11 Days in Spain - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Best of Spain Highlights Tour

This 11-day highlights tour features the best of the best of Spain. It begins in the capital of Madrid with its medieval plazas and busy boulevards, then continues south to Andalusia with its history of Muslim conquest and Christian reconquest, culminating with an active cultural tour of Barcelona.

After checking into your hotel in Madrid, you can immediately head out and explore. There's no shortage of historical sights in this city of over three million people, and highlights include the Greek-inspired Fountain of Cibeles and the Puerta del Sol, one of the largest plazas in the city. On day two, you'll take a guided tour of Madrid's other landmarks, including the Royal Palace, El Retiro Park, and the Plaza Mayor, where crowds of rowdy Spaniards gather annually to ring in the new year.

Day three, you'll take a high-speed train from Madrid south to Seville, which is the capital of Spain's Andalusia region. This land, rich in Muslim and Roman Catholic heritage, is also the birthplace of flamenco music. You'll get a literal taste of this culture right off the bat with an evening visiting local tapas bars and attending an authentic flamenco performance. On day four, you'll take a private tour of the city, visiting its historic and bohemian Santa Cruz neighborhood and the 15th-century Seville Cathedral.

On day five, you'll take a guided tour of Córdoba and see its Mezquita, a Mosque-Cathedral constructed in the eighth century. Day six, you'll visit a working olive-oil estate, and on day seven, it's off to Ronda, a mountaintop city with 360-degree views of the countryside. You'll see Ronda's famous Plaza de Toros (bullring) plus take a wine tour in a former monastery. On day eight, you'll visit Granada, once the seat of Muslim rule in Spain, evidenced by the 9th-century Alhambra fortress that dominates the skyline. 

Day nine, you'll take a flight to Barcelona and can start exploring. You'll walk through the famous Gothic Quarter and El Born neighborhoods, passing the Plaça Reial and the 13th-century Barcelona Cathedral. On day 10 you'll visit the most legendary buildings designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, like the basilica of La Sagrada Família, and on day 11, you'll depart Barcelona. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Ultimate Food, Culture & Wine Tour of Spain

Eat your way through Spain on a culinary tour of the nation's most beautiful regions. It begins in one of the most attractive cities of all—Barcelona—with a second stop in Madrid before winding down on the Andalusian coast amid tapas, flamenco, and memories of Picasso.

Day one in Barcelona, you'll head out on an active tour of the city. Perhaps take the cable car up to Montjuïc for the best views in town, and definitely stop by the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc at sundown for a brilliant display of light and water. Day two, you'll also see the city from above, this time on a helicopter tour, before visiting Gaudí masterworks La Sagrada Família and Park Güell. On day three you'll get to savor the flavors of Catalonia in your own private cooking class with a master chef.

Day four you'll leave for Madrid by train and, if you're hungry on arrival, can head to Botín, the oldest restaurant in the world. Day five, you'll see the major city sights plus take a walk through El Retiro Park. This is Madrid's 308-acre green lung, and during the excursion, you can visit its 4,000-flower-strong rose garden.

Day six you're off to Seville. Before an evening of tapas and live flamenco, you can visit famous city landmarks like the stately Plaza de España and the 81,000-seat Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, home to the Real Madrid football club. On day seven you'll travel farther south, all the way to the Costa del Sol and the city of Málaga. If you're feeling peckish head out to Calle Marques de Larios and sample the local tapas. On day eight you'll visit the Picasso Museum, as Málaga is the birthplace of the cubist master. 

Day nine is special as you'll participate in romería, a religious procession in which crowds of pilgrims walk from the city to a religious sanctuary in the country. It's a wild experience filled with costumes, parades, music, and food. On day 10 you'll make a day trip to Granada and tour the Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On day 11 you'll depart Spain from Málaga. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Barcelona & The Balearic Islands

There are few better ways to recharge the batteries than on an 11-day city and island vacation. Even better when the city in question is Barcelona, and the islands we're talking about are the Balearics.

Upon arrival in Barcelona and after checking into your hotel, you can embark on a self-guided tour of the city. Perhaps take a stroll along the Port of Barcelona and Barceloneta Beach, or visit Poble Espanyol, an open-air museum recreating traditional Spanish villages. On day two, you'll visit the most famous sights designed by Gaudí, such as La Sagrada Família and Park Güell, which is located atop Carmel Hill. On your own, you can visit Ciutadella Park, a 70-acre green space home to the Barcelona Zoo.

Day three is a bicycle tour, which includes riding through the Gothic Quarter and El Born. On day four, you'll visit the oldest market in Barcelona, Mercado la Boqueria, and pick up ingredients for a private cooking class. The next day, you'll hop on a flight to Menorca, a small island in the Balearic Archipelago. Upon arrival, you'll pick up a rental car and hit local beaches like Cala d'en Tortuga or explore the capital city of Maó. On day six, you'll take a horseback ride along Menorca's stunning eastern coast.

