Complete Spain: South to North — Self-Launched Adventure
14 days · Spain
G Adventures charges £3,155
No-markup version: ~£885 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 14-day independent take on G Adventures' "Complete Spain: South to North Adventure", running Madrid to Bilbao. Travel by Spain's excellent and cheap public buses, trains and high-speed AVE rail instead of private vehicles, stay in hostels and pensiones instead of hotels, and book the Alhambra, Mezquita and a paella class yourself. Same regions — Madrid, Granada, Córdoba, Seville, Barcelona, Logroño wine country, San Sebastián and Bilbao — for a fraction of the £3,000+ group-tour price. Costs are approximate per person and based on budget/backpacker rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive Madrid
Madrid
Land in Madrid and check into a hostel or pensión in the Centro/La Latina area. Take an easy evening wander to Plaza Mayor and the Mercado de San Miguel, then settle in with a caña and a plate of tapas. Sort out your transport apps and buy any advance rail/bus tickets you haven't already booked.
🚌Metro from Madrid-Barajas Airport to the centre (~£4.50, 40 min); airport express bus ~£4.50
🛏Hostel or pensión in Centro/La Latina, private or dorm bed
- →Self-guided evening walk: Plaza Mayor, Mercado de San Miguel
- →Tapas crawl in La Latina
Madrid Capital Day
Madrid
DIY orientation walk of the capital — Puerta del Sol, the Royal Palace exterior, Almudena Cathedral and the Retiro Park. Art lovers can visit the Prado (~£13, free in the last two hours some evenings) or the Reina Sofía (~£9, free in limited windows) which houses Picasso's Guernica. Book a free walking tour (tip-based) if you want orientation from a local.
🚌Walking; metro single ~£1.50
🛏Hostel or pensión in Centro/La Latina
- →Prado Museum self-visit
- →Reina Sofía Museum self-visit
- →Retiro Park and Royal Palace area walk
- →Tip-based free walking tour
Madrid to Granada
Granada
Skip the private van and take the train or bus south to Granada (~4.5–5 hrs). On arrival, walk the whitewashed Albaicín quarter to the Mirador de San Nicolás for sunset views over the Alhambra — one of Andalucía's great free experiences. Book your Alhambra ticket online NOW for tomorrow if you haven't already; it sells out weeks ahead.
🚌Renfe train Madrid–Granada from ~£30 (book early) or ALSA bus ~£18–25
🛏Hostel in Granada's Centro or Albaicín
- →Albaicín orientation walk
- →Sunset at Mirador de San Nicolás
Alhambra and Granada
Granada
Morning self-booked timed-entry to the Alhambra and Generalife gardens (~£15–18, book at tickets.alhambra-patronato.es). Spend 3–4 hours exploring the Nasrid Palaces, Charles V Palace and the gardens. Afternoon free to wander the Albayzín, hit a hammam, or take a free walking tour of the old town. Evening: free tapas culture — Granada's bars still give a free tapa with each drink.
🚌Walking; local bus to Alhambra ~£1.20
🛏Hostel in Granada
- →Alhambra and Generalife self-guided visit
- →Free tapas crawl
- →Optional hammam
Granada to Córdoba to Seville
Córdoba / Seville
Train or bus to Córdoba (~2 hrs), drop bags at station lockers, and visit the Mezquita-Catedral (~£11–13, book online for a timed slot). Wander the Jewish Quarter and the Roman Bridge, then continue by AVE high-speed train to Seville (~45 min, from ~£18 if booked early). Check into a Seville hostel in Triana or Santa Cruz.
🚌Renfe train Granada–Córdoba ~£15; AVE Córdoba–Seville from ~£18
🛏Hostel in Seville (Triana/Santa Cruz)
- →Mezquita-Catedral self-visit
- →Jewish Quarter and Roman Bridge walk
- →Triana evening stroll
Seville — Flamenco and Andaluz Soul
Seville
Full day in the Andalucian capital: Alcázar (~£13, book ahead), Seville Cathedral and La Giralda (~£10), the Plaza de España and María Luisa Park. In the evening book a flamenco show at a tablao such as Casa de la Memoria or La Carbonería (from ~£18) — the heart-pounding rhythm that defines the south.
