royal Palace with headsets.
From €39on GetYourGuide →
Madrid: Tapas & Wine Tasting Tour with Local Guide
Four century-old bars in the Literary Quarter, 12 traditional tapas and one drink per bar, with a bilingual local guide.
From €85on GetYourGuide →
Madrid: Segovia and Toledo Tour, Alcazar, and Cathedral
Air-conditioned coach to Segovia and Toledo with entry to the Alcázar of Segovia and, if the option is selected, a guided visit to Toledo Cathedral.
From €41on GetYourGuide →
Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 14 October 2026; they change, so check the live page. We earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. How this works.
Seville tours and tickets
Seville: Alcázar, Cathedral & Giralda Skip-the-Line Tour
Guided tour of the Royal Alcázar, the Cathedral and the Giralda with skip-the-line entry tickets for all three, a licensed English-speaking guide and audio headsets.
From €53on GetYourGuide →
Seville: VIP Exclusive Early Access Tour of The Alcazar
Early-access guided visit to the Real Alcázar with pre-reserved tickets, covering the Palace of King Peter I, the Hall of the Ambassadors and the Patio de las Doncellas.
From €71on GetYourGuide →
Seville: Tapas Crawl with 10 Tapas Servings & 4 Drinks
English-speaking guide, 10 tapas servings, a dessert and 4 drinks across several bars.
From €69on GetYourGuide →
Seville: City Highlights Walking Tour for Up to 10 Guests
Small-group (max 10) walk with a licensed English-speaking guide past the outside of the Cathedral, the Alcázar, the University and Plaza de España; entry to sites not included.
From €20on GetYourGuide →
From Seville: Córdoba and Mosque Cathedral Full-Day Tour
Return transport by air-conditioned bus or minivan, a guide, Mosque-Cathedral entry if that option is chosen, and free time in Córdoba.
From €79on GetYourGuide →
Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 14 October 2026; they change, so check the live page. We earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. How this works.
Granada tours and tickets
Granada: Alhambra & Nasrid Palaces Tour with Tickets
Guided tour with tickets for the Nasrid Palaces, the Generalife gardens and the Alcazaba; bring a passport or ID card.
From €49on GetYourGuide →
Granada: Alhambra, Nasrid Palaces & Gardens guided Tour
English-speaking guide with entry tickets to the Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces, plus the Palace of Charles V and the Generalife gardens.
From €36on GetYourGuide →
Granada: Walking Food Tour with a Full Meal
English-speaking food guide with enough food and drinks for a full lunch or dinner.
From €71on GetYourGuide →
Granada: Albaicín and Sacromonte Guided Sunset Walking Tour
Guided late-afternoon walk through the Albaicín and Sacromonte, including the San Nicolás viewpoint over the Alhambra.
From €15on GetYourGuide →
Granada: Los Amayas Flamenco Show in a Sacromonte Cave
Zambra flamenco show without a stage or PA system in a Sacromonte cave for up to 60 people.
From €25on GetYourGuide →
From Granada: Alpujarra Mountain Villages Tour
Day trip with a local guide to Alpujarra villages such as Lanjarón, Pampaneira, Capileira and Trevélez; lunch and a drink if that option is chosen.
From €71on GetYourGuide →
Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 14 October 2026; they change, so check the live page. We earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. How this works.
Frequently asked questions
Is 10 days enough for Spain?
Enough for four cities without rushing: Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Granada, with two or three nights in each. Each leg is a direct train of about 2 h 35 to 3 h 50 (Renfe timetable, 21 October 2026). You won't see the north or the coast as well; save those for a second trip or the 14-day plan.
Should I fly into Madrid or Barcelona?
Either works, and an open-jaw ticket (into one, out of the other) saves backtracking. For the 10-day plan, fly into Barcelona and out of Madrid; Granada to Madrid Atocha is 3 h 27 to 3 h 48 by direct train, with four trains on our sample day.
How many days do you need in Spain for a first trip?
Seven days covers three cities well, for example Madrid, Seville and Granada. Ten days lets you add Barcelona. With 14 days you can add Valencia or the Basque Country.
Can you see Spain without a car?
Yes. Every plan on this page uses direct trains, plus one bus between Bilbao and San Sebastián (ALSA, 12 a day, 1 h 10 to 1 h 30). Train times are on our getting around Spain page.