A Local’s Take on 7 Days in Barcelona and Madrid: Art, Tapas, Flamenco, and Day Trips
Spain’s story is written in stone: Roman roads, Moorish arches, Gothic spires, and Modernist dreams. Across centuries it became a place where art, faith, and daily life mingle in plazas and markets, carried along by guitars and clinking glasses of vermouth.
In this one-week Spain itinerary, you’ll weave through Barcelona’s Gaudí masterpieces, swim in the hum of its markets, and savor seafood by the Mediterranean. Then you’ll ride the AVE high-speed train to Madrid for royal palaces, legendary art, and a flamenco show that thrums in your ribs.
Expect late dinners (9–10 pm is normal), light tipping (round up or 5–10% for standout service), and lively neighborhoods that wake up slowly and go late. Keep an eye on your belongings in busy areas, book big-ticket sights ahead, and bring comfortable shoes—the best corners of Spain are found on foot.
Barcelona
Barcelona shines with color—trencadís tiles glinting on Park Güell, the Sagrada Familia thrusting skyward, and sunlit boulevards that spill into the sea. It’s a city of ateliers and bodegas, where mornings may start at the market and evenings end with cava and anchovies in El Born.
Beyond Gaudí, dive into Roman Barcino in the Gothic Quarter, the galleries of Montjuïc, and modern design shops in Poblenou. Fuel up on tomato‑rubbed pa amb tomàquet, grilled calçots (in season), and seafood fideuà by the beach.
- Top sights: Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Montjuïc, Gothic Quarter, El Born, Barceloneta Beach.
- Favorite eats: El Quim de la Boqueria (market counter classics), Cal Pep (counter tapas; go early), Can Culleretes (historic Catalan dishes), La Paradeta (choose‑and‑weigh seafood), El Xampanyet (cava + anchovies), Bar del Pla (seasonal tapas), Disfrutar (for a splurge tasting menu).
- Coffee & sweets: Nomad Coffee, Satan’s Coffee, Granja Viader (thick hot chocolate and crema catalana).
Where to stay (Barcelona): For a beachfront icon with art and views, consider Hotel Arts Barcelona. Design-forward comfort near Torre Glòries: Novotel Barcelona City. Boutique and eco-minded in the center: Hostal Grau Barcelona (also available here: Hostal Grau). Stylish hostel vibes: Generator Barcelona. Great value near the marina: H10 Marina Barcelona or beach-adjacent comfort at Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona. Browse more stays: VRBO Barcelona | Hotels.com Barcelona.
How to get to Barcelona: Fly into BCN (2–3 hours from many European hubs). Compare fares on Omio flights if you’re coming from within Europe; from outside Europe, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Arriving by rail from France or elsewhere in Spain? Check times/prices on Omio trains.
Day 1: Arrival in Barcelona — Gothic Quarter Ramble & Tapas
Morning: Travel to Barcelona. If you’re coming by train, the city’s Sants station connects easily to the metro. Drop bags at your hotel.
Afternoon: Shake off jet lag with a leisurely stroll through the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic): Plaça Reial’s palms, Roman walls by the cathedral, and Carrer del Bisbe’s neo‑Gothic bridge. Coffee at Nomad Coffee Lab (balanced, modern roasts) or classic hot chocolate at Granja Viader.
Evening: Tapas crawl in El Born: start at El Xampanyet (house cava, boquerones), continue to Bar del Pla (Iberian pork with seasonal veg), and finish with crema catalana at Can Culleretes, the city’s oldest restaurant. Nightcap on Passeig del Born or a seaside stroll in Barceloneta.
Day 2: Gaudí Day — Sagrada Familia and Park Güell
Morning: Dive into Gaudí with a guided, skip‑the‑line visit to the basilica that defines Barcelona’s skyline.
Recommended tour: Barcelona: Sagrada Familia Skip-the-Line Guided Tour and Tickets
Pre-tour breakfast at Granja Viader or a quick cortado and ensaïmada from a neighborhood bakery. After your visit, walk the Eixample grid to admire Casa Batlló and La Pedrera’s facades from the outside.
Afternoon: Head to Park Güell for mosaics, lizard fountains, and panoramic views over the city to the sea.
Recommended tour: Park Guell Guided Tour with Skip the Line Ticket
Lunch nearby at La Paradeta (choose your seafood; they cook it to order) or a plate of bomba de la Barceloneta and patatas bravas at a local bodega.
Evening: Drinks on a rooftop in Eixample or El Born. Dinner at Cal Pep (famous counter; ask for clams and tortilla) or Bar Mut (seasonal Catalan plates). If you fancy dessert, seek out turrón ice cream at a gelateria along Passeig de Sant Joan.
Day 3: Markets, Montjuïc, and a Paella Night
Morning: Breakfast in La Boqueria market: pull up at El Quim de la Boqueria for baby squid with eggs or a simple toast with tomato and jamón. Ride up to Montjuïc: explore the Olympic Ring, MNAC’s grand steps, and the cactus garden for harbor views.
Afternoon: Cable car to Montjuïc Castle for city-and-sea vistas. Coffee at Satan’s Coffee (clean, bright brews) back in the center, then a breather at the leafy Plaça de Sant Felip Neri.
Evening: Roll up your sleeves for a hands-on cooking class—market shopping, tapas, sangria, and the secrets of socarrat.
Recommended class: Barcelona Paella Cooking Class with Market Visit, Tapas & Sangria
Cap the night with a seaside walk along the boardwalk at Barceloneta.
