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Dreaming of a trip to sunny Spain? With such a large and diverse country – it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are some cities you won’t want to miss during your first time in Spain. With so much to do and see, your first visit will likely not be your last!
Madrid
Madrid is an incredible city. The vibrant capital of Spain is an energetic mix of history, culture, beauty, food, and art. It offers world class museums, beautiful architecture, and plenty of delicious food and drink.
I recommend starting your time in Madrid with a free walking tour to orient you to the basics of the city center and give you ideas for must-visit spots.
Most free walking tours will give you an introduction to the La Latina Neighborhood and walk you through Plaza Mayor, now a central meeting space in Madrid, but previously the site of public executions during the Spanish Inquisition.
Our walking tour guide pointed out the fantastic Casa Revuelta where we enjoyed bacalao (fried cod) and cañas (small glasses) of beer.
Attractions
Royal Palace
The Madrid Royal Palace (Palacio Real) is spectacular inside and absolutely worth a visit. Built in the 18th century by King Philip V, the interior of the palace is filled with opulence and luxury.
Prado Museum
The Prado Museum, or Museo del Prado, is one of the most prestigious art museums in the world. It houses an extensive collection of European art, dating from the 12th to the early 20th century, with works by artists such as Velázquez, Goya, Rubens, and El Greco.
Retiro Park
Retiro Park is one of Madrid’s biggest and most beautiful green spaces. You can rent a boat and paddle around the picturesque lake, visit the Crystal Palace, or just wander through the gardens.
Lavapiés Neighborhood
Lavapiés is one of Madrid’s most interesting and eclectic neighborhoods, filled with a fun mix of food from around the world, vibrant street art, and bustling bars. We took a guided street art tour through Lavapiés and it was one of the highlights of our time in Madrid.
Malasaña Neighborhood
Malasaña is one of Madrid’s best neighborhoods, known for its nightlife and art. There are plenty of great coffee shops and tapas bars on every street. We took a tapas walking tour through Malasaña with Walk and Eat Spain and could not have been happier. Our guide was so kind and knowledgeable and took us to incredible spots.
Day trips from Madrid
The two most popular day trips from Madrid are Toledo and Segovia. They both have a lot to offer.
Toledo is known as the “City of Three Cultures” because of its Christian, Muslim, and Jewish heritage. It’s located on top of a hill and contains winding streets and impressive medieval architecture, including the Toledo Cathedral and the Alcázar fortress.
Segovia is famous for its enormous and mostly intact Roman aqueduct and its beautiful Alcázar fortress. The castle was used as inspiration for the castle in the Disney movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
If I were to choose between Toledo and Segovia for a day trip, I’d probably choose Segovia, although many would disagree. Segovia’s sites were more impressive to me. Toledo is also known as one of the hottest (temperature-wise) cities in Spain, so keep that in mind when visiting in summer months.
Where to stay in Madrid
If you’re using Chase Ultimate Rewards points there are a number of Hyatts to choose from. I’ve stayed at both the Thompson Madrid and the Hyatt Regency Hesperia Madrid. They’re both excellent hotels, but the Thompson Madrid wins on location. It’s easily walkable to many of the major sites in Madrid including Plaza Mayor and Retiro Park. It’s surrounded by shops, bars, and restaurants and has some of the nicest staff members I’ve ever met. The Thompson Madrid is a category 6 hotel, which means it’s available for as little as 21,000 points/night. The Hyatt Regency is a category 4 hotel, and is available as low as 12,000 night.
If you’re booking with cash, I loved my stay at Posada del Leon de Oro in the La Latina neighborhood. It has cute rooms, an included breakfast, friendly staff, and a great location.
Sevilla (Seville)
Seville is stunningly beautiful. Everywhere you look there’s something incredible to see. Not only does it boast world famous buildings like the Alcázar and the Seville Cathedral, but it also has an incredibly charming energy and life in the winding pedestrian streets.
Attractions
The Alcázar of Seville
The Alcázar of Seville is a beautiful palace known for its blend of Mudéjar, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural styles. Originally built as a Moorish fort, it’s now one of the oldest palaces still in use, serving as a residence for the Spanish royal family. Every room seems more beautiful than the last. It’s difficult to fully take in all of the intricate designs in one visit.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral is an enormous Gothic cathedral full of intricate details. It’s the home of the tomb of Christopher Columbus and also has a bell tower, La Giralda, you can climb for views of the city.
Plaza de España
Plaza de España is a relatively new area as far as Seville is concerned. It was built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. It’s a large semi-circular building in a large park that hosts events like festivals and concerts. It’s a beautiful spot to spend an afternoon wandering around.
Day trip from Seville
One of the best day trips from Seville is the beautiful town of Ronda. Set on a dramatic gorge and home to an incredible bridge, Ronda is a striking location with a lot to do.
Where to stay in Seville
I recommend staying in a central walkable location. We stayed on the pedestrian street Calle Francos, which was short walk from the Cathedral and the Alcázar.
I can’t fully recommend the place I stayed, but these apartments would be what I would choose next time.
If you prefer a hotel, check out the map below. Just add your travel dates to see options.
Granada
Granada is a historic city near the scenic foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Its main attraction is the Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its Islamic architecture and Nasrid Palaces. It’s also a wonderful place to see a flamenco show and enjoy tapas.
Attractions
The Alhambra
The Alhambra in Granada is an impressive fortress complex full of intricate design work and beautiful gardens. Be sure to book your tickets in advance. Entrance to the Nasrid Palaces is timed and the line is often in full sun.
Sacromonte
The Sacromonte neighborhood is famous for its whitewashed cave houses and exciting flamenco shows. Located in the hills overlooking the Alhambra, it’s a great place to experience a flamenco show.
Granada Cathedral and Royal Chapel
The Granada Cathedral and Royal Chapel are right next to each other. The cathedral contains paintings by Ribera and El Greco, while the Royal Chapel hosts the remains of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragón. You can sign up for a guided tour or take them in on your own.
Tapas food tour
Granada is famous for tapas and a food tour is an excellent way to learn more about the tapas tradition as well as the many different traditional tapas available.
Tapas are small plates of food served with a drink (usually containing alcohol). There are many stories about the origin of tapas. Our tour guide told us the most popular story is that during the 13th century, the king noticed too many people were getting drunk on a regular basis, so he ordered that every drink be served with a small snack, to help cut down on public intoxication.
Where to stay
I recommend staying within walking distance of the city center, specifically in the Centro, Albaicín, or Generalife neighborhoods. Just enter your travel dates into the map below to see your options.
Barcelona
Barcelona is Spain’s second largest city and has a very different feel from Madrid. It feels a little more polished and fancy. It’s located in the Catalan region of Spain and you’ll notice that signs are printed in both Catalan and Spanish. Prices are a bit higher in Barcelona than in the other cities listed as well.
Attractions
Sagrada Familia
The Sagrada Familia is an iconic basilica designed by Antoni Gaudí. Construction began in 1882 and, despite being unfinished, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited monuments in Spain.
Park Güell
Park Güell is another of Gaudí’s works, with colorful mosaics, unusual architecture, and excellent city views. Advance tickets are recommended. The day I visited, I simply bought my ticket on site before entering with very little wait.
Casa Batlló
Another of Gaudí’s creations, Casa Batlló is a building in the center of Barcelona, Spain. Although many people simply walk by and admire the exterior, tickets are also available for an interior tour.
Where to stay in Barcelona
Barcelona is a city of 1.5 million people – if you stay too far out, you’ll spend a lot of time on transportation. I stayed in Barcelona’s Poble Sec neighborhood and found it to be close enough to what I wanted, yet still with a neighborhood feel. Other neighborhoods that would work well are the Gothic Quarter, El Raval, and Gràcia. Enter your dates in the map below to find great options.
Organizing the itinerary
If you choose to see all four cities, you can fly into Barcelona and out of Sevilla at the end of the trip. Spain has an excellent high speed rail system that will take you between major cities in as little as three hours. You can see all four cities in ten days – three days in both Madrid and Barcelona and two days in both Granada and Sevilla.
If you prefer only three cities, I would leave Barcelona for the next trip and focus on Madrid, Granada, and Sevilla. You can fly into and out of Madrid or into Madrid and out of Sevilla, depending on your preference and spend seven days total – three in Madrid, two in Granada, and two in Sevilla.
Getting there
There are direct flights from the USA to both Barcelona and Madrid. Iberia Air is a great option for those using Chase Ultimate Rewards to travel. I recently flew round-trip from Chicago to Madrid for 40,000 points plus taxes and fees. The airline’s app leaves a bit to be desired, but the flight was on time both ways and the in-flight service was good.
If you haven’t gotten started with points and miles yet, the Sapphire Preferred is a great choice. These points transfer to a variety of partners including United Airlines and Iberia. Your best transfer option will depend on your departure airport in the USA.
If you are booking with points, I recommend searching a variety of dates using the easy tools on Google Flights.
Don’t forget
You’ll need a plug adapter to plug in American appliances in Spain. I really like this one since it has capacity to plug in multiple items at once and also has USB ports.
Final thoughts
If you’re a first time visitor to Spain, these cities are a great place to start. Spain is a country you’ll likely want to come back to again and again. The beauty of the architecture, the history, the friendly people, the fantastic food – it has it all and there’s always more to discover!