🚌Walking
🛏Hostel in Seville
- →Real Alcázar self-visit
- →Seville Cathedral and La Giralda
- →Plaza de España and María Luisa Park
- →Flamenco tablao show
Seville to Barcelona — Paella Class
Seville / Barcelona
Fly (Ryanair/Vueling, from ~£25) or take the AVE train (~5.5 hrs) to Barcelona. In the evening join a small-group paella cooking class and dinner — a self-bookable equivalent of the operator's Mescladis class, run by social-enterprise kitchens around the city (~£35–45 including dinner).
🚌Flight Seville–Barcelona from ~£25 or Renfe AVE ~£40; metro ticket ~£2.20
🛏Hostel in Barcelona (Eixample/Gràcia)
- →Paella cooking class and dinner
- →Evening wander in Gràcia
Barcelona — Gaudí and the Gothic Quarter
Barcelona
Book the Sagrada Família online (from ~£24) and Parque Güell (~£9) ahead — both sell out. Walk the Gothic Quarter's maze of medieval lanes, the Cathedral, and the Boqueria market. If you have energy, add Casa Milà (~£25) or the Picasso Museum.
🚌Metro day card or T-casual ~£10
🛏Hostel in Barcelona
- →Sagrada Família self-visit
- →Parque Güell self-visit
- →Gothic Quarter walk
- →La Boqueria market
Barcelona to Logroño — Rioja Wine Country
Logroño
Train or budget flight toward the Rioja region, basing in Logroño. Explore Calle Laurel — one of Spain's best-value pintxos streets, where each small plate and wine is around £2. This is a DIY stand-in for the operator's wine-country sip-and-stroll.
🚌Renfe train/ALSA bus Barcelona–Logroño ~£25–40
🛏Hostel or pensión in Logroño
- →Calle Laurel pintxos craw l
- →Rioja old town wander
Rioja Vineyards
Logroño / Rioja
Take a local bus or shared tour into the vineyards of Rioja for bodega tastings (~£40–60 for a half-day group wine tour, or DIY by renting a bike and visiting a couple of wineries on your own). Return to Logroño for a relaxed evening of tapas.
🚌Local bus to wine villages ~£3; shared wine tour transfer included
🛏Hostel or pensión in Logroño
- →Rioja bodega tastings
- →Optional vineyard cycling
Logroño to San Sebastián
San Sebastián
Bus or train north to San Sebastián (~3 hrs). Indulge in the city's legendary food scene — a self-guided pintxos crawl through the Parte Vieja (Old Town) is the budget-friendly way to taste its famous cuisine. Walk the Playa de la Concha and up Monte Igueldo for the view.
🚌ALSA bus Logroño–San Sebastián ~£15
🛏Hostel or pensión in San Sebastián
- →Parte Vieja pintxos crawl
- →La Concha beach and Monte Igueldo
San Sebastián — Cider House and Coast
San Sebastián
Optional cider-house (sidrería) experience — the operator sells this as a pre-bookable extra; you can often reserve direct or via GetYourGuide/Viator from ~£35–50 including the classic cider-house menu. Otherwise hike the Monte Ulía coastal path or take a surf lesson on Zurriola beach.
🚌Local bus ~£1.50; taxi/shared ride to cider house ~£8
🛏Hostel or pensión in San Sebastián
- →Basque cider-house dinner (self-booked)
- →Monte Ulía coastal hike
San Sebastián to Bilbao
Bilbao
Short bus hop to Bilbao (~1–1.5 hrs). Marvel at the striking Guggenheim Museum exterior and, if it appeals, go in (~£18). Explore the Casco Viejo (Old Town), the Ribera market, and the Azkuna Zentroa. Great final-evening pintxos on Plaza Nueva.
🚌ALSA/Bilbobus San Sebastián–Bilbao ~£8
🛏Hostel or pensión in Bilbao
- →Guggenheim Museum (exterior/free or paid entry)
- →Casco Viejo and Ribera market
- →Plaza Nueva pintxos
Bilbao — Departure
Bilbao
Final morning to pick up any last Basque souvenirs or a coffee by the river before heading to Bilbao Airport or the bus/train station for onward travel.
🚌Bizkaibus to Bilbao Airport ~£1.50 or metro/bus to station
🛏None — check out
- →Morning riverside walk
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£885 | £3,155 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,270 per person (72%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£885
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Complete Spain: South to North — Self-Launched Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £885 per person for 14 days in Spain. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £3,155 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £885 — a saving of roughly £2,270 (72%) per person.
How long is the Spain trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Spain.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, city-breaks trip through Spain, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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