Magical Spain by Travel Zone

This is one of the must-visit places that you should have in your Spain itinerary. Madrid is where your journey through Spain begins. Madrid, Spain’s capital city, is often an undervalued destination despite being a modern centre of culture and home to a fair share of grandiose landmarks. Madrid is a great place to start as you begin to familiarise yourself with Spain and its way of life.

Puerta del Sol, a lively square in the centre of the city, is a good place to start in Madrid. After getting a sense of the city’s bustling energy, head to the other prominent square nearby, Plaza Mayor. It is right in Madrid’s old quarter and surrounded by grand buildings that have portico arcades running through them.

Moreover, it’s not long until you reach the Royal Palace of Madrid. It has 3,000+ rooms inside. Either walk around its gardens outside or tour through the interior rooms of this royal residence; there are a lot of  things to do in Madrid. Situated just across the way is Templo de Debod, an ancient Egyptian temple, which is moved here and provides quite the contrast. Both of them give you great access to Gran Vía, the striking boulevard, which pierces through much of Madrid.

Also, on the massive grounds and gardens of Parque del Buen Retiro, you can stroll around, away from the noise and bustle of the city. Walking from here, you can visit the Prado Museum, a world-famous art museum. It is filled with masterpieces by artists from the Spanish Golden Age, as well as the Italian and Flemish schools. The lines for the Prado Museum can get quite long, especially during the high season, so book your tickets in advance.

You cannot complete Madrid in one day. On day two, you get to have the chance to shape your Spain itinerary. There are many cultural attractions and top activities to do while exploring. Below are some fantastic places to visit in Madrid that you can go through:

• Reina Sofía Museo: The Reina Sofia Museum is full of works by 20th-century Spanish masters like Picasso and Dali. It is a vast art museum showing the depth of talent in Spanish art.
• Santiago Bernabéu Stadium: Spain is mostly known for football. And, in Madrid, there is no better place than the home ground of Real Madrid to experience that passion. The fun fact is that you can take a tour of the stadium and see the dressing rooms, the presidential box and more on almost any other normal day.
• Segovia: Segovia, an ancient city, delights you with its historic sights. See the spectacular Roman Aqueduct that still stands, or walk the streets of the traditional Jewish Quarter. Also, don’t miss the mighty Alcázar fortress, where you can see the castle rooms and sweeping views from the tower.
• Toledo: A city that has fully retained its historic character. A day trip to Toledo is a great idea. There are two huge landmarks inside its city walls and among its narrow mediaeval streets, which dominate Toledo’s skyline, the Cathedral of Toledo and the Alcazar. When in Toledo, you can also find remnants from the city’s historic Christian, Jewish, and Arab communities, all true to its multicultural past.

Situated down in the region of Andalusia is the superb city of Seville. Because of its exciting mix of Spanish and Moorish architecture, but also due to its cultural traditions of flamenco and tapas, Seville easily wins over most who visit.

When in Seville, you will want to see the Real Alcazar pretty much as soon as you arrive there. Game of Thrones fans can visit this incredible royal palace and gardens with spots like the Patio de las Doncellas. Across the street, you will find the enormous Seville Cathedral, which was once the city mosque and is now the third-largest church in the world. When there, you will want to climb up to La Giralda Tower for unparalleled city views.

It’s nice to wander about the Santa Cruz neighbourhood with its traditional homes and streets lined with orange trees. Also, you will find your way to the major pedestrian thoroughfare of Avenida de la Constitución. Here, you will soon pass the Royal Tobacco Factory and other buildings of the University of Seville.

Take a walk along the leafy boulevards of Parque de María Luisa and visit the photographer’s dream, Plaza de Espana. This specially decorated pavilion on this square was built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition World’s Fair. But still, it enchants visitors today.

Seville’s top attractions cannot be completed in one day. Start your tour by making a beeline for the Metropol Parasol, a great new modern architectural addition to the city. Once you have finished climbing over this beehive-like pavilion, head down the road to the Seville Museum of Fine Arts. Inside this abbey, the museum hosts many masterpieces created during Seville’s Golden Age of painting.

Among things to do in Seville, you can try out bullfighting, which you can learn more about in the Real Maestranza Bullring. Here, alongside seeing the historic arena, you can also learn about the sport inside a museum. After this, simply cross the road from the bullring. Among the free things to do in Seville, you can walk along the waterfront of the Guadalquivir River down to the Torre del Oro, once an important city watchtower.

Having spent time on one side of the river, you can explore everything that the Triana neighbourhood has to offer. Another thing you will find here is flamenco bars, where you can experience this powerful art form of music combined with dance. Later, hunt down some tapas either here in Triana or back in the city centre.

On our Spain itinerary, we have a short stop in another Andalusian gem, Granada. Nevertheless, you could spend several days discovering all the sights of Granada, there’s only enough time on this trip for a single day.

Start your day in the city centre at the Granada Cathedral. This enormous building stands out from a mile away. It feels daunting from inside its hallowed, echoing halls. From this spot, you could head through the old Islamic Grand Bazaar, see the Royal Chapel, or roam the streets of the whitewashed Albaicín neighbourhood.

