7 Days in Spain | 5 Incredible Itinerary Ideas

7 days in Spain is completely doable if you have the right plan in place. Discover 5 Spain itinerary ideas that make logistical sense and combine some of the most popular and beautiful cities.

Sometimes the hardest part in planning your trip is deciding which cities to combine in your itinerary. Stringing together destinations that not only make logistical sense but are also stellar places to visit...it's not easy!

Researching trains and planes between destinations, cost of travel, and which places should earn a spot on your itinerary can eat up a lot of planning time and quickly become overwhelming. Especially if you haven't been to that area before.

I get it and am here to help! Spain is one of my most visited (and favorite) countries in the world. I've been lucky enough to explore all the top places and play around with combining different cities on different trips. 

These 5 Spain itinerary ideas are what I would recommend for 7 days in Spain. I've done all the logistical research and break down how many days to spend in each city. So all you have to do is pick your favorite itinerary and move on to planning the fun stuff!

Before we begin...

These Spain itineraries will typically be 7 days in length (9 days including travel time). If you have more than 7 days in Spain, I would add extra days to the cities already listed instead of trying to squeeze in another destination. There's only one itinerary where I give an option to add another city since it's easily connected via train.

At the end of each itinerary you'll find recommendations on where to add extra days.

7 days in Spain - 5 Spain itinerary ideas

1. Madrid, Seville, Granada

One of my favorite ways to spend 7 days in Spain! This Spain itinerary is perfect for a first visit to Spain and those looking to see the TOP sights.

2 NIGHTS MADRID

3 NIGHTS SEVILLE WITH OPTIONAL STOP IN CORDOBA

2 NIGHTS GRANADA.

Madrid to Seville is a quick 2.5 hour journey by high-speed train. 

Seville to Granada is 3 hours via the ALSA bus. The high-speed train is under construction and a headache as you have to be bused a portion of the way. It makes the most sense to just stick with the bus until construction is completed as the final travel time ends up being the same.

Construction started in 2015 and it has yet to be announced when the new service will be completed.

Madrid: 2 nights and 2 full days. Let's start with the capital for your 7 days in Spain itinerary! This allows enough time to see the main sights; Puerta del Sol, Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Retiro Park, and the Prado Museum.

Dine on tapas and sangria on a tapas crawl down Calle Cava Baja, and visit a few Madrid food markets.

Overall, Madrid is a nice contrast to the other two cities on this Spain itinerary. While the city is obviously historic, it feels more metropolitan than southern Spain. Madrid also feels more like a "real city" as this is the business hub of Spain (i.e. there are plenty of jobs outside of tourism). 

Madrid is fairly compact and easy to get around by foot, which means you can fit a lot into your two days in Madrid. The Metro is also easy to use and cheap.

Cordoba: Perfectly situated between Madrid and Seville, Cordoba is an extremely easy stop on the way to Seville. The train service stops here any way.

Plan on 2 hours if you just want to see the famous Mezquita, aka the Great Mosque of Cordoba. Bake in additional time if you want to explore the Old Town and Jewish Quarter.

If you just can't wait to get to Seville, don't feel bad about skipping Cordoba, Seville has much more to offer and I would personally rather spend more time there. 

Seville: 3 nights in Seville will allow you to slow down and enjoy the sights, wander the charming barrio of Santa Cruz, and taste the best tapas in Seville. Many websites and guides will say just 1 or 2 nights in Seville, but I promise that once you get here you won't want to leave and will wish you had more time.

Seville is a captivating city that thrums with character and soul and is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in Spain. Visiting the Seville Cathedral, Alcazar Palace, Maria Louisa Park, and Plaza de Espana are all musts along with attending a Flamenco show or two.

The tapas scene in Seville is stellar and very cheap...think Sangria for €5 or less and tapas large enough to make a meal at €10 to €12. 

Granada: 2 nights. Use your time in Granada to tour the Alhambra Palace, one of my favorite palace complexes in the world, and get lost in the twists and turns of the Moorish Albaicin neighborhood.

The mix of Spanish and Moorish culture make for some captivating sights, architecture, and history. This gorgeous university town is small enough to travel around by foot and is fun to just wander.