Day 4: Montserrat Morning, Beachy Afternoon
Morning: Make a half-day pilgrimage to Montserrat—jagged peaks, a Benedictine monastery, and the Black Madonna. The views alone are worth the trip.
Recommended excursion: Montserrat Monastery Half Day Experience from Barcelona
Afternoon: Return to Barcelona for a late seafood lunch in Barceloneta (grilled sardines, arroz a banda). Lounge on the sand or head to Poblenou for design boutiques and an espresso at Nomad Roaster’s Home.
Evening: Farewell-to-Barcelona dinner at Can Culleretes (roast suckling pig, Catalan stews) or modern Catalan at Bar del Pla. Pack and rest—tomorrow you ride the AVE.
Barcelona → Madrid (Plan for tomorrow morning): Book the high-speed train (AVE) on Omio trains. Typical journey time is ~2 hr 30 min; advance fares often €30–€80. Buses take ~7–8 hours (Omio buses). If you’d rather fly, compare on Omio flights, though train is usually faster center-to-center.
Madrid
Madrid is regal yet raucous: grand boulevards and baroque palaces by day, clinking cañas and tapas toasts by night. Art lovers orbit the “Golden Triangle” of the Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen; flâneurs drift through Retiro’s gardens and over literary cobblestones in Las Letras.
Expect hearty stews, crispy croquetas, and vermouth on tap. The best way to eat here is progressive: one or two plates per stop, then onward—like madrileños have done for generations.
- Top sights: Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Prado Museum, Reina Sofía, Thyssen-Bornemisza, El Retiro Park, Gran Vía, Temple of Debod.
- Favorite eats: Chocolatería San Ginés (churros con chocolate), La Mallorquina (napolitanas), Bodega de la Ardosa (tortilla), Casa Lucio (huevos rotos), Mercado de San Miguel (gourmet stalls), La Trainera (seafood).
- Nightlife: La Latina for tapas-hopping, Cava Baja’s tascas, jazz in Huertas, and classic cocktail bars off Gran Vía.
Where to stay (Madrid): Classic glamour under stained-glass domes: The Westin Palace, Madrid. Contemporary comfort near El Retiro: Novotel Madrid Center. Old-World luxury near the Royal Palace: Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques. Reliable value in the center: Hostal Persal or Room007 Ventura Hostel. Another upscale option: Melia Madrid Princesa. Browse more stays: VRBO Madrid | Hotels.com Madrid.
Getting to Madrid from Barcelona: Take the morning AVE (≈2.5 hours). Book on Omio trains. Expect €30–€80 if booked early.
Day 5: Madrid Arrival — Retiro, Gran Vía, and Flamenco
Morning: AVE to Madrid. Drop bags, then stroll El Retiro: Crystal Palace, the lake with rowboats, and the shaded Paseo de la Argentina.
Afternoon: Coffee at Toma Café (specialty pioneer) and a pastry at La Mallorquina by Puerta del Sol. Window-shop Gran Vía’s Belle Époque facades and duck up to the Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop for a skyline view.
Evening: Dinner near Plaza Mayor—Bodega de la Ardosa for tortilla and vermouth, or Casa Lucio for famous huevos rotos. Then settle into an intimate tablao for a visceral show.
Recommended show: Essential Flamenco: Pure Flamenco Show in the Heart of Madrid
Day 6: Full-Day Toledo & Segovia (UNESCO Classics)
Trade the capital for medieval lanes and Roman grandeur. In Toledo, see the cathedral’s gilded choir, El Greco’s brushwork, and the mix of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic heritage in synagogues and mosques. In Segovia, crane your neck under the 2,000‑year‑old Roman aqueduct and wander to the fairytale Alcázar.
Recommended tour: Toledo & Segovia Tour with Cathedral and Alcazar Tickets & Lunch
Expect an early start and an 11–12 hour day with comfortable coach transport and guided visits. Back in Madrid, grab a late bite on Cava Baja—morcilla, croquetas, or a simple tortilla in a cozy tasca.
Day 7: Royal Madrid Morning — Departure
Morning: Start with churros at Chocolatería San Ginés, then cross to the Royal Palace—Europe’s largest by floor area—for art-laden halls and frescoed ceilings.
Recommended visit: Madrid: Royal Palace Guided Tour with Skip the Line Ticket
Peek into Almudena Cathedral and take a last wander through the Literary Quarter (Las Letras), where verses are etched into the pavement.
Afternoon: Pick up jamón, tinned seafood, and olive oil at Mercado de la Paz for edible souvenirs. Head to the airport or train station. For European flights compare on Omio flights; long-haul options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
What to Budget & Book in Advance
- Big sights: Reserve Sagrada Familia and Park Güell ahead (you’ve got guided options above). Royal Palace can sell out on weekends—book early.
- Transport: AVE Barcelona–Madrid from €30–€80 when booked weeks out on Omio trains.
- Food: Tapas €3–€6 each; restaurant mains €14–€28; coffee €2–€3; vermouth €3–€5.
Optional Barcelona upgrades (if you swap activities): For a combined Gaudí day: Park Guell and Sagrada Familia Tour with Skip the Line Tickets
Seville someday? When you return to Spain, consider a Seville deep dive with the Sevilla Food Tour: Tapas, Wine, History & Traditions
Seven days in Spain gives you two distinct beats: the Mediterranean rhythm of Barcelona and Madrid’s royal swagger. With Gaudí’s curves, golden galleries, and nights of tapas and flamenco, you’ll leave with a full camera roll and an even fuller heart.