Self-Launched Madrid to Barcelona: Andalusia & Mediterranean Coast in 9 Days

Fly or arrive into Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD). Take the Metro Line 8 direct to the city centre — around 30 minutes and just €5 including the airport supplement. Check into your hostel or guesthouse in the Malasaña or La Latina neighbourhoods for easy access to the old city. Spend the evening exploring the lively tapas bars around Plaza Mayor or Mercado de San Miguel. No need to pre-book anything for tonight — just get your bearings.

🚌Metro Line 8 from airport to city centre (~£4.50 including airport supplement)

🛏The Hat Madrid or similar well-rated central hostel/guesthouse (~£30–45/night for a private room)

• →Arrive at Madrid Barajas — take Metro Line 8 to city centre (~€5, ~30 mins)
• →Check into hostel/guesthouse in Malasaña or La Latina
• →Evening stroll around Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol
• →Tapas dinner at Mercado de San Miguel or local bar (~£15)

Madrid's major landmarks are largely walkable or reachable by Metro. Start at the Royal Palace (entrance ~£13) and Almudena Cathedral, then walk through Barrio de la Morería — Madrid's medieval Arab quarter. Stroll via Plaza de la Villa and the Gran Vía to the iconic Cibeles and Neptuno fountains. The Prado Museum's exterior and the Parque del Retiro are free to enjoy. Book a 3-hour walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£15) if you'd like a local guide for context. Head north to see the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium exterior. Afternoon free to explore the Salamanca district boutiques or Parque del Oeste.

🚌Walking and Metro day pass (~£8.50)

🛏The Hat Madrid or similar central hostel/guesthouse (~£30–45/night)

• →Visit Royal Palace exterior and gardens (entrance ~£13 or free last 2 hrs Mon–Thu)
• →Walk through Barrio de la Morería and Plaza de la Villa
• →Stroll Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Gran Vía
• →See Cibeles and Neptuno Fountains — free
• →View Prado Museum exterior; optional entry ~£15
• →Walk through Parque del Retiro — free
• →See Santiago Bernabéu Stadium exterior — free
• →Book a Madrid walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£15 pp)

Take the AVE high-speed train from Madrid Puerta de Atocha to Córdoba — just 1h 45m and bookable via Renfe.com from around £25–40 if booked in advance. Drop your bags at your accommodation near the old city. The UNESCO-listed Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba is the unmissable centrepiece (~£11 entry). Wander the atmospheric Judería (Jewish Quarter) and don't miss the tiny Sinagoga de Córdoba (~£0.30 entry). The Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos gardens are also worth a visit (~£5). Evening: explore the Calleja de las Flores and dine on rabo de toro (oxtail stew) at a local restaurant.

🚌AVE high-speed train Madrid → Córdoba (from ~£25–40, book via Renfe.com)

🛏Hotel González or Hospes Palacio del Baílio area guesthouses (~£35–50/night)

• →AVE train Madrid → Córdoba (~1h 45m, from ~£25–40 booked via Renfe.com)
• →Visit the Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba (~£11 entry)
• →Explore the Judería (Jewish Quarter) — free to walk
• →Visit Sinagoga de Córdoba (~£0.30 entry)
• →Visit Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos gardens (~£5)
• →Book a Córdoba walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£12 pp) for Moorish history context
• →Evening dinner in the old city — try rabo de toro (~£15)

Take an early regional train or AVE from Córdoba to Seville Santa Justa — just 45 minutes (~£15–25). Check into your Seville accommodation near the old quarter. Seville Cathedral (the world's largest Gothic cathedral) and the Giralda tower entry is ~£11 — book online in advance to skip queues. Stroll the fairy-tale Barrio de Santa Cruz (free). Head to the vast Plaza de España for photos — free. Enjoy the afternoon in the shaded María Luisa Park. Book a Seville highlights walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£15). Evening: seek out flamenco — many bars in Triana host free or low-cost performances.

🚌Train Córdoba → Seville (~45 mins, from ~£15–25 via Renfe.com)

🛏Hotel Simón or similar central guesthouse near Cathedral (~£35–55/night)

• →Train Córdoba → Seville Santa Justa (~45 mins, ~£15–25 via Renfe.com)
• →Visit Seville Cathedral & Giralda Tower (~£11, book online in advance)
• →Stroll Barrio de Santa Cruz — free
• →Visit Plaza de España — free
• →Walk through María Luisa Park — free
• →Book a Seville walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£15 pp)
• →Evening: free flamenco in Triana bars or low-cost tablao (~£10–20)

Take an early ALSA coach from Seville to Granada (~3h, ~£15–20 — book at alsa.es). This is essential: book Alhambra tickets months in advance at alhambra-patronato.es as they sell out fast (~£14 for standard entry including Nasrid Palaces and Generalife Gardens). The Alhambra is Spain's most visited monument — give it a full afternoon. The Generalife gardens are breathtaking. In the evening, head up to the Mirador de San Nicolás in the Albaicín for sunset views over the Alhambra — free. Optional: book a Flamenco Zambra cave show in Sacromonte (~£20) — the original Julia Travel itinerary includes this as an optional extra.