If you're looking for an easy Spain itinerary this is it! 7 days in Spain is beyond doable with this combination of cities as travel time is minimal and straight forward.

Have more than 7 days in Spain?

Start by adding one or two nights in Madrid. You can slow down a bit and add a day trip or two.

Toledo is one of the best day trips from Madrid. Its medieval streets and hilltop location are beyond picturesque.

For a third additional night, consider stopping in Cordoba so you can truly appreciate the city vs. doing a quick stop by.

SEE ALSO:

A WEEK IN SPAIN - Detailed ITINERARY FOR MADRID, SEVILLE & GRANADA

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN GRANADA SPAIN

2. Barcelona, Mallorca, Ibiza or Valencia, Mallorca, Ibiza

This Spain itinerary is perfect for those looking for beaches, nightlife, and scenic landscapes

3 nights Barcelona, 3 nights Palma de Mallorca, 1 night IbizA

or

2 nights valencia, 3 nights palma de mallorca, 2 nights ibiza

Both Barcelona and Valencia are an hour flight from Palma de Mallorca. Valencia is smaller than Barcelona and can easily be seen in 2 days where Barcelona requires at least 3 days.

If you want a major city that is more of a tourist hotspot with major sights and attractions, choose Barcelona.

If you want a city that has a smaller and walkable city center, less crowds, and more of a relaxed vibe where you aren't running from sight to sight, choose Valencia.

Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca is a 1 hour flight and there are plenty of fares for $12-$27 on budget airlines like Ryan Air. At most you shouldn't pay more than $60. Flight time and price are the same from Valencia.

Mallorca to Ibiza is a 2 to 4 hour ferry depending on what day you leave and how much you want to spend. Balearia is the faster ferry and tickets range between €30 to €200 depending on the season, day, time, class of ticket, and how fast the boat is.

Barcelona: 3 nights in Barcelona will allow you to see the unique and stunning Sagrada Familia, enjoy Antoni Gaudi's colorful and whimsical Parc Guell, stroll down the famous pedestrian La Ramblas street, and visit the bustling La Boqueria Market to get a sampling of jambon, manchego, and fresh fruit juice.

Barcelona is the perfect city for a bike tour and you'll want to carve out time to wander the historic and characteristic Gothic Quarter.

**You MUST book Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell in advance.

Palma de Mallorca:  3 nights. Where else can you travel to a gorgeous island for as little as $12? Seriously. If that's not a steal I don't know what is!

Mallorca is the largest of the islands located on the east coast of Spain and offers the perfect mix of stunning beaches, fresh seafood, cathedrals, and a growing art scene.

Palma is the charming medieval city center that is often compared to Barcelona with its architecture, tapas restaurants, cobblestone streets, and overall feel. You could easily spend a week or two discovering all Mallorca has to offer, but 3 nights will give you just enough time to get a feel for this diverse island.

Ibiza: 1 night in Ibiza will give you a taste of the notorious party scene or a chance to enjoy the lesser known and calmer side of Ibiza. This island has more than just night clubs and heart pounding music.

Ibiza is filled with beautiful scenery and landscapes, small fishing towns, quiet beaches, and a well-known holistic spa and yoga scene. The perfect way to end your 7 days in Spain itinerary.

Have more than 7 days in Spain?

To extend this 7 days in Spain itinerary, I would add one night to each destination. Adding a fourth night to Barcelona will allow enough time to fit a day trip to Girona or Montserrat.

A fourth night in Mallorca means you'll get to explore more beaches and villages. 2 nights in Ibiza will give you some time to relax and enjoy the pool/beach. 

For those looking for something with less tourists and off the radar...visit Menorica instead of Ibiza. This small island, the name literally translates to "smaller island", is less developed and offers beaches with far less crowds. It's a quick 1.5 hour ferry from Mallorca. 

3. Barcelona, Madrid, San Sebastian

This 7 day Spain Itinerary is perfect for foodies!

3 nights Barcelona

2 nights Madrid

2 nights San Sebastian

Barcelona to Madrid is now just 2.5 hours by the new high-speed AVE train. 

