In just under two weeks, travelers can experience most of Spain's most beloved highlights without rushing. First-time visitors will enjoy spending time in Madrid, Seville, Granada, and Barcelona, with day trips from each. You can also opt to spend your whole trip in either the north or south, combining well-known points of interest with deeper cultural dives: think farm stays, coastal drives, and a cooking class in the Andalusian countryside.

Itinerary#1: Best of Spain Highlights Tour

Over 13 fun-filled days, you'll visit three of the most famous and culturally historic regions in Spain: Madrid, Barcelona, and Andalusia. It begins in Madrid with its royal legacy and continues in Seville, the birthplace of flamenco music, before finally ending up in Barcelona with city tours of famous neighborhoods like Barrio Gótico and El Born

Gran Vía, one of the busiest streets in Madrid
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrival in Madrid Madrid
Day 2 Private City Tour - Discover Madrid's Royal Legacy Madrid
Day 3 Train from Madrid to Seville - Flamenco & Tapas Experience Seville
Day 4 Private City Tour of Seville Seville
Day 5 Day Trip to Córdoba - Private City Tour Seville
Day 6 Olive Oil Tour of Andalusia Seville
Day 7 Iberian Farm Experience - Sherry Wine Tour Seville
Day 8 Private Transfer to Ronda - Wine Tour Ronda
Day 9 Hiking Ronda - Transfer to Granada Granada
Day 10 Private Tour of the Alhambra and Generalife Gardens Granada
Day 11 Flight from Granada to Barcelona - Private Cycling Tour Barcelona
Day 12 Visit Park Güell & Sagrada Família Barcelona
Day 13 Depart Barcelona  


Upon arrival in Madrid, you can get your bearings on a self-guided tour of the city. Perhaps head to Gran Vía, one of Madrid's main thoroughfares and a great place to do some shopping or catch a show. On day two you'll embark on a private city tour with an expert guide, visiting highlights like Madrid's historic center, Madrid de los Austrias, where you'll find the Royal Palace, among other landmarks. You'll also take a stroll through El Retiro Park, a 308-acre green space known as the "green lung" of Madrid.

Day three involves a journey south by train to Seville, the capital of Andalusia. Seville has a centuries-long legacy of tapas and flamenco culture which you'll discover over a couple of days on guided city tours. You'll stop in historic Old Town to dine at famous tapas bars plus see a live flamenco show. Day five is a trip to Córdoba for a tour of its diverse architecture like the Mezquita (Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba), the 14th-century Alcázar de los Reyes, and the old Jewish Quarter

Days six and seven you'll get to visit both a working olive-oil estate and a farm where they raise the pigs that produce Spain's prized Iberian hams. After a tour of sherry wine country, you'll end up in Ronda on day eight, a historic city perched atop a mountain gorge and affording panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. There will be a wine tour here as well, plus hiking on day nine before you press on to Granada, another Andalusian city well known for its Moorish palaces.

Day 10 you'll tour Granada's most famous landmark, the Alhambra. This 9th-century Muslim fortress was rebuilt as a palace in the 14th century before it was finally taken during the Christian reconquest in 1492. On day 11 you'll arrive in Barcelona and spend a couple days enjoying Catalan culture. This includes a bicycle tour of the city's most popular neighborhoods, like the Gothic Quarter, but also stops at its most famous Gaudí-designed buildings, like Sagrada Familia. Learn more.

Itinerary#2: Ultimate Food, Culture & Wine Tour of Spain

Get ready to eat your way through Spain with this culinary tour while also devouring its rich culture. As you do, you'll sample the tastes of three distinct regions of Spain: Catalonia, Madrid, and Andalusia.

There's nothing more Spanish than tapas
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrival in Spain - Self-Guided Barcelona Tour Barcelona
Day 2 Private Tour of Barcelona by Land & Air Barcelona
Day 3 Private Cooking Class with a Master Chef Barcelona
Day 4 Train from Barcelona to Madrid Madrid
Day 5 Private City Tour - Discover Madrid's Royal Legacy Madrid
Day 6 Free Day in Madrid - Evening Flamenco Experience Madrid
Day 7 Train from Madrid to Málaga Malaga
Day 8 Picasso's Málaga Malaga
Day 9 Pilgrimage from Málaga Malaga
Day 10 Day Trip to Granada - Tour the Alhambra Malaga
Day 11 Private Transfer from Málaga to Córdoba Córdoba
Day 12 Private City Tour of Córdoba Córdoba
Day 13 Private Transfer from Córdoba to Madrid - Departure  


You'll arrive in Barcelona, and for the first couple of days you'll discover the city on guided tours. You'll visit the famous locales and sights including Carmel Hill, the Port of Barcelona, the Magic Fountain of Montjuic, Barceloneta Beach, plus you'll tour Park Güell and Casa Mila, two other masterpieces from legendary Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. Day three will be your first immersion in Catalan cuisine as you take a private cooking class where you'll learn to prepare your own Spanish tapas.

Day four you'll leave Barcelona for Madrid by train. There's a city tour of Spain's capital waiting for you here, and you'll visit all the historic sights and plazas. If you want to keep the culinary theme going, your first night in Madrid you can dine at Botín, the oldest restaurant in the world. On day six you'll not only indulge in Madrid's best food with a tapas tour, but you'll also take in an authentic flamenco performance. 

Day seven you'll hop another train, this one bound for Málaga, which sits on Spain's gorgeous Costa del Sol. After bouncing around the city's best tapas bars on day seven, on day eight you'll enjoy some culture by visiting a museum dedicated to Málaga's most famous son: Pablo Picasso. Day nine you'll delve even deeper into the culture when you participate in romeria, a popular pilgrimage to a religious site just outside the city. It's a fun affair complete with parades and dancing.

On day 10 you're off to Granada to tour the Alhambra as well as its Generalife Gardens, which are filled with well-manicured flowerbeds, fountains, colonnades, and pavilions. The next couple of days you'll spend in the city of Cordobá, touring not only its historic sites and neighborhoods but visiting its local markets and tapas bars as well. Day 13 you'll transfer to Madrid and catch your flight home. Learn more

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Itinerary#3: Spain Highlights & Balearic Islands

In just under two weeks you can combine a tour of Spain's hottest cities with a rejuvenating island holiday. Every locale on this itinerary is a star in its own right, whether it's the cauldron of culture and history that is Madrid, the Moorish palaces and castles of the Andalusia region, or the rocky coasts fronted by Sapphire waters on Menorca and Mallorca.

Escape to Menorca
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrival in Madrid - Optional Guided Art Walk Madrid
Day 2 Private City Tour - Discover Madrid's Royal Legacy Madrid
Day 3 Train from Madrid to Seville - Flamenco & Tapas Experience Seville
Day 4 Private City Tour of Seville Seville
Day 5 Private Transfer to Granada - Wine Tour in Ronda Granada
Day 6 Private Tour of the Alhambra and Generalife Gardens Granada
Day 7 Flight from Granada to Menorca - Explore Menorca
Day 8 Horseback Riding in Menorca Menorca
Day 9 Flight from Menorca to Mallorca - Explore Palma Palma de Mallorca
Day 10 Guided Tour of Palma de Mallorca Palma de Mallorca
Day 11 Mallorca Sailing Tour Palma de Mallorca
Day 12 Hiking the Tramuntana Mountains - Village Tour Palma de Mallorca
Day 13 Depart Spain from Mallorca  


Stretch your legs on a walking tour of Madrid to start your trip. Head to Puerta del Sol, which dates to the 15th century and every Dec. 31st swells with rowdy Madrileños eager to ring in the new year. A private tour on day two stops at the most tranquil and beautiful garden within El Retiro Park: Jardines de Cecilio Rodríguez. Filled with hedges, fountains, flowers, and sculptures, this green space was inspired by Andalusia. It's a good primer because that's where you're headed next. 

Day three you'll leave Madrid by train south to Seville. You'll be welcomed with a tour of the city's historic center and an evening of traditional tapas, like Iberico ham and garlic shrimp, before seeing a flamenco show in the historic Santa Cruz neighborhood. After another tour of the city on day four, day five you'll travel to Ronda and visit a former monastery turned winery for a tasting. Day six you'll visit Granada and tour the Alhambra and gardens.

Day seven is when this epic vacation transforms from a cultural excursion to an island hop, as you fly from Granada to the island of Menorca. A smaller member of the Balearic Isles, Menorca is known for its tranquility and the beauty of its coves and white-sand beaches. Over two days you'll discover this on your own with self-drive tours around the island as well as a horseback ride along the coast. 

On day nine, you'll fly to Menorca's larger sibling, Mallorca. This popular vacation spot features beautiful beaches like Menorca but also towering limestone mountains and a capital city, Palma, that's filled with historic architecture, like the Royal Palace of La Almudaina. The last few days you'll spend touring the capital, sailing around the coast, and hiking the Tramuntana Mountains, where you'll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the horizon. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Ultimate Northern Spain Road Trip

This 13-day road trip will take you deep into Spain's wild and beautiful north. It begins in Madrid, and from there you'll drive through stunning wine country into the lesser-visited Galicia region, all before ending up on the northern Atlantic coast and Basque Country

The Catedral de Santiago, last stop on the Camino de Santiago
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrival in Madrid - Evening Tapas Tour Madrid
Day 2 Private City Tour - Discover Madrid's Royal Legacy Madrid
Day 3 Drive From Madrid to Ribera del Duero Peñafiel
Day 4 Drive to León - City Tour León
Day 5 Drive From León to Ribeira Sacra - Stop in Astorga Monforte de Lemos area
Day 6 Boat Tour of Ribeira Sacra - Drive to Vigo Vigo
Day 7 Tour the Cíes Islands - Drive From Vigo to Santiago Santiago de Compostela
Day 8 Santiago de Compostela - Cooking Class & City Tour Santiago de Compostela
Day 9 Drive to Oviedo - Stop in Lugo Oviedo
Day 10 Drive From Oviedo to Bilbao - City Tour Bilbao
Day 11 Coastal Drive From Bilbao to San Sebastian San Sebastian
Day 12 Half-Day Tour of San Sebastian San Sebastian
Day 13 Depart Spain  


You'll arrive in Spain and will spend the first couple of days acclimating to the culture by taking guided and self-guided tours of famous sights. This includes strolling El Retiro Park and visiting the Puerto del Sol, Royal Palace, and the Plaza Mayor. You can even visit Barrio las Letras, a neighborhood so named because it was once home to giants of Spain's golden age of literature, like Cervantes. 

On day three you'll pick up your rental car and drive north to Ribera del Duero, one of the premier wine regions of Spain. After overnighting in a hotel right on the vineyards, you'll drive to Léon, a city with a rich history dating back to Roman times. You'll visit its historic landmarks, such as the Roman Walls and the 13th-century Cathedral of Léon. On day four you'll drive to the Ribeira Sacra river valley, another famous wine region. You'll see its terraced vineyards on a riverboat cruise before transferring to Vigo.

From the Galician port city of Vigo, you'll take a boat cruise to the Cíes Islands, which are home to Rodas Beach, one of the most beautiful bits of sand in Europe. You'll then transfer north to the capital of Galicia, Santiago de Compostela. On day eight you'll take a Galician cooking class in Santiago plus visit major sights like the city's main cathedral, which is home to the remains of Saint James the Great. It's for this reason Santiago is the final stop on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.

On day nine you'll drive north into Basque Country, but not before stopping off at the beautiful mountain village of Lugo, home to Roman Walls so impressive they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll continue on to Oviedo, another colorful historic town boasting UNESCO sites, like the 9th century Church of San Julián de los Prados. On day 10 you'll drive to Bilbao, a Basque city on an estuary famous for being the home of Frank Gehry's masterpiece of design, the Guggenheim Museum.

After touring the highlights of Bilbao, such as its well-preserved historic center, on day 11 you'll drive along the gorgeous Basque coast to San Sebastian, one of the great European seaside cities. Day 12 you'll enjoy a half-day tour of the city visiting its famous Parte Vieja (old town), and La Concha Beach. Of course, you'll also indulge in its famous tapas scene. Learn more.

Itinerary #6: Ultimate Southern Spain Road Trip

A road trip is always an exciting proposition, even more so when the location is Spain. This self-drive itinerary focuses on the center of the country and the capital of Madrid, followed by a jaunt into the arid plains of La Mancha before finally reaching the Moorish palaces of Andalusia.

Visit the city of Ronda (among many others) on a road trip
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrival in Madrid - Evening Tapas Tour Madrid
Day 2 Private City Tour - Discover Madrid's Royal Legacy Madrid
Day 3 Pick up Rental Car - Drive to Toledo - City Tour Toledo
Day 4 Drive From Toledo to Córdoba - Guided City Tour Córdoba
Day 5 Drive from Córdoba to Seville - Tapas Tour Seville
Day 6 Half-Day City Tour of Seville Seville
Day 7 Day Trip to Jerez - Sherry Tasting & Dancing Horses Seville
Day 8 Drive From Seville to Ronda - Stop in Arcos de la Frontera Ronda
Day 9 Drive from Ronda to Granada via the Caminito del Rey Granada
Day 10 Private Tour of the Alhambra and Generalife Gardens Granada
Day 11 Day Trip to Andalusian Countryside - Tapas Cooking Class Granada
Day 12 Drive from Granada to Málaga Malaga
Day 13 Depart Málaga  


Begin with two days getting to know Madrid. The first night a local expert will lead you around to Madrid’s best tapas bars in the Las Letras neighborhood, and the next day on a guided tour you’ll visit landmarks like the Royal Palace and El Retiro Park.

Then, on day three, it will be time to hit the open road. First, you’ll travel just south of Madrid, to the hilltop fortress city of Toledo. This historic gem was once the capital of Old Spain in the middle ages. You’ll see evidence of its rich mix of cultures when you tour the 13th-century Toledo Cathedral, the Alcázar de Toledo, and the 12th-century Moorish Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca.

Day four you’ll press on into Andalusia and the city of Córdoba, another historic city with a mix of Moorish, Jewish, and Roman-Catholic cultures. The tour of Córdoba includes stops at the Jewish Quarter, the Mezquita, and the Alcázar de los Reyes. Day five you’ll drive to Andalusia’s capital of Seville and kick off your arrival with a tapas tour. The next day you’ll tour famous city sights like the 15th-century Cathedral, which is the largest Gothic church in the world.

Take a day trip to the town of Jerez de la Frontera on day seven. The region is famous for its sherry wine, which you’ll enjoy on a tasting. You’ll also take in a horsemanship performance from Spain’s Royal Equestrian Society. Then, on day eight, you’ll drive to Ronda with a stop first to enjoy an Andalusian lunch amid the whitewashed buildings of the town of Arcos de la Frontera.

On day nine you’ll test your resolve with a sky hike on the Caminito del Rey. This network of walkways clings to the side of a gorge and is suspended over 2,000 feet above the ground. Next up is Granada, where on day 10 you’ll take a guided tour of its dominating Alhambra palace and adjacent gardens.

Day 11 you’ll enjoy a relaxing excursion to the countryside and a visit to an Andalusian farmhouse for a homemade lunch. The last leg of the road trip, you’ll arrive at the seaside city of Málaga where you can stroll the waterfront promenade, enjoy more tapas, and perhaps visit the Picasso Museum. Learn more.

More Great 13-Day Spain Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your Spain trip? Check out these other 13-day Spain itineraries, ranging from active, to cultural, to luxury, or family-friendly trips.

Or, describe your ideal trip and we will connect you with a local specialist to make it happen.

Map

Map of 13 Days in Spain - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
Map of 13 Days in Spain - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas