Spanish Escape: Madrid to Barcelona, Self-Launched
9 days · Spain
Globus charges £1,599
No-markup version: ~£642 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Globus's 9-day Spanish Escape coach tour, following the same route — Madrid, Córdoba, Seville, Granada, Valencia and Barcelona — using Spain's excellent high-speed rail and regional buses instead of a motorcoach, hostels and budget guesthouses instead of first-class hotels, and self-booked skip-the-line tickets instead of a tour director. You'll see the Prado, the Mezquita, the Alhambra, the City of Arts and Sciences and the Sagrada Família, all for roughly half the coach-tour price. Costs are backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and exclude international flights — note that winter (Nov–Mar) is when Spanish Escape runs, so pack for cold nights in Madrid and Granada.
Day-by-day
Arrive Madrid — settle in and tapas in La Latina
Madrid
Fly or train into Madrid and check into a hostel or budget hostal in the Centro/La Latina area (the tour uses the Salamanca district, but Sol/La Latina is cheaper and better placed for walking). Pick up a rechargeable Multi travel card at any metro station and take the Metro from Barajas airport (~€5 including card). Shake off the journey with a wander around Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol, then do a self-guided tapas crawl in La Latina — Cava Baja is the classic street. Budget roughly £12–15 for a few raciones and a drink.
🚌Metro from airport to city centre ~€5 (£4.30); on foot thereafter
🛏Hostel or budget hostal, Centro/La Latina (dorm £18–25, private twin £45–60)
- →Self-guided evening walk Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and La Latina
- →Tapas crawl on Calle Cava Baja
Madrid: Prado Museum and Plaza de España
Madrid
Start with the Prado — book a timed ticket online via the museum's own site (€15, or free Mon–Sat 18:00–20:00 and Sun 17:00–19:00, though queues are long). Alternatively join a GetYourGuide/Klook skip-the-line guided entry for £25–35 if you want context. After lunch walk to Plaza de España and the Cervantes monument, then up to the Temple of Debod for sunset views over the Casa de Campo. Evening: sample vermouth and pintxos around Chueca or Malasaña.
🚌On foot; occasional Metro hop ~€1.50–2
🛏Hostel or budget hostal, Centro/La Latina
- →Prado Museum timed entry (€15 direct, or £25–35 guided via GetYourGuide)
- →Plaza de España and Cervantes monument
- →Temple of Debod at sunset
- →Malasaña/Chueca bar wander
Madrid → Córdoba (Mezquita and Jewish Quarter) → Seville
Córdoba / Seville
Take an early AVE high-speed train from Madrid Atocha to Córdoba (~1h 45m, from €25 if booked ahead on renfe.com; £22–35). Leave bags at the station lockers, then walk into the old town. Book a Mezquita-Catedral ticket direct (€13) and allow 1–1.5 hours — the forest of arches is the highlight of the whole trip. Lunch in the Judería (Jewish Quarter) with its flower-filled patios, peek at the Roman Bridge, then take an afternoon or early-evening train on to Seville (~45 min, €15–20). Check into a guesthouse in the Arenal or Macarena area.
🚌AVE Madrid–Córdoba ~1h45 (~£25); regional/Avant Córdoba–Seville ~45min (~£15); station lockers €3–5
🛏Guesthouse or hostel, Seville Arenal/Macarena (dorm £20–28, private twin £50–65)
- →Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba entry (€13)
- →Self-guided walk of the Judería and Roman Bridge
- →Evening stroll along the Guadalquivir
Seville: Alcázar-adjacent classics, Plaza de España and flamenco
Seville
Do Seville on foot: start at the Cathedral and Giralda (combined ticket ~€12; book online), then wander the Santa Cruz Quarter's alleys. Visit Casa de Pilatos (~€12) for its tiled patios — a cheaper, quieter alternative to the Alcázar if you'd rather not pay €15–20 there. In the late afternoon walk to the Plaza de España in María Luisa Park and rent a rowboat or just people-watch. In the evening book a flamenco show at Casa de la Memoria or La Carbonería (€20–25 direct, or £35–45 via GetYourGuide with a drink included) — skip the dinner-show packages and eat tapas after.
🚌On foot all day
🛏Guesthouse or hostel, Seville
- →Seville Cathedral and Giralda entry (~€12)
- →Santa Cruz Quarter walk
- →Casa de Pilatos (~€12)
- →Plaza de España and María Luisa Park
- →Flamenco at Casa de la Memoria or La Carbonería (€20–25)
Seville → Granada and the Alhambra
Granada
Morning bus (ALSA, ~3h, €13–18, book on alsa.com) or train to Granada — the bus is cheaper and drops you closer to the centre. Book Alhambra tickets the moment they go on sale (alhambra-patronato.es, €19.09 including the Nasrid Palaces) — they sell out weeks ahead, so this is the one thing to lock in early. Afternoon entry slot is ideal: arrive, drop bags, and spend 3–4 hours in the Nasrid Palaces, Generalife gardens and Alcazaba. Evening: free tapas culture in Granada — every drink comes with a plate — around Calle Elvira and the Plaza Nueva area.
