Spain’s story stretches from Romans and Visigoths to the Moorish golden age and a modern democracy bursting with creativity. In Barcelona, Catalan Modernisme turned architecture into sculpture. In Madrid, Habsburg plazas, royal palaces, and world-class art museums anchor the nation’s capital.

This one-week itinerary focuses on two icons—Barcelona and Madrid—linked by a smooth high-speed AVE train. You’ll see Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, wander Gothic lanes, taste market-fresh tapas, and experience flamenco the way locals do. A day trip to Toledo and Segovia wraps in medieval skylines, cathedrals, and a storybook castle.

Expect late dinners (9–11 pm), leisurely sobremesa chats, and siesta hours when smaller shops may close midafternoon. Reserve marquee sights in advance, watch for pickpockets in crowded areas, and come hungry: this trip is built around great food—from Catalan seafood and vermouth to Madrid’s cocido and churros con chocolate.

Barcelona

Barcelona blends a Roman grid with medieval alleyways and the radical dreamscapes of Antoni Gaudí. Neighborhoods feel like distinct villages: the Gothic Quarter’s stone hush, El Born’s indie ateliers, and Gràcia’s plazas strung with café tables.

Highlights include the seafront at Barceloneta, the hilltop castle and gardens of Montjuïc, and an architectural parade along Passeig de Gràcia (Casa Batlló, La Pedrera). Food runs from market bars serving razor clams to vermuterías pouring house-made bubbly and bravas.

• Where to stay (search all): VRBO Barcelona, Hotels.com Barcelona
• Curated hotels by neighborhood and budget: Beachfront design at Hotel Arts Barcelona; stylish Eixample base at Novotel Barcelona City; indie eco-chic near La Rambla at Hostal Grau Barcelona; social vibe and private rooms at Generator Barcelona; pool-and-spa comfort near the marina at H10 Marina Barcelona.
• Getting in: Fly into BCN. Compare fares on Omio (flights in/out of Europe). Coming from outside Europe? Check Trip.com (global flights).
• Getting around: Metro is fast and frequent; single rides from ~€2–3. Taxis and rideshares fill late-night gaps.

Day 1: Arrive and ease into the Gothic Quarter

Morning: Fly to Barcelona (BCN). If arriving from another European city, compare short-haul options on Omio. Rest on the plane—Spain runs delightfully late.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs through the Gothic Quarter: peek at the Roman walls on Carrer del Paradís and the soaring nave of Barcelona Cathedral. Grab a market bite at La Boqueria—queue for bomba and croquetas at El Quim or a tortilla wedge at Pinotxo Bar. Coffee? Try a flat white at Nomad Coffee or hot chocolate and melindros at Granja Viader.

Evening: Tapas hop in El Born: share anchovies, padron peppers, and Iberian ham at El Xampanyet (standing room, cava is the move), then seasonal Catalan plates at Bar del Pla (try the tuna tartare with avocado). Stroll Passeig del Born to Santa Maria del Mar, then nightcap with a vermut on tap at a classic vermutería.

Day 2: Gaudí day—Sagrada Familia and Park Güell

Morning: Beat the crowds with a guided visit to Gaudí’s masterpiece.

Barcelona: Sagrada Familia Skip-the-Line Guided Tour and Tickets

Arrive 15 minutes early; shoulders covered for the basilica. After, grab a flaky ensaïmada at Forn Mistral or a seeded “coca” at Baluard.

Afternoon: Head to Gràcia for Gaudí’s hilltop park with mosaic vistas over the city.

Park Guell Guided Tour with Skip the Line Ticket

Lunch nearby at La Pepita (pepita sandwiches, burrata with pesto) or graze on bombas and bravas at La Xula Tapería. Wander Gràcia’s plazas—Plaça del Sol and Plaça de la Vila—where kids kick footballs and seniors test out chess openings.

Evening: Sunset by the sea. Walk Barceloneta’s promenade, then order paella de marisco at Can Solé or grilled turbot at La Cova Fumada (home of the bomba). Finish with gelato at Gocce di Latte and a stroll along Port Vell.

Day 3: Mountains and markets—Montserrat + Barcelona nights

Morning–Afternoon: Trade the city for serrated peaks, Black Madonna lore, and Catalan wines on a small-group escape.

Montserrat Half-Day Tour with Tapas and Gourmet Wines

Back in town, browse the Santa Caterina Market (wavy mosaic roof), then shop along Passeig de Gràcia for Spanish labels like Loewe or Mango.

Evening: Poble-sec tapas crawl: start at Quimet & Quimet (montaditos layered with smoked salmon and truffled honey), move to La Tasqueta de Blai for pintxos by the stick, and end with craft cocktails along Paral·lel. If you prefer a hands-on dinner, consider booking a paella class for another day: Barcelona Paella Cooking Class with La Boqueria Market Visit

Madrid

Madrid radiates from the Plaza Mayor into distinct quarters: the stately Bourbon boulevards and museums of the Art Walk, the indie storefronts of Malasaña, and the wine bars of La Latina. The city’s fuel is conversation—over vermouth, tortilla, and a plate of gildas.

