Step 1: Pick 2 or 3 Bases Connected by 300 km/h Rail
With 7 to 10 days, resist trying to drive around the entire Iberian Peninsula. Pair 3–4 nights in Barcelona with 3 nights in Madrid (2h 30m via Renfe AVE, Avlo, Iryo, or Ouigo) and 3–4 nights in Andalusia (Seville and Granada, stopping for 4 hours at Córdoba's Mezquita along the way).
Step 2: Book the Alhambra (60–90 Days Out) & Sagrada Família (30 Days Out)
Before booking non-refundable hotels in Granada, lock in your nominative Alhambra & Nasrid Palaces slot (€19.09 on tickets.alhambra-patronato.es). Next, reserve morning timed entries for Barcelona's Sagrada Família (€26–€36), Park Güell (€10), and Seville's Real Alcázar (€15.50).
Step 3: Book Early-Bird AVE / Iryo / Ouigo Trains & Shift to Spanish Meal Hours
High-speed rail tickets open 60–120 days ahead starting at €9–€25 per leg. Once in Spain, embrace the local rhythm: eat a 3-course weekday Menú del Día (€14–€22) at 2:00 PM and graze on tapas after 8:30 PM.
Key Takeaways
- Fly open-jaw into Barcelona (BCN) and out of Madrid (MAD) or Málaga (AGP) to save an entire travel day.
- Carry your original physical passport to both the Alhambra and high-speed rail stations.
- Use our interactive Spain Itinerary Builder (/tools/itinerary-builder/) to generate a custom day-by-day route.
Official sources & further reading
Rules, prices and schedules change. Confirm details here before you travel: