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7 Days in Spain Itinerary: Madrid, Seville, Granada and Barcelona
A 7 days in Spain itinerary: Madrid, Seville, Cordoba, Granada and Barcelona by AVE train, with 2026 prices and Alhambra booking tips.
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In this guide
The best 7 days in Spain itinerary covers Madrid, Seville, Granada and Barcelona in that order: two days in Madrid, two in Seville with a Cordoba day trip, one in Granada for the Alhambra, and two in Barcelona. You move by AVE high-speed train down the Madrid to Seville corridor, cross Andalusia to Granada, then fly to Barcelona. Fly into Madrid and home from Barcelona so you never backtrack.
This is a full week. Each city gets enough time for its headline sight plus one unhurried evening, but there is no slack for extra day trips. If you want Toledo or the coast as well, you need ten days. See our Spain itineraries for longer options.
How does this 7-day route fit together?
One direction, no repeated ground. The logic is simple: start in the capital, drop south to Andalusia while your energy is high, finish on the Mediterranean where your flight home leaves.
| Stage | Nights | How you get there | Overnight base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid | 2 | Fly into MAD | Centro or near Atocha station |
| Seville | 2 | AVE, about 2h30 | Santa Cruz or Arenal |
| Granada | 1 | Train or bus from Seville | Albaicin or centre |
| Barcelona | 2 | Flight from Granada, about 1h30 | Eixample or El Born |
Cordoba slots into day 4 as a day trip from Seville, 40 to 45 minutes each way by AVE. That keeps you at four hotel bases in seven days, which is the most a week can hold without turning into a packing exercise.
A note on 2026 rail works: speed restrictions on the Madrid to Barcelona corridor have added roughly 25 minutes to some services. They run until mid-December 2026. Budget closer to 3 hours station to station and check live times when you book.
What do you do on days 1 and 2 in Madrid?
Day 1 is the historic centre on foot. Start at Plaza Mayor, walk to the Royal Palace of Madrid and its Sabatini gardens, then cross to La Latina for tapas along Cava Baja in the evening. That single street holds the densest run of tapas bars in the city, and dinner after 9pm is normal here, not late.
Day 2 belongs to the Museo del Prado. General admission is 15 euros (about $16/£13) as of 2026, per the Prado visitor page. Go straight to Velazquez and Goya rather than trying to see all 8,600 works. A focused two to three hours beats a full day on your feet. Afterwards, walk through Retiro Park and the Crystal Palace to reset. If you still have energy, the Reina Sofia holds Picasso’s Guernica and stays open later than the Prado on most days.
The catch with Madrid: the centre is walkable but large, and summer heat builds fast on the open plazas. Start outdoor sights before 11am from June to September.
Should you take the AVE, Ouigo or Iryo?
AVE is Renfe’s premium high-speed service, running up to 310 km/h on Spain’s 4,000 km network, the longest in Europe. For Madrid to Seville, take whichever high-speed train fits your timing. All three operators run city centre to city centre in about 2h30, with no airport queues and no baggage reclaim. The differences are price, flexibility and luggage rules.
| Operator | Advance fare | Frequency | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVE (Renfe) | From about 25 euros | 20-plus trains a day | Most flexible; easiest changes; 3 pieces up to 25 kg included |
| Ouigo | From about 9 euros | Around 5 a day | Cheapest if booked weeks ahead; extra fees for large bags and seat choice |
| Iryo | From about 18 euros | Around 10 a day | Middle ground on price; comfortable seats and catering options |
Book the Madrid to Seville leg two to four weeks ahead for the lowest tier. Friday evenings and Sunday returns sell out first. They can cost three to four times the Tuesday price. Spain’s rail fares fell roughly 40 percent in real terms after liberalisation, and the Madrid to Barcelona corridor alone carried 14.4 million passengers in 2025 (Railway Pro, 2026). Average Madrid to Seville fares sat near 38 euros that year, so the competition is real if you book early.
Seville Santa Justa station sits about 15 minutes by bus or taxi from the old town. Allow 20 to 30 minutes at Atocha before departure for the baggage screening at the platform entrance.
What do you do on days 3 and 4 in Seville and Cordoba?
Day 3 starts with the morning AVE south. Drop your bags and head to Seville Cathedral and the Giralda Tower, the 12th-century minaret turned bell tower. Climb it before midday. Then walk Barrio Santa Cruz, the old Jewish quarter, in the late afternoon when the tiled alleys cool down. End at the river near the Torre del Oro, where tapas bars line the far bank in Triana.
Day 4 is Cordoba. AVE trains run from Seville Santa Justa to Cordoba about every half hour, taking 40 to 43 minutes, with advance fares from about 8 euros (about $9/£7). The Mezquita-Catedral costs 15 euros (about $16/£13) general entry in 2026, after the April price rise confirmed by the cathedral chapter. No advance booking is needed. Go early, walk the forest of 850 columns, then spend an hour in the Juderia lanes before an afternoon train back.
The Mezquita in Cordoba, where a cathedral nave rises inside a mosque of 850 columns.
Back in Seville, use the late afternoon for the Real Alcazar and its gardens. Tour groups thin out after lunch, and the gardens are at their best in slanted light. Two nights in Seville is the minimum that works: one night would force a choice between the cathedral and the Alcazar, and that is a bad trade.
Find experiences for your Spain trip
If you book through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.How do you handle day 5 and the Alhambra booking?
Day 5 moves you to Granada. The direct Renfe service from Seville takes about 2h30 to 3h; the ALSA bus takes about 3h and runs more often. Either way, arrive by mid-afternoon, walk the Albaicin hillside quarter, and watch sunset from the Mirador de San Nicolas with the Alhambra palaces across the valley. It costs nothing and it is the finest free view in Andalusia.
The Alhambra itself is day 6, morning. This is the one booking you must make before anything else, even before flights. Nasrid Palaces are the crown of the complex: the stuccoed throne rooms and courtyards of Granada’s 14th-century Moorish rulers, and the reason most visitors come. The Alhambra General ticket costs 22.27 euros (about $24/£19) on the official Patronato site, the only place that sells at face value. It covers the Nasrid Palaces, the Alcazaba fortress and the Generalife gardens. The Nasrid Palaces carry a strict 30-minute entry window printed on your ticket. Arrive at the palace checkpoint 15 minutes early. Late means no palace entry and no refund.
Book two to three months ahead for spring and autumn, the peak seasons. Morning slots sell out first and give the best light in the stucco rooms. Allow three hours minimum for the full complex: the Nasrid Palaces alone take 90 minutes if you look properly, and the walk covers 3 to 5 km on uneven stone. Bring water. There is no cafe inside the palace circuit.
The Court of the Lions, inside the Nasrid Palaces timed-entry circuit.
Detail of the Cuarto Dorado, the gilded room visited just inside the Nasrid Palaces.
Day 6 afternoon, fly to Barcelona. A direct flight takes about 1h30 in the air. Book a late-afternoon departure so the Alhambra morning stays unhurried, and sleep in Barcelona that night. Our Spain travel tips cover the airport-to-centre transfers at both ends.
Why Cordoba as a day trip and Granada as the finale? Most seven-day plans either skip Cordoba or give it a rushed half morning. That wastes its best hours: the Mezquita glows in early light and the Juderia empties once day-trip coaches leave after lunch. Basing in Seville and doing Cordoba as a full day trip captures both, with no hotel change. Then Granada works as the climax because the Alhambra rewards fresh legs and an early start, which you only have if you slept in Granada the night before. Fly out of Granada to Barcelona and every travel day moves you forward. No leg repeats.
What do you do on days 6 and 7 in Barcelona?
Day 7 (your second Barcelona daypart, plus the arrival evening) centres on Gaudi. Book the Sagrada Familia online before you leave home. The basic ticket is 26 euros (about $28/£22) including the audio guide app, per the official 2026 prices. Same-day tickets are rarely available. Morning light through the east windows is the best reason to take the earliest slot you can.
Spend the arrival evening wandering the Gothic Quarter and eating in El Born, which holds the best dinner streets near the old town. On the final full day, add Park Guell or Casa Batllo in the morning, then the waterfront at Barceloneta in the afternoon. Two days covers the essentials but not everything: if you want both Park Guell and Montserrat, this is the stop to extend.
Barcelona rewards booking ahead more than any other stop on this route. The Sagrada Familia, Park Guell and the popular Casa Batllo slots all sell timed entry, and walk-up availability in peak months is close to zero.
How much does a week in Spain cost?
For a mid-range trip in 2026, budget 150 to 200 euros per person per day (about $160 to $215/£130 to £170), excluding international flights. That covers a central three-star hotel, two restaurant meals plus tapas, city transport, one paid sight a day and the intercity trains.
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels, 6 nights | 90 to 150 euros a night | Book spring and autumn 2 to 3 months ahead |
| AVE Madrid to Seville | 25 to 55 euros | Book 2 to 4 weeks ahead; Friday peak costs most |
| Seville to Cordoba return | 16 to 30 euros | Often the cheapest leg; 40-plus trains a day |
| Seville to Granada | 20 to 40 euros | Train about 2h30; bus about 3h and cheaper |
| Granada to Barcelona flight | Check live fares | Book early; late-afternoon departure suits the Alhambra day |
| Alhambra General | 22.27 euros | Official site only; third parties add 2 to 15 euros |
| Mezquita | 15 euros | No advance booking needed |
| Prado | 15 euros | Free in the last two opening hours most days |
| Sagrada Familia | 26 euros | Book before you leave home |
Food is the flexible part. A tapas dinner in Seville or Granada runs 15 to 25 euros with a drink; a sit-down dinner in Madrid or Barcelona runs 25 to 45 euros. Granada still serves a small free tapa with each drink in some traditional bars, though the custom is thinner than it was. See our Spain budget guide and our Spanish food guide for the full breakdown.
When is the best time to go?
April to May and late September to October. Days are warm enough for evening terraces, palace queues are shorter than in August, and the Alhambra gardens are at their best. Early May in Cordoba brings the patio festival, when private courtyards open to visitors, though hotels fill fast that week.
July and August are the months to avoid on this exact route. Seville and Cordoba pass 40C most afternoons, the Alhambra hill offers little shade, and Madrid half-closes in mid-August. Winter flips the deal: cheaper rooms, thin crowds, same-day Alhambra tickets sometimes available, but short days and cold Granada evenings.
Seven days gives you Madrid, Andalusia and Barcelona with no repeated ground and no car. Start in Madrid for the museums, drop south for the Moorish palaces, finish on the Mediterranean. Book the Alhambra first, the Sagrada Familia second, the trains third, and everything else can follow. Our Spain guides cover each city in more depth when you are ready to plan the days hour by hour.
The 7-day route
-
Day 1: Madrid: arrive, Royal Palace and tapas in La Latina
Walk the historic centre, visit the Royal Palace and end the day with tapas along Cava Baja.
- Plaza Mayor
- Royal Palace of Madrid
- La Latina
Overnight: Madrid
-
Day 2: Madrid: the Prado and Retiro Park
Spend the morning in the Prado, walk through Retiro Park in the afternoon and catch an evening AVE briefing for the next day.
- Museo del Prado
- Retiro Park
- Reina Sofia (optional)
Overnight: Madrid
-
Day 3: AVE to Seville: cathedral, Giralda and Santa Cruz
Morning AVE to Seville in about 2h30, then the cathedral and Giralda Tower plus an evening walk in Santa Cruz.
- Seville Cathedral
- La Giralda
- Barrio Santa Cruz
Overnight: Seville
-
Day 4: Cordoba day trip and the Real Alcazar
Morning AVE to Cordoba for the Mezquita, back to Seville for the Real Alcazar gardens in the late afternoon.
- Mezquita-Catedral
- Juderia
- Real Alcazar of Seville
Overnight: Seville
-
Day 5: To Granada: Albaicin and the Alhambra approach
Travel Seville to Granada, walk the Albaicin and watch the sunset from the Mirador de San Nicolas.
- Albaicin
- Mirador de San Nicolas
Overnight: Granada
-
Day 6: The Alhambra, then fly to Barcelona
Morning timed visit to the Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba and Generalife, then an evening flight to Barcelona.