Beyond the energy, you’ll find heavyweight art at the Prado and Reina Sofía, an opulent Royal Palace, and Retiro’s boating lake. Evenings stretch long; embrace the rhythm.

• Where to stay (search all): VRBO Madrid, Hotels.com Madrid
• Curated hotels: Belle Époque landmark The Westin Palace, Madrid; refined suites and rooftop views at Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques; value and location at Novotel Madrid Center; budget-friendly in Barrio de las Letras at Hostal Persal; social option at Room007 Ventura Hostel.
• Barcelona → Madrid: Morning AVE high-speed train from Sants to Atocha: ~2.5–3 hours, typically €25–€80 if booked early. Search trains on Omio (Europe trains); buses are slower but cheaper via Omio (buses).
• Getting around: Metro covers the city; buy a rechargeable Multi card. Taxis are plentiful and regulated.

Day 4: AVE to Madrid, Retiro, and a tapas crawl

Morning: Depart Barcelona by AVE for Madrid (aim for 8–10 am). Grab a bocadillo de jamón and café con leche at the station. Enjoy the countryside blur past Catalonia and Castilla.

Afternoon: Drop bags and walk El Retiro Park: Crystal Palace, the lake, and centuries-old trees. If museums call, choose one on the Art Walk: Prado (Velázquez, Goya) or Reina Sofía (Picasso’s Guernica). Coffee break at Toma Café or HanSo for expert roasts.

Evening: Kick off your Madrid appetite with a small-group tasting through beloved bars.

Madrid Tapas & Wine Tasting Walking Tour – Small Group Local Bars

Expect a progressive dinner: tortilla de patatas, acorn-fed jamón, croquetas, and regional wines (Ribera, Rueda). After, sip a sweet vermut at a century-old taberna in La Latina.

Day 5: Royal Madrid, art, and flamenco

Morning: Explore Europe’s largest functioning royal residence with a guide for context on dynasties, armories, and gala rooms.

Madrid: Royal Palace Guided Tour with Skip the Line Ticket

Afterward, wander the Almudena Cathedral square and Habsburg lanes to Plaza Mayor. Snack on bocadillo de calamares from a bar under its arcades.

Afternoon: Choose a museum you missed (Thyssen for a broad survey) or shop Gran Vía and the boutiques of Chueca. Coffee and a slice of San Marcos cake at La Mallorquina on Puerta del Sol.

Evening: See pure flamenco up close—guitar, song, and dance in an intimate tablao.

Essential Flamenco: Pure Flamenco Show in the Heart of Madrid

Dinner before or after the show: order huevos rotos and callos a la madrileña at Casa Lucio, or seafood tapas at La Catapa in the Salamanca district.

Day 6: Day trip—Toledo and Segovia

Medieval lanes, synagogues, cathedrals, a fairytale alcázar, and an intact Roman aqueduct—this full-day tour stitches Spain’s layers into one epic outing. It includes transport and entry to headline sites, which maximizes time.

From Madrid: Toledo & Segovia with Cathedral, Alcazar & Lunch

Alternative focused excursion to Ávila and Segovia is also excellent if you prefer walled cities: Avila & Segovia Tour with Tickets to Monuments from Madrid

Day 7: Churros, last masterpieces, and departure

Morning: Classic breakfast at Chocolatería San Ginés (churros dipped in thick hot chocolate) or third-wave at Hola Coffee. If time allows, pick one final museum gem: a focused hour at the Prado (Goya’s Black Paintings) or Reina Sofía (Dalí rooms).

Afternoon: Souvenir sprint around Barrio de Las Letras—olive oil, smoked paprika, and tinned seafood make great gifts. If it’s Sunday, browse El Rastro flea market early. Head to the airport; for flights within Europe use Omio. For long-haul, check Trip.com.

Evening: In transit. If you have a late flight, early dinner snacks at Mercado de San Miguel: oysters, Basque pintxos, and a final glass of cava to toast the week.

Practical notes

• Tickets: Reserve Sagrada Familia and Park Güell in advance, especially in spring–autumn. Guided tours add crucial context and skip-the-line access.
• Transport costs: Barcelona–Madrid AVE ~€25–€80; Madrid metro rides ~€1.5–€2.5; Barcelona metro similar. Taxis start around €3–€4 base fare.
• Dining rhythm: Lunch 1:30–3:30 pm, dinner 9–11 pm. Many restaurants close between lunch and dinner.
• Safety: Pickpockets target crowded metros and La Rambla/Plaza Mayor. Use crossbody bags and keep phones zipped away.

Optional upgrades in Barcelona

• Best of Barcelona: Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Montjuic & Gothic

  

Optional upgrades in Madrid

• Three Cities in One Day: Segovia, Avila and Toledo from Madrid

  

• Flamenco Show & Special Menu at Torres Bermejas in Madrid

  

In one week, you’ve tasted Spain’s artistic heights, eaten like a local, and learned its history in plazas and palaces. Barcelona and Madrid are a perfect pair—one foot in the Mediterranean, the other in Castilian grandeur—stitched together by a fast train and unforgettable nights.