Spain in 10 Days
As many of you may know, Spain is a large country, that features varied landscapes, vibrant cities and incredible cuisine. Last summer, I had the opportunity to travel through Spain and explore three of their incredible cities; Barcelona, Madrid and Majorca.
I decided to share my Spain 10-Day Itinerary with you guys, and provide some insider tips if you ever-so decide to travel and visit Spain! This itinerary is for those who want a dose of the Mediterranean, history and a taste of local living.
3 Days in Barcelona
Our first stop was in Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona was by far one of the highlights of my trip. The city is proudly Catalan and lively with some of the most impressive and unique sights in Spain. The genius works of the architect Antoni Gaudi were so distinctive and colossal that I couldn’t help but be awed throughout my stay.
Day 1
Casa Batlló (one of the most popular attractions, so make sure to plan this for the beginning of your day). Even from the outside this property is intriguing , with the famous balconies on the buildings façade, which are reminiscent of Venetian masks.
Casa Milá, also known as La Pedrera, is a short walk from Casa Batlló, and is another of Gaudi’s houses in Barcelona – the last of his major civil works.
Take a stroll past Plaça de Catalunya and head down onto Las Ramblas, one of the cities most famous streets. Stop to grab a bite and take a drink from the fountain at the northern end of the street. Stop by at La Boqueria, it's about half way down Las Ramblas and is the cities oldest and most famous market.
Mirador de Colom (Columbus Monument) will greet you once you reach the end of Las Ramblas, on the South side. This statue features Christopher Columbus, the famous Italian explorer largely responsible for opening up the Americas to European exploration.
Right past the Mirador de Colom, you’ll find Barcelonas marina area. Stop for some coffee, and watch as the boats pull in their sails.
Day 2
Here is where the Barcelona City Bus Hop-on Hop-off buss tour comes particularly handy. Park Güell is situated on the hills towards the north of the city, and is another of Gaudi’s works. You can visit parts of the park without a ticket, but the key attractions, known as the Monumental Zone, do require a ticket.
Option A – Camp Nou
Option B – Montjuïc Castle
Option C – National Museum of Catalunya Art (MNAC)
Day 3
The Gothic Quarter, is just about the oldest part of the city, and has some of the highlights of Barcelona tucked away. The high buildings and narrow streets make it difficult to navigate, so I’d recommend carrying with you a paper map incase you do get lost.
When visiting Barcelona, you must plan a stop to see La Sagrada Familia, it's one of the most beautiful sites in Barcelona, and is one of Gaudi's most famous architectures. I would go to the extent of saying that your trip to Barcelona is pointless without a visit to the Sagrada Familia and there are many reasons why. Ranked the #1 thing to do in Barcelona by Tripadvisor, this modernist masterpiece is Gaudi’s best work and it has earned this status without even being completed!
Main Attractions
Las Ramblas
La Boqueria
Mirador de Colom (Columbus Monument)
Gothic Quarter
Plaza Catalunya
Stay
Plan a minimum stay of 3 days. Try and situate yourself in one of these three main areas:
EAT
$$ La Esquina (I recommend their Avocado Toast)
$$ El Nacional (A must for Tapas Lovers)
$$ Flax & Kale (Delicious Flexitarian healthy food; Organic, Vegan and Vegetarian options)
Pro Tip; Buy your tickets to Park Guell and Sagrada Familia ahead of time to avoid line-ups. I HIGHLY recommend the Barcelona Hop-on Hop-off bus. Barcelona is a HUGE city, and you can get lost easily. Also if you do decide to go with the Barcelona city bus, I recommend you get off at the MNAC stop, even if you don’t decide to go inside, the building offers a spectacular view over the city.
5 Days in Majorca
The Spanish Balearic island of Majorca has become well known for its stunning beaches, limestone mountains, and popular nightlife in the capital city of Palma. Even though Majorca is a relatively small, there is so much to do and see.
Your trip will vary depending on where you stay. However, regardless of your location on the Island, I recommend you plan a visit to the capital of this Spanish island, Palma. Additionally, Port de Sóller, and Valldemossa can be reached via public transit (which is surprisingly easy to navigate).
Majorca is home to some of the best beaches in Spain. From sandy coves to pebbled beaches, it’s not hard to find a beach to suit all tastes. Some beaches to visit are: Cala Agulla, Cala Mondragó, Es Trenc*, Cala Fromentor, Playa de Muro, Canyamel, Port de Pollença, Cala Millor, Playa de Alcudia, Cala Mesquida.
Main Attractions:
Cap De Formentor
Valldemossa
Port de Soller
Es Trenc beach
STAY
I recommend basing yourself anywhere around Palma. We chose to stay in Magaluf which had affordable hotels and is approximately a 20 minute drive to Palma and a few minute walk to Palmanova beach. We stayed here for 4 nights and 5 days, but I would recommend a minimum of 6 days to really explore all the island has to offer.
We arrived last in Madrid, Spain’s capital city. The streets are narrow, the apartments all have beautiful shuttered balconies and the charm is everywhere. We settled in for a couple days of sightseeing, a healthy dose of tapas and laid back nights that end with churros con chocolate.
Day 1
Take a walk down to Plaza de España and stop by at the Templo de Depot (a temple with more than 2000 years of history donated by the Egyptian government). The temple is situated on top of a small hill where you can enjoy fantastic views of the south part of the city.
Next, visit the majestic Royal Palace of Madrid. With more than 3000 rooms, it is one of the largest palaces in the world.
Leaving behind the Palacio Real, continue up Calle Mayor until you reach Plaza Mayor, one of the most famous places in Madrid. From public executions and bull fights to Christmas markets, this plaza has been the nucleus of the city since the 17th century.
Exiting through one of the arches of Plaza Mayor, you can visit the bustling Mercado de San Miguel. In this gastronomy marketplace, you can find all sorts of delicacies and exclusive products.
Once you’ve refuelled and grabbed a bite to eat at the Mercado de San Miguel, continue your trip towards Puerta del Sol, sometimes called “Spanish Times Square”. This square is the busiest in Madrid and it is the epicenter of the city.
Day 2
Start your day by checking out the Museo del Prado. This is Madrid’s premier tourist attraction and one of the oldest and greatest collections of art in the world. It contains a fabulous array of masterpieces by artistic greats such as Bosch, El Greco, Titian, Rubens Velázquez and Goya.
After visiting the Del Prado, ward off any museum fatigue by freshening up with a stroll, jog, bike ride or even rollerblade around beautiful and bustling Retiro park. The tranquil gardens within the park are exquisite, and row boats can be rented from the shore of the lake.
I recommend staying a minimum of 2 days. Perhaps the best neighbourhood to stay in Madrid would be the Centro district, to stay centrally located near the main sights and attractions. We stayed in an Airbnb in the La Latina district which offers affordable accommodations, and a taste of local living.
EAT
Pro Tip; Take advantage of the free walking tours to get a lay of the land in Madrid. Sandemans New Europe has tours at 10:00AM, 11:00AM and 2:00PM and meets near the Tourist information in Plaza Mayor. If you happen to be in Madrid on a Sunday (which we were), I recommend checking out Madrid's famous weekly flea market, El Rastro Market (seen above). This market opens every Sunday in the colorful streets of La Latina around ‘Plaza de Cascorro.’ The best time to hit the Rastro is at about 1PM, which allows 2 hours for browsing before the stands begin to close. At this time the Rastro is usually a bit less crowded, as you miss the earlier morning rush.
