Destination guide

Spain trip planner

Vibrant cities, sunny coastlines, and a tapestry of regional cultures and cuisines.

Spain is best understood region by region. Barcelona's Gaudí architecture, Madrid's museums, Seville's flamenco, and the Basque Country's pintxos are all worth separate trips. Add in islands and coastal towns for variety.

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Canonical: https://haienaplan.com/destinations/spain

Best time to visit

Apr–Jun & Sept–Oct

Currency

Euro (€)

Language

Spanish

Top experiences in Spain

Barcelona's Gaudí

Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Casa Batlló, and Gothic Quarter.

Madrid's art triangle

Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums.

Seville & Andalucía

Alcázar, Plaza de España, flamenco, and tapas.

San Sebastián pintxos

The Basque Country's bar-hopping food culture and beaches.

Average temperatures in Spain

Madrid — continental; coasts milder.

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	11° / 52°F	13° / 55°F	16° / 61°F	18° / 64°F	22° / 72°F	28° / 82°F	32° / 90°F	31° / 88°F	27° / 81°F	20° / 68°F	14° / 57°F	11° / 52°F
Low	3° / 37°F	4° / 39°F	6° / 43°F	8° / 46°F	12° / 54°F	17° / 63°F	20° / 68°F	20° / 68°F	16° / 61°F	11° / 52°F	6° / 43°F	3° / 37°F

Temperatures shown in °C (with °F). Averages based on long-term climate normals for the country's main hub.

Sample itinerary

Days 1–3: Barcelona — Gaudí sites, Gothic Quarter, beach, and a tapas tour.
Days 4–5: Madrid — Prado, Retiro Park, Reina Sofía, and late-night tapas.
Days 6–7: Seville — Alcázar, cathedral, flamenco show, and Triana food crawl.
Day 8: Day trip to Córdoba or Granada's Alhambra.

Foods to try

TapasPaellaGazpachoJamón ibéricoChurros con chocolatePintxosTortilla española

Getting to Spain

Madrid (MAD) and Barcelona (BCN) are the main long-haul airports. For Andalucía, fly into Málaga (AGP) or Seville (SVQ). Bilbao (BIO) is the Basque Country gateway. Open-jaw tickets (into Madrid, out of Barcelona) save backtracking.

Getting around

AVE high-speed trains

Madrid–Barcelona in 2.5h, Madrid–Seville in 2.5h. Book on Renfe or Ouigo weeks ahead for the best fares.

Metro & buses

Excellent in Madrid and Barcelona — cheap 10-trip tickets (T-casual) beat single fares.

Rental car

Best for Andalucía white villages, La Rioja, and coastal drives. Skip it in cities — parking is a nightmare.

Cercanías (commuter rail)

Free between Madrid airport and city if you have an AVE ticket.

Where to stay

Barcelona — Eixample or Gothic Quarter

Eixample for Gaudí and grid-planned walking; Gothic for medieval alleys and nightlife.

Madrid — Centro / Malasaña

Centro near Prado and Puerta del Sol; Malasaña for indie cafés and bars.

Seville — Santa Cruz or Triana

Santa Cruz is the classic old Jewish quarter; Triana for flamenco and tapas across the river.

Granada — Albaicín

Whitewashed hillside with Alhambra views and cave-house dinners.

Daily budget guide

Budget

€60–90

Hostels, menú del día lunches, tapas dinners, metro transit.

Mid-range

€130–200

3-star hotels, full restaurant dinners, museums, AVE legs, guided tours.

Luxury

€400+

Boutique hotels or paradores, Michelin dinners, private Alhambra guides, wine tastings.

Rough per-person, per-day estimates excluding flights.

Culture & etiquette

Meal times are late — lunch 2–4pm, dinner 9–11pm.
Tipping is small: round up or leave a few euros for good service.
Greet with 'buenos días' / 'buenas tardes' entering shops.
In the Basque Country and Catalonia, learning a few local words (kaixo, hola bon dia) is appreciated.

What to pack

Comfortable walking shoesLayers (mornings and evenings cool off)Sunglasses & sunscreenModest cover-up for cathedralsSwimsuit (if coastal)Type F plug adapter

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Spain?

10–14 days for a Madrid + Barcelona + Andalucía loop. 3 weeks lets you add the Basque Country, Valencia, or the Balearic Islands.

Barcelona or Madrid?

Both — they're very different. Barcelona: Gaudí, beach, Mediterranean vibe. Madrid: world-class art, tapas culture, more Spanish-feeling. Two nights each minimum.

When is the best time to visit Spain?

April–June and September–October. Southern Spain (Seville, Córdoba) is brutally hot in July–August; the north is pleasant year-round.

Do I need to speak Spanish?

Basic phrases help outside big cities. English is widely spoken in tourist areas of Barcelona and Madrid, less in Andalucía and the north.

Travel tips

Lunch is the main meal, often around 2pm; dinner starts at 9pm or later.
Book Sagrada Família and Alhambra tickets well in advance.
Spain's high-speed AVE train connects Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville in hours.
Many shops close for siesta in smaller towns, but not in big cities.

Ready-made Spain itineraries

Day-by-day plans you can copy into haienaplan and tweak to your dates.

10 days

10-day Spain itinerary

Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, and Granada — the classic first-timer loop.

2 weeks

2-week Spain itinerary

Add San Sebastián, Córdoba, and Ronda for a full Iberian loop.

Browse all itineraries →

Compare 10 days vs 2 weeks →

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