Spain blends Roman roads, Moorish palaces, and Renaissance canvases with a rhythm of plazas where evenings stretch over plates of olives and vermouth. In a single week, you’ll feel the stately pulse of Madrid’s boulevards and the creative spark of Barcelona’s modernisme, two cities that shaped European art and food.

Expect mornings of espresso and pastry, afternoons wandering galleries and mercados, and nights given to tapas crawls and live music. You’ll trace masterpieces at the Prado, stand in awe beneath Gaudí’s dreamlike spires, and ride the high‑speed AVE between capitals like a local.

Practical notes: dinner starts late (9–10 pm common), museums often require timed tickets, and pickpockets work the busiest spots—carry valuables close. Book major sights (Prado, Reina Sofía’s Guernica viewing window, Sagrada Família, Park Güell) a few days ahead to save time.

Madrid

Madrid feels regal yet wonderfully lived‑in—grand Habsburg squares, gilded palaces, and a legendary “Triángulo del Arte,” all stitched together by café culture and taverns perfected over generations. Its parks are vast, its museums are deep, and its tapas scene ranges from historic bars to boundary‑pushing counters.

• Top sights: Prado Museum, Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Retiro Park, Reina Sofía (Guernica), Thyssen‑Bornemisza, Gran Vía rooftops.
• Eat and drink: Mercado de San Miguel for a grazing lunch; cocido madrileño at La Bola; century-old churros at San Ginés; vermouth on tap in La Latina.
• Fun fact: Sobrino de Botín (1725) is often cited as the world’s oldest continuously operating restaurant.

Where to stay (Madrid): Browse apartments and casas via VRBO Madrid or compare hotels in Centro, Salamanca, and Chamberí with Hotels.com Madrid.

Getting in: Fly into MAD (Adolfo Suárez Madrid‑Barajas). Compare routes and prices with Omio flights. Metro and Cercanías trains connect the airport to the city; taxis have a flat city fare.

Day 1: Arrival, Old Madrid Stroll, and Tapas Welcome

Morning: Travel day. If you’re still in the air, aim to snack light and hydrate so you’re ready to walk upon arrival.

Afternoon: Check in, then take an easy loop: Puerta del Sol → Plaza Mayor → Mercado de San Miguel. Snack at Bar La Hora del Vermut (anchovy‑stuffed olives, gildas) or Mozzarella Bar’s burrata crostini if you want something fresh. For a sweet, duck into La Mallorquina (since 1894) on Sol for a napolitana de crema.

Evening: Classic dinner at Sobrino de Botín (roast suckling pig, Castilian soup)—book ahead. Alternatively, head to Cava Baja in La Latina for a tapas crawl: Casa Lucas (tuna tartare toast), Taberna Tempranillo (Rioja by the glass), and Casa Lucio (huevos rotos). Nightcap at 1862 Dry Bar in Malasaña—try a gin sour with Spanish citrus.

Day 2: Masters and Green Spaces—Prado to Retiro

Morning: Coffee at Toma Café (Malasaña; top roaster), then the Prado. Prioritize Velázquez’s Las Meninas, Goya’s Black Paintings, and Bosch’s triptychs—2–3 hours is ideal. Grab a mid‑morning bite at El Brillante (iconic calamari sandwich) near Atocha if you’re hungry.

Afternoon: Walk El Retiro Park: the Crystal Palace (free art installations), the lake, and the Rosaleda rose garden. Exit by Puerta de Alcalá and loop Plaza de Cibeles. Lunch late at La Sanabresa (value‑packed menú del día; Castilian stews) or Mercado de Antón Martín (Yokaloka for sushi or Cutzamala for Mexico‑City style tacos) if you want variety.

Evening: Flamenco night. Book Corral de la Morería (intimate stage; Michelin‑noted dining) or Cardamomo (pure energy, central). Pre‑show aperitif at Bodega de la Ardosa (vermouth; tortilla wedge) and post‑show cocktails at Salmon Guru (playful craft drinks; reservations helpful).

Day 3: Royal Madrid, Contemporary Art, and Rooftops

Morning: Traditional breakfast: Chocolatería San Ginés for churros con chocolate. Tour the Royal Palace (Throne Room, Royal Armoury) and Almudena Cathedral’s viewpoint for skyline photos over the palace gardens.

Afternoon: Reina Sofía for modern Spanish art—time your route to see Picasso’s Guernica with context galleries around it; then visit Thyssen if you prefer a greatest‑hits survey (from Van Eyck to Hopper). Coffee at HanSo Café (creative lattes, matcha) or Hola Coffee (micro‑roaster) nearby. If a half‑day excursion tempts you, swap this block for Toledo (33–40 min by train; book on Omio trains), famous for El Greco and swordcraft.

Evening: Sunset on the Azotea del Círculo de Bellas Artes (fee for access; sweeping Gran Vía views). Dinner at Sala de Despiece (nose‑to‑tail, counter‑style; arrive early or reserve) or La Vaca y La Huerta (seasonal farm‑to‑table). Finish with a vermouth at La Venencia (sherry‑only, no photos; time capsule from the 1930s).

Barcelona

Barcelona is the stage where Gothic stone meets Gaudí’s surreal curves. The city’s Mediterranean light plays off tiled facades, its markets hum with seafood and produce, and its neighborhoods—Gòtic, El Born, Eixample, Gràcia—each hold a different rhythm.

• Top sights: Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Gothic Quarter, Montjuïc, Barceloneta Beach.
• Eat and drink: El Xampanyet for cava and anchovies, La Cova Fumada for the original “bomba,” Cervecería Catalana for tapas classics, and La Paradeta for DIY seafood feasts.
• Fun fact: Gaudí’s Sagrada Família began in 1882 and is nearing completion—watch towers inch skyward.

Where to stay (Barcelona): Find design flats near El Born or Eixample via VRBO Barcelona or compare hotels (Gràcia for village vibes, Eixample for Gaudí access) on Hotels.com Barcelona.

Getting there from Madrid: Take the AVE or high‑speed alternatives from Madrid‑Puerta de Atocha to Barcelona‑Sants (≈2 hr 30 min–3 hr). Typical advance fares range €25–€75. Check schedules and book on Omio trains. Buses can be cheaper (7–8 hr; Omio buses), while flights run about 1 hr 15 min plus airport time (Omio flights).

Day 4: Madrid to Barcelona, Gothic Quarter, and El Born Tapas

Morning: Board a morning AVE. Grab a bocadillo at the station bakery and watch the Castilian meseta give way to Catalonia.

Afternoon: Check in and take a walking introduction: Barcelona Cathedral cloister (with geese), Plaça del Rei’s medieval courtyard, Roman walls on Carrer del Bisbe, and the arcaded Plaça Reial. Snack at La Boqueria: El Quim de la Boqueria (baby squid with eggs) or Bar Pinotxo (garbanzos with morcilla) if seats open.

Evening: Tapas in El Born: Cal Pep (counter show; seafood à la minute) or Tapeo (oxtail truffle cannelloni, fried artichokes). Pre‑dinner apéritif at El Xampanyet (cava, boquerones) and a late cocktail at Paradiso (speakeasy behind a pastrami shop; inventive menu worth the queue).

Day 5: Gaudí Icons—Sagrada Família, Passeig de Gràcia, Park Güell

Morning: Breakfast at Granja Viader (thick “cacaolat” chocolate, ensaïmada) or La Desayunería (hearty plates). Timed entry to Sagrada Família—book a tower climb for views across Eixample’s grid. Note the forest‑like nave and stained‑glass color gradients as the sun shifts.

Afternoon: Passeig de Gràcia for Gaudí gems: choose one interior—Casa Batlló (immersive, dreamlike) or La Pedrera (undulating roofline, attic museum). Lunch at Cervecería Catalana (bombas, grilled prawns, tortilla) or El Nacional’s food hall for a sit‑down seafood counter.

Evening: Sunset at Park Güell (timed tickets; book ahead). For dinner nearby, try La Salut (seasonal Catalan plates) or return to El Born for Bar del Pla (beef carpaccio with mustard ice cream, aubergine with honey). If you like rooftops, swing by Terraza at Hotel Ohla for a quick skyline sip.

Day 6: Sea and Hill—Barceloneta, Montjuïc, and Poble Sec

Morning: Espresso at Nomad Coffee Lab (top local roaster) and a seaside stroll along Barceloneta. Early lunch at La Cova Fumada (their original “bomba” with spicy sauce; arrive before opening) or Can Ramonet (clams a la marinera, paella for two).

Afternoon: Ride the Montjuïc cable car to the castle for harbor panoramas; then choose a museum: MNAC (Romanesque frescoes, Catalan modernism) or Fundació Miró (joyful color and form). If the Magic Fountain is operating, check same‑day schedule—service has been intermittent during drought measures.

Evening: Poble Sec pintxos crawl along Carrer de Blai (grab toothpick‑topped bites from multiple bars). For a memorable stand‑up dinner, Quimet & Quimet (conservas, montaditos with smoked salmon and truffled honey). Nightcap at La Confiteria (former pastry shop turned cocktail temple) or Dr. Stravinsky (house‑distilled botanicals).

Day 7: Markets, Modernism Details, and Departure

Morning: Breakfast pastry at Forn Baluard (seeded loaves, flaky croissants). Tour the Palau de la Música Catalana (modernist concert hall; kaleidoscopic stained glass) or wander Gràcia’s squares—Plaça del Sol and Plaça de la Vila—for a neighborhood feel.

Afternoon: Early lunch at La Paradeta (choose shellfish on ice; they cook it to order) or Bodega La Puntual (grilled octopus, Catalan sausages) before heading to the airport or train. Compare your best route with Omio flights or Omio trains.

Evening: Departure day. If you have extra time, pick up edible souvenirs: turrón from Planelles Donat or olive oil from the Santa Caterina Market.

Practical Tips and Booking Shortcuts

• Intercity transport: Book AVE/fast trains early for the best fares on Omio trains; budget buses on Omio buses; flights on Omio flights.
• Stay areas: In Madrid, Centro (walkable sights), Chamberí (local vibe). In Barcelona, El Born (historic/food), Eixample (Gaudí, grid layout), Gràcia (village feel). See VRBO Madrid, Hotels.com Madrid, VRBO Barcelona, and Hotels.com Barcelona.
• Dining culture: Prime dinner time is 9–10 pm; book popular spots 2–5 days ahead. Many kitchens close between 4–8 pm, but tapas bars bridge the gap.
• Museum timings: Some major museums close one day per week (e.g., Reina Sofía on Tuesdays); verify hours when booking timed tickets.

In one week, you’ll trace Spain’s story from royal tapestries to radical modernism, from Madrid’s taverns to Barcelona’s tile‑bright facades. The AVE stitches it together, and your memories will linger like the last sip of vermouth—warm, aromatic, and calling you back.