Madrid to San Sebastian is just over 1 hour by plane with tickets around $89. Train time is around 5.5 hours. 

Barcelona: 3 nights in Barcelona will allow you to see the unique and stunning Sagrada Familia, enjoy Antoni Gaudi's colorful and whimsical Parc Guell, stroll down the famous pedestrian La Ramblas street, and visit the bustling La Boqueria Market to get a sampling of jambon, manchego, and fresh fruit juice.

Barcelona is the perfect city for a bike tour and you'll want to carve out time to wander the historic and characteristic Gothic Quarter.

**You MUST book Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell in advance.

Madrid: 2 nights and 2 full days. Let's start with the capital for your 7 days in Spain itinerary! This allows enough time to see the main sights; Puerta del Sol, Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Retiro Park, and the Prado Museum.

Dine on tapas and sangria on a tapas crawl down Calle Cava Baja, and visit a few Madrid food markets.

Madrid is fairly compact and easy to get around by foot, which means you can fit a lot into your two days in Madrid. The Metro is also easy to use and cheap.

San Sebastian: 2 nights will give you a sampling of the world-renowned restaurants and pinxtos bars, picturesque beaches looking out onto the Bay of Biscay, and upscale shops scattered around Old Town.

Located in the Basque region, San Sebastian is said to have the highest ratio of Michelin star restaurants per capita than anywhere else in the world!

If you're a foodie, this city should be at the top of your list of places to visit.

A visit to Concha beach is a must as it's considered the best city beach in all of Spain.

San Sebastian is the perfect place to relax after your busy sightseeing in Madrid and Barcelona. What better way to end your 7 days in Spain itinerary than at a world-renowned restaurant and enjoying some of the best cuisine in the world?

Have more than 7 days in SPain?

Add another foodie city...Valencia...the birthplace of Paella! Two nights in Valencia is enough time to see all the top sights and sample plenty of Paella. Barcelona to Valencia is just under 3 hours by train. You can then take the 2-hour train from Valencia to Madrid. 

If you have more than two extra nights, add a night to Madrid and/or Barcelona. Use your extra day in Madrid to do a day trip to Toledo. An extra day in Barcelona will allow you to slow down or do a day trip to Montserrat or Girona. 

4. Seville, Granada, Malaga

This 7 days in Spain itinerary is perfect for focusing on the Andalusia region and smaller/walkable cities

3 nights Seville

2 nights Granada

2 nights Malaga

Seville to Granada is 3 hours via the ALSA bus. The high-speed train is under construction and a headache as you have to be bused a portion of the way. It makes most sense to just stick with the bus until construction is completed as the final travel time ends up being the same.

Construction started in 2015 and it has yet to be announced when the new service will be completed.

Granada to Malaga is 1 hour 45 minutes by bus and cheap; around €5 to €15. There is a train, but it takes twice as long because there isn't a direct route.

Seville: 3 nights in Seville will allow you to slow down and enjoy the sights, wander the charming barrio of Santa Cruz, and taste the best tapas in Seville. Many websites and guides will say just 1 or 2 nights in Seville, but I promise that once you get here you won't want to leave and will wish you had more time.

Seville is a captivating city that thrums with character and soul and is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in Spain. Visiting the Seville Cathedral, Alcazar Palace, Maria Louisa Park, and Plaza de Espana are all musts along with attending a Flamenco show or two.

The tapas scene in Seville is stellar and very cheap...think Sangria for €5 or less and tapas large enough to make a meal at €10 to €12. 

Granada: 2 nights. Use your time in Granada to tour the Alhambra Palace, one of my favorite palace complexes in the world, and get lost in the twists and turns of the Moorish Albaicín neighborhood.

The mix of Spanish and Moorish culture make for some captivating sights, architecture, and history.

This gorgeous university town is small enough to travel around by foot and is fun to just wander and get lost.

Malaga: 2 nights will be the perfect length of time to wind down after your busy time touring Seville and Granada. Located in the Costa del Sol, Malaga is well-known among Europeans as a summer and beach getaway.