🚌ALSA bus Seville–Granada ~3h (~£15); local bus 30/32 up to the Alhambra €1.40
🛏Hostel or budget hostal, Granada centre/Albaicín (dorm £18–25, private twin £45–60)
- →Alhambra and Generalife with Nasrid Palaces (€19 direct)
- →Free tapas crawl around Calle Elvira
Granada: Albaicín and Sacromonte, then night train or bus to Valencia
Granada / Valencia
Morning free walk through the Albaicín's whitewashed lanes up to the Mirador de San Nicolás for the classic Alhambra view, then over to Sacromonte's cave houses. A self-guided audio walk via GetYourGuide costs ~£8 if you want context. Afternoon: take the bus or train on to Valencia. Trains run via Madrid (long) so the direct ALSA bus (~5h, €25–30) or a cheap flight are the practical options; if you prefer to break the journey, an overnight in Madrid is fine. Arrive Valencia late evening and check into a hostel near the Carmen district.
🚌ALSA bus Granada–Valencia ~5h (~£25) or budget flight; local buses in Granada €1.40
🛏Hostel, Valencia Carmen/Ruzafa (dorm £18–25, private twin £48–60)
- →Mirador de San Nicolás and Albaicín walk
- →Sacromonte cave quarter
- →Optional self-guided audio tour (~£8)
Valencia: City of Arts and Sciences, then train to Barcelona
Valencia / Barcelona
Cycle or bus out to the City of Arts and Sciences — entry to the Science Museum is ~€8, the Oceanogràfic ~€35 (book online direct), or just walk the spectacular exterior for free. Then explore the Central Market (Mercat Central) and the Cathedral quarter, and try an authentic paella at lunch rather than dinner (locals eat it midday; €12–16 for a menú del día). Late afternoon take the Euromed or Intercity train to Barcelona (~3h, from €25 on renfe.com; £22–35). Check into a hostel in the Gothic Quarter or Gràcia.
🚌City bus to CAC ~€1.50; Renfe Valencia–Barcelona ~3h (~£28)
🛏Hostel, Barcelona Gothic Quarter/Gràcia (dorm £22–30, private twin £55–70)
- →City of Arts and Sciences (exterior free, Science Museum ~€8, Oceanogràfic ~€35)
- →Mercat Central and Valencia Cathedral quarter
- →Midday paella lunch
- →Optional bike rental ~€10/day
Barcelona: Gothic Quarter, Sagrada Família and Montjuïc
Barcelona
Start with the free walking route through the Gothic Quarter and La Rambla (or a GetYourGuide 'Beautiful Barcelona' walk, £25–35). Book Sagrada Família entry direct at sagradafamilia.org (€26 basic, €36 with tower) well ahead — the tour's inside visit is replicated here. Afterwards take the Metro to Espanya and walk up Montjuïc (or the cable car, €12) for harbour panoramas past the Columbus Monument and Passeig de Gràcia on the way. Finish with a sangria and farewell dinner in Gràcia or El Born — a menú or shared tapas plus drinks runs £20–28.
🚌Metro T-casual 10-ride card ~€12; Montjuïc cable car €12 optional
🛏Hostel, Barcelona
- →Gothic Quarter and La Rambla self-guided walk (or £25–35 guided)
- →Sagrada Família entry (€26–36 direct)
- →Columbus Monument and Passeig de Gràcia
- →Montjuïc Hill views (cable car €12 optional)
- →Sangria and farewell dinner
Barcelona: Montserrat day trip or departure
Barcelona
If your flight is late, use the morning for a DIY Montserrat trip: train from Plaça Espanya to Aeri de Montserrat or Monistrol (TransMontserrat combined ticket ~€25–30 including the rack railway and funiculars) — far cheaper than the £45–60 guided tours. Otherwise stroll Barceloneta beach or the Boqueria market before heading to El Prat airport on the Aerobús (€7.25) or R2 Nord train (€4.60).
🚌Aerobús to airport €7.25 or R2 Nord train €4.60; optional TransMontserrat ticket ~€28
🛏Departure day
- →Optional DIY Montserrat day trip (~£25 via TransMontserrat ticket)
- →Barceloneta beach or La Boqueria market
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Globus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Globus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£642 | £1,599 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £957 per person (60%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Globus-style trips? Check them out here.~£642
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Spanish Escape: Madrid to Barcelona, Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £642 per person for 9 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 Globus?+
Yes — Globus charges around £1,599 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £642 — a saving of roughly £957 (60%) per person.
How long is the Spain trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 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, city-breaks, foodie 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.