With 14 days to spend in Spain, you have time to discover more than a couple of cities. You can take the train or the bus and visit the towns around you – either as a day trip or stay over night.
You’ll be able to enrich your experience with lesser know places to your friends and perhaps enjoy less crowded destinations. You may even discover different tapas than in the big cities!
For your 14 days in Spain, you should set 3 hubs: Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville. These cities have different vibes and are very well connected by high-speed trains.
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Trips from Madrid
You should plan to stay in Madrid and spend a couple of days here and discover its amazing architecture and food scene. Then, you should head to one (or more) of these smaller towns, which are very easy t get to by train or with guided tours.
Toledo
This is one of the most romantic cities we’ve been to in Europe. Especially if the almond trees are in blossom, and the whole drive you get to admire them. Toledo is a medieval town with stone houses, narrow streets, and beautiful church squares. One short taxi ride gets you to the viewpoint and you get an amazing sight of the whole town, if you go at sunset.
Segovia
Most people go to Segovia for the Disney-like castle, but it has more to see than that. Overall, the city has a medieval vibe, so it’s nice to walk its streets. There’s also a Roman aqueduct, which feels huge when you get to see it in person. And the food is very good, especially the roasted suckling pig.
El Escorial
The Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is the reason people go to visit this town. It’s worth visiting for its immensity and exterior architecture that hides a beautiful interior with many details. There are many guided trips from Madrid that take you here, so it’s easy to visit.
Zaragoza
Slightly farther away compared to the other destinations, Zaragoza is worth visiting from Madrid because of its beautiful Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, the Roman walls, and its beautiful Historic center. We also found many good restaurants and think this could be the next foodie destination in Spain.
Trips from the Seville hub
Cordoba
Going from Seville to Cordoba is like taking a breath of fresh air: Cordoba is smaller and has that village vibe in the city center. Although also popular with tourists, it’s not as crowded as Seville, and there is significantly less walking.
Granada
Also smaller than Seville, Granada is a great destination because of the amazing Alhambra, the white-washed village of Albaicin, and the romantic walk along the Promenade of the Sad. At sunset, head to the San Nicolas Viewpoint, where you’ll find artists playing guitar and people enjoying an amazing view of the Alhambra.
Cadiz
Cadiz is an underrated destination in the south of Spain. It has a beautiful beach and an astonishing Cathedral, while the most interesting thing about it is its age. Cadiz is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the West. While you are here, make sure to eat all the tuna you can because this area has the best Atun Rojo (bluefin tuna).
Ronda
Small and romantic, Ronda is a fantastic destination in Andalusia. Internationally known for its dramatic views from and to the New Bridge, this town is also credited as the birthplace of modern bullfights.
The White Villages of Andalusia
If you can rent a car or if you’re comfortable using the bus, you should visit the white villages of Andalusia. These span from Cadiz to Malaga and are breathtaking. Some of the most beautiful villages we’ve seen are Frigiliana, Casares, Montefrío, Vejer de la Frontera, Mijas, and Zahara de la Sierra
Trips from the Barcelona hub
Girona
One short train ride from Barcelona and you can be in Girona – another beautiful destination in the Catalonia area. It has a beautiful Cathedral featured in the Game of Thrones series, the best-kept Jewish neighborhood in Europe, and an iron bridge designed by the same artist who built the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Just relax and admire the stone walls of the Historic center, then find a nice terrace for a coffee and some people-watching.
Monastery of Montserrat
If you want to take a break from the crowds in Barcelona, you can do a day trip to the Monastery of Montserrat. People like to go here for the spectacular mountain views and to see the famous Black Madonna.
Sitges
Also close to Barcelona, there’s Sitges, which has a beautiful beach and wonderful fishing village style houses. During the summer, there are a lot of activities and parties, so it’s great to have more fun.
Tossa de Mar
Further up the coast, an hour drive or bus ride from Barcelona, there is the beach town of Tossa de Mar. Besides the beautiful views, it’s worth going to this town for the 12th-century Castle.
Fly to San Sebastian/ Donostia
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can take the opportunity to fly to San Sebastian from Barcelona. There is beautiful architecture to see, an amazing beach to relax on, and incredible food options – get pintxos or go to fine dining restaurants.
In which order should you go to each hub
While we usually decide based on the best flight prices, the easiest option is to start from Barcelona, take the train to Madrid, and then another train to Seville. You can set the number of days in each hub based on how many trips you want to take.
Once you know where you are going, the next step is knowing what to eat. Our Starter Pack covers the 9 tapas every first-timer should try before leaving Spain.