Like other European destinations, the city center has much to appreciate including cathedrals, the 11th century Alcazaba fortress ruins, a Roman style theater, and the Pablo Picasso Museum. Did you know Picasso was born in Malaga?

I recommend renting a car for easy access to the beaches (try to go to La Cala del Moral beach) and to reach hiking spots like Montes de Malaga National Park.

Malaga makes for a great destination because it's easy to get to with high-speed trains from other popular cities and the 4th busiest international airport in Spain.

It offers a mix of natural beauty and old city charm. The food is outstanding as this area actually supplies much of Spain with its top quality ingredients and wine.

Have more than 7 days in Spain?

Add one night in each city. An extra night in Seville will allow for a day trip to Cordoba. Extra time in Granada and Malaga will give you time to slow down and visit a few more sights.

5. Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid

This Spain itinerary is perfect for those that love big cities...these are the 3 largest cities in Spain

3 nights Barcelona

2 nights Valencia

2 nights Madrid

Barcelona to Valencia is just over 3 hours by train. 

Valencia to Madrid is 1.5 to 2 hours by train.

Barcelona: 3 nights in Barcelona will allow you to see the unique and stunning Sagrada Familia, enjoy Antoni Gaudi's colorful and whimsical Parc Guell, stroll down the famous pedestrian La Ramblas street, and visit the bustling La Boqueria Market to get a sampling of jambon, manchego, and fresh fruit juice.

Barcelona is the perfect city for a bike tour and you'll want to carve out time to wander the historic and characteristic Gothic Quarter.

**You MUST book Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell in advance.

Valencia: 2 nights in Valencia is a perfect introduction to what is known as the City of Arts and Sciences. Spain's third largest city is becoming more popular with tourists as of late with its blossoming restaurant scene, mix of Art Nouveau, Renaissance, and Gothic style architecture, museums, nightlife, and miles of sandy beaches. 

SEE ALSO:

A GUIDE TO VALENCIA, SPAIN + TOP THINGS TO DO

Madrid: 2 nights and 2 full days. Let's start with the capital for your 7 days in Spain itinerary! This allows enough time to see the main sights; Puerta del Sol, Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Retiro Park, and the Prado Museum.

Dine on tapas and sangria on a tapas crawl down Calle Cava Baja, and visit a few Madrid food markets.

Madrid is fairly compact and easy to get around by foot, which means you can fit a lot into your two days in Madrid. The Metro is also easy to use and cheap.

HAVE MORE THAN 7 DAYS IN SPAIN?

Start by adding one or two nights in Madrid. Toledo is a medieval hilltop town and is the best day trip from Madrid. Add a day to Barcelona to do a day trip to Girona or Montserrat.

An extra Spain Itinerary idea for the adventurer

Canary Islands: for the adventurer, an extra Spain itinerary idea is to go to the Canary Islands. You can ride camels at Timanfaya National Park on the island of Lanzarote or hike the world's third largest volcano at Tenerife.

Flights are dirt cheap to these remote islands if you're flying from Spain. The Canary islands are located just off the coast of Morocco and the Western Sahara. Depending on the month and day you can get tickets for less than $20.

Depart from a number of popular Spanish cities for these cheap fares and non-stop flights. I recommend starting in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, or Granada. Flight time from these cities will be between 2.5 to 3.5 hours.

In summary

Hopefully this post gave you some ideas of how to plan your 7 days in Spain itinerary. The first itinerary combining Madrid, Seville, and Granada is probably my favorite. If you have more than 7 days in Spain, you could easily add Barcelona to that itinerary...which would make it the PERFECT itinerary for a first visit to Spain.

Foodies will really enjoy the third itinerary that combines Barcelona, Madrid, and San Sebastian.

If you love nature, pick one of the itineraries that includes the islands.

Whatever your travel style is, one if these itineraries is sure to fit the bill!

SHARE THE LOVE AND SAVE THIS POST ON PINTEREST! 

Spain in a Week | 5 Spain Itinerary Ideas

See my other Spain posts!

Share your suggestions for how to spend 7 days in Spain. Let me know your favorite Spain itinerary in the comments below!