Overview
Spain has one of the best high-speed rail networks in the world, which makes it one of the easiest European countries to see more than one city on a single trip. Barcelona and Madrid are the classic pair, less than three hours apart, but the south (Seville, Granada, Córdoba) is where many travelers fall hardest for the country. Plan around two things: the heat, which makes Andalusia punishing in July and August, and the clock. Lunch runs from about 2 to 4pm and dinner rarely starts before 9pm, and fighting that schedule means eating in empty tourist restaurants.
Main regions
Madrid and central Spain. The capital has the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the best tapas-bar crawls in the country. Toledo (33 minutes by train) and Segovia (under 30 minutes) are easy day trips.
Catalonia. Start with our Barcelona destination page and the 3-day Barcelona itinerary. Beyond the city: medieval Girona, the coves of the Costa Brava, and Montserrat's mountain monastery.
Andalusia. Seville's cathedral and Alcázar, Granada's Alhambra, Córdoba's Mezquita, and the white hill villages (pueblos blancos) around Ronda. Málaga is the main airport and a good beach-and-museum base.
The Basque Country and the green north. San Sebastián has more Michelin stars per head than almost anywhere and a pintxos bar on every corner; Bilbao has the Guggenheim. Further west, Asturias, Cantabria and Galicia offer mountains, a wild coastline and the end of the Camino de Santiago.
Valencia and the islands. Valencia for paella (it was invented here) and the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences; the Balearics (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza) and the Canary Islands for beaches, with the Canaries warm year-round.
Best time to visit
- April to June: the best all-round window. Warm, green and ideal for Andalusia before the heat. Seville's Semana Santa processions (Easter week) and Feria de Abril are spectacular, but hotel prices double.
- July and August: Seville and Córdoba regularly pass 40°C, so plan sightseeing for early morning and evening. This is the best time for the north coast and the islands, but Spaniards take their holidays in August and beaches get busy.
- September and October: warm seas, harvest season in La Rioja, and thinner crowds. Arguably the best time for a Barcelona and Andalusia combination.
- November to March: mild in the south (Seville often reaches 18°C in winter), cold in Madrid, and the cheapest months. Valencia's Las Fallas festival fills the city from 15 to 19 March.
Getting around
- High-speed trains: three companies compete on the main routes: Renfe (AVE and budget Avlo), Ouigo and Iryo. Madrid to Barcelona normally takes about 2.5 hours, though track speed restrictions in 2026 have added about 25 minutes. Madrid to Seville is about 2.5 hours, Madrid to Valencia under 2, and Madrid to Málaga under 3. Fares range from under €20 booked early to over €100 close to departure.
- Buses: ALSA covers routes the trains don't, including many Andalusian towns.
- In cities: metros in Madrid and Barcelona are cheap and efficient (€1.50–2 per ride in Madrid); multi-ride cards cut the cost further. Seville, Granada and Córdoba are best walked.
- Car hire: worth it for the pueblos blancos, the Costa Brava and the north coast. Avoid driving into city centers, where parking is scarce and low-emission zones apply.
Visa basics
Spain is in the Schengen Area. Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries together. Since April 2026 the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) records your fingerprints and photo on your first entry. The planned €20 ETIAS authorization has been delayed and has no confirmed start date, so check the official EU site before you go. Hotels and rentals are legally required to register your passport details with the authorities, so expect to show it at check-in.
Typical daily costs
Prices as of September 2026, at about $1.14 to the euro:
- Budget (€60–90, about $70–105): hostel dorm (€25–45), a menú del día set lunch (€13–18 for three courses with a drink), tapas for dinner, public transport.
- Mid-range (€140–220, about $160–250): a 3-star hotel, sit-down meals with wine, one paid monument a day.
- Comfort (€350+, about $400+): boutique hotels, tasting menus, private guides.
Barcelona, Madrid, San Sebastián and Ibiza sit at the top of these ranges; Andalusia and Valencia at the bottom. Barcelona's tourist tax doubled in April 2026 and now reaches €12 per person per night in five-star hotels (less in cheaper categories), charged for up to seven nights. Big-ticket sights: the Sagrada Família is €26 (€36 with a tower), and the Alhambra is €22.27 online. Book the Alhambra weeks ahead in spring and autumn, since Nasrid Palaces slots sell out.
Top destinations
- Barcelona: start with the Barcelona destination guide and the full Barcelona travel guide for Gaudí, neighborhoods and where to eat.
- Seville: the Alcázar, flamenco in Triana, orange trees in every plaza.
- Granada: the Alhambra, the Albaicín at sunset and free tapas with every drink.
- Madrid: world-class art and the best nightlife in the country.
- San Sebastián: pintxos, La Concha beach and a day trip to Bilbao.
Spain links easily to its neighbors: Lisbon is about an hour's flight from Madrid, Paris about 6.5 hours from Barcelona by direct TGV, and Marrakech a short flight from Madrid, Seville or Málaga. Or let our trip planner build a day-by-day Spain route around your dates.