- Nasrid Palaces
- Alcazaba
- Generalife
Overnight: Barcelona
-
Day 7: Barcelona: Sagrada Familia and the Gothic Quarter
Booked entry to the Sagrada Familia in the morning, the Gothic Quarter and El Born in the afternoon.
- Sagrada Familia
- Gothic Quarter
- El Born
Overnight: Barcelona
Know before you go
Spain at a glance
Best time to visit
April to June, September to October
- January: cool, some showers
- February: cool, mostly dry
- March: mild, some showers
- April: mild, some showers
- May: warm, some showers
- June: warm, mostly dry
- July: hot, mostly dry
- August: hot, mostly dry
- September: warm, some showers
- October: mild, some showers
- November: mild, some showers
- December: cool, some showers
Mostly dry Some showers
- Capital
- Madrid
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Spanish (plus Catalan, Basque, Galician)
- Time zone
- CET, UTC+1 (Canaries UTC+0)
- Plugs
- Type C / F, 230 V
- Driving
- On the right
Emergency112
Frequently asked questions
Is 7 days enough for Spain?
Yes, for Madrid, Seville, Granada and Barcelona at pace. You get two nights each in Madrid, Seville and Barcelona plus one night in Granada, with Cordoba as a day trip from Seville. Every move costs half a day, so four bases is the limit. With ten days you could add Toledo or Valencia instead of rushing.
How far ahead should I book Alhambra tickets in 2026?
Two to three months ahead for spring and autumn, the peak seasons. The Alhambra General ticket costs 22.27 euros on the official site and includes the Nasrid Palaces with a strict 30-minute entry window printed on the ticket. Miss the window and you lose palace entry with no refund, so plan the whole Granada day around it.
Should I take the AVE, Ouigo or Iryo between Spanish cities?
AVE is the most flexible and frequent, with fares from around 25 euros booked ahead. Ouigo is cheapest, often from 9 euros, but charges extra for large bags and seat choice and is harder to change. Iryo sits between the two on price with a more comfortable standard seat. On the Madrid to Barcelona corridor in 2026, expect about 2h30 to 3h station to station.
Can I do Cordoba as a day trip from Seville?
Yes, and it is the best way to fit Cordoba into a week. AVE trains link Seville Santa Justa and Cordoba in 40 to 45 minutes, with around 40 departures a day and advance fares from about 8 euros. The Mezquita costs 15 euros in 2026 and needs no advance booking, so go early, see the Mezquita and the Juderia, and be back in Seville for the evening.
How do I get from Granada to Barcelona?
Fly. There is no fast direct train, and the rail journey takes most of a day. A direct flight takes about 1h30 in the air. Book it early for the lowest fare and pick a late-afternoon departure so your Alhambra morning is unhurried.
When is the best time of year for this itinerary?
April to May and late September to October. Andalusia passes 40C in July and August, which makes palace visits and hill walks uncomfortable, while Madrid empties out in mid-August as locals leave. Winter is cheaper and quieter but brings short days and cold Granada nights.
Useful links (6)
- Alhambra official ticket sales, Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife— tickets.alhambra-patronato.es
- How to book Alhambra tickets, step-by-step guide 2026— guidetoandalucia.com
- Mezquita-Catedral official tickets and 2026 prices— mezquita-catedraldecordoba.es
- Sagrada Familia official prices 2026— sagradafamilia.org
- Spain AVE train guide 2026, routes, fares and booking tips— traintrackings.com
- Cheap high-speed trains in Spain, 2026 Ouigo and Iryo price guide— gopaxo.com
Photo credits
Thank you to Jebulon and Martinvl for sharing these beautiful photographs and helping bring this guide to life.
Editorial byline
Olivia Parker Italy and Spain editor
Olivia covers Italy and Spain for Epic Trip Ideas: art cities, coastal towns, itineraries, local food and markets, and what a trip really costs. Olivia Parker is a pen name the Epic Trip Ideas editors use for Italy and Spain; every guide is checked against official sources before it goes live.
