Self-Launched Spanish Ring: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Granada & Seville

Fly into Madrid Barajas Airport and make your way to your accommodation in the city centre. The Metro Line 8 (Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3 or T4) connects the airport to central Madrid for around £3. Check in, freshen up, then head out to explore the Plaza Mayor and the lively La Latina neighbourhood for dinner — the streets are lined with tapas bars and restaurants covering every cuisine. Try Casa Revuelta for classic bacalao or wander Cava Baja for a proper tapas crawl.

🚌Metro Line 8 from airport to city centre (~£3)

🛏Generator Madrid or similar well-rated central hostel/budget hotel (private room ~£40-55/night)

• →Arrive at Madrid Barajas; take Metro Line 8 to city centre (~£3)
• →Check in to budget hotel or hostel near city centre
• →Evening stroll around Plaza Mayor
• →Tapas crawl in La Latina neighbourhood (Cava Baja)

Spend a full day exploring central Madrid on foot and by Metro. Walk the Paseo del Prado boulevard, take photos at the Cibeles and Neptuno fountains, and pass through the Puerta de Alcalá arch to Plaza de Colón. Retiro Park is free to enter — don't miss the Palacio de Cristal and a row on the boating lake. In the afternoon, book a self-guided tour of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium directly via the Real Madrid website (~£25). In the evening, consider a free walking tour of the city centre (tip-based, book via Sandeman's or similar).

🚌Metro day pass (~£8) or on foot

🛏Generator Madrid or similar (private room ~£40-55/night)

• →Walk Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Colón
• →Free visit to Retiro Park — Palacio de Cristal and boating lake
• →Santiago Bernabéu Stadium self-guided tour (~£25, book direct at realmadrid.com)
• →Optional: free tip-based walking tour of central Madrid (Sandeman's or similar)

This is a long travel day, best managed by taking an early Renfe AVE high-speed train from Madrid Puerta de Atocha to Zaragoza-Delicias (~1h 45min, from £20-35 booked in advance via renfe.com). In Zaragoza, visit the spectacular Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar (free entry to the basilica, tower access ~£4). Stow your bag at the station and explore on foot. Then catch a regional train or bus towards Tarragona/Barcelona and stop off near Poblet to visit the UNESCO-listed Poblet Abbey (admission ~£8, book ahead). Finally, continue by train or bus into Barcelona. Check in to a hostel or budget hotel in the Eixample or Gothic Quarter.

🚌Renfe AVE Madrid–Zaragoza (~£20-35), regional connection to Poblet area (~£10), train/bus to Barcelona (~£12)

🛏Casa Gracia Barcelona or similar budget hotel/hostel, Eixample or Gothic Quarter (~£40-60/night)

• →Early Renfe AVE from Madrid to Zaragoza (~1h 45min, from £20-35, book at renfe.com)
• →Visit Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza (free entry)
• →Catch regional service towards Poblet; visit Poblet Abbey (~£8 admission)
• →Continue by train/bus to Barcelona; check in to hostel

Explore Barcelona's extraordinary modernist architecture at your own pace. Walk Las Ramblas from Plaça de Catalunya down to the Columbus Monument, then explore the Maremagnum complex at the port. Book a GetYourGuide walking tour of the modernist highlights (~£15-20) to understand Gaudí's genius, or simply walk past Casa Batlló and Casa Milà (La Pedrera) on Passeig de Gràcia. Consider booking a Sagrada Família ticket well in advance online (~£26) — this is a must and sells out fast. The Gothic Quarter is free to wander and full of atmosphere.