With one day in Granada, you are going to spend most of your time at the world-famous Alhambra. The Alhambra, an immense hilltop fortress, is almost the size of an entire town all on its own, and it is where you will see most of Granada’s most incredible spots. Stroll around the gardens of the Generalife, full of fountains, hedges and panoramic terraces.

The star attraction of this palace complex is the Nasrid Palaces, due to their exquisite Islamic design and reflecting pools. Be sure to purchase tickets in advance; even if you can only get nighttime tickets, a visit here is a must while in town.

The city of Valencia is the next stop while journeying through the north. Valencia is Spain’s third-largest city but doesn’t have the same level of name recognition as other destinations on this Spain itinerary. Nonetheless, you won’t regret visiting.

To start your Valencia tour, begin your visit with the bustling Central Market of Valencia inside its beautiful art nouveau building. After you are done looking at the Jamon and Chorizo, step out into the city’s historic centre and walk over to the La Lonja de la Seda, a UNESCO recognised architectural wonder.

Once you are past the Plaça de la Reina, a fixture of the city, venture over to the Valencia Cathedral and the El Miguelete tower. From here, wander over to the Serranos Gate, a gargantuan set of towers once part of the city walls.

Also, if you have got time, saunter around El Carmen and soak up its bohemian atmosphere. Moreover, come across all sorts of rooftop bars and restaurants inside converted palaces here. Sink your teeth into Valencian paella, the city’s signature dish, for dinner.

There is much more to the city than the historic side of Valencia. The City of Arts and Sciences is a vast, hyper-modern complex of cultural venues and architectural gems. A few more attractions include the L’Oceanogràfic aquarium and the Hemisfèric planetarium, all ideal for families with young kids.

Next to the City of Arts and Sciences and curving right around the historic centre is the Jardín del Turia. This used to be where the River Turia flowed through Valencia. And, now it is a perfectly landscaped park ideal for a break from the city.

You can spend the rest of your time in Valencia in many ways. Home to countless great museums, with fine art on display, it offers the Museu de Belles Arts de València, history on the city’s silk trade at Museo de la Seda, and history from the Stone Age at the Prehistory Museum of Valencia. Pop over to Malvarrosa Beach and take it easy with the sun and the surf.

Barcelona is your last stop in Spain. The coast of Catalonia is the perfect place to end your Spain trip on a high note.

From the downtown area of Barcelona, you can start with the famous local architect Gaudi at the Casa Batlló and Casa Mila. Pop up to the rooftop of Casa Mila, also known as La Pedrera. Get past the lively Placa de Catalunya, and you will soon be on La Rambla, the city’s main leafy boulevard.

The streets of Las Ramblas will eventually bring you into Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, the city’s atmospheric Old Town. There is plenty of sights to take in here, including the Cathedral of Barcelona and the picturesque Bridge of Sighs. The Boquería Market is another popular spot for tourists, full of food and produce.

It is also not far from the Güell Palace, another Gaudi-designed mansion you will want to see inside and out. Also, you might want to visit the Picasso Museum.

End your day here with a trip down to La Barceloneta, the city’s fun and vibrant beachfront. Have fun at some best beaches and parks in Barcelona.

Some of the best things to do in Barcelona are yet to be discovered. You can’t get away from Gaudi once you want to see Parc Güell. Here you will also find the Gaudi House Museum.

La Sagrada Familia Church is one of the historic sites in Barcelona. This church is a beautiful sight to behold regardless, especially when viewed from inside its dazzling central nave.

Also, make your way to the Arco de Triunfo. Not only it is a majestic 19th-century archway, but it also leads you through to Ciutadella Park. This park is home to green spaces and fountains like the Cascada Monumental. Alongside this, it is also home to the Catalan Parliament and the Castell dels Tres Dragons exhibition centre and Museum.

A trip across the city up to Montjuïc Mountain is a great way to finish the day. It houses a military museum, which can be reached by cable car.

And Don't Forget to Visit the Home Ground of the Best Football Club in the World FC Barcelona named Camp Nou.

The idea of this 10-day Spain itinerary is to take you through as much of the best of Spain as is possible in that timeframe. Already you have gone through some of the places here, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty more great places out there. If you have much time left in your Spain itinerary, then include these other great destinations mentioned below:

• Andalusia: After you have visited Seville and Granada, there are countless other great cities and towns that you can visit in Andalusia. This remarkable region in the south of Spain is bustling with cultural, historical, and beautiful places to visit. Some attractions in Andalusia include Cordoba, the dynamic coastal city of Malaga, little Ronda with its magnificent bridge and all the beaches along the Costa del Sol.
• San Sebastian/Bilbao: San Sebastian and Bilbao are two major cities found in Basque Country up north. San Sebastian is a stunning beachfront city with Belle Epoque architecture, and Bilbao is a city full of big cultural institutions and strikingly modern buildings like the Guggenheim Museum. Moreover, eat and drink and have a good time here!
• Mallorca: If you want to see a different side of Spain, consider visiting Mallorca, one of the Balearic Islands. It is well-known for its beachfront resorts and habit of attracting young partiers with places like Magaluf. Mallorca is full of sights and characters of their own. Besides its rugged countryside and seaside coves, there are scores of quaint little villages begging to be explored. Also, don’t forget to tour the main city of Palma, which mixes cultural attractions with a good dose of shopping and bars.