10 Days in Spain: Touring Madrid, Seville and Granada

Bienvenido a España! I’ve always been intrigued by the wonders of Spain ever since I started taking Spanish classes in middle school. Being a fan of history, I loved learning about Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, the Arab Islamic conquest and the exploration of the New World. 

Now being a travel blogger, my favorite pastime is searching for flights and when I found a $500 roundtrip flight from LAX to MAD I couldn’t pass it up. The best time to visit Spain is during spring and fall when the weather is milder and more enjoyable. My trip was planned for late August through early September and while it was hot some days the weather was quite pleasant for most of the trip.

Day 1: Land in Madrid, Spain

Depending on what time you fly into Madrid, you will have different options to do during your first day in Madrid. My flight landed at 8pm so as soon as I checked in my hotel I hit up Puerta del Sol to look for a good place to eat and enjoy the nightlife. 

Day 2: Madrid, Spain

I started my journey with a full and hearty breakfast and my hotel and made my way to Puerta del Sol which was a short five minute walk away. My plan for the day was to see the Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and El Rastro in that order since they are all along  on the way to the Palacio Real de Madrid and Temple de Debod.

Puerta del Sol

Puerta del Sol marks the very heart of Madrid and serves as kilometer zero from which all radical roads in Spain are measured. It is one of the busiest and liveliest centers with street artists, food and shopping. 

Plaza Mayor

Next I made my way to the Plaza Mayor, Madrid’s most famous public square. The stunning architecture, open air dining and that bronze statue of King Philip III attract people from all over. I do not suggest eating here as it is heavily catered towards tourists therefore prices are quite steep. Instead, I recommend to keep walking around and finding a local cafe or visiting Mercado de San Miguel, a popular market that serves gourmet tapas. 

El Rastro

Since my first full day in Spain was a Sunday, I could not miss El Rastro, an open air flea market with live music and plenty of bargains. It is best to get there early before it gets overly crowded but if you are going there for the experience then head there between 11am-1pm. 

Palacio Real de Madrid

After a bit of bargain hunting, I headed over to a local cafe to grab a bite to eat and a caña before making my way to Palacio Real de Madrid. Built by Phillip V in the 1700s, the palace was designed to be like Versailles and has over 2,000 rooms. With portraits of former kings and queens and tapestries, the palace is still used for state events while the front courtyard is used as a public space for all of Madrid. If you are under the age of 26 or a student, there are plenty of discounts 

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Temple de Debod

In the Spanish heat, a nice scoop of gelato is necessary before ending your day at the Temple de Debod. This 2nd century Egyptian temple was donated to the Spanish government by Egypt. Here visitors can get admission for free but cannot enter the monument. The best time to visit is during golden hour or right before sunset.

Day 3: Madrid, Spain

Prado Museum

After a long first day in Madrid, it was time to take in some shade and head indoors to the Prado Museum. Prado Museum is home to Spain’s finest art collection with an assortment of works by Goya, El Greco and Ruben. It is best to plan to be there for a couple of hours as you can get lost in the gorgeous paintings.

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El Retiro Park

Up next, I went for a relaxing stroll through El Retiro park and wandered through the forest pathways. The park has boat rides, cafes and Palacio de Cristal, an 1887 glasshouse with contemporary art. I suggest having lunch at one of the small cafes and take a few moments to take in the tranquility of it all. 

Chocolatería San Gínes

Right as I finished my round through El Retiro, the weather turned and started raining so I went and found the best place to hide out: Chocolatería San Ginés. Chocolatería San Gínes was founded in 1894 and is open 24 hours every day of the week. Their churros con chocolate is absolutely divine, reasonably priced and is great for sharing with friends. 

Gran Vía

The weather was still pretty bad when I left so I went to the next best shelter, Gran Vía. Gran Vía is the most famous street in all of Madrid, full of performances, cinemas, great restaurants and shopping there is something for everyone. A little retail therapy never hurt anyone, so I checked out the local boutiques and of course I couldn’t miss hitting up Primark.

Day 4: Sevilla, Spain

After packing up and checking out of the hotel in Madrid, it was time to head to the train station. There I caught a train to my next destination Seville which is about 2.5 hours away. For more on how to reserve train tickets in Spain, please refer to my guide here.

The train ride was lovely and I enjoyed seeing the scenery of the country which reminded me of California. Renfe offers complimentary entertainment on your mobile devices, headphones and has a fully stocked bar with meals and snacks.

Once I arrived in Seville I took a taxi straight to the hotel where I quickly checked in, purchased my entrance tickets to the Cathedral, Alcazar and a flamenco show and dropped off my luggage in my room. Since it was still the afternoon, I took this time to explore the Santa Cruz neighborhood and Plaza de España. 

Plaza de España

Built in 1928 with a mix of Renaissance and Moorish style architecture, Plaza de España is a showcase of Spain’s industry and technology exhibits. Horse-drawn carriages and rowing boats in the moats, the plaza is a major tourist attraction and the filming site for Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars.

From here I grabbed some ice cream and a bite to eat at a nearby restaurant before making my way to the Monumento a Crístobol Colon and the plaza near the University of Seville. This is the perfect area to relax and people watch, buy souvenirs, have dinner and see the Alcazar and Cathedral at night.

Day 5: Sevilla, Spain

Real Alcazar de Sevilla

I started off my day with a coffee and a bagel before my first tour at the Real Alcazar de Sevilla. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a royal palace, built in the Mudéjar style, and is one of the oldest palaces still in use in the world. The palace-fortress is known for its plasterwork, tiling, gardens and use of water. I highly recommend taking a guided tour or using an audio guide as the plaques are not really informative and there is so much to learn and see. I took about 3 hours to see as much as I could before the Andulusian heat got to me.

Catedral de Sevilla

Right across the way is the Catedral de Sevilla is a Roman Catholic church and one of the largest cathedrals in the world. Please buy your tickets for Alcazar and the Catedral ahead of time as lines can be long and utilize any senior or youth discounts that you can. This church is massive so leave plenty of time to walk through its many chapels, see the tomb of Christopher Columbus and walk up all 35 ramps of the Giralda Tower and take in some breathtaking views of the city.

**Tip: Please avoid the gyspy ladies with rosemary outside of the Catedral and Alcazar. It is a tourist scam where they offer to read your palm – they will ask for money. A polite “no gracias” will do and walk away.

Torre del Orro

After stopping to get some food and cooling off, I walked over to the Torre del Orro, a military watchtower and a terrific maritime museum. This is also the departure location for many river boat tours which was the last activity of the day. For 1.5 hours, I took in the sites and the history of the Guadaíra river. 

Day 6: Sevilla, Spain

I prefer to give myself at least one day to relax and take in the city. After catching up on sleep, I walked thirty minutes to La Cacharreria de Sevilla, a laid back brunch spot in the Regina neighborhood. I continued to stroll the streets, popping into nearby shops and buying items that I hoped would fit in my already full suitcase. As the Andulusian sun became hotter, I headed back to my hotel to take a dip in the rooftop pool and grab a drink. The front desk receptionist recommended a wonderful flamenco show for the evening.

The flamenco show was absolutely breaktaking and I highly recommend going to a show in Sevilla. These dancers put a lot of work and passion into their art. The show that I saw was small and intimate with strict instructions not to film the dance sequences. Honestly after constantly taking photos and videos throughout the trip, it was quite refreshing to just enjoy the moment. 

Day 7: Granada, Spain

After getting a delicious and quick breakfast at Jeter’s, I made my way to Estación de Autobuses Plaza de Armas where I boarded a bus to my next destination – Granada. The one-way trip took around 3 hours, was a pretty smooth ride and cost around €20. Once I arrived in Granada, I took a taxi to my hotel and checked-in. My hotel was conveniently located in the heart of Granada and was within walking distance of the Alcaicería Market and Carrera del Darro.