🚌T-Casual Metro card (~£10 for 10 trips) or on foot

🛏Casa Gracia Barcelona or similar (~£40-60/night)

• →Walk Las Ramblas from Plaça de Catalunya to Columbus Monument
• →Explore Maremagnum and the waterfront
• →Self-guided modernist architecture walk: Casa Batlló, Casa Milà (Passeig de Gràcia)
• →Book Sagrada Família in advance online (~£26, sagradafamilia.org) — strongly recommended
• →Wander the Gothic Quarter and El Born neighbourhood

Catch an early ALSA bus or regional train from Barcelona to Peñíscola (change at Benicàssim or Castellón, ~3-4h, from £15). Explore the stunning medieval walled city perched on a rocky promontory — free to wander the old town, castle entry ~£6. Then continue south to Valencia by bus or regional train (~1-1.5h, ~£8). Check in to your accommodation and spend the evening exploring the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences complex (exterior is free; planetarium/aquarium from £9 each) and the historic old town.

🚌Bus/train Barcelona–Peñíscola (~£15), local connection to Valencia (~£8)

🛏Russafa Youth Hostel or similar central Valencia hostel/budget hotel (~£35-50/night)

• →ALSA bus or regional train Barcelona to Peñíscola (~3-4h, from £15)
• →Explore Peñíscola medieval walled city (free to wander; castle ~£6)
• →Bus/train to Valencia (~1-1.5h, ~£8)
• →Evening walk around City of Arts and Sciences (free exterior)
• →Explore Valencia old town and try local paella or horchata

Take an early train from Valencia to Alicante (Renfe, ~2h, from £12). Explore Alicante's old town and hike or take the lift up to the Castle of Santa Bárbara for panoramic views (free entry). Then take a bus (ALSA) towards Granada, with a stop in Guadix (~30min off-route, worth it for its cave dwellings and Renaissance cathedral). Guadix is on the road between Murcia and Granada — if doing this independently, it's easiest to take the bus directly to Granada and book a local taxi or tour from Granada to Guadix as a half-day trip. Arrive Granada in the evening.

🚌Train Valencia–Alicante (~£12), ALSA bus Alicante–Granada (~£18)

🛏Oasis Backpackers Hostel Granada or similar (~£35-50/night)

• →Renfe train Valencia to Alicante (~2h, from £12)
• →Explore Alicante historic quarter and Castle of Santa Bárbara (free entry)
• →ALSA bus Alicante to Granada (~3.5-4h, from £18)
• →Optional: day trip to Guadix cave dwellings from Granada
• →Check in and explore Granada's Albaicín neighbourhood at dusk

The Alhambra is the centrepiece of any visit to Granada — book tickets well in advance (at least 2-3 weeks) online at alhambra-patronato.es (~£14-17). Arrive at your timed entry slot and explore the Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba fortress, and the stunning Generalife Gardens at your own pace. In the afternoon, explore the historic Albaicín quarter on foot — the views of the Alhambra from Mirador San Nicolás are free and unforgettable. Wander down to Granada Cathedral (entry ~£5) and the Royal Chapel containing the tombs of the Catholic Monarchs (~£5). End with tapas — Granada is famous for serving free tapas with every drink.

🚌City bus to Alhambra (~£2) or on foot

🛏Oasis Backpackers Hostel Granada or similar (~£35-50/night)

• →Morning visit to Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens (~£14-17, book weeks ahead at alhambra-patronato.es)
• →Afternoon walk through Albaicín quarter
• →Free viewpoint at Mirador San Nicolás
• →Granada Cathedral and Royal Chapel (~£5 each)
• →Evening free tapas with drinks in city centre bars

This is a scenic, packed day — best split across two legs. Take a morning ALSA bus from Granada to Nerja (~2h, ~£10) to stroll the clifftop Balcón de Europa and the charming old town. Continue by bus to Málaga (~1.5h, ~£6) and explore the historic centre around Málaga Cathedral (entry ~£6) and the Picasso Museum (entry ~£12, or free on Sundays 5-7pm). Then take a scenic train or bus to Ronda (~1h from Málaga, ~£8) — the dramatic gorge and Puente Nuevo bridge are unmissable and free to view. Finally, bus or train onward to Seville (~2.5h, ~£15). Note: this is a long day and you may choose to skip Málaga or Ronda as a day stop and instead visit Nerja then go direct to Seville, exploring Ronda as a separate day trip.

