Destinations · Europe

Spain.

Sun-soaked plazas, Moorish palaces & late-night tapas.

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The country

Few countries pack as much variety into one trip as Spain. In the space of a week you can stand beneath the soaring towers of Barcelona's Sagrada Familia, lose an afternoon in the tiled courtyards of Granada's Alhambra, and watch the sun set over the rooftops of a Castilian hill town, all linked by some of the fastest trains in Europe.

This is a country built around the table and the plaza. Mornings start slow over coffee and tostada; lunch is the long, unhurried heart of the day; and dinner rarely begins before nine, when whole neighborhoods spill out for tapas and conversation. The rhythm changes from region to region, from the cider houses of the Basque north to the flamenco bars of Andalusia, and learning to move at its pace is half the pleasure.

We design Spain itineraries that balance the headline sights with the quieter moments in between: a private tour of the Alhambra before the gates open, a pintxos crawl through San Sebastian's old town, an afternoon among the olive groves of the south. However you want to travel it, we build the route so each stop has room to breathe.

Capital: Madrid
Currency: Euro (€)
Ideal trip: 8–12 nights
Best for: Art, food & Moorish history

When to go

The best time to visit Spain.

Spain changes more by month than almost anywhere we book. This is the calendar as we'd sketch it across the desk — when it peaks, when it bakes, and when it's quietly yours.

Prime season Shoulder Quieter & better value

April–June

Our favorite stretch: Holy Week processions and Seville's Feria in April, Cordoba's patios in bloom by May, long warm days into June — all before the fierce heat and high prices of midsummer.

September–October

The grape harvest in Rioja, still-warm Mediterranean water and softer light. Ideal for pairing the cities with wine country and the coast without summer's crowds.

July–August

Peak summer: the coasts and islands are at their best, but inland cities like Madrid, Seville and Cordoba can be punishingly hot, and prices peak. Book the Balearics well ahead.

November–March

Mild, quiet and great value, with the cities at their most local. Expect some rain in the north and cool evenings; perfect for an art, food and history focused trip.

Where to go

The regions of Spain.

Spain is really a country of countries, each with its own language, landscape and table. These are the regions we weave together most often, from the museum-rich capital to the Moorish south, the creative Mediterranean coast and the green, food-obsessed north.

Region

Madrid

The high, handsome capital: world-class art at the Prado and Reina Sofia, grand boulevards, leafy Retiro park and some of the best eating and nightlife in the country.

Region

Barcelona & Catalonia

Gaudi's dreamlike architecture, the medieval Gothic Quarter and a Mediterranean beach within reach of the center, plus the wine country of the Penedes just inland.

Region

Andalusia

The soul of southern Spain: the Alhambra in Granada, Seville's cathedral and flamenco, Cordoba's mosque-cathedral and the white hill towns in between.

Region

The Basque Country

Green, dramatic and proudly distinct, with the pintxos bars of San Sebastian, the Guggenheim in Bilbao and a wild Atlantic coast of surf beaches and fishing towns.

Region

The Balearic Islands

Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera: turquoise coves, pine-clad hills and harbor towns, an easy add-on for travelers who want to finish on the Mediterranean.

Coming soon

More from Spain on the way.

We're busy writing up our favorite Spain experiences. There's far more here than we can list, so the fastest way to start is simply to tell us what you're dreaming of.

Plan a Spain Trip

A sample journey

One way to spend a week in Spain.

1

Days 1–3
Madrid

Begin in the capital: the Prado and Reina Sofia, a stroll through the Retiro, and long evenings of tapas in the old center, with the Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor in between.
2

Day 4
Toledo & Segovia

Day-trip into Castile: the walled, three-faith city of Toledo above the Tagus, or the Roman aqueduct and fairy-tale alcazar of Segovia, both an easy hop from Madrid.
3

Days 5–6
Seville

South by high-speed train to Andalusia's capital: the vast cathedral and Giralda, the tiled Plaza de Espana, the Alcazar's gardens and a flamenco evening in Triana.
4

Days 7–8
Granada

On to Granada for the headline of the trip: a private morning at the Alhambra, the hilltop lanes of the Albaicin, and free tapas with every drink as the city does it best.
5

Days 9–11
Barcelona

Finish on the Mediterranean: Gaudi's Sagrada Familia and Park Guell, the medieval Gothic Quarter, the Boqueria market and a last seafood paella by the sea.

Every itinerary we build is bespoke: this is a starting point, not a package.

Getting around

By high-speed rail: The AVE is the backbone of most of our Spain itineraries: city center to city center with no airport hassle, and fast connections on to Cordoba, Malaga and Valencia.
By car & driver-guide: For Andalusia's hill villages and the wine country we pair rail with a private driver-guide or a hire car — the freedom to stop at a roadside bodega is half the appeal.
In the cities: Madrid, Barcelona and Seville are walking cities at heart. We book hotels so the neighborhoods you came for are outside the front door, with the metro for the rest.
To the islands: A short hop by plane, or an overnight ferry to the Balearics. We time the connections so the beach days follow the city days without a wasted morning.

Where to stay

Madrid: We favor stays in the Barrio de las Letras, Chueca and around the Retiro for walkable access to the great museums, with grande-dame hotels along the Gran Via for a more classic feel.
Barcelona: The Eixample puts Gaudi's landmarks on your doorstep with elegant, leafy streets; the Gothic Quarter and El Born suit travelers who want to be in the medieval heart of the city.
Andalusia: In Seville we love the characterful Santa Cruz quarter, and in Granada a stay in the Albaicin or up near the Alhambra rewards you with the city's most atmospheric evenings.
San Sebastian: Belle-epoque hotels above La Concha beach and small inns in the old town put you steps from the best pintxos bars in the country; book the marquee tables well ahead.

Transfers, rail tickets, driver-guides and island connections are all arranged as part of every itinerary — the logistics are handled before you arrive.

Good to know

Spain travel questions.

How many days do you need in Spain?

Eight to twelve nights is the sweet spot. A week and a bit comfortably covers Madrid, Andalusia and Barcelona by high-speed train; closer to two weeks lets you add the Basque Country, a wine region or a few days on the Balearic Islands at an unhurried pace.

When is the best time to visit Spain?

Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October) are ideal: warm days, manageable crowds and, in autumn, the wine harvest. July and August are hot and busy inland, but excellent for the northern coast and the islands. Winters are mild and great value in the cities.

Should I visit Madrid or Barcelona?

If you can, both; they are about two and a half hours apart by AVE high-speed train and complement each other well. Madrid is grand, central and home to the great art museums; Barcelona is coastal and creative, defined by Gaudi and the Mediterranean. We often build an itinerary that begins in one and ends in the other.

Do I need to rent a car in Spain?

Not for the cities, which are best on foot and by metro, and the high-speed train network links them beautifully. A car or private driver-guide is worthwhile for the Andalusian white towns, the Rioja wine country and the back roads of the Basque Country, where the freedom to explore adds a lot.

Is the Alhambra worth visiting, and do I need tickets in advance?

Absolutely; the Alhambra in Granada is one of the finest monuments in Europe and a highlight of any Spain trip. Tickets, especially for the Nasrid Palaces, are timed and sell out weeks ahead, so booking early is essential. We secure entry and arrange a private guide as part of the itinerary.

From the journal

Reading on Spain.

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