The next day you'll fly to Mallorca, the largest of the Balearic islands. Its capital city of Palma is filled with incredible Moorish and Roman Catholic landmarks like the Royal Palace of La Almudaina and the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, which you'll see on a tour. On day eight, you'll sail around the island, and on day 10, you'll hike the coastal Tramuntana Mountains, which feature the best views in the Balearics. On day 11, you'll leave Mallorca for home. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Ultimate Northern Spain Road Trip

This 11-day exciting road trip focuses on the north of Spain and all the treasures it has to offer. After enjoying Madrid, you'll hit the road north, first into the Galicia region, before finishing the trip on the Atlantic coast and amid the rich culture of Spanish Basque Country. 

You'll arrive in Madrid and right off you'll get a taste for Spain on an evening tapas tour. The next day you'll visit the most historic sights of Madrid on a guided tour. This includes the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, and all the nearby locales that comprise the center of Old Madrid.

On day three, you'll begin your road trip as you head north to Léon, a city founded as a defensive settlement in ancient Rome and is home to well-preserved medieval buildings. On a city tour, you'll visit the old Roman Walls and the 13th-century Catedral de León, a Gothic masterpiece. On day four, you'll drive west into Galicia, a beautiful region famous for being the endpoint for the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. You'll arrive at Ribeira Sacra, a river valley with terraced vineyards.

On day five you'll take a boat tour of Ribeira Sacra and then head to the coast and the port city of Vigo. This will be the jumping-off point for the next day's boat tour of the Cíes Islands, whose white-sand beaches are better suited to the  Caribbean than Europe. That night you'll drive to Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia. Its massive central cathedral is home to the remains of Saint James the Great, and you'll visit this church on a tour of the city on day seven.

Day eight you'll continue north, stopping at Lugo and then Oviedo for tours. Both are historic mountain towns featuring UNESCO World Heritage Sites like ancient Roman walls and impressive medieval churches. On day nine you'll drive north from Oviedo to the coast and Bilbao, in Basque Country. Day 10, you'll tour its historic Old Town plus stop at the Guggenheim Museum, a Gehry-designed building that's one of the most interesting structures in Europe. On day 11, you'll depart. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Ultimate Southern Spain Road Trip

See some of the most beautiful locales in central and southern Spain over 11 days on a self-drive road trip. This is a fast-paced itinerary in which you'll depart from Madrid and end up on the Andalusian coast, and in between, you'll enjoy walking tours of Toledo, Seville, Córdoba, Ronda, and Granada. 

Instead of hitting the road right away, you'll arrive in Madrid and spend the first couple of days acclimating to the culture. See the sights and visit the best tapas bars on day one, and on a guided tour on day two, you'll visit even more famous locales like the Royal Palace and El Retiro Park. Day three, you'll get your first taste of the open road when you drive to Toledo in a rental car. This historic hillside town was the capital of Old Spain until the eighth century.

Toledo is filled with a mix of Moorish, Christian, and Jewish landmarks, which represent its long history of cultural integration. You'll visit such sights as the 12th-century Moorish Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca and the Alcázar de Toledo. The latter dates all the way back to the third century when it was first used as a palace in ancient Rome.

On day four, you'll continue driving south to Córdoba, where you'll see even more Muslim landmarks, such as the 14th-century Alcázar de los Reyes and the Mezquita. Day five, you'll drive west to Seville, and in the evening, an expert guide will lead you around various tapas bars where you'll dine on specialties like Iberian ham and bacalao (salt cod). The next day, on a private tour of Seville, you'll visit historic neighborhoods like Santa Cruz and stop at the palace Alcázar.

You'll continue the road trip on day seven with a drive south from Seville to the romantic city of Ronda, which is situated atop a gorge. You'll stop along the way in Arcos de la Frontera, one of the "white villages" of Andalusia's countryside. After touring its medieval streets and enjoying lunch and wine, you'll head to Ronda, where you can snap photos from the famous triple-arched bridge.

Day eight, you'll hike the Caminito del Rey, a network of bridges suspended from the side of a gorge over 2,000 feet above the ground. The hike takes between 3-4 hours and obviously features some stunning aerial views. At the end of day eight, you'll drive to Granada, and on day nine you'll enjoy a private tour of its massive, 9th-century Alhambra fortress. Later you'll participate in a tile-painting class hosted by a local artist.

On day 10, you'll drive to the seaside metropolis of Málaga, where the trip culminates. Take some time to enjoy the beaches and the many tapas restaurants on Calle Marques de Larios. Maybe visit the Picasso Museum, which is dedicated to Málaga's most famous son. Afterward, on day 11, it will be time to depart. Learn more

More Great 11-Day Spain Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your Spain trip? Check out these other 11-day Spain itineraries, ranging from active, to cultural, to luxury, or family-friendly trips.