🚌Buses and trains: Granada–Nerja–Málaga–Ronda–Seville (~£39 total)

🛏La Banda Rooftop Hostel Seville or similar central hostel/budget hotel (~£40-55/night)

• →ALSA bus Granada to Nerja (~2h, ~£10); stroll Balcón de Europa
• →Bus Nerja to Málaga (~1.5h, ~£6); explore historic centre and Picasso Museum (~£12)
• →Train/bus to Ronda (~1h from Málaga, ~£8); view Puente Nuevo gorge (free)
• →Bus/train Ronda to Seville (~2.5h, ~£15)
• →Check in Seville; evening in Triana neighbourhood

Spend a full day in glorious Seville. Book your Seville Cathedral and Giralda tower tickets in advance online (~£12, catedral.sevilla.org) — it's the world's largest Gothic cathedral. Explore the adjacent Santa Cruz neighbourhood, a labyrinth of white-washed alleys, courtyards, and orange trees. Walk the Guadalquivir riverbanks and cross into the bohemian Triana barrio. Book a short boat cruise on the Guadalquivir via GetYourGuide (~£12-15) for panoramic views of the city. In the evening, book a flamenco tablao show — Casa de la Memoria or La Casa del Flamenco are well-regarded, authentic, and affordable (~£18-20 direct booking).

🚌On foot or city tram/bus (~£3)

🛏La Banda Rooftop Hostel Seville or similar (~£40-55/night)

• →Seville Cathedral and Giralda tower (~£12, book ahead at catedral.sevilla.org)
• →Wander Santa Cruz neighbourhood (free)
• →Walk Guadalquivir riverbanks and Triana neighbourhood
• →Guadalquivir boat cruise via GetYourGuide (~£12-15)
• →Evening flamenco show at Casa de la Memoria or La Casa del Flamenco (~£18-20, book direct)

Take a morning Renfe high-speed train from Seville to Córdoba (~45min, from £15). Visit the magnificent Mosque-Cathedral (Mezquita) with admission (~£11, book online at mezquita-catedraldecordoba.es) and explore the historic Jewish Quarter and Alcázar. Then continue by Renfe train to Madrid (~1h 45min from Córdoba, from £20). Consuegra is not directly on the rail line — the windmills are best visited by hiring a car for the day or taking a taxi from the nearby Alcázar de San Juan station. Alternatively, book a day trip from Madrid to Consuegra via GetYourGuide (~£40-50). Check back in to Madrid accommodation for your final night.

🚌Renfe Seville–Córdoba (~£15), Renfe Córdoba–Madrid (~£20)

🛏Generator Madrid or similar central Madrid hostel/budget hotel (~£40-55/night)

• →Renfe train Seville to Córdoba (~45min, from £15)
• →Mosque-Cathedral (Mezquita) with local guided audio tour (~£11, mezquita-catedraldecordoba.es)
• →Explore Córdoba Jewish Quarter and Alcázar gardens (free exterior)
• →Train Córdoba to Madrid (~1h 45min, from £20)
• →Optional: taxi or hire car detour to Consuegra windmills (or book GetYourGuide day trip from Madrid ~£40-50)

Check out and make your way to Madrid Barajas Airport via Metro Line 8 (~£3). If your flight is in the afternoon, you have time for a final coffee and pastry at a local café, or revisit the Retiro Park for a peaceful send-off. Consider picking up some saffron, Manchego cheese, or Rioja wine from El Corte Inglés food hall as gifts.

🚌Metro Line 8 to airport (~£3)

• →Check out of accommodation
• →Optional: final café breakfast and last wander of central Madrid
• →Metro Line 8 to Madrid Barajas Airport (~£3)