🚌ALSA coach Seville → Granada (~3 hrs, from ~£15–20, book via alsa.es)

🛏Hotel Casa 1800 Granada area guesthouse or well-rated hostel (~£30–50/night)

• →ALSA coach Seville → Granada (~3h, ~£15–20, book at alsa.es)
• →Visit the Alhambra complex — Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba & Generalife (~£14, BOOK MONTHS IN ADVANCE at alhambra-patronato.es)
• →Explore the Generalife Gardens (included in Alhambra ticket)
• →Walk the Albaicín neighbourhood and Mirador de San Nicolás at sunset — free
• →Optional: Flamenco Zambra cave show in Sacromonte (~£20, book via GetYourGuide)

Take an ALSA coach from Granada to Valencia (~5–6 hrs, ~£20–35 — book in advance). Arrive in Valencia by early afternoon. Valencia's futuristic City of Arts and Sciences complex (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències) is a must — designed by Santiago Calatrava, it's extraordinary. A combined ticket for the Hemisphèric, Science Museum, and Oceanogràfic runs ~£35–40; or visit individual buildings from ~£8 each. The exterior and riverside Turia Gardens are entirely free and stunning for an evening walk. Grab a paella in its birthplace city — Valencia is the home of the dish (~£12–18 at a local restaurant).

🚌ALSA coach Granada → Valencia (~5–6 hrs, from ~£20–35, book via alsa.es)

🛏Russafa neighbourhood guesthouse or hostel (~£28–45/night)

• →ALSA coach Granada → Valencia (~5–6 hrs, ~£20–35, book via alsa.es)
• →Visit the City of Arts and Sciences — combined ticket ~£35–40 or individual buildings from ~£8
• →Walk the futuristic exterior and the Turia riverbed gardens — free
• →Lunch or dinner: try authentic Valencian paella (~£12–18)

Start with a morning self-guided walk through Valencia's old city: the Central Market (Mercat Central), the Gothic cathedral, and the Turia Gardens riverbed park are all free. Optionally book a Valencia walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£12). Then take an Euromed or Avant train from Valencia Joaquín Sorolla to Barcelona Sants (~3h, from ~£25–40 via Renfe.com) — the route hugs the Mediterranean coast and passes through Tarragona, where you'll get great sea views from the train. Arrive Barcelona in the afternoon — check in and explore the Gothic Quarter in the evening.

🚌Train Valencia → Barcelona (~3 hrs, from ~£25–40, book via Renfe.com)

🛏Generator Barcelona or similar well-rated hostel/guesthouse in Eixample (~£35–55/night)

• →Morning walk: Valencia's Mercat Central, Cathedral, and Turia Gardens — free
• →Optional: Valencia walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£12 pp)
• →Euromed/Avant train Valencia → Barcelona Sants (~3h, from ~£25–40 via Renfe.com) — scenic coastal route via Tarragona
• →Arrive Barcelona: check in, explore El Born or Gothic Quarter in the evening

Barcelona deserves a full day. Walk the Passeig de Gràcia to see La Pedrera (Casa Milà, ~£25 entry) and Casa Batlló (~£35 or view the exterior for free). Book in advance online. Take the Metro or cable car to Montjuïc Park — free to enter — and walk up to the Olympic Ring (Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys). See the Columbus Monument at the bottom of La Rambla (lift to top ~£7). If budget allows, visit Sagrada Família (~£26, book well in advance via sagradafamilia.org) — not on the original itinerary but unmissable. End the day with drinks on the Barceloneta seafront. Book a Barcelona walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£14 pp) for the Gothic Quarter highlights.

🚌Barcelona Metro day pass (~£8.50) or walking

🛏Generator Barcelona or similar well-rated hostel/guesthouse in Eixample (~£35–55/night)

• →Stroll Passeig de Gràcia: see La Pedrera (Casa Milà, entry ~£25) and Casa Batlló (~£35 or exterior free)
• →Visit Montjuïc Park and Olympic Ring — free entry, Metro or cable car up
• →See Columbus Monument (~£7 lift to top)
• →Optional but unmissable: Sagrada Família (~£26, pre-book at sagradafamilia.org)
• →Barcelona Gothic Quarter walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£14 pp)
• →Evening: drinks and seafood at Barceloneta beach (~£15–20)

Check out and make your way to Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) via the Aerobus (~£6, ~35 mins from Plaça Catalunya) or Metro L9 Sud (~£5). If your flight is in the afternoon, leave your bags at the hostel and grab a final coffee and croissant at a local café, or pick up some cured meats and manchego from La Boqueria market as edible souvenirs. Safe travels!

🚌Aerobus to Barcelona El Prat Airport (~£6) or Metro L9 Sud (~£5)

• →Check out and store bags if needed
• →Final coffee and browse La Boqueria market — free to enter
• →Aerobus to BCN airport (~£6, ~35 mins from Plaça Catalunya) or Metro L9 (~£5)