Carrera del Darro

As it was late in the afternoon, I strolled the streets of Granda where I perused some tourist shops and grabbed some dinner. I eventually made my way to Carrera del Darro, a magical, picturesque cobbled street that runs along the Darro River.This area is full of live music, shops, bars and restaurants – all with a perfect view of the Alhambra above on the hill.

Day 8: Granada, Spain

The reason I journeyed to Granada was for the Alhambra. This entire day was dedicated to exploring and learning the history of the last and greatest Moorish palace. I bought my tickets 2.5 months in advance before my trip to guarantee admission for my specific day. 

Alhambra

For two centuries it reigned as the capital of the Moorish empire, eventually becoming the royal court of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. The giant fortress is located on a strategic point with a view of the whole city. 

General admission: Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces, Generalife

Alcazaba

Alcazaba is a military area and one of the oldest parts of Alhambra. You can visit the following in Alcazaba: the Terrace of the Tower of the Cube, the Adarve of the North Wall, the Military District, the Gate of the Arms, The Tower of the Candle and the Garden of the Adarves. 

Nasrid Palaces

Nasrid Palaces are various royal houses built by different sultans during the Nasrid period. There are three main areas: Mexuar, Palace of Comares and Palace of the Lions. In addition there is the Ajimeces Gallery which holds the Lindaraja Balcony – a watchtower overlooking the countryside with a false, multicolored crystal covering. Please be advised that access to the Nasrid Palaces must be done at the time indicated on your ticket. 

Generalife includes the Lower Gardens, the Palace of the Generalife and the High Gardens.

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It took a total of 3-4 hours to see the entire fortress and was extremely tiring under the Andalusian heat. After completing the entire palace fortress, I grabbed some lunch along the Carrera del Darro and went back to my hotel for a long nap. In the late afternoon, I grabbed a snack from a local cafe and took a walk to Alcaicería Market. 

Alcaicería Market

Alcaicería Market used to be Granada’s Grand Bazaar with the finest herbs and spices from north Africa and Arabic silk fabrics. The original bazaar burnt to the ground during the 19th century but now the area is extremely touristy consisting of small souvenir shops and live music. 

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Day 9: Granada, Spain

I woke up bright and early to have breakfast at Coffee House in Alhambra – Durán Barista, a fixed price breakfast buffet along the Carrera del Darro. I loved their fresh fruit selection, complimentary lattes (where they write your name on your coffee) and overall aesthetic. 

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Albacín

From there I took a bus for €2 to the top of Albacín, the old Moorish quarter of the city located on a hill facing the Alhambra. There I walked the cobble-stoned pathways to find the Church of San Salvador and the Church of San Nicolas and Views – the most spectacular view of the Alhambra with a majestic background of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. 

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Catedral de Granada & Capilla Real de Granada

This was a perfect place to grab a sangria and some vegetable paella. From here I walked down the hill to Catedral de Granada and Capilla Real de Granada. Catedral de Granada is over 500 years old and is the second largest religious site in Granada after the Alhambra. Capilla Real de Granada was built between 1505 and 1517 and this Isabelline-Gothic-style mausoleum is the official burial ground for Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand. They both have separate entrance fees and I would highly recommend getting the audio guide to get the full history. 

Day 10: Madrid, Spain

I had to have breakfast one more time at Coffee House in Alhmabra – Durán Barista before heading on a train back to Madrid. Since my train left in the afternoon, I took this last opportunity to view the Isalmic architecture, soak in the deep south feel and view of Arab street life. The train ride back to Madrid was €50 and took around 3.5 hours. Spain’s high speed train AVE doesn’t disappoint and makes limited stops along the way. The train’s restaurant offers some decent meals and a great selection of movies to keep you entertained. I quite enjoy long train rides where I can take in the countryside and landscape views. 

Once I reached Madrid, I check-in to my hotel before turning in for the night and returning home to